Spring of Life Messages

With all of that work, Nehemiah is now ready to build! He continues the work of discernment while implementing his plan and facing opposition. It is clear to see how this is part of God’s plan for restoring Jerusalem and spreading the good news to all the people. Building the wall was just one step and that facilitated what happened in chapter 7. How do we learn from Nehemiah and follow this path?

Nehemiah is courageously vulnerable with people around him, he seeks to understand what is broken, the whole time he prays building doing what we talked about last week. He listens to God, to people, to the situation. And begins to discern how God could use him.

Nehemiah serves as a case study for discernment.  We will define discernment and ask the a simple question, “what should I do”. How do we respond to news like Nehemiah gets, how do we respond to every day choices and discern God’s will? Discernment is a tool we have a special song to sing with our lives. In order to discern we need to first, recognize God’s active presence in all things. Second, l...

What does it mean to truly thirst for God? When you find yourself in a dry or searching season, where do you turn to be filled? Drawing from Psalm 63:1–5, this message explores a personal story of deep thirst, David’s longing for God in the wilderness, and how that same longing is met through Christ at Residing Hope.

The Christus Victor understanding of atonement is one that focuses on the triumph of Jesus and invites us to participate in his final victory. When we embrace the reality of salvation we are able to face the worst consequences of sin and death with hope.  Because Jesus is alive I too can overcome.

Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday walking towards the cross. If we look closely at the gospel accounts we see him moving towards the cross flipping tables, upper room, garden of gethsemane, conversation with Pilate, and more he was actively choosing the cross. This reflects the heart of God. Willingly submitting to death.

The highest expression of love is sacrificial love and the ultimate sacrifice is giving of yourself. Jesus did that, willingly for each of us. Knowing that fact, we can’t simply view the cross as a formulaic transaction but as the deepest expression of love. This is one of the purest forms of love like that of a parent for a child.

Jesus calls us to follow his example and the cross is part of that example. The cross is the ultimate example of God’s love and service. We are called not to be crucified but to walk the path of following Christ’s footsteps and serving the kingdom above all else.

Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is our Passover lamb, salvation. Once again, God uses existing images of salvation to speak the good news of God’s saving power.

The most popular understanding of the cross is penal substitutionary atonement. Jesus completes the temple sacrifice model we see described in the Old Testament. Jesus is the sacrifice, the high priest, and the one who forgives all in one.

Jesus is the word of God. Everything he says and does is a message. Every action, spoken word, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection communicates the heart of God. Jesus is the recapitulation making things right, embodying the good news of God all the way back to Adam.

How can you tell a person follows Jesus? It is just with their words or is it also with their actions? Service is a way we complete the cycle of our faith. Said another way, when we live out our faith by serving others we find deep joy and inspiration to continue dedicating our lives to God. If you want to go far on your journey with Jesus you need to find ways to serve.

The command to take a sabbath is not a burden to carry but rather a gift. God invites us to choose a lifestyle of work and rest. A rhythm which includes sabbath weekly. How do each of us respond to God’s invitation to deep rest?

Fasting isn’t a popular spiritual discipline. Going without is counter cultural. These scriptures explore how fasting is a spiritual gift that helps us grow in our walk with Jesus.

The Prophet Elijah has been seeking God and risking everything to be faithful. God shows up to the prophet in an unlikely way. How do we learn to find God in the silence and actively work to create space in our lives where we can listen to God?

The Bible is a gift that God gives us that helps us faithfully live out the call God places on each of our lives. By practicing the spiritual discipline of reading scripture the stories of God shape us allowing us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength. The successes and failures of those who went before us guides our path.

Daniel is faithful in prayer and we can learn from his witness. He talks to God every day in many different situations. How do we allow the spiritual discipline of prayer to shape us on our good days and when we find ourselves in the lion’s den?

The most profound part of the story of the Grinch is the ending most people skip over.  The grinch carves the roast beast, he is welcomed to the table and given the seat of honor. The heart of the Grinch grew and the hearts of the Who’s grew as well. The heart of God grew to give us baby Jesus and our hearts should grow in response. We welcome Jesus into the world and the transformation he brings.

The Holy family flees Herod’s murderous rage, fulfilling a prophecy. Jesus is revealed as the new Moses and the humanity of his vulnerable family is on full display. God uses the tragedy to fulfill the prophecies about who Jesus would become.

Every year we begin by renewing our covenant to God and submitting to follow Christ. We will reflect on the talents God has given to us and pray the Wesleyan Covenant Prayer. This is a time of deep surrender, faithfulness, and commitment to following Christ in the new year.

The Grinch responded to what the Whos had done. They sang songs of Joy so instead of gleefully dumping their possessions off Mount Crumpet, he brought them all back to town. The Magi responded to what God had done with a desire to give what they had. The historic enemy is included in the celebration of Christmas.

The grinch and Joseph both had unmet expectations. The grinch expected people to cry when their toys were gone but they sang a joyful song instead. Joseph expected to get married and start a family like everyone else but then his life suddenly changes and he has a choice to make.

The Grinch was excited to expose Christmas for what it really is, a fraud. Mary gets to be a part of something big, revealing God for who God really is. Their hearts are both changed in the process and other lives are changed as well.

Zechariah didn’t believe it was possible. The Grinch didn’t believe a heartfelt celebration of Christmas was possible either, he was cynical, thought it just all came from a store. By the time John the Baptist is born, Zechariah’s heart has grown, and he believes in what God will do. 

The paradoxes about money we've explored aren't meant to be resolved privately but lived out in the context of Christian community, where we help each other discern faithful stewardship. Individually, we must examine our hearts with diagnostic questions (Am I hoarding or stewarding? Giving or spending selfishly?) while recognizing that the answers will vary based on our unique situations...