Storefront Church

At first read, we might think this passage is sexual immorality. It is, but only on the surface. There is a more foundational question being addressed here, which is,   “To whom do we belong?” (Scripture Reading: 1 Cor 6:12-20)

The promise of Jesus to the disciples and to the world, is that he will build his church . And for many of us we cannot think of anything less promising. Why? (Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:18; John 21:15-25)

Jesus does not promise that hard times will go away, but Christians are promised a peace which enables them to contend and even lead amidst the most shocking of dilemmas. Today's lesson explains how. Scripture Reading (Luke 24:36-53)

When everything around them seemed to be coming undone, “His Words" made them remember, to believe. And, they moved from doubt and despair to determination. (Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-12; 22-33)

The only way to have true peace on earth is for God to bring it from heaven. With the 'Triumphal Entry' we see that Jesus is the provider of that peace. (Scripture Reading: Luke 19:28-44)

Nothing could prepare the disciples for the difficult days ahead, but when Jesus takes his inner circle atop a mountain to show them his glory they now realize they have in Jesus the power to see them through. (Scripture Reading: Luke 9:28-36)

(Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-13)

In a broken world, everyone will have enemies. If you’re a follower of Christ, you’ll have enemies too. How Christians are to treat their enemies, however, will distinguish them from others. For Christians are called to love those who treat them unlovingly. (Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38)

(Scripture Reading: Luke 6: 17-26)

Jesus was a master at empowering people. Not only does he empower people but he empowers those that nobody else would. (Scripture Reading: Luke 6: 12-26)

(Scripture Reading Psalm 147: 1-20)

Every blessing is a gift of God, even those that come through sheer obedience. Raised to be “independent and free” or nothing at all there is much to  be learned here about obedience to Christ when reason and the belief in our own sufficiency say otherwise. (Scripture Reading: Luke 5: 1-11)

Last week, we saw Jesus return home only to be chased out of church and nearly killed. Yet despite the violent aggression of others, we also learned Jesus' true intention is not to wage war on people. but to battle "the powers and principalities of the world" for the hearts and minds of his people.  (Scripture Reading: Luke 4:31-44)

With the reading of this Old Testament prophecy Jesus reveals here, what he hides in other places. He is, indeed, the Messiah, and all of the Scriptures are about him. Secondarily, the Bible is about the spiritual “poor”, “blind”, “imprisoned” and “oppressed”. In so far as you identify as one in spiritual need, the Bible is about you, too. In Jesus, those in need have One who make others spiritual...

(Scripture Reading John 2:1-12)

God’s intention for the Church is to be a unified group of diverse people, a countercultural love for the common good. However, the Church of Corinth is a lot more interested in “doing” and a lot less interested in “being.”  Which is a good reminder for all of us. As big and bold as the Storefront vision is, without God’s love informing our lives, we too, will be a “clanging cymbal” or a “noi...

Due to the moral relativity of their lives, John the Baptist prepared “the way for the Lord '' by preparing the hearts of all men for judgement. His challenge to them? Live out a better narrative, namely, a narrative of repentance. Here is ancient wisdom for our modern age and the most unabashedly morally relevant culture in history (Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-22)

Here we see a passage where those in authority are humbled by Jesus, the true Authority. For children, parents and church leaders, we’re shown the power and promise of Jesus in his ability to exercise agency with authoritative power, insight. From his first days as a man, Jesus willingly humbles himself out of love. One lesson is how agency under authority produces spiritual growth. Another, how J...

Jesus changes longing into thanksgiving, anticipation into reality, and anxiety into joy. But it will come at a cost; his death will come by the hands of those whom he came to save. (Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40)

Christ’s birth brings joy to the wise, turmoil to the powerful, and hope for all mankind. His birth asks each one of us, "what do you worship?" and presents himself as worthy of our worship. (Scripture Reading: Matt 2:1-12)

12/19 | The message of Christmas? Joy has been revealed, and yet, it's not simply that God is our joy, but that it's his joy to meet us wherever there is misery. (Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14)

Joseph, the earthly Father of Jesus, faces two dilemmas. The first, is the impossible circumstances he now finds himself in. The other? Himself. Joseph is a “just man" but is he just (and loving) enough? It often takes a dilemma to find out. Scripture Reading: (Matthew 1:18:25)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Celebrating Advent, means we're able to wait." Christmas means that we're able to do so with Hope. (Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16)

Though a "servant of the Lord", Jonah seems to live in service to his emotions. What we learn with this weeks message is that redemption and renewal are not spiritual ideas, but realities to be applied to every aspect of our lives, as well as, our past, present, and future. (Scripture Reading Jonah 4:5-11)

Through Jonah's ministry to Nineveh, God continues to minister to, and sanctify, Jonah.  This week Jonah went to preach to Nineveh but it was Nineveh that ended up “preaching” to Jonah, and he couldn’t stand it! A major take away from this chapter is that while it’s possible to understand God’s grace in your head and in your heart,  we can still cling to hopes for vengeance and exil...