Iowa City Church Podcast

We all have those "to-do-lists" that have been slowly building over the years. The lists typically range from mowing the lawn, cleaning out the garage to finally preparing for retirement. Usually on that list there's a category specifically centered around our faith journey; pursuing a relationship with God and being obedient to what He asks you to do. Here's the big issue with any to-do-list: When is it going to happen?  Have you been feeling a tug on your heart or a sense that it's time to start working on the spiritual to-do-list? Don't wait! That stirring is often the gentle invitation of Jesus, calling you to step closer, to trust deeper, and to begin a life-changing journey with Him. Delaying that step might feel safer or more convenient, but the truth is, there's no perfect time—only the present moment. The peace, purpose, and transformation that come from walking with Jesus are available to you right now. Why wait another day to experience the fullness of what God has for you? Taking the next step in your faith might look different for everyone—maybe it's saying yes to Jesus for the first time, getting baptized, joining a community of believers, or simply recommitting your life to God. Whatever it is, don't let fear or uncertainty hold you back. Jesus isn't asking for perfection; He's inviting you into a relationship. Every step you take toward Him opens your life to more love, grace, and clarity than you've ever known. The journey begins with a simple “yes”—and that yes could change everything. To figure out what your next step might be, don't wait for when..take listen to what Jesus has to say about being ready. 

Researchers at the Institute for Business and Home Safety in Richburg, South Carolina, built two identical 1,300-square-foot houses inside a $40 million laboratory. They wanted to see how these homes would hold up against a hurricane. The first house was constructed to standard building codes—nothing fancy, just the usual. The second house, though, had reinforcement straps connecting every level—from the foundation all the way to the roof. Then they flipped on the giant fans, blasting winds up to 110 miles per hour, the strength of a Category 3 hurricane. In the first two tests, lasting less than ten minutes, both houses stood firm.  However, in the third test, when the winds roared for over ten minutes, the conventional house began to tremble. Before long, it collapsed into a heap. The reinforced house? It took some cosmetic scratches, but it stood tall. Tim Reingold, an engineer on the project, boiled it down to one question: “Which house would you rather be living in?”  Here's what's interesting. As Jesus wraps up his sermon on the mount, he makes a similar analogy, but instead of just building a house, he wants his listeners to think about what foundation they are building their lives upon. Why does Jesus conclude his sermon in this way? It matters, because according to Jesus--storms are coming! To learn more about what Jesus teaches about how to prepare for the storms of life, check out the conclusion of our series on The Sermon on the Mount.

One of the most quoted verses of the Bible comes from The Sermon on the Mount, and honestly it's not even the entire verse--it's just the first three words: "Do not judge". For context, this is all of verses one and two: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." ~ Matthew 7:1-2 What are we supposed to do with this complex teaching from Jesus? How can we not judge people? Isn't it unwise to not judge? What does Jesus mean by judgement? There's a lot going on in these two verses! So how are we as followers of Jesus supposed to follow these instructions?   Here's what we know regarding Jesus' teaching on judging: it calls for introspection, grace, and careful discernment in how we deal with others' shortcomings.      To dive more into the text, check out episode nine of The Sermon on the Mount series. 

What's worth worrying about? That is an increasingly important question in our culture. Over the last two decades anxiety disorders have risen by 1200%. That is a pandemic of epic proportions! It's affecting the youngest of children to all demographics of adults. The current estimate is that one in five adults will suffer from some type of anxiety disorder this year.  If this would describe how you are feeling right now, please seek help. If it's talking with someone at church please don't hesitate to ask. If it's a counselor, seek one out. If it's a physician, please take a moment to schedule a physical. There are a lot of different reasons one may be experiencing anxiety.  With that being said, the basis for a lot of anxiety problems is spiritual: misplaced priorities and trust issues. Not surprisingly, Jesus had some really important teachings about anxiety, misplaced priorities and trust issues...instructions that could really make a difference in your life!   To discover what he had to say, check out sermon number eight in our Sermon on the Mount series. 

Everyone likes Jesus' teachings about love, mercy and prayer. However once he starts getting to the difficult ones about our enemies ("turn to them the other cheek" and "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you") we all find ourselves pushing back. How are we supposed to live out these difficult teachings, and what is the point? How can our turning the other cheek really make any difference to our enemies except they get another free shot at our face? To discover Jesus' vision for why loving our enemies is so important, check out the latest on The Sermon on the Mount.

We've all had this experience where you go to the medical clinic with some type of physical problem. You take a few minutes to describe the symptoms and maybe even suggest some type of self-diagnosis--only to have the doctor begin to ask seemingly unrelated questions. Even poking around in an area where there are no apparent problems. What the doctor knows that you obviously don't know, is that the true problem often lies some place else. The same can be said with our pursuit of righteousness. We may think that to be righteous we must keep the rules and generally be a good person. However, according to Jesus, that's like putting a Band-Aid on a person suffering a heart attack; it doesn't get to the source of the problem!    In this sermon we will move into a very challenging section of The Sermon on the Mount where Jesus exposes people and their assumed "righteousness". Instead, Jesus like any good physician, goes to the source of the problem...the heart.

A lot of us, myself included, feel decent about who we are morally. Our reasoning? Well, at least we haven't murdered anyone. Let's be honest, murder is right up there at the top of the list of "The Worst Crimes to Commit". However, Jesus says, "Not so fast!" Here are his exact words:  "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." ~ Matthew 5:22  What is Jesus even talking about? How can my disdain for another person actually be equated to murder, and what am I supposed to do about it? To learn more about what Jesus is describing in this section of The Sermon on the Mount, check out episode #3. We hope you find it helpful!

People wear uniforms for a variety of reasons; identity, sense of belonging, and professionalism. For example when you see a person in a small white truck, blue pants and jacket roll through the neighborhood, you know your mail or package is about to be delivered. What is the uniform of a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven? In the Beatitudes, Jesus welcomed in rag tag bunch of nobodies into God's Kingdom. The truth is they weren't much to look at...they were a pathetic, powerless bunch. Yet Jesus invites them into the Kingdom and in Matthew 5:13-16 he describes what their uniform looks like: Salt & Light.  What is Jesus even talking about? More importantly, how are we supposed to "wear that uniform" in our world today? To learn more about what Jesus is describing in this section of The Sermon on the Mount, give a listen to part two of The Sermon on the Mount.

The Sermon on the Mount. The greatest sermon ever given. It is also the most quoted. In it we find the epitome of Jesus' teaching—radical, sensible, spiritual, and almost vicious in its demolition of hypocrisy. It flies in the face of every culture it enters. It pierces every heart that hears it. We attempt to analyze it as if using a microscope, only to find that we, not the text, are under examination! In this sermon we begin a 12 week journey through Matthew, chapter 5-7. In this study we will realize that not only does Jesus know us better then we know ourselves, he offers a better option of what true life can look like...even if it appears to be backwards, and upside down! Take a few minutes and check it out, we hope you find it to be helpful! 

Jesus called people to follow him. Not just believe he exists or like some of the things he taught--he literally said, "Follow me." One of his followers, the apostle Peter, reiterates this command: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." ~ 1 Peter 2:21 In this series we have focused on the different places Jesus went that we likewise should go, as his followers. One place Jesus went regularly was to secluded places to pray to his Father.  Another place Jesus went was to the broken & lost. The gospels are full of examples of Jesus engaging those far from God.  In this sermon we wrap up this series by looking at how Jesus used a majority of his time intentionally pulling away from the crowds so he could relationally pour his life into a few people. Jesus prioritized disciple making.  In this teaching we will discover why disciple making is so hard, and then focus on two manageable steps you can take to begin following the simple pattern of Jesus. 

We all remember the game of our childhood, Follow the Leader. However, if you missed out (or have forgotten) here are the basics. You first choose a leader and have the other players line up behind them. The leader moves around, and the other players mimic their actions. Players who don't follow are out of the game. The last player standing becomes the new leader and the game starts again. Now, while one might consider this simply a child's game, the truth is we never really stop playing Follow the Leader.  All humans have this innate part of our nature which seeks to follow someone; whether it's for validation, a sense of belonging or simply to find purpose. We are always seeking to align ourselves with others who we deem as being knowledgeable, influential or successful.  When a person becomes a Christian, they are pledging their allegiance, not to a religion or to a church, but to a person...Jesus; the one who lived, died, and rose again. To be a Christian is to follow a leader, King Jesus.  In part two of this series, look at another place Jesus went on a regular basis: To the lost and broken. The question we need to ask ourselves is simple, "Do we follow our leader to those places too?"

Being a Christian isn't complicated. It may not be easy, but it's not complicated. A Christian simply does the things Jesus did. In this new sermon series to start 2025 we will focus in on four places Jesus went on a regular basis. As his disciples we want to replicate these four rhythms into our weekly routines so that we can become more like Jesus.  To kick off this series, one of our elders, Jerry Anthony will be examining how Jesus made a regular habit of going to secluded places to pray to his Heavenly Father. To to learn more about how this can dramatically impact your relationship with Jesus check out part one of Following The Way.

The concluding sermon in our sermons series through the book of Acts.

In recent years our culture has really tapped into the power of testimony. Groups and assemblies of storytellers sharing wisdom gleaned from personal experiences have been cropping up in the US and Canada. Listeners are motivated, inspired, and guided. ‌ Confessional style storytelling of average people has been popularized by a non-profit called The Moth. They stage over 500 shows per year across the US. The Moth Radio Hour was launched in 2009 and is now on 500 public radio stations and has one million weekly listeners. The Moth's weekly podcast is downloaded over 73 million times annually. Executive Director Sarah Haberman told Forbes that “no matter where you're from and whatever your background, your story has the power to unite people, to break down walls—even when you can't be in the same room. That pursuit feels urgent right now.” ‌ Author Richard Wagamese wrote: “All that we are is story. ... It is what we arrive with. It is all we leave behind. We are not the things we accumulate. We are not the things we deem important. We are story.” The apostle Paul in Acts chapter 26 has this monumental task of sharing the the good news of Jesus with a very influential audience: Governor Festus and King Agrippa II.   There were probably a number of different strategies Paul considered while waiting to address these dignitaries. However, despite impressive education and vast knowledge of Scripture, Paul chose to simply tell his story. Is this a lesson we should consider when it comes to sharing the gospel? Your story, whether you realize it or not, is compelling. Think of how many times you have been convinced to do something simply based off of someone's personal experience. This is why one of the most powerful resources you have in sharing the good news about Jesus is your story of faith. Here's why: Your story opens hearts so God's story can change hearts. To learn more give a listen to part 15 of our series, To The Ends of the Earth. 

Everyone knows that a letter carrier has one job—deliver the mail. Apparently a Brooklyn mailman spent a decade avoiding his job by intentionally hoarding over 40,000 pieces of mail over a ten-year period. In September 2014, Joseph Brucato admitted hiding over a ton of mail (2,500 pounds to be exact) meant for customers in Flatbush since 2005, according to a Brooklyn federal court complaint. A postal supervisor became suspicious that Brucato was up to something weird when he noticed his personal car was stuffed with undelivered letters. Investigators pressed Brucato about the letter cache, and he admitted hoarding priority, first-class, and regular mail that had once been headed for Brooklyn businesses and residents in Flatbush. It took five postal agents five hours to remove the massive stash of purloined letters from his apartment. If convicted, Brucato faces up to five years in prison. In Acts 17 the apostle Paul strolls into the great city of Athens, the epicenter of culture, philosophy and art even during the Roman empire. Athens wasn't going to be an easy city to share the good news about Jesus. A plethora of idols and altars adorned the city and the talk of the town always focused on the latest and greatest philosophy's of the day. Needless to say, it was a tough crowd. Yet it didn't deter Paul, he had a message of hope to deliver...and deliver he did! (Acts 17:22-34) The same goes for anyone who carries the name Christian. A disciple of Jesus is in many ways a "mail carrier" of the gospel; delivering good news to the ends of the earth.  This means, as followers of Christ we have a very important decision to make: Will we hoard the mail or will we deliver it? In this sermon you will discover the apostle Paul's strategy for sharing the gospel with the people of Athens. In so doing, you can learn how you too can utilize this method of delivering the good news in our everyday lives.

Visitors to a museum in Rome might be struck by four partially finished sculptures. These were figures Michelangelo originally intended to use on the tomb of Pope Julius, but midway through the project he decided not to use them and ceased work on them. There is a hand protruding here, a torso of a man there, a leg, part of a head, but none are finished. Nearly everyone who sees these works senses the turmoil, the struggle embodied in these figures. It is as though they are crying to break free from the prison of the marble to become what they were intended to be. Author Theodore Roder looked on these four figures that Michelangelo called "The Captives" and wrote, "When I looked at those partial figures, they stirred up in me a deep longing to be completed—an ache to be set free from that which distorts and disguises, imprisons and inhibits my humanness, my wholeness. But as with those statues, I cannot liberate myself. For that I need the hand of another." The message of the gospel tells us that through King Jesus, "the hand of another" has reached in to set us free and shape us for a life of purpose.    In Acts chapter 16 we see this lived out as the apostle Paul and his team make their way into Europe on their second missionary journey. On this adventure they encounter three specific individuals looking for freedom, and through the message of the gospel they find it.   In this sermon we will discover how we too can be "unshackled" from our burdens and set free to participate in the mission of the Kingdom.

Acts chapter 15 is probably the most pivotal section in a book loaded with monumental moments. Tension builds as the Jewish Christians wrestle with what is essential for salvation, as multitudes of Gentiles pour into the Jesus movement. Is circumcision required? What about the food laws? Does the Sabbath still need to be honored? This obviously doesn't seem like a big deal to us because we are many years removed from this controversy. However it is still incredibly relevant, because as Christians we still have this tendency of adding on extra requirements for salvation; church attendance, being a good person, and various other religious and cultural traditions.     The lesson we all need to learn, and strive to pursue, comes from the apostle Peter as he stands among the church leaders in Jerusalem and gives this powerful charge: "Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." ~ Acts 15:10-11 Despite this radical message of grace, we still find ways of binding up grace and adding burdens for people seeking new life in Jesus...including ourselves. In this sermon episode we will explore some of those burdens and discover that now, more then ever, we need to live out this message of unbounded grace.

At the height of Jesus' ministry in Galilee there was this particular scene when the crowds were approaching him (and the disciples), in what looked like a "sea of wheat". In that moment, Jesus says these words: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." ~ Matthew 9:37-38 The disciples of course are thinking of the scores of Jewish people surging to see the Messiah. Little did they know, in just a few years, they would be experiencing a tidal wave of Samaritan and Gentile crowds who were hungry to experience the good news about Jesus! The problem: 12 apostles can only go so far. Thankfully, these disciples of Jesus knew how to make more disciples, so that as the doors of opportunity opened for Gentiles to hear the gospel, they were well equipped to scale the movement...and here we are! The harvest was plentiful and the workers responded. Here's a question worth pondering: Is the harvest still plentiful? To learn more, check out the next part of our sermon series, To The Ends of the Earth.

The first part of the book of Acts begins with Jesus' final command to his disciples. Here's a refresher if you've forgotten. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ~ Acts 1:8 Was Jesus serious? I know, it's a strange question but hear me out. To command his disciples to be on the mission of making disciples from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth means they are going to need to be prepared to face adversity and challenges, but it also means they must go and engage people who are very different then they are. Was Jesus serious?  This will be the ongoing tension throughout the book of Acts as the disciples grapple with Jesus' command to be witnesses to all people, even those who are outsiders. This issue is significant, and one we will explore this Sunday in Acts chapter 10. However, it also presses us to consider the same command Jesus gave you and I. If I'm a follower of Jesus, then I'm on the same mission--not only because King Jesus told to me to, but because at some point someone shared the Gospel with me (an outsider) and it changed my life! To continue this important dialogue check out part ten of To The Ends of the Earth.

Jesus tells this story about how God is like a shepherd looking for his lost sheep.  "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' ~ Luke 15:4-6 In this story Jesus is teaching us a valuable lesson about God: lost people matter to him. It doesn't matter who they are or what they have done, he is intent on pursuing them! The disciples of Acts chapter 8 & 9 must put this lesson into action as they are challenged by the Holy Spirit to pursue two "lost sheep". What can we learn from these events as we journey with Jesus on this same mission?   To be a part of the conversation, check out part nine of To the Ends of the Earth.

Giant redwoods are the most massive individual trees on earth. The redwood can grow to 270 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter. You might think that something that huge must have an incredible root system that goes down deep in order to stand that tall. This is not the case at all. The redwood tree has no tap root and remarkably shallow roots—only five or ten feet deep. It seems to violate the laws of physics that they can stay upright for hundreds – even thousand – of years. That is, until you know one more fact: the redwoods grow in thick groves because their shallow roots are intertwined, and over time, fused together. They start out as individuals and become one with others as they mature and grow. So, beneath the surface of these incredible statuesque trees are roots like an army of men who have their arms interlocked and supporting each other. They are preventing the adversaries of life from knocking each other down. In our divisive culture, the image of unity as displayed by the redwood trees seems like a mirage. However, this is exactly what the church is supposed to be! A group of diverse people, standing together as one--an image unlike anything our culture can muster. Yet, more often then not the church fails to live up to this standard of unity. What divides our culture seems to find its way into the church and splinters Jesus followers into different groups. How can we overcome our differences and live as one? Acts chapter six tells of a potential situation which threatens to tear the church in Jerusalem apart. Jesus' followers obediently follow his teachings and the problem is solved, the differences are healed and the church multiplies! To learn how to utilize these principles in your life and in our church give a listen to part 8 of...To The Ends of the Earth. 

The book of Acts introduces us to the birth of what we often refer to as the church. This fledgling community of Jesus followers are modeling God's Kingdom through their love, generosity, fellowship and disciple-making; the residents of Jerusalem are taking notice! Then seemingly out of nowhere a very disappointing event happens, very similar to that moment when your brand new vehicle gets a scratch. The new, shiny, clean looking church gets it's first blemish--and it's a bad one. In Acts chapter five a husband and wife want to be very generous like everyone else in the community, so they sell their land and tell everyone that they gave the proceeds to the church. The truth is, they didn't give what they said they gave, and the fallout is very troubling.   What lessons can we learn for today, as we strive to live as Jesus followers in his church? On Sunday, guest preacher Jared Nassiff will use the events of Acts chapter five to remind us that following Jesus leads us to a life of authenticity and freedom; the type of community we all long for. To learn more, check out part seven of To The Ends of the Earth.

Acts chapter four begins with a very tense moment. Two key leaders of this still relatively small group of Jesus followers have been arrested by the governing Temple officials. There is a sudden pause in the enthusiasm for following Jesus as Peter and John now have to stand in front of the power brokers of the city.  In this pivotal moment for the first disciples, we pay close attention to their response, but also their courageous decision to press forward with the mission they have been given. These examples help teach us a valuable lesson about how we are to respond when life becomes difficult because of our allegiance to King Jesus.    In this teaching, one of our elders, Jerry Anthony will continue our sermon series To The Ends of the Earth by pointing out where each of these Christians found their courage to carry on in the face of adversity. 

When Jesus told his disciples they were to be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), do you think he was serious? Do you think he believed such a mission could be accomplished? Of course he was serious...and most certainly he knew the ends of the earth was a reachable goal! The early disciples believed he was serious too, and as Acts chapter three opens we see two apostles employ a strategy to make Jesus famous. What can we learn from their strategy? Are there some tools we can use to help us carry on the mission of being a witnesses to the ends of the earth? In this episode we will dive into the text and discover how we can each employ some of these same strategies into our everyday lives.

When one begins a new job, class or project there is this understanding that to be successful one must develop a rhythm, or routine to discipline oneself so as to accomplish the task.  For example you show up to work on time, turn in your assignments when they are due, or make sure and follow the step by step directions. Simple, right? Not always as many of us can attest. Sometimes we just lack discipline. However, sometimes we just don't know what to do. We need someone to show us the way. For a disciple of Jesus what is the routine, or rhythm one must devote themselves to? Luke, the author of the book of Acts, concludes chapter two with an emphasis on four rhythms the early disciples devoted themselves...and the results were stunning! Is it possible that we could find similar results if we committed ourselves to a similar routine? To consider what this might look like in your life listen to part four of To The Ends of the Earth.

Here's the challenge: How do you convince someone to do something? Now, I'm not including parents, coaches, or bosses--you have certain advantages you can leverage. For this challenge I want you to focus in on how to convince your peers; co-workers, friends and family members to do a specific something (the actual something is up to you). After some research, here's a potential strategy one could use: Use clear language. ... Base your argument on facts or your experience. ... Match the other person's voice and body language with your own. ... Express your opinion reluctantly and use persuasive words. ... Get your timing right and be persistent. ... Pay genuine compliments. ... Be honest and energetic. Now we need to put this to the test. I'm sure there's a project or two that needs to get done and someone needs to persuade another someone to do it! Now consider this challenge: How do you convince someone to follow Jesus? As we pick up with part three of our Acts sermon series, we find the apostle Peter taking center stage and addressing the gathered crowd. In his sermon, he provides a series of convincing reasons why Jesus is worthy of giving one's allegiance to. Considering our mission is to be witnesses of Jesus to those around us, we can probably learn a thing or two from the apostle Peter on how to convince someone to follow Jesus.   To learn Peter's strategy for sharing the Gospel make sure and  listen to part three of To The Ends of the Earth.

For a lot of Christians, there is this desire to want to be in a deeper relationship with God and experience the power of the Holy Spirit. The usual way most people approach this goal is through more in depth Bible study, a new book by a Christian author, more spiritual experiences through worship, or a more stringent pursuit of spiritual disciplines. All of these are good, and helpful, however they all are missing one crucial element: Risk.  To really experience the Holy Spirit working in your life one must step outside of their comfort zone, do something that you can't do on your own...something risky, even scary! Maybe share your faith with a friend, step up your level of generosity, be willing to serve in a way you don't feel equipped to do. What is something risky the Holy Spirit is leading you to do? What we see consistently throughout the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit engaging in the lives of people to empower them for a mission outside of their comfort zones. In this sermon we will explore Acts chapter two as the Holy Spirit is poured out on the early Jesus followers. What we will discover can help you to radically experience not only a closeness with God, but the power of the Holy Spirit as well.

Most of us at some point in life (usually in a season of chaos) stop and ask the question: What on earth am I here for?  There  are a lot of different places to try and find the answer to that question. With today's technology one could use artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, there's always the old reliable Google and of course the trusted public library. However, even in that vast collection of data and knowledge, how can one know what is true?  As one opens the book of Acts, Jesus engages his apostles with a mission, a life purpose that would take them from Jerusalem, Samaria to the ends of the earth. Is it possible that that same purpose is ours as well? To learn more take a few minutes and give a listen to part one of To The Ends of the Earth.

Greed. It's a difficult stronghold to overcome because the truth is, greed is hard to see in the mirror. It's really easy to see in other, but for ourselves...not so much. However, recent studies from over last decade, substantiate this claim: “Zogby recently conducted a large benchmark poll in which respondents identified "greed/materialism" as the number one "most urgent problem in American culture." "Poverty/economic justice" finished in second place. In a 2014 Vanity Fair poll, 78 percent of Americans disagreed with the famous Gordon Gekko quote "Greed is good." Only 19 percent agreed. A recent poll of Economist readers asked "What is the deadliest sin?" and, greed ranked number one. But, surprisingly, although everyone thinks greed is a terrible problem, most people don't think they are greedy. The BBC conducted a poll on the seven deadly sins (anger, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride and sloth), greed was last on the list in answer to two questions: Which sin have you ever committed? and Which sin have you committed in the past month? Plenty of Brits copped to being lazy, proud, envious and angry. But greedy? Seventh out of seven, last on the list. Tim Keller, argues "even though it is clear that the world is filled with greed and materialism, almost no one thinks it is true of them … Greed hides itself from the victim." The fact is, to a certain degree, we all struggle with greed; no matter how little or much money one may have. What makes greed so dangerous is that it can be a stronghold which keeps us from growing as a disciple of Jesus--which is why he talked so much about it. Even more then the topics of hell and judgement, Jesus had more to say about money and possessions...and it wasn't because he wanted more money and possessions! Jesus taught on this topic so much because he knew it was the greatest obstacles in living as a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Check out part four of our sermon series, Mindset, and discover how Jesus instructs us on how to think differently about our money and possessions.

So, you're trying to sleep, and it's well after bedtime. But you're tossing and turning and unable to get comfy. You notice you're replaying the same scenario in your head. Some vision of tomorrow, of what might happen, how a hope could be dashed. If you've had this experience, you're far from alone. Researcher Lucas LaFreniere, Ph.D. said, “This is what breaks my heart about worry. It makes you miserable in the present moment to try and prevent misery in the future. For chronic worriers, this process leads them to be continually distressed all their lives in order to avoid later events that never happen. Worry sucks the joy out of the ‘here and now.'” In his study on worry, participants were asked to record their worries and how they caused distress and interfered with their lives. Each night at 10 pm, they reported how much time they spent thinking on each specific worry throughout the day. Then, 20 days after that period, they reviewed each entry and reported whether any of the worries had become true. The good news is, LaFreniere's study found that in his survey of worrisome people, 91.4 percent of their worries never actually happened. Worrying caused only more misery and did nothing to help the worriers handle whatever they had been worrying about. So how can we change the way we think about worry? This is mainly because the hotly anticipated events never transpired. Remember what Jesus said: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-34). Funny thing, Jesus actually has a lot to say about worry. Take this teaching for example:    “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” ~ Matthew 6:27   On Sunday Gabe Solis will be sharing a practical teaching the apostle Paul gives about how we can take Jesus' instruction and apply it to how we think about worry. To be a part of the conversation, give a listen to part three of Mindset.

A recent CBS news story asked this very important question: Why is everyone so angry? The story states: "According to a poll taken just before the pandemic, 84% of people think Americans are angrier than a generation before and 42% admitted that they themselves were angrier. But what makes us so angry? We asked online and logged more than 200 answers. Money was number one, with 32 responses mentioning the cost of living and the gap between the haves and have nots.  There were 30 votes for lousy politicians and a broken political system. Twenty-three blamed social media trolls and the peddling of unrealistic perfection. Fourteen mentioned being overworked and underpaid. There were also votes for COVID, bad weather, traffic, and the media. So, we know what's happening in the world, but what's happening in our brains? Why do we get angry and snap?" It's easy to see that there are a lot of reasons why people get angry, but people from the beginning, have had to deal with things which cause anger. Could the issue be we just don't handle anger very well? This is a problem in which Christians struggle as well. Anyone who follows Jesus has had to face the harsh reality that more often then not, anger and it's consequences just don't magically go away. So what are we missing? How can we better respond when the rage begins to rise? The foundation of this sermon series is that through Jesus we have a better way to handle issues like anger. Throughout the apostle Paul's ministry, one of his consistent teachings to believers is that they must not conform but be transformed. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," ~ Romans 12:2 The key is learning how to renew our minds, or simply put: change the way we think about emotions like anger. In part two of Mindset we will study one of the apostle Paul's teachings from his Ephesian letter specifically addressing anger. In this section of scripture we can begin to not only think differently about anger, but find freedom from it's control. We hope you find it to be helpful! 

As some point, every single one of us believed something to be true only to later discover that it was completely false. A classic example would be [spoiler alert] the existence of Santa Claus. For many people when they were younger, they believed with all their heart in this existence of Santa. Their entire understanding of Christmas was based upon the jolly elf delivering presents to every child in the world in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. However at some point the crushing truth came out that mom and dad were playing the role of St. Nick (even eating the cookies). This crushing reality triggered an entire re-wiring of your young mind; you literally changed the way you think about Christmas!  As people put their faith in King Jesus, the way they view the world begins to radically change; views on people, relationships, money, politics, meaning and purpose...it all begins to change.  The problem is sometimes we get hung up on certain ways of thinking that don't want to change, we call those barriers strongholds. A stronghold could be something like bitterness, control, jealousy, fear or anger. These strongholds are real and legitimate roadblocks to keeping us from living the life Jesus offers. In this new sermon series we are going to study the apostle Paul's teaching on how to breakthrough these strongholds in our lives and thus change the way we think. Here's what he teaches: "For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." ~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Check out this first sermon in this summer long journey of learning how to demolish a variety of different strongholds we all struggle with in our everyday lives. 

The book of Revelation (notice there is no "s" on the end) is one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible. It is not a book that describes how the world is going to end nor is it written scare people (though there are some scary images). Revelation is a book written to give hope and encouragement to Christians who were facing hardship and persecution in first century Asia Minor. The main message of the book is to remain faithful to King Jesus and don't compromise no matter what the cost. The reason this message is often lost on most readers is because it was written in a unique, yet common style of writing called Apocalyptic literature. The genre is described this way by Tim Mackie from Bible Project: "Apocalyptic literature is a prophet's symbolic dreams and visions that reveal God's Heavenly perspective on history and current events so that the present could be viewed in light of history's final outcome."  With this definition in hand, what we have in the book of Revelation is God's "Big Picture" plan of how history, and real time events are working to lead to the realization of God's Kingdom coming to fulfillment in a New Heaven and a New Earth.  At the center of God's plan to bring about this fulfillment is Jesus. In Revelation there are three distinct images of Jesus given: a high priest, a slain lamb, and a king on a white horse. These three descriptions are essential in reminding the readers as to who Jesus is, the roles that he plays in our lives and why he is worthy of our allegiance and worship. Give a listen to the conclusion of our Big Picture sermon series by taking a closer look at who Jesus is and why devoting our lives to him leads us to the destination our hearts desire.

One can't have a discussion regarding The Big Picture of the Bible without talking about God's Kingdom. From Genesis to Revelation, God's Kingdom pops up (though subtle at times) everywhere. Then, when Jesus arrives on the scene it literally becomes his main preaching point through out his ministry: "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" ~ Mark 1:15 This gospel message from Jesus was a call for people to leave their old kingdoms and join God's Kingdom. Jesus pushes this idea even further when he says our prayers should include a request that God's Kingdom would advance on earth. We are to pray: "your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." ~ Matthew 6:10 The Kingdom of God was a big deal to Jesus. The question we must answer is this: Is the Kingdom of God a big deal for us? We all are a part of a kingdom, be it our personal kingdoms, the kingdom of politics, or any kingdom of power in the world today. The problem with these kingdoms is that while they seemingly appear to offers us something, in reality they take, divide, and ultimately use...only to cast us away. On the other hand, Jesus tells us that in God's Kingdom the last are first, that those who mourn will be comforted, that those who are meek will inherit the earth, and that those who are peacemakers will be called children of God. What a dramatically different description then what we see in the kingdoms of our world.  In this latest installment of the Big Picture we discover why it is worth pledging our allegiance God's Kingdom.

A woman in Sunderland, England nearly leapt to her death in 2018 from Wearmouth Bridge, very well known as a place where people come to end their lives. She now returns to that site regularly to post messages encouraging others who are having a rough time to get help. Paige Hunter, now 21, says that when she was a teenager suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she found herself standing at the edge of the bridge, thinking about ending it all. That's when a pair of Good Samaritans approached Hunter, telling her “You are worth so much more than this.” That not only stopped her from jumping, but changed her life. The next day, Hunter wrote those eight words that were told to her on several pieces of paper and posted them all over the bridge where she had her epiphany. That's where her campaign, Notes of Hope, began. Since then, Hunter said she's left over 1,000 laminated, handwritten messages on the Wearmouth Bridge encouraging others struggling with mental health issues to seek help. She's received lots of feedback and thinks she's saved dozens of lives through her efforts—and even improved her own. Hunter said, “It's definitely therapeutic for me to write these messages.” 25-year-old Callum Doggrell said his life was saved by Hunter's efforts. “I was going through a really rough patch, and I was at a point in my life where I didn't want to be here anymore,” he said. That was in early 2019. He thought about his one-year-old son and other loved ones and decided to push past his trouble and carry on. He and Hunter are now in contact. We can't talk about The Big Picture of the Bible without spending some time with it's most famous verse:  "16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~ John 3:16 We learn that God so loves his creation that he is willing to give his son to save people and generously provide them with eternal life. In a truly stunning move, God demonstrates the value of people; they are worth the sacrifice of his son. This amazing news means everything to those who believe in Jesus. To find ourselves in a place of despair and hopelessness only to discover there is a savior who can change the narrative forever! It reminds me of Paige Hunter's story and how words of hope can change everything. Paige took those words of hope and found a mission to help others. What about followers of Jesus? Do we not carry the same type of mission? There is a shift that occurs when a person chooses to follow Jesus. Before following Jesus we live as if the world revolves around us. However, in following Jesus we move into second place...the place where King Jesus and his mission takes first place in our lives. If our savior humbled himself to save us, shouldn't that be our posture as well? Check out part eight of The Big Picture and learn how to live a life of "second place" and take up the mission of Jesus.

The fine-tuning of the universe is shown in the precise strengths of four basic forces. Gravity is the best known of these forces, and the weakest, with a relative strength of 1. Next comes the weak nuclear force that holds neutrons together inside an atom. It is 1034 times stronger than gravity but works only at subatomic distances. Electromagnetism is 1,000 times stronger than the weak nuclear force. The strong nuclear force—which keeps protons together in the nucleus of an atom—is 100 times stronger yet. If even one of these forces had a slightly different strength, the life-sustaining universe we know would be impossible. If gravity were slightly stronger, all stars would be large, like the ones that produce iron and other heavier elements, but they would burn out too rapidly for the development of life. On the other hand, if gravity were weaker, the stars would endure, but none would produce the heavier elements necessary to form planets. The weak nuclear force controls the decay of neutrons. If it were stronger, neutrons would decay more rapidly, and there would be nothing in the universe but hydrogen. However, if this force were weaker, all the hydrogen would turn into helium and other elements. The electromagnetic force binds atoms to one another to form molecules. If it were either weaker or stronger, no chemical bonds would form, so no life could exist. Finally, the strong nuclear force overcomes the electromagnetic force and allows the atomic nucleus to exist. Like the weak nuclear force, changing it would produce a universe with only hydrogen or with no hydrogen. In sum, without planets, hydrogen, and chemical bonds, there would be no life as we know it. Besides these four factors, there are at least twenty-five others that require pinpoint precision to produce a universe that contains life. Getting each of them exactly right suggests the presence of an Intelligent Designer. Source: Charles Edward White, "God by the Numbers," Christianity Today (March 2006) Every day we go about our lives, moving from one project to the next, not even stopping to marvel at how fortunate we are to even exist. To pause and consider that every little detail, from gravity to electromagnetic force, is precisely fine tuned for us to live and move about on this planet is truly remarkable. It's even more remarkable when you realize who made it happen. The apostle Paul writes: "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities,; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." ~ Colossians 1:16-17 If Christ Jesus is the one who created gravity, and if he is the one who rules over all powers and authorities, and if in him all things hold together, what could he do with your life of chaos? To consider what a life with Jesus at the center looks like, check out part seven of the Big Picture! 

Listen to guest preacher David McCoy continue with part six of our sermon series, The Big Picture. 

Evan Osgood, the student ministry pastor from Antioch Christian Church continues our sermon series in part five of The Big Picture.

In middle school there was a very sophisticated way to determine if someone wanted to be boyfriend/girlfriend: We sent a note. Not just any old note mind you. The note was usually discreetly carried by an entrusted friend who would deliver the precious cargo while avoiding the scanning eyes of the teacher. The note simply read: Do you like me? Below were a series of boxes. One box indicated YES. Another box was NO. A third box was, MAYBE. Your job was to mark the appropriate box, get the message back to the trusted carrier, and depending on the box you marked, either make someone's day or break their heart. Millions of pre-teen relationships were formed in this somewhat risky, yet safer way of asking the universal question: Do you want a relationship with me? God's design for all of creation was for it to live in perfect community. We were made for relationship with God and with every other human. However, because of the rebellion against God's design, humans now live in this broken world where they were made for relationship, yet so uncertain if God or other people will even accept them.  Therapist, Edie Weinstein puts it this way: ‌ “I have sat with clients of all ages who have expressed feeling like an outsider who doesn't quite fit in, a square peg in a round hole, so different from others that they may have come from another planet. Some are adults, some children and teens and what they have in common is a longing to belong.” We all have a longing to belong and the good news of the Bible is that God wants you to belong in his human family! In part four of The Big Picture we will discover how we can know that God "marked the YES box" and the impact that invitation can have on our lives and our relationships with others. To learn more, give a listen to part four of The Big Picture!

There's a well-known story about a famous violinist who took his $3.5 million Stradivarius onto a platform of a Washington DC subway and started playing music. He was dressed in a T-shirt and a ball cap. Joshua Bell was accustomed to playing for packed concert halls and getting paid $1,000 a minute. During his 43-minute solo concert in the subway a total of 1097 people passed by. But only seven people stopped to listen. He earned $32 in change. J.T. Tillman, a computer specialist, was one of the people who walked by. He said, “I didn't think nothing of it, just a guy trying to make a couple of bucks.” Tillman would've given him some cash, but he spent all his money on the lotto. When he was told that he stiffed one of the best musicians in the world, he asked, “Is he ever going to play around here again?” The reporter said, “Yeah, but you're going to have to pay a lot to hear him.” Exactly one person recognized Joshua Bell. Her name was Stacy. She positioned herself 10 feet away from Bell, front row, center. She had a huge grin on her face. She said, “It was the most astonishing thing I've ever seen in Washington. Joshua Bell was standing there playing at rush-hour, and people were not stopping, and not even looking, and some more flipping quarters at him! Quarters! I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what kind of a city do I live in that this could happen?'” In Genesis chapter three we read about this event often referred to as The Fall. A perfect garden paradise called Eden, two humans made in the image of God caring for the beautiful space and living in a everyday relationship with God. Everything is running according to design until a spiritual being, taking on the appearance of a snake, tempts the couple with a crafty half truth, and in a moments notice everything is thrown into disarray! The story of the Bible is about how God works to bring goodness back to from chaos. The good news of Scripture tells us that God invades the fallen world as Jesus of Nazareth. His job is to atone for the sin, but there's also another very important job as well: show people what it means to be human. Jesus is the perfect human and he models for us what it looks like to live as imagers of God here on earth.  What does any of this have to do with one of the greatest violin players in the world going unnoticed in a subway? Every day, Christians ignore the beautiful transformation that King Jesus gives us. The apostle Paul writes: "take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth." ~ Ephesians 422-24 CSB Everyday we go about our busy lives, looking like everyone else...all the while ignoring the beautiful example King Jesus provides us about how to live as God's people. To learn more give a listen to part three of The Big Picture.

My wife Suzi loves puzzles and is a master at putting them together. Me on the other hand, when I look at a pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces, immediately thinks, "Chaos!" This is why I'm so amazed at how Suzi opens a puzzle box, and immediately employs her meticulous strategy, and within a handful of hours, has assembled a beautiful picture...with every piece in it's place! The Bible opens with these words: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." ~ Genesis 1:1-2 Two important truths we discover from these verses. 1) God created. There is an author, creator, architect, and designer. This is an important truth and must not be dismissed. To not be able to assign origin and design to someone or something can cause a person to feel untethered, anxious. To know where we come from and why we are here is essential in living a live of clarity and purpose. The good news of the Bible tells us that God is the Creator. 2) Chaos. The words, "formless and empty" convey the idea of chaos; just like a heaping pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces. Yet, God takes the chaos and begins to bring order, structure, meaning and purpose to all of creation. All of us have had moments in our lives where it felt like we were living in complete chaos; be it our finances, relationships, emotions, or our thinking. The good news of the Bible tells us that the Creator can bring something good from our chaos.  To learn how these truths apply to your life, make sure and listen to part two of The Big Picture. 

So many of us do it: You get into bed, turn off the lights, and look at your phone to check social media one more time. Before you know it, you've spent hours incessantly scrolling through X, Tik-tok or Reels...a bottomless doom-and-gloom of negative information, thoughtless antics and cheap entertainment.    This habit has become known as doomscrolling--the act of consuming an endless procession of negative or meaningless online content. According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, 66% of Americans feel worn out by the amount of news available. Other articles have found connections between doomscrolling and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, not to mention the impact on quality sleep.  Recently, Dictionary.com named doomscrolling one of its “New Words We Created Because of Coronavirus.” There's something else in the etymology, though. Particularly in the word doom. The act of doomscrolling, then, is to roll toward annihilation. Kind of an eerie word if you look at it that way. The bigger point in all of this lies in the simple truth: You become what you consume. The result of doomscrolling over time is a hunger for good news. News that satisfies, brings hope, give life, provides joy, and is true. In this new sermon series, we begin a journey of good news. In The Big Picture series, we will discover the singular good news message of the Bible and how we can track it every part of scripture. This series is going to provide us with a great opportunity to better grasp the grand narrative of the Bible. Give a listen to part one of the Big Picture, and join the conversation! 

We've all had those moments when we've been misunderstood. Maybe because of appearance, language barrier or simply using the wrong word, there can be confusion about what is really going on. When it comes to Christianity, I have found that there is a huge misunderstanding about what it's all about. Over the years I've had people say, "Well, I could never be a Christian because I find parts of the Bible offensive." In my ministry I've had people be offended about what the Bible says about money, women, creation, marriage, sexual ethics and many other things. My response typically goes something like this: I think every part of the Bible is important, one of the jobs of the Bible is to be offensive, to challenge us to be different. However just for a moment, put the ethical teaching aside: If Jesus was raised from the dead, you're going to have to deal with everything in the Bible. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, you are free to ignore the Bible completely.  To understand Christianity one must start with the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Everything about the Christian faith is built upon this historical event...and if it is true you must change the way you live. Check out the conclusion of our journey through the Gospel of Mark and discover how Mark's unique ending is an open ended challenge to respond to King Jesus!

On Saturday, May 6th 2023 the coronation of King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the Common wealth realms took place at Westminster Abbey, London. The coronation itself is an intricate service lasting just over two hours and follows a traditional template that has stayed much the same for more than 1,00 years. For example there is great symbolism in the royal scepters that are used, the intricate details of the throne and the crowns. Every part of the coronation is marking the transition of Charles from prince to king. If you are interested in all of the details, the BBC ran this helpful article to bring everyone up to speed on the significance of the event.  What does King Charles' coronation have to do with Jesus of Nazareth? Actually, a whole lot more then what you would think. Answer these questions: When did Jesus become king? When was Jesus recognized as being the King of the Jews? When was he robed in a royal garment? When was he crowned and lead through the streets of Jerusalem? When was he lifted up a recognized as being God's son? According to Mark's gospel this all took place on the day Jesus was crucified...a crucifixion that was actually a coronation.   When we consider the cross of Jesus we typically think of Jesus' atoning death for the forgiveness of sins, and we should because that is what happened. However, many other significant things are happening as well, one of which is his glorification, where he is lifted up and recognized as the Christ, the son of the living God.  In this episode we will ponder what the coronation of King Jesus on the cross means for us, his followers.

One of the hardest places to be angry with a person is at the supper table. It's nearly impossible to share a meal with someone with whom you are at odds with. Either you won't enjoy the food you are eating or you will be forced to leave the table and eat somewhere else. The flip side of this is when you are in a healthy relationship with another, sharing a meal is the best place to be; the conversation flows freely, the laughter is effortless and even the food tastes better! Here's the truth: To share a meal with someone you are at odds with requires reconciliation. For the Christian, we often describe our connection with God as a relationship. When we pledge our allegiance to God through baptism, we enter into a covenant relationship. There are moments when the relationship is amazing and transformative. Unfortunately there are times when the relationship is at odds and not because of God, but because of mine and your rebellious nature. Here's the problem, when we are at odds with God what are we to do? The guilt can be overwhelming, the shame paralyzing and the embarrassment distancing. We wonder if God will take us back? We blame ourselves for repeating the same offense again and again. We become convinced that this time, God's patience with us has finally run out. Here's what you need to know: Jesus knew this would happen. He knew that we would break our covenant relationship with him, and that we would need a way to reconcile the relationship. Ironically, he invites us to a meal table, a spiritual meal table designed specifically to bring about restoration and reconciliation. We call that meal, The Lord's Supper. "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” ~ Mark 14:22-25 Unfortunately, for many Christians, The Lord's Supper (Communion) has simply become a memorial service, much like how we celebrate Memorial Day or Independence Day. The reality is that Jesus instituted this meal to be so much more then remembering. It's about participating in the work of the cross, it's about confessing our sin, and allowing Jesus to restore our relationship. Simply put, The Lord's Supper is multifaceted in what it does in our lives and in our church family.  To learn more about how The Lord's Supper is so transformative in our lives as disciples of Jesus, make sure and listen to part ten of Come, Follow, Me...where you will be invited to have a seat at the table. Maybe it's been a while for you. Maybe you're feeling disconnected from God. The best place to start is to accept Jesus' invitation and take a seat at the table.

The story is told of a man who was on a business trip and stayed in a hotel that had a bug problem. There were bugs all over his room. He complained about this to the management and later wrote a letter of complaint to the main office of the hotel chain.  Sometime later he received a letter signed by the President of the company. It said:   “We are humiliated that a man of your integrity, a man of your reputation, a man of your importance in the community should have had this experience in one of our hotels. We are deeply sorry.”  This made the man feel somewhat better about the situation until, as he was folding the letter to put it away, he noticed a little piece of paper at the bottom of the envelope, obviously not supposed to have been included. It was in the President's handwriting and it read: “Send this guy the ‘bug letter.'” Unfortunately, this is the way we sometimes treat other people.  We send them the ”bug letter,” the form letter. We give them the tired, old cliches: We ask them: “How are you?” when we don't really care. We say “have a nice day," or "I'm so sorry,” when really we couldn't care less. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the most important he replied with two. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." ~ Mark 12:30-31   According to Jesus the only way to truly love God requires us to love people as we love ourselves. Now, there is a lot going on in this text but the bottom line is simple: a disciple of Jesus loves God by loving people. That's easy enough to remember and say, yet actually loving someone is much harder to do. True love requires something of us...it requires us to truly care about others, even if they are our enemy. Each day we come into contact with people who will have one thing in common: they're struggling with something. They will tell us about loved ones who are sick, loved ones who have died, loved ones who have problems. They will share with us their sufferings, their heartaches, their fears.  Perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said, “You should never tell people your problems because 80 percent of them won't care, and the other 20 percent will think you deserve them!”  Let us not send them the “bug letter.”  Let us listen carefully and mean it when we say we care. Jesus never sent anyone a “bug letter.”  We shouldn't either. To better understand what this would look like in your life, check out part nine of our sermon series through the Gospel of Mark.

I'm not very familiar with figs or fig trees. My only connection might be that I enjoy a Fig Newton every once in a while, that's about it. However, a fig tree becomes a central point of emphasis for what Jesus teaches in chapter 11 of Mark's gospel. Jesus and his disciples are heading into Jerusalem, and Jesus is hungry. Up ahead he sees a fig tree, mature and full of leaves. Even though it's a little early for the fig harvest he's hoping to score some figs. However, when he gets to the tree he discovers there is no sign of fruit, not even a little bud. Here is what he says: "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." ~ Mark 11:14 Jesus then proceeds with his disciples up into the grand and majestic Temple, the place which represented the presence of God amongst his people, and what does Jesus find? He finds corruption, injustice, and in his own words "a den of robbers". He then cleans house and leaves the Temple. The next morning as Jesus and his disciples make their way back into the city here is what they saw: "they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" ~ Mark 11:20-21 What's the point Jesus is trying to make? Don't just appear to be faithful to God (the leaves of the fig tree/the beautiful Temple). True faithfulness to God produces fruit not corruption. As Jesus says: "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." ~ Matthew 7:20 What does this teaching mean for those who are disciples of Jesus? You can look the part of a disciple with your "leaves": going to church, giving money, reading the Bible, having theological knowledge, and being a morally good person. However, if there is no "fruit" what good are you to the Kingdom of God? These are strong words by Jesus and ones we must wrestle with on our journey of following him. To learn more about what the "fruit" of a disciple is and how to develop it, check out episode eight of Come, Follow, Me.

"Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to Kalawao—a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony. For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity. Slowly, it was said, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope. Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him. Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: "We lepers…." Now he wasn't just helping them. Now he was one of them. From this day forward, he wasn't just on their island; he was in their skin. First he had chosen to live as they lived; now he would die as they died. Now they were in it together. One day God came to Earth and began his message: "We lepers…." Now he wasn't just helping us. Now he was one of us. Now he was in our skin. Now we were in it together." ~ John Ortberg, God Is Closer Than You Think Why did Father Damian give his life in service to the people on the island of Kalawao? He did so because that was the example set for him...and all Christians by Jesus himself.   "For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Mark 10:45 More then any word Jesus spoke, it was his actions of serving that have most impacted each of us. It was Francis of Assisi who said, "Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." When each of us begins to model the actions of King Jesus in our neighborhoods, our lives and our neighborhoods, literally begin to change.  ‌ Also, there is one more biblical truth you need to be reminded of: Jesus lives in your neighborhood; he lives in the form of that person who needs to be helped by you, who needs to be served by you. Jesus is the lonely kid who just needs somebody to play catch with him. Jesus is the elderly widow who is dying of loneliness. Jesus is that young couple who would give anything for a person with a healthy marriage to come over and encourage them and say, "You know what? You can make it through this. It's okay. We'll help you." ‌ Jesus said: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." ~ Matthew 25:40   Jesus Christ is in your neighborhood, and he's waiting for you to reach out and serve him. He's waiting for you to choose to be a servant, not to serve just when it's convenient, but to serve because you are his disciple. To learn more about what this looks like in your life, give a listen to part seven of Come, Follow, Me.

In August of 2003, the Church of the Holy Cross in New York City was broken into twice. In the first break-in, thieves made away with a metal moneybox that had been resting next to a votive candle rack. Three weeks later, vandals escaped with something much more valuable: they unbolted a 4-foot long, 200-pound plaster Jesus from a meditation area, taking the statue of Christ, but leaving behind his wooden cross on the wall. The church caretaker, David St. James, confessed his bewilderment at this: "They just decided, 'We're going to leave the cross and take Jesus.' We don't know why they took just him. We figure if you want the crucifix, you take the whole crucifix." In other words, David St. James was saying, "If you want Jesus, you take his cross, too." It only makes sense if you want Jesus, the cross is a part of the deal; that's one of the many reasons why Jesus is so amazing! For the Christian, the cross of Christ represents love, grace and forgiveness. You take Jesus and his cross. But what about your cross? If you follow Jesus, you have a cross as well...at least that's what Jesus says. "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." ~ Mark 8:34 There are a lot of people who are fans of Jesus; they agree with some of the things he says, they appreciate the love and forgiveness...they even wear a "Jesus Is My Homeboy" t-shirt! However being a disciple of Jesus isn't about agreement or fandom...it's about self denial, allegiance and loyalty. Here's why this matters according to Jesus: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it." ~ Mark 8:35 Intuitively we think that by preserving our lives we save them, yet according to Jesus by surrendering our lives, our passions and even our desires over to the cross (our own cross) we will find life. So the question we all have to wrestle with is this: Will I take Jesus, his cross and my cross too? To better understand what this looks like in your life, make sure and listen to part six of Come, Follow, Me.

In part five of Come, Follow, Me we discover how Jesus intentionally coaches his disciples so that they can be prepared to carry on the Kingdom Mission.