Teaching
We gather around the scriptures to learn the unfolding story of God.
Suffering – 1 Peter 3:8-22
Suffering is a complex issue that challenges our understanding of God's will. Rather than seeing God as the cause of all events, it is important to recognize the interplay of human freedom, spiritual forces, and chaos. This perspective invites us to trust in God's redemptive work amidst suffering.
Subversion – 1 Peter 2:18-3:7
Peter's instructions in his letters are not about maintaining the status quo but about subverting it from within. This concept of subversive stability involves embracing our roles and working for change through suffering love and patient endurance. This approach calls us to remain rooted in our relationships, communities, and workplaces, seeking change from within rather than fleeing when challenges arise.
Authority – 1 Peter 2:11-17
As Christians, we often forget to fully embrace our true identity as sojourners and exiles in this world. This identity calls us to live differently, abstaining from the passions of the flesh and maintaining honorable conduct among those who do not share our faith. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of the resurrection, demonstrating a living hope that defies the pessimism and defeatism prevalent in the world today.
Chosen – 1 Peter 2:4-10
Often our identity as chosen by God is defined by societal standards or personal accomplishments, rather by God’s love and unique purpose for us. The message of being chosen by God, as articulated by the Apostle Peter, is not just a spiritual concept but a call to live out our faith in tangible ways, reflecting the kingdom of God in our daily lives.
Formation – 1 Peter 1:12-2:3
While humanity is created in God's image, there is also a need to acknowledge the depravity within us. This acknowledgment is crucial for spiritual growth and transformation, a process known as formation. This process involves actively pursuing our salvation, having an eternal perspective, embracing holiness, seeing God as a loving Father, and participating in community.
Salvation – 1 Peter 1:1-12
Often, Salvation is articulated this way: I have a sin problem, and I am on the road to damnation, but Jesus died for my sins, so now I have a chance to go to heaven. Peter's letter offers a rich tapestry of themes, including holiness, hope, and suffering, which together paint a picture of salvation that is far more than just personal deliverance from sin. It is an invitation into a life of holy community, hopeful presence, joyful suffering, and good news for the world.
In Kansas City – Matthew 21:12-17
The decline in volunteerism reflects a broader societal trend that has infiltrated the church. Many avoid serving due to beliefs in personal responsibility, passivity, and the overwhelming pace of life. However, Jesus' teachings make it clear that serving those on the margins is a gospel mandate. We are called not just to serve but to integrate those we serve into our daily lives.
Together – Matthew 10:2-4
While the idea of togetherness might seem straightforward, it is often fraught with challenges, especially given the scandals and moral failures that have plagued many religious institutions, including those in our own city. Yet Jesus regularly attended the synagogue, taught, healed, and debated there, despite its imperfections. Our commitment to the church is not about its perfection but about our collective journey towards Christ.
Revealing the Kingdom of Jesus – Mark 1:14-15
The world is undeniably broken, filled with suffering, injustice, and despair. Many of us have grown disillusioned, giving up on the dream of making a significant impact. However, Jesus invites us into a radical movement that promises to heal the world through suffering love, not through power or force, and live out the reality of the Kingdom now while we await its full realization.
Union – 1 Corinthians 7:1-8
In American culture, there is an overwhelming sense that fulfillment in life is tied to sexual pleasure. Shaped in this environment, the sexual ethics of Jesus don’t sound liberating; they sound limiting. But the Christian story insists that marriage is the safest and best place for sexuality to flourish as bonding, mutual submission, and witness.
Singleness and Dating – 1 Corinthians 7:6-9; 25-31
It is no secret that our culture is relationship-obsessed. Whether it be Hallmark, Zola, Hinge, Love Island, or The Bachelorette, they all sell the same dream that Disney princesses believe—your fulfillment is tied to finding true love. This is problematic primarily because it’s not how Jesus lived or how the New Testament writers articulated marriage and singleness. Single people are welcomed as full participants in God’s kingdom.
Jesus and Sexual Minorities – Various Scriptures
The most polarizing question of our generation is: What does Christianity have to say to those who experience same-sex attraction? We must carefully discern God’s heart on this subject and work to align our life with Jesus’. The place we begin is with the biblical text.
A Better Vision – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
We are living through a widespread redefinition of sexuality and sexual norms in the West. There is a cacophony of competing visions vying for our attention and adoption. None is more influential and corrosive than pornography, which offers us the lie of commodified and anonymous pleasure. Against these stories is the Christian vision of sexuality that insists bodies matter, holy union is coming, and there can be a better witness to the world.
A Community of Sexual Brokeness – John 7:53-8:11
We all hold default assumptions about sex; assumptions formed by our environments, relationships, and experiences. Assumptions that have left us all sexually broken, fractured, and misshapen. The invitation of the Gospel is to bring our brokenness to the healer, to become a community of compassion and challenge.
Politics for the City – Mark 12:13-17
Americans have become less involved with religious institutions, but this has not made them less religious. Instead, Americans have channeled religious fervor and instinct into politics, resulting in new partisan religions. Against these new religions stand Jesus charting a path forward for his followers in the tension between submission and subversion.
Hope for the City – Romans 12:9-21
In election seasons, it is easy to find ourselves marked by animosity, disagreement, and hopelessness. The discourse around our nation is steeped in insult and outrage. But the way of Jesus is to be marked by love, service, hospitality, and peace, qualities that offer a hopeful alternative to our city.
Prayer for the City – Matthew 6:5-14
When it comes to prayer, we all struggle. We feel guilt for not praying more. We feel uncomfortable about praying in front of others. Despite our struggles, Jesus invites us to pray. He invites us to understand prayer not as an obligation but as participation in his coming Kingdom. Jesus teaches his disciples a prayer that has come to be known as the ‘Lord’s Prayer’.
Beauty for the City – Mark 14:1-11
From Jesus’ healing ministry to the work of modern missionary doctors, a consistent feature of the church's work in the world has been to care for the sick and needy through hospitality, which is both a practice and a posture centered on loving the stranger.
Hospitality for the City – Luke 14:1-14
From Jesus’ healing ministry to the work of modern missionary doctors, a consistent feature of the church's work in the world has been to care for the sick and needy through hospitality, which is both a practice and a posture centered on loving the stranger.
Justice for the City – Jeremiah 9:23-24
A common problem with a topic like justice is that it evokes many definitions, ideas, and experiences. The desire to "do justice" resonates within all of us, yet frequently, we merely contribute to the echo chamber with our posts. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to do better. It can be difficult to do justice if we are unclear of how God defines it. But we will find that the Bible gives us everything we need: motivation, joy, and mercy to participate in a Just life for Kansas City.