Teaching
We gather around the scriptures to learn the unfolding story of God.
Doubt in a Digital Age – Matthew 11:1-6
In the digital age, the constant influx of information can easily distract us from our spiritual journey. The overwhelming noise can erode our faith by diverting our attention from meaningful questions and reflections. To navigate this, it's essential to take intentional breaks from digital devices and create space for contemplation and spiritual growth. By doing so, we can engage with our doubts and questions more meaningfully, allowing us to focus on our relationship with God and our spiritual development.
Integrity – Matthew 5:27-30
In this digital age, pornography has become alarmingly accessible, affecting individuals' perceptions of intimacy and relationships. This calls for a societal shift in understanding and addressing these issues, recognizing the profound impact it has on our youth and communities. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount urges us to look beyond commandments and examine the deeper issues of the heart. This message is not about condemning sexual desire, but about valuing the sacredness of sexual relationships.
Holy Attention – Luke 10:38-42
Our daily lives are filled with distractions, especially from digital devices that always seek our focus. Research indicates our attention spans are getting shorter, hindering meaningful connections with God and others. To cultivate holy attention, we must intentionally resist digital distractions. This involves practical steps like turn off notifications, use focus features, set app limits, and create time without devices. Practicing silence and solitude helps us be present with God, allowing us to slow down, reflect on our thoughts and feelings, and deepen our awareness of His presence.
Simplicity – Luke 12:13-34
In today's digital age, technology offers both opportunities and challenges for managing finances. While there are numerous tools available to help us budget and save, the same technology can also lead to increased debt and lifestyle inflation. Social media and targeted ads often tempt us to spend beyond our means, creating financial pressures that can distract us from our spiritual goals. As faithful disciples, it is crucial to critically assess how technology influences our financial decisions and spiritual lives.
Formation in a Digital Age – Romans 12:1-2
The challenge we face is not just about managing our screen time but understanding how these digital interactions are molding us. Technology is not neutral; it has the power to transform us physically, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. We are living in a "digital Babylon," a world with foreign customs and gods, where remaining faithful to our beliefs requires intentionality and discernment.
Love – Luke 2:8–21
Our understanding of love, and consequently God's love, is deeply influenced by our early attachments and family dynamics. These experiences shape our expectations of God, often unconsciously. However, God's love is not defined by our experiences but by His actions, as demonstrated through Jesus. The Apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, showing us that God's love is attentive, joyous, self-giving, and glorious.
Joy – Luke 2:1-12
Advent, marking the beginning of the church year, is a time of anticipation and preparation for the arrival of something greater. It is a period of deliberate tension, where we create space in our hearts for hope, peace, joy, and love. Waiting is often uncomfortable and can feel unproductive, yet it is in this waiting that we are shaped and formed. Our expectations influence how we wait, and how we wait can transform us.
Peace – Luke 1:39-56
Finding God's peace amid the world's noise, wars, and unrest can be challenging. Mary, mother of Jesus, exemplifies peace in Luke 1 by highlighting God's past faithfulness and future promises. She finds peace through trust in God, despite Israel's unfaithfulness. By reflecting on our spiritual heritage and the testimonies of those before us, we can also find peace.
Hope – Luke 1:26-38
The holidays, often portrayed as the happiest time of the year, can paradoxically be a period of deep loneliness for many. The pressure to appear joyful and successful can lead to a façade that hides the true state of our hearts. However, the gospel offers a transformative invitation to move beyond mere expectation management to a season of anticipation and hope in Christ.
Elders – 1 Peter 5:1-11
True leadership, as exemplified by Jesus, is not about seeking power or personal gain but about serving others with integrity and compassion. This approach challenges the world's view of leadership, which often equates authority with dominance and self-interest. Instead, leaders are called to shepherd their communities with a servant's heart, prioritizing the well-being of others over their own ambitions.
Insulted – 1 Peter 4:12-19
In a world that often mocks or misunderstands our faith, we are invited to be unoffendable, to embrace suffering, and to find joy in our trials. This requires a deep reliance on Christ, a willingness to deny ourselves, and a commitment to follow Him. By doing so, we become a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the transformative love of Jesus.
Witness – 1 Peter 4:1-11
Peter's call to witness is not a solitary endeavor but rather a meaningful journey undertaken through community. It involves deeply knowing and genuinely showing Jesus through our personal experiences of suffering, actively denying ourselves, and committing to loving sacrifice. These actions are not merely tasks but are, in fact, acts of worship and witness that beautifully point others to the hope and glory that can be found in a relationship with Christ.
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.