Mark 8:27-30

 

This passage is the heart of Mark’s gospel, the focal point that the previous content has pointed towards and the moment that all that remains will support. Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel’s long and winding story. This confession by Peter would have helped to center Jesus’ disciples within their ancient text for their modern day experience. We have that same opportunity as modern believers: to see the Bible not as an object from the past, but as an inheritance to live into.

 

The practice for this value is to memorize Revelation 21:1-5, which is a tight passage about the fulfillment of the Biblical story. We encourage you to memorize and to recite this verse once per day in order to meditate on our future hope.

Mark 1:16-20

Jesus’ invitation to his first disciples was compelling. He opened a door, presented a compelling life, addressed them in a way they could understand, etc. Ministry in Jesus’ name needs to be done in Jesus’ way, too.

The practice for this ingredient is “Curiosity Field Trips.” At times, we tend to navigate life with people we solely agree with. Jesus was busy affiliating with people not like him. Try to read books outside of the norm, visit new places where you might be an outsider, and strike up conversations with people who are different than you. You can be convinced of your Christian faith and curious about outsiders’ experience, at the same time.

Colossians 3:15-17

The Christian community gathers together to worship. Worship services give us a chance to return praises back to God, to be inspired in our faith, and to draw others into the life of the church.

If you're in town on Sunday, try to be at worship. A regular practice of praise helps to keep one's life devoted to God and aware of our opportunity as Christians.

1 Peter 2:11-12, 15; Jude 22-23

 

As we commit financially to Advent’s future mission, we also re-commit inwardly to not belittle those who doubt around us, but engage them with a thoughtful and gracious witness.

 

We live in an age where many have left the church due to disappointment. For some, it is their personal experiences that have created resentment, preventing them from wanting to try again. For others, the growing distrust within the public square with the church (due to leadership scandals, sexual misconduct cover-ups, and what is perceived as mixed up priorities).

 

An image emerges with Peter's command; the "silence" of the talk of outsiders is like a dog-muzzle. Believers can live such winsome lives that those who accuse us prove to be "all bark and no bite."

Ticked: A Series about Anger

 

Anger is a common emotion for all, but it can be a challenge to know when anger is an appropriate feeling in different circumstances. Some might suggest that we live in an angry culture, where angry people are nearly tearing our world apart. How do we know how to be faithful to God and deal with our angry emotions? This series will seek to answer a few questions about anger and provide ways to deal with and use our anger in a Christian way.

 

God is Ticked

Psalm 103:8-10; Micah 7:18-19; Psalm 30:5; Genesis 6

 

The issue of whether a Christian can be angry is a complex one. God gets angry in the Bible, so perhaps all of our anger isn't bad. It's important to consider the anger ratio. God's anger lasts a "moment" but favor lasts a lifetime.

 

After considering a God who can be angry (and who is also holy), perhaps our study of anger should consider unhelpful anger versus holy anger.

 

 

Acts 4:23-31

Prayer is our Spirit-provoked reply to God's grace in which we pour out and align our hearts with the Great Listener.

"Jonathan loved David; such love transcended JOnathan's own self-interest. His love for David was indistinguishable from that of his own life."
- Bruce Birch

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers[a] came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

3 John 1:2-8

The exiles...were not showing deliverate hatred against the Babylonians, far less their babies. They were asking that they should suffer total war as they had so often waged it.
- George Knight