Arbor Church

Ephesians is a drama portraying the cosmos-transforming acts of God in Christ. – Tim Gombis, The Drama of Ephesians Ryan opens our new message series in the book of Ephesians.

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. – John 15 As January begins, Alison exhorts us to remain rooted in the Vine and gives us practical ways to connect in the New Year. After all, without the life given by the Vine, all us branches are just … sticks.

When Jesus arrives not just as a comforting presence but as a true King, everything is challenged. In this Advent message from Matthew 2, we’re invited to examine what it really means to make room for Christ—and what might be stirred or unsettled when He comes to rule, not just inspire.

In Luke 2:8–20, the first people invited into the Christmas story aren’t the powerful—they’re the overlooked. This week we explore how Advent joy breaks into ordinary darkness, and how making room for Jesus reshapes the way we see ourselves (and the people we tend to miss).

Because there was no room in the inn – Luke 2:7b In week two of Advent, Pastor Ryan reexamines the “no room in the inn” moment in Luke 2 and shows how the first Christmas was less about rejection and more about rearranging a crowded house to make space for Jesus and the strangers he brings to our door.

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” – Luke 1 Advent hope is born when ordinary people make room, in the dark, for the king who has already stepped in.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5 Guest speaker Garrett Shelp wraps our series on wisdom with a message about how our need for certainty and control can lead us astray, and what it takes to release these things so we can lead a life of wisdom.

To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel. To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity. – Proverbs 1:2-3 This week, one of the themes of Proverbs we don’t talk about as often: love in action, expressed in justice .

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread. – Proverbs 30:18 Money isn’t a popular topic in the church, but it’s popular in Proverbs; a huge number of verses in this book of wisdom have to do with money. This week, Ryan helps us make sense of them by focusing on a prayer for financial wisdom and peace found in Proverbs 30.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. – Childhood saying (not true) There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs (12:18) (true) This week, we look at the wisdom Proverbs has to offer on words – and how to use them wisely.

When the loudest voice sounds wise but leads to dead ends, Scripture shows a better way: humble hearts that listen, learn, and live.

In a world that’s “always on” yet strangely lonely, Proverbs shows us how wise friendships shape who we’re becoming—and why that can’t happen in isolation.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7 What does The Fear of the Lord really mean? Pastor Ryan helps us see how awe, not anxiety, is the foundation of wise living.

Kicking off Make It Make Sense, Pastor Ryan walks us into the wiser, older path of Proverbs. Fewer hot takes and more holy formation for real modern life.

Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NET) Alison continues our series on community with a message from Ecclesiastes 4 that answers both the questions (a) where road trip Slurpees were stored before cupholders, and (b) why we do community in the first place.

We are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness in America; a record number of people say they are craving community. Today, a message about what that kind of community actually is, as we open a 3 part series on the what, why, and how of community.

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25 Why would we spend our time in a church community when it’s so much more comfortable and efficient to watch a well-produced sermon and some worship vide...

Ryan opens a new miniseries about our church community as fall begins in the Pacific Northwest. From John 13, he asks the question you might have held privately if you’ve waded outside the comfort and efficiency of your home to get involved in the messy work of serving other people… why are we doing this?

As the Israelites wandered in the desert after being led out of Egypt, Moses was struck with a nagging question … have I heard God wrong? Aaron Dimos (Arbor Students) shares about a time in his own life when this question loomed large, and what we can do when start to wonder if God really said what we think He did.

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. – 1 John 5:21 (NET) John concludes his letter with these words, and Ryan concludes our summer series with this message. An admonition to keep oneself from idols probably isn’t how you sign your letters – why did John choose to end this way?

And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. – 1 John 5:14 (NET) Ryan continues our summer series in 1 John with a message from Chapter 5 of the book and its teaching on prayer. What if prayer isn’t about long silences or convincing God to care about what we care about … but about presence ?

Have you ever felt as though your relationship with God is harder than it’s supposed to be? Today, as we open the final chapter of 1 John, Ryan draws a parallel between our life with God and a river .

This week, Ryan returns to the pulpit as we continue our journey through 1 John. We’re taking it slow and in fact today Ryan focuses in on just one word: Abide .

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. – 1 John 4:18 (NET) This week, Alison teaches from 1 John 4, featuring a conch, and a sea slug, and the long, spiraling journey to perfect love.

As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. – 1 John 2:24 (NET) This week, Scott Hetherington teaches from 1 John 2, and its strange warnings about “last hours” and “antichrists” followed by an admonition to “remain in the Son”. What’s John getting at here… and what do...