Sunday, December 19: Christmas Sunday In this season we look back to the moment when human history changed forever, when God joined with us. This season we remember the long cold nights of waiting, the triumphant announcement of God with us, and we live ever more fully into the beginning of the brand new reality […]
Sunday, December 5: The Parables The ballerina Isadora Duncan was once asked backstage what a particular dance meant, and she responded, “If I could explain it with words, I wouldn’t have to dance.” Sometimes, the medium is the message. On Sunday, we will continue our series on the parables of Jesus. Parables speak to our […]
Sunday, October 31: The Parables The ballerina Isadora Duncan was once asked backstage what a particular dance meant, and she responded, “If I could explain it with words, I wouldn’t have to dance.” Sometimes, the medium is the message. On Sunday, we will continue our series on the parables of Jesus. In many ways, describing […]
Sunday, October 24: The Parables The ballerina Isadora Duncan was once asked backstage what a particular dance meant, and she responded, “If I could explain it with words, I wouldn’t have to dance.” In some forms of communication, the medium is the message. In many ways, describing the meaning of a parable is like trying […]
Sunday, October 17: The Parables Luke 12:13–21 Among the many vices known to man, Greed is perhaps the most prevalent and the least recognized. That’s not a quote from anybody famous, just an observation. It’s easy to see when someone is under the affect of gluttony, or wrath, or lust, but greed usually flies below […]
Sunday, August 22: Kingdom Ethics Stewardship There are any number of words that have a particular meaning in Christian culture, and could even be considered “Christianese.” Guard your heart is very different than bless your heart (ask a southerner). A hedge of protection is not a gardening term, and washed in the blood does not […]
Sunday, December 20: Christmas Luke 2:1–10 We gather to worship and recognize the glory that is Emmanuel. God with us! This week we focus in on the nativity! In this family-friendly message, we explore what each of the holiday decorations may have been thinking. What did the shepherds feel when they were included at this celebration? How […]
Sunday, December 22: Christmas Luke 2:1–20 Merry Christmas! This week, we are taking a break from the Book of Acts to look at the Christmas story in Luke 2:1–20. This is fitting, as Acts is actually the second book in a two-part series we could call Luke-Acts. So, before we finish up Bound by the Spirit […]
Sunday, December 23: Christmas Luke 2:1-12 And the angel said to them (the shepherds), “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in […]
Sunday, August 26: Questions of Jesus John 7:53–8:11 This week we are going to look at a fascinating story about Jesus. In John 8:1-11, a woman is caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus for judgment. All is not as it seems, though. John tells us that she was brought to Jesus […]
Sunday, August 19: Questions of Jesus Luke 7:36–50 In our text this week Jesus tells a little story that closes with a question. It’s a real simple story. Two people owe someone money but one person owes ten times as much as the other. When neither person can pay it back, however, both are forgiven of […]
Sunday, August 5: Questions of Jesus Luke 10:25–37 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? Luke 10:36 One of the ways that Jesus taught during his earthly ministry was with a beautifully-formed question. The sort of questions that made his listeners pause […]
Sunday, July 15: Questions of Jesus Luke 8:43–48 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” Luke 8:45 What does it mean […]
Sunday, June 24: Questions of Jesus Luke 2:41–49 The questions we have for God are not nearly as important as the questions he has for us. It can be easy to miss, unless someone happens to point it out, that Jesus, during his short pilgrimage on earth, asked a lot of questions. Have you noticed? […]
Sunday, December 24: Christmas Luke 1:26-38 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” (Luke 1:30, 31) God is in the habit of doing a certain thing […]
Sunday, August 20: Who is This Man? Mathew 16:13–17 & Luke 4:16–21 Messiah It has been said that “the identity of Jesus is something like a jigsaw puzzle. It’s a puzzle that has been placed in every person’s hands to piece together before coming to some kind of conclusion.”In a sense, this is what we […]
Sunday, September 18: Generosity Luke 19:1–10 We have an awesome opportunity in Gig Harbor. We live, work, and play among some of the smartest, most talented, and most powerful people in the world. This city has amazing potential and a lot of assets. But Gig Harbor also has a reputation of not having a lot […]