6.5.22 Message: Dancing with the Spirit – Who’s My Partner?

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Who and What is the Holy Spirit? Is It real? Is It God? Does It talk to us? How do we know? While the Holy Spirit can feel ambiguous, we can be certain that It is real and present in our lives today. But just saying that probably doesn’t make It any less confusing for us. So how do we know anything about It at all? Dancing with the Spirit reminds us to do just that…learn how the Holy Spirit is present in our lives and to be open to the movement of that Spirit so we can live into our values as followers of Jesus. While we explore together we might ask more questions than find answers in this series, but that’s okay, because that’s how our faith grows…

“Dancing with the Spirit: Who’s My Partner?”

Genesis 1:1-2 & Numbers 9:15-22

Do you ever wonder what the Holy Spirit is? Is It really a ghost? Or, perhaps It’s more like that force that guides all our heroes and heroines in Star Wars? The bible describes the real Holy Spirit in a variety of ways, as a great wind, a creative force, a presence of cloud and fire that exists all the time…It is our comforter, our wisdom, and our bringer of knowledge. Who is the Holy Spirit and how does It dance into our lives?

5.15.22 Message: Troublemakers & Rabble Rousers-Prophets in Our Own Time

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We’ve heard of prophets in the bible. We generally think of them running around in hair shirts, having locusts for dinner, and shouting how bad everyone was. But there was more nuance to prophets in the biblical text than what caricatures want us to recognize. The need for prophets has not disappeared over the years. What’s a modern prophet look and sound like, and what role do they to play in our time? How do they speak for God and how can we know that they speak truth?  What challenge do our modern prophets present to us and are we willing to grow into the people that they believe we can be? With the idea that “Well behaved women seldom make history” we take a look at women from biblical and modern times—and how they are prophets among us.

 

5.8.22 Message: Troublemakers & Rabble Rousers-Prophets in Our Own Time

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We’ve heard of prophets in the bible. We generally think of them running around in hair shirts, having locusts for dinner, and shouting how bad everyone was. But there was more nuance to prophets in the biblical text than what caricatures want us to recognize.

The need for prophets has not disappeared over the years. What’s a modern prophet look and sound like, and what role do they to play in our time? How do they speak for God and how can we know that they speak truth?  What challenge do our modern prophets present to us and are we willing to grow into the people that they believe we can be?

With the idea that “Well behaved women seldom make history” we take a look at women from biblical and modern times—and how they are prophets among us.

4.10.22 Message: Palm Sunday

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Palm Sunday: Cultivating Faith and Letting Go of Others’ Expectations (Luke 19:28-40)

Jesus had many expectations put on him by others of what he needed to do and who he needed to be in
order to fulfill his role as teacher/prophet/messiah. How did he let those go and focus on who he knew
God needed him to be? How can we let go of what others expect of us and focus on who God needs us
to be?

3.27.22 Message: Short Stories by Jesus: Laborers in the Vineyard

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Short Stories by Jesus: The Laborers in the Vineyard

How and when have you experienced generosity in your life? We can be thrilled and humbled when we are on the receiving end of generosity, and it can make us feel good to act in a generous way to others…When we have an opportunity to make those economic decisions, what do they have to do with how we express our faithfulness to God?

3.20.22 Message: Short Stories by Jesus – The Pearl of Great Price

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Short Stories by Jesus: The Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46 & Matthew 19:16-30)

We all like our stuff. We work hard to earn money to buy stuff, we collect it all our lives, and then work hard to figure out who we can give it to when we’re no longer here. As we strive to collect more stuff–physical objects, experiences, and accolades when do we decide we have enough? Is there ever a point we reach when we can we identify and prioritize the stuff/treasures in our lives, and do they align with what Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of Heaven?

3.13.22 Message: Short Stories by Jesus – The Good Samaritan

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Short Stories by Jesus: The Good Samaritan

We usually have preconceived ideas about the people around us, and these ideas can often influence how we treat people. If, indeed, we are to love our neighbor and our enemies, what does that look like in today’s world? How does Jesus continue to challenge your understanding of what neighbors and enemies look like?

3.6.22 Message: Short Stories by Jesus – Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son.

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Short Stories by Jesus: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son.

2.27.22 Message: The Art of Hearing – Hearing is Believing

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The Art of Hearing: Hearing is Believing.

There are times in our lives when our faith grows because of something specific and meaningful we experience. We often think those experiences have to be exceptional and dazzling, but really anything has the potential to help us experience God in ways that have a profound impact on us. Whether we have an experience that is once in a lifetime or in the midst of everydayness, it does and should change us. Following Jesus is asking for change in our lives, in our hearts and in our minds.

How has following Jesus changed your life? How would you like it to change your life?