The Book of Acts
The disciples stood around
staring at the sky after they lost sight of Jesus. After the
angel showed up and told them to move on - they had to figure out
how. The Book of Acts is theology, history and a faith FAQ
file all rolled into one. Verse by verse we'll see what
Peter and Paul and the rest of the disciples were up to - and how
God used them to turn the world "upside down" which was really
"right side up."
September - November 2021 by Pastor Mitch
Studying the Bible for Life
The latest polls show
that the church is becoming more illiterate when it comes to the
Bible. While some of that is because there are fewer
people in church, even those who attend regularly aren't
spending as much time in the Word as previous generations.
This study will take a look at the Bible - why God gave it to
us, what It can do for us and we'll look at several different
ways to study what is inside so God can make a difference on our
inside!
June - August 2021 by Pastor Mitch
Geography and the Bible
What does Geography
have to do with the stories from the Bible?
Everything. From the culture to the weather to the
people who live next door - they all shape who we are and how
we live. By looking at the geography surrounding the
stories of Abram, Lot's Wife, King David and others - we'll
find a few details that will help us understand their stories
and live (and learn a little for ourselves).
April - June 2021 by Pastor Mitch
Healing, Wholeness and the Scriptures -
Mental Health has
always been a challenge in any society or culture - but
during the pandemic it has been a silent and unseen enemy
that has been stalking even those who have been otherwise
unaffected by COVID-19. An enemy that has a face and a
name and can be confronted on the battlefield is one thing -
but something that comes quietly and often without warning -
and robs us of sleep, relationships, health and love is
quite another. Tapping into resources by Henri Nouwen, David
Ludwig, Henry Cloud, Diana Gruver, David Cook - we will
wander through the Scriptures and the modern day church to
see how King David, Job, Elijah, Martin Luther and others
face depression, anxiety, pain and darkness.
February - March 2021 by Pastor Mitch
The
Tempered Resilience of the Prophets -
The prophets are
not easy to listen to - all that "repent, turn around, get
right with God" yelling and screaming they do. But
are they really yelling and screaming - or are they just
whispering? Is the loudness and grating of their
words really them - or is it us? Are we so anxious
and worried and afraid that even a whisper sounds like
someone is shouting? We're
going to spend time talking about the Prophets and using
Tod Bolsinger's new book Tempered Resilience to frame our
study. You won't need ear plugs - but it still won't
be easy to listen to the prophets - unless we listen by
faith!
November - January 2020/2021 by Pastor Mitch
Canoeing
the
Mountains -
So, you are an
expert at canoeing - your calling is to find
a passage from where you are to where you need to be -
only you've run out of water. The only thing in
front of you are mountains - lots and lots of
mountains. Now what do you do? We are in
uncharted territory as a church. And our future as
individuals and as a community will be determined by
what our next steps are. Fortunately the church
has been "here" many times before - so as we leave our
canoes behind we can expect some help from Daniel and
Abraham and Moses and Peter and Paul as we step into the
unknown and discover an amazing future that God already
knew and prepared us for!
May - July 2020 by Pastor Mitch
Psalms of
life and love and eternity
The Psalms
reflect our life. From the highest highs to the
deepest depths - and sometimes in the space of just a
few verses. J.I. Packer said, “Wait
on the Lord" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it
is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He
is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way
to give more light on the future than we need for action
in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a
time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on
God. When action is needed, light will come.” This study is
looking for that light!
July - November, 2020 by Pastor Mitch