"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet - and a light unto my path!" Psalm 119:105
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