Messages

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Shawnee."

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Olathe." Christians have always been passionate about justice. But I am afraid for the church of the future. Because more and more, in our polarized and politized society, we are forming into 2 very distinct groups, even within the church. Some, who, often with good intentions, have been swept up by a secular view of justice. Others of us are so afraid of the secular definition of justice, we’ve completely withdrawn from the conversation. We assume, even when someone is talking about biblical justice, that just to bring it up means some secular agenda. Let us not give in to either extreme! Let us hold to biblical justice. That tears down walls. That sets people free. That is compassionate toward the hurting. That can reconcile. And do it with grace toward everyone.

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Leawood." Grace changes everything. This little letter that opens and closes in the grace of Jesus? It changed Philemon. It changed Onesimus. It changed a little house church almost 2,000 years ago. It changed Rome. It changed Britain, the United States. It upended slavery, one of the most ancient and oppressive institutions the world has ever known. It’s changing the sex slave trade. It’s upending the Hindu caste system. It’s still moving. Still changing. Upending the world Right down to you and me. And it continues to confront and challenge a world of evils today, not with violence, or hatred, or coercion. But with love. With fellowship. With koinonia. With Christ.

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Downtown." There are a few letters that the apostle Paul writes to individuals, but we only have one letter preserved where Paul writes an entire letter to someone who is not a pastor of a church. Who was it? It’s a letter so small, you could completely miss it. Some people intentionally ignored it. And yet, there it is. And it changed the world. Join us as we continue to remember our forgotten family of the faith, and so remember who we are called to be today.

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Brookside."

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Shawnee." Peering into Uzziah’s life can teach us a lot about the pitfalls of success. Success can be more dangerous to your soul than failure. While failure can be a fertile ground for destruction, success can be also. Success can lead to pride, and pride is blind. Pride is unaware of the spiritual rot it can grow inside of us. We can often feel that our success is of our own doing, our brilliance or our hard work. In this way, pride forgets God. However, every bit of good in us, comes from God. We need to always remember the giver. Pride can also ignore limits leading us to believe we have no limits leading to our own detriment. Are we aware and embracing the limits God has given us?

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Olathe." "If I’m just successful enough. Good enough. Obedient enough. If I vote the right way or care enough about the right things. If I get enough likes. If I’m popular enough. Attractive enough." On and on and on. We constantly try to plead our case before others. And before God. But that’ll ruin you. Just like it ruined Uzziah. God is not impressed! You cannot be your own mediator, and it is only pride that makes you think you can. Jesus, our priest and king. He takes our leprous hearts and makes us whole. Welcomes us into the very presence of God. With awe and wonder. Breaking us of our pride. Freeing us from our endless strivings. And giving us everything we need for joy.

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Leawood." What God has called you to do on Monday matters. Our work is a vital form of worship. Our primary place of worship is not on Sunday morning, but on Monday morning wherever God has called you to serve him and serve others. And what you are called to do in your work world shapes you and can be used greatly to expand Jesus’ kingdom not only in your workplace, but in the broader kingdom of God.

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Downtown." Luke is clear: the God who encounters Lydia is the same God who encounters us today. He’s alive and well. He’s on the move. Lydia’s story is a vehicle for how we encounter the God who is on the move, and Lydia provides for us a wonderful example of how he moves in us in three different ways.

A message from the series "Forgotten Family - Brookside." God is moving you to live for something more.