Bible Text: Psalm 95:1-11 | Preacher: Reed Jolley | Series: Guest Preacher
Most of us were taught as children to say “please” and “thank you.” When someone gives us a gift or compliment, the giver’s generosity deserves to be acknowledged. But what happens in us when we acknowledge the abundance of good gifts that God gives us everyday? Join us this Sunday as we learn about the joy that comes from gratitude.
Bible Text: Jonah 4 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Jonah
When we are in the wrong, we long for grace. But when someone has wronged us, we often want the offender to get what they deserve. We want grace for ourselves, but karma for others. How can we go from hating our enemies to loving them and even rejoicing when they receive grace? Join us this week as we conclude our series on the Old Testament prophet Jonah.
Bible Text: Jonah 1:17–2:2–9; 3:1–10 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Jonah
Sometimes we have a complicated relationship to change. We hear people say, “You are perfect just the way you are.” Yet there are countless voices telling us that the way we are isn’t that great after all and if we just tried a little harder, we could and should be better—often with a hefty price tag. Rarely do we step back and ask the crucial questions: Is change possible? How can we get there? Join us this Sunday as we continue our series on a prophet named Jonah who experienced and offered a radical change.
Bible Text: Jonah 1:4–16 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Jonah
As kids we love to play hide and seek. For most of us, it isn’t the hiding that is the fun part but the joy of finding and being found. Eventually, though, we grow up and become experts at hiding. We may even feel like we can hide from God. What does it mean that God is an unrelenting seeker who doesn’t give up on us? What does it mean to be found by God? Join us this Sunday as we continue our sermon series on the Biblical story of Jonah.
Bible Text: Jonah 1:1–6 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Jonah
Why am I here? This is the existential question. And it is not just a question for those who don’t know God. Christians often ask why God has chosen to leave them on this earth. Why are we here as a church? Archbishop William Temple is often remembered as saying that ῾῾The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.” And it is true, from the beginning God’s people have been called for the sake of the world. But throughout history God’s people have often lost sight of this. This week we are starting a new series on the book of Jonah, a book that reminds God’s people that they exist for the life of the world. If you are a Christian, come rediscover why we exist. If you are not a Christian, I hope you will find that we are here for you.
Bible Text: John 14:1, 15-31 | Preacher: Johnathan Keenan | Series: Guest Preacher
Stress, anxiety, worry—this seems to be the stuff of life. And yet Jesus says that there is something about him—who he is, what he does—that can bring peace. A peace he freely gives. Come this week as we learn more of how to receive this most practical and necessary gift.
Bible Text: John 7:37-52 | Preacher: Marc Choi | Series: Guest Preacher
“I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” was a very popular song for a very important reason—we all find desires within us that seem unquenchable. The writer C.S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” The good news of Christianity is that this other world has come to us and is available for us in the person of Jesus Christ. Come out this week as we listen to the good news.
Series: Co-Laborers in Christ
Pam and Kyle Wells discuss question brought up from the Co-Laborers in Christ sermon series. Moderated by Susan Isaac.
Books mentioned by Pam
Two Views on Women in Ministry
by Stanley N. Gundry, James R. Beck, Linda L. Belleville, Craig L. Blomberg, Craig S. Keener, Thomas R. Schreiner, Zondervan,
Zondervan
Amazon
Fresh Perspectives on Women in Ministry (3 book series)
Zondervan
Amazon
Neither Complementarian nor Egalitarian: A Kingdom Corrective to the Evangelical Gender Debate
by: Michelle Lee-Barnewall
Baker
Amazon
The Mission of God’s People
by Christopher J. H. Wright
Zondervan
Amazon
A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story
by: Michael W. Goheen
Baker
Amazon
Bible Text: Romans 16:1–7; 1 Timothy 2:11–3:1 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Co-Laborers in Christ
For our final week in our co-laborer series, we will be looking at Paul’s communities. Since the rise of modern feminism, there has been a tendency for Western Christians to cherry-pick from Paul’s letters to support their “side” of the debate over women’s leadership in the church. While some cry Galatians 3:28 or Romans 16:7, others retort with 1 Timothy 2:12. And to everyone “their” text seems unambiguous enough to end the discussion. How can Paul be read so differently? Is there a way to take all the data into account? Join us as we investigate what happens when Paul is read in light of the biblical theology we have been developing over the past five weeks.
Bible Text: Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:15–17, 20, 24–26; 2 Timothy 1:8, 11-14, 2:1-2 | Preacher: Kyle Wells | Series: Co-Laborers in Christ
I’m spiritual but not religious is a common self-identifier. Today, many people embrace supernaturalism while rejecting traditional forms of religious expression. The Christian version looks like this: I’m a follower of Jesus, but I don’t go to church, or, at least I don’t see reason to identify with any church in particular. And it is true that the institutional church has fallen on hard times and much is self inflicted. Some even wonder if it was a mistake in the first place. One person famously said: “Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom, and what arrived was the Church.” But what if the institutional church, along with its officers, was a part of Jesus’ original intention? Might that have implications for our spirituality. And might it also have implications for how we think about men and women working together in Christ’s kingdom?