The Prophets & Poets Mixtape

JR. Forasteros - January 8, 2017

Where Faith Fits

The Prophets & Poets Mixtape

We struggle to understand where faith fits in our busy lives. But God offers us a vocation: to be God's image in the world, to join God in the restoration of all things. This calling transforms every aspect of our lives.

Related Topics: Calling | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "The Prophets & Poets Mixtape"

What does it mean that God is FOR the world? Epiphany is the season that celebrates the revelation of God to the world. Epiphany asks, Who is this god who came among us? 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. The soundtrack to God's good news is now playing!

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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.

The soundtrack to God’s good news is now playing!

Pure Imagination

JR. Forasteros - November 27, 2016

Cultivating Conflict

Cultivating Conflict

When faced with conflict, we all tend toward either fight or flight. But neither of these options creates peace. If we want to be the peacemakers God calls us to be, we must learn to cultivate conflict into flourishing community.

Related Topics: Community, Conflict | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "Pure Imagination"

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? Advent means the impossible has been made possible!

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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?

Advent means the impossible has been made possible!

[w]hole

JR. Forasteros - October 23, 2016

Hearts

Hearts

We're told to "Follow our hearts," but we know desires can be destructive. How do we know the difference between desires that bring life and those that lead to hurt? Jesus invites us to love God with all our hearts, and discovering what he meant by that gives us the key. When we allow the Spirit to order our desires, we find the path to a fully human life!

Related Topics: Character, Holy Spirit, Desire | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "[w]hole"

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!

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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!

Join us as we discover the path to a whole, vibrant life!

Free of Charge

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!

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Elemental

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?

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Top 10: Movies

JR. Forasteros - August 14, 2016

Hope

Elemental

A lot of people are trying to convince us that the world is getting worse and worse. But the truth is, God is at work everywhere around us, bringing life and healing. HOPE is what we call trusting God’s promises are true, even when we can’t see how.

Related Topics: Love, Holiness, Faith, Hope | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "Elemental"

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 they? And how do they combine to create our life?

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Star Wars. Avatar. Up. When a story resonates with so many people it becomes a blockbuster, we should ask, “Why? What is it about this film that resonates with us?” People of faith can gain a window into desires of our culture, and we can discover how the Spirit is at work, that we might join in!

What can we learn about faith by interacting with the stories our world loves?

Identity Crisis

JR. Forasteros - March 27, 2016

Wlld Lions

Identity Crisis

The powers of our world have us trained to roar on command, to rage and be afraid to follow God's way. But Jesus' resurrection frees us to follow God's call boldly.

Related Topics: Calling, Love, Freedom | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "Identity Crisis"

Why is it so hard for the Church to live as Jesus in the world? Why such a sharp divide between the love and mercy of God and the way Christians interact with each other and the world? The Revelation offers us a powerful picture of who the Church is called to be: a reflection of Jesus in the world. By listening to them with pictures of Jesus from John's gospel, we see a clear picture of who we are called to be.

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Why is it so hard for the Church to live as Jesus in the world? Why such a sharp divide between the love and mercy of God and the way Christians interact with each other and the world? The Revelation offers us a powerful picture of who the Church is called to be: a reflection of Jesus in the world. By listening to them with pictures of Jesus from John’s gospel, we see a clear picture of who we are called to be.

How can the Church be a faithful reflection of Jesus in the world?

System Failure

JR. Forasteros - February 10, 2016

Ash Wednesday

System Failure

We often treat sin as personal moral failings but Sin has an institutional component too. What institutions in our culture form us to be sinful? And how can the Church act as a counter-institution that forms us to be holy?

Related Topics: Calling, Sin | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "System Failure"

We often treat sin as personal moral failings but Sin has an institutional component too. What institutions in our culture form us to be sinful? And how can the Church act as a counter-institution that forms us to be holy?

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We often treat sin as personal moral failings but Sin has an institutional component too. What institutions in our culture form us to be sinful? And how can the Church act as a counter-institution that forms us to be holy?

What do we do when our systems fail?

Fear & Desire

JR. Forasteros - January 10, 2016

Magic Tricks

Fear & Desire

We think faith is like magic, and spiritual people like excellent magicians. Trying to figure out God's Will sounds like a lot of work, so it's no wonder only a few spiritual experts figure it out. But the true magic of faith isn't something we work for. It's a free gift from the Spirit.

Related Topics: Calling | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "Fear & Desire"

Discovering our calling is a matter of discerning what we love. Contrary to popular belief, we can trust the desires of our hearts as guides to how God is inviting us to change the world. Everyone has a calling. Everyone matters to our future. We find our calling at the intersection of our loves and the needs of our world.

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Discovering our calling is a matter of discerning what we love. Contrary to popular belief, we can trust the desires of our hearts as guides to how God is inviting us to change the world. Everyone has a calling. Everyone matters to our future. We find our calling at the intersection of our loves and the needs of our world.

What are you afraid of? What do you love?

What to Expect When We’re Expecting

JR. Forasteros - November 29, 2015

Learning to Fly

What to Expect When We\'re Expecting

We don't like to wait. Especially when change is on the horizon, we'd rather just rush into the change. But growing is waiting, and waiting is an opportunity for faith. The journey of coming to know begins with naming our desires. To learn to name our desires, we listen as Jeremiah gave Israel the vocabulary to hope for the long-awaited Messiah.

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From Series: "What to Expect When We're Expecting"

The future can be a scary thing – especially because it doesn’t come with a roadmap. But when God calls us, we rarely get all the details. How do we move forward faithfully when we don’t know where we’re going? Advent invites us to anticipate well, to look to our fathers and mothers as they longed for God’s rescue. Their stories teach us how to hope well and move forward faithfully.

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[/vc_column]
The future can be a scary thing – especially because it doesn’t come with a roadmap. But when God calls us, we rarely get all the details. How do we move forward faithfully when we don’t know where we’re going? Advent invites us to anticipate well, to look to our fathers and mothers as they longed for God’s rescue. Their stories teach us how to hope well and move forward faithfully.

What is God calling you to?