A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” Many of us are afraid to share the good news about Jesus because we don’t think our stories are interesting or remarkable. But John’s introduction to the Holy Spirit reminds us that what makes our story good news is that God has brought us to life – and that’s worth sharing!
Continue readingMessage: “Unicorn Whisperers” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” We live in a world that teaches us to hide our true selves. Maybe we’re afraid of being seen. Or maybe we’re ashamed of our pasts. Or we got hurt the last time we put ourselves out there. Whatever the reason, we hide. But Jesus comes as the light of the world, to illumine our dark places with the infinite love of God. How does his light transform us?
Continue readingMessage: “Remaining in Love” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” No one wants to admit it, but we’re all really bad at being loved. Our inability to receive love poisons all our relationships. How can we learn to remain in Jesus’ love so that we can share love with the world around us? What does it look like to remain in the true vine?
Continue readingMessage: “The True Vine” from Tommy Cash
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” We live in a mechanized world. The buzz words of the day are ‘productivity’ and ‘efficiency’. But we’re not machines – we’re organic, flesh and blood. Jesus calls us to be not productive, but fruitful. What’s the difference? And how can learning to remain connected to the vine of Jesus help us avoid total burn out?
Continue readingMessage: “The Good Shepherd” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” Karl Marx famously claimed that religion was the ‘opiate of the masses’. He meant what we know – religion can be a powerful means of controlling people. This was as true in Jesus’ day as it is in ours. How can we learn to spot religious manipulation? And what tools do we have available to us to learn to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus himself?
Continue readingMessage: “More than Magic Tricks” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” Why do you follow Jesus? Many of us follow because we want Jesus to change our circumstances, to work a miracle in our jobs, families or bodies. But Jesus’ aim isn’t to improve our lives. Rather, he seeks to invite us into something new. If we look to Jesus simply to prop up the life we already have, we won’t follow him all the way to the Cross.
Continue readingMessage: “A Defense of the Faith” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” Does the idea of fighting about religion make you nervous? Of course it does! But we’re so often taught that we have to defend our faith against people who don’t believe. After all, Jesus himself said, “I am the Way”. But what if Jesus’ words weren’t a line in the sand, but an invitation to life? How can we find a better way to engage our non-believing neighbors with vulnerability and love?
Continue readingMessage: “Good Friday 2018” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “The Devil in the Details.” John tells us the light of Christ shines in darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. So as Christ’s light nears the Cross, why do the various players in the story turn from his light? How do WE turn away from the light today?
Continue readingMessage: “Who Broke Our Calendar?” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “Monday Messiah.” Do you ever feel like your calendar is broken? Like you wish you had the power to add hours, days or even weeks to your schedule? When did our lives get so out of control? And who is running our calendars? On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the God who took control of time by raising Jesus from the dead. How does his resurrection free us to take control of our lives, to live in the freedom Jesus gives us?
Continue readingMessage: “Puppy Faith” from JR. Forasteros
A message from the series “The Devil in the Details.” What happens when God disappoints us? It happens to every person of faith eventually – we come to realize that God isn’t here to be part of our story, to fit into our agendas. Palm Sunday is a warning sign: that disappointment can lead to us abandoning God (or crucifying him!). How can we learn to let God be God and sweep us up into HIS story – a story of new life and transformation?
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