We are a life-giving church in Eastside Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest. Our vision is to plant churches in cultural epicenters around the world. We are all about empowering people to be everything they were made to be.
At face value, kindness and goodness are fairly easy to understand: Do good. But, when we slow down to think about it, we realize that it's riddled with problems: how do we deal with conflict? Is the gospel just about being nice to people? The truth is, many of us have replaced kindness with "niceness", a sort of non-confrontational philanthropy. But, God teaches us through his own expression of kindness, how we are to be kind to others.
In this message, we study the fruit of the Spirit: Peace.
It seems that the older we get, the less joy we have. We experience more pain and pressure. Our emotions become more complex. This is natural. However, in the Kingdom of God, it's different - the more mature we become in Christ, the more joy we will have. This is because Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. To allow the Holy Spirit to produce this fruit in our life, we need to obey our way to joy.
Success for the believer is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. Love is the first and foundation fruit, from which all the rest grow. However, this is also the most difficult. Thank God, it's HIS FRUIT, not ours. We are NOT the source, just the stream.
You are made to live a fruitful life. But, our ability to bear the fruit of the Spirit is determined the environment we create. If we live to satisfy our sinful desires, we will not bear the fruit of the spirit. But, if we live in the Spirit, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit.
The Easter narrative in Luke includes a curious story: two discouraged men walking along a road that encounter Jesus. Have you ever walked a long road of discouragement and doubt? We discover in this story that when we finally see Jesus as he truly is, we realize he was walking with us on that road the entire time.
Did you know that there are two events in the Bible that include the famous "waving of palm branches"? It wasn't just on Palm Sunday, it is also found in Revelation 7, at the end of the tribulation period. Palm branches represent victory, but the first time in the Bible they are waved, people did not have the right understanding of Christ's victory. They were gravely disappointed when Jesus victory meant going to the cross. We can relate. If we ever thought that following Jesus would "make my life easier" and found that to not be the case. What victory did Jesus win for us? We will discover in this message that Christ's victory makes us right with God. And, if we are right with God, we are victorious in all things.
The Bible doesn't just give us insight into human history, it gives us prophecy about the future. Throughout this series, we have examined biblical prophecy and now turn our attention to the present moment that we are in. In light of history and the future, we know where we are in history... and what is most important about this present moment.
This message examines what the Bible says happens when we die.
The mark of the beast, mentioned throughout Revelation, but most famously in 13:16-18, has generated terror and conspiracy for two thousand years. Due to the highly controversial nature of this passage, we believe it is wise to humbly interpret it according to a literal method. What you might not know is that there is a counterpart to the mark of the beast: the mark of God. If you believe in Jesus, you are "marked" by Him. In this message, we will not only study the mark of the beast, but the mark of the believer: He has written HIS NAME on us.
How do you feel about unsolved mysteries? Some of us are interested in the unknown, but for a lot of us, unsolved mysteries can make us feel uncomfortable. When it comes to God, there is much that is mysterious. No part of theology is filled with more mystery than Eschatology (the study of the end times). In this message, we will discover that our response to the mystery of God is determined by what we believe about God's character. If we believe He is good, we are not afraid of what we don't understand.
Have you ever been thirsty? Did you know that just like your body needs water to survive, so our soul needs God? There is no practice in Christianity that reminds of this truth like fasting. It's time to get a drink that our soul has been waiting for.
In this message we wrap up our study of Psalm 51. Some of us may have a perspective of God that he does good to us, but it comes with a catch. He will bless us, but we owe him. This is the way the world works. But, what we discover in the final verses of Psalm 51 is that there is no catch to God's goodness. David knew this, and it gave him confidence to ask God to save him from the greatest failures of his life. When we know God's great love for us, we love him back with the same purity that he loves us - no ulterior motives.
We tend to think that Christianity is about getting our lives in order by adopting certain spiritual practices. However, in the Psalm 51:16-17 we discover the shocking truth about what God really wants from us - not our pious religiosity, but our broken hearts. This is good news for all of us that are at the end of our rope and find our hearts to be broken and rid of pride.
We continue our study of Psalm 51
If you have ever wondered what God thinks of you, if you have ever wondered if there was more to the life you are living... listen to this message.
What would David say that he sinned against God and God alone when he sinned against many people? In this passage we tackle this confusing verse and discover that the truth of it points us to humanity's greatest need, and how it can be met.
Sometimes, scriptures brings us to a place of reckoning - we are far worse than we ever imagined. This is what David describes in Psalm 51:3, "I recognize my sin..." This recognition of sin is essential for redemption. In this study, we will see David's decline as described in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:7. We will discover that sin is easy to spot until it's your own. And, when our forgiven hearts are haunted by our past mistakes, we can write our own Psalm 51, and ask God for more mercy and find more grace.
In this message, we study Psalm 51:1-2. We will discover that conviction of sin confirms our identity of children of God.
Christian living is courageous living. In this message, we take a look at 1 Corinthians 16:9, open doors of opportunity. God gives us opportunities to do great things for the Kingdom. However, opportunity comes with opposition and the truth is, open doors are only effective if we have the courage to walk through them.
What we believe about the future impacts what we do today. If we believe that what we are building with our lives will ultimately be destroyed, we will not be motivated. We will instead resort to a survival type of living where happiness is our only medication for a hopeless reality. But, the gospel comes in to bring hope that transcends death! When a person believes in the Gospel, they are not only promised life after death, their life on earth is given purpose.
The mission of the Church is not to make converts; it's to make disciples. Discipleship is less about information and more about information. The process of change requires the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, Paul concludes is teaching on the gifts of the spirit and provides practical application for the church of Corinth to step into the gifts and engage in greater levels of discipleship. We can do the same today.
God wants us to know Him. But, interacting with the supernatural can be scary and mysterious. How can we encounter the mystery of God in our church service, while also recognizing that people may not be ready for it? This is what 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 is all about.
Are you looking for the place you belong? We believe that you belong in "the body of Christ", His Church. But, what does that mean? and, how can we be a part? This is what 1 Corinthians 12 is all about.
Politics today is one of the most controversial, divisive and confusing topics. But, If Jesus is Lord of our life, this must include our politics. In this message, we will try to answer this difficult question, "How can we honor Jesus in politics?"
In this message we study the famous text from Paul concerning the Last Supper. We find that participating in the practice of communion does not mean that we are participating with the Spirit of the Supper. To do this, we must understand God's heart: It's not the vessel that matters, but what you fill it with.
The issue of head coverings is still relevant today - more conservative circles hold to certain protocols, others have none at all. But, beneath the issue is a timeless principle that supersedes all our traditions and protocols. Listen to find out.
What does it really mean to be united in Christ? This question is even more important in a world in which community is difficult to find and keep. But, the answer to this question invites us to participate in the depth of relationship with others that we were originally made for.
It sounds too easy, but the truth is, a word of encouragement can lift up a heavy heart. If you are discouraged, this message is for you. If you want to become an encourager, this message is for you.
In this section of 1 Corinthians, Paul uses Israel's history to warn us about temptation to sin. He also encourages us with the reality of God's presence and provision with us whenever we face trials and temptations of different kinds.
Paul uses his own life as an example for us. Discipleship is not just about learning to follow Jesus, its about actually doing the things He wants us to do. This is what it means to run with purpose in every step, instead of just going through the motions.
Have you ever come to a morally gray area? How do you resolve questions about what is ok or not, when the answer isn't clear? In this chapter, Paul addresses a gray area for the church of ancient Corinth. We will discover that it is better to surrender your freedom for the sake of others than to exercise it at their expense.
Jesus changes how we do relationships. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul addresses two questions that he had previously received from the Corinthians. His answers give us direction on how to move forward in our relationships. We discover that we because we are so loved in our relationship with God, we can love others well too.
We are living in a sexual revolution. Our culture is sex-saturated. Yet, the God's plan for sex is very different than we might expect. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, we discover that our bodies are sacred and we ought not to settle for casual sex. Instead, we should honor God with our bodies and only engage in sex in the context of marriage.
Paul addresses the issues of church members sewing each other. He tells us that the church should be able to settle disputes within the community instead of seeking justice from a corrupt judicial system. He then echos the teachings of Jesus, "Why not just accept the injustice...?" This hard teaching reveals a core truth in Christianity - if our lives are built on something we don't deserve, we can give others what they don't deserve... forgiveness.
In this tough chapter of 1 Corinthians, we discover the secret of healthy communities: boundaries. Paul gives us two reasons why boundaries and discipline are essential: for the sake of the individual and the community.
Guest speaker Pastor Elaine Jones brings a message about parenting in the modern age.
We study 1 Corinthians 4. In this chapter, Paul describes the role of the Christian leader as a servant. These attributes describe can be applied to all Christians everywhere and drastically changes our approach to our leaders and each other.
We continue our study of 1 Corinthians, now entering chapter 3. Here, Paul shows us the key to ending childlike bickering - security in all that God has done.
This is an expository study of 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. In these scriptures, Paul tells us that the wisdom of God can only be revealed by His Spirit. All who have His Spirit, can understand His wisdom. They have the mind of Christ.
In this message, we kick off our study of 1 Corinthians. In this first section, Paul addresses one of the problems in the church of Corinth - division. The source of the division seems to come from people comparing different Christian communicators based on their eloquence and wisdom. Paul shows the Corinthians that this is a ridiculous thing to do, since none of us came to Christ because of mere human wisdom. Instead, salvation is achieved through the cross of Christ. All the wisdom in the world could not save us. We need more than mere words, we need the power of God to save us.
Every good father wants the best for their children. Father God wants this for all of us. But, in order for us to be everything he made us to be, we have to be brave and courageous in the face of opposition. How can we keep going, no matter what comes our way? By finding our security in the Father's love.
There are two reasons that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church on the day of Pentecost: to build up the church and witnessing to the world. Peter is an example of someone who was changed by the Holy Spirit. He went from not witnessing to a little girl out of fear, to boldly preaching to thousands of people on the streets of Jerusalem. Just like Peter, the Holy Spirit gives us power on purpose - to reach the world.
Have you ever met someone who says they are filled with the Spirit of Jesus and yet acts like a demon? How is it possible for someone to opporate in the gifts of the Spirit but not have any of the fruit of the Spirit? In this message, we will discover that both gifts and fruit are works of the Spirit, but one is far more important than the other. God values character over charisma.
We may have heard of the Holy Spirit or even been in a service or a church where we "felt" the power of the Spirit. Or, maybe we have never heard of the Holy Spirit and know nothing about it. You may be surprised to learn that the Holy Spirit is involved in your life even before you may chose to follow Jesus. So often we reduce the Holy Spirit only to His power. But today, we will learn that He is much more than a power; He is a Person.
The day of Pentecost was the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church in the book of Acts. We. believe that the baptism of the Spirit is still available to believers today and it is a gift we do not have to be afraid to open.
In this special mother's day message, Pastor CJ and Nicole discuss one of the most powerful characteristics of God: His ability to see us, not just as we are, but as we could be. This same trait dwells in all believers and is essential as we lead and disciple our church, families, kids, and world.
Money can make or break your calling. Often times, money can become the greatest burden we carry as we try to run the race God marked out for us. This happens when money is our master. Many is a bad master, but it's also a great servant. But, in order for money to serve the purposes of God in our lives, we must order it.
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