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Over the next few weeks, we will examine the elements of Intentional Spiritual Formation and their roles in the process of forming us to be more like Jesus. This week we tackle the first of those elements: Teaching.

The goal for every apprentice is to eventually do the kinds of things that his or her master did. The same is true for apprentices of Jesus - to bring the Kingdom of God by saying and doing the types of things Jesus said and did.

How can we become like Jesus? After all, the purpose of apprenticing under Him is that we might become like Jesus and do the kinds of things that He did. In this episode we examine some of the factors that shape and form us as individuals - either towards Christlike character and living, or away from it.

Apprenticing to Jesus involves three goals. Join us as we take a look at what it means to "Be with Jesus" for the purpose of becoming like Him.

This is our second week in this sermon series based on the book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. How should we understand what it means to become a disciple or apprentice under Jesus? In what ways should that direct our path in life. Join us this week as we discover the answer to those questions and the three primary goals of any apprentice.

Jesus came that we may have life... and have it abundantly. Are you experiencing that abundant life? What accounts for the difference between his promise and our experience? The answer, often times, is us. And the lives we lead. Join us this week for the invitation into that abundant life.

Faced with an impossible situation, Jesus once again demonstrates his power and authority over those things that make man's toil in the world laborious. It is a moment reminiscent of one of Israel's greatest leaders and causes those present to wonder if Jesus might be the one they've been waiting for.

Why was Jesus ministering and healing on the Sabbath? Join us today as we uncover the reality behind the relationship of God to the Sabbath and why the words "My Father is working..." were so infuriating to those who opposed Jesus.

Following His encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus chooses to pass through Samaria on His way to Galilee. At a well outside the town of Sychar, a most unusual scene unfolds. Join us as we dive into one of the most beautiful accounts in the Gospels and discover the offer of Living Water.

Nicodemus, a leader of the Pharisees, has seen and heard enough to know that God is with Jesus. But he is unsure what it all means. Join us for this week's message as we discover the most important thing for Nicodemus - and us - to understand about the new era that Jesus is ushering in.

Join us today as we step into a wedding celebration in Galilee. An issue arises that leads to an interesting exchange between Jesus and his mother. In the end, we are privy to the first of seven miraculous signs revealing the deity of Jesus. Note: Below is a link to the video we showed during our Sunday Gathering. https://youtu.be/rV3AnTUPiDY?si=2v6Xje8OdMKigleu A shortened link: https://bit.ly/3IC8UzH

In this week's message and with John the Baptist as our example, we will discover a critical key for discovering and fulfilling the purposes that God has for our lives.

John wraps up his Prologue with the implications of the incarnation. What is the significance of Jesus being full of grace and truth? And what does he mean that we have received grace upon grace? That's what we'll discover this week in John 1:14-18.

The Gospel of John stands apart from the other Gospels. While the others serve as a summary or synopsis of the life of Christ, John's Gospel paints a unique portrait of the heart of God. Join us this week as we see the portrait emerge and an invitation extended.

"Greetings, O favored one..." Those were the angels initial words to Mary. Significant words. But words that troubled her a bit. Join us this week as we look at Mary's invitation into the Christmas story and the relevance of those words for us.

The question as we transition from the life of David to the life of Solomon is, "Will he, like his father, be a man after God's own heart?" Join us as we dive into First Kings and discover the secret to a life lived out of wisdom.

The Bible tells the unfolding story of redemption that God has been writing in the world. It is a story that continues to be written individual by individual and generation by generation. As He does so, it is worth asking: Is there a particular kind of person God is looking for? A characteristic they must possess to be gold in the Author's hand? Join us as we explore this question and discover the surprising answer in the book of First Samuel.

The book of Ruth is a story of unwelcome sorrows, unlikely heroes, and unexpected redemption. It follows the life of an Israelite woman named Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth as they navigate an uncertain future as widows in foreign lands.

The life of Jacob is a lesson in the way God pursues the individual as an individual. Your story is not my story. And Jacob's story is not Abraham's story. But all are part of the Story of redemption that is big enough to include us all.

What was it about Abraham that made him one of the Fathers of the Faith? What was so significant about his relationship with God that God would later refer to Himself as the God of Abraham? And Sunday School kids would sing about "Father Abraham" 4,000 years after his death? Find out as we kick off a new series exploring the significant figures and stories embedded in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.

While Luke is quite clear about many of the factors and characteristics at work in the early church of Acts 2, there is also a universal principle in play that receives no mention. This principle - which operates in both the natural world and spiritual world - is crucial to our ability to experience the abundant life that Jesus promises in the Gospels. Join us this week as we discover this universal principle at its role in our spiritual lives.

There is no doubt that the early church formed a special community – one of great unity, gratitude, and generosity. In this week's message we discover the second of two key characteristics that Luke lays out for his readers in the book of Acts. A characteristic that just might be the key to us experiencing all that God has for us in His Church.

Certain moments in the life of Jesus and his disciples make us wish we could go back in time – to stand among them or even be a participant. For many, Acts 2 is one of those moments. While we can't call Marty McFly to transport us back, we can dive into the descriptions and ask, "What made this community and moment so unique." By so doing, we can discover the essential elements for experiencing that kind of community and movement of God today. Join us for this week's message where we discover the first half of the "secret sauce" of Acts 2 kind of community.

We had a special opportunity this past Sunday. Our special guest John DelHousaye led us through what the New Testament church referred to as a Love Feast - the manner in which they met for worship and fellowship alongside sharing a table and meal together. In this episode, John shares about the nature of these gatherings and what we can glean from them.

We all recognize the value of a deep and abiding faith, but we can miss the path to possessing such a faith. What did figures David and Paul or the early church consider essential for the formation of deep faith? Join us this week as we discover one of those vital ingredients.

Resurrection life is at the heart of not only the Easter season, but the Gospel itself. It is hope for this life and for the life to come. Join us this week as we meditate on the hope of the Gospel found in some the promises of the God's Word. Note: The middle of this podcast includes six times of silence for reflection on a passage. If you wish to extend these times of reflection, simply pause the podcast and continue when you are ready.

In our busy Western culture, we can zoom past milestone moments in the faith - like Christmas and Easter - as if they were simple events to be celebrated and moved on from. But these milestone moments are actually invitations to you and me. Invitations to linger and ponder, to wonder and ask, "What is God inviting us into in this season?" Join us this week as we enter the world of the early church and discover the invitation before us.

Jesus talked about the "Kingdom" over twice as much as any other topic. If Jesus thought it was important to talk about maybe we should too. The word Kingdom is defined as: Any place where a King or Queen is the sole ruler. Join us this week as guest speaker Lucas Cooper takes us from Genesis 1, where God establishes His role as King, to the Fall and Man's choice not to recognize God as their King, through Jesus' role as the one who restored God's Kingdom. As followers of Christ we are to live out God's Kingdom to this broken world until He returns to establish His Kingdom for eternity.

This week we are covering the final chapter of our book, We Would See Jesus. Join us as Troy shares from John 15, the passage our authors refer to in summarizing the previous 8 chapters. In John 15:5 Jesus says : "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." Jesus is the "one true vine," He is our one true source for life. We are a branch and the only way we can experience life as God intended is to "remain," "abide," or "stay" connected to the one true source of life, Jesus. Then and only then will our lives produce the fruit God desires to produce though us.

"What is the purpose of life?" To know, to love, and to walk with God. If this is our purpose then anything else we seek after is a distraction. We have seen Jesus as all we Need, as the Truth, as the Door, and as the Way. But to what end? Join us this week as Troy shares how our authors bring us full circle back to why God created us... to know, to love, and to walk with Him. There isn't anything or anyone other than Him. He is our End!

In chapter 5 we saw that Jesus is the DOOR that leads us through the wall or barrier the bible calls sin. Chapter 7 now applies to the Christian life after we enter the door. It was by grace we entered the door and now we are focusing on how to continue in that grace on our faith journey that the Prophet Isaiah refers to as the Way of Holiness. (Isaiah 35:8-9)

Last week we discussed Jesus' claims in John 10:7 & 9 that He is the door that leads us through the wall or barrier the bible calls sin. Join us this week as we pause to acknowledge the battle that goes on between "Mount Sinai" (the covenant of law) and "Calvary" (the covenant of grace) that goes on in our hearts just outside the door.

Last week we started breaking down the different ways Jesus reveals Himself to us, starting with Him as the Truth! This week we will be seeing Jesus as the door that leads us through the wall or barrier the bible calls sin. And it is not merely that Jesus shows us the door or points to the door but, as Jesus claims in John 10:7 & 9, He Himself is the door.

Last week we gained greater insight into understanding that Jesus not only provides everything we need but also that HE is all we need, which is ultimately demonstrated by His death on the cross. This week we will start breaking down the different ways Jesus reveals Himself to us, starting with Him as the Truth!

Last week we discussed the fact that God is unknowable unless He chooses to reveal Himself to us, which He did through His Son, Jesus Christ. Join us this week as we explore Jesus' claim to be the great "I AM" and our authors help us understand the importance of seeing Jesus as all we need.

Last week we discovered the purpose of life - to know, love, and follow God. But how can we get to know an invisible God? Join us this week as we answer that very question and discover the secret to knowing God.

We are launching into a series based on the classic book We Would See Jesus. This is a powerful book that many return to time and time again to be reminded of the true nature of the Gospel and the God who calls us to Himself. In this week's message, we discover the true purpose of life as we return to humanity's original purpose when God first formed them in the Garden.

For Matthew the Christmas story wasn't just about what God was doing, but how He was doing it. A focus on the works of God points us to the "what," while a focus on the "how" demonstrates the ways of God and points us to His heart. Join us this week as we explore the heart of God in the Christmas story.

Shepherds and angels, Mary and Joseph, and the Messiah in swaddling cloths. Join us this week as a dear friend walks us through the Christmas story according to Luke with personal reflections and insights on the season.

When Christmas time rolls around, we tend to turn to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The stories of the angel and Mary, the angels and the shepherds, the visit of the wise men. But how does John tell the Christmas story?

Paul prayed regularly for those he shepherded, but how often do we think about what he prayed for them? In this week's message, we take a look at one of Paul's prayers for the early believers and discover what we can glean from it. This episode is a mix of teaching and discussion.

If this life is perplexing to you at times, you are in good company. One of the wisest men who ever lived penned an entire biblical book looking back on the big questions of life. In this week's message, we join him in his questions and try to make sense of the seasons that come our way.

Fighting for relationship is a core value of our community. It means a couple of things: First, we must fight to be in relationship with others given the fast-paced world in which we live. Second, we must fight to maintain healthy relationships. Why? Because relationships are hard. Because people can be hard. This week, we equip you with five tools you can use to fight for and maintain healthy community and relationships.

Hypocrite. It's a strong word. One that Jesus typically reserved for the religious elite of His day. But today He directs it at us. He calls us out. And that should get our attention! Thankfully, Jesus not only diagnoses our condition; He also hands us a prescription. Quite literally. Taking this one to heart will preserve unity in the body and keep us from becoming those who shut the kingdom in people's faces.

Special Guest: John DelHousaye of Arizona Christian University. Stress and anxiety are at all-time highs in our world as the effects of media and social media continue to unfold and social, political, and economic uncertainties continue to rise. In this week's passage in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issues an invitation to disciples everywhere facing uncertainties of every stripe. It is an invitation to change our perspective as we change our perceptions, seeing the world and the Father with the clarity with which Jesus Himself sees them.

The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore God's view of earthly possessions and eternal treasure.

The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore how to pray.

The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore proper our motivations and intention behind the acts of fasting.

The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore proper our motivations and intention behind the acts of prayer.

The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore proper our motivations and intention behind “acts of righteousness.”

The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we encounter the way of Jesus when it comes to those who would insult or take advantage of us. Join us as we discover how Jesus would transform not only our thinking, but our responding as well.