Early in his letter James encourages Christians to persevere through suffering and hard seasons, because perseverance leads to a more mature faith. This morning James gives us one more incentive to persevere: God gives those who love him and who persevere the crown of life. This morning we explore what the crown of life is, and why it helps us endure painful seasons in life.
The Disturbed and the Comfortable
James has a reputation for being blunt and to the point. This morning we get our first taste of James’ bluntness. He tells people in “humble circumstances” to boast in their high position, and he tells the rich to “take pride in their low position.” His goal is to provoke us where it hurts: in our wallets.
This morning we ask what it means that God comforts the disturbed, and he disturbs the comfortable. In the process, we learn how allowing ourselves to be provoked and challenged helps us to grow into wiser, more mature Christians.
Wisdom and Foolishness
James teaches us to , “Consider it pure joy when you experience trials of many kinds.” This is difficult in itself. But immediately after this, James teaches us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” We might ask in response, “What does wisdom have to do with suffering?” And, “How do I become wise?” Both are good questions, and this morning we listen for how God might meet us in those questions.
Tested and Tried
“Consider it pure joy,” James writes at the very start of his letter, “when you experience trials of many kinds.” This seems counter-intuitive. Trials—suffering—testing—none of these sounds very joyful to us. This morning Ron Bouthillette leads us to discover how we can find joy in the hardest parts of life.
God's Incredible Plan
In the build-up to the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16), Jesus tells a very religious person, “You must be born again.” This morning we explore what Jesus meant by being “born again.” How can a person be born again?
The Myth of Freedom
Jesus’ half-brother, James, wrote to early Christians who were asking, “How do I grow from spiritual infancy to maturity?” This morning we think about James’ claim to be a servant of God, and we allow him to challenge us by asking, “Are you living as a servant of God, or as a free person who sets your own direction?” The paradox is, what we think of as freedom is actually slavery, and what we think of as slavery is actually freedom.
The Problem With Being Good
Jesus’ third story in Luke 15 is his most famous – the parable of the lost son. But the story is not really about the younger son, who ran away from his father. It is about the older son who never ran. This morning we see the false loyalty and subtle arrogance of the older brother, and the consistent mercy of the Father.
A Wasteful and Extravagant God
Jesus’ third story in Luke 15 is his most famous – often called the parable of the Prodigal Son. This morning we see that “Prodigal,” which means “wasteful and extravagant,” may better describe the father (and God our Father) than the son in the story. Hear why it is good news that God is wasteful and extravagant.
Ten Coins
Jesus tells three kingdom stories in Luke 15 which introduce mystery into our understanding of God. In the second, a woman loses a substantial amount of money. Of course, she goes to great effort to find the lost money. It’s a simple story, but it turns some of our misconceptions of God upside-down. Contrary to popular opinion, God our Father is not a difficult-to-please father.
Ninety Nine Birds in the Hand
Jesus tells three kingdom stories in Luke 15 which introduce mystery into our understanding of God. In the first, a shepherd makes a very illogical decision. This story delights the sinners around Jesus and offends the religious people. Where does God’s heart lie, and how does that confront our own misunderstandings?
God is Able
This morning Ron Bouthillette offers a straightforward, encouraging message: God is able. When life seems bleak or hopeless, and when we’re at the end of our rope, Ron encourages us to look not to our own strength, but to God. Because God is able.
One Thing I Ask
This morning Rev. Doug Birdsall challenges us with a simple question: what one thing do you want, more than anything else? In Psalm 27 King David sings, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to seek him in his temple.”
Stubborn Rebellion and Stubborn Grace
As we conclude our series learning from Amos, we notice a stark change of tone. Mostly severe for the first 8 1/2 chapters, the second half of Amos 9 is saturated with hope and mercy. Why this change? Did God change his mind? Or did he have a plan the entire time?
Fairness and Mercy
This morning we ask, “Does God’s judgment mean God is cruel?” As we’ve seen throughout Amos, God’s judgment is not cruelty; it is actually a form of his mercy. As CS Lewis wrote in The Great Divorce, “There are two types of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Thy will be done.’ ” Which will you choose?
Seek the Lord and Live
“Seek me and live,” God tells his people in Amos 5. This morning we continue learning from the Old Testament prophet Amos, as we see that God’s deepest longing is that we would find life in following God, and that paradoxically, we gain the most when we give the most away.
A Severe Mercy
Sometimes God’s mercy takes an unexpected, even sharp, form. As we begin a four-week study of the Old Testament prophet Amos, we see this that God is not a doom-and-gloom masochist who delights in the groveling of his people, but a tender God who wants his people to live the most fully human and joyful lives possible.
Faith Like a Child
Jesus didn’t only tolerate children; he welcomed them and sought them out. And to those who thought they were too busy for children, he had some sharp words: “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
What does Jesus call us to, when he calls us to receive the kingdom of God like a child?
A Holy Priesthood
How do we understand the church in a post-pandemic world? The Bible offers a series of metaphors to describe the church’s role in the world. This morning we explore Peter’s reminder that we are a “holy and royal priesthood.”
Christianity is not a spectator sport, in which the churchgoers watch the priest or pastor “do” ministry. Instead, it is a family of priests, and God calls each of us to minister to and serve the world around us. Yes, you are a priest!
Strangers and Aliens
How do we understand the church in a post-pandemic world? The Bible offers a series of metaphors to describe the church’s role in the world. This morning we explore Peter’s reminder that we are strangers and aliens in this world.
To be a stranger—an exile—is profoundly disorienting. Why would God call us to be spiritually homeless, so to speak? And could it be that we can be more effective when we are less comfortable?
What is that in your hand?
When God calls Moses to be his emissary to Egypt, Moses knows how completely unqualified he is for the job. God responds and asks Moses, “What is that in your hand?”
God doesn’t call us to serve him after we’ve got everything perfectly in place; he calls us and gives us the tools we need, which are usually right in front of us. The secret lies in receiving God’s call with open hands instead of with clenched fists.