Two different people can view the exact same information or data, and their imaginations take them in very opposite directions. Our imaginations are so often guided by either faith or fear. This Vision Sunday message encourages us to use a holy imagination, and instead of saying "we can't", to look at our future and say "God is with us."
Josh Krueger, one of our Men's Ministry leaders, brings the message today from John 15, under the main idea that "Mandated, glory producing fruit can be produced one way: sap from the true vine." Throughout the message, Josh will address these questions: What is fruit and how is it produced? What is sap and how do we get some? Why are fruit and sap so important?
Is there a right way to be a parent? Is there a way of raising children that is in fact "God's way"? Or is it up to us to figure out the best way on our own? In this message, Pastor Steve Hall leads us through how Jesus' life, death and resurrection informs the way we think about parenting and grand-parenting.
Satan enters Judas on the day of the Passover meal, and it looks like Jesus’ ability to avoid death and conspiracy has come to an end. There is a traitor in the group. But certain details of Luke 22:1-13 show us that from God’s vantage point, things are going “exactly as he said.”
Two men from very different situations in life have a desire to see Jesus. He meets them both in very different ways, but the outcome is the same: Your faith has saved you.
A wealthy man comes up to Jesus looking for the key to eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell everything, and the rich man is extremely disappointed. The idea that you can’t work or earn your way into heaven wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Walking out our faith looks like taking Jesus’ words and putting them to action. Forgiveness, for example. Serving, for example. It’s where the rubber meets the road.
If your team doesn't make the championship game, you might still watch, albeit with a large helping of "I don't really care" on your plate of nachos. Jesus lays it out pretty strongly that when it comes to him, we don't have the luxury of that option.
Jesus invites us to pray with confidence, because on the other side of the door is a generous and gracious Father eager to give what we need.
We all have pretty solid ideas of what we think is the way work and life should work the best, and when it comes to spiritual things – it's not much different. However, following Jesus looks a lot more like trusting than it looks like "knowing."