From Prostitute to Princess

Joshua 2:1–24

Pastor Frank uses Rahab’s story to illustrate how God can transform lives and change labels, emphasizing that a person’s past or current circumstances don’t define their future. He challenges us to look beyond labels and preconceived notions, especially in today’s polarized political climate, and to see the humanity and potential in everyone. 

1. What labels do you feel like have chased you?
2. Why does it feel easier to label others than to learn to love and care for them?
3. Are there areas of life or specific places it’s easier to label people?
4. What does it look like this week to interact with the “Image of God” in others when we feel tempted to label them?

Tower of Babel

Genesis 11

In this sermon, Pastor Mark Deering discusses the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11. He uses the narrative to illustrate the contrast between building one’s own kingdom and participating in God’s kingdom. Pastor Mark explains that the Tower of Babel serves as a blueprint for human pride and self-glorification, which ultimately leads to confusion and division. He contrasts this with the events of Pentecost in Acts 2, where God unifies people through the Holy Spirit. He then emphasizes the importance of community, humility, and imitating Jesus rather than seeking personal glory. He encourages us to examine their motivations and to build our lives in a way that points others to God, rather than to ourselves.

Choose Your Kingdom

Genesis 4

In this week’s sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski uses the biblical narrative in Genesis 4 to illustrate the human tendency towards anger, revenge, and sin, contrasting it with God’s call for forgiveness and mercy. He relates the story of Cain’s murder of Abel and the subsequent legacy of violence through Cain’s descendant Lamech to modern-day struggles with anger and retaliation. Pastor Jacob then shifts to Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness, emphasizing the need to forgive “77 times” as a reversal of Lamech’s vow of vengeance.

Reflection Questions

1. In what areas of life do you have opportunities to trust God? Why is it hard to trust God’s understanding and plans in these areas?
2. Read Matthew 18:23-35. How does Jesus deepen our understanding of forgiveness?
3. What areas of life is it difficult to forgive? How do we reflect Christ to our neighbors by being people of forgiveness and not anger or revenge?

Citizens of the Kingdom

Genesis 1 + Revelation 22

This sermon introduces our new series called “Citizens” which explores the concept of the Kingdom of God and what it means to be a citizen of that kingdom. Pastor Mark Deering explains that the Kingdom of God is not a physical place, but rather God’s rule and reign through His people. He cautions against isolating from the world or conflating earthly politics with God’s Kingdom, instead urging believers to live faithfully as representatives of God’s Kingdom here on earth.