Terraforma Church

As James wraps up his letter, he reminds believers that authentic faith lives with integrity and expectation in the "meantime." How can we be faithful while we wait for the justice and restoration that are coming into this present reality with God's Kingdom?

Humility is a posture of the heart that acknowledges the greatness of God and the limit of my own ability. Pride keeps God at a distance, humility invites God's grace near.

James reminds us to consider the power of our words. Our words have the power to build up or burn down, to frustrate or to bring clarity. Careless words can harm while intentional words can bring healing.

What good is it to have accurate belief and admirable intentions if it doesn't lead to a transformed life and an expanded capacity to love God and others? James the brother of Jesus argues it doesn't do much good at all.

True faith changes us. It changes our behavior, how we respond to life and difficulty.

We often treat our imagination like a useless relic from childhood, something that lost its value as we grew into maturity. But what if the Holy Spirit wants to awaken your imagination to envision the future that God wants to build? How do we listen to the voice of dreams, visions, and a Spirit-redeemed imagination?

Our effort can only take us so far. We need the quiet inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.

It is harder than every to discern between truth and falsehood. The burden of discernment isn’t yours to carry alone. Jesus promised us the Spirit of Truth. In a world full of artificial intelligence, we need to cultivate supernatural intelligence.

It is common in our culture for people to claim to be "spiritual but not religious." The craving for spiritual practices and supernatural encounters reveals something about our design: we are spiritual beings, made to encounter a living God in supernatural ways.

The power of the resurrection of Jesus isn't limited to our spiritual life alone; it includes hope for the redemption of all creation. What does a Christ-centered and hopeful view of the created world look like? How should a follower of Jesus relate to the environment?

What happened to Jesus at Easter will happen to the all creation at some point in the future. This is the Blessed Hope; it is the future of everything. It is the fulfillment of God's ultimate purpose: Heaven and Earth are renewed; God and humanity exist together in a glorified state.

The power of the resurrection of Jesus is not limited to a moment; it was the beginning of a movement of redemption and restoration that claims all of creation.

The resurrection of Jesus is the single most important event in history. It was so unbelievable and unexpected, the first witnesses to this event thought it was absurd. Eventually, they came to believe the unbelievable and when they did, they discovered the truth that changed their lives forever.

Palm Sunday wasn't just a religious parade; it was a planned "counter-procession"—a piece of provocative political theater designed to contrast two competing visions of the world. It's the story of two very different processions, of the representatives of two very different kingdoms, with two very different visions of power.

At the Last Supper, Jesus' disciples argue about who is the greatest. Greatness is the Kingdom of God is measured in a way none of them understood. In the Kingdom of God, less is more.

When it came to the final night before his sacrifice, Jesus showed his disciples an unforgettable standard of selfless love and servant leadership. When Jesus exchanged his Rabbi's cloak for a towel and washbasin, he was painting a beautiful picture of selfless love.

When Jesus wanted to help His disciples understand the significance of His sacrifice, He didn't write a book. Instead, He set a table. Standing in the powerful tradition of Passover, Jesus brought new meaning to the ancient celebration.

Perfectionism can be problematic! When we know perfection is an unreachable goal, we hide behind effort. But what if perfection isn't something to achieve, but something we receive?

It is the most natural and predictable human behavior: seek your own advantage. Seek your own comfort. But Jesus asks this controversial question: what if me first is a recipe to finish last?

The most dangerous kind of deception is the one that's almost true! You can see the intention behind the statement, but if you follow it to the logical conclusion it can eventually cause harm and confusion. How can we anchor our lives to an objective source of truth?

We conclude the Think Ahead series with a pivotal decision: commit not to quit! Finish your race.

Deciding to faithfully follow Jesus will make so many complicated decisions down the road simple. The best moment to choose faithfulness is not in the moment of temptation or crisis, but in advance with a clear head and captured heart.

Deciding ahead is the difference between occasional giving and generous living. When giving flows from a heart of gratitude and a life of discipline, it can have exponential impact for God's Kingdom.

Deciding certain things in advance saves so much time and energy later. We all want to make good decisions, but we don’t always do it! Many people intend to be healthy or intend to pray more, but intentions don't change lives—directions do. "Pre-deciding" bridges the gap between who you want to be and what you actually do. Hope alone won't change your life, but habits will. What direction are your...

Christmas is time to celebrate the coming of Jesus into our world and into our stories. What does it mean for the infinite God to become a helpless infant? How is the humility of Jesus' birth an answer to our pride and hostility? This message is from our Christmas Eve-Eve celebration.