What the Church DOES (2 Corinthians 4:1-18)

Last week we saw what the church IS, and this week we take a closer look at what the church DOES! This is the last sermon from one of our founders, Christian Cryder. We'll miss his teaching ministry! [Christian Cryder]

What IS the Church? (Acts 2:22-47)

This is one of the most profound passages in the whole New Testament - Peter's first sermon - when he calls the Jewish leaders that asked for the crucifixion of Jesus to repent! Through it we learn what the church IS - that there are 9 marks of a true church that distinguish it from other communities of people. [Christian Cryder]

Complaint As An Element of Worship (Psalm 102)

Can God handle our really honest prayers? Should we even talk to him when all have to offer is complaint? The Psalms would indicate that we should. [Christian Cryder]

Why Paul Wants Us to Share (Philippians 4:10-20)

This week we conclude our study of Philippians by wrestling with why Paul wants us to share in his ministry. In fact, that's been the whole point of the book - to encourage the Philippians (and us!) to partner with him and carry on the ministry of Christ in our city. [Christian Cryder]

What Holds the Kingdom Back? (Enemies!) - (Philippians 3:17-4:1)

In this passage Paul tells us there is a very real and present danger (enemies!) within the church that holds the Kingdom back from it's mission. The source of this danger just might surprise you. [Christian Cryder]

How Paul Looks at Life (Philippians 3:7-16)

Christianity is more than a religion - it's a worldview (a way of making sense of the world). How does your worldview mesh with Paul's? [Christian Cryder]

How Can We Know if This is God's Word (John 9:24-41)

One of the biggest doubts modern people have is Christian's claim that the Bible is God's word. This is one of the biggest hang-ups for many and thus a major reason so many of us can't imagine believing in Jesus. This week we look at an interesting passage that just might help us wrestle with this central truth of Christian Faith. [Christian Cryder]

What Paul Wants From Us (Philippians 2:5-18)

Paul has just shown us how Jesus worked out His own salvation and then challenges us to work out ours. How does he think we ought to do that and how does this connect to the church? [Christian Cryder]

How Paul Looks at Circumstances (Philippians 1:12-26)

In light of last week's tragic events at the Boston Marathon it's important to stop and ask how Scripture invites us to view our circumstances. Using the Apostle Paul as our guide, this week we examine Paul's attitude towards his circumstances (he's wrongfully imprisoned!), what the basis is for that attitude, and how we can have that same kind of perspective on our circumstances. [Christian Cryder]

How Paul Looks at People (Philippians 1:1-11)

This week we transition from the book of Matthew into Paul's letter to the Philippians so we can see how he captures the concepts of Jesus' Kingdom in the life of a particular church plant. This week we look at Paul's attitude towards people and how we can start to have that same attitude. [Christian Cryder]

A Kingdom of Giving (Acts 20:1-17)

Giving has always been one of the key components of Christianity (and the Kingdom of God). But it's also very challenging because deep down none of us are as generous as we want others to be towards us (or as generous as we know God wants us to be). So what's the secret to being generous. That's what we wrestle with this week.

• A Kingdom of Giving  - Christian Cryder

Jesus & the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:36-46)

Why is the Lord's Supper such an important part of the Lord's Supper? More importantly how does the Lord's Supper give us a taste of Jesus' Kingdom?

• Jesus & the Lord's Supper - Christian Cryder

The Role of Worship in the Kingdom (Matthew 26:17-35)

• The Role of Worship in the Kingdom - Christian Cryder

Judgment in the Kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46)

Today we look at one of the scariest passages in the New Testament. Jesus tells a parable about sheep and goats and how Jesus will one day judge people for how they live out the values of the Kingdom. Sheep are destined for heaven while goats are destined for hell. How do we make sense of this parable in light of our modern sensibilities about heaven and hell?

• Judgment in the Kingdom - Christian Cryder

The Comfort and Challenge of the Kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16, 21:28-32)

Jesus tells several parables about the Kingdom of Heaven and in them we see how the message of the Kingdom is both incredibly comforting (for those who acknowledge their sin) and challenging (for those who don't see their need).

• The Comfort and Challenge of the Kingdom - Christian Cryder

A Kingdom of Forgiveness (Matthew 9:1-8)

In this story, Jesus makes a bold claim that our biggest need is not healing - it's forgiveness. And yet, when we actually try to move through life extending the kind of forgiveness that Jesus displays, we find we can't do it. How do we become the kind of people that can forgive others the way Jesus wants us to?

• A Kingdom of Forgiveness - Christian Cryder

What it Means to Have Faith (Matthew 8:1-17)

Why is faith so important in Christianity? Sometimes it seems like Jesus even makes faith a prerequisite for doing miracles in a person's life. What do we do with that? What does it mean to have faith?

• What it Means to Have Faith - Christian Cryder

Learning to See Like Mary (Luke 1:46-55)

It's the last Sunday of 2012 and what better way to wrap up the Christmas Season (and the year) than by looking at how Mary is able to see beyond her circumstances to what God is doing in the world through her. Is this how you see God's redemptive activity?

• Learning to See Like Mary - Christian Cryder

A Kingdom of Joy (Isaiah 59)

How do we experience joy in the midst of so much difficulty and darkness in our lives? In the wake of the school massacre in Newtown, CT, how do we make sense of it? How do we find joy when there's so much evil in this world?

• A Kingdom of Joy - Christian Cryder

Family Life in the Kingdom (Matthew 18:15-35)

If the Church is meant to be more like a family than a business, how ought the family function? This passage is all about how to deal with someone in the family who has wronged you.

• Family Life in the Kingdom - Christian Cryder