What is your posture in worship? How should you approach the living God? Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on Matthew 21:12-17, where Jesus does some surprising things to answer this question.
Jesus and Sexuality
Can we talk about sexuality in church? How does God want us to use and understand this part of ourselves? Listen to Pastor David’s message on Matthew 19:10-15.
Report from the Church of God Convention
Last week, Pastor David attended the Church of God Convention in Wichita, Kansas. Listen in as he shares a few points of reflection from this gathering of our tribe!
Jesus and Worry
Jesus says some comforting and challenging words in Luke 12:22-34: do not worry but trust in God; sell your possessions and give to the poor. How does this passage shape our perspective on life and service? Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on this passage.
Jesus and Money
What does money mean? Why do we give offerings in church? Does God really expect us to give sacrificially? Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on Mark 12:41-44.
Jesus and Spirituality
Jesus offers “living water” to those who believe in him. What does this mean? How does Jesus view real spirituality? Listen to Pastor David’s message on John 7:37-39.
Jesus and Power
What do Jesus and Superman have in common? How are they different? How does Jesus’s use of power challenge our normal uses of power in today’s world? Listen to Pastor David’s message on Mark 1:21-28.
Jesus and Time
Jesus shows us how to live with a holy sense of time: fully present in the moment, never rushed, always sensitive to others’ needs. Listen to Pastor David’s sermon on Luke 8:40-56.
Missionaries Bobby and Jenny Mihsill
We had the honor of hosting Bobby and Jenny Mihsill, our Living Link missionaries to Cote d’Ivoire, in worship this week. They preached on Luke 5:1-11 and called us all to join them in following Jesus, who calls us to “fish for people.” Listen to their message here!
Thoughts from the Shalem Conference
Last weekend, I attended a conference in Rockville, Maryland – where it was sunny and hot, nearly 90 degrees! – hosted by the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. As their website says, “Shalem is grounded in Christian contemplative spirituality yet draws on the wisdom of many religious traditions.” I would guess, simply based on observation, that the vast majority of the 150+ attendees to this conference are Christians, but they practice Christianity in a way that is a bit different than how you and I usually practice it.
I attended this conference in order to fulfill a requirement for my current Doctor of Ministry “independent study” course. I designed this course a few months ago, in consultation with my supervising professor, in order to propel me forward into the Professional Project which will be the culmination, the capstone, of my doctoral work. According to the seminary’s instructions, my independent study was to include an “immersion experience” which would connect to this Professional Project and, at the same time, would stretch me in some meaningful, significant ways. Last weekend’s Shalem conference did exactly that. Continue reading