Vocation and Flourishing Life | Dr. Miroslav Volf

What does it mean to live a good and satisfying life? How does work relate to that life? Does work make it possible? Does work get in the way?  If that life exists, how would you know that you were living it?

We all want to live meaningful and good lives. Through a combination of work & family, stress & relaxation, late nights & early mornings, we try to create that life. Rarely do we find the time to take stock of our lives and consider what the good life might actually look like.

Dr. Volf’s lecture provided plenty for us to consider.

He Went Away Grieved | Caleb Schut

The rich young man wants to know how to inherit eternal life. After an exchange with Jesus, he leaves grieved and full of sorrow. Are we to assume that means he has rejected Jesus?

Caleb explores the possibility that the sorrow and grief of the rich young man, after learning that inheriting eternal life will require selling his possessions, is not his rejection of Jesus but rather is his movement toward him. What if our sorrow and grief drew us toward Christ and not away from him?

Whoever Want to be Great Must be a Servant | Bob Reid

The disciples have it backwards. They are arguing about who will be the greatest. While we may wag our finger at them, Bob points out that each of us tries to lord power over others. We are called approach power, greatness, and authority in a radically different way.

Creating a Diorama of the Kingdom | Caleb Schut

In James 2, James condemns favoritism. He lumps it in with murder and adultery. What is it about favoritism that is so dangerous? James challenges the church to reflect the kingdom of God and not the culture it is surrounded by. Pastor Caleb explores the challenging letter of James.

Following Jesus means walking in his footsteps

Jesus asks Peter who he believes Jesus to be. Peter gets the answer correct, but he has no idea what it means and so Jesus tells the disciples not to share with anyone that he is the Messiah. The good news of the gospel is not knowing the answer to a question, it is hearing Christ say who YOU are. It is being forgiven and given the gift of walking in Christ's footsteps.

A Brave and Prophetic Woman

A gentile woman approaches Jesus, but Jesus doesn't immediately grant her request. It is an unusual encounter, but through it Jesus creates a platform for a woman to teach his disciples.

This Teaching Is Difficult, Who Can Accept It? Bob Reid

In this week's homily, Bob reflects upon a passage in John where Jesus instructs his followers to eat his flesh and drink his blood. What an odd thing?

The Good News about Election | Caleb Schut

Jesus is non-anxious. He is not concerned by the fact that the crowds are leaving him. He trusts the Father. In this homily, Pastor Caleb reflects on Jesus' trust and thinks about the idea of God's election or choosing of human beings. Why is it good news that God elects us? He closes the homily with a personal reflection about Heaven. 

When Hunger Is Satisfied | Bob Reid

We continue in John chapter 6 with a passage that explores the claim that Jesus is the bread of life. Bob explores whether Jesus' claim has any concrete practical implications. 

Feeding the 5,000 | Caleb Schut

This is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. In John's gospel, however, it is simply the opening vignette in a chapter that will be all about bread. The crowd is hungry, and while the miracle feeds their stomachs, they will be back the next day hungry again. What does it look like to truly feast on the bread of life? Is it possible to never feel hungry again?