Awaken Community

Carrying on the series started last week, Pastor Micah introduces our next value here at Awaken: Holistic. In his message, he answers these three questions: What is holism? Why is it important? And what are the implications of a holistic approach to faith and spirituality?

This week, Pastor Micah launched a new series refining the values we hold here at Awaken. First and foremost, we value Jesus. In his message, Micah answers the question "If Awaken truly values Jesus, what would that look like?"

Guest speaker Stefan Van Voorst brought a wealth of his everyday experiences to illustrate the importance of connection. What does it look like in the context of culture today? And how does viewing it through the lens of our faith change or emphasize that? The slides Stefan used can be viewed here: PDF or PowerPoint

In the second and final part of the Reconciled series, Pastor Micah continues the conversation about what it looks like to be a reconciling church. Our goal as the Church should be to continue the reconciling work of Jesus on the cross - "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by ma...

Guest speaker David Bailey, founder of Arrabon and Urban Doxology, challenged and encouraged us to be faithful fanatics of Jesus, leading us to become the reconciling Church.

It's Fall Kickoff at Awaken! Pastor Micah discusses what it means to fully be The Church and what it can look like when we bring our whole selves. Whether it's a season of breathing in, acknowledging and receiving what you need; or breathing out, giving whatever you might have to give - there's a place for us all to add our voice.

We had the privilege of hearing from Awaken's Associate Pastor Jenna Daniels on Matthew 8:18-22 "The Cost of Following Jesus". In her teaching, Pastor Jenna dives into the subtext of many evangelical upbringings where the belief was that if you were faithful in your relationship with God, you would have all you desire. Do we believe God will give us the desires of our hearts or was it turned in to...

"Power, wealth, privilege often make us blind and deaf to things that are right next to us." This week, Pastor Micah delves into the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus to sort out what they're about. Why is the Rich Man not named but Lazarus, the lowly beggar at the gate, is given a name? Why does Jesus put these two people in the parable so close together? These men couldn't be any further apart...

Guest speaker Judy Howard-Peterson explores the nature of the Good News and what it means to be the real life presence and body of Christ in the world. 

Guest speaker Jer Swigart from The Global Immersion Project walks us through what it looks like to follow the Spirit out beyond the borders of comfort.  Is this what was happening to Jesus in this moment?  Was Jesus following the Spirit's invitation out beyond his own borders and comfort?  

Worship Director Melody Olson explores the passage where Jesus desires to gather Israel like a mother hen wants to gather her chicks.  Is God male or female or something more than our categories?  

Micah preaches from the shortest passage in the Bible, John 11:35.  Lament and grief are a part of our lives and yet so many of us are afraid of them being a part of our life with God.  

Every year on a Sunday close to July 11th, we gather outside to remember where we started (in Cherokee Heights Park) and to celebrate the ways in which we have found God to be faithful.  Thanks to Vanessa, Andy, Claudette and Micaela who offered their stories. 

Tom Albinson of International Association For Refugees looks at Matthew 25 through the lens a lifetime of working with displaced peoples.

Pastor Micah pulls the thread that Matthew is telling the Jesus story with at a critical moment.  Jesus enters the city, then the temple, flips over tables and quotes from two Old Testament prophets...why?  What happens when something is intended for one thing, but then over time becomes the opposite of what it was intended for?  

Former worship leader and pastor at Awaken, Ben Rosenbush takes an old familiar story and makes it fresh and applicable for today. 

Micah walks through the encounter Jesus has with a rich young man who asks him a loaded question about the age to come and how to inherit it.  Should all rich people sell their things so they can follow Jesus or is this actually about something else?

This week Pastor Micah tackles the tricky subject of divorce and remarriage.  What do we know for certain about God and what do we know about humans and what do we know about the covenant of marriage?

Matt Moberg from The Table in Minneapolis, leads us through a study of Jesus difficult exhortation about hating our mothers & fathers, sisters & brothers.  Who are you willing to show kindness to?  How big is your circle?  Is it possible that Jesus is inviting us to expand our love for others and not shrink it?

In this episode, Pastor Micah looks at a passage from the end of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus instructs people not to cast "pearls before swine".  What does it mean to offer something of value to the people in your life?  Who do you share the pearls of great value with and is it ever wise to hold some things back?