The Gospel Changes Everything
Romans is the Apostle Paul’s fullest and clearest treatise on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout history, this letter has opened eyes, awakened hearts, and set movements in motion. It’s both profoundly theological and deeply personal, revealing the truth about God, humanity, and salvation. John Stott rightly called Romans a manifesto of freedom in Christ - a freedom that remakes our lives, forms us into God’s people, and sends us as witnesses of Jesus in the world.
Everyday Disciple-Making
September is the time we remember and recommit ourselves to our Mission: Forming whole-hearted disciples of Jesus in life-shaping relationship for everyday disciple-making ministry. As we study Paul's letter to Philemon, we'll explore our mission statement and commit to living it together in the coming year.
Life-Shaping Relationship
Philemon is a case study in gospel formation, the deeply personal (gospel identity), relational (gospel community), and purposeful (gospel mission) life-shaping process of discipleship to Jesus. The situation that occasions Paul’s short letter to Philemon would have been commonplace, but Paul’s solution is extraordinary. Paul pleads with the wealthy Philemon to choose of his own accord to receive his runaway slave Onesimus back, not as a criminal but as a brother in the family of God.
Whole-Hearted Disciples
Philemon is a case study in gospel formation, the deeply personal (gospel identity), relational (gospel community), and purposeful (gospel mission) life-shaping process of discipleship to Jesus. The situation that occasions Paul’s short letter to Philemon would have been commonplace, but Paul’s solution is extraordinary. Paul pleads with the wealthy Philemon to choose of his own accord to receive his runaway slave Onesimus back, not as a criminal but as a brother in the family of God.
They Will Listen
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’ promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the Spirit, through Paul, finishes what was started by taking the gospel to the ends of the known world. The anticlimactic ending to Acts encourages us to participate with the Spirit in His missionary endeavors.
The Gospel on Trial
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’ promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the gospel message is on trial. But what we find is that it is so much more than just a message; it is a living and risen savior, and that as that message is on trial, God is more faithful and alive than we ever knew. God is sovereign and also involved as trials come. We get to continue to participate, knowing He is the faithful one and working.
Word Increased Mightily
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’ promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, we see how the community of God and the truth of God and his word empower and realign the church for the ongoing mission of making disciples of Jesus.
I Have Many in This City
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the church mourns the loss of James, is surprised by the imprisonment and release of Peter, and continues to grow and multiply.
There is Another King, Jesus
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the church mourns the loss of James, is surprised by the imprisonment and release of Peter, and continues to grow and multiply.
Saved By Grace
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the church mourns the loss of James, is surprised by the imprisonment and release of Peter, and continues to grow and multiply.
All That God Had Done
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the church mourns the loss of James, is surprised by the imprisonment and release of Peter, and continues to grow and multiply.
The Hand of the Lord
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, the church mourns the loss of James, is surprised by the imprisonment and release of Peter, and continues to grow and multiply.
What God Made Clean
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. This week, we watch the Spirit sovereignty orchestrate the preparation of the church to move to include the Gentile peoples of the world. Our role is to create space to hear the Spirit, to go and courageously speak the name of Jesus, and to repent.
God’s Chosen Instrument
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? This week, Jesus goes after the least likely person, turning Saul into a trophy of his grace and reminding us that he can use crooked sticks to draw straight lines.
Gathered To Scatter
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? This week, after the church is scattered, King Jesus is still orchestrating the story, and we get to see how the new Spirit-filled people of God take the Gospel to the ends of the known world.
Where the Most High Dwells
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? This week, the story of Stephen invites us to desire nothing less than the fullness of God's presence, always and forever. God's Holy Spirit has come to live in his people, the church, and he wants nothing less than our full lives, fully submitted, so that his presence would fill every corner of the Earth. If this is true, what will God do, who will he speak to, who will he have compassion on, and how will he call you to prioritize your energy, time, and money so that, by the power of his Holy Spirit through you, his mission would be accomplished?
Shall Not Overcome
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? This week, we learn about how the kingdom of God will not be overcome, and neither will we!
In Jesus the Resurrection
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 3-4 kind of work this week, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1.8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? This week, our role is to repent and join in as the Spirit goes on the move out of the temple and begins to flow out of anyone who will join. The Spirit makes its way down the steps of the temple and into the homes of the followers of Jesus, demonstrating love and healing.
My Spirit Poured Out
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? To believe the Great Commission is for each of us and all of us together, to receive the Spirit in personal and corporate prayer and dependence, and to actively prepare for whatever opportunities the Spirit creates to bear witness to Jesus.
Be My Witnesses
Through a study of the book of Acts, we're asking the Spirit to conform us to the patterns and practices of the early church — a people who love the lost like Jesus, give of themselves in rhythms of blessing and hospitality, and who seek to engage in curious, spiritual, and gospel conversations. We want the Spirit to do an Acts 1-2 kind of work, fulfilling Jesus’s promise in Acts 1:8: You will receive power, and you will be my witnesses. What is our role? To believe the Great Commission is for each of us and all of us together, to receive the Spirit in personal and corporate prayer and dependence, and to actively prepare for whatever opportunities the Spirit creates to bear witness to Jesus.