Epiphany is the season that celebrates the revelation of God to the world. Epiphany asks, Who is this god who came among us? Epiphany celebrates God’s nearness. Like the mixtapes young lovers used to make, we’re listening to the songs of God’s prophets and poets because such a powerful love can really only be expressed in song.
In a world increasingly divided and hopeless, even something as simple as respectful disagreement seems impossible. But the prophets who taught Israel how to long for the birth of the Messiah made bold promises: weapons formed into gardening tools; wolves and sheep living in harmony; deserts blooming. Such promises seem impossible – like pure imaginative fiction. But God’s promises aren’t fiction. They’re a future God is bringing into existence. Jesus birth proves God is with us, that God is working. We can have purified imaginations, see the world as it will be, and begin to work for that world now. What does it mean to be a people of Advent?
How do we know if we’re a whole person? Sin never begins full grown – it starts as seeds buried deep within us. Jesus told us a fully human life is one where we love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. After we explore what Jesus meant by those terms, we’ll see how we can use each as a lens to investigate ourselves. We’ll discover the seeds of sin hiding within us so we can pluck them out before they can grow to full bloom!
We live in a world where nothing is free. In a culture that so lacks grace, how can we be the generous, loving people we were created to be? In this series, based on the work of theologian Miroslav Volf, we’ll explore the surprising link between giving and forgiving. Join us as we find surprising freedom in generosity and grace!
Continue reading
Elements are the basic building blocks of life. Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon – the simplest substances that combine to form everything that makes living possible. What are the basic elements of the life Jesus calls “truly life”? In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul tells us that only three things last forever – Faith, Hope and Love. What are these essential elements? And how do they combine to create our life?
Continue reading
