RUF @ Western Carolina

Finishing up the series on Ephesians, we look at the armor of God and see how this book is still all about Jesus.

This week we look at Paul's instructions for the various relationships we have, asking what power looks like when it's used to serve rather than be served.

Paul continues his instruction on what sanctification looks like in our lives. We explore a danger that can happen as we progress in sanctification: thinking that Christianity is about performing. What if, instead, it is about being formed?

What does it mean to "put off the old self" and "put on the new?" And what does any of it have to do with kudzu or Eustace Clarence Scrubb?

Paul says that God gave each individual in the Church a gift. What's yours, and what does it look like to use it for the building up of the body of Christ?

A shorter sermon this week, as we got to meet our incoming interns at Large Group! We're jumping into the 2nd half, where Paul brings his theological reflection crashing into our day-to-day lives. What does it mean that we are "one body?"

We believe that we are saved by grace through faith, but our thoughts, actions, and fears betray that we think we're loved when we're good. What does it look like to continue in the Christian life reliant on the grace that begins it?

Eph 2:11-3:6 - This week we look at the communal aspects of the salvation accomplished for us by Christ. What does it mean that we've been united to one another? What does it mean that we don't always experience it right now?

What does it look like to have a full picture of the Christian life? What happens when we leave out one leg of the stool? How do we get off balance?

This week we continue looking at Ephesians 1, seeing the heart of Paul's prayer for that church. What is it that we most need?

Starting our series on Ephesians, we look at Paul's long declaration of praise to God, highlighting the adopting love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the sealing love of the Spirit.

How are we supposed to respond to the realization that life under the sun is all vanity? What does the preacher want us to do? And what on earth is a goad?

What does the Preacher say about the pursuit of justice in our world? What do we do with the seeming injustice that we see all around us?

Pleasure won't give us meaning outside of God: what about work? Achievement? Accolades? Recognition?

The Preacher gives us his first experiment: can I find meaning in pleasure?

We start our short series on the book of Ecclesiastes this week, looking at the overall project of the book: what does the Preacher mean that "all things are vanity?" And if we can't find meaning and purpose in anything "under the sun," what are we to do?

Who is my neighbor? What does love of neighbor look like? What does it cost?

Where do we find our acceptance by God? What does it take for us to be welcomed, to be okay, to be justified?

Continuing our series on the parables, we look at Jesus' story about some workers who got what was promised, some who got more than expected, and the different ways we react to grace in our lives.

This week we look at the parable of the Ungrateful Servant, asking what it means that we have been forgiven by God and how that frees us to forgive one another.

We continue our look at the parables with this story about Scripture. What do we make about Jesus' bold claim that miracles don't change people's minds: Scripture does?

Continuing our series on the parables, we look at the parable of the Lost Sons in Luke 15. What does it mean to be lost? How do we find our way back home?

We start off our series on the Parables, and the new semester, with Jesus' brief parables on the treasure and the pearl.

We wrap up our exploration of Narnia and Middle Earth talking about the virtue of friendship: why is it so important for us? How is it a help?

Finishing out our conversation on salvation with Sanctification, we then turn to the vision of the Christian life and faithfulness these works set out. How do we live well in light of eternity?