The Gospels | The Bread of Life | August 25

SUNDAY
SERMON

Sermon by Chet Phillips on August 25, 2024.

Humans throughout time have had many thoughts about what they must do to be made right with God. In John chapter 6, Jesus performs a stunning miracle and then answers this question in a very direct and compelling way.

Year of Biblical Literacy

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

The Bible is one of the most influential books ever written. It’s the most studied, most scrutinized, most debated, and, for many, the most life-changing book the world has ever known. 

But…it’s complex.

So we’re taking an entire year to grow our ability to read and understand the message of the whole Bible. 

We’re calling it a “Year of Biblical Literacy.” 

The Gospels | The Kingdom of God is at Hand | August 18

SUNDAY SERMON

Sermon by Michael Bailey on August 18, 2024.

How would you summarize Jesus’ teachings? Depending on who you ask, you’re likely to get different answers. However, Jesus’ summary statement is actually one of his first statements in the Gospels: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

In other words, Jesus’ life and teachings are all about ushering in God’s loving rule and reign on Earth as it is in Heaven. So what might His kingdom look like in our city, and how do we faithfully follow Him in our time and place?

Join us for five weeks as we examine the life and teachings of Jesus and consider how the good news of the Kingdom and its King changes everything.

Year of Biblical Literacy

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

The Bible is one of the most influential books ever written. It’s the most studied, most scrutinized, most debated, and, for many, the most life-changing book the world has ever known. 

But…it’s complex.

So we’re taking an entire year to grow our ability to read and understand the message of the whole Bible. 

We’re calling it a “Year of Biblical Literacy.” 

Psalms | God's Love, Known & Experienced | August 11

Sermon by Brandon Clements on August 11, 2024.

On our last week in the Psalms, we’re going to look at a Psalm that brings many of the other Psalms together and shows us how to build a rock-solid identity on God. This Psalm is full of good news about God's posture towards us, and how that should affect both how we relate to him and how we think about ourselves. 

Year of Biblical Literacy

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

The Bible is one of the most influential books ever written. It’s the most studied, most scrutinized, most debated, and, for many, the most life-changing book the world has ever known. 

But…it’s complex.

So we’re taking an entire year to grow our ability to read and understand the message of the whole Bible. 

We’re calling it a “Year of Biblical Literacy.” 

Psalms | A Song for the Politically Weary | August 4

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on August 4, 2024.

No matter what the headlines say, Psalm 146 shows us how to have hope that lies beyond our current political landscape—a hope that empowers stable, faithful, and joy-filled living in unstable times.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Psalms | Arrows and Blessings | July 28

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Brandon Clements on July 28, 2024.

In our time, there are many competing ideas regarding how we think of children. And yet, Psalm 127 cuts through the noise to offer a vision for thinking about the next generation.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Psalms | A Psalm for Meditation | July 21

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on July 21, 2024.

What makes for a stable, flourishing and truly blessed life? The introduction to the book of Psalms gives us an important clue. This week, we’ll explore Psalm 1 and the power Scripture has to transform us.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Psalms | Engaging Negative Emotions | July 14

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Taylor Schombert on July 14, 2024.

Emotions are strong. And if we’re not careful, they can begin to control us. Psalm 77 offers us a different path—of engaging our emotions by bringing them to God.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Psalms | A Theology of Song | July 7

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Brandon Clements on July 7, 2024.

The Psalms are a unique collection in the Old Testament: 150 poems, songs, and prayers covering approximately 1,000 years of Israel’s history. The writers cover everything from hatred to pure joy and nearly everything in between. Some of the language and honesty in the Psalms are shocking–even uncomfortable to hear–because of how unfiltered they come across.

Amidst the raw emotions, the Psalms offer a beacon of hope. They guide us to understand what’s going on in our hearts and how to realign ourselves with reality, offering a path to transformation and spiritual growth. 

In this series, we’ll spend six weeks looking at specific chapters as we ask how God wants us to shape us as His people.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

How Long O LORD? | Yet I Will Rejoice | June 30

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 30, 2024.

The last chapter of Habakkuk culminates in a song that ties in all the themes we’ve looked at previously. In many ways, this song is a picture of Christian maturity, showcasing confidence in God even in the face of evil, pain, and suffering.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

How Long O LORD? | The Cup That Is Coming | June 23

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 23, 2024.

In Habakkuk, we see God doing something seemingly unthinkable - He will use Babylon, a nation more wicked than Judah, to bring justice.  But what about Babylon’s sin? Will God just let that injustice happen, or will He step in?
Last week, we started looking at God’s response; this week, we dive into that more.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

How Long O LORD? | How Can This Be? | June 16

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 16, 2024.

As we study the Bible, many Christians notice God doing things that we don't think He should do.  Last week, Habakkuk wrestled with how God was allowing evil and injustice to occur in the world around him. 

This week, we'll see him wrestle with how God responds to that evil and injustice, and we'll answer the question, "What do I do, when God's actions don't seem to align with His attributes?"

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

How Long, O LORD? | June 9

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 9, 2024.

The prophets are a diverse group of writings. They come from different periods, face different issues, and are written in different genres.

The book of Habakkuk, in particular, speaks to us on our journey to Christian maturity. It mirrors the moments we all encounter—when our understanding of God’s character seems at odds with our current circumstances, when we question God’s plans, and when injustice, both individually and collectively, seems to prevail.

When that happens, what do we do? How do we respond? How can we trust God is still in control of it all? We’ll spend the next four weeks in Habakkuk exploring these questions.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Words | June 2

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Andrew Flowers on June 2, 2024.

As we finish this series, we’ll dive into practically one of the most challenging areas to live with biblical wisdom. The Scriptures will call at times a source of healing and blessing and at other times a “raging fire” and a “restless evil” — our words.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Self-Discipline | May 26

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Brandon Clements on May 26, 2024.

Underneath so many topics covered in Proverbs is the need for self-mastery-whether in refraining from destructive behaviors or pursuing the good even when it's hard. This week, we will look at the picture of the ant and the sluggard to gain insight on what we may need to stop (or start) to pursue a life of wisdom. 

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Conflict | May 19

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Brandon Clements on May 19, 2024.

Last week, we discussed wisdom and friendships. This week, we discuss the inevitable outworking of that: conflict. What does the wisdom literature teach us about living in unity and handling confrontation?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Friendships | May 12

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Andrew Flowers on May 12, 2024.

We’re living in what has been dubbed “the loneliness epidemic.” 60% of US adults report feeling lonely regularly, 15% of men and 10% of women report having no close friends, and 1/3 of both report only having two close friends or less.

This week, as we examine the wisdom literature, we will discuss what it means to be a good friend.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Sex | May 5

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Brandon Clements on May 5, 2024.

This week, we discuss Proverbs 5 and 7, one of the most comprehensive sections of Scripture regarding the biblical vision for sex. It’s one of the few subjects that Solomon devotes extended airtime to in the book of Proverbs. What is its purpose? What does God intend for sex to accomplish? How are we to think about it?

For parents, as a reminder, Kidtown is available for 3rd grade and under. If you are uncomfortable having your preteen in the Gathering they are welcome to serve in Kidtown this week.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Wealth | April 28

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on April 28, 2024.

The Bible is deeply aware of life's complexities and difficulties. This reality requires us to think well and wisely. Who we are and what we do shape the trajectory and person we become. Money is no exception. This week, we explore what the wisdom literature says about money.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Pride | April 21

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Brandon Clements on April 21, 2024.

This week, we discuss something that has the power to destroy your life and keep you from becoming a wise person: pride. Thankfully, the book of Proverbs offers us a framework to think about pride’s destructive nature and, ultimately, its solution.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

WISDOM | Wisdom and Decision-Making | April 14

SUNDAY

SERMON

Year of

Biblical Literacy

Sermon by Michael Bailey on April 14, 2024.

Last week we began exploring what it means to be a person of wisdom. This week we look at Proverbs 16:1-3 and ask ourselves, how exactly do we make wise decisions and what resources does God give us to become these sorts of people?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.