Teaching
We gather around the scriptures to learn the unfolding story of God.
Community as Home – Acts 2:42-47
Community is not just a program or a preference, it is the very method God uses to shape and transform us. The early church, as described in Acts 2, models a way of life that is both beautiful and challenging. Rather than gathering around shared interests or life stages, the people of God gather around a shared need for the gospel and a new identity in Christ. This kind of community is not easy; it requires courage to be known, to depend on others, and to allow ourselves to be changed. Fear often keeps us from opening up, but the life we long for in Jesus is rooted in courage, not fear.
Community as Gathering – Exodus 39:32-43
Our weekly gathering on Sunday is not a random tradition, but a deeply symbolic act rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, the first day of new creation. This day is a living reminder that God is not distant or apathetic, but present and active among us, just as He was with Israel in the wilderness. The story of Exodus reveals a God who delivers, provides, and dwells with His people, even as they struggle to leave behind the mindsets and idols of their former bondage.
Community as Witness – 1 John 4:7-21
Sin is fundamentally a disordering of our loves—loving the wrong things, or loving good things in the wrong order. Jesus comes not only to forgive our sins, but to re-center our hearts, teaching us to love God first and our neighbors as ourselves. The cross is the ultimate act of love, where God’s self-giving overcomes our self-centeredness and opens the way for us to live rightly ordered lives.
Community as New Family – Romans 8:12-17
For many, the word “family” is loaded with pain, disappointment, or loss, whether from biological relatives or even chosen communities that have let us down. Yet, the New Testament insists that the church is not just a gathering or an organization, but a new family, one that God himself has established through Christ. This is not a metaphor to be discarded, but a reality to be reclaimed and lived out, even in all its messiness and challenge.
Jesus Appears to John – John 21:20–25
When we fixate on the outcomes or gifts of others, we lose sight of the unique calling God has placed on our lives. Comparison turns neighbors into competitors and blinds us to the needs and opportunities right in front of us. The story of Peter and John in John 21 offers a powerful corrective: Jesus calls each of us uniquely, and our focus must remain on Him, not on the outcomes or callings of those around us.
Jesus Appears to Peter – John 21:15–19
Confession is not about shame, but about stepping into the light of God’s love. When we honestly acknowledge our brokenness, we are met not with condemnation, but with an invitation to follow Jesus and participate in his work. This honest reckoning with our flaws is the starting point for true transformation.
Jesus Cooks Breakfast – John 21:1–14
Too often, we expect to see Jesus only in church or during spiritual moments, but He is deeply interested in meeting us in our daily work, our failures, and our routines. Sometimes, our own shame or distractions keep us from seeing Him, but Jesus is always present, inviting us to notice Him and respond.
John's Purpose – John 20:30–31
The rise in spiritual curiosity in our culture reveals a deep hunger for meaning, but a do-it-yourself approach to spirituality often leaves us without a trustworthy guide. The story of Jesus offers not only a compelling interpretation of reality but also a path to the good life, one that is big enough to hold all the strangeness and mystery of our world, yet personal enough to give meaning and purpose to each of us.
Jesus and Thomas – John 20:24–29
In seasons of spiritual uncertainty, disappointment, or unanswered questions, doubt can often feel like a threat to faith, a sign that something has gone wrong or that belief is slipping away. But the story of Thomas, often labeled a doubter, offers a different perspective. When Jesus appears to Thomas after the resurrection, He doesn’t shame him or scold him for his skepticism. Instead, Jesus invites him to touch His wounds, meeting Thomas with compassion, patience, and personal care.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples – John 20:19–23
True discipleship is not measured by how much Christian information we can recite or by simply holding the label “Christian.” It is a whole-life apprenticeship to Jesus, where we learn to live as he would live in our circumstances. This requires moving beyond consumption and self-improvement to a deep, ongoing commitment to follow Jesus in every aspect of life.
Resurrection – John 20:1–18
Easter is a time when we find ourselves, much like the diverse crowd at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, waiting to peer into the empty tomb and discern its meaning for our lives. For some, Easter is the cornerstone of faith, while for others, it may seem like a relic of the past. Yet, the resurrection story is not a mere fairy tale; it is a narrative filled with real people, real emotions, and real encounters with the risen Christ.
Wrath – Matthew 5:21-26
Anger is a prevalent issue in today's society, often manifesting in road rage and global unrest. As followers of Jesus, we must resist the sin of anger and strive to live as He would, recognizing that anger can be both a healthy emotion and a hellish habit. Jesus equates anger with murder in Matthew 5:21-26, emphasizing the seriousness of harboring anger towards others. However, distinguishing between healthy anger and a hellish habit is crucial. Healthy anger aligns with God's anger, which is slow, rooted in love, and directed towards injustice and oppression.
Greed – 1 Timothy 6:6-19
Greed, often misunderstood as a vice exclusive to the wealthy, is an insatiable desire for more that can affect anyone, regardless of their financial status. It is a pervasive force in our culture, celebrated and encouraged, yet it leads us away from the contentment and sufficiency found in Christ. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, warns against the dangers of greed, urging believers to pursue godliness with contentment, which he describes as "great gain." This contentment is not about accumulating wealth but about recognizing that life with God makes us rich in ways that transcend material possessions.
Envy – 1 Samuel 19:9-18
Envy is a subtle but powerful force that fuels comparison, competition, and resentment. It shows up in everyday moments—scrolling through social media, hearing someone else’s good news, or watching a neighbor succeed. Left unchecked, it can damage relationships, divide communities, and blind us to the goodness in our own lives. But Scripture offers a different way. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, love does not envy. Love makes space for celebration, connection, and peace. In love, there is freedom from comparison and joy in being exactly who God created us to be.
Pride – Matthew 6:1-6 & 16-18
Pride is a subtle vice that shifts our focus from God to ourselves. It is not about thinking too much of oneself but rather thinking of oneself too much. In a culture that often glorifies self-promotion and attention-seeking, pride can easily become a barrier between us and God. This self-focused pride can lead us to place ourselves at the center of our universe, imagining that we are the source of our own lives. However, true fulfillment comes from making God the center of our lives and seeking His will above our own.
Lust – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Lust, when left unchecked, deforms our view of others, our sexual appetites, our sense of commitment, and our sense of self. It reduces others to objects and distorts our understanding of relationships. However, God’s call to holiness is not about achieving perfect purity but about setting our lives apart for Him. Holiness is about reordering our lives and loves towards God and His kingdom.
Gluttony – Matthew 4:1-4
Gluttony is not merely about food but about seeking to fill a spiritual void with temporary pleasures. This misplaced dependency challenges us to examine what truly satisfies our souls. The practice of fasting helps combat gluttony by exposing our attachments, increasing our hunger for God, and creating space for Him in our lives. During Lent, we are invited to embrace fasting—not as deprivation, but as a pathway to spiritual growth and deeper dependence on God.
Sloth – Mark 14:32-42
Sloth, often misunderstood as mere laziness, is a deeper spiritual indifference that can lead us away from God. It is described as a "noonday demon," a temptation that strikes in the midst of our daily routines, causing procrastination and avoidance of what is good. Recognizing and naming this shadow is the first step in overcoming it, as it allows us to confront the underlying thoughts that lead us astray. By acknowledging acedia, we can begin to address the spiritual lethargy that hinders our relationship with God.
Embodied – Genesis 1:26–31
The rise of artificial intelligence and digital advancements often tempt us to reduce our humanity to mere data processing, but this is a narrow view. Our faith insists on the value of the human body, emphasizing that being human is more than just thinking or problem-solving; it is about being embodied. From Genesis, we learn that being made in the image of God means we are inherently valuable, entrusted with a royal task, and capable of embodying love. Our bodies are not just vessels; they are integral to our identity and our ability to express divine love.
Embodying Jubilee – Luke 4:16-30
As followers of Christ, we are called to embody justice, mercy, and humility, proclaiming the good news through our actions. This requires us to be agents of Jubilee, bringing hope and transformation to the marginalized and outcasts in our communities. By living out these values, we reflect the heart of Jesus and participate in His mission to bring healing and liberation to a broken world. Our actions should be a testament to the justice and mercy of God, challenging us to step out of our comfort zones and engage with those who are often overlooked.