Unchurch – 2nd Service

Pastor Bruce was put on-the-spot with live questions about sermons, the Bible, and his personal faith. (2nd service questions were different from 1st service questions.) From 2nd service, December 28, 2014

Unchurch – 1st Service

Pastor Bruce was put on-the-spot with live questions about sermons, the Bible, and his personal faith. (1st service questions were different from 2nd service questions.) From 1st service, December 28, 2014

A Wise Man’s Gold

Let the world push and shove and honk in their festive frenzy! Don’t bite. Don’t take the bait. You’re celebrating the Prince of Peace. You’re pursuing the King of Christmas. From December 21, 2014

Connect the Jots #11: A Salted Savior

Everyone will be salted with fire, but the Lamb of God was salted with our sin. Therefore, though we must stand before the All Consuming Fire, we will be renewed by His Spirit within us. From December 7, 2014

Unchurch – 2nd Service

Expect the unexpected from our first Unchurch Sunday. Pastor Bruce was put on-the-spot with live questions about sermons, the Bible, and his personal faith. (2nd service questions were different from 1st service questions.) From 2nd service, November 30, 2014

Unchurch – 1st Service

Expect the unexpected from our first Unchurch Sunday. Pastor Bruce was put on-the-spot with live questions about sermons, the Bible, and his personal faith. (1st service questions were different from 2nd service questions.) From 1st service, November 30, 2014

Weaving the Word #19: Theirs Is the Kingdom

Where is heaven? Can God leave heaven? Did Jesus leave heaven to dwell on earth? When Jesus was teaching on the hillside above the lake, where was heaven? From November 23, 2014

Weaving the Word #18: Blessed Are the Miserable

What in the world could Jesus mean, “Blessed are the poor”? When you pray for God’s blessing, do you ever think, “Take away my money”? From November 16, 2014

Weaving the Word #17: Apprenticeship Training

Jesus doesn’t want a duplicate; He wants a disciple. I’m called to be like Jesus would be if He were me. From November 9, 2014

Weaving the Word #16: The Unappointed Apostle

After a spending the night praying, Jesus chose His twelve apostles. But there’s a hidden story: the unappointed apostle who deserved to be among the twelve far more than Judas. From November 2, 2014

Mission

Jesus came for us on mission. He lived His mission, and He didn’t care what people said about Him and His mission. (Includes an update from Pastor Nick about our missions in the Philippines.) Speakers: Chris Herbert & Nick Harris. From October 26, 2014

Weaving the Word #15: Focused on the Fish

How many times have you perceived failure as a curse, when in fact it was a blessing – to get you, keep you, or return you, to the right path, your true calling, your created purpose? From October 19, 2014

Weaving the Word #14: An Astonishing Catch

Mankind is caught in the enemy’s wicked net. We’ve all been weighed and found wanting. However, we still have hope, because we haven’t been eaten … yet! From October 12, 2014

Weaving the Word #13: A Fish Story

When it comes to supposed contradictions in the Bible, we can accept what the enemy says, or we can blindly trust God’s truth, or we can ask and seek and knock, and find a rock-solid answer. From October 5, 2014

It’s OK to Be Normal

The church warns us to avoid this cliff called sin. But we can be unaware of another cliff, called self-righteousness. And the further we get away from one, the closer we get to the other. Guest speaker: Josh Kelley. From September 28, 2014

Connect the Jots #10: Shriveled Sheep

How obsessed are you with God’s will, God’s heart, God’s voice, God’s Word, God’s Son … and your righteousness? From September 21, 2014

Weaving the Word #12: Healing a Shriveled Hand

Jesus hates religion as much as He loves restoration. But restoration is substituted with religion by those who want to be liked by God, but don’t want to be like God’s Son. From September 14, 2014

Weaving the Word #11: Working on the Sabbath

God instituted the day off, a weekly day of rest: the Sabbath. He directed His people to relax, and they directly turned it into the most religiously exhausting day of the week! From September 7, 2014

Witnessing Without Weirdness

1st Peter has one of the best passages in the Bible about evangelism. It gives us steps on how to talk to people: to be a witness without being weird. Guest speaker: Josh Kelley. From August 31, 2014

Backyard Missionaries: Staying Put with Purpose

We tend to think of the mission field as anywhere outside of our own zip code, when actually that’s the exception to the rule. We’re called to the mission field that surrounds us. From August 24, 2014

Called to Greatness

Greatness is not found in how much you do, but how well you do what God has called you to. Guest speaker: Josh Kelley. From August 17, 2014

Enemy of Sin: Follow-up to “Friend of Sinners”

Sin isn’t a random list of fun things God doesn’t want us to do. The Friend of sinners is saying, “Here’s what’ll destroy you, and those around you; what’ll destroy your relationships with other people, and with Me. From August 10, 2014

Connect the Jots #9: Friend of Sinners

So often, as believers, we become experts at serving the Lord, but remain amateurs at being His friend. From August 3, 2014

The Lord’s Work

You don’t have to quit your job, sell your possessions, and become a missionary to India in order to make God happy. God has commissioned you to work right where you are. Guest speaker: Josh Kelley. From July 27, 2014

Connect the Jots #8: Such Great Faith

In Jesus’ ministry, we see back-to-back officials who come to Him with the same request. One is scolded, and the other is told he has great faith. Why the difference? From July 20, 2014

Connect the Jots #7: Follow the Thread

Where won’t you follow Jesus? What’s He asked you to do that’s just too unreasonable and too risky … from your perspective? From July 13, 2014

Why Does It Take So Long?

It’s possible to grow old without growing up. Why does it take us so long to grow up? For followers of Jesus Christ the problem is that we have two natures, and these two are always at war with each other. From July 6, 2014

Weaving the Word #10: Healing a High Fever

What part of your created purpose is bedridden, because of a feverish desire for something self-serving and self-destructive? From June 29, 2014

Weaving the Word #9: Teaching With Authority

Jesus didn’t take authority as much as He offered authority. And that kind of authority comes from a position of true power. From June 22, 2014

The Echo

We live in a culture of echoes. We repeat what we see, hear, read, and watch. In a time of instant messaging, communication, and gratification, have we lost the noble art of pausing, contemplating, then acting? Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From June 15, 2014

Creating Connections: Relating to Those in God’s Word

One of the diabolical deceptions is that we can’t relate to the very real people who populate the stories in the Scriptures. The truth is, people haven’t changed, God hasn’t changed, and He’s waiting in His Word. From June 8, 2014

Joining Forces: Becoming Deliberately Vulnerable

You will strengthen, encourage, and comfort others when you become deliberately, emotionally vulnerable to them. From June 1, 2014

Wind at My Back

God’s wind is not in your face, opposing you just to oppose you. But to change your direction, to change your attitude, and to form His character in you. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From May 25, 2014

Seizing Significance: Realizing Our Role in the Story

Your book—your story—is being authored as you live it out. You are the ultimate reality show! And, your viewing audience is cheering for you. From May 18, 2014

Breaking Mindsets: Sanctified by the Spirit

We’re hay-wired with a malfunctioning system! But the Autopilot of God’s Word will set your course and steadily change you, from the inside out, by breaking your mindsets. From May 11, 2014

Taking Action: Transformed by the Story

God is drawing us into the story; so … now what? Well, we’re drawn into the Word to be drawn out of the world. From May 4, 2014

Am I the Only One?

The miraculous moments of God become miraculous in mundane moments. They’re ordinary moments that become extraordinary because of something small that happened. What small thing has God invited you to do today? Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From April 27, 2014

Epic Easter: Drawn Into the Story

How do you view God’s Word? Bible study or Bible story? Your view will determine whether you reflexively avoid it or embrace it. From April 20, 2014

Connect the Jots #6: Get Away and Pray

Did you open your Bible this last week? If not, you’re not alone. Bible dust is a chronic problem among believers. From April 13, 2014

Weaving the Word #8: Calling Fishers of Men

Like the fishermen He calls to be fishers of men, Jesus asks us to leave our nets to follow Him. So … what’s in your net? From April 6, 2014

In Tune

The same voice that spoke this world into existence give us life, and wants to speak to us. How can we tune in to His voice, separating it from all the other ones clamoring for our attention? Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From March 30, 2014

Weaving the Word #7: Dwelling in the Kingdom

If you’re born in a US embassy on foreign soil, you’re a citizen of the United States of America. If you’re reborn in the embassy of Christ, you’re a citizen of God’s eternal Kingdom. From March 23, 2014

Connect the Jots #5: Songs of the Servant

Isaiah wrote four Songs of the Servant. Again and again they tell of the Servant being a light to His oppressors, even as His own people reject Him. From March 16, 2014

Informed

Our lives take shape and form based on what, or who informs us. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From March 9, 2014

Connect the Jots #4: The Bridegroom

How do you engage God? In His Word. Scripture is where He reveals, proposes, and vows. And, that’s why it’s critical to seek Him after you’ve accepted Him. From March 2, 2014

Guess Who? #5: The Woman at the Well

What’s your deepest well of shame? The one you hope no one will discover? The world tells us to deny it, justify it, or blame it. But, you can’t receive His grace if you won’t acknowledge your shame. From February 23, 2014

Guess Who? #4: Nicodemus

The story of the Pharisee Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Ruling Council that conspired against and condemned Jesus, is one of the great, hidden victories of Christ! From February 16, 2014

Connect the Jots #3: Excrement

Have you recognized, acknowledged, and confessed all your filth? Or, are you still holding onto it? Have you relieved yourself of the shame associated with it? Or, are you still holding onto it? From February 9, 2014

Super Sunday

How we finish is important. Though we are down, we are not out. And in the midst of pressure lies incredible opportunity. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From February 2, 2014

Weaving the Word #6: Jesus Moves to Capernaum

Christ conquered the valley of the shadow of death, descended into the Dead Sea, and broke the yoke of slavery to sin. From January 26, 2014

Guess Who? #3: Elisha

If Elijah was the forerunner of John, who’s Elisha (who received a double portion where the Spirit descended on Jesus), representing? From January 19, 2014

Guess Who? #2: Elijah

Elijah ran from his fears and assumed God’s power was found in earthshaking fire and wind. But, it turns out that God prefers the gentle whisper of a controlled tongue. From January 12, 2014