The Gathering

Today we are continuing our series and this is probably the granddaddy of all cliches: Everything happens for a reason. I will shed some light on why we use it, where it can go wrong, what it gets right and a better way to think about it.

Let’s look at this morning’s cliché: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. To be clear this sentence is not found anywhere in the Bible. It actually comes from one of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. If we look at Scripture, we can certainly find passages that, at first glance, seem to support this idea. But the Bible was never meant to be read this way. Let's unpack this together.

It is easy, and natural, for us to make decisions based on our present circumstances, commitments, obstacles, and desires. But sometimes we have to make decisions not based on where we are, but based on where we think God is calling us. We make decisions now, that build and define the future. In this last week, we will talk about what lies ahead for The Gathering, and the importance of seeing beyo...

Building on last week, the author of Hebrews ends the “remembering the past” section with a present day call. Since so many people have made faithful decisions that have made a difference for you, let us also make faithful decisions, right now, that will impact others. Defining moments aren’t just in the past, they are all around us, right now. We will talk about the way present day decisions at T...

Hebrews 11 reminds people of faith of a few things - they didn’t get here alone, small defining moments can have a huge impact, and ordinary people can make an incredible difference when they step out in faith. This week, we will remember faithful decisions and defining moments from The Gathering’s past and talk about what it means for us who call the Gathering home today.

Many of you might already know, but the first and most important ‘rule’ in improv—the foundational law of the stage—is “yes, and…” It is the mechanism of acceptance and creation. And this notion of acceptance and creation is actually very deeply rooted in scripture and the very nature of God! I find myself thinking about this concept constantly because life rarely hands us the script we rehearsed,...

Moses dies overlooking, but never getting to enter, the promised land. Why? While Moses didn’t enter the land, he played a critical role in the people getting there. Similarly we live and strive to serve God. Sometimes we get to see the fruit of that work, oftentimes we don’t. Nonetheless we are called to trust and hope that the work we do makes a difference.

The arrival and time spent at Mt. Sinai was a turning point for the Hebrew people - symbolically, spiritually, psychologically, and socially. God had to bring the people all the way down (south) to Sinai before God could bring them back up to the promised land. At Sinai, the people were reborn, with a new identity, new practices, new ways of understanding themselves. We grow up with all sorts of s...

A recurring theme in the wilderness was the people complaining about Moses and his leadership. As a young leader, Moses was sensitive to these criticisms and complaints. But overtime, Moses learned that he couldn’t lead by trying to please all of the people all of the time, but rather by staying focused on what God had called him to do. Values and vision, not popular opinion, guided him. We inevit...

When God calls Moses out of the burning bush, Moses is a fugitive shepherd trying to reinvent his life in Midian. He does not feel able or equipped to do anything on behalf of God. So he objects, continually, to the call God puts on his life. But God has to teach Moses that the one who calls will also equip. Similarly, we are rarely equipped for something before we are called to pursue it. The cal...

Moses’ story begins with the heroism and sacrifice of those that came before him. Shiprah and Puauh, his older sister, and his own mother all risked their lives to defy Pharoah and save the lives of Hebrew newborn boys. We too don’t get to where we are alone. The work, sacrifice, and generosity of those that came before us lay the foundation on which we stand. You didn’t get here alone.

At the end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount we are given a choice: which path will you take, which voice will you listen to, which builder will you be, and will claim the name only or do the will. Jesus lays the choice at our feet. Do you want to continue living according to the wisdom of this world, or will you follow me?

As disciples, what direction are we to follow? How does Jesus, once again, flip the script on the misconstrued ideals for living our lives?

Today we are going to begin at the beginning. Because Jesus begins his sermon in a memorable way. He begins by describing what a disciple of the Kingdom looks like, kind of a list of the kind of people who can see the Kingdom most clearly. Jesus presents a list of different people who are blessed, happy, fortunate, because they can see the kingdom most clearly. That list of blessed people has come...

Next week marks the official 6-month celebration as the Metro East site of The Gathering! This Sunday, we’re stepping away from our sermon series format so I can speak to you about the site. I want to share a vision of where God is calling us to over the next year, and that looks: INVITATION. Today, we are diving into Jesus’ calling and mission to invite people to hear and experience the authentic...

If money is a tool to be used, how exactly do we use it without letting it take over our hearts? How do we balance providing for our families without becoming greedy? One of the greatest theologians of the 18th century, John Wesley—the founder of the Methodist movement—preached a famous sermon called "The Use of Money." In it, he laid out three brilliantly simple, yet incredibly challenging pieces...

The theme today is making sure we don’t waste money so we can use it for its highest purpose.

Today we’re going to look at how we make our money, and what the founder of methodism, John Wesley has to say about it. Because this man had a lot to say, and some of it remains pretty timely. Also, we’re going to look at a couple of grounding scriptures for how to view the money we make.

This message lays the groundwork for the series by debunking the myth that money is something to be ignored, shunned, or fearful of. Instead, money is a gift that God gives to us to use.

Over the next four weeks, we are going to talk about biblical wisdom for shaping faith in kids at different ages. We will start with babies and young kids, we will move to older kids and teens, young adults, and then adult children. Today the focus is on parents being the consultant to adult kids. The consultant has opinions and advice but they do not share unless asked.

Over the next four weeks, we are going to talk about biblical wisdom for shaping faith in kids at different ages. We will start with babies and young kids, we will move to older kids and teens, young adults, and then adult children. Today we are moving on to older kids and young teenagers, think roughly 8-16 years old. In this stage, a shift happens primarily because they begin to question things....

Over the next four weeks, we are going to talk about biblical wisdom for shaping faith in kids at different ages. We will start with babies and young kids, we will move to older kids and teens, young adults, and then adult children. Today we are going to start with how to shape faith in babies and young kids, where our role is active, directive, leading the way – much like a captain navigates a sh...

Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. The last distortio...

Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. The distortion we'...

Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about this problem. Specifically, I want to talk about the biggest ways in which Jesus’ name is being distorted and his message is being misrepresented by those who claim to speak for him. As we do that, I want to instead teach and remind us of what Jesus actually said, what he actually stands for, what he actually commands us to do. Today we will star...