Genesis 1-11 lays out every theme of the Bible – Tuesdays or Wednesdays – over Zoom starting soon. Last week we talked about the Church – Capital C – universal, invisible. This week, we will talk about the Capital O church – Our church. Some of us have been together for many decades. You are the church here. It has never been about a program or organization – it is about people. When we have tried that – it didn’t work ..read more

We’ve been looking at the Kingdom of God. The first week we started, I had mentioned that on this week we would revisit the relationship between the Church and the Kingdom. This week – Cindy follows people on – substacks and other places – and everyone is commenting on The Church – the Universal Church – knowing and understanding and appreciating The Church. I say I am talking about the Church – the capital C Church – universal – catholic – not the ..read more

20240107 Last week after our discussion time, there were some really good points brought up. Sue shared some great thoughts… John Ference and I were talking about the ‘already but not yet’ concept… Jesus’ first announcement of the Kingdom of God – both Matthew and Mark listed these similarly: Right after the temptation in the wilderness: Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is ..read more

I have been going over things our church has been growing in. This next one is one I think we've really excelled at...I think that we are becoming a Jesus People. Not the 70s Jesus people – nor a superiority like Paul spoke of when he talked about being ‘of Apollos, or Paul, or Jesus’ – but that we, as a community, are learning to live out the traits of Jesus in the gospels. I think ..read more

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.Isaiah – The prophecy has 2 fulfillments – 1 immediately following – and the word, virgin has a double meaning as well – virgin= young woman – but also means virgin, like, the virgin Mary…Luke 2: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the ..read more

It has been brought to my attention that while I study these things through the week – and mention things like the essentials and non-essentials – not everyone might know what I mean by the essentials. While the Creeds are not … The Creeds often deal with a response to certain heresies. Apostles Creed Nicene Creed – 325 AD – dealing with an issue in the Church – not long after Constantine required Christianity in the Empire. There was a controversy ..read more

This morning I’m going to do two mini-sermons – there will be a bridge in between the two – and if you blink, you’ll miss it! This is about learning, unlearning, and relearning and the strengths of our church through the year. Matt Lynch – Flood and Fury – addresses how to view violence in the Bible. I have not personally read it – but “The Bible consistently surprises and challenges our simplistic expectations” – Matt Lynch Proverbs 26 ..read more

We have been doing a series on things we’ve learned as a church. Last week – I mentioned this quote: Brennan Manning “Though it is true that the church must always dissociate itself from sin, it can never have any excuse for keeping any sinners at a distance.” (Ragamuffin Gospel) As I read that – I can see – for some, how they might have trouble and disagree with the first part – and for others – they might ..read more

Another thing our church has done over the years – is being a respite for those who have been burned or wounded by church or other Christians.Here are some books that have helped me through this process: Larry Crabb – Shattered Dreams / The Pressure’s Off Philip Yancey - Disappointment with God, What's so Amazing about Grace, The Jesus I Never Knew I’m not going to address direct abuse – but rather, unintentional abuse – people of good ..read more

Over the next 10-12 weeks, I’m going to be sharing how we, as a small church, have really become an example to the larger Church. For today – you all are leaners – students – disciples – true disciples – students of the Bible and the Church community. We have all learned to learn something new, to let go of some things, and to relearn other things. This comes from a desire to know God more. This is the ..read more