Major/Minor

JR. Forasteros - June 15, 2014

Hosea

Major/Minor

We prize loyalty - in sports teams, to brands and especially in relationships. According to the prophet Hosea, we are often disloyal in our faith. We look at religious rituals as signs of faithfulness, when in fact what God desires is transformation. Rituals are never meant to be ends in themselves, but pathways to a new life.

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

From Series: "Major/Minor"

We live in turbulent times - from endless war to a slowly recovering economy to a looming educational crisis and ineffective government. While we take care of our lives one day at a time, we can't help but sense a storm gathering on the horizon. In this, we are much like the Jewish people who lived at the time of the prophets. Surrounded by forces outside their control, God called them to remain faithful in their daily life, to trust him to handle the big stuff. God spoke through prophets. Because their books are so short, we call them the Minor Prophets. But while their writings are short, their message has major implications for our lives today. Welcome to Major/Minor!

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We live in turbulent times – from endless war to a slowly recovering economy to a looming educational crisis and ineffective government. While we take care of our lives one day at a time, we can’t help but sense a storm gathering on the horizon. In this, we are much like the Jewish people who lived at the time of the prophets. Surrounded by forces outside their control, God called them to remain faithful in their daily life, to trust him to handle the big stuff. God spoke through prophets. Because their books are so short, we call them the Minor Prophets. But while their writings are short, their message has major implications for our lives today.

Welcome to Major/Minor!

Hello My Name Is…

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JR. Forasteros - April 20, 2014

Easter

Hello My Name Is...

Many of us feel disappointed with God at some point or another in our lives. We experience pain, life doesn't go our way and it feels like God broke his promise to us. But Easter Sunday is the proof that God always keeps his promises. Though Jesus' death on Friday looked like God didn't come through, his resurrection on Easter proves that God's plan was bigger than we'd dare to dream. Easter is a promise to us too that God isn't finished with us, and that we can trust God to keep his promise of life!

Related Topics: God's Will, Story, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Idolatry | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "Hello My Name Is..."

Who is God? The answers to this most basic human question can be found in the Scriptures. Over and over, God comes to humanity, interacts with us in ways we can understand, and we learn more of who God is. Often in these interactions, the people who met God would give God a name - a way to describe how God had worked in their lives. As we explore these stories, we'll learn that God is the same God for us today. God is our provider, our shepherd, our banner, our peace, our mother and more!

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Who is God?

The answers to this most basic human question can be found in the Scriptures. Over and over, God comes to humanity, interacts with us in ways we can understand, and we learn more of who God is. Often in these interactions, the people who met God would give God a name – a way to describe how God had worked in their lives.

As we explore these stories, we’ll learn that God is the same God for us today. God is our provider, our shepherd, our banner, our peace, our mother and more!

American Gods

JR. Forasteros - March 9, 2014

The God of Work

American Gods

We all know that hard work is a virtue. But we easily fall into the trap of turning work into a god, believing that we always need just a little bit more before we'll be content. We sacrifice our time, our energy and ultimately our families and lives to this god whose demands on us never end. Let's return to the Creator God who tells us we should do all our work in six days and spend the seventh, the Sabbath day, enjoying the life we're building. Let's remember that our worth and security come not from what we produce but from the God who created, calls and loves us.

Related Topics: Calling, Sin, God's Will, Sabbath, Idolatry | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "American Gods"

When you think of idol, you think of a little statue. But idols can be anything that distracts or distances us from God. During Lent, we're going to look at some of the most popular idols in our culture. We'll see what they are, and how they pull us away from God. We'll also discover the better way God calls us to. Join us as we discover the identities of these American gods, and turn from them to follow the one and only true God.

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When you think of idol, you think of a little statue. But idols can be anything that distracts or distances us from God. During Lent, we’re going to look at some of the most popular idols in our culture. We’ll see what they are, and how they pull us away from God. We’ll also discover the better way God calls us to. Join us as we discover the identities of these American gods, and turn from them to follow the one and only true God.

So who are these American Gods?

The Mentorist

We should cultivate relationships with those who are Before, Beside and Behind us. We’ll call these intentional, life-giving relationships “mentoring relationships”. What do these relationships look like? How can we foster them in our daily lives? Welcome to The Mentorist!

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What’s the Big Idea?

How can we better understand the confusing world of the Bible? How can understanding the world of the Bible help us better understand the world we live in today?

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Ordinary Phenomenon

How many times have you heard about one of those spectacular events in the Old Testament and thought, “It must be nice!” If only I had seen the Red Sea part, or Elijah’s showdown on Mt. Carmel. Then it’d be so easy to trust God! But apparently that’s not true. We see again and again that the big events aren’t what transform us into God’s people. Rather, we find God in the ordinary phenomena we see every day.

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Road to Bethlehem

Sheila Slone - December 1, 2013

The Magi

Road to Bethlehem

Who were the so-called "Wise Men" at the Nativity? They were Persian Astrologers, pagans who found the Good News about Jesus written in the stars. Their journey to Bethlehem reminds us that God doesn't always work inside our boxes, that everyone who seeks Truth finds Jesus.

Related Topics: Mission, Evangelism, Gospel, Other, Story, Hospitality | More Messages from Sheila Slone | Download Audio

From Series: "Road to Bethlehem"

Shepherds with their sheep. Three kings bearing gifts. A new mother, her husband and their tiny baby, resting in a manger as a star shines brightly overhead. We've all seen the nativity scene hundreds of times. But that peaceful scene hides adventure, surprise, hurt and hope. Each of those persons gathered at that manger walked a different road to get there. Join us this Advent season as we learn their journeys to the manger. Each person's story is an invitation for us to consider our own paths. What does your Road to Bethlehem look like?

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As king of Israel, Herod should’ve been first in line to the manger. But instead of focusing on representing God, Herod only sought to maintain his own throne. How can his (bad) example teach us how to find the road to God?

BOLD

JR. Forasteros - October 6, 2013

BOLD Faith

BOLD

BOLD Faith is choosing to live according to God's character, not based on how our lives turn out. It's faith that God brings life from death, even in the most dire of circumstances.

Related Topics: Character, Risk, Faith | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "BOLD"

Let's face it: following Jesus in 21st Century America is pretty easy. Choosing to be a faithful picture of God for our friends, families and coworkers doesn't cost us much. But we have brothers and sisters all over the globe who have given up everything for Jesus - their homes, their families, even their lives. What can we learn from their bold faith? How can their stories inspire us to follow Jesus more faithfully? Join us in October and November as we ask, What's keeping me from a BOLD life?

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Let’s face it: following Jesus in 21st Century America is pretty easy. Choosing to be a faithful picture of God for our friends, families and coworkers doesn’t cost us much. But we have brothers and sisters all over the globe who have given up everything for Jesus – their homes, their families, even their lives. What can we learn from their bold faith? How can their stories inspire us to follow Jesus more faithfully? Join us in October and November as we ask, What’s keeping me from a BOLD life?

Theology for the Rest of Us

JR. Forasteros - September 4, 2013

Everyone is a Theologian

Theology for the Rest of Us

Theology sounds like something reserved for academics and brainiacs. But it's not! Theology means "words about God". So if you talk about God (or even just think about God!), you're a theologian. The real question is: How do we do theology well?

Related Topics: Love, Gospel, Church, Story, Doctrine, Holy Spirit, Theology, Scripture | More Messages from JR. Forasteros | Download Audio

From Series: "Theology for the Rest of Us"

Mention “theology” and watch everyone shrink back in their chairs. Words like Trinity, Sovereignty and Eschatology scare us away from asking good questions about God, about faith and Christianity. But that’s not how it’s supposed to be! We all talk about God. We’re all theologians, whether we realize it or not. In this class, we’ll rescue theology from the ivory tower. Theology should invite us to know God better

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Mountain Tree
Theology for the Rest of Us

Everyone’s a theologian. How can we be good at it?

Mention “theology” and watch everyone shrink back in their chairs. Words like Trinity, Sovereignty and Eschatology scare us away from asking good questions about God, about faith and Christianity. But that’s not how it’s supposed to be! We all talk about God. We’re all theologians, whether we realize it or not. In this class, we’ll rescue theology from the ivory tower.

Theology should invite us to know God better.

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