Bible Jazz

God's original covenant with Abraham was based on his grace to build a COMMUNITY for himself; his covenant with Moses was based on Law for that COMMUNITY, (which failed to keep them close) and God's new covenant reestablished a COMMUNITY of grace

God keeps God's promises. God's COMMUNITY, on the other hand, don't always follow suit. What leads our communities to go astray? What warnings does God give? And what will lead us back, as a COMMUNITY, to the arms of our Savior?

God made a promise to Abraham and remembered it when Abraham's descendents were enslaved. Having rescued them, God created a COMMUNITY defined by God's covenant, to be passed on for generations. They passed it on -- will we?

Two times in his relationship with disciples, Jesus challenged them to do their jobs in a new way. The first time was an invitation to be with him. The second time, however, he was getting them ready for his departure. What would this mean for them and their fledgling COMMUNITY?

The disciples rejected the idea of extravagant offering or the idea that suffering was the path to their own salvation. But later it would prove to be essential for the church to spread. What comes from suffering is the treasure of endurance, patience, experience and hope.

Suffering and God are not contradictions, but go hand in hand. The idea that God suffers with and for us is one of the most persuasive teachings for Christianity. I believe that God is closer to suffering than to happiness and that finding God in our pain brings greater peace and lasting joy than any earthly happiness. “We have found peace with God” is something achieved through the Cross. At the...

God has reconciled all things. All means all. Under the Cross of Christ we know that we all belong to one another, that we are brothers and sisters in the same need and the same hope. We are bound together in the body of Christ which means we have the same destiny and purpose. We share the same suffering and joys, the same sorrows and successes, but most importantly the same condition of sin and g...

We rarely use the word “bearing” but the bible uses this word frequently. It is a word capable of capturing the whole work of Jesus Christ. That on the Cross he bore the weight of the world’s sin enduring all that was entailed in the Passion narrative. Church fathers use the term, “fellowship of the cross” as the shared burden of all believers to carry their own cross and that of others who suffer...

It is said that both faith and obedience are only possible by our remembering and repeating. This was the gift and example of the Hebrew traditions and festivals. Remembering becomes a powerful thing in the present because the actions of God in the past are done by a living God who today makes me sure of what he has done. The past is gone but because something decisive happened for me on the Cross...

How can we truly know God? Either I know about the God I seek from my own experience and insights (along with all the assumptions and meaning I place on history) that are entirely within myself… or I know about him based on his revelation of his own Son. We have to choose. If I say where God will be, I will always find a god who is agreeable and comfortable; one who my world view and preferences....

When a couple divorces, both partners and many of their friends, family and children die a little along with the marriage. Psychologists have listed divorce as the No. 1 stressor in life. In His Word, God openly states that He hates divorce. Divorce is costly, both economically and emotionally. Healing from a divorce is painful and may take place over a long period of time, perhaps years. Preventi...

Becoming parents is incredible, but it is also one of the greatest transition times of a marriage. Sometimes it causes some major areas of conflict. If money, housework, child care, extended family matters and free time weren't issues before parenthood, they certainly become issues. Fortunately, there are ways married people can prevent from being overwhelmed parents. Not becoming obsessed with pa...

In our culture, single people are a diverse group. Maybe they are single because they have lost a spouse through death or divorce. Some have never married, in which they may be totally comfortable, or maybe they long for a mate through marriage. For all these people, especially those who wrestle with their singleness, there is a role model in Jesus Christ, who was single His entire life. Those sin...

Myths about marriage seem to die very hard. We take comfort in some of these myths because to do so may be easier to than to face reality in a marriage. However, embracing myths may damage a married union in the end. Three myths of marriage that can be harmful include "if it's right, it will be easy," "if you love me, you will change," and "all my needs should be met by my spouse." Our human condi...

Falling in love—easy. Staying in love—well, that's another story, because it most definitely takes conscious effort. As this message asks: How different would our relationships—especially romantic relationships—be if we made love a verb? What would change in our communication with those with whom we fell in love? How would we want to serve the other person? Using as a base Philippians 2:3-8, we're...

On this week's podcast, Aaron Stewart, Heath Hollensbe, and Mike Bates discuss the results of the TCI Survey and what this means for the "health" of our church. For a copy of the survey, email: Sarah Brooksher at sbrooksher@uppc.org

Mike, Jill and Heath discuss yesterdays message and what it means for us today.

This week, Heath Hollensbe - Diana Greene - Aaron Stewart and Mike Moffit discuss yesterday's "Songs Of Christmas" as well as the importance of music and the theology of some of our favorite Christmas songs. And Heath gives out the weirdest Christmas gift you may have ever received.

This week, Heath Hollensbe, Pastor Mike and Lisa Woicik follow up with some deeper thoughts on this past weeks message - Waiting.

This week, Pastor Aaron and Pastor Mike follow up with some deeper thoughts on this past weeks message - "From Lost To One".

We couldn't answer all your giving questions Sunday. Listen to Pastor Aaron & Pastor Mike answer the rest of your questions!

This Week, Pastor Aaron - Pastor Mike and Heath talk about sensory deprivation tanks, Benedictine monks and what happens when your friends won't talk to you... As they unpack yesterday's message on "Silence".

A rousing game of "Bible or Middle Earth?" kicks off our conversation with spiritual director Lorina Meade and Pastor Aaron about being present with God and each other.  What obstacles stand in the way of experiencing God's presence?  What is blocking our full presence with each other?  And what can we do to take steps toward being more present to both?