from Acts 2:42-47, 1Corinthians 10:14-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
When we examine the worship practices of the early church, we find that there is little difference between the elements of worship used then and the ones we use today…and yet, it seems that the early church was so ignited in their love for Jesus and their commitment to the sharing of the Gospel that we have to wonder where the difference lies…
It is possible that it is not the power of the Holy Spirit, or the power of the Resurrected Jesus that has diminished, but that we might be treating worship like an add-on as opposed to the lifeline for our walk with Christ?
w/ Vern Collins
from Acts 2
We tend to land in one of two places when it comes to the Holy Spirit…either you crave the “signs and wonders,” above other expressions of the move of God, or the idea of a Holy Spirit that is present and active just plain makes you nervous.
Acts 2 offers us, perhaps a new understanding of just what the role and work of the Spirit of God is in this world, and how we might be a part of that work by creating space for the Holy Spirit to move.
w/ Vern Collins
from John 20:1-18
We have a great tendency to hope for things that will not last. Sure, like the end of the week, they may bring relief or rest for a brief period of time, but ultimately they are as fleeting as Fridays.
What if, instead of hoping for temporary newness, and the wrong kind of resurrection…you dare to believe that Jesus brings lasting hope and a new life that will not spoil or fade?
Imagine the possibility.
Jesus is RISEN!
w/ Vern Collins
from Matthew 6:13
It’s not just that we feel overwhelmed from time to time…many of us are living lives in a constant state of being in over our head…and yet we tend to spend our time and energy looking to people and powers and systems in this world to change things…to give us hope. What happens when those are the very things that seem to be stealing hope from us?
In our final week on the Lord’s Prayer, we look to Jesus’ petition for our protection and deliverance…a protection and deliverance He would make possible because He Himself was not protected from suffering.
w/ Vern Collins
from Ephesians 1:15-23
Too often we allow our circumstances to determine our perspective…when you are having a good day or things are going your way, then life is good, right? But, when you’re in a tough season, or you’ve just gotten some terrible news, then life is NOT good.
What if, instead, you allowed your perspective to determine how you view your circumstances?
There is reason to hope…hope that penetrates and permeates any circumstance you might be walking through…and it is a hope born out of the power of the resurrection.
w/ Vern Collins
from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Think about the amount of time you spend ensuring that you, “measure up,” in the eyes of those around you. Whether it is in the work place, in your relationships with others, as a student…or simply in the things you pursue.
We don’t want to be found lacking…we don’t want to be seen as weak…we often answer the question, “how are you doing?” with, “fine,” regardless of how we might be hurting.
Paul offers us encouragement in what just might be possible if we are willing to embrace our weakness rather than avoid it…perhaps we just might find that God becomes all the more powerful, loving, and full of grace if we are willing to offer Him those parts of us that we would hide from the rest of the world.
w/ Vern Collins
from Ephesians 3:1-12
The season of Epiphany is about the hope of humanity being revealed in the birth of Christ.
Epiphany. Revelation. The Ah-ha moment. The time when things become clear…when there is knowledge of something not previously possessed…if knowledge is power, it begs the question , “what kind of power are you in pursuit of?”
Paul has experienced a deep revelation of Christ…and it has empowered him in significant ways…but perhaps not in the way we tend to think of power…
w/ Vern Collins
