Prevenience

God does not limit his presence to Christians – he is an unrelenting evangelist. He is always at work in his world – right in the thick of things – in sinful people’s lives, including our own…

We don’t “bring God” with us into any situation – he’s there long before you and I arrive on the scene. Living “Incarnationally” means we seek to discern what God is doing in a people and a culture – and join him.

In this message we look at a story from the Book of Acts that shows God’s Prevenient Grace at work and how we are to respond.

This video was played at the end of the message.

Scripture: John 6:44; Acts 10

Proximity

“Jesus mixed with the people from every level of society. He ate with the Pharisees as well as tax collectors and prostitutes. If we are to follow in his footsteps, we will need to be directly and actively involved in the lives of people we are seeking to reach. This assumes not only presence but also genuine availability, which will involve spontaneity as well as regularity in the friendships and communities we inhabit.“ Alan Hirsch

In this message Tricia DeBoer, director of Africa Arise talks to us what it looks like to live in “Proximity”.

Presence

The fact that God was in the Nazarene neighborhood for thirty years and no one noticed should be profoundly disturbing to our normal ways to engaging mission. Not only does it have implications for our affirmation of normal human living, but it also says something about the timing as well as the relative anonymity of incarnational ways of engaging mission. There is a time for “in-your-face” approaches to mission, but there is also a time to become part of the fabric of a community and engage in the humanity of it all. “ Alan Hirsch

In the message we will look at how Jesus was present, when He was “in the room, He made everyone in the room better”.

You Have Been Sent

John 20:21  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 

What does it mean to be sent as Jesus was sent. In this message we begin the conversation of what it means for Christ followers to live a missional/sent life.

Scripture:  Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:18; 20:21

Part 6 - Judge Not

People size each other up all the time. We all do it. This command from Jesus has the power to change all of your relationships. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his followers couldn’t re-embrace a temple religion. They were left with Jesus’ odd assortment of commandments—impossible to imagine before the resurrection but made possible by the resurrection. These commandments would fuel a movement that changed the world. Perhaps the most popular commandment among those who don’t follow Jesus is “judge not.” It’s the one Christians are most often accused of violating. It’s also one of the most misunderstood of Jesus’ commands.

This video was played near the end of Kevin’s Message.

Scripture:  Matthew 7:1-5

Part 5 - Worry Not

The future is uncertain and sometimes scary. This one truth can help you to live free of worry. The early Christian church was a “resurrection religion”—it was motivated less by a set of rules than by the event of Jesus’ death and resurrection. During his earthly ministry Jesus initiated a New Covenant based on love instead of rules. But that doesn’t mean he threw out the rules. In fact, he passed along an odd assortment of new commandments that sounded unreasonable . . . until he initiated and punctuated this New Covenant by dying on a cross and then rising from dead.

Scripture:  Matthew 6:25-34; John 14:1, 27

Part 4 - Doubt Not

Wouldn't it be great to have a faith with no doubts? But most believers wrestle with doubt at some level. We face circumstances that don’t add up. We see suffering and injustice in the world. Doubt grabs our minds and emotions. We wonder if we’re just making excuses for a God who isn’t really there . . . or isn’t there in the way we assumed. Jesus commanded: “Doubt not.” But when he said that, he didn’t mean for us to quit feeling doubtful. His command was more practical and life-changing. 

Scripture: Matthew 14:30-31; Matthew 21:21; John 6:60, 66-69

Part 2 - Sin Not

When Jesus rose from the dead, it changed everything. The early church had a Resurrection religion. They couldn’t go back and embrace a Temple Model that focused on sacred men in sacred places with special interpretations of sacred texts. Instead, they had one new commandment: love one another as Jesus had loved them. Jesus gave his followers another commandment related to the commandment to love one another: sin no more. But how are we supposed to do that when we’re so imperfect? 

Scripture: John 8:2-11; Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10

Part 1 - Fear Not

Jesus commanded his followers not to do a few things. But his "not" commandments were so extreme his followers were tempted not to even try. And then, Jesus rose from the dead and everything changed. The Bible is complex. Christianity can seem extreme. But when it comes to faith, this one thing changed everything. Life can be scary. Believe it or not, there's a way to live without fear . . . even when there's something to be afraid of.

This interview was played at the end of Kevin’s Message.

This video was played after the interview

Part 1 - Unhitched

Jesus commanded his followers not to do a few things. But his "not" commandments were so extreme his followers were tempted not to even try. And then, Jesus rose from the dead and everything changed. The Bible is complex. Christianity can seem extreme. But when it comes to faith, this one thing changed everything.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1–5; Acts 15:1–2, 4–7, 10–11, 19–20, 23–31

Part 4 - Egocentric Leadership

This video was played at the end of Kevin’s Message

Part 3 - Short-Sightedness

Part 2 - Materialism

Part 1 - Institutional-ism

Part 5 - Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
23  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.