April 30, 2023 • Chris Edmondson • Acts 8:26–38, Matthew 28:16–20
There tends to be a lot of confusion surrounding baptism. And while the topic often evokes strong emotions, it is not a subject in which people have much to draw from, other than their own experience. For this reason we will spend some time exploring what the Bible has to say about baptism and how this informs our understanding of this universal Christian practice.
THE BIG IDEA: Baptizing is identifying with Jesus.
Women and the Mission of God
April 23, 2023 • Dr. Carlo Serrano • Genesis 3:15, Genesis 1:26–28
The fight for women's equality is well-documented. The 20th and 21st centuries witnessed an exponential improvement in women's rights globally, from the right to vote to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the allowance for women in combat roles in the military. But what does the Bible say? How does God view the role of women in His mission to save and transform the world?
THE BIG IDEA: Women play a central role in the mission of God.
The Bible
April 16, 2023 • Dr. Carlo Serrano • 2 Timothy 3, Luke 1:1–4, John 1:1, Matthew 1:1, Mark 1:1
All of us are on some quest for truth in discovery to the answer to tough questions. But can we trust the Bible? After all, isn’t it so full of violence and oppression? Isn’t it full of contradictions? What we love about following Jesus is that His truth claims are historically verified, unlike any other ancient truth claim, thanks largely to the event of the resurrection. His resurrection is archaeological and historically verified. Thousands of documents support his life, death, and resurrection.
THE BIG IDEA: We can trust the Bible because we can trust Jesus.
Resurrection
April 9, 2023 • Chris Edmondson • 1 Corinthians 15:1–32
Do unto others. Love is patient, love is kind. Turn the other cheek. It’s easy to appreciate Jesus’ teachings until the Bible writers tell us that he rose from the dead. For some, the idea of a person rising from the dead is so hard to believe that they cherry-pick the teachings and refute the resurrection. In this message, Pastor Chris recounts the truth about Jesus’ life and death that the apostle Paul says is a Hill to Die On.
THE BIG IDEA: If there is no resurrection, we should abandon all things Christian.
Crucifixion
April 7, 2023 • Chris Edmondson • 1 Corinthians 15:1–4, Luke 23:33–34, Isaiah 53, Colossians 2:13–14, 1 Corinthians 11:23–25
Paul wrote about what is the core and center of our faith in 1 Corinthians 15. Tonight—as well as on Sunday morning—we’re going to be looking at the same passage of scripture in which Paul says, “This is the essence—the core of our Christian faith.”
Religion Around A Rock
April 2, 2023 • Chris Edmondson • Matthew 22:33–39, John 13:34–35
A Hill to Die On is used to refer to an issue or belief held to be so important that it is worth fighting for at all costs. Most Christians are known for what they’re against, not what they’re for, and they seem to fight about almost everything. To most Christians, they have hundreds—if not thousands—of hills they would die on. But if everything is important, then nothing is important.
THE BIG IDEA: Whatever you put at the core of your beliefs—include love.
