All Posts

Sometimes what can be hard to understand or accept as spoken words becomes much clearer when we experience Jesus provide for a very physical need.

Paul shows the new exodus generation how to walk the road home.

Paul shows us how to move from pressure to praise as we understand Jesus’ love for us more deeply.

Jesus' resurrection brings a new creation in which Sabbath peace comes not only at the end, but also at the beginning.

John shows us that resurrection life is not trapped in the garden where the event occurred—it is on the move.

Lead your family into obeying the resurrected Jesus’ central command to his followers—“Rejoice!”

Easter season teaches us the discipline of celebration.

Paul says that the Church is the place where God’s secret plan for the world is uncovered and revealed.

Surrender to God's will in Holy Week is the path to celebrating God's victory on Easter.

Sing Psalm 32 as a family to fill your minds and hearts with its truth as we round out the season of Lent.

Paul describes our salvation using the language and sequence of Israel’s sacrificial system to show how and why God saved us in Christ.

Jesus defeats Satan's final wilderness temptation and now leads us into his victory.

*If you’re doing this with littles you may want to skip to the end for the Dinner Table Short Sermon Summary Paul prays that the church would see what is already true: Jesus is reigning, resurrection power is already at work, and the church is the instrument through which Christ will fill the world. Because these truths are so surprising, God must open the eyes of our hearts to believe them. Reflection & Discussion 1. Pray for People Who Are Doing Well Paul thanks God for the

Sermon Summary In this sermon we zeroed in on the words redemption and inheritance , showing the historical and theological freight that they carry into Ephesians chapter 1.  Paul uses these words as a map that places the Church inside of Israel’s story. He shows us that what God was doing with the little nation of Israel, He is still doing—only more broadly and more gloriously, as He brings the promise that He made to Abraham—that he would be heir of the world (Rom. 4:13)—to

Scripture Reading Matthew 4:1-2, 5-7 Big Idea (For Parents) The sequence of wilderness temptations during Jesus’ 40-day fast is patterned after that of Israel in its Exodus from Egypt. After Israel’s baptism in the Red Sea (Exodus 14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2; cf. Matthew 3:13-17), they immediately faced a hunger temptation, which they failed by sinful grumbling (Exodus 16:2; cf. Matthew 4:1-4). Having nevertheless received bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4), the people next experie

Scripture Reading Matthew 4:1-4 Big Idea (For Parents) Jesus was fully tempted as we are so that he alone might defeat temptation for us. Having done so, he now empowers us by his Spirit to progressively do the same. Thus, because he is our Savior, he is also now our example.   “Wilderness” situations in life involve intentional fasting from—or divine removal of—some of God’s good gifts. These situations test us and mature us into those who, like Jesus, walk in victory over t

*If you’re doing this with your littles, skip to the bottom and use the short form family follow up version* Sermon Summary In Ephesians 1:1–2, we explored the meaning of Paul’s address to the church as “saints.” Far from referring to spiritual elites, the word saints means holy ones—people granted sanctuary access to the very presence of God. This status is not earned through religious performance but given freely through Christ’s cleansing work. Finally, we consider what i

Scripture Reading Isaiah 58:1-7 Big Idea (For Parents) Isaiah here describes God’s intention for Israel’s one regular divinely-appointed Old Testament fast, the Day of Atonement. That season began with the “Feast of Trumpets” (Leviticus 23:24-25; cf. Isaiah 58:1) followed by the Day of Atonement ten days later (Leviticus 23:27). God told the Israelites to “afflict yourselves” on that day (Leviticus 23:27) so that their sincere self-examination would foster the confession, rep

Sermon Summary In this opening message on Ephesians, we explore Paul’s sweeping announcement that the New Creation has already begun. The King has been crowned. Heaven and earth are being reunited. A new humanity has been formed. And through the church, God is displaying His wisdom to the world. God is making us new so that we can renew the world. Reflection Materials Discussion Q’s (for the grown-ups) 1. When you hear that “the government of the world has changed,” what does

Sermon Summary In Haggai 2, God teaches His people that obedience matters, but it cannot reverse the curse that grips the world. Only God can do that. In restoring Zerubbabel as His “signet ring,” God previews a greater reversal that comes through Christ. In Jesus’ resurrection, the direction of the world changes. Death still lingers, but it grows in borrowed ground. The Church now lives as the King’s signet ring, spreading the life of the risen Christ. Reflection Questions 1