One-Word Check-In

Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus' feet to prepare him for his upcoming death and burial, but why does she use her hair? 

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus teaches us about redemption. We all feel lost at times throughout life, just like the characters in the parable, but when we open ourselves to God's extravagant grace, we join in the celebration.  

In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus teaches about the urgency of repentance and invites us into living a fruitful life. 

Jesus' desire is to gather us like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings. Pastor Kristie explores this interesting image of Christ as Hen.

Jesus laments over the rejection of his own people. He tells the Pharisees that he desired to gather your people like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet they were unwilling. Now that we can gather together again, let us explore the importance of gathering together with Jesus. 

Jesus spends forty days in the wilderness in which he doesn't eat anything. He becomes famished, yet he is also filled with the Spirit. How does being filled with the Spirit keep him from giving in to temptation and satiate his hunger? 

Do you listen to Jesus? The voice in the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him!" Our transformation begins by listening to Jesus. 

Based on the first part of the Sermon on the Plain, Pastor Kristie's sermon challenges us to answer Christ's call to level with Jesus for a more equitable society. 

Jesus continues the Sermon on the Plain to "you that listen." It's hard to listen when we're told to "Love our enemies," but this challenging teaching is the foundation of Christ's love.

Jesus joins the disciples on a level place and "levels with them" about the life-changing work they are called to do.

This bonus episode is the longer sermon that was delivered on January 30, 2022. Jesus sees a woman in the crowd and tells her, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." Pastor Kristie explores the ailments beyond the physical one, and challenges us to look deeper at our own hypocrisy.   

The people were pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God. Have you ever pressed in to hear the Word? 

In the middle of his sermon, Jesus sets a woman free from an oppressive spirit that held her captive for almost two decades. Jesus practiced what he preached by stopping and healing the woman to show that actions speak louder than words. Where do you need Jesus to set you free?

Luke 4:14-30 tells us about Jesus' first sermon, in which he delivers a challenging word to the people. They reject him by running him out of town and attempting to throw him off a cliff. "But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way" (v.30). Pastor Kristie explores how Jesus comes to us in the midst of our chaos and our life. 

Pastor Kristie's sermon, The Good Wine , invites us to become more like Christ, the Good Wine, which is poured out for all people. 

In Jesus' first miracle, he turns water into wine. The NRSV Bible says "the water had become wine." In this episode, Pastor Kristie explores the process of becoming who God wants us to be. Who are you becoming? 

Are you filled with expectation for the new year? Do you expect good things to come or are you so tired of disappointment that you don't know what to expect? We can look to the future, even an unknown future, with great expectation when we know Christ is with us. 

We celebrate Epiphany, God’s revelation of the Christ child to the whole world. The magi followed the star to pay homage to Jesus. What does homage really mean, and do we pay homage to Jesus today?

Do we swaddle God? Do we bind Jesus with our wants, expectations, and beliefs? Let us "rip the wrap" this Christmas and allow Jesus to be born again within us.

"They" tried to deter Zechariah and Elizabeth from God's way by following tradition, but God had a different plan.

Mary and Elizabeth experience an extraordinary greeting with one another. How do you greet others? Is it filled with affirmation and blessing?

What does it mean to find favor with God? What did Mary do to find favor to birth the Savior of the world? 

Where do you find sanctuary? Is it a place or a presence? 

Ruth's story continues as God cares for her through Naomi, Boaz, and the women in the neighborhood.

In the story of Ruth and Naomi, one turns back to a former life, yet one embraces an unknown future. Together, they find family, security, and belonging.