Mars Hill

The christian marriage relationship that Paul is pointing to in Ephesians 5 is something new entirely. It is not Roman patriarchy or the religious matriarchy familiar to that church... but something modeled on the life and work of Christ, mutual surrender. A high challenge and life-giving invitation for all who heed and call while being good news for the world.  Ephesians 5:1-2 Questions to c...

Many of us approach the "instructions" sections of the Bible with some hesitation. What if the spirit of those sections is not simply moralistic or legalistic? What if these sections provide us with inspiring visions of what is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit?  Ephesians 4:22-24 Questions to consider— Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in...

Paul has shared a great mystery of togetherness revealed in Christ. But what's the plan to carry that mystery out? We explore what exactly that plan is - and why it's a good one, despite what we may think. Ephesians 3: 10-12 Questions to consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering? Upward [Celebration]: Which attribut...

The spirit of worship that started the book of Ephesians continues into chapter 2 where we find more of the work of Jesus realized. The proximity, peace and presence accomplished and actualized in Christ moves us to deeper gratitude and confidence. Ephesians 2:14-18 Questions To Consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathe...

The radical invitation for us and the Ephesian church is to take hold of our full adoption into the family of God. Through this was are invited into deeper attachment love with God and giving us access to every spiritual blessing, allowing the Church to move forward in greater confidence + humility.  Ephesians 1, Psalm 1 + 131 Question to ask yourself: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging...

Before studying the book of Ephesians, we take a look at a short encounter between the apostle Paul and a group of disciples. What might this encounter teach us in the way of preparing our hearts, individually and collectively, before engaging Paul's letter to the Ephesian church? How might we examine what or who our lives really proclaim? Acts 19:1-7 Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next st...

A central encouragement surrounding the resurrection of Jesus is "Do not be afraid." This is a sentiment echoed throughout the history of God's people that comes into clearer view when Jesus is raised from the dead. Matthew 28:1-10 and Jeremiah 31:1-6  Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?  Forward [Journey]: What is a pra...

Palm Sunday reminds us that a healthy pursuit of God will always include both joy and repentance. Crying out "Hosanna" involves taking an up-close look at our own community and asking how we need to be saved [again, still].  Matthew 21:6-11 Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering? Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be...

Bringing dead and dry bones to life and calling his beloved out from the grave—the character and furious love of God is on full display. God's unstoppable, barrier-breaking love is for you! We look at how to receive this great gift, step into participation with God's mission and to rest and know God's goodness. Ezekiel 37 and John 11

Ephesians 5: 8-13 How do we make our way through darkness? In this lectionary teaching, we'll examine invitations from three different examples of situational darkness to explore how we might live as light in the Lord Christ this Lent.

The four Scripture passages suggested by the Revised Common Lectionary help to illuminate a common human experience: thirst. We are especially invited to investigate this universal need - at a physical and spiritual level - during the season of Lent, trusting in the God who pours love into ours hearts by the Holy Spirit.  Romans 5:1-5

What do we think it takes to live a successful life? During this second week of Lent, we'll examine the role of faith contrasted to the law. The invitation is before us: Like Abraham, will we go and believe?  Romans 4:1-4

Lent invites us to pause and see where we need help - where all is not right in and around us. There is freedom in realizing our need and inability to fix ourselves. Highlighting the work of Jesus - we are invited into a simple process towards hope and healing this Lent.  Psalm 32:3-7 + Romans 5:17-19

Those who abide in Jesus produce fruit that yields a different way of showing up in friendships. Jesus people come to friendship with sacrificial love, commitment to the spiritual growth of the other and a sacramental posture that re-members the ways of Christ. John 15:12-17

How our church community welcomes and receives children matters. These ways communicate the value and worth of children and train us for receiving the kingdom of God. Mark 10:13-16

Jesus literally comes down from a mountain and encounters an arguing crowd. The disciples weren't able to do something Jesus had empowered them to do. How does Jesus respond in the wake of his disciples' failure? What might we as the Church learn as we notice how Jesus responds? Mark 9: 14-29

When Jesus interacts with people he seems to always be inviting them to see what is beneath their question or issue. We too are inviting to look deeper at where God is calling us to surrender in order to find freedom and healing.  Matthew 19:16-22

We can learn a lot from the ways that Jesus interacted with the spiritually discouraged duo who were walking to Emmaus. Being a Jesus people for the sake of world looks like centralizing the Story of God, offering presence, nourishing and encouraging one another. Luke 24:13-35 

Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters who were ordinary people just like us. Sometimes ordinary things like sickness and death make us question his love, yet we still sow our ordinary life and faith in Jesus' extraordinary power.  John 11:1-16

Mark 5:21-26

Elijah presents before the people a decisive and unwavering decision that they must make, "Who is God in Israel?". It is not simply a decision of the mind, but rather, an embodied reality in which one commits with the entirety of one's heart, being, and might. 1 Kings 18:15-21

One of the great invitations we are given during the season of Advent is to investigate our capacity for surprise. The characters Ahaz and Joseph encourage us to consider our openness to the surprising work of God in our lives.  Isaiah 7:10-17 and Matthew 1:18-25

Taking a closer look at the reactions of Mary and John the Baptizer when encountered by God offers us a window into our own ways of reacting to God's invitation and encounter. A closer look at the text reveals how they [and we!] can respond to God's love and invitation... and it is something we can't do alone.  Luke 1, Matthew 11, Isaiah 35

In this Advent season, we wait. This waiting is one rooted in trust and hope that the Branch that grows up from the stump of Jesse is One who has come and will come. This One is the enthroned King, anointed by the Spirit, who brings a kingdom of peace.  Isaiah 11:1-10

How we wait matters. Waiting at the DMV is a drastically different experience from waiting at, say, Disney World. As we begin our Advent season, we allow Isaiah's vision of the mountain of the Lord's temple to inform how we wait.  Isaiah 2: 2-5