Going Deeper-Getting Serious about Sabbath

Taking time off seems like sacrilege in our productivity-minded culture.  We feel guilty if we’re not constantly doing something.  We feel like bad parents if we aren’t constantly scheduling enriching things for our kids.  We leave no margins in our lives, and even our Sundays are no longer sacred.  Even if we take time out for church service, we pack the rest of the day with tons of other things.  This week, Pastor Andrew talks about God’s command to keep the Sabbath.  He also takes a look at the Sabbath through the lens of how Jesus interpreted the Sabbath.  If you’re burned out and worn out, this message will be a challenge to evaluate the rhythms of your life.

Going Deeper-For the Sake of Others

Definition of spiritual formation: the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.  In this week’s message, the focus is still on spiritual disciplines, but special attention is given to the outflow of the Christian’s relationship with God.  Much of the spiritual disciplines have to do with the vertical, i.e. one’s relationship with God.  However, there is a horizontal element as well in the giving of ourselves for the benefit of others.  The healthy Christian must operate on both axes, the vertical relationship with God through Christ and the horizontal relationship with others.  One should not be forsaken for the other.

Going Deeper-The Why of the Word

Medicine has the power to heal—if you take it. Food is nourishing—if you eat it. Water is refreshing—if you drink it. The Word of God is life-changing—if you read it. We have unprecedented access to the Bible and resources with which to better understand it. We stand at the feast of Biblical knowledge, yet starve in our ignorance. The key spiritual discipline is the topic of this week’s sermon, challenging us to eat of the feast with which God has blessed us. Don’t go away hungry!

Going Deeper-True Worship

When we think of the word worship, we tend to think of music, or of a Sunday morning church service.  Worship is a lot less about doing and much more about being in right attitude and humility before God.  Worship is more about the heart than how we do worship. 

Going Deeper-Authentic Prayer

In this week’s message, Pastor Andrew digs into the nuts and bolts of real prayer.  Instead of treating God like a vending machine, we learn the proper posture with which to come to God, and the value of a healthy prayer life.  Authentic prayer is not just a blessing to the one who prays, it lies at the crux of our impact on a broken world.  

Some Grace for the Road

Even though our faith is personal, the journey with Christ is not ours alone.  We may think of it as “my” faith, or “my” walk, but we are on the journey together.  Throughout the New Testament epistles, the phrase “one another” is used.  Over 30 times it is used to describe how we ought to interact with one another as Christians.  We are to love one another, act humbly toward one another, be united to one another, teach and correct one another, and daily encourage one another.  The bottom line is that we need one another, every step of the way.