Anthem Hayden

This week we began our study through the incredible book of Hebrews! Written as a sermon by an unknown author, Hebrews is a book that is all about Jesus. Every chapter is focused on the supremacy of Jesus, as well as all that He has done and continues to do for us. This week we examined chapter one, which teaches that Jesus is so much greater than any created thing, including all angels and spirit...

This week’s theme is Preparation. God used the prophet Isaiah to prepare the people for their upcoming exile by prophesying about a future time of peace with God and others. God also used John the Baptizer to prepare the Jews for the arrival of their Messiah. John’s message was clear and simple - repentance and baptism were key elements of preparing oneself for the Lord.

For over 1,500 years the church has observed the four-week season dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or "advent," of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah and King. This week we explored the situation the Israelites found themselves in when Isaiah the prophet declared to them that a Savior would come and deliver them. Jesus would be the Light that pierced the darkness.

This week we concluded our Tree of Life discipleship series. We ended where we began - with the Tree of Life, which is promised to once more be made available to us. (Rev. 2:7, 22:14) Until then, we fulfill the role of the true Tree of Life by co-inhabiting the physical and spiritual realms; exhibiting God’s restorative plan in this world; producing supernatural fruit; and offering everlasting lif...

Science is conclusively demonstrating that trees readily distribute resources created through photosynthesis. Trees that receive the most sunlight distribute their abundance of wealth with smaller and less developed trees. All of this is possible through the subterranean connections made between tree roots. Only connected trees can participate in this life-giving exchange of energy, information, a...

Numerous essential components are created through photosynthesis, such as amino acids, proteins, fats, pigments, and other organic compounds. Photosynthesis not only converts raw nutrients into basic tree food, but it also “gifts” them all additional resources necessary for the life and health of the tree. Likewise, the Holy Spirit supplies every believer with much more than the basic fruit of His...

Building upon last week’s introduction to the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, this week’s lesson examined what it means to walk in the Spirit rather than our flesh. Trees have a perpetual need for the Sun’s light and energy to empower the life-giving process of photosynthesis. As trees rest in life-giving sunlight, we need to rest in conscious dependence upon the Spirit who empowers us.

This week’s study focused on the final external element which is critical for the ongoing life of every tree - the Sun. The Sun powers photosynthesis, the process that all green plants use to create their own food from the water and soil their roots absorb. Without the Sun, these raw elements would remain useless to trees. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is the final critical element in the life of ever...

This week we examined the crucial role that mother trees play in healthy forests. Mother trees (sometimes referred to as “elder” or “hub” trees) can easily be identified since they are larger than the surrounding trees. As the name suggests, these trees play an important role of nurturing smaller, younger trees by making subterranean connections with their roots. These connections are used to prov...

Not only do most trees begin as small seeds, but they also invest a great deal of their time and energy into seed production once they are mature. For some species, this process of maturation takes only a few years, while for others, it takes many decades of growth before they are mature enough to reproduce. Regardless of how long it takes, seeds must be produced at some point so that the tree’s s...

This week we examined a few of the many ways that trees bless and enrich our world. Likewise, God has richly blessed us so that we too may bless the world around us. When we walk by the Spirit rather than being led by the flesh, we spread the fragrance of Christ wherever we go.

This week began the Crown section of the Tree of Life study. The crown begins where the limbs start growing out of the main trunk and extends to the top of the tree. Crowns come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. They are the crowning glory of a tree; the culmination of the roots and trunk working in harmony and can be seen for miles around.

This week we looked at the third external element that is critical to the life of a tree - habitat. Trees have no say in where they grow and have no control over the conditions and hazards they face. They simply stand strong and grow. Likewise, we have little to no control over the trials and storms of life that come our way. In fact, Jesus promised us that we would have troubles in this world. Th...

This Father’s Day we covered the rest of Malachi 1, where God challenged His people and priests to treat Him like an honored Father and respected Master. Unfortunately, the people had grown lazy and halfhearted in their worship. Drawing from New Testament passages, we explored how believers still lapse into passionless and indifferent worship of the Lord of Hosts.

This week began our summer series through Malachi immediately reconfirms God’s love for His people before anything else takes place. When asked to prove His love, God reminds His people that He chose them above all others before they had the chance to earn or deserve His love.

This week we examine heartwood, which lies at the center of a tree trunk. Most of the wood in a tree trunk is heartwood, and surprisingly this layer of wood is completely dead. Despite this, heartwood provides tremendous strength to the tree. Likewise, death plays a very central and active role in our life of faith. Connect: Relational questions to get conversation started.

This week we examine the inner portion of a tree trunk that provides growth and creates the rings which tell the unique life story of the tree. Likewise, as our faith in the Lord grows we develop a unique and beautiful story of God’s faithfulness.

In the Tree of Life imagery, the trunk represents the faith of believers. We are saved by faith alone and it is faith that defines us as spiritual trees of life. This week we study the “armor of God” passage found in Ephesians 6, where Paul likens our faith to a shield which protects us from the attacks of the enemy. Similarly, tree bark serves as the first and most critical line of defense for tr...

This week began the Trunk portion of the Tree of Life study. The trunk is the most critical element of a tree’s identity. Without trunks plants are not trees. This corresponds with our faith: it is the non-negotiable element in the life of every believer.

This week we look at the second external element that is critical to the life of a tree - soil. There is obviously a very close relationship between trees and the soil in which they grow. Their quality of life is directly related to the richness and volume of soil in which they rest. In the Tree of Life study, soil illustrates God’s love. For any spiritual growth to occur, one must place themselve...

This week we look at three crucial roles that tree roots play: as anchors, as cellars, and as subterranean connection points with other trees. Likewise, our spiritual roots hold us fast during the storms of life, sustain us during times of spiritual drought, and provide us with mutually beneficial connections with other believers.

Root systems absorb life-giving water and nutrients. In the Tree of Life model, the disciplines serve as the spiritual roots of our soul. This week we explore the disciplines of serving and giving.

Root systems absorb life-giving water and nutrients. In the Tree of Life model, the disciplines serve as the spiritual roots of our soul. This week we explore the contrasting biblical disciplines of celebration and fasting. Celebration is an intentional recognition of and engagement with the good things God has given us to focus ourselves on Him, while fasting is the intentional abstention of them...

Root systems absorb life-giving water and nutrients. In the Tree of Life model, the disciplines serve as our spiritual roots. This week we covere the spiritual disciplines of praise and worship. Though commonly lumped together, praise and worship are two different things. Simply stated, praise is acknowledging and expressing gratitude for all that God has done. Worship, on the other hand, is the a...

All trees grow root systems that absorb life-giving water and nutrients. In the Tree of Life model, the disciplines serve as our spiritual roots. This week we covered the spiritual discipline of scripture and the crucial role it plays in our ongoing spiritual development. Despite the Bible’s claim to be the very word of God which is useful for training in righteousness, many believers rarely, if e...