Welcome

services

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From the beginning, God the Father was in a family and in relationship with others. He had his own Son, Jesus, since the beginning and the Holy Spirit in relationship to himself. Then after God made his creation and the pinnacle of it, a human being, he said, "it is not good for man to be alone." Since creation, God in his grace and mercy has given us families. Through this sermon series, it is our hope that you will be blessed to live out your calling as part of God's family within whatever family God has placed you.

The Vision: To walk together by faith as we honor God and bless people.

The Purpose: To build what God is ready to bless and to take care of what He has already given.

No one really likes to follow. We like to lead, to be in control, to determine and dictate what happens next. But when Jesus encounters us his first words are, "follow me." It begins with repentance (turn 180 degrees and go in my direction). It’s a call to discipleship (hear my words, learn from me, go where I go, love as I love). And it’s a promise of life even in the midst of death (if you lose your life for me you’ll find it). Join us this Lent as we hear Jesus say, "follow me.”

The only thing better than getting good news is bringing it. In the ancient Greek language, the bearer of good news is called an "evangelist". But ironically the good news word has gotten a bad rap. Evangelism, in our culture, has become associated with snake oil salesmen, one sentence condemnations plastered on billboards or "turn or burn" prophets blaring bad news through bullhorns. It's time to take the good news word back! During the next six weeks, we'll shine euaggelion up and offer it to the world. Because the only thing better than getting good news is giving it.

The Scriptures describe Jesus as God’s “indescribable gift”. Into a world all wrapped up in itself, the Father wraps his Son up in human flesh and delivers him right into the middle of the mess. It’s a priceless gift in a plain and humble package. And as Isaiah foretold, the world wasn’t impressed.

“ There was no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2

Join us as we unwrap this “indescribable gift.” Be ready to receive the gifts that only Jesus can give.

December 29: No service

December 30: 9:15 & 11 am

December 31: New Year's Eve 7 pm

“Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason . . . my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.” -Martin Luther

Our culture has many voices - politicians, entertainers, the media, coworkers, friends and family –each one has an opinion. Each takes a firm stand on the issues of the day. But where is the voice of God in the midst of the noise? Where does Jesus stand on the issues of the day? What do the Scriptures have to say about: purity, marriage, the unborn, the helpless and vulnerable, our culture and country, our place in this world? In the follow-up messages, Here Am I, on November 10/11 and 17/18, we will explore what your place in the world looks like and how you can help the culture deal with the underlying and universal challenges we face.

Four Pastors, different in so many ways, yet each values the personal words God gives us in the Scriptures! In this series, they will take us to those places they keep going back to for comfort, guidance, strength and hope.

Jesus taught largely by telling stories. The Bible calls them parables. As Jesus taught he took every day, common events and filled them with eternal, uncommon truths. He was an artist who painted word pictures. He illustrated …

What the kingdom of God was like.

What it means to be a neighbor.

The heart of a Heavenly Father towards rebellious children.

Grace and mercy. Forgiveness and compassion.

The parables were told thousands of years ago and yet they are timeless. Though they were addressed to a people of a different culture they are universal. They may be simple stories but they are never simplistic. They help us hear. They help us see. They illustrate the kingdom of God.

Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:2 - The Message)

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Timothy13:16,17 The Message)

Our Lenten message series will focus on the spiritual disciplines, practices such as: fasting, memorization, meditation and study of the Scriptures, silence and solitude, secret acts of service, confession and celebration. At first glance, the spiritual disciplines look like activities that we use to pursue Jesus and, to a certain extent, they are. We give something up. We take up the Scriptures. We quiet ourselves, give to others, confess, and rejoice. But our prayer is that, during Lent, each of us will come to see that when we give ourselves to these disciplines, Jesus gives himself to us. Please join us for "the pursuit."