Message Monday 6/18/18 – Parables For The Jesus Follower: The Pharisee & The Tax Collector

Jon Taylor – Elder

It’s amazing how Jesus is able to tell the right story to the right audience at the right time. In Luke 18:9-14 he tells a parable that can have a powerful impact if one will really listen in humility.

He tells this story to those who are confident of their own righteousness and who look down on everyone else (vs. 9). It is a story with a stunning contrast between a Pharisee who prays about himself and a Tax Collector who begs God for mercy. The Pharisee tries to convince God that his “performance” of religious duties should earn him favor in God’s sight and that he is obviously better than common sinners like robbers, evil doers, adulterers – or the Tax Collector.

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Message Monday 6/11/18 – Parables For The Jesus Follower: The Lost Son

Micah Foreman – Guest Speaker

Jesus was speaking one day to large crowd, so large in fact that he got in a boat so he could speak to them all. He told a parable about a farmer sowing seeds. When he finished. His disciples asked him, “why do you teach the people in parables?” This is why I speak to them in parables,

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”

Today we begin a new journey together in becoming a Jesus Follower with the parables of Jesus. The relentless unthinkable love of the Father and the Parable of the Lost Son.

Message Monday 6/4/18 – Jesus Follower: Wise And Foolish Builders

Chuck Foreman – Teaching / Missions Pastor

We’re all home builders, building the house of our own lives. How we build and the materials we use determine the strength of our house—and the outcome of our life.

Jesus’ story at the end of his Message on the Mountain might be called, “How to Weather the Storms of Life.”  But I wonder if that’s what he was really up to? Perhaps he intended something deeper, something more than just what might be the title to a good self-help book. Perhaps he’s actually telling us something about himself and what he is up to?  (more…)

Message Monday 5/21/18 – Jesus Follower: Sheep Or Wolf?

Chuck Foreman – Teaching / Missions Pastor

In this section in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus brings us some difficult to hear, but indispensable words to all leaders and followers from the Ultimate Leader himself.

He’s been talking to us and warning us about religion for show and the hypocrisy and self-deceit underlying that kind of fake faith. Religion for show is like decorative fruit; it looks good on the outside, but inside you discover only shocking bitterness & disappointment. (We actually have “decorative oranges” here in Phoenix. They are beautifully attractive and enticing, but if you try to eat one you won’t get past your first bite!)

Now in chapter 7 he’s talking to us about what authentic followers of Jesus look like—and what they don’t look like.  (more…)

Message Monday 5/14/18 – Jesus Follower: Good And Bad Mamas

Chuck Foreman – Teaching / Missions Pastor

To all women: God is at work in you and through you to bring about good in the rest of us, so we can all participate with him in the restoration of not only our lives, but also our world.

There’s just something about a mother’s touch, her kind words of encouragement, her wise counsel in those moments of uncertainty that we simply cannot do without. Many of us remember all these good things we received from our own mothers, but many of us know we’ve missed out on something essential that can only come from a godly woman or mother.  (more…)