Joining God in the rewal of all things through a network of neighborhood churches in the Antelope Valley
Looking throughout history and our current times to see God providing a way for what he has called of us, even when it seems impossible or unlikely.
Mary is chosen. John the Baptist is chosen. The Shepherds in the field are chosen. Focus on what it means to be “the elect” or chosen by God. Abel’s offering chosen. Abraham chosen. Jacob chosen. This has nothing to do with who gets in to Heaven, but those blessed by God to bring his generosity and goodness to everyone around them.
This week, we focus on the forgiveness of God, restoration, and redemption. Zechariah doesn’t believe and loses the ability to talk. Mary isn’t believed and nearly divorce and publicly shamed. They are both given a restoration and sing a poetic song of praise. Throughout the Bible, God’s generous with forgiveness and restoration. We talk about the coming of the Messiah is to renew all things, restore humanity and the planet toward the Eden ideal.
In this message, we focus on Jesus teaching on looking toward birds and flowers, not anxious and worrying. God has an abundance and takes care of his creation. (Why do people then go hungry? Other people hoarding resources, unfortunately). But Jesus gives life more abundantly, drink of him for living water. John 3:16 everlasting life. But what does that mean? To the Jewish culture of the time, eternal life wasn’t beginning after death, but in the present. The picture is after the fall, we are living death, like zombies. The everlasting life, abundant life, well spring of life, in Jesus and his resurrection power here and now is new life in the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.
Moving from Thanksgiving to Advent Season at the end of 2020... it's a tough season globally. Here we discuss being honest and real with God, about unmet expectations, and seeking his help to balance gratitude with grief.
Jesus has taught the first will be last and the last will be first, the greatest in his kingdom are the servants, and has responded to his disciples bickering about who is the greatest by telling them to be like children. He's also foretold his death three times now. But still, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus and asks for her boys to sit at his right and left hands when his kingdom comes in glory.
' “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” ' Matthew 20:1-16
'Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.' Matthew 19:13-30 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.19.13-30
'When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” ' Matthew 19:1-12 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.19.1-12
Kairos 10 - 18 Imagine Jesus Flipping Revenge Into Forgiveness (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
'“If another believer#18:15a Greek If your brother. sins against you,#18:15b Some manuscripts do not include against you. go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid#18:18a Or bind, or lock. on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit#18:18b Or loose, or open. on earth will be permitted in heaven. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers,#18:20 Greek gather together in my name. I am there among them.”' Matthew 18:15-20 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.18.15-20
'About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf#18:5 Greek in my name. is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.#18:9 Greek the Gehenna of fire. “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.#18:10 Some manuscripts add verse 11, And the Son of Man came to save those who are lost. Compare Luke 19:10. “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.' Matthew 18:1-10,12-14 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.18.1-10,12-14
Jesus uses Family language Last time Jesus spoke about brothers or sisters was Matthew 12:48-50 'For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” After this chapter, Jesus has a massive thread of family language! ' “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ' Matthew 18:15 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 'And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ' Matthew 19:29 In there, Jesus talks about a husband and wife and being a child in God’s kingdom. Why all this family language? Because he’s the Son, and so sure of his identity in the father!
Kairos 9 - 20 Imagine Jesus Preferring Children Over Adults (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
'When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ' Matthew 17:14-23 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.17.14-23
Exodus 34:4-9 1 Kings 19:9-13 Matthew 17:1-13 There’s a note of time there. Many translations note it as “after 6 days.” Implying this event is on the seventh day. Reminder what seven and a seventh day is supposed to trigger in our minds. It should take us back to the beginning of the Bible and this story of God’s work to pull the world out of darkness and chaos into light, life, and peace. God does this by trying to partner with mankind, but humanity keeps blowing it over and over, so God is constantly picking up the slack for us. Jesus has always been present and active! John 1:2, “He was in the beginning with God.” What would make someone look like a son of the gods? Could it be a similar description of how the gospels record Jesus during his transfiguration? Deut. 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. Revelation 1:12 The transfiguration seems to strongly point to Jesus’ divinity in many ways. Peter just professed him as the Christ, the messiah, the anointed one and as the son of God. People call Jesus the Christ over and over. Jesus doesn’t say those aren’t right words to call him, but what does Jesus call himself? Son of Man. Is he quoting something? Referring to something? Daniel 7. In this scene, out of a stirring great sea (waters of darkness and chaos) rise beasts, mutant beasts. Like a nightmarish version of the creation story, twisted and distorted. We find out these beasts signify kings or empires of kings, corrupt, evil, violent. There’s even a beast so mutated it doesn’t get real animals compared to it and it makes war on God’s people and boasts proudfully. 9“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. 10A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. Now, notice thrones, verse 9. Doesn’t say how many,but it is plural. Maybe it’s two? Why would there be two thrones? Well, one is for the Son of Man. Verse 13-14 And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. Genesis 1:26-31 What stands out here? Man appointed to rule. Makes me have to ask, what does it look like for humans to rule like this? Well, Deuteronomy actually has a section that prescribes how an Israelite King is supposed to live. Deut. 17:14-20 Chosen by God A member of the covenant people Do not amass a mighty army. Don’t go to Egypt (which often signifies the land of slavery) Don’t make a harem. Implies no political marriages that lead the heart astray. Don’t amass wealth. Study God’s law, teach God’s law, embody God’s law. Be humble, not boasting or thinking himself better than any other human being. Lead the people toward the heart of God.
Kairos 8 - 30 Imagine Jesus Telling You Who You Are (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
Kairos 8 - 21 Imagine Jesus Asking You To Trust Him (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
Kairos 8 - 16 Imagine Jesus Hovering Over The Waters Of Darkness (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
Kairos 8 - 9 Imagine Jesus As Your Bread (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
Kairos 8 - 2 Imagine Jesus Taking A Break (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
Kairos 7 - 26 Imagine Jesus During Political Injustice (Zoom Recording) Copy 01 by Kairos Community
Kairos 7 - 19 Imagine Jesus Rejected By His Hometown (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
If we keep in mind that the parables are not simply just universal teachings, but are a way of Jesus to explain what he was doing right then and there, we can realize knew deeper truths from the parables. With a better scope on what Jesus was saying about himself at that point in time, and as our lives change through seasons, we can find new relevancy in the parables.
Blood is thicker than water, but do we make an idol out of family? Jesus talked about bringing a sword, pitting father against son. He also says his mother, and brother, and sister, are those who do the will of his Father. In this conversation we discuss the family of God.
If we keep in mind that the parables are not simply just universal teachings, but are a way of Jesus to explain what he was doing right then and there, we can realize knew deeper truths from the parables. With a better scope on what Jesus was saying about himself at that point in time, and as our lives change through seasons, we can find new relevancy in the parables. Who are the weeds? What encouragement can we take from the parables nearest the parable of the weeds?
Kairos 6 - 21 Is Nationalism A Sin- Conversational Sermon (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
Kairos 6 - 21 Is Nationalism A Sin- Conversational Sermon (Zoom Recording) by Kairos Community
"Beware the level on the Pharisees" is a warning that spans the generations, spiritually speaking, when having discernment of the spirit behind leadership, particularly religious leadership.
Following the "thread of bread" in Matthew 15, looking closely at Jesus, and following him in how we can break bread with others, sewing love and God's goodness to the hungry and hurting.
Comparing modern America with the time Jesus walked the Earth and finding parallels helps us determine our King's will for our responses and actions here and now. And while answers are hard to find among mankind, let us not trust in earthly wisdom or treasure, but boast only in knowing the Lord.
Jubilee and the number seven transcend the Bible like a literary theme from the beginning 7-day creation story to the Revelation. We take a look at Jubilee past, present, and the ultimate jubilee that is to come.
We break down the cloud of debt held over the heads of people groups living right here in America, suffering the oppression of varying levels and forms. How can we bring the Jubilee of Jesus and set captives free and cancel debts?
We look at the 613 commandments of the old testament law and get lost in legalism and thinking of God as rigid, when really the laws show his heart of compassion and equity for the vulnerable people who bear his sacred image.
There are multiple opportunities to be found if we look at this COVID season as a Biblical Jubilee.
We look deeper into the idea of jubilee and God's character.
Can this quarantine time actually be a jubilee?
Wrapping a three-part series on "What is the Gospel?" We arrive at the answer that Jesus is the Gospel. We also talk about how he as king brings jubilee and that our world may very well be in a time of jubilee even in the sad circumstances currounding COVID-19.
After a weekend where Chris spoke on "What is the Gospel" comparing Punitive substitutionary atonement with Medicinal Substitutionary atonement. This message is led by Cody on What is the Gospel and how it's so much more than Jesus saving mankind from God sending them to hell. Here we break down some myths and misunderstandings on hell as we deconstruct and reconstruct a Christ-centered gospel.
Recording of our first zoom-based worship gathering right after the stay at home orders were put into effect.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
These tracks lead you audibly as the listener physically moves to eight different stations each commemorating the journey of Jesus and his crucifixion for Good Friday.
Luke 10 1-11 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’
Matthew 18 serves as a good chapter for modeling our behavior within the Kingdom of God and more particularly or pockets of community within the kingdom.