John's contrast between genuine and spurious faith in 1 John 3 is so stark that, at first reading, it's devastating to the honest reader. But is there a way the impossible righteousness described here is possible?
Read MoreJohn's famous challenge to his readers, "do not love the world or the things in the world," is one of the great calls to turn from idolatry in all the Bible. But without turning to something, it is an impossible challenge. What we need, when departing from the "desires of the flesh," the "desires of the eyes," and the "boasting in life," is not the absence of desire, but rather a new affection.
Read MoreIf the foundation of fellowship is the incarnation of Jesus, what does the incarnation of Jesus do for us to provide fellowship? John summarizes the whole of the gospel in a few words: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If that is the news about Jesus, what does it mean for us? Simply, it means we are exposed. And when there's no more hiding, relationships are really different. They must now begin with confession.
Read MoreJohn's first letter to this church (2 John) challenged them to confront those among them who were teaching that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh. It seems the confrontation went poorly... now they're not sure who they are or what to believe. And so John opens his longer letter meant to encourage and support them with a simple claim: true fellowship depends on the incarnation of Jesus - we need him to mediate! Here we explore why that is, and how it works.
Read MoreAn inevitability of close, faith-based relationships is faith-based conflict. When it happens, how do we deal with it? How do we determine what is true? What do we do when truth and love seem to compete? John's letters are often regarded as messages of love, but when one of John's churches faces major theological debate, his answer for how to love may surprise you.
Read MoreAfter flying through the Bible in 14 weeks and seeing God's story through history, we take a look at The Church's role in God's story... right now! Touching briefly on the church's call to Worship, Discipleship, and Mission, we land on the often-misunderstood call to Unity and what this call means for your life.
Read MoreAll scripture is God's words to His people for His glory. The Psalms are unique in that they are at the same time both God's words and the prayers of men to God. One of the most widely read and widely under-utilized books of the Bible, the Psalms gives us a language for how to communicate with God. We can join with Christ in his prayer's to the Father, as well as commune with our brothers and sisters throughout the world when praying the Psalms. We pray not simply to express ourselves, but for God to teach us what we should desire, and how we should ask him for it.
Read MoreMany people read Revelation as a scary, imaginative, and heavily symbolic description of the end times. While this is not entirely inaccurate, we miss the even more significant description of the Story of God that takes place here - the gospel outside of time. Revelation is not fundamentally a description of end times, but rather of the purpose and centerpiece of history: it is a revelation of Jesus, the hero of the story. We see the final state: we don't worship Jesus in order to achieve some other pleasure; worshipping Jesus is the ultimate pleasure in and of itself!
Read MoreThe book of Acts opens with the disciples and the resurrected Jesus having a critical conversation: "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?" You see, Jesus' resurrection meant the reviving power of God was about to sweep through the land. It meant a new era had begun. But what this actually meant for the disciples they never could have guessed. Jesus was about to breathe new life into the world: he was about to give birth to the church by the power of the Spirit. Birth TO US! So... who are we?
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Rick Whitfield, Bible Teacher and former pastor at this church, addresses the climactic period in the whole story of the Bible - the life of Jesus. How is it that the bible points to him? After hearing about his life, who do you say he is? Rick suggests a few characteristics: He is the Anointed One, the Only Savior, and the Bread of Life.
Read MoreThe books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, (parts of) Jeremiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi give us personal and intense glimpses into the state of things right after God's chosen people were conquered in their own promised land.... and we didn't even mention Lamentations! What was God doing in this time?
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