A message from the series “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” It’s Christmas, and that means the return of everyone’s favorite morning show – JR. and Nathan in the Morning! This year, we have some terrific guests lined up to dive deep into the challenging truth about Christmas. Plus: carols, carols and more carols!
Continue readingMessage: “If Only in My Dreams” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “I\’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Christmas is a season of new life, of impossible possibility. Joseph illustrates for us the sort of faith that finds hope in the most unlikely places. As we approach Christmas, how can we attend to the Holy Spirit, particularly in those least likely places?
Continue readingMessage: “John Had a Point” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “I\’ll Be Home for Christmas.” We’re about to the time in the Advent season when the Christmas cheer begins to feel oppressive. After all, we know the world isn’t really characterized by peace on earth or goodwill to all peoples. We might relate to John the Baptizer, who, after preparing the people for Jesus’ ministry, found himself in prison. What do we make of Jesus’ mysterious response to John? How do John and Jesus help us navigate the tension inherent in the Christmas season?
Continue readingMessage: “An Advent Carol” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “I\’ll Be Home for Christmas.” This time of year, nobody wants to be Scrooge. But the ba-humbug spirit is sneakier than we might think. John the Baptizer appears to us this year as the three spirits of Advent past, present and future to remind us what it looks like to be God’s faithful people. Today, the question is: are we preparing ourselves for Jesus’ arrival?
Continue readingMessage: “Home is Where God’s Heart Is” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “I\’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Ever feel like the world’s ending? What comes to mind when you think of the apocalypse? Fire and brimstone? Sun blocked out and moon turning to blood? Bad news… right? Wrong. Somewhere along the way, we picked up the idea that God is going to abandon the world and take us all away. But that’s wrong! The good news is that God loves the world – and home is where God’s heart is. What does it look like for us to love the world the way God does?
Continue readingMessage: “Curiosity” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Table Settings.” ‘Curiosity’ is not a word we associate with churches. Churches are more often known for quieting questions and insisting we ‘just have faith.’ But curiosity is a virtue – the most faithful people in Scripture were often curious. That’s a good thing because God is bigger than any box we make, and when we choose to be curious, we often discover God in new and surprising ways. What does it look like for Catalyst to value curiosity?
Continue readingMessage: “Transformation” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Table Settings.” What does it take to become more like Jesus? The process of change for a Christian can take a long time, and it’s not very glamorous. It’s a lot like BBQ, actually. What can we learn from the process of “low and slow”? How can our faith flourish as deliciously as a perfectly smoked, 20-hour brisket?
Continue readingMessage: “Diversity” from Sonya Brown
A message from the series “Table Settings.” Diversity is a buzzword these days, and it’s not something churches are particularly known for. So what does it mean for a church to say we value diversity? Why does God care about diversity? And how does pursuing diversity help us know God – and heal the world – better?
Continue readingMessage: “Friendship” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Table Settings.” At Catalyst, we believe that Friendship is the heart of Jesus’ good news. What does that mean? Friendship with God invites us to go beyond hospitality to seeking friendship outside our own spaces. What does that mean for us – both as individuals and as a church? PLUS: we’ll hear from our Mexico team about how they discovered friendship in Chihuahua!
Continue readingMessage: “On Being a Black Sheep Church” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Black Sheep.” What does it mean to be a Black Sheep church? How can we be faithful in a culture that doesn’t fit? We review our time with Jeremiah, and hear one last promise. The call is overwhelming, so it’s a good thing the God who calls us is even bigger!
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