February 4, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • 1 Corinthians 15:1–2
The gospel is present tense, though sometimes we treat it like it’s past tense. But it wasn't just good news a long time ago... the gospel IS good news for us today!
Embracing Change, for a Change
January 28, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • 2 Chronicles 36:22–23
In a rapidly-changing world, the priority of the Church isn't to just "hold things steady." If we trust God, we can begin to see changes in culture as open doors for gospel advancement.
How to Brighten Up the World
January 21, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Matthew 10:16
There is something very powerful about truth in context. Throughout the biblical narrative, we see God’s word showing up in the practicality of everyday life - the divine invading the ordinary.
This means that obedience to His will demands much more than just some empty religious theory; it actually requires contextualization.
The challenge of the church is to translate the love of God into the lives of people. So a proper witness to the world demands that believers do more than just believe privately - we must also be willing to demonstrate what we believe publicly. Only then can we make progress in our gospel effort to brighten up the world.
On Which Hill?
January 14, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • 1 Kings 3:1–3
Jesus encourages His followers to be a city on a hill, which describes the unique position the church is meant to hold within the culture.
But what happens if the church is elevated on the wrong hill?
Because worship is actually a default for humanity, our tendency is to always worship something. What plagues our world is not an absence of worship, but rather a perversion of it. But God has planted His people in the world to shine brightly, countering all that is wrong with an expression of what is undeniably right.
City on a Hill
January 7, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Matthew 5:14–16
The world needs to believe a message that it cannot comprehend on its own. Therefore, the Lord has very clear intentions for His people to respond. Our role is to amplify the good news among those who know nothing more than bad news. This is the very essence of His expectation for the Church.
Jesus presents this idea in a very simple picture that should define our active presence in the world:
A city set on a hill.
As a church family, it’s important for us to understand this expectation and allow it to inform our overall ministry expression. In an ever-changing culture, there is a specific manner in which we are to engage - to ensure that there is a light that continues to shine wherever there is darkness.
Take Jesus Public
December 31, 2023 • Courtney Harkness • Matthew 4:23–25
Too often, we become eager to do things FOR God, when we have not yet allowed Him to do certain things IN us. But the example of Jesus helps us to embrace God’s process, so that we can be ready to fulfill His purpose.
