Press On, Towards Home — Jack Wisdom

As we read in Luke 16 (as well as many other places) Hell was a topic on which Jesus spent time teaching. As we walk through this series on Heaven, we learn that a deep & vibrant understanding of Heaven is one willing to wrestle with the reality of Hell. Join the conversation as we attempt to craft this healthy and eternal perspective of hell, one not formed by fear but instead by our love for a just and merciful God.

The Heavenly Mind — Leroy Barber

February 6, 2011 — Gideon Tsang

Heaven Part 4: The Perfect Body — Chris Seay

Who is it that goes to heaven? Why are they there? In the past few weeks we've discussed the importance of spending time in study about what scripture has to say about heaven and the nature of such a kingdom. This week we'll discuss these questions.

Heaven Part 2 — Chris Seay

John reveals the message of a vision he received from the Lord in Revelation. This vision, this message, was one of hope to those Christians being persecuted in Rome. In Rev 21, John communicates a message providing insight for the future of all those hwo believe in the one true God. It is one that challenges how we live life now as we gain clarity about the nature of our future with the Lord.

Pearl of Great Price — Don Peiper

Inconveniences and hardship are not just to be expected, they are a fundamental part of life. Examining the Nativity, from its humble setting to the family’s flight from Herod, demonstrates this. We have to open our hearts to hurt and our lives to misery if we want to change the world as Jesus did from the start.

We enter the story of Jesus birth late in this season of advent by looking at the character and obedience of his earthy parents Mary and Joseph. They give a beautiful example of the position of humility we are called to embrace as our desire grows to serve Jesus faithfully, our God with us.

In advent we're celebrating the coming of Jesus. As we look together to hear from John the Baptist, about his anticipation of the messiah and the initiation of the Kingdom of God, we are reminded of the imagery the prophet isaiah spoke of as he discussed the path if Gods redemption.

As we approach the birthday of Jesus, remember the small size of the ultimately important gift he brought us. John the Baptist, channeling Isaiah, foretells both the coming of Jesus and the upending of the social order, when the the abhorrent things we think of as normal will finally be ended and justice restored.

The kingdom of God is belongs to those who are spiritually poor, those that society deems destitute and low. This is because pride is incompatible with a life of following God. We must humble ourselves and trust completely in the saving hand of God.

To practice Sabbath is to rethink the work we do. Work is worship, and so is rest.

Generosity frees us from our slavery to greed. We are called to help people, to give up all that we have because in doing so we will receive all that God has for us.

The Redemptive Power of Being There — Wayne Brown

James gives hard truths that are practical for creating a better community. Don’t waste what you have been given, don’t exploit workers, don’t gossip and judge or God will judge you.. Jesus is coming back, but we don’t know when, so invest in this world why we can.

James discusses the proper posture as we begin to shape our plans tomorrow. He calls us to recognize the promise and blessing of today and be careful how we lean forward into the unknown. As we live in God's will for us today, might we dream about tomorrow and the future with hearts that remember the Lord's sovereignty.

The text in James does much to reorient our focus on Jesus. He suggests that conflict, frustrations, and tensions will surface as we concentrate on ourselves instead of setting our desires on Jesus. In our obsession of getting what we want, stresses and conflict find their way into our story and keep us isolated. We will learn much more of these teachings if we embrace them with other believers.