We all are products of where we come from. Our heritage shapes us. What was Jesus' lineage and what does it tell us about the message of Christmas? When we look at the genealogy of Jesus, we see some surprising names and unique stories. Jesus' family tree reminds us that the good news of Christmas has always been about light in the darkness, grace for the hurting, and acceptance of the outcast.
Ephesians is a book of encouragement. With poetic wonder, Paul wants to build us up with the core message of Jesus. If you cut open the Gospel, what do you find? The Apostle Paul’s answer is simple: Grace. In fact, he tells us that God’s grace has been “lavished upon us” in Christ. This grace transforms us—covering our failures, adopting us as sons and daughters, blessing us with every spiritual blessing, and revealing to us God’s good plan. This transformation, however, is not limited to the heart. It extends into every corner of our lives giving us a new way to view our habits, marriages, parenting, and work. With prayerful wisdom, Ephesians tells us what grace looks like, how we receive it, and how to apply it to our lives. Join us as we explore this life-transforming grace together.
This summer we are going to explore some of the final words of Jesus to his disciples before his ascension. Commonly referred to as the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20 shows us “The most important man that ever lived sharing the most important words he ever spoke, at the most important moment of his life.” Jesus’ short marching orders for the church have a repeating word that gives structure to his address: “ALL” Jesus has ALL authority sending his disciples to ALL nations to communicate ALL his teachings for ALL of time. What does this all encompassing command look like for the church today in NYC?
We were made for life with God—not to walk through our days alone but in relationship with our Heavenly Father. The Bible is full of promises of God’s presence, strength, peace, joy, and comfort that will accompany us through the peaks and valleys of everyday life. It all sounds great, right? So, why don’t we experience more of this? Why does my daily existence look more like loneliness, anxiety, weariness, disappointment, and busyness? How can I really know God and know myself? How can I walk with God? What does a relationship with God look like in our modern urban context?
These are important questions, and there is no better place to look for answers than in the Book of Psalms. It is a collection of ancient songs chronicling how to engage with God in the midst of the full range of human emotions and experiences. Through this series, we will learn about who God is, who we are, and how each of us can learn to walk with Him.
Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem, and on the way, he is teaching his disciples how to live as a part of his kingdom. His teachings cover a wide range of topics: mercy, prayer, anxiety, generosity, priorities, and his radical inclusion of outsiders. Not everyone, however, is pleased with Jesus’ words. Along the road, Jesus has many encounters with the religious leaders who challenge him. So, as he gives instructions to his disciples, he warns against the hypocrisy and pride of the religious establishment. Join us as we, not only, learn from Jesus’ teachings and warnings but experience his grace and power as we follow him.
Christmas is all about hope. Even in the midst of suffering, loneliness, and disappointment, the message of Christmas has always been that hope entered our world 2,000 years ago in the form of a baby born in Bethlehem. There are no genealogies, angelic declarations, or guiding stars. John starts his account of the life of Jesus much further back—to the beginning of all creation. He explains how God’s eternal wisdom that shaped the foundations of the universe can shape our current hope. This hope, however, does not come from gaining earthly power or knowledge, but through trusting a person— the eternal God that at a specific time and specific place in history, became human.
Since the Garden of Eden, there has been a powerful narrative at work in the world. It is the story of shame. We know it well: “I am not good enough. I don’t really matter. I don’t have what it takes. Something is wrong with me. I am a bad mom. I am a bad dad.” This story has devastating effects on our lives. It leads us into insolation, holds us back from using our God-given gifts, and prevents us from stepping into all our callings. Shame is an assault on God’s good creation. Yet, for many of us, it is the narrating the story of our live
