Teaching
We gather around the scriptures to learn the unfolding story of God.
Prayer and The Golden Rule – Matthew 7:7-12
In Matthew 7:7-12, Jesus invites his apprentices to ask anything of God. Christ’s disciples can foster a life of prayer that goes to God with everything and then extends that goodness to all through the golden rule.
Judge Not – Matthew 7:1-6
In general, many of us are hypercritical, unaccepting of differences, and quick to pass judgment. In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus confronts that hypercritical posture, not with undisciplined acceptance, but by first taking a hard look at our own life.
Do not be Anxious – Matthew 6:25–32
At surface value, Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-24, “do not be anxious” can seem dismissive. Upon further investigation, within the context of his life, Jesus is offering us a framework of faith to not just cope with the anxieties of life but to truly become a non-anxious presence.
Lay Up Treasures – Matthew 6:19-24
Monetary dissatisfaction and the desire for more possessions are not new phenomena. in Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus gently confronts his disciples’ desire for more beckoning them to redirect their desires’ toward those things of eternal value.
When You Fast – Matthew 6:16-18
To be human is to experience a complex web of appetites and desires. Many of those desires are healthy and natural; while others are more nefarious, corrosive, and wrong, and in many ways, those desires can master us. For millennia, fasting, going without food and drink for a period of time, has been a core practice of the Church. This is in part because it brings our body and spirit into alignment and clarifies our desires.
When You Pray – Matthew 6:5-15
Jesus envisions a life energized by prayer for his disciples, so much so that it is difficult to imagine a life of apprenticeship to Jesus absent of a healthy prayer life. But if we are honest, most of us would acknowledge that prayer is a weak point in our apprenticeship to Jesus. In Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus comments on two misunderstandings of prayer and then will give one of the most profound teachings on life with God in the Lord’s Prayer.
Practicing Righteousness – Matthew 6:1-4
There is a distorted vision of righteousness that puts performative action over sincere motivation. In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus addresses our righteousness prompting us to ask the question, “what’s is my motivation?”
Gospel Participation – Becoming a People of Participation
We struggle with the idea of sharing the Gospel because even that phrase has been co-opted by the misguided, the manipulative, or just tone-deaf to the moment. They mostly feel like a bait-and-switch or a multi-level marketing scheme, then a Jesus’ invitation into a new kingdom. What if sharing the Gospel could look like inviting a neighbor over for dinner? Or taking a Saturday to serve our city in a meaningful way? Or just simply living in such a way that it begs the question? What if sharing the Gospel is more like Jesus and moving towards pain and loving people into the Kingdom?
Courageous Hospitality – Becoming a Hospitable People
As city dwellers, we've learned to remain anonymous; from our neighbors to our barista, we can navigate life without knowing the name or story of people we interact with on a daily basis. We believe that the vision of community that Christ has in mind is far more costly, far more intimate, far messier, and far more beautiful than what we’ve settled for. We believe that we start to become hospitable people simply by committing to a meal.
Holistic Justice – Becoming an Interruptible People
We exist in this moment were using a term like justice is just good branding; which of our favorite brands hasn't made a statement condemning something or advocating for something? For the people of God to embody holistic justice, we must recognize that justice is not an auxiliary topic to the Gospel– justice is how the Gospel is lived out amongst the community. It is our conviction that justice in the scripture is about becoming a particular kind of community.
Intentional Formation – Becoming a People of Prayer
Intentional formation is to be deliberate and purposeful with the people we are becoming. As followers of Christ, we’ve been given specific direction for our change by the Incarnate One, Jesus. His life and ministry provide a clear pattern for the Kingdom of God. We believe that the first step in our formation is becoming people of prayer.
Advent – Love
As we move closer to Christmas we consider the love of God demonstrated in the incarnation of Christ. A love that enters into the chaos of our world and invites us to be a part of its healing.
Advent – Joy
On the third Sunday of Advent, we reflect on the joy of Christ. After the last few years, joy has not been easy to find. But in Christ, we find the courage to laugh, to smile, and to hope despite the chaos around us and in us.
Advent – Peace
The Second Sunday of Advent is a reminder of the Peace our God promises. But this peace is achieved only after we give up our commitment to the status quo. We need prophets to upset business-as-usual and push us to pursue flourishing for all. We need messengers that call our sins into account and beckon us towards repentance. We need provocative messengers to prepare the way for our Messiah.
Jesus on Enemy Love – Matthew 5:43-48
In a world in which we are encouraged to hate our enemies, Jesus offers a radically different way. His instructions, and his example, are to love those who hate you and to pray for those that actively plot your demise.
Jesus on Breaking the Cycle of Violence – Matthew 5:38-42
Humanity has long suffered under the perpetuation of violence and revenge. Jesus desires for his followers to take action that breaks this cycle of violence, and create opportunities for those who were once our enemy to be transformed into our neighbor.
Jesus on Truth Telling – Matthew 5:33-37
In the first century, the Jewish community had developed a complex hierarchy of oaths and half-truths to get around the command to manipulate and lie to their neighbor. Jesus confronts these practices by compelling his followers to be committed to simple, straightforward honesty.
Jesus on Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:31-32 confronts the easy divorce culture of his day, and our own, that oppresses women and weaponizes divorce. The announcement of his coming Kingdom is always good news for those who have been wounded by divorce.
Jesus on Sexual Objectification – Matthew 5:27-30
Some of Jesus’ harshest criticism and difficult instructions center on the topic of sexual immorality. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus extends the divine prohibition on adultery and extends it to our hearts and imagination.