Anthem Church

Our past, filled with mistakes, suffering, and regret, can sideline us, trapped in what we think we are able to do or capable of doing. God, however, has made us for a beautiful, purposeful life, lived for our joy and his glory. Will we let him free us from the sidelines and send us into the life we were made for?

As we begin to close out the Gospel of John, the Gospel writer makes great effort to show the reader that a resurrected Christ has real and immediate implications for the life of the believer. This week, John wants us to see that a resurrected Jesus is a present Jesus, the God of the universe deeply desires to be experienced by His people.   

Doubting Thomas gets a bad rap and like so many of us, turns to self-preservation when his expectations are not met. Yet, despite his doubts, he still shows up which is an act of faith. And also like so many of us, he needed reminded of who Jesus is and what he has done.

When the disciples encounter the risen Jesus, their hope is completely restored. Jesus replaces their fear with peace, their doubt with assurance, their weakness with power, and their aimlessness with commissioning.

Mary was lost in grief and despair at the tomb of Jesus. All the hope she had in him was lost... until she heard him call her by name. Is this hope still alive for us today?

Jesus, fully man and fully God, was forsaken by God the Father on the cross. Through faith in Jesus, we will never be forsaken again. Listen in as we meditate in gratitude on this incredible truth.

The death of Jesus drew two men, Joseph and Nicodemus, out of hiding and into the public square of belief. Jesus is worth the risk, the sacrifice, and the honor of lives surrendered to him. God wants to pull each of us out of hiding into the place he has formed us and called us for.

In the moments after Jesus' death, John notices important details, moments that point to Jesus as the Son of God, sacrificed in death that we may live. By his wounds we are healed.

With his dying breath, our Jesus declared and incredible truth: "It is finished." What do these words mean for us today?

Even during the crucifixion, one of the darkest moments in human history, God was weaving a story of redemption and hope. Do we believe this same God works in this same way today?

Whether we trust in Jesus or are yet to believe, we all have moments and seasons where we wrestle deeply with God. Can our faith hold such wrestlings? How do we wrestle through doubt, fear, and uncertainty?

As Jesus is on trial, his threat to the current kingdom of the day is assessed. Is he a king? Is he building a kingdom? Is he disrupting the status quo? Jesus summarizes his answer as follows: "My kingdom is not of this world." Jesus is building something beautiful, but it is unseen - will we choose to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven?

On Ash Wednesday, we started our journey through the book of Joel on Wednesday nights. We are also leaning into this season of reflection, examining our lives and turning to Jesus in fresh response and faith. Listen as Andrew shares a new dream for our church, one that puts us squarely in God's will for our community.

One of the greatest harms to the church is hypocrisy - having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power in our lives. How do we avoid living a double life? How can we remain true to God, to ourselves, and to others? We have been set free in Jesus to live authentically, fully acknowledging our sin and our need for God while enjoying his hope, peace, and forgiveness.

The once confident and bold Peter has shrunk, from shame and fear, into a posture of silent defensiveness. Why does this happen? Listen as we explain why our faith falters at times and what we can do to strengthen our faith.

Seeing something clearly can make all the difference. When we don't see Jesus clearly, we can't find the dignity, the substance, and the truth he possesses. However, when we do see him clearly, beholding him as he has revealed himself, we are changed to look more like him, entering into the joy and fruit that is promised.

As Jesus is confronted by his betrayer and his opposition, he surrenders himself to arrest and to death. It looks like this is the end of everything he promised, everything that was hoped for... but perhaps instead it is just the beginning of it all.

After a long break, we are back in the book of John. Before diving right back into the narrative, we take a moment to remember Jesus in all he has said, done, and promised in the book of John.

We often have an incomplete view of the love of our Heavenly Father - God loves us enough to correct us, to shape us, and to from us out of darkness and into light. This discipline provides perspective, it affirms our place as his children, and it produces holiness in our lives, all of which allows us to see and enjoy God more fully.

As we pursue holiness, we are shaped as we are nourished by the truth, provided a foundation, and given a people and a purpose.

Who we think we are affects how we live. What are we defined by? In Jesus, we are not longer defined as unholy, but are changed, forgiven, and blameless in the sight of God.

As God's people, we are called to holiness. We may know this... but what does it mean? Holiness helps us as we pursue it: it allows us to see God, it helps us follow God, and it invites us to enjoy God, as we were always meant to do.

Is the coming of Jesus Christ still good news of great joy for all people? Christmas reminds us every year of the timeless truths of who God is, what he has done for all of us, and why this is indeed good news of great joy for all who hear.

The gift of Christmas is ours to enjoy. Do we apprehend it? Do we enjoy it? Listen as Pastor Andrew unpacks why Jesus is indeed the greatest gift of all time.

We constantly feel pulled in two directions. On one hand, our culture and age is pulling us towards individual self-sufficiency as the ideal, and on the other hand we know and feel the need for good, strong, dependable, leadership. How are these desires met and fulfilled? Only in Jesus, the gift from heaven.