The River Church Sermons

Have you ever had any of these objections to prayer? “God didn't answer my prayer before.” “If God is sovereign, why pray?” “I don't want to hope and be disappointed again.” “I don't feel anything when I pray.” “Why would God respond to me?” “If God knows everything, why tell Him?” If so, you're going to love our time together as we develop our theology of prayer and are encouraged by real testimonies of the power of prayer.

When I think about a common denominator or the bridge that holds all humans together, I propose one experience might be pain and suffering. We see it all around us, across the globe and the timeline of history. It is inescapable for all of us. We come to the question that will occupy us this week. Where is God in all this suffering? Why does God allow so much pain and evil in our world? I come to this question with humility and sensitivity. Each of us will approach this question from our own personal experience, and for some pain is too raw right now; for others, it brings anger and cynicism. I am in a place where I can step back and share some of my own personal perspective. While we may wish for more answers from God in the Bible, we do see he is the God of hope, and he asks us over and over again, “will you trust me in this?” We need look no further than to Jesus, his cross, and his resurrection to know that he is for us, and understands our pain. But still… why?

"Oh, you are one of those bible believing Christians that believes the world was created in 7 days about 6,000 years ago. Blind faith, you have,” the scoffer chuckles to himself. He thinks to himself, “Another uniformed Christian.” He then says, "Haven't you seen all the evidence that supports the fact that the earth is 4-6 billion years old? And that the fossil records prove an evolutionary process was at work to produce all life forms on the earth?” Smug, confident and imperious at this point. Our scoffer has made his point. Then you speak, "Well, yes to your first question and I'm not sure that is what the fossil records prove to the second question.” “You are talking Darwinian evolution and actually all you can show me is evidence of inner species development, not one large massive cellular explosion, unguided, unaided, that evolved from one single cell into every known species on the earth.” Feeling confident, you add, "There is not a shred of scientific evidence that can substantiate an argument for how life originated. Science can only observe what is and the process by which life evolved on a micro level." Our scoffer is now flummoxed. “Well… Darwin observed…" Most hardcore scientific atheists hide behind a shroud of doubt and avoid the big question, where did all of life form come from? The origin. The unsatisfactory answer is given, molecules bumped into each other and formed a single cellular life and then began multiplying spontaneously. But cells don't work that way. And where did they get the information needed for each added cellular function? I guess my purpose is to build your confidence in an intelligent designer who was the master creator behind all things. To believe otherwise has no basis in reality. To believe in a creator God is backed by science.

One of the most common reasons people struggle with Christianity isn't a lack of information—it's what they've seen. Many have watched Christians say one thing and live another, and it raises an honest question: If the message is true, why don't the messengers always reflect it? Join us as we talk about the reality of hypocrisy, why Jesus spoke so strongly against it, and where real hope is found for those who have been hurt by it—or who see it in their own lives. Our faith isn't built on perfect people, but on a perfect Savior, and that changes everything.

In countless conversations over myriad legitimate intellectual questions of faith I have had with people over the years, one background experience is a common theme: for many people, God doesn't feel real. Behind so many of our valid intellectual doubts is the issue of felt experience. Join us as we open up Psalm 63 and explore the question, “If God is real, why doesn't he feel more real?”

Are the scriptures historically reliable? They are certainly good, moral, spiritual, and inspiring, but are they grounded in historical reality and do they (even try to) “get history right”? These are big, important questions. Questions that, as a historian, I personally care about deeply. Let's enter into these inquiries with a look at the biographies of Jesus we call the “Gospels.” These narratives are central to our understanding of who Jesus is, what Jesus is up to, and what this whole thing we call Christianity is all about. But can they be trusted? More specifically, why do we think the Gospels “got the historical Jesus right.”

My neighbor paused thoughtfully before she spoke. It had been a typical small talk interaction until I answered a question of hers about something hard I was facing and mentioned my faith in Jesus. "You know, there's a lot I admire about Christianity," she finally said, "but I just can't buy that there's only one way to God, that there's only one truth." It's a question that many of us face as we make sense of the way of Jesus in a place like the South Bay: how can there be only one way? Join us as we learn from John 10, digging into the question "How can there be only one way?" and learn the surprising beauty of Jesus' claim to be the One who gives life and life abundantly.

Voltaire once said that if God didn't exist, we would've invented him. There's something deep within the human psyche that needs to follow after something. We crave it. Yet, we need to be careful that what we invent or what we follow after does not destroy us. The world is full of idols. A world that God created. They compete for allegiance. Our job is to pick our alliance well. It determines the course of our life. I've been meditating on Jeremiah over the Christmas break. What it has come to reveal to me is that in this new year, our sole focus requires a realignment to one single voice that will not compete with others. A voice so particular, so steady, it does not stutter. It's a voice in the wilderness crying out. Will we attune our ears? In other words, the Christian life comes down to being attentive to the voice of our creator. He calls out. He reveals his plan. He comforts. He draws us close. He affirms.

Have you ever driven somewhere and arrived with no memory of the trip, answered “good” when someone asked how you're doing (without thinking), or wondered how it's already that time of year? You're not alone. We all go into autopilot through the seeming monotony of life. Sometimes we can go through seasons of life where it feels that way - busy, distracted, tired, and running on autopilot - even in our spiritual lives. Paul has a word for people like us, a word to walk wisely, and live like our time actually matters. Let's sit with Paul and ask the Lord to direct this year for us.

From the garden to the manger, God's heart has always been to dwell with His people. Christmas isn't the start of that story—it's the center of it. Let's celebrate the gift of Immanuel - God with us, now and forever!

What is the difference between a good story and good news? What is the difference between a good true story and good news? Stories are wonderful. Stories inspire us. Stories shape our imagination. Yet, in the famous angelic announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds of Bethlehem, the angel did not claim to come with a good story; the angel claimed to come with good news. Join us as we continue this advent season by looking at Luke 2:8-12 and learning together to respond to the coming of Jesus as good news.

Christmas is a time for tradition. It's a season wherein we are careful to do those special things that we've always done in the ways we've always done them. We throw the customary parties, invite the regular folks, eat the expected foods, sing the songs, drink the drinks, watch the movies, give the gifts. Christmas is that one time of year in which we can count on things running more or less as they always have. Ironically, the stories underlying the whole season—the stories of Christ's birth—are tales of profound disruption. As we will see this Sunday, they are narratives of God's story breaking and entering into ours. Some of us—most of us—need divine disruption this December. Let's answer God's invasive invitation into His story this Christmas!

Jesus is born. Wonder, peace and joy accompany. Mom and dad present their first born son as a servant to the Lord, a dedication of sorts at the temple. A sacrifice. What we see is generosity is a sacrifice. Then we meet some seekers. Simeon and Ana, and they see with their own eyes what they had been searching for their whole lives. A lifetime of seeking. What we also see is what you seek sets the course of your life.

Generosity takes a miracle. You don't just become a generous person unless you have been moved by the hand of God. In Philippians 4:10-23, Paul comes to a crescendo finish to his epic letter to the Philippian church on the source of scandalous joy. A joy that is produced not by man made efforts, but the act of a supreme God working in the life of an ordinary believer. Through trials, through humility, through parroting the Lord Jesus as a humble state of a bond servant, and through a generous heart. Do you believe in miracles? Because that's what it takes to become a generous person. Watch the end of the Cal vs. Stanford game, “the Play”, as it is called, played in 1982, at the Cal Memorial Stadium. What a moment. What a place. I used to play rugby for Cal in that stadium. Cal was down by 2, two seconds left, a kick off and a run to the end zone. How did they do it? The announcer says, “It'll take a miracle.” And it happened. Cal beats Stanford. The announcer goes wild! The Cal students are out of their minds. Well, what does this have to do with generosity? It will take a miracle to change the heart of the average American church goer to become as the Philippian church became, generous in their giving to the point where Paul says he "mega rejoices” over it. How did that happen and what do we learn from this history lesson? Joy, true joy, is a miracle of generous giving of one's life and resources. Remember Billy Crystal's line in Princess Bride? His wife asks him, Max the miracle worker, "will it work?” He says, “I don't know. Bye bye boys, it'll take a miracle.”

The normal stressors of adult life, ever increasing cultural and political division, a rapidly increasing pace of life for families and working people, increasing costs of living, pressures to keep up with the lifestyles of our neighbors or favorite influencers--all of these and more combine to form the potent cocktail of our cultural moment and one word could be used to describe the experience: anxious. Many of us feel it, others of us live in it without even realizing it. Yet, those who follow Jesus have this radical, hopeful promise: "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). But what does the peace of God mean? And how do we come to experience it in the day to day trenches of life? Join us as we learn together from Philippians 4:1-9 to live in the way of peace.

We're exploring what it really means to know Christ from Philippians 3:10–21. Isn't it incredible that we are invited into a deep friendship with Jesus? I am shocked by this and encouraged by Paul's words for what it looks like to press on, to shape our lives around Christ's story of humility and self-emptying love. In a world full of competing stories and endless distractions, we'll be reminded that our true citizenship is in heaven and that our lives here can reflect that truth. Join us as we learn together what it means to keep pressing on, knowing Christ more each day.

One of the most beautiful things about the gospel is the way God levels the playing field. It does not matter how much money you have, how many bad choices you have made in the past, where you go to school, or what your reputation is like. Jesus came that each of us might know and be found in him. You probably know this already. But shoot. It is soooo easy for us to slip back into believing that God loves us because we're “mostly good.” Even when we know the truth. Did you know that “being found” in Jesus means we actually have to give up our reputation and resume in order that we may stand in and live out of HIS righteousness? For those of us who are proud of where we're from or what we've done with our lives, that's a big idea to wrap our minds around. And an even bigger idea to actually live by.

What if I told you that the measure of your life is not what you accomplish, but what you give away to others? How would that reshape your life? How would you reprioritize your life? We are one of the most misguided cultures in all the world. We think little about legacy and focus most of our energy on accomplishment and consumption. Let's take Jesus for example. Jesus gave His life away. Literally. What would you say was His greatest contribution other than going to the cross on our behalf? His teaching? Miracles? Condemnation of the religious hypocrites? Compassion? Love? Not as I see it. You may see it differently but there on Mt. Arbel, outside Galilee after his resurrection and before his ascension, he's says these words to His disciples… "Go, that is, you go, I am sending you, go into all the world and make disciples. Oh, and baptize and teach them all I taught you. You teach them, don't hand them a book, you teach them personally." Notice the emphasis is on YOU GO. YOU TEACH. I would argue Jesus' second greatest contribution was, as Robert Coleman said in my most read book ever, Master Plan of Evangelism, “It all started by Jesus calling a few other men to follow Him.” And what followed is a handful of men who carried on after his ascension. The reason why the gospel spread was not because it was written down for all to read, but because he raised up others to take it into all the world. John Maxwell once said, "he who thinks he leads, but has no followers is only taking a walk." Who's following you is another way to phrase the initial question? This is precisely what Philippians 2:19-30 is all about. Paul replaces himself with Timothy. He will hand the baton to Timothy before he says, “I have finished the race.” Relevant for today? I'd hate to spend my whole life and look back and have not influenced one person in the way I spent my life. Let's talk about legacy building. Let's talk Paul and Timothy.

Our cultural moment is one of political tension, algorithm-driven echo chambers, ideological violence, and rapid cultural and technological change. Yet against this backdrop, there is evidence of surging interest in Christian faith—Bible sales and online searches have increased dramatically and church attendance among Gen Z has increased every year since 2022. In our own church we've seen people come to saving faith for the first time, people re-engage in life with Jesus for the first time in a long time, and young people take bold steps as leaders. All of this raises a critical question for followers of Jesus: what does it look like to be a faithful witness to the good news of Jesus in our time? Or, to put it in the language of Philippians 2:15, what does it look like to shine as lights in the world? Join us as we learn together from Philippians 2:12-18 to turn on the light.

Churches today (including the River Church) are facing the greatest possible threat. This Sunday we are going to talk about it. As it turns out, the antidote to this pervasive and corrosive epidemic shows up right smack in the middle of our Philippians passage this week. Join us on Sunday to take an honest look at both the nature of this threat, as well as our only protection against it. (This sounds heavy, but I promise I'll tell a few jokes at some point to lighten the mood.)

In this cultural moment, we sense a growing clarity about what God is doing. He continues His unchanging mission — seeking and saving the lost — but now, His people are becoming aware and ready to join Him. Let's lean in with open hands and willing hearts, praying for where He might lead us next. When we say yes to the Great Commission, we step into the greatest adventure — following the greatest God making disciples of all nations. We're honored to welcome our ministry partners, Alex and Millie Ojera, as they bring a message on the mission of Christ. We're excited for their voice and perspective to help illuminate where God might be calling us to go next.

Jesus shares the gospel, good news of a new king who saved not politically, but spiritually in a time of great diversity and divide. I personally like his approach. He is willing to, as they say, “mix it up” with this woman. He draws her in to the real issue and goes after what's holding her back. Her response is astounding. She's all in. This is the River Church. Mix it up, listen, talk, show respect, be concerned for others. And, that's a big and, lead people to Jesus through a life changing encounter with the truth of God's word. WOW. Bolder and equally truth filled.

So Paul is actually going to say, "For me to live is Christ and die is gain." I wonder if we actually believe that. If we understand that. If we did, would we have the courage to put our faith on the line as we know Charlie Kirk, fellow believer and young man that shared Jesus with college students did? I mean, to question if we think this passage was written to you as well as others, like Charlie, who put it all on the line. Maybe this national tragedy will spark a flame that will ignite believers to live out their faith in new ways. What would that look like? This passage speaks of living in light of an eternal perspective. Our aim is not life preservation, but embodying the fullness of actually living for Jesus with every breath you have. And to die is gain? You can know Christ and not live for Him. To live for Christ… that takes courage, community and a cross. I will be speaking to each of these components as they describe truly living.

George and I are coaching August's soccer team this season. We've been playing for all of one week and it is absolute chaos. But there is hope for a great season, we have a plan! What makes a great, effective team? What does it take to (dare I say) win? Let's look at what Paul (an absolutely legendary coach) has to say to his partners, his friends, his team.

Each of us is searching for joy and peace. Or put another way, none of us woke up this morning and thought to ourselves, "Do you know what I don't want to experience today? Joy and peace." Yet even though we all experience profoundly happy moments, lasting, joyful, peaceful contentment can often feel out of reach. Join us for the next two months as we learn together from the book of Philippians, seeing in it Paul's Holy Spirit inspired portrait of joy in all circumstances.

I want to believe that God's faithfulness means He will keep me from pain and loss and trials of any kind. But I have experienced pain and loss and trials. So what is true? This weekend I want to look at God's promise to be faithful and what that means/looks like/feels like in the middle of a storm.

Life gets hard. We know that - we have lived it! We are familiar with the afflictions of life, and are intimately aware of the pain and sorrow that come with it. But, what do you do in those times? Do you complain to the nearest person to you? Do you buckle in and bear it, making sure no one else knows about it? Or, do you take your situation to God in prayer? This week we explored how the art of lament leads us closer to God, and closer to his heart. Lament does not always make the situation "disappear," but it shows us God's appearance through it all.

This last six months I have spent most of my work life hanging out with dead people. That is, my research thrusts me into the strange and fascinating ocean of ancient Roman, Jewish, and early Christian literature. I've been reading heaps of their poems, novels, essays, philosophic treatises, scandalous narratives, visionary descriptions, moral rants, speeches, and surviving letters. My favorite part of my time with the ancients is when they say something that is—to us inhabitants of the 21st century—completely weird. I just LOVE getting my hair blown back their bizarre hot takes on the human experience. Ancients say the darndest things. As we continue to consider the reality and shape of human suffering in our modern lives, I want to showcase a constellation of weird, wild, and completely scriptural strange takes on suffering. These might shock you, but I believe they might actually help us in the throes of pain. Join us to hear some unfiltered ancient wisdom.

In a fallen world, the question isn't whether or not we will experience heartache and pain. The question is what we will do with it. We all know the common ways we might respond to heartache in a place like the South Bay--distract ourselves with fun experiences or new purchases, busy ourselves in our responsibilities at work or with our families, deny the pain with religious platitudes and fake church smiles, the list could go on. But at the heart of following Jesus is the radical and freeing invitation to come to Him with our heartache. Join us as we learn from John 11 and see in it the heart of God for us in the midst of our heartache.

God, where are you? Why is this happening to me? Do you even care? You know these questions. You've asked them. Many of you are living in the midst of these questions right now. This is what our students explored at Hume Lake Christian Camps. We are looking at the story of Joseph to discover how God works all things according to his plan and purpose. What people have intended for evil, God works for the good of his purposes. Join us to hear our campers stories from Hume and the start of our series - God with us.

How important is seeing through the right lens? Ask anyone who's had to make do without their glasses or been living with the wrong prescription and they'll tell you--it makes a whole world of difference. And seeing through the right lens isn't just a matter of reading a traffic sign or further into the distance or making out details that would otherwise be fuzzy; it's a matter of navigating the world around us according to what we see. All of which brings us to the Biblical phrase we'll be demystifying in our final week of our Words to Live By series: Heaven and Earth. Join us as we clarify the often misunderstood vision of eternal life and hope presented to us in the pages of Scripture and learn together how to live in light of that which will matter forever.

As we continue our sermon series, Words to Live By, I want to draw our attention to two surprisingly powerful prepositions: “with” and “in.” Though small in size, these words carry enormous theological weight. They're easy to overlook, yet they reveal a profound mystery—through faith, we are united with Christ and now live our lives in God. Simple words. Eternal truth. Mysterious, beautiful, and absolutely life-changing.

Let's do some word association. When I say "holy," you say... what? For many of us the knee jerk reaction that we have to a word like "holy" conjures images of a kind of cold, dull moralism that (if we're honest with ourselves) seems irrelevant at best and deeply unattractive at worst. Phrases like "holy huddle" or "holier than thou" come to mind. But the writers of Scripture speak of God's holiness and our call to be holy with Him as anything but cold and dull--biblical pictures of God's holiness are majestic and captivating. Join us as we learn from Isaiah 6:1-8 what it means to see the captivating majesty of God's holiness and the invigorating goodness of embracing our calling to be holy as He is holy.

In the South Bay, performance can be a way of life. From career and family milestones to curated Instagram feeds, the pressure to succeed—and to be seen succeeding—is relentless. But beneath the sun-soaked ambition often lies a quieter story: exhaustion, anxiety, and the nagging sense that our value is always just out of reach. Enter the invitation of God's grace—not as a vague spiritual idea, but as a disruptive truth, a foundation on which to build life. Join us as we continue our Words to Live By series by unpacking, demystifying, and learning to practically internalize the concept of grace: God's unconditional acceptance of and favor toward us in Jesus.

Have you ever had someone tell you they believe in you? Not that they believe you—but that they believe in you. There's a difference. When someone believes in you, they're not just nodding at your words. They're trusting your character. They're confident in who you are and what you're capable of. They trust you to come through. I want to talk about what it means to not only believe Jesus, but to believe in Him. To practice trusting who He says He is—not just in theory, but in the tension, the waiting, and the risk of real life. Can you guess the "word to live by" that we're going after? I am beyond excited for this one.

Imagine that Jesus of Nazareth was coming to preach. If he jumped into our “Words to Live By” summer series, what word or words would you like him to explain for us? Perhaps a more important question: what word or words do you think he would want to talk about? Well, a much less cool speaker will be speaking—I'm sorry to say I have no information one way or the other if Jesus is going to return this weekend, but if He does I'll definitely give Him the mic. Nevertheless, the word chosen for this weekend will be Jesus‘s favorite teaching topic. The topic we find him discussing in the gospels more than any other words. Let's wrap our minds and hearts around a concept about which Jesus was obsessed. Listen for the big reveal!

Have you ever heard a term used at church or come across a word in the Bible and thought “Huh?” Or maybe a concept is brought up and you've thought “I think I know what that means but... do I really?” The story of Scripture and the ideas it leads us to live in are a beautiful true map through which we navigate life, but it often involves words or concepts that can be unfamiliar or unclear even to people who have been walking with Jesus for years. This summer, we'll take a closer look at some of the most foundational and often misunderstood of these ideas, gaining a clearer shared understanding and filling out our map with Word to Live By.

The End is Near. Don't Procrastinate. Oh great, here we go again. Another message that begins with vanity of vanities, all is vanity. A generation goes, a generation comes. There's nothing new under the sun. You might think your thing is new, your thing is the ultimate. I have found it. You have figured it all out. Then the seasons come, and with the changing seasons come harsher and harsher weather says the preachers in the book of Ecclesiastes. In the last chapter, chapter 12, he's talking about old age. The weather just keeps getting worse as you get older. If you are at that age where you occasionally might wet your pants, you get the part about the clouds return after the rain. It's all a metaphor for all the hardships one endures as one ages. The end is harsh. The preacher says these are evil days that bring no pleasure. So what's his advice as we wrap up this wisdom literature? What do we do with a life that in all estimation is a crap shoot as to what you will get. Maybe it goes well for you for a while. Maybe not. Life hands out lottery tickets and the winner lost the winning ticket between the car seats a week ago. The number grows. Maybe next week. Maybe not. So, final words of wisdom, Mr. Preacher Man? Solomon would say one thing. Remember the Lord in the days of your youth. Oh, and fear God and keep His commandments, this is the whole duty of humankind. That's it? Remember God when you have all your faculties and fear the Lord? That's the best you can do after ranting about the futility of life for 11 chapters? I can hardly wait for the answer.

John D. Rockefeller was one of the richest men in the world. At the age of 53, Rockefeller was the world's only billionaire, earning about a million dollars a week. But when someone asked him how much money was enough, he famously said, “Just a little bit more.” I've invited a special guest (my husband!) to join me in sharing some thoughts and insight about contentment, greed, and generosity... and our personal stories of getting it right and wrong. What would it look and feel like to live here in the beautiful South Bay while pursuing this biblical perspective with all we've got?!

Avoiding pain and maximizing pleasure. This is perhaps one of the most enduring human instincts and life-shaping habits in history. How much space does personal enjoyment take up in our life plans? If you live in the same South Bay that I am blessed to call home, this is a very important question. We love a good beach day, party, or vacation! We love fun food, delicious drinks, excitement, and entertainment. We work hard and we play hard. Another, perhaps more important question is a theological one: how does our personal enjoyment and play fit into God's design? Is God indifferent on the matter? Is He helping us get the party started? Or, like so many movies have suggested over the years, is God largely forbidding of fun and pleasure, like the curmudgeonly reverend in Footloose or the withholding mayor in Chocolat? Let's crack open the scroll of Ecclesiastes and consider an inspired and inspiring ancient poem on the matter!

If you are prone to cynicism, like I am (occasionally), our journey through Solomon's Ecclesiastes could drag you down rabbit holes of hopelessness. But what we have in this very ancient book of wisdom are the hard-learned lessons from a sage, who was the wisest and maybe the wealthiest man in his time. He could and did get anything his heart desired. At the end, it all came up empty, meaningless, a chasing after elusive wind. But in between his brutal honesty are golden insights—which can guide us into the good life, where we can “eat and drink and find satisfaction in [our] own work” (Ecclesiastes 2.24). Let's talk about our work.

Join us to celebrate... Mothers! New mothers. Grand mothers. Young mothers. Old mothers. Single mothers. Future mothers. Spiritual mothers. Joyful mothers. Expectant mothers. Disappointed mothers. Step mothers. Foster mothers. Playful mothers. Working mothers. Stay-at-home mothers. Bonus mothers. Bereaved mothers. Adoptive mothers. Tired mothers. Prayerful mothers. Waiting mothers. Grieving mothers. Hopeful mothers. Faithful mothers. In all seasons of motherhood, God is and will be faithful. Let's celebrate that together.

On the one hand, we are living in something of a golden age of wisdom. We have more access to better information for things like longevity, mental health, financial planning, relationships, and nutrition than ever before. On the other hand, we are also living in the most anxious period of history on record--more Americans report feeling anxious about their lives than ever before. We're living in a super bloom of information, but a drought of inner peace. Which brings us to the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes guides us to address this tension not by abandoning wisdom, but by planting the pursuit of wisdom in the right story. Join us as we learn from Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 to chart a better path forward for the pursuit of wisdom in the South Bay.

King Solomon wrote this book for three reasons. One, it's an auto biographical account of his search for life's purpose. Second, it was a stern warning to his fellow Israelites to find a meaning to this short life. Third, it was an apologetic for travelers seeking Israel's hidden truth about a belief in one God who alone makes sense in our existence. Where are you at? Personally Searching, need a strong correction, or just passing through hoping to learn the truth of the wise one who knows God? This week, when all you've ever wanted isn't enough, do you know why it's not? As Bart Starr, the great football quarterback once said after his super-bowl, “If this is the game of all games, why is there another one next year?” It's often not until we come face to face with our own mortality that we see the vanity of life and what its real purpose is.

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by encountering it from the perspective of those women who first discovered the empty tomb. Through their eyes, let's recapture the majesty, meaning, and great surprise of that world-changing first Easter.

In the maelstrom of our historical moment, we crave respite. Nations and neighborhoods seek refreshment. As a species, we seem socially, psychologically, and spiritually parched. Where do we go and to whom do we turn? We can look around for an agency, politician, or novel movement to bring stability and shelter, or we can look back to the time-proven wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth, the greatest teacher and only true protector. Let's huddle around the scroll of Matthew and nourish our hearts, minds, and relationships with the life-giving words and community healing person of Jesus.

Sometimes the Scriptures are confusing. There are a lot of laws and rules, stories and promises. Can someone just simplify it for us? In Jesus' day, Rabbis were often asked to summarize the teachings of the Scriptures. One prominent Rabbi, Hillel, had a student come up to him and ask him if he could summarize the Torah while he stood on one foot. What I like to call the flamingo question. Hillel responded, “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary.” The Rabbi Jesus some years later also offered a summation of the Law and the Prophets; the summation we now know as the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” This pithy phrase helps us live life in the Kingdom of God, loving God and loving others.

We are thrilled to welcome Stefan and Suzanne Von Ruti, two of our amazing mission partners. They will share their insights into what God is doing in the Western Church, especially concerning Unstoppable Faith, and its implications for us! We deeply appreciate having such an extraordinary voice from beyond our community to guide us in discerning the Spirit's direction. Fully Committed to God's Mission - Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). - God's command is always "Go!" (Matthew 28:18-20). From Comfort to Commission - Paul faced hardships but stayed committed (Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). - Challenges shouldn't make us lose sight of the vision (Philippians 4:6-7). Reclaiming the Dream – Where Is Your Spain? - Paul longed to go to Spain (Romans 15:23-28). - Too many Christians settle for less. - America has a pioneering spirit – are you still hungry for revival? Challenge: What big dream is God calling you to? Where is your Spain?

What are the things this week that have kept you up at night or woken you up in the morning? Do you worry about health, a relationship(s), your finances, job, safety, or kids as you go about your day? Sometimes I think there is nothing the Bible could possibly say to lessen those worries, but I have been praying that the words Jesus has for you and for me would have a real impact on our hearts and minds. Could they? What if they did...

Jesus says to pick the right treasure and pursue it with everything you got. It's in Matthew 6:19-24. So, the basic idea is whatever you choose to live for kind of sets the course of your life and determines which master you will serve. Honestly, there isn't much of a choice. One rots, rusts, and is stolen from you, the other rocks. You can think about it, but not sure why. Here's the problem. We get caught up in the weeds and hear a little voice in our head telling us to chose the wrong one and we get ourselves into a world of trouble. Now, understand, we are all in process. No one has it all figured out, so we all learning to live for the right treasure and take our prompts from the right master. So how do we do it?

In a place like the South Bay, it's not difficult for us to see the ugliness of self-righteous religion. And though it may come as a surprise to some, Jesus actually beat us to the punch by about 2,000 years in his critique of self-righteous and self-serving religious practice. Yet Jesus' critique goes deeper, showing us that unless we really understand the problem of self-righteousness and intentionally replace it with something categorically different, we will be in danger of doing the very thing that we rightly find so ugly. So what is the alternative on offer in life with Jesus? And how does it actually play out in day-to-day South Bay life? Join us as we continue our Sermon On The Mount series with a teaching from Matthew 6:1-18, learning together to follow Jesus in losing our (self-righteous) religion.