Paul says we can build a church with wood, hay, straw or gold, silver and precious stones. One is burned up when fire comes, another is purified. What are we building Trinity with and are we trusting in the patient work of God in us? Today Pastor John shares our values, the building blocks of what we think God wants us to hold onto at Trinity.
In our time, technology and the digital world are affecting our relationships. They are specifically negatively affecting relationships with people who are close to us in proximity, but with whom we share no familial bond or affinity group. These people are our neighbors! Thus today we wrap up our series on 'Loving Ourselves and Others Well,' by discussing ideas to help us love our actual neighbors well and how to promote good community in our neighborhoods!
People got annoyed at Jesus' tendency to eat with sinners, and even called him a glutton and drunkard. Yet this was perhaps and intentional practice that we need to bring back in today's world as society moves toward isolation, loneliness and eating alone. Would you celebrate with us?
Conflict is difficult, but it is something that Jesus clearly calls us to do well. As his disciples, he calls us to not let our anger control us and not blow up on others, and he calls us to not let our relational problems linger and fester. He tells us to talk it out with those we have issues with. We will need his Spirit and his wisdom to do this well. Join us as we discuss this vital issue in our discipleship to Jesus!
Christ calls us to love others well and deeply. Yet we often don't even know each other well enough to love them. Perhaps learning to listen well is essential to loving others well. This skill we must learn to put into practice and become good listeners. Join us as we discuss this needed skill in loving others well.
Today we journey with Joseph understanding the ways that his family was dysfunctional and sinful. In the midst of this, Joseph chose to forgive his brothers and not pass that on to the next generation. A big part of what we need to do as Disciples of Jesus is to look at our family of origin and be honest about the sinful habits or unhealthy patterns and choose to change those in our lives.
Join us as we begin a sermon series focusing on Loving Ourselves and Others Well. Today we talk about the importance of knowing ourselves. St. Theresa of Avila says, "Almost all problems in the spiritual life stem from lack of self-knowledge." Thus knowing ourselves and being sure in our walk with the Lord is essential to our maturity as a person made in His Image.
As Easter Morning came, the disciples were very surprised at the resurrection of Jesus, yet the angels asked, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" This leads us to be reminded that we should be surprisingly alive in an era that doesn't expect it. Have we really experienced the life of Jesus, relationship with the Holy Spirit and the freedom he brings us? Are We Surprisingly Alive?
Today we look at the Kingdom of Jesus, and how those around Jesus missed it, and how we still miss it! Then we discuss the ancient Christian practice, a Rule of Life. Join us as we seek to be intentional in our walk with the Lord.
Guest speaker Charlotte Duff leads us in discussing the practice of coming before God in Silence and Solitude. Do we let business, distraction, fear or anxiety stop us from spending time in stillness with God? God's invitation is to come to him in quiet and rest!
We continue our series on Spiritual Practices during the season of Lent. Fasting is not a fun practice or something that many Americans practice, but it is a practice that deepens our intimacy with God and allows Him to shape us more into his disciples.
Do you have a theology of vocation? God creates humans and gives them work to cultivate Eden and bring his goodness throughout the world. Today we look at the big story of scripture and how it encourages us to understand our work through the lens of cultivating Beauty, Abundance and Order in God's good world as his new creation is breaking in.
Join us as we continue our series on Creation. Our story tells us that our God made us in him image, which teaches us of the dignity, value and worth of every individual, as well as the great opportunity all of us have to do good with God. We are also told that we are made of dust, which reminds us that we will die one day, and that as finite, created beings, we have limits. God wants to meet us in those limits, and as we embrace those, we embrace more of his life for us.
We continue our series on our Creation Story as we explore how God calls Creation Good! This is essential to our understanding of the world, and how we are to live in it, responsible for caring for creation well. We also discuss what the "New Creation" will be like when the Resurrection at the end of time comes.
We begin our series on the Creation Story in Genesis reflecting on how our God makes order out of chaos. Creation is orderly and intentional. Humans are then made to reflect God's image and given dominion on the earth to be people who bring about God's order here and now.
Today we dive into the story of Simeon and Anna speaking and singing about the baby Jesus at the Temple. Anna and Simeon both are wise old folks who have depth and intimacy in their relationship with God. Perhaps they should be role models for us as we seek to live a life with God.
Today we examine the Zechariah's story as the angel tells him his wife will be pregnant with a child who will be a prophet preparing Israel for the coming Messiah. Zechariah's and Israel's longing asks us the question of longing... do we long for God? Are we allowing God to form our desires and longings? Ultimately, the Holy Spirit wants to invade our lives and fill us with joy and delight.
Join us as Charlotte Duff leads us in reflecting on Mary's story and how Mary responds to what could have been anxiety producing news. Instead of descending into anxious preparation, Mary chooses to trust God's word, his goodness and shares the news with her cousin Elizabeth. Join us as we seek to have a heart like Mary's.