Groundwork: Biblical Foundations for Life

As we study the closing chapters of 1 Samuel, we read about David's encounter with Nabal and Abigail, Saul's desperate decision to visit a medium, and finally, Saul's tragic death. In these accounts, we see both Saul's and David's imperfections, yet a striking difference in their attitudes toward God. These final chapters reaffirm what the whole book of 1 Samuel has shown us: God is willing and able to work through flawed people, but the condition of our hearts matters greatly. 

God anointed Saul as the first King of Israel. Yet, his leadership of Israel was inconsistent. In 1 Samuel, he waffled back and forth between loving and hating David, the leader of his armies, and unbeknownst to him, the one God chose to be Israel's next king. In the ups and downs in Saul's life, we witness firsthand the broken shalom that results when the deadly sin of envy grips our hearts. We also see God's sovereignty and how he continues to work in the lives of his people even in difficult circumstances. 

As humans, we are drawn to strong, confident leaders. In 1 Samuel, God assures us that he's not looking at appearances. As we study the accounts of David's anointing and his battle with Goliath, we'll learn what God looks for in the heart of a leader. We'll see how God prepares the people he calls, and discuss what that means for us when he calls us to partner with him in his work in the world today.

We want a lot of things in life. Some of those are good for us; some aren't. Some align with God's will for us, and some don't. Does God ever allow us to receive what we want, even though we will regret it one day? When we study the account of Israel's first king, Saul, we see what happens when God grants Israel's request to be like other nations and discover how God is faithful and sovereign, working behind the scenes even when his people make choices that don't align with his will.

When we feel vulnerable, we naturally seek reassurance. We want to hold onto something tangible for comfort. Throughout the Bible, God promises to be with his people, and many of us find his presence extremely comforting. But what happens when we think of God's presence as something we can manipulate to accomplish what we want? The next few chapters in our study of 1 Samuel recount the loss of the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence with Israel, the pride of the Philistines turning to panic, and Samuel's call for Israel to repent and return to worshipping the Lord. These chapters offer us a warning not to cherish outward symbols of faith without also maintaining our inward, faithful obedience to the Lord. They also invite us to return to the Lord and surrender our hearts to him. 

When corruption and darkness seem to be in control, we may find it hard to hear and see God. Together, we can learn where to look for God and discover hope even when life's situations seem hopelessly unjust and bleak, as in the stories of Israel, the high priest Eli, Eli's corrupt sons, and Samuel.   

Sometimes the deepest prayers are the ones nobody hears but God. When Hannah poured out her pain and longing before God, the people around her did not understand. But God understood and answered her prayer. Studying Hannah's sorrow, prayer, and song of praise in the opening chapters of 1 Samuel reveals God's character, helps us understand where to find God, and what he wants us to do with our pain. Together, we'll also see how Hannah's sorrow and private prayer become part of God's public plan for his people.

We've reached the pinnacle moments of salvation history in our Stations of the Cross journey. As we arrive at the thirteenth and fourteenth Stations of the Cross, we witness Jesus' suffering, death, and burial. Commemorating these events every year on Good Friday poignantly reminds us of how much Jesus Christ endured to accomplish our salvation. Yet, lingering at the tomb a while longer, we see the power of the gospel in Christ's glorious resurrection and celebrate his Easter victory over death with wonder and gratitude. 

Even as he hung dying on the cross, Jesus showed compassion and mercy when he offered words of salvation to a crucified thief and established a new, spiritual family. Witness the eleventh and twelfth Stations of the Cross, one of the shortest prayers in the Bible, and learn what these stations show about the mercy and belonging that God has for us today.

Arriving at Golgotha, Jesus spoke a harrowing warning to the women he saw weeping for him along the road. At the ninth Station of the Cross, we'll examine the warning Jesus gave the women he called “Daughters of Jerusalem.” Then comes the tenth Station of the Cross: Jesus' crucifixion. With awe and trepidation, we'll witness Jesus, nailed to a cross, bear the full weight of human sin. We'll reflect on the words he spoke from the cross, discuss what Jesus accomplished there, and what it all means for our lives today. 

In our exploration of the Stations of the Cross during this Lenten season, we've reached stations seven and eight. Here, we reflect on Jesus' movement toward Golgotha as he takes up the cross and steps onto the road where the soldiers draw a stranger from the crowd to help Jesus carry the weight of the cross. Together, let's consider the symbolism of the wooden cross placed on Jesus' shoulders and the significance of Simon of Cyrene taking up some of the burden of carrying it. We'll discuss what it means for us to bear the cross with Jesus in our lives, and how it helps us understand what to expect in a life of discipleship.

The emotional weight of what Jesus suffers gets heavier as we journey through the Stations of the Cross during Lent. At station five, we read about Jesus before the Roman governor, Pilate. We'll consider who Pilate was in history and why his presence is important. Then, at station six, we somberly remember the mockery, persecution, and suffering Jesus endured at the hands of the Roman soldiers. Together, we'll reflect on how these stations highlight Jesus' innocence and the magnitude of his sacrifice, and what they mean for us as his disciples today.

When Jesus' time had finally come, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It is there, during the season of Lent, that we begin following Jesus on his road to the cross, through the first two stations in the traditional Stations of the Cross. Join us as we discuss the long history of this tradition and the Scriptures that teach us about the events in the Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus' prayer, betrayal by Judas Iscariot, and arrest. Together, we'll reflect on Jesus' humanity, what it cost him to embark on this journey on our behalf, and what it teaches us about our faith as we follow Jesus.

There are situations in life when forgiveness seems especially difficult, maybe even impossible. For example, how do I forgive myself? What if someone died before I could offer them forgiveness? Is it possible to forgive someone who is not sorry? Do I have to forgive someone who keeps hurting me? Let's see how Scripture helps us address the hard questions that arise when life's circumstances make forgiveness complicated, and discover what happens in our hearts when we bring our struggles with forgiveness to God. 

We live our lives in a sin-filled world: brokenness and grievances will happen. God calls us to forgive those who sin against us, but we understandably have questions about how exactly that plays out in our everyday lives. Let's explore Scripture to learn what forgiveness is and what it is not. We'll discover how our ability to forgive others grows out of God's forgiveness and find help in dealing with the strong emotions that so often surround forgiveness.

Telling someone they need to forgive somebody else is easy. We use the phrase “forgive and forget” in our human efforts to restore relationships, but is that really what forgiveness means? Ultimately, forgiveness begins with God. Together, we'll let Scripture teach us what forgiveness is, when it's needed, and what it reveals about God's character. Along the way, we'll consider the nuanced meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words commonly translated as "forgiveness." 

The apostle Paul wrote extensively about salvation and the Christian life. He firmly teaches that we are saved by God's grace through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. He also teaches how believers ought to behave. Join us as we study Paul's teachings in his letter to early Christians. Together, we'll see how his message clarifies how we walk in step with the Holy Spirit, growing in Christlikeness, as we keep Christ's work on the cross at the center of salvation through Grace alone. 

Protestant Christians around the world believe that we receive salvation by grace alone through faith, as the apostle Paul taught. And yet, we also come across the words of James: “Faith without works is dead.” This seeming contradiction has led believers of every generation to wonder, “Do the things we do impact how God sees us? Do our works contribute to our righteousness?” Together, let's examine the book of James as a whole to understand his teachings on grace and works in context. We'll compare what we learn from James to what Paul teaches about the relationship between God's grace and our works, and then consider what it means for our daily lives. 

If we are saved by grace, what is the purpose of our works? If God does it all, do our works matter? We all long for purpose, but in our daily lives as Christ's disciples, we can find it challenging to understand the relationship between grace and works. Our thoughts and expectations might quickly slide into legalism on one hand or laziness on the other. The apostle Paul clarified the relationship between grace and works in his letters to early Christians. By studying his writing, we can gain a deeper understanding of how God's grace and our works cooperate to help us grow in Christlikeness. 

We may experience some tension when trying to discern the relationship between God's grace and our works as it relates to our salvation. This is understandable if we limit our study to the writings of Paul and James in the New Testament. However, by revisiting God's original covenants with Abraham in Genesis and the new covenant Jesus establishes in Matthew, we gain understanding of how God works, his gift of grace, and what he expects from us as his people. 

Twelve days after Christmas every year, churches around the world mark the day of Epiphany, remembering the appearance of the star to the Magi. The light of the star led the Magi to Jesus; this event signifies the extension of God's family to include Gentiles, which had a profound effect on the future of God's people. Thankfully, the Bible tells us what to expect when we encounter the transformational light of Christ and how that light affects our discipleship. 

Together, let's explore the moment the prophet Isaiah's anticipation of light becomes the reality of the Light of the World among us. We'll explore the profound meaning of Christ's light shining in our world by examining Bible passages that describe his birth, life, and the hope he brings, and what this means for how we live as children of light. 

Light changes everything. A lamp illuminates the room, giving clarity to our surroundings. Dawn brings daylight that transforms the landscape and banishes the uncertainties of night. What happens when the Light of the World arrives? The Bible shows us how Jesus Christ illuminates our lives and the world.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate light of the world. During Advent, we celebrate his birth and look forward to his second coming. Let's discuss what it means to prepare our souls for the hope and illumination that Jesus brings, and learn what it means to live in the light of Christ with expectation.

Advent is a season of waiting. We're waiting for the Light of the World. The Bible uses the imagery of light from Genesis to Revelation. Exploring the Bible's theme of light from the beginning, through the prophets, in the gospels, and in the prophecies of Revelation gives us a fuller understanding of what we're waiting for as we begin to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus at his birth at Christmas. 

Discover what Jesus taught us about the heart and mind of an ideal disciple. Join us as we examine the remaining beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5:7-12 with our guest, Danny Daley. Together, we'll explore what Jesus taught us when he described the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted as blessed. Then we'll discuss how understanding and cultivating the dispositions Jesus described in the Beatitudes in our lives of discipleship gives the world a glimpse of God's kingdom here on earth. 

The Beatitudes have provided generations of Christians comfort, guidance, and strength for their faith. Join Groundwork as we study the first four of Jesus' Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-6 to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We'll also discuss why Jesus promises the kingdom of heaven and blesses those who possess these dispositions, and why he invites us to cultivate them in our own lives of discipleship. 

Jesus taught about the ways of his kingdom as he traveled from place to place with his disciples. One of his most famous sermons, “The Sermon on the Mount,” begins with a series of statements that start with “Blessed are…” Known collectively as “The Beatitudes,” these teachings of Jesus hold profound meaning for us as disciples today. Join us as we discuss the context and setting of Jesus' Beatitudes and their connection to the Old Testament with our guest, Dr. Danny Daley. We'll gain a deeper understanding of the purpose and meaning of this list of blessings and how they serve as a guide to a kingdom lifestyle on our journey of discipleship with Jesus. 

The life of faith is a journey, and it's natural to have questions along the way. Does God truly care for us as individuals? What is my role in my walk with God? How do we overcome sinful habits of the flesh and find deeper freedom as we walk along with God? How do we make sense of suffering? Can I trust God's mysterious grace and timing? God invites us to bring him both our joys and our laments, our confidence and our questions. Dig into Scripture with us and discover answers to these questions about God's care, discipleship, suffering, and God's timing. 

It is natural to feel a little confusion about the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity. The whole concept of one God who is comprised of three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—requires some acceptance of mystery. To answer your questions, let's examine the scriptural foundation for this belief and gain a deeper understanding of the nature of our Triune God and the relationships between the persons of the Trinity. Then we'll delve into a particularly challenging Bible passage to see how our belief in the Triune God influences our worship and the sacrament of baptism.

We are part of a communal and generational faith. Ever since the days of the apostles, Christians have been sharing the stories of Jesus and God's work in their lives with the generations of Christians that followed. Whether it's our children or Christians younger in their faith, God has entrusted us with the responsibility to pass on our faith through our actions and words. Thankfully, he gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Join us as we continue celebrating Groundwork's 15th anniversary by exploring what it means to live our legacy of faith every day and pass our faith to the next generation.

The earliest stories about God demonstrate his continuing faithfulness to his people, from one generation to the next, and the Bible instructs us to be intentional about sharing and passing on our faith. Explore the Scriptures that teach us the importance of cultivating legacies of faith. Along the way, we'll celebrate Groundwork's 15th anniversary as we reflect on God's continued faithfulness. 

When we pray, “Your kingdom come…on earth as in heaven,” we demonstrate our trust in what we cannot see. We cannot fully see God's kingdom around us yet, but our prayer is also our calling to reflect God's reign in our daily lives. His kingdom is already here, and by studying Scripture, we discover what it means to live faithfully in the kingdom now.

Jesus often used parables to teach his followers about the kingdom of God. His stories and analogies sometimes confused his followers, but Jesus patiently but urgently described what God's kingdom looks like, what its values are, and how the people of his kingdom should behave. Jesus' kingdom parables still reveal aspects of God's kingdom and point the way for his people today. 

When Jesus declared that God's kingdom was near, his life embodied that truth. In our study of Jesus' teachings, we'll discover what it means for the kingdom to show up in real time through healing, justice, and welcome. We'll talk about how God's kingdom continues to come near in Jesus today, and how he calls us to participate in his kingdom here and now.

The concept of God's kingdom is woven throughout the Bible. Jesus and the apostles taught and preached about the kingdom of God. Kingdom language arcs through the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, defining what God's kingdom is, what it looks like, and the kind of King we have in Jesus. Studying God's kingdom helps us recognize our place in it today. 

Amidst all of his judgment in Hosea, God reveals the tender ache of a father's heart and gives the prophet powerful images of restoration for his people. Let's study these messages together and discuss how this ancient prophecy still calls us back to God's heart and to restoration. 

Through much of Hosea, the prophet speaks directly against Israel's spiritual betrayal. Chapter after chapter, God accuses Israel of idolatry, rampant injustice, and misplaced trust. We learn the consequences of their blatant rebellion. We also witness his longing for his people as he pleads for them to remember all he had done for them, to repent of their sins, and to return to him. Hosea's prophetic message for Israel is a reflection of God's heart. Together, we'll discuss what we can learn from Israel's story about our own hearts today.

God called the prophet Hosea to bring a message to his people, Israel. He wanted them to know they had strayed from their relationship with him; their pride and arrogance in following other gods were the causes of all their troubles. God famously instructed Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman and used his marriage to Gomer as a symbol of all that was wrong with Israel in their relationship with God. Yet, though his judgment was harsh, God offered Israel hope and restoration. Studying the prophetic relationship of Hosea and Gomer invites us as his people today into an honest reflection on our own relationship with God and our need for his grace. 

Jesus often taught in parables, simple stories that illustrated a spiritual truth. Some of Jesus' most famous parables are unique to the Gospel of Luke. In what we call the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus describes for his followers who would be their neighbor and what it means to be a good neighbor. Telling the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector, he focuses on the condition of the heart and salvation by grace. Jesus' parables highlight a major theme in Luke: our call to discipleship. Throughout the book, we repeatedly find the invitation to follow Jesus Christ. Together, let's discover what Jesus teaches about the attitudes and hearts of his followers and discuss honestly what it costs to prioritize Jesus in our lives. 

As Christians, we celebrate God's victory through Jesus Christ in worship every week. But in story after story in Luke, Jesus extends healing and victory to outsiders, individuals who experienced suffering, rejection, and isolation in the Jewish community. Join us as we study the recurring theme of God's victory for us and for all who are marginalized or far off, and think about what this means for how we live our faith today. 

Jubilee and joy are featured frequently in Luke's gospel. People are constantly rejoicing. Why? Because they encountered Jesus and salvation. Trace the themes of jubilee and joy in the gospel of Luke with us. Together we'll study Jesus' parables and the famous story of Zacchaeus to recognize the importance of these themes, how they connect to and continue the tradition of the Old Testament's Year of Jubilee, and what this means for how we faithfully respond to our own encounters with Jesus and salvation today. 

Prayer and dependence on God are the heartbeat of the Gospel of Luke. As we read about Jesus' baptism, the start of his ministry, and his teaching of the Lord's Prayer, Luke shows us how Jesus modeled a robust and intentional prayer life. Learn how following Jesus draws us into deeper intimacy with the Father, why prayer is key to a resilient faith, and what it means to be people of prayer. 

The stories of Jesus' life and teachings recorded in the Book of Luke highlight recurring themes of economic justice and Jesus as a prophet in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets. Together, let's explore how Jesus' teachings about justice continue God's emphasis on justice in the Old Testament. Let's discuss what Luke still teaches us today about how and when we should care for justice as Christians.

Like Matthew, Mark, and John, the gospel of Luke was written to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. Together, let's examine the author, audience, and background of Luke to better understand its unique and valuable perspective on Jesus. We'll also observe the central role of the Holy Spirit throughout Luke's gospel and discuss the impact of a Spirit-empowered life on our discipleship today. 

Each year, Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter. The impact of the resurrection is so profound that each of the four gospels tells the story. The details vary, but each account clearly announces that Jesus Christ is risen! As we study the gospel stories of Jesus' victory over death, we're invited to participate in telling Christ's story again and again.

Many events formative to our Christian faith occurred in the last week of Jesus' life. On Palm Sunday, we remember how he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna!” from a crowd that did not understand who he was or what he was doing. On Maundy Thursday, Jesus and his disciples sat down for a traditional Passover meal that broke tradition: Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and gave a new command, “Love one another” (John 13:34). That night, Judas betrayed Jesus, leading to Good Friday, the day Jesus endured trials and beatings, and ultimately, died on the cross. Finally, we reach Holy Saturday. For the disciples, it was a day of sabbath and sorrow; for us, it is a day of introspection, meditation, and anticipation. As we journey through Holy Week together, we create space for God's Word to nurture our faith and deepen our gratitude for God's great love and Jesus' profound sacrifice. 

As Jesus journeyed nearer the cross, he urgently taught the disciples about who he was, why he had come, and his mission from the Father. Over and over in the gospels, we witness a repeated rhythm of Jesus' teaching and the disciples' misunderstanding or resistance. We are not immune to falling into this rhythm ourselves. But, as we journey to the cross with Jesus during Lent, listening to him and studying his teaching provides the understanding we need to learn what it means to be humble and watchful servants waiting for the day when Jesus will return. 

The gospels of Mark and Luke both tell us that Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for his death. He wanted them to know what type of Savior he would be, but the disciples had difficulty understanding and even argued with him. The season of Lent invites us into somber reflection on Jesus' death and sacrifice on the cross. Let's discuss the biblical sources that Lent is based on, and then we'll study and reflect on Jesus' words to the disciples as he turns his face to the cross. Together, we'll see how they are an invitation to follow him in faith, sacrifice, and hope for us.

As the apostle Paul continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, crowds became increasingly contentious, and he was once again arrested and beaten. During the long series of trials that eventually led him to Rome, Paul seized every opportunity to share his testimony and preach the gospel. As we study Paul's journey to Rome, we too can gain confidence and readiness to share the good news of Jesus everywhere we go.