Garden City Church

The King and Kingdom are Here

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan began our new series, "Parables of the Kingdom." In the Parable of the Sower Jesus tells a story about a sower, four types of soil, the three soils that do not receive the Gospel, and the one that does, producing a large harvest. But this parable isn't meant to be read as a diagnostic, where we determine which of the four soils we are and then try to make ourselves into the good soil. This is a parable that tells the story of a Sower who is already walking the ground of our lives, sowing the Gospel wherever He goes. We, like Jesus's original audience, are invited to "listen" and "look" with our whole lives, taking in and wrestling with Jesus's teaching, and what it means for how we're supposed to live. If we will draw near to the Sower, if we'll be patient, if we'll persevere, if we'll allow the Gospel to do its work in our lives and hearts over time, our lives just might produce a harvest.

He's Not Done Here Yet

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This Easter, Pastor Dennis Allan reflects on the way that Jesus, in his resurrected body, appears to Mary Magdalene, two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and Thomas. They had seen Jesus had die. They knew his body had been buried. And then, on the third day, in the midst of the fear, confusion, worry, and doubt Jesus appeared to them, moving towards them in relationship, meeting them right where they needed to be met, and inviting them to believe that, just as he'd said he would, he overcame death and the grave. It's a story of profound hope. The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega is everything he'd said he was. And in his resurrection we can trust that, just as he did with the disciples, Jesus will move towards us, invite us to believe in him, and invite him into his world-changing mission. Because Jesus isn't done yet with us and he's not done yet with the world.

When Jesus Doesn't Do What We Want

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan walks through the story of Jesus's final week from the perspective of the crowd who received Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna!" as he entered Jerusalem and, less than a week later, shouted "Crucify Him!" How does one crowd receive Jesus as a king and another crowd condemn Jesus as a criminal? What happened in that one week that moved people from believing Jesus might be the long-awaited Messiah who would sit on David's throne, overthrow Rome, and restore Israel to its rightful place in the geo-political order to thinking He was just another pretender? The Jewish people had been taught be their religious leaders to expect a particular kind of Messiah. They weren't prepared for a king who told them exactly who He was by riding a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace, into the city. When Jesus doesn't do what we want and when He doesn't perform how we expect we can, like the crowd, turn on Him. But, if we lean in and listen as Jesus tells us who He is, we will discover a person who can transform us.

Faithful Presence

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

When Jesus is crucified there is a group of women who position themselves near the Cross and bear witness to Jesus's agonizing death while all the other disciples are in hiding. These women show up at Jesus's tomb, ready to tend to His body, only to become the first witnesses to the resurrection and the first to proclaim the good news to the rest of Jesus's disciples. These faithful women who were almost certainly part of the larger group of disciples who followed Jesus, learned His teachings, and participated in His ministry demonstrate how we can, in the midst of hardship, suffering, and doubt serve as a faithful witness. In liturgical church traditions, Holy Saturday is the day in between Jesus's death and His resurrection. It's a day when no one knows what will happen. Has all hope been lost? Might Jesus somehow come back to life? It's in these in-between, Holy Saturday places where we can show up for one another, see and listen each other, and serve as a faithful presence of God's goodness and faithfulness.

No Friend of Caesar

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan continues our Lent series by talking through a story found in John 18-19. Jesus is brought by the Jewish religious leaders to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor in Jerusalem, in the hopes that Pilate will condemn Jesus to death. The religious establishment doesn't have the authority to execute Jesus on their own, and they're hoping to coerce Pilate into doing their bidding for them. Despite Pilate saying multiple times he finds no reason to condemn Jesus, he still relents, giving the assembled mob exactly what they want. It's a story where we see Pilate, seemingly the most powerful person in the story based on his political position, overlook what is obviously true and good and, instead, participate in injustice. The same temptation Pilate faced is one many Christians face today. If we speak up or act up we might get cast out by people we once considered friends. What are we to do and how are we to be truth tellers in a world that needs people who are both unafraid and courageous?

Grace Pursues Us

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, we trace Peter's story from the moment Jesus first called him while he was fishing in the Sea of Galilee to the moment Jesus restores Peter, after he had denied Jesus three times, over a meal while. In Peter we see a person who is bold and who also makes mistakes. He walks on water, but then sinks. He declares Jesus to be the Son of God, and then rebukes Jesus. And, in his worst moment, Peter does the very thing he promised Jesus he'd never do: deny Him. But then Jesus, in His resurrected form, comes looking for Peter. He searches for Peter, sits with him, and asks him three times, "Do you love me?" And then, Jesus invites Peter back into His mission where Peter will play a pivotal role in the growth and development of the early church. Through Peter's story we see the way that Jesus comes looking for him when Peter was certain he'd disqualified himself, and we're assured that Jesus will pursue us with the same kind of extravagant grace.

Grace Awaits

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

We know how Judas's story ends before it even begins. The first time Matthew introduces Judas in his gospel, he does it by naming him this way: "Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." But what if we slowed down long enough to see Judas as something more than his worst moment? In this first sermon of our Lenten series, Pastor Dennis Allan traces the arc of Judas's life alongside Jesus: chosen, trusted, empowered, and yet somehow unable to let the grace he witnessed up close actually reach him. Like so many of us, Judas's tragedy wasn't that grace was unavailable to him. Judas's tragedy was that he couldn't bring himself to believe it was for him. This Lent, we're invited to stop watching from a safe distance and step into the one thing Judas never could: the scandalous, excessive, awaiting grace of Jesus.

Sabbath as Liberation

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

In Deuteronomy 5, Moses is reminding the Israelites to follow the Law and, in particular, the Ten Commandments. When Moses speaks the command to observe the Sabbath, the reason he gives for observing it is different than the reason God gave to Moses in Exodus. There, the command was connected to the Creation. In Deuteronomy, it's connected to liberation. Moses says, "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." It's an instruction that extends not just to the people hearing Moses, but to their children, their workers, their animals, and even the immigrants residing among them. The Sabbath is for everyone. And until everyone can experience rest unto the LORD, it's only a privilege for some, rather than a gift for all.

Sabbath as Trust

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Why is it so hard for many of us to stop and rest? Sabbath is a good gift that God has given to His people, a gift that Jesus and His disciples embraced, and yet many of us either won't rest or feel like we can't. There's a pervasive thought in American culture: "time is money." It's almost like all of our time needs to be allocated to productive activities, things that earn money or check tasks off our to-do list. Why is it that even the idea of stopping for an hour, for an afternoon, or for a day can produce anxiety in us? This week, Pastor Dennis Allan walks through how making the decision to stop and rest is an act of trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, a declaration that we believe He really is the One who provides for us.

Sabbath as Resistance

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan explores the way that practicing Sabbath is a form of active resistance against dehumanizing systems and structures. We're immersed in a culture that values productivity, efficiency, and seems to reward exhaustion, almost like it's a badge of honor. We're told time is money, encouraged to have side hustles, and implored to always remain engaged. Even in times marked by great evil and injustice, figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer teach us that the spiritual practices, things like prayer, Scripture reading, and Sabbath are necessary. If we refuse to rest, if we refuse to practice God's good gift of rest, we're likely to burn out. Jesus, Himself, affirms the goodness and necessity of the Sabbath, and the pattern of Creation teaches us that all of our labor is meant to be an outgrowth of our rest.

Prayer that Bears Burdens

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan discusses the way prayer is meant to be done in community and how it's supposed to expand outward. Jesus invites His people to come to God and ask for the things they want, to be vulnerable and honest as they express their wills and desires to Him. But prayer that stays privatized and individualistic misses the expansive and communal nature of prayer, where we bear one another into God's presence as a first act of caring love. We might think praying is a passive activity, yet Jesus saw it as integral to a well-lived, faithful live. And, we might think prayer can replace action, but the reality is that prayer actually informs and drives our actions. We are to be a people who pray with and for one another, and in so doing be people who are shaped and formed into people of selfless love.

Prayer Requires Honesty

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis talks through Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He asked God if there was a way to fulfill His mission without dying on the Cross. It's here that we see Jesus practice a radical form of vulnerability and honesty in praying with God. He sweats and begs, telling His Father what He actually wants. Yet, we're trained to perform, even in our conversations with God. We bring our best selves, our most faithful selves, our edited selves to God instead of our raw, honest, broken, doubting, and disoriented selves to God. Psalm 88 is an example of this kind of prayer, a prayer of disorientation. It's a prayer spoken when we're surrounded by darkness, when we're experiencing despair, when everything seems to be falling apart, and it's a prayer that refuses to resolve well or easily. If God is going to transform us, then we need to stop pretending and we need to start being honest.

Prayer is About Relationship

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis begins our new series, "Being With God" by focusing on the way prayer is not about getting God to align with our agenda, but instead prayer is about building a deep, intimate, trusting relationship with God. We can make prayer into something where we ask God for what we want and expect Him to give it to us, or we can think that prayer is what draws God's attention to us. But, God is always paying attention to us, He's always attentive and attuned to us, and He's always desiring deeper relationship with us. Drawing on Howard Thurman's writings about prayer in his book Disciplines of the Spirit, and Jesus's words in John 15 about Him being the vine and us being the branches, we can see that we're already connected to Jesus and prayer is about bringing our desires and will into alignment with God's eschatological vision for our lives, as well as our neighbors, neighborhoods, and cities.

Christmas Eve 2025

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This Christmas Eve, Julia Allan leads Garden City's kids and families through an interactive and conversational lesson about Jesus's arrival and how, through Jesus's birth, the work of inaugurating the Kingdom begins. Christmas isn't just about the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah, it's also about the arrival of a King who will show His people how they're meant to live. This God, who comes in the form of a vulnerable, dependent child will transform everything! Jesus's birth is good news, indeed!

The Song of Justice

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

When the prophets envisioned God's coming redemption, they sang of a world transformed. A world where deserts bloom, the lame leap like deer, and the ransomed return home with everlasting joy. The prophet, Isaiah, paints a picture of creation itself rejoicing at God’s restorative justice, where physical healing and spiritual liberation function as opposite sides of the same coin. Centuries later, Mary echoes this prophetic song when she learns she’ll bear a son who will be the Messiah. She proclaims that God has lifted up the humble, filled the hungry, and scattered the proud from their thrones. Jesus’ arrival isn’t just a spiritual reality. It’s the first move in the inauguration of God’s justice breaking into a broken world where the last become first, the marginalized are brought to the center, and all creation joins in a song of wholeness. The Incarnation is God’s justice song, inviting us to learn its melody and join into its chorus as we await the full restoration of all things that Isaiah prophesied and Mary proclaimed.

The Promise of Peace

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Micah promises that from Bethlehem, a small, forgotten, overlooked village on the edge of the Roman empire, will come a ruler whose greatness is marked not by power but by peace. When Gabriel appears to Mary, Micah’s prophecy begins to unfold: God chooses the humble, not the mighty, to bring His peace to earth. The peace that Jesus embodies, the Prince of Peace that He is, is a divine peace with a subversive nature. The peace of Jesus doesn’t come through conquest or control but through surrender and faith. In Mary’s, “Yes,” the world’s truest peace begins to take shape. Pastor Shaq Hager walks through how we can be people who embody this kind of peace today, even when the place Jesus is leading us is one of uncertainty.

The Waiting Prophet

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

How can we hold onto hope amidst darkness? When the angel appears to Joseph and tells him that the child Mary is carrying, who he is supposed to name Jesus, has been conceived by the Holy Spirit and will forgive people their sins, the world is already being turned upside down. The long-promised Messiah is coming for his people, and in his arrival all the prophetic visions of the Kingdom of God start coming into focus. For example, the prophet Isaiah sees a world where swords are beaten into plowshares and nations no longer train for war. It’s a vision so far beyond human reach that it can only be sustained by a divine hope. Whether we want it to or not, this is where Advent begins: an ache and a longing. We yearn for the world to be made new. Yet, even when things seem dark, God invites His people to live as if the dawn is already breaking in. And then, in Jesus, these prophetic visions of peace and justice become incarnate and dwell alongside us. How can we begin to reorder our lives toward the coming Kingdom and cultivate a courageous hope that shines in the darkness?

Who is this Jesus?

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan concluded our 12-week series on The Sermon on the Mount, focusing on on two verses that describe the crowd's reaction to Jesus' teaching. Matthew reports the crowds were "amazed" because of the "authority" of Jesus' teaching. But, who is Jesus that He can teach such a radical, counter-cultural, and demanding sermon with the expectation that His followers will listen and do what He said? If we don't think rightly about who Jesus is, then we might think His words in the Sermon are little more than some best practices for a good life that we can choose to apply at our discretion. So, who is Jesus? He's God incarnate.

Hearing and Doing

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:45:00 -0400

We all long for lives that can withstand the inevitable storms. We want our relationships to hold under pressure, our faith to stand strong when tested, and convictions to remain when circumstances shift beneath us. But what if the difference between a life that stands and one that collapses has nothing to do with how impressive we appear on the outside, and everything to do with whether we've done the hard, hidden work of building on solid ground? In this sermon, Julia Allan challenges us to move beyond merely listening to Jesus's teachings and actually living them, revealing that the Sermon on the Mount isn't meant to be admired from a distance but enacted in our everyday choices. The question isn't whether we respect Jesus's words or find them inspiring, but whether we're willing to do the costly, countercultural work of actually following them.

The Path is Narrow

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Buckner explores Jesus' teaching about the narrow path of discipleship and the danger of false teachers (Matthew 7:13-23 NIV). Drawing on the challenging imagery of wolves in sheep's clothing and trees bearing good or bad fruit, he examines what it means to pursue whole-person righteousness—not just external behavior, but internal transformation of heart and mind. The narrow path requires daily obedience to God's kingdom values even when the world calls us foolish, and demands discernment about who we allow to influence our spiritual journey. Jesus warns that miracles and religious activity aren't proof of genuine faith; rather, we must examine the fruit of people's lives—their character, humility, and whether they bring God's shalom or sow division and fear.

Oh Really?

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dr. Rafael Rodriguez, Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, talked about the way Jesus's instructions to Ask, Seek, and Knock through prayer can feel really challenging. We can ask, we can seek, and we can knock, yet it oftentimes feels like God isn't hearing or just isn't responding. So, what do we do while we ask and wait? Well, Jesus says that we should go and do for others what we'd like to have done to us. That while we wait for God to respond, maybe we can be the answer to someone else's prayers.

Do Not Worry

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Julia Allan walks through Matthew 6:25–34, where Jesus commands His disciples, “Do not worry.” These words aren't a shallow call to ignore anxiety or poverty, but an invitation to freedom from the illusion that our worth or security depends on what we produce, earn, or control. The roots of our anxiety can be traced back to Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve first doubted God’s sufficiency and began trying to provide for themselves. Jesus’ words, though, call His followers to return to trust in God’s provision and to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness. Instead of worrying, Jesus says we should seek first the Kingdom, where resources are stewarded for the common good: those who have enough share with those who lack, embodying an economy of abundance rather than scarcity. Ultimately, Jesus's words “do not worry” are a radical invitation to open-handed living—receiving what we need and releasing what we don’t.

Eye of the Heart

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager walks through Matthew 6:19-24, a portion of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus warns His disciples not to store up treasures for themselves. Because, where our treasure is, our hearts follow. Jesus challenges us to examine what we truly value—what we love, pursue, and depend upon. He warns that the pursuit of wealth can distort our vision and divide our loyalties. Kingdom people are marked by a different economy— one defined by generosity, simplicity, and trust. We cannot serve both God and Mammon. Our lives must reflect the values of the Kingdom we belong to.

Love Your Enemies

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Jesus' command to love your enemies has fallen into disfavor. Christians who align with progressive political ideals and Christians who identify with conservative political goals have come, in many cases, to hate their political opponents and consider that hatred righteous. After all, if we view our political opponents as responsible for the denigration and degradation of people's dignity, harming vulnerable people or people groups, or if they're to blame for the way we think society is crumbling, then opposing them with everything might just be righteous and faithful. This week, Dennis Allan walks through Jesus' command to "love your enemies," making the case that to love one's enemies is to will their good, or seek their flourishing, while refusing to hate them. We don't embody the Kingdom by embracing hate. So, how can Christians be people who demonstrate to our neighbors and our country that there's another way, a Kingdom way, that's possible.

Non-violent Truth-tellers

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan focuses on what it means for Jesus' people to be t non-violent people who tell the truth. In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus outlines why His people shouldn't make "oaths," but instead simply allow their "yes" to mean "yes" and their "no" to mean "no." Citizens of the Kingdom should be truth-tellers, people who can be counted on in their families, workplaces, relationships, and neighborhoods. Then, in v. 38-42 Jesus interrogates the prevalent idea that His people should participate in retaliatory violence. Jesus' answer is a profound, "No." When we're hurt or harmed, while it might look and feel foolish, we're not to retaliate. We don't meet evil with more evil. Instead, we're to be peacemakers who lay bare evil, injustice, and brutality through a radical form of non-retaliation. And, as we practice bring non-violent truth tellers, we bear witness to a different way of living and a different kind of Kingdom.

The State of Our Hearts

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Buckner explores Jesus' words on murder and lust in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-30 NIV). While it can seem like Jesus might be talking about two separate moral issues, He's actually describing one: the way we view, think about, and value other people. It's a low bar for Jesus' people to not kill other people or to commit adultery. Because, Jesus isn't only interested in external behavior, but internal transformation. Humans are capable of hating people that they don't kill, or lustfully desiring another people that they don't commit adultery with. For Jesus, Kingdom people value other human beings, seeing them as image bearers whose lives are sacred. Jesus' followers are to uphold people's dignity and fight against hatred and objectification.

Fulfilling the Law

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What did Jesus mean when He said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven"? (Matthew 5:20 NIV). Does this really mean we have to keep all the laws the Pharisees implemented in order to ensure Jewish righteousness before God? Or, that we're supposed to become legalists? This week, Benjamin Chua walks through a personal story that illustrates what Jesus really meant when He spoke these words to His disciples and what they mean for us today.

Salt and Light

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager continues our series on the Sermon on the Mount by focusing on the way in which Jesus informs His disciples that they're salt and light in the world. The implication for the disciples is clear. Their lives are to be distinct from the prevailing culture. They're not to take on the ethics or values of the Roman Empire, but the Kingdom of God. Their lives are to be markers, or signposts, of the Kingdom. And, to do this, to be distinctive in a way that the disciples and the earliest Christian communities can influence the broader culture is to remain in Jesus, to learn His teachings, and to do what He did. Today, in our polarized world, Jesus' invitation remains. Jesus' followers are to be salt and light, ambassadors of the Kingdom, living in ways that demonstrate love, mercy, justice, and reconciliation.

The Beatitudes

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, we started a new twelve week series on the Sermon on the Mount. Dennis Allan talked through Matthew 4:23-5:12 (NIV), describing the way Jesus' sermon is an announcement of the Gospel, the good news that a new King is being enthroned and a new Kingdom is being inaugurated. Jesus' teaching isn't a set of lofty ideals to aspire to, but a specific guide to how He expects His people to live in His Kingdom. That Kingdom is comprised of people from different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious, and educational backgrounds. It's a Kingdom where the lowly, overlooked, marginalized, forgotten, and persecuted are elevated to equal standing with the wealthy, powerful, and influential. The Beatitudes are Jesus' invitation to see people the way He does, and to begin making sense of what life in His Kingdom looks like.

Formed in the Dark

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager concludes the Spiritual Formation series by talking through the intersection of our formation into Christlikeness and suffering. We can approach our formation thinking it's always up and to the right, that we're always moving from weakness to strength and from failure to victory. Yet, it's in those places where we experience suffering that our theology oftentimes fails and we're left with nothing more than ourselves and Jesus. It's in these places that the depth and intimacy of our relationship with Him is what carries us through. And, it's in these seasons of darkness that we're shaped and formed, not in spite of our suffering, but through it.

Doing What Jesus Did

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan talked through Jesus as the prototype for what it means to live a Christian life in the world today. We can look to Jesus and see the way He lived, the people He built relationships with, the power structures that He challenged, and the ways that He taught and see a pattern for what our lives are supposed to look like today. One of the most powerful ways we can model Jesus' life is through a radical kind of hospitality, where we invite people to our table and build friendships with them that span difference. We can proclaim the Gospel through our lives to our neighbors and neighborhoods, all the while looking to Jesus as our prototype.

Becoming Like Jesus Together

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan talked through how we must learn Jesus' teachings if we are to become like Him and take on His character and ways. The journey of spiritual formation requires us to be reshaped and reformed until we resemble Jesus in every aspect of our lives—our thoughts, desires, choices, actions, and affections. If we're to be people whose lives point to the Kingdom while we live inside the American empire, and if the church is to be an outpost of the Kingdom in our neighborhoods, then we need to know Jesus' teaching. Jesus possess the words of eternal life. Everything we need and everything we need to know is found in HIm. To be Jesus' representatives, we must know, embody, and live out His Kingdom teaching, otherwise we won't know how to love mercy, do justice, or walk humbly with God.

Belonging to Jesus and His People

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager talks through how spiritual formation begins with attachment. We do not become like Jesus through willpower, performance, or isolation—we are formed through relational nearness: to Jesus, and to the people He places around us. Belonging is not about achieving acceptance but receiving it, and letting that belonging rewire our sense of identity. Christian formation happens most powerfully through proximity and trust—embodied through practices like presence, confession, listening, and shared rhythms. True formation cannot happen apart from the vine—or apart from the body.

We're All Being Formed

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan starts our new series on Spiritual Formation by discussing the ways each and every one of us is being shaped and formed every day. We tend not to notice, or maybe even convince ourselves that we can listen to whatever we want, read whatever we want, follow whomever we want, and not have it impact us in any way. But, the truth is everything we give our attention to changes who we are, either drawing us closer to Jesus or leading us away from Him. The question isn't are we being formed, but rather into what and by what. If we're going to be people who are becoming increasingly like Jesus (and our communities and world need us to), then we need to pay attention to Him more than anyone and anything else.

The Great Commission

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In the final week of our series, Faithful Exiles, Dennis Allan walks through Jesus' words to His closest followers to go and make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching every person who places their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Jesus is able to send His followers (and us) onto this mission because all authority in heaven and earth belongs to Him, alone. It's not a mission any one of us gets to opt out of. In fact, making students and apprentices of Jesus is one of the primary ways we seek the well-being of our neighbors and neighborhoods. As faithful exiles living within the American empire we go on Jesus' mission as ambassadors of the future and coming Kingdom.

Rest, Rise, and Receive

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Julia Allan walks through Daniel 12 focusing on the promised inheritance Daniel, and each of us will receive, through our faithful perseverance. In the midst of darkness, struggle, suffering, and injustice we can look ahead to the promise we each have in Jesus—one day we will enter into an eternal rest, where we will rise and receive our place as co-rulers alongside Jesus. This hope is meant to give strength and courage to press on in the midst of hardship. We keep going, doing the good works that have been set before us. What greater good – what greater glory – what greater inheritance could we ever receive than to live and breathe and remain in the presence of Jesus now and forever?

Faithful Repentance

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Bucker walks through Daniel 9, where we see a picture of what faithful repentance can look like for exiles living in a broken world. Daniel confesses not just his own sins, but the sins of his people — acknowledging the communal and systemic nature of sin. In a culture obsessed with personal autonomy and private spirituality, this prayer reminds us that faithfulness to God requires honesty about both individual and corporate failure. Jesus Himself taught His followers to pray “Forgive us” — because we belong to one another. True repentance doesn’t lead to shame — it leads to restoration, renewal, and hope in God’s mercy. Faithful exiles are not marked by moral superiority, but by deep humility and courageous honesty before God.

Hope in Exile

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan talked through Daniel 7, the beginning of the apocalyptic section of the book. There, Daniel tells about a vision that included four beasts, ten horns, the Ancient of Days, and the Son of Man. It's a story that provided hope to the Israelites in exile under the Babylonian and then Persian empires that these evil and unjust empires would be judged and rendered powerless. It's a story that still provides hope today. We don't have to wonder who the Son of Man is, as Daniel's original audience did. We know the Son of Man is Jesus and we know that right now He is reigning at the right hand of God. We can trust in the hope that despite the injustice, oppression, and darkness we see in the world today, all of it will one day be judged and rendered powerless. Jesus has already come and He's already won.

Faithful (civil) Disobedience

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

What should followers of Jesus do when the government enacts laws that are unjust? In this sermon on Daniel 6, Dennis Allan explores how civil disobedience—like Daniel’s refusal to obey the king’s edict—is not rebellion for rebellion’s sake, but courageous loyalty to God and love for neighbor. Drawing insight from the Civil Rights legacy of John Lewis, we consider what faithful resistance looks like today when laws harm the vulnerable. If the state demands injustice, Christians are called not to comply but to obey God, even when it costs us.

Faithful Hope

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Daniel 5 is a warning to every empire: God sees pride, injustice, and oppression—and He will act. This week, Pastor Shaq Hager demonstrates how Belshazzar’s downfall shows that no ruler is beyond accountability. For those in exile, this is both judgment and hope: God hasn’t forgotten. Our confidence isn’t in empire’s reform, but in God’s justice and unshakable Kingdom. Biblical hope is never naive—it’s grounded in the God who sees and remembers.

Even When He Doesn't

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The story of Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace is oftentimes told as a story about God's faithfulness and His ability to rescue and save His people, and it is definitely that. It's also a story about three people who choose fidelity and allegiance to Jesus in the face of death, even if God doesn't save them. They believe God can save them, but that isn't why they refuse to bow and risk being thrown into the fire. They risk their lives and refuse to bow to the king's golden idol because their love for God runs so deep that they'd never compromise their faith or identity, even to avoid death. Are we capable of making the same decision today? Can we become people who refuse to bow down to false idols, even when American culture is filled with them? The particular idols that tempt us make alluring promises, and deliver on many of them, yet still lead to destruction. So, how can we become people who refuse to bow down to anyone or anything other than God?

Faithful Allegiance

Sun, 25 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager explores Daniel 2 and the restless night of King Nebuchadnezzar—a ruler with power, but no peace. As Babylon’s systems of wisdom fail under pressure, Daniel emerges with a Spirit-formed response grounded in humility, not fear. Pastor Shaq invites us to confront the illusions of human control, embrace the wisdom that comes only from God, and renew our allegiance to the Kingdom that cannot be shaken. In a world shaped by urgency, pride, and power, what does it look like to respond with presence, worship, and faithful allegiance to Christ?

Sovereignty and Redemption

Sun, 18 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In Daniel 1 God delivers His people into Nebuchadnezzar's hands, leading to their seventy year exile in Babylon. It's a strange place for God to deliver His people, especially since God's sovereign work is always aimed towards the redemption of His people. Why then would God lead His people into exile in a godless, idolatrous, corrupt, and evil nation? It's there that Daniel and three of his closest friends - Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah demonstrate that it's possible to live in Babylon, serve in the king's court, and yet belong to Yahweh, alone. Today, every Christian, no matter where they find themselves, are living in exile. And we, too, can live inside foreign empires, serve in various spaces, and still belong to God, alone. But how? What does this kind of faithfulness look like and require of us? Daniel shows us the way.

The Hope of Exile

Thu, 15 May 2025 08:00:00 -0400

This week, Benjamin Chua discusses what it means to live as exiles in a foreign empire. The Israelites found themselves defeated and taken captive into Babylon, where the prophet, Jeremiah, instructed them to plant their lives and seek the well-being of their neighbors. But, these neighbors have been enemies to Israel. They worship false and foreign gods and practice all kinds of idolatry. Why wouldn't Jeremiah instruct the Israelites to build their own communities within Babylon and to only care for one another? Why would God want His people, even in the midst of a foreign land and a godless people, to care for their neighbors as they c are for themselves? Especially when it's going to be filled with hardship, challenge, and the ever present frustration of knowing they're exiles. What does it mean for God's people, whether in the Old Testament or today, to live as a hopeful presence inside an empire that is not their true home?

Elder Nomination Process

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week we returned to our Prophets of the Kingdom series. It's time for our church to begin nominating people from within the church to take on the role of elder and join Garden City's spiritual leadership team. Pastor Dennis walked through a quick biblical theology of eldership starting in Exodus and ending in 1 Peter, and affirmed the inclusion and empowering of women to be elders. We then walked through the process we'll adhere to as a church community over the coming weeks as we seek to discern together the people who will become Serving Elders.

Here are links to the two full-length sermons we taught several weeks ago outlining a robust biblical theology of eldership and women as co-equal leaders in the church.

Shepherds of Justice

Equal and Empowered for Leadership

Living the Resurrection

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Easter isn’t just about what happened to Jesus—it’s about what’s possible for us. This Easter, Pastor Dennis explores how resurrection invites us to remember who we are, rise to new life, and live like God’s Kingdom is breaking in right now. The empty tomb means death doesn’t get the final word—and neither do fear, shame, or injustice. We’re called to be resurrection people who partner with God in His work to repair, restore, and rebuild what's broken, carrying hope into a world that desperately needs it. We must remember, so we can live resurrection lives with Jesus, for the sake of our neighbors and neighborhoods.

Hosanna!

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

It's Palm Sunday and Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. The people are ready to inaugurate Him as Israel's conquering King, one who will overthrow Rome's oppressive rule, liberating them from their godless occupier. But, as Pastor Shaq Hager prophetically communicates, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, sees the city, and weeps. He knows that the thing the people believe will bring them peace — political power, state violence, and religious dominance — won't actually set them free. Pilate is the one who enters the city on a warhorse, accompanied by the Roman military, declaring His presence while inspiring fear. Jesus enters on a donkey, a symbol of peace, accompanied by a crowd of worshippers shouting "Hosanna!" Palm Sunday is a protest against the powers that be, a declaration that they don't get the last word. Power, violence, and dominance are not the tools of the Kingdom. Peace, grace, mercy, righteousness, justice, forgiveness, and self-giving love are.

True Justice

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In the fifth week of our Lent series, Carrie Buckner talks about justice as a natural outgrowth of fasting, repentance, confession, and renewal. This week, we talked about the biblical call to justice and righteousness, emphasizing restorative justice, which involves uplifting the oppressed and vulnerable. Justice can be practiced on individual, community, and societal levels, encouraging empathy, service, and advocacy. Carrie also acknowledges the personal and societal challenges related to justice and offers practical steps for individuals to engage in justice work.

True Renewal

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan walks through the story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well and how this woman's interaction with Jesus leads to her renewal. In and through Jesus her longings, desires, will, actions, and thoughts are made new. This story is the kind of story available to every person who professes faith in Jesus, yet so many Christians accept Jesus as their Savior and then never experience meaningful change or transformation in their lives. Why is it so hard for us to change? What do we need to do in order to have our lives reshaped and reformed into the image and likeness of Jesus? We need to make the choice to embrace a costly kind of discipleship that requires us to spend time with Jesus, become like Him, and do we He did.

True Confession

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Confession is more than words - it’s about the posture of our hearts. In this sermon, Julia Allan walks through a story in Luke where a woman with a troubled past pours out her love at Jesus’ feet. Through her actions, we see that true confession brings freedom, not condemnation, and that forgiveness leads to extravagant love. This message invites us to move past shame and embrace the ongoing grace of Jesus. When we come humbly before Him, we are forgiven -and we continue to be forgiven.

*This sermon features the song "Malibu" by Mumford & Sons, which can be listened to on YouTube.

True Repentance

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan explores the transformative power of repentance through the lens of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Repentance can often feel risky - what if we fail again? What if we're met with rejection? But Jesus teaches us that true repentance isn't about fear or shame, but about returning over and over to a Father whose grace is more outrageous than our sin and who's already waiting for us to come home to Him. Repentance is both beautiful and challenging, but because of the Father's character we can trust that our remarkable hope for forgiveness is always settled with an embrace.

True Fasting

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager begins our Lent series by talking through Isaiah 58 and the kind of fast that God desires. Many of us have been taught to engage the spiritual practice of fasting for the purpose of hearing God's voice or seeking an answer to prayer. Yet, the kind of fast God desires for His people is a fast that draws them deeper into His own heart and His own way of living and being in the world. When we fast we can be shaped into people who live God's mercy, compassion, and justice. We can be formed into people who are healers and prophets, who bind our neighbors' wounds. What if we started thinking about fasting as a practice with communal rather than only individual implications.

*This sermon includes the song "Isaiah 58" by Urban Doxology featuring Amena Brown.

Equal and Empowered for Leadership

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan demonstrates how, from Genesis to the early church, Scripture reveals that God designed women as co-equal partners in His mission, and Jesus’ ministry—far from restricting them—empowered and affirmed their leadership, calling us to do the same today. But what do we do with Paul’s so-called “problem passages”? In this episode, we examine the biblical case for women in leadership, explore how God, ancient Israel, Jesus, and the early church empowered women, and unpack what Paul was really saying in 1 Timothy 2. If you’ve ever wrestled with this topic, this conversation will challenge, clarify, and encourage you to rethink how we interpret Scripture faithfully.

Shepherds of Justice

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we dive into the biblical and practical theology of elders, tracing their origins from ancient Near Eastern culture through the Old and New Testaments. The sermon highlights how God infused the culturally inherited role of elder with divine purpose, shaping it into a Spirit-empowered, justice-seeking, and servant-hearted role. We explore how the early church redeemed the role of elder from corruption, restoring it to reflect Jesus’ character—marked by humility, integrity, and servant leadership. This foundational teaching sets the stage for next week’s conversation on the inclusion of women as co-equal leaders in the church.

Unshakeable Courage

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0400

When life feels unstable and everything around us is shaking, where do we find the courage to stand firm? Drawing from Hebrews 12, this sermon explores the contrast between Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion, reminding us that our hope is in God’s unshakable kingdom. This week, Carrie Buckner shares the true story of a plane crash and it's survivors and, through that story, we'll see how faith and resilience shape our response to life's hardest moments. In the face of fear and uncertainty, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus and walk forward with unshakable courage.

Developing Endurance

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Julia Allan walks through Hebrews 12:1-11 and discusses how we build perseverance. In fact, if we become people who consistently choose the path of least resistance, then we'll never become people who know how to endure hardship, struggle, frustration, or obstacles. We'll be people who, when things start to get tough and when it gets hard to keep believing, walk away from Jesus. But, the witness of the early church is that even when faced with very real threats of persecution, fidelity to Jesus is worth it because Jesus, Himself, is better than anything in this world. We need to be people - especially in a time such as this - who choose the narrow way of Jesus, and who choose that harder way of confronting and opposing evil and injustice with courage, conviction, and clarity. We must not be path of least resistance people.

Draw Near to Jesus

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager talks through Hebrews 10:19-25, focusing on how difficult it can be for us to take hold of the new things Jesus wants to do in the world and in our lives because we keep trying to hold on to old ways of following Jesus. But, these old ways of following Jesus were less about Jesus and more about maintaining safety, security, and stability. In our world today, many people are trusting a political project - whether that's conservatism or progressivism - more than Jesus, Himself. The question becomes, who do we want to be individually and corporately? Let's be people who courageously trust in Jesus and follow Him, alone.

Kingdom or Empire?

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The people who first read Hebrews were women and men who likely comprised a house church in ancient Rome. Years prior, the entire Christian community had been expelled from Rome. Now, they live in the city subject to ridicule, threats, imprisonment, and poverty. Every day they're faced with the question, "Do you want Jesus and His Kingdom or a comfortable life in the empire?" We're asked a similar question every day as Kingdom citizens living within America. The lie inherent in some forms of American Christianity today is that we can have both. But, the experience of the early church demonstrates we cannot conform our faith in Jesus to the empire and still take hold of the Kingdom. So, what do we do when we're faced with this choice? The author of Hebrews encourages us to lift our eyes to heaven and remember God's promises. This week, Pastor Dennis Allan walks through Hebrews 8:7-13 and offers a prophetic sermon that speaks to Christians seeking to faithfully follow Jesus in America today.

Prayer is our Anchor

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Jesus is our great high priest who sits at God's right hand, who understands our weaknesses and frailties, who bears the scars of His own crucifixion in His body, and because of all this we can approach God's throne in prayer with confidence that we will be met with grace and mercy and receive the help we need. That's the promise of Hebrews 4:14-16. Pastor Dennis Allan walks through how the original audience of the letter would've been encouraged to know that despite all the accusations, threats, uncertainty, and insecurity they faced, they had a God who understood what they were enduring and wanted to help them. Through Jesus we have received the gift of being able to approach God's throne through prayer and know we'll be received, helped, and cared for no matter what our need might be.

We Need Community

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager guides us through Hebrews 3. There, the author of Hebrews reminds their audience to hold fast to their faith in Jesus, even in moments of uncertainty and doubt. Doubting Jesus isn't sinful. It's not a sign that our faith is weak. Thomas doubted and Jesus didn't scold him. Instead, Jesus showed Thomas His wounds, providing to Thomas the evidence he needed. For many of us life can feel overwhelming and it's easy to wonder if Jesus is real and if He'll show up for us. In these times, unbelief can creep in, leaving us wondering if we can trust God with our struggles. But Pastor Shaq encouraged us to remember that Jesus, our faithful High Priest, understands our pain and walks with us through it. And, when faith is hard to find, we're meant to rely on one another as we encourage and build each other up.

Jesus Alone

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan kicks-off our new series, Hold Fast. It's the new year and so many things are shifting and changing around us. A new president will soon be inaugurated, there are wars raging across the world, and in our own personal lives many of us are welcoming new babies, changing jobs, dealing with health issues, and walking through difficult seasons with parents, siblings, grandchildren, and friends. In the midst of all this, we're still trying to go to work, pay our bills, and maintain healthy relationships. As Jesus once said, the cares of this world loom large. So, how can we hold fast to Jesus when things feel unsteady and uncertain, and we feel anxious and fearful? The author of Hebrews starts their letter by focusing on Jesus. Because, when things are swirling all around us what we most need to do is fix our eyes on Jesus alone.

Our King has Arrived

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This Christmas Eve, Julia talks with the kids about the way God arrives into our world as a baby, born to simple parents in the middle of nowhere. And, not only that, but the first people God told about this baby were a bunch of nobody shepherds. But in His arrival, God made clear that He sees us, knows us, and loves us. That He will come for us and rescue us.

Pastor Dennis, then, talks about the prophet Isaiah's foretelling of Jesus' arrival. How the prophet speaks of a coming hope, a rescuing power, who will turn darkness to light, war to peace, and corruption to justice. In Jesus, God's great reversal begins where the mighty are brought low and the low are lifted high. No matter how we find ourselves this Christmas, Jesus has come for us.

Love

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq discusses the Advent theme of love. Mary's Magnifcat is a call to every person who has been overlooked, margianlized, exploited, oppressed, or cast aside that the Messiah is coming. He will scatter the proud, bring down rulers from their thrones, lift up the humble, fill the hungry, send away the rich, and extend mercy to all who seek it. In Jesus' arrival, God's children will be welcomed home. They'll find unexpected community, where they'll experience God's love and care.

Joy

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Buckner continues our Advent series. The crowds are coming to John at the Jordan asking to be baptized. He warns the crowds to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and when asked what they must do John replies by instructing them to do the work of justice. He tells them to set right things that have been made wrong. In essence, he foreshadows in Jesus' arrival the Year of Jubilee. God, in and through Jesus will deal with the oppressor, rescue the lame, and gather the exiles. He'll bring joy to those who mourn. This is also a vulnerable space for many people as joy can sometimes be difficult to experience, especially in the lead up to Christmas. Carrie demonstrates how Jesus meets us right where we are and loves us.

Hope

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Nick Ventresca, pastor of The Barn Community Church in Doylestown, PA visited to talk through the hope we can find and revel in through the Advent season. We talked through one of Jeremiah's prophecies to God's people - that one day hope would break-in to their world and deliver them from oppression. It's a prophecy that reminds us hope is hard won and fought for. It comes to us and for us in seasons that are challenging, difficult, dark, and troublesome. Yet, the promise is real and it's for everyone - God is coming for His people.

Lament and the act of trusting God

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

We don't lament enough. When people hurt us, when we experience distress, when we feel insecure or vulnerable, when we've been hurt, wounded, or discarded, when we experience abandonment, when we feel like we're surrounded by evil and see or experience oppression or exploitation, we're invited to turn to God and trust Him to do what only He can and should do. But, lament is not a practice we frequently engage. Instead, we oftentimes try to push through and solve whatever problem we're facing in our own strength and wisdom. But, Psalm 120, the first of the Psalms of Ascent, provides a framework for how we can lament in the face of difficult, frustrating, and trying times. We can turn to God, name our complaint, ask God to intervene, and choose to trust Him.

We do the work of repair and renewal

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The Presidential election was this past Tuesday. It's true the election of Donald Trump as President for the second time will shape the context in which individual Christians and the church are to live out Jesus' mission in meaningful, tangible ways. Yet, the church's mission remains the same. The person who wields Presidential power doesn't have power over Jesus or the work Jesus' people do. This week, Pastor Dennis talked about how, through our homes and in our neighborhoods, we're still to build active Kingdom outposts that take on Jesus' work of reconciliation, repair, and renewal. It's work that is inefficient, slow, and oftentimes foolish, where sometimes only one good deed out of every thousand seems to make an impact. Yet, the slow work of repair and renewal is ours to do, day after day, week after week, year after year, until we return home to Jesus.

Jesus is the hope of the world, not America

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan talks through the ways Jesus' "city on a hill" language has been co-opted by American political leaders, both Democrats and Republicans, to ascribe to America a divinely mandated role in the world similar to Old Testament Israel. But, Jesus wasn't talking about Israel, and he certainly wasn't talking about any modern nation-state, including America. He was talking to His closest followers, the disciples, about their individual and communal lives. He was talking about how they were to live out their faith in a way that every person could see. He was inviting them to live distinctive, counter-cultural, revolutionary lives rooted in the Kingdom's subversive ethics outlined in the Sermon on the Mount. We must never ascribe to America (or its political leaders) divine mandate Jesus never gave to it. Instead, it's the church who is now supposed to be like a "city on a hill" for all the world to see because Jesus is the hope of the world, not America.

We value life at every moment

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week Julia Allan walks us through why, as citizens of the Kingdom, we are to develop and hold a consistent ethic of life. This means we're invited by Jesus to value life at every moment and in every context. And it's a reminder that the value we place on every human life is too big, too robust, and too expansive to be contained within a political party or represented by a political leader. It's also a challenge to evaluate the effectiveness of our public witness through a different lens. We shouldn't only be thinking about the intent of our public and political actions, but also the fruit. If in an attempt to preserve vulnerable life we support, advocate for, or enact policies that increase death rates, then maybe those policies should be revisited and reimagined. Because Jesus valued every life, all of the time.

We see and uplift the vulnerable

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager talks through the story of God's people beginning in Genesis, through the prophets, and into the New Testament to chart a biblical theology of seeing, caring for, and uplifting the vulnerable. To be people of the Kingdom, we must take the work of justice seriously, especially for the marginalized and oppressed. American society, more often than not, exploits the vulnerable and our political system offers promises, but rarely delivers. As followers of Jesus, we're not supposed to look to or wait on the political system to take up the work of justice. It's our work to do. It's Gospel work. It's Kingdom work. To become the church Jesus intended, we must reclaim Israel's ethic for caring for those in need and, to do so, we must take on the posture of being poor in spirit.

We love God, not Mamon

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

We're not supposed to be lovers of money, and we are supposed to be generous. Oftentimes, this is where teaching on what financial stewardship means for citizens of the Kingdom. But, as Benjamin Chua talks through this week, Jesus has much more in mind in Luke 16. Jesus says people of the Kingdom can't serve God and Mamon. If Jesus was simply saying we can't be lovers of both God and money, He'd have said that plainly. Instead, He intentionally used the word Mamon, because Mamon was understood by Jesus' original audience as a "power" or "force." In other words, when we serve Mamon, we participate in idolatry. And, every day we uncritically participate in the Western financial system, we participate in and prop up a structure that trusts and idol to meet our financial needs. So, what does this mean for us as people of the Kingdom? What does it mean for how we think about our financial resource or even our 401K? We cannot serve both God and Mamon.

We are prophets to the empire, not chaplains

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Dennis Allan continued our series by exploring what it means for followers of Jesus and the church to cultivate a prophetic voice in today's culture. In the Hebrerw Scriptures prophets functioned as God's spokespeople, speaking God's words and communicating God's will to God's people. In the Gospels we see Jesus function in a prophetic role by speaking God's words, living as God's Word, communicating God's will, and foretelling the future. And now, in our post-Pentecost world, every person is empowered by the Spirit to call God's people back to covenant faithfulness, remind God's people of their true citizenship in the Kingdom, prompt God's people to return to right relationship with their King, and to declare to God's people, the powers, and the powerful that the Kingdom is at hand. And, Jesus' invitation is to take up this task even if it means sacrificing our reputations, finances, security, safety, or even our very lives. Because our neighbors and the world are searching for Jesus, and we don't find Him inside a politcal party or by electing a particular candidate.

Baptism is the Christian’s Pledge of Allegiance

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Today, we celebrated as one, extended family dedicated four children and seven people were baptized. Which is why this week's conversation, lead by Dennis Allan, is more a sermonette focused on baptism as the Christian's pledge of allegiance. Baptism is a choice we make where we are naturalized into a new way of living and being, and where we pledge ultimate allegiance to King Jesus. When we're baptized we join into what the apostle Paul refers to as a “new humanity.” According to Paul, in this “new humanity” there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female, neither slave nor free. These groups of people who had intentionally been separated from one another were now being joined together through Jesus. In baptism everything we are is subordinated to Jesus. Our identity. Our mission. Our way of living and being. Our financial resources. Our loves. Our affections. Our desires. Everything is now submitted to Jesus, because He is our King, and we are His Kingdom people.

We are Supposed to be Political

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

We are supposed to be political, just not in the ways we think. We tend to think the primary vehicle for our political expression are political parties and elections. But, if we're citizens of the Kingdom living in America as exiles, then shouldn't the church by our primary vechicle for our political expression? The New Testament authors used the word "ekklesia" to describe the church, a word that carried clear political overtones. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, outlines how to live as Kingdom citizens within an empire. We don't overpower and crush our enemies, but instead love them and sacrifice for them. We don't use our money to acquire more cultural power, but to care for the under-resourced. We don't create stories to gain attention, but instead tell the truth and practice integrity. This is how the church develops and lives out an alternative political ethic that subverts the powers of the empire and proclaims the hope of Jesus to the world.

We Live as Exiles

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Benjamin Chua continues our series, "People of the Kingdom." If we are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God, then the country we find ourselves in is not our true home. As citizens of the Kingdom we live in America as exiles, not dissimilar from the Israelites who were exiles in Babylon or how the early church identified as exiles within the Roman Empire. We are foreigners and strangers on earth. And yet, as Christians we've sought to make our home in America by adopting a Christianed version of the American Dream and claiming it as God's promise to us. So, if we're exiles, what does that mean? How are we supposed to live here and now if we're active outposts of the Kingdom? If we can live out Jesus' words as Kingdom-minded exiles distinct from American culture we'll get to watch God's rule and reign spread all across our neighborhoods, cities, and country.

We are Citizens of a Kingdom

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, we start a new series titled, "People of the Kingdom." Over the next eight weeks we'll explore the idea that the church in America's first political task is to become the church Jesus intended. And that starts by recovering our true citizenship. As the people of God we are citizens of the Kingdom, first and foremost. Only secondarily are we citizens of the country we live in. Our first and primary allegiance is to Jesus and His Kingdom. Our ways of living and being are to be shaped exclusively by the Kingdom, yet many of us have been profoundly formed by the empire we live within. How do we live as citizens of the Kingdom and as an active outpost of the Kingdom in the places we find ourselves today? It all starts in Philippians when Paul reminds the women and men in Philippi that their citizenship has its roots in a heavenly commonwealth.

Junia, the Apostle

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Shaq Hager introduces us to Junia, an apostle, who helped lead and build the early church. Junia's status as an apostle, however, has been questioned. From approximately the 13th centurty until about 1980 Bible translators added an "s" to Junia's name, making it Junias, which was a male name. Yet, early Christian writers like John Chrysostom make it clear Junia is a woman, and Origen even states that Junia was one of the 70 who were also called apostles. Paul describes Junia as a person who was imprisoned and "in chains" for the Gospel. In Junia, we have an example of a courageous woman who lived into her gifts as an apostle and helped advance the Gospel and build the early church.

Priscilla, the Ministry Leader

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Bucker walks through Priscilla's story. Paul identifies Priscilla as a co-laborer in the ministry of proclaiming and living out the Gospel. He even identifies her and her husband, Aquila, as having protected his life and saving the early church, ensuring it was able to thrive and flourish. There's even a story about Priscilla taking aside a young, charismatic, and gifted teacher named Apollos, and identifying some of his theological weaknesses and teaching him. Priscilla being a woman was not a hindrance for Paul or God. She was living out the Kingdom of Heaven on earth in her leadership and teaching, and she was performing her role in the body of Christ for which God had equipped her.

Phoebe, Carrier of the Gospel Message

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week we start a three week series focused on women leaders in the early church, and what their lives and ministries can teach the church today about following Jesus. Phoebe was entrusted by Paul with carrying, arguably, Paul's most theologically substantive letter. Not only was she expected to deliver Paul's letter to the Romans, but she was also expected to teach and discuss it with the church in Rome to ensure they understood it. In a sense, she was a physical representation of Paul's teaching and ministry for the Roman Christians. She was a servant-leader, a protector, and a provider who used her life and resource to advance the Gospel and build the Kingdom.

Acts in Retrospect

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week we take a look back across sixty-three sermons and our study of the book of Acts to identify major themes and what they mean for us today. In particular, the conversation focuses on the expansive and inclusive nature of the Gospel, the Kingdom of God breaking into and challenging the kingdom of man, the call to go to our neighbors, what it means to wait on the Spirit, and how everywhere we find ourselves is an opportunity to be a signpost to the hope and love of Jesus.

Every one who taught as part of the series was included in the conversation: Reverend Eleanor Williams, Carrie Buckner, Julia Allan, Benjamin Chua, Pastor Shaq Hager, and Pastor Dennis Allan. Katie Long facilitated.

The Invitation of Acts

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Luke ends the book of Acts with Paul in Rome, imprisoned, meeting with a group of Jewish people. He shares the Gospel with them, proclaiming the ways the Old Testament foretold Jesus as Israel's true Messiah and prophesied that, through Jesus' death and resurrection, the Kingdom of God had been inaugurated. While some chose to believe the Gospel, most did not. Even the people most committed to following God's laws are capable of missing out on what God's doing. Paul's vision of the Kingdom is a scandal to many. It's a Gospel that's radically inclusive, wildly expansive, and it lifts Jesus high. The invitation Luke extends to all of his readers is this: Jesus' ministry and Paul's ministry are now ours to continue. We are to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to everyone, everywhere we go. Because God wants all His kids to come home.

Relationship vs. Rightness

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Sometimes we're so convinced we're right about a particular belief, a specific way of seeing or understanding the world, or, even, a way of interprepting a particular portion of Scripture that we tell ourselves it's more Jesus-like to remove ourselves from relationship with people who think or believe differently than we do. In essence, we can believe purity of doctrine or adherence to biblical interpreptations is more important than extending love and relationship to those we disagree with. This week, Pastor Shaq Hager focused on Acts 28:11-22, leading to a congregational conversation focused on three questions:

What beliefs do you find problematic in other Christians?
Which of your own beliefs do you think other Christians might find problematic?
How can we, as Jesus prays in John 17, be one as followers of Jesus while also holding space for our disagreement?

*In the podcast, you'll hear Pastor Shaq set-up the discussion and then you'll hear a few seconds of quiet. Then, Pastor Shaq will lead a brief prayer. Feel free to pause the sermon after Pastor Shaq introduces the conversation questions and reflect on them on your own.

Tossed by the Storm

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

What happens when things start feeling out of control and chaotic? When it feels like the ship of your life is caught in the midst of a storm? How do you respond? How do you find and remain in Jesus throughout the storm? What happens when everything feels like it's falling apart and you just want to get off the ship? This is the story of Paul in Acts 27:33-44 (NIV). Reverend Eleanor Williams walks us through the passage and helps us understand how to anchor our lives in Jesus no matter what is happening in the world or in our lives.

Reverend Eleanor is a member of Garden City Church. She was a special education teacher in Pittsburgh Public Schools for more than thirty years, earned an M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and is an ordained pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Northside Partnership Project.

Peace in the Storm

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Julia Allan walks through Paul's story, just before he's shipwrecked on his way to Rome in Acts 27. Paul, who first heard Jesus' voice along the Damascus Road, heard from the Lord that everyone on the ship would survive the storm. Paul said to the crew, "Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve..." Even in the midst of an incredible storm Paul could hear and discern Jesus' voice. And that ability to know Jesus' voice is cultivated through belonging and service. Paul belonged to Jesus and served Him. Paul knew the sound of Jesus' voice, even when a literal storm enveloped him. How can we also hear and know Jesus' voice in the midst of the storms in our lives and society? And, in our own and the world's storms, what might God be saying to us?

God’s Will Never Fails

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq walks through Acts 25:1-12. Paul is now on trial for the third time, now before Festus. The Jewish leaders ask a "favor" of Festus - they want Paul transferred from Caesarea to Jerusalem because they've designed a plot to kill Paul. Festus, newly appointed to his role, wants to do a "favor" for the Jewish leaders. He asks Paul if he'll go to Jerusalem to stand trial. Paul refuses and, instead, demands to have his trial heard by Caesar, himself. It's yet another instance of political corruption in the book of Acts, one group seeking "favors" from a political leader, while that political leader is willing to grant the "favor" so he can extract something in the future. Through it all, Paul is caught in the middle. Yet, despite man's corrupt and evil plans, God's will never fails. It's something Paul knows and trusts, and it's something we can trust, too.

Break Every Chain: Every Knee Must Bow

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The legal system exists to maintain the status quo; it almost always has. It is often controlled by self-serving, powerful, rich individuals and corporate interests who like how things are and want to keep them that way. When prophets come who point out flaws in the system, it feels threatened, and the system seeks to stamp out critique and dissent with extreme force and a thin veneer of legality. Little did those systems know that the Jesus Revolution could not be killed: crucifixion only paves the way for resurrection, and a people willing to suffer and love against all odds, in the power and name of the Spirit, can endure and overcome injustice. Ever since Pentecost, every time those Spirit-filled people have formed non-violent, enemy-loving movements outside of the system, the world has changed, and the systems have been forced to bow in a prophetic nod to Jesus' second coming. Will you bow? Will you live in Him and for Him, and welcome His soon return? This week, Benjamin Chua walks our church through Acts 24.

Love is the Antidote

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week Carrie Buckner continues our series on Acts, talking through Acts 23:12-22. It's the story of a plan concoted by a group of Jewish religious zealots (or, Jewish nationalists) that reached to the highest levels of the Jewish religious system. The people to whom God entrusted His law and now openly planning to break it. How do people, especially people who claim to love, follow, and represent God, succumb to and participate in the type of zealotry that embraces political violence, bearing false witness, and murder? How do people reach a point of subordinating their religious convictions to achieve their political desires? These are questions that faced Jewish people in and around Jerusalem in the first century, as well as Christians here in America today.

Serpents and Doves

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Jesus instructed His disciples to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. In Acts 22:22-29 (NIV) the apostle Paul is living these words. He was lynched in the Temple and then arrested and at no point did he fight back or physically defend himself. He was gentle. And now, he's about to be tortured by the Roman state when he asks a soldier, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" It's a shrewd question. Paul knows it's illegal for a Roman to be flogged when they haven't been proven guilty in a court. He's leveraging his privileged status as a citizen to advance the Kingdom. In our current cultural moment, it's a timely lesson for all of us. This week Pastor Shaq Hager walks us through what it means to be gentle and wise, willing to sacrifice our bodies, like Paul, for the sake of the Kingdom.

An Elusive Dream

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Paul knows the Gospel crosses every boundary and eradicates racial and ethnic hatred. He's given his life to proclaiming a Gospel that knits Jews and Gentiles into a new "family" rooted in Jesus. And yet, in Acts 21:37-22:22, when Paul tells a crowd of Jews who are zealous for the law that God sent him to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles they shout, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" These Jews embraced a segregationist theology that told them who was superior and who was inferior based on ethnicity. It's a theology still at work in our country and churches today. Building a multi-ethnic church is an elusive dream. But it's always been God's vision to knit together a multi-ethnic, multi-racial people founded in Jesus. This week Pastor Dennis Allan talks through how the church is meant to be a signpost to the world that, in Jesus, unity and equality are possible.

When Religion and Politics Collide

Mon, 27 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis walks through Acts 21:26-36. Paul is in Jerusalem, trying to prove to the Jewish Christians who are "zealous for the law" that he isn't trying to abolish the law. In fact, while Paul is actively observing and upholding the law he's captured and beaten in the temple by a crowd of "law-observing" Jews. We see in this passage what can happen when people believe their political desires align with God's will for a nation. We can embrace the false idea that "the ends justify the means," which is not a way of living or being we ever see Jesus embrace. We are oftentimes "zealous for Jesus" until He becomes an obstacle to our worldly pursuits. So, how then are we to live and act? This story begins helping us figure out what faithfulness to Jesus might look like in this fraught political and cultural moment in America?

*This sermon includes an excerpt of Rage Against the Machine's song, "Killing in the Name," which is available on Apple Music here.

What Kind of Christian Are You?

Sun, 19 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week Benjamin Chua walked through the story of Paul's return to Jerusalem in Acts 21:17-25. Almost immediately after entering Jerusalem, Paul learns the church there is fiercely enthusiastic for the law, not Jesus. For the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem their belief wasn't rooted in the foundational story of God's covenant family culminating in Jesus and looking ahead to the fullness of His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, but in a rigid, backwards-looking interpretation of the law, in which they used Jesus to rubber-stamp their rule-following theology. The church is to be a community cradled in the love of God, with love for one another. This is what Paul fought for and it's what we should fight for, too.

*The music at the end of the sermon is "3 Hours of Soaking in His Presence" by William Augusto. The full song can be found here.

God’s Will for Your Life

Mon, 13 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In Acts 21:1-16 Paul is en route to Jerusalem. He's resolved in his heart after discerning through the Spirit this is where he's supposed to go, even though he knows suffering and imprisonment likely await him there. In these sixteen verses we see people who love Paul try to discourage him from continuing his journey. They encourage him to abandon this trip, to not go to Jerusalem, and even claim they've heard from the Spirit, too. These people, who love Paul, demonstrate a belief many of us fall prey to - that if something involves suffering it can't possibly be God's will for us. And yet, just because our journey might involve suffering, it doesn't mean it isn't God's will.

Our First Love

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager continued our Acts series by discussing Acts 20:28-38, the second half of Paul's speech to the Ephesian Elders. Paul believes this is the last time he'll see these leaders he loves so much. It's heartfelt and emotional. Paul knows these leaders will need to shepherd their congregation within an empire that believed the early church to be anti-imperial and a subversive threat to Rome. It's why he wants these leaders to take their role seriously - care for people and love Jesus. It's an invitation for everyone of us. We are to love our neighbors and God with all that we are.

Hope in Suffering

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

The apostle Paul endured great suffering. A kind of suffering that works like a crucible, forging his soul more into the shape of Jesus.* This week, Pastor Dennis walks us through the end of Acts 19 and into Acts 20 exploring the end of Paul's ministry in Ephesus and how his letter, 2 Corinthians, reveals the depths of suffering he endured there. Suffering is part of the human condition and experience. Jesus and Paul suffered, and we will, too. Our suffering doesn't disprove God's existence or His love for us. Instead, our suffering can draw us closer to Jesus' heart, shape our hearts and souls more into the image of Jesus, and help us provide comfort and hope to others.

*This is language used by John Mark Comer in his book, Practicing the Way.

The Narrow Road

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis lead a conversation focused on Acts 19:23-41, a story about people in Ephesus rioting because they believed Jesus' followers were actively seeking to undermine the financial, economic, and religious systems that shaped the city. It's a story that makes clear Jesus' words in Matthew's Gospel about two roads - a narrow road and a wide road. The narrow road leads to Jesus and the wide road leads away from Him. The story serves as an invitation for us to join Jesus on the narrow road and, in so doing, to be people whose very way of living challenges the power structures and value systems of the majority culture in our neighborhoods.

Jesus’ Powerful Name

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Julia Allan continues our Acts series by focusing on Acts 19:8-20. It's a story that demonstrates the power of Jesus' name. Jesus' name is capable of healing people, liberating people from sin and darkness, and leading people out of bondage to the occult and into the freedom of the Kingdom. But, many of us want Jesus' power without wanting His lordship. We want healing and liberation without submission. If we're going to be people who demonstrate and live out Jesus' power, we must be humble and submitted to Jesus, and we must know His power is meant to advance His name, not ours.

The New Creation Begins

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

It's Easter, the day we gather to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. This year, Pastor Dennis focused on John 20 and the story of the empty tomb, Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene, and how Jesus, in His death and resurrection fulfills the work God had entrusted to Adam and Israel. Jesus, through His death, creates a royal priesthood whose sins are forgiven and, through His resurrection, He invites His people into His kingdom mission of making all things new. God's begun His work of new creation and we're all invited to join in!

Hearing Jesus

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Palm Sunday, Pastor Shaq Hager walked through Matthew 1:11 (CSB), the story of Jesus' triumphal entry. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem the crowds met Him like they would a conquering king, bringing their expectations to Jesus, anticipating Him to be a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel to a place of cultural and political prominence. The crowds, in many ways, missed Jesus because they were distracted by their own desires. How might we be distracted from seeing and hearing the real Jesus this Holy Week?

Baptism of the Spirit

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week Benjamin Chua continues our Acts series. Paul is in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7) and he meets a group of people who haven't heard about the Holy Spirit. It becomes a conversation about two different baptisms - John's baptism and baptism in Jesus' name. Paul lays his hands on them, prays for them, they receive the Spirit and beginning speaking in tongues and prophesying. Yet, this passage is about so much more than speaking in tongues and prophesy. It's about identity, belonging, gifting, and how we as individuals and a community experience salvation as a pouring out so others can be invited in, so the church can be built up, and so we can join in to Jesus' life and invite the world to "Come!" (Rev. 22:17)

It’s Okay to Doubt

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Buckner walks through Acts 17:10-15 (NIV). In these six verses Paul and Silas arrive in Berea where they visit the Jewish synagogue and reason from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. Luke, the author of Acts, makes it clear the Berean Jews receive Paul's message with open minds and eager hearts, ready to examine the Scriptures to see if what Paul claims about Jesus is true. It's a stark contrast to the Jews in Thessalonica who hear Paul's Gospel and start a riot (Acts 17:1-9 NIV). The Berean Jews were willing to doubt their own beliefs and reexamine their Scriptures in light of Paul's Gospel proclamation. What if we, too, were free to doubt trusting that on the other side of our doubts we might find a stronger, more vibrant faith?

Empowering Women

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In Acts 16:11-15 Paul encounters a group of women praying. One of those women, Lydia, is a well-resourced business person. She hears the Gospel and believes, and then her house becomes the place the Philippian church uses as its home base. Paul and his companions stay with Lydia, she resources their ministry, and she leads in the church. Pastor Shaq Hager discusses how this story lays the foundation for why women should be empowered to lead in the church.

Note: The first few seconds of the sermon were not recorded due to an audio issue.

Hearing the Spirit

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0400

In Acts 16:6-10 Paul, Silas, and Timothy are continually “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word…” Honestly, it doesn’t make sense. Jesus, Himself, commissioned the church to go and make disciples of all nations. Paul and his team wanted to proclaim the Gospel. So, why would the Spirit prevent them? What was Paul missing? It seems Paul was intent on going a direction the Spirit didn’t want him to, at least not at this time. So, through a vision, Paul discerns the Spirit’s leading and his team agrees. But how did Paul discern the Spirit’s leading? How did he posture himself to hear? Prayer.

To Be Free

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0400

What does it mean for followers of Jesus to be free? Paul talks about freedom in his letters, including 1 Corinthians. For Paul his freedom isn't just so he can live however he wants. His freedom is something to be used, sacrificed even, and for a purpose. But, then, what is our freedom in Jesus for? That's what Pastor Dennis talked through this week as we restarted our study of Acts. We focused on Acts 16:1-5, the story of Paul meeting Timothy and inviting Timothy to join his ministry team.

Joseph’s Joy

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0400

In the third week of our Advent series Pastor Dennis Allan walks through Joseph's story in Matthew 1:18-25. It's the story of a faithful person who knows God's ways and character, acts with compassion and mercy, and submits himself fully to God. Joseph endured public scorn and shame, relinquished control over his life and his family's life, and even risked his and his family's physical well-being and safety. All because of the joy set before him. Joy isn't an emotion so much as it's a state of being. It's knowing that even though we may endure scorn and give up control over our lives, we're deeply loved by God, that we get to be in relationship with the Savior of the world, and that we get to participate in His ongoing redemptive work.

Mary’s Peace

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Julia Allan continued our Advent series by focusing on the story of Mary's disorienting visit with the angel Gabriel. Mary is a young woman from a village so small and insignificant it wasn't included on maps. And yet, this unknown and unimportant person experiences God's unmerited kindness as her entire life is upended with the news that she is pregnant and will carry and give birth to a son named Jesus who is to be the Savior of the world. We see Mary experience peace at a time when she should've experienced great turmoil. We can experience peace, too, by engaging the spiritual practices of worship, prayer, and submission. Mary's humility and faithfulness show us how the peace of God is available to us when we most need it.

Zechariah's Hope

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Carrie Buckner started our 2023 Advent series by sharing Luke's story of Zechariah (Luke 1:5-23). It's a story of hope marked by waiting. Zechariah had lost hope that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would ever have a child. And then one day while Zechariah was going about his work an angel appeared to him and informed him his wife would give birth to a baby boy. He laughed at the absurdity of the angel's message - Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, after all. They'd hoped and hoped and then let go of hope. Waiting, after all, can cause us to abandon hope. The story of Jesus' arrival, though, is one of hope fulfilled through waiting. Israel's long-promised Messiah and the world's redemption would come. Because, God is a promise-keeping God. And God will fulfill God's promises to God's people.

A Sorrowful Conflict

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis Allan walks us through Acts 15:36-41. Paul and Barnabas have just returned from Jerusalem where they advocated for unity in the early church between Jewish and Gentile Christians. But, as they prepare for their second missionary journey, they get into a sharp disagreement and unity is unfindable. It's a sorrowful moment, a moment where two of the early church's most influential people yell, scream, and say things to one another that never should've been said. We have arguments like this, too. Where our faces turn red and we say things we wish we hadn't to people we love. So, how can we better engage conflict? And how does this story offer hope that even our most broken relationships might one day be reconciled?

Unity Requires Work

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Shaq Hager walked through Acts 15:22-35 where Luke records the story of the Jerusalem Council sending a letter to the Gentile Christians in Antioch informing them they don't have to become Jewish to be Christians. The Jerusalem Council drafts a letter and then sends it to Antioch with Judas and Silas, as well as Paul and Barnabas. It matters so much to the Jerusalem Council for the Gentile Christians to know they belong, to know they don't have to conform to Judaism, to know that they're fully accepted as they are, that they send a letter with representatives. To what lengths will we go to communicate to outsiders that they can belong, too? How hard will we work so that minority groups can be welcomed into the church, too?

Chasing Unity

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis Allan talked through Acts 15:1-21 (NIV), a passage frequently referred to as “the Jerusalem Council.” It’s a story about differing factions within the new Jesus-movement believing they know best how to honor God and do life together. There’s a conservative, Jewish-Christian group that is demanding loyalty to Jewish customs and rituals for both Jew and Gentile. And, there are Gentile-Christians who want to follow Jesus and be part of the church, but not be required to become Jewish to do so. A significant argument occurs, a meeting of the Jerusalem and Antioch church leaders is scheduled, and together everyone seeks the Spirit’s guiding for how to move forward. And where does the Spirit lead? Toward unity, not uniformity.

Paul’s Dark Night of the Soul

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis leads a conversation on how Saul became Paul by tracing Saul’s story from his introduction in Acts 8 to the conclusion of his first missionary journey in Acts 14. When Luke introduces Saul into the Acts narrative, Saul is at the top of Jewish life - educated by the renowned rabbi, Gamaliel, and a member of the Sanhedrin, Saul was acquainted with power. But Jesus finds Saul along the Damascus Road and invites him into a journey, a roughly thirteen year journey, where Saul will step out of the limelight and into obscurity. Because it’s here, in obscurity that Jesus will build into Saul everything he needs to fulfill his destiny as Paul (a name that means “humble”). And, it’s oftentimes in similar seasons that Jesus will do the same kind of work in us. Saul entered the valley with Jesus and became new. We can, too.

Turning From Our Gods

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq walked through Acts 14:8-20 (NIV). There, Paul proclaims the good news of the Gospel in Lystra and Derbe, two cities that seem to have no knowledge of God, but instead a very familiar with Greek and Roman gods. Paul speaks persuasively, arguing that Jesus is the one true God. In doing so, he invites his original audience to turn away from their false gods and follow Jesus. It’s an invitation for us to wrestle with today.

It’s Always Been Jesus

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis Allan talked through Acts 13:13-52, the story of Paul and Barnabas proclaiming the Gospel in Pisidian Antioch. Pisidian Antioch was a military city with nationalist tendencies and dependent on the emperor. The most impressive structure in the city was the Temple of Augustus, otherwise known as the Imperial Sanctuary. When Paul preaches the Gospel he uses specific language, like “savior,” “good news,” and “son of god,” all language used to describe the emperor. But, Paul ascribes it to Jesus. According to Paul, Jesus is the one Savior, the true Good News, and the only Son of God. By revealing the emperor to be empty of power, Paul names identifies the way the people of Pisidian Antioch have built their lives on sand, not rock. It’s an invitation for us to allow the Gospel to reveal the ways we’ve done the same.

Fasting is Feasting

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis continues our study of the Book of Acts by focusing the conversation on Acts 13:1-3. The leaders of the church in Antioch were gathered together worshiping, fasting, and praying when the Spirit spoke to them and instructed them to send Saul and Barnabas on what would become their first missionary journey. So many of us want to hear God speak. We want to walk in step with and be led by the Spirit. And yet, we’re choosing to gratify our flesh instead of crucifying it. Fasting is a spiritual practice we can engage that will shape us into the image of Jesus. What if fasting leads to hearing, knowing, and experiencing more of Jesus?

Four Values for the Church

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continues our study of the book of Acts, focusing on Acts 11:19-30 (NIV). Luke begins telling the story of the church in Antioch and, in telling the story, four things rise to the surface that appear to be values the early church in Antioch embraced: empowering every day people to live out Jesus’ Kingdom mission, building an inclusive church that made space for people of different ethnicities, races, and religious backgrounds, raising up humble leaders who encouraged people, and practicing generosity. What might it look like for us to be a people, individually and corporately, who embrace these values in our own communities?

Unity Over Uniformity

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis talked through Acts 11:1-18, the story of Peter returning to Jerusalem after sharing the Gospel with and baptizing Cornelius’ household and being met with criticism from a faction of Jewish Christians. This faction of Jewish Christians believes that Gentiles, in order to become full members of the church, have to accept Jesus and convert to Judaism. This is the only way this faction of people believe the church can find unity - every person holding the and agreeing upon the same theology, biblical interpretation, and religious practice. Peter, though, pushes back. Is unity found through uniformity or is it found in Jesus alone?

Challenging Prejudice

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager walks through Acts 10:23-48 (NIV), the story of Peter visiting Cornelius and his family, all Gentiles, sharing the Gospel with them, and Cornelius' entire household placing their faith in Jesus and be baptized. It's a story that challenges our prejudices. It's a story that asks us to examine the ways our prejudices might hinder the story God is trying to write in other people's lives. It's a story that invites us, like Peter, to allow Jesus to reveal our prejudices and then move towards people we'd decided we never could move towards in love, with with, and humility.

Risking Prayer

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis continues our Acts series by focusing on Acts 10:1-23, the story of two people (Cornelius and Peter), two prayers, two visions, and two sets of guiding instructions from Jesus. Many of us struggle to pray. We’ve been disappointed and disillusioned in prayer and, for some of us, there’s even hurt and trauma from unanswered prayers and what that might mean about our faith or whether or not God is even real. And yet, deep down we want to hear Jesus’ voice, we want to be in relationship with Him, and we want Him to speak into our lives. Cornelius’ and Peter’s stories invite us to risk praying again.

Humble, Faithful Tabitha

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Julia Allan walks us through Acts 9:32-43 where Peter heals a man named Aeneas and raises a woman, Tabitha, from the dead. Julia focuses on Tabitha’s story and her gentle, quiet, and humble faithfulness in caring for the widows in her community. And, Peter’s willingness to travel ten miles to Joppa, where he steps into a situation much like he had watched Jesus step into (the story of Jairus’ daughter). We can press on and do the good work that’s before us because even if we feel unseen, we are seen by our Heavenly Father, who promises resurrection if we do not give up.

Risk and Sacrifice

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Shaq Hager and Pastor Dennis Allan talked through Acts 9:13b-31. Together, they worked through the story of Saul's ministry and the threats on his life in both Damascus and Jerusalem, and how Barnabas risked his reputation in advocating for Saul with the apostles in Jerusalem. Both Saul and Barnabas risk and sacrifice in order to proclaim the good news of the Gospel. Are we willing to risk so that we can proclaim Jesus to our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family? Do we believe the Gospel is such life changing good news that we'll sacrifice our resources and comforts to see others know Jesus?

Zealous for What?

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager continues our study of the book of Acts by talking through the story of Saul’s conversion along the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-10 NIV). Just one chapter earlier the author of Acts introduces Saul into the story of the early church, reporting that he “approved” of Stephen’s killing. Saul is a zealot who believes that by identifying and persecuting Christians, even when it means murdering them, he’s defending Judaism and protecting people from being lead astray. Jesus confronts Saul and redirects his zealotry to proclaiming the Gospel. It’s a passage that invites us to look inward and ask, “What are we zealous about that we were never supposed to be?”

An Inclusive Kingdom

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis walks through Acts 8:26-40 (NIV), the story of Philip being sent by an angel of God to an Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch represents a new ethnic and racial group that God wants to reach with the Gospel. And, culturally, the eunuch is considered to be gender non-conforming, neither male nor female. In fact, God’s people have been taught that eunuchs, whether they became eunuchs by choice or force, are outsiders to the people of God, systematically excluded on the basis of their bodies. But God, through Philip, pursues the eunuch who hears the Gospel, believes in Jesus, is baptized, and becomes a full member of God’s family. The Gospel is wildly expansive and radically inclusive and God wants His kids to come home. All of them.

Slow Anger

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis Allan walked through the story of Stephen being stoned by the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:54-60 NIV). Throughout chapter seven we’ve traced Stephen’s trial before the Sanhedrin. And while the the trial is a sham, Stephen has poked at the Sanhedrin’s idols: the law, the temple, and the land. They gnash their teeth, a sign of their uncontrolled fury and rage, drag Stephen out of the city, and stone him.

The Sanhedrin are quick to anger. But, Stephen, even as he’s being stoned, prays for his murderers just like Jesus did on the cross. Stephen and Jesus show us what it looks like to be slow to anger, which is how God describes himself in Exodus. Anger isn’t bad. In fact, to be human is to experience anger. But how can we live our lives and not be controlled by our anger? How can we be slow to anger and use our anger in redemptive ways?

American Idolatry

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq focused on Stephen's trial before the Sanhedrin, recorded in Luke 7:1-53 (NIV). Stephen, who has been charged with blasphemy for speaking against the temple and the law of Moses, speaks with conviction and courage to the Sanhedrin. He identifies three idols: the temple, the law, and the land. In a sense, these are idols of the Jewish religious state. And because Stephen speaks against these nationalist idols, he'll be put to death. But, we have our own American idols today. We think of America as a Christian nation, the Constitution as a divinely inspired document, and capitalism as God's chosen economic system. The church needs modern prophets who will speak, like Stephen, with conviction and clarity about these idols of Christian nationalism.

To Look Like Jesus

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Julia Allan walks through Acts 6:8-15 (NIV), the story of Stephen on trial before the Sanhedrin. The Jewish religious leaders enlist people in bearing false witness against Stephen who, in his conversation with the Sanhedrin pokes at some of the people's religious idols: the temple and the law. Luke ends the passage by saying of the Sanhedrin, "...they saw that his [Stephen's] face was like the face of an angel."

Stephen becomes a follower of Jesus, faces opposition and rejection from his own people, is put on trial and falsely accused, and yet in the face of this turmoil and tension he looks like Jesus. What if we, as followers of Jesus, could courageously follow after Jesus, name the idols of our people, and when we face opposition, we still resemble Jesus? The world needs people who look like Jesus.

Rejoicing in Persecution

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager walks through Acts 5:17-42. It's a story about the apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin. This is becoming a regular occurrence for the apostles - trials before the Sanhedrin, questioning, veiled threats, and now a physical beating. All because they continue to heal people and teach the crowds the Gospel of Jesus. What does it mean for us to face and endure persecution? How can we respond to persecution and rejoice in the midst of it?

Agents of Shalom

Sun, 21 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Shaq Hager discusses Acts 5:12-16. It's a brief and descriptive passage in which Luke describes the ways the Spirit is at work through the apostles to bring physical healing and restoration to people's lives and bodies. And not just for people within the nascent church community, but also people outside the community. The Spirit's healing activity was not just reserved for the first Christians, but appears to have been available to anyone. The apostles and the early church understood their role as agents of shalom, and we're invited to see ourselves the same way in our neighborhoods, families, and workplaces.

Righteousness and Witness

Sun, 14 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continued our Acts study by walking through the story of Ananias and Sapphira recorded in Acts 5:1-11 (NIV). Ananias and Sapphira want to be leaders and hold positions of honor in the early church, and so they devise a plan to deceive Peter and the apostles. They want to appear good without doing the work of becoming good. They want to create a shortcut to leadership and influence without having to do the work of discipleship. It’s a challenging story, and yet it reminds us that the our kingdom impact is connected to the way we imitate Jesus. Because our righteousness impacts our witness.

Generosity as Gospel Proclamation

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis continued our study on the book of Acts by leading a conversation on Acts 4:32-37. It's a summary passage in which Luke describes the way the early church met the needs of vulnerable people until, according to Luke, "there were no needy persons among them." What values and ethics did the early church embody that we need to pay attention to today? Is a church's willingness to care for its vulnerable members evidence of its Gospel proclamation?

Prayer & the First Christians

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Buckner continues our community's study of the Book of Acts by focusing on Acts 4:23-31. It's a story about the way the first followers of Jesus gathered together after Peter and John were questioned by the Sanhedrin and ordered by them to no longer speak or teach about Jesus. We see the early church prioritize prayer in the face of opposition. Their first impulse was not to strategize, but to pray. It's an indication of the early church's dependence on Jesus and it's an insight into how we can approach prayer today.

Power for Flourishing

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, we return to our Acts series. Pastor Dennis walked through Acts 4:1-22, the story of Peter and John and the Sanhedrin Council. In the story, the Sanhedrin, Judaism's most powerful legislative body, appear threatened by Peter and John and the "power" with which they healed a lame man and taught crowds of people. And that's what the story is about: who can have power, how power is distributed to people, and the ways people and institutions will seek to thwart good things (like the spread of the Gospel) in order to maintain their own power and position. This is a conversation Christians and the church need to have. What do we do with power? And what is it even for?

Easter 2023: Never Alone

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

In the heart of the battle, we are never alone. In the midst of our battles, we are carried by the victor. Pastor Dennis Allan talks through Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV) and the story of the two Marys holding on to hope that Jesus might just do what He said He would do and, on Sunday morning, finding an empty tomb. Jesus' disciples, though, seem to have lost hope. They're in hiding, mourning and grieving. It seems the disciples believe Jesus might have been just another messianic pretender crushed by the Roman Empire. But, the story of Easter is that the world's seeming victory is a mirage. Jesus is at work overcoming the world. And, in so doing, showing us that in every battle, in every hardship, we're never alone. He's already won the victory.

The King We Need

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Palm Sunday 2023. Pastor Shaq Hager talks through the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem as told by Matthew. It's a story with a historical precedent. Jesus wasn't the only "conqueror" to ride into Jerusalem for whom the townspeople laid out palm branches. They've already performed this ritual once, years prior. The story calls into question the desires of the people of Jerusalem, as well as our desires today. What kind of King do we really want? A king of war or a King of Peace? Who do we want to reign over us - a culture warrior or Jesus?

Astonishing Lives

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continues our study of the Book of Acts. This week, we talked through Acts 3:9-26, focusing on four words: wonder, amazement, astonished, and surprised. Four words in four verses that inform the way every follower of Jesus is intended to live their lives. Our neighbors don’t need more Christians who prioritize religious obligation over people. Our neighborhoods don’t need more Pharisees. We need Christians who will live astonishing lives today. We don’t always need supernatural miracles in order to astonish people. Just our lives, lived compellingly, can be astonishing to the onlookers in our lives.

Inviting Interruptions

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager talked through Acts 3:1-10, the story of a lame person carried every day to a Temple gate where they were left to beg for support. On this day, Peter and John were walking to the Temple to pray, something that they, as righteous Jewish men, did three times each day. And yet, this person called out to Peter and John who stopped, looked at the person, saw them in their need, and offered to them what they had - power in the name of Jesus. It’s a story that teaches us two things: 1) God can work in and through us by His Spirit to heal and restore things and people, and 2) we’re supposed to embrace interruptions in our daily routines and agendas. Like Jesus, we’re to see people and move towards people in their need.

Everything We Need

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Julia Allan discusses Acts 2:42-47, a picture of the early church living their lives in community with one another, ensuring that every person’s needs are met. It’s all reminiscent of a lyric in the song, “You Are Welcome in this Place,” by Maverick City:

“Now that you are here, we have everything we need / Now that you are here, we give everything we have.”

The Spirit leads the earliest Christians to release their tight grip on their resources and possessions. Will we respond in the same way?

Who Do You Believe Jesus Is?

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continues our study of the book of Acts, this week looking at Acts 2:14-41. It’s the story of Peter explaining to the crowds what the Spirit is doing in and through the apostles. It’s a Gospel proclamation, a sermon, that leads the crowds to the question: “Do you believe Jesus is Lord and Messiah?” It’s a question that every person in the crowd on that day needed to answer, and 3,000 people believed in Jesus. It’s also a question that we need to answer today. Who do you believe Jesus is?

The Spirit Arrives

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continues our study of the book of Acts, this week focusing on Acts 2:1-13. It’s the story of the Spirit’s arrival on Pentecost, fulfilling Jesus’ promises and Old Testament prophecy. The Spirit arrives and takes up residence in the apostles’ lives, empowering them for mission and service. The Spirit doesn’t pull the apostles inward, but pushes them out to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to every “God-fearing” Jew in Jerusalem, on that day. The Spirit gives the apostles what they need to accomplish what only God can. And, we believe the same is true today. The Spirit dwells inside every person who believes in Jesus, empowering us for mission and service, able to give us whatever we need to accomplish what only God can.

Waiting & Praying

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager continues our series on the book of Acts. In Acts 1:12-26 we see the disciples as they do the work of replacing Judas with Matthias, and as they wait and pray together. It’s a group of people (over 100 in total) who are doing what Jesus told them to do - go to Jerusalem, wait, and pray. In our modern, American approach to life both waiting and praying can feel like inaction. But, as Pastor Shaq points out, waiting detoxes our urgency to produce and praying saturates our mobility with the Spirit.

Katie Long reads Acts 1:12-26 (NIV). You can see and hear Katie as she reads this passage by clicking here.

Wait, the Spirit!

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan taught through Acts 1:1-11. Katie Long read our passage; view it by clicking here. In these first eleven verses we find a resurrected Jesus presenting Himself to people to help convince them of His resurrection, giving an intensive forty-day class on the Kingdom of God, and then ascending into Heaven. And through it all, Jesus makes clear the apostles are to wait to start their mission until they’ve received the Spirit. Knowledge isn’t enough. The apostles need the Spirit to fulfill their assignment, and so do we. The lives of Jesus’ followers will look like Jesus’ life, and for that we need the Spirit!

Priests, not Magicians

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan walks us through the final week of our “mini-series” focused on the three passages in the New Testament where Jesus cries. In Hebrews 4:12-5:8 we’re encouraged, like Jesus, to approach God in prayer with confidence. But, not primarily so that we can get the answers we want. Prayer, it seems, is more about deepening relationship and building obedience than it is getting results. And yet, we oftentimes approach prayer like it’s magic. That if we can learn the right formula or incantation we’ll get what we want from God. The world doesn’t need magicians, though. It needs priests who follow after the “great high priest,” Jesus. Our neighbors and neighborhoods need us to be people of prayer, not magicians.

God Isn’t Angry

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan walks through two passages in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus is patient, grace-filled, forgiving, and grieved regarding the sin of His people. In these two passages we begin to discover we aren’t haunted by an angry God; we’re pursued by a God of love. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and prays for the people who crucify Him. Yet, for many Christians, we think of God as angry, almost gleeful in His punishment of sinners, especially the sinners whose lifestyles we dislike. And yet, in Jesus, we see the embodiment of a God who grieves sin and is patient with His people, offering space and time for people to turn away from sin and turn toward Him.

Unlikely Evangelists

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In the third week of our Advent series, Amanda Wagner leads a conversation focused on the story of angels appearing to shepherds, declaring the birth of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. Shepherds are a group of people essential to Israel’s spiritual observance, and yet are systematically excluded by the same religious system due to their ritual uncleanness. And yet, it’s shepherds God sends His angels to. It’s shepherds God invites to be the first eye-witnesses of Jesus’ birth. And it’s shepherds that become the first evangelists of God’s saving work through Jesus.

Our Humble King

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In the second week of our Advent series, Julia Allan focuses on Luke 2:1-7 and the humble arrival of Jesus as a baby born to Joseph and Mary in the small town of Bethlehem. Our humble king isn’t born in a palace, but in alongside animals. Jesus isn’t wrapped in exquisite cloth after he’s born, born in regular swaddling cloths. He isn’t born into power or privilege, but into obscurity and poverty. In the humble arrival of Jesus we find a King who knows us and who is for us.

Sabbath Rest

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Mitch Young, a member of Garden City’s Servant’s Council, focuses on our need for sabbath and rest. As we move into the Advent season, posturing ourselves to experience Jesus in a new way in this season, we need to think differently about the pace of our lives and the fullness of our schedules. As we anticipate our Savior’s arrival this Advent, may we also know His rest.

The Greatest Commandment

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In Mark 12:28-34 Jesus is confronted by a teacher of the law who asks Jesus, of the 613 laws and commands Jewish people were expected to keep, which law is the most important. Pastor Shaq Hager walks us through Jesus’ response and teaches us that right belief doesn’t, in and of itself, lead to salvation. Right belief matched with right action is what Jesus requires of His people.

The Inclusive and Just Temple

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This, as we celebrated our one-year anniversary as a faith community, Pastor Dennis walked through Mark 11:11-17 (NIV). It's the story of Jesus entering the temple in Jerusalem and turning over tables. But, this story isn't really about Jesus confronting merchants for buying and selling in the temple. It's actually a story about the temple system and how it excluded people God wanted to include and how it exploited people God wanted to lift up. Together, we'll discover that Jesus becomes our inclusive and just temple, a Savior for all people.

Jesus and Bartimaeus

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Jesus and the disciples continue on the way to Jerusalem where Jesus encounters a blind man named Bartimaeus. Through this healing story Jesus continues to demonstrate to His followers the realities of spiritual blindness. This healing encounter is almost a plea from Jesus to His disciples for them to finally allow their eyes to be opened to what He's doing, to what His ministry is aimed toward, and how they will only be able to see once they recognize their blind. Pastor Shaq Hager walks us through Mark 10:46-52.

Wealth is a Liar

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan teaches through the story known as "The Rich Young Ruler," as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus and His disciples are on their way to Jerusalem and Jesus is continuing to teach them the ways of the Kingdom. Jesus makes it clear - wealth makes it very difficult for a person to inherit eternal life as it pulls people away from dependence on Jesus and entices them to live for themselves instead of their neighbors. It's a clear and stark teaching that Christians in America need to contend and wrestle with. American Christians tend to believe wealth is a sign of God's blessing and an outcome of their own righteous living. Jesus, though, recognizes wealth creates obstacles that make it very hard for people to follow Jesus.

Jesus the Messiah

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis Allan continues our study of the Gospel of Mark. In Mark 8:27-38 Jesus and the disciples are walking from village to village around Caesarea Philippi, a region known for its paganism and godlnessness, when Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do you say I am?" It's perhaps the defining question Jesus will ask the disciples (and us). The disciples' answer (as well as our own) will shape, form, and direct the remainder of their lives. How do the disciples (and us) answer Jesus' question?

A Slow Healing

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Carrie Buckner walks us through Mark 8:22-26. Here, Mark records the story of Jesus healing a blind man. But this healing is different than other healing stories. This one takes time. It’s a slow healing, a healing that at first glance it appears Jesus needs two attempts at.. Even though it’s a slow healing, the person’s sight is restored. What is Jesus trying to teach us? How is this story supposed to speak to us today?

Jesus and His Abundant Kingdom

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Julia Allan walks us through Mark 7:24-30 as we continue our study of the Gospel of Mark. Jesus, having retreated to an unlikely city - Tyre, is encountered by a Gentile woman who asks Him to heal her daughter. Jesus responds in a manner that to our modern ears and hearts sounds entirely unlike Jesus. In fact, it's a passage that Christians might want to skip over because it's difficult to explain Jesus' response. Julia helps uncover the ways that Jesus responds with kindness and gentleness to the woman and demonstrates that His Kingdom is one marked by abundance, not scarcity.

Jesus and Our Hearts

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan walks us through Mark 7:1-23 where Jesus is confronted by a group of Pharisees seeking to undersratnd why He and His disciples don't ahdere to the "tradition of the elders" when it comes to washing their hands before eating. Jesus replies with a stinging rebuke, revealing the ways that the Pharisees have created a vast and extensive religious system comrpised of laws God never spoke or initiated. Jesus challenges the Pharisees (and us) on what our hearts most value and how, if our hearts aren't oriented toward Jesus, nothing else we do matters.

Jesus and His Disciples (Part 2)

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week, we pick-up right where we left off the week before. Pastor Dennis leads us through Mark 6:6b-13, the story of Jesus sending twelve of His disciples on their first missionary journey. This is the first time we see Jesus sending out some of His disciples on their own to extend and expand His ministry by going to the places Jesus has already gone and teaching and healing people. Through this passage we discover four ways that we are to live out Jesus' Kingdom mission in the world: knowing that we're commissioned and empowered by Jesus, that we're to be dependent, that we're invited to practice non-violence and peacemaking, and that we are to refuse hating people even if they reject Jesus and His ways of living and loving others.

Jesus and His Disciples (Part 1)

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week Pastor Dennis Allan continues our series on the Gospel of Mark by leading a conversation on Mark 6:1-6a. Jesus returns to His hometown with His disciples, but rather than receiving a warm welcome, He is met with rejection and opposition, so much so that the people try to kill Jesus. Through the story we learn what it means to be a disciple: we spend time with Jesus, we learn His teaching, we take on Jesus' ways and character, and we live out His Kingdom mission.

Jesus and Legion

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 08:45:00 -0400

This week we hear from Reverend Eleanor Williams, founder of the North Side Partnership Project and a long-time minister in the African Methodist Episcopal church, as we continue our series on the Gospel of Mark. Rev. Eleanor walks us through the story of Jesus encountering a man possessed by a legion of demons and what it means for us to know that God is powerful over the spiritual realm.

Jesus and the Sabbath

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week, Amanda Wagner walks us through two passages, one located in Mark 2 and the other in Mark 3. Both passages focus on Jesus and the Sabbath. By the religious standards of the day Jesus is disobeying Jewish Sabbath law. He and His disciples have picked food and Jesus has healed a person, both on the Sabbath. In these stories we see the way that Jesus comes as the fulfillment and perfection of the Old Testament law, helping to redefine and reshape it for His disciples (and us) to better understand. God's laws are not, ultimately, about religious performance or perfection. They're about relationship.

Jesus' Inclusive Community

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan walks us through Mark 2:13-17 where we see Jesus invite Levi, a tax collector, to become one of His followers and we see Jesus attend a party at Levi's house filled with "tax collectors and sinners." Levi is reviled in Jewish religious culture and "tax collectors and sinners" are known to be wicked, intentionally choosing to exist well outside acceptable Jewish society. And yet Jesus invites Levi to follow Him in front of a large crowd and Jesus intimately engages with the "tax collectors and sinners" in full and open view. If Jesus walks in perfect step with the Spirit, if everything He does is intentional, if all that He does is on purpose and in alignment with God's heart for humanity, then what is the point Jesus is trying to make in this story?

Jesus’ Discipline of Prayer

Sun, 29 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Amanda Wagner walks through a story recorded in Mark 1:35-39. It's the story of Jesus, whose days are filled with people in need coming to Him and begging for help, intentionally withdrawing to pray. Immediately before this story Jesus heals many people and immediately following it Jesus heals a person with leprosy. Everywhere Jesus goes crowds form around Him. It would be so easy for Him to simply remain where He is and tend to the need in front of Him. But, as He withdraws to pray, He discerns a specific instruction to leave the city and travel to the surrounding villages. It's in prayer that Jesus receives His assignment. Where do we go to receive ours?

Jesus and Authority

Mon, 09 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager continues our series on the Gospel of Mark by focusing on Mark 1:21-28. Jesus enters a synagogue and teaches with authority, astonishing the people. A demon, possessing a person who attends the synagogue, confronts Jesus. Jesus responds to the demon by casting it out of the person and, symbolically, the synagogue. It's a story that helps us understand Jesus and authority. We'll see that Jesus is authoritative, that He challenges and deconstructs manmade and religious authorities, and that He reconstructs authority based on the ways of the Kingdom. Sometimes in order to rebuild we need to tear down.

Jesus the Messiah

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 18:30:00 -0400

This week we begin our series on the Gospel of Mark. Pastor Dennis walks us through Mark 1:1-13, with a particular emphasis on the first verse of Mark's Gospel. At the time Mark was writing his gospel, the Roman empire was experiencing significant turmoil. Four emperors had risen to power in one year. The fourth, who would rule for a decade, a man named Vespasion, launched a propaganda campaign in an attempt to convice the populace that he was the Messiah. Mark is writing to push back on Vespasian's propganda, and to declare that Jesus, not the emperor, is the one, true, singular Messiah and that Jesus - alone - is worth of our love and loyalty.

Easter on the Emmaus Road

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

It's on the Emmaus Road that the ressurected Jesus encounters two of His followers. They're confused, disillusioned, even sorrowful. They had believed that Jesus was going to be the Messiah. That's why they'd followed Him for three years. But now, all hope seemed lost. It's in that place that the resurrected Jesus met and walked with His followers, and it's where He meets and walks with us. In this story, found in Luke 24:13-35, we see the quiet power of the resurrection, how we can find healing through storytelling, and how small things can subvert an empire. Pastor Shaq Hager delivers this sermon on Easter Sunday 2022.

God Leads Us Out to Pull Us In

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In the last week of our series on the Old Testament book of Exodus, Pastor Shaq focuses on the final verses of Exodus 40. As we look back across Exodus we see a God who liberates His people, leading them out of slavery and oppression, in order to pull His people into Himself. God sets His people free and then leads and loves His people, despite their sin and brokenness, as they learn to be God's children. Israel's story is our story, and the hope that God's people discover is still true today.

Pursuing God’s Presence

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Julia Allan walks through Exodus 33. After confronting the Israelites over the golden calf, Moses returns to the mountain to meet with God. There, Moses pleads with God to extend grace and mercy to the Israelites and not remove His presence from the midst of His people. Moses understands that it's God's presence dwelling among the Israelites that makes them a light to the world. The same is true for us today, both as individuals and as the church. We need to pursue God's presence if we're going to be a light to our neighbors and neighborhoods.

Knowing God

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In Exodus 32 the Israelite people demand that Aaron build for them a golden calf. It's a brazen act of disobedience, as the Isrealite people break the first and second commandments. Pastor Dennis Allan walks us through the story, placing it within the larger context of the book of Exodus, demonstrating that it's the Israelites' lack of relationship with God that leads them to demand an idol. For us today, a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus is the remedy to our idolatry.

God Gives the Spirit

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In Exodus 31 God gives His Spirit to an artisan for the work of creating the tabernacle. Pastor Shaq Hager walks us through the implications of God giving His Spirit to one person, foreshadowing the day that God would give His Spirit to all of His people. While we might not be artisans or craftsmen, every one of us is purposed by God to create. Whether as teachers or accountants, doctors or nurses, counselors or analysts, no matter our vocation we're to create beautiful things.

God as a Consuming Fire

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Amanda Wagner teaches through Exodus 24. It's here that God renews the covenant with the Israelite people. Toward the end of the chapter the Israelite people look up to the top of the mountain and there they see God. They describe Him as a consuming fire. And yet, what this passage teaches us is that we, as God's people, can enter into His presence and not be consumed.

God Prepares Our Home

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager walks us through Exodus 23:20-33. Here we find God speaking to His people about an angel He'll send to lead them into the Promised Land, the home that God is preparing for His people. Pastor Shaq helps us see that the Promised Land foreshadows our eternal home and the angel of the Lord foreshadows our one, true Savior, Jesus. Join us as we continue our study of the Old Testament book Exodus.

God’s Commands

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0400

We've come to Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments, in our study of the Old Testament book, Exodus. Pastor Dennis Allan walks us through God's commands and instead of trying to make sense of each individual command and what it might mean for us today, we talk about what the context of the Commandments teaches us about God's character and what God's purpose was in giving the Commandments to His people. Together, we learn that the Commandments are an extension and outgrowth of God's profligate love for His people and us.

A Good God

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:30:00 -0400

We continue our series on the Old Testament book, Exodus. This week, Pastor Shag Hager walks us through Exodus 19. The Israelites arrive at Mt. Sinai. Through this passage, Pastor Shaq reminds us that God reassures His people of His goodness and presence, even in the midst of their brokenness. And, as God is unchanging in His character, we can know that He is good to us, too, even in the midst of our brokenness.

The God Who Defends

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:45:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Dennis Allan continues our series on the Old Testament book Exodus, focusing on the story in Exodus 17:8-16 of the Amelekites attacking the Israelites and Moses standing on a hill, with Aaron and Hur helping to hold up Moses' hands, as the Israelite army, lead by Joshua, defeats the Amelekites. Through this story we see the way that God's defends and protects His people, how He will not allow His work of redemption to be stopped, and how we can rest in God knowing that He'll finish His good work in us, too.

God Heals our Trauma

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 08:30:00 -0400

This week Pastor Shaq Hager talks through how the God who personally reveals Himself to Moses, sets the Israelites free from slavery, and delivers the Israelites through the Red Sea is also the God who meets us in our trauma and heals it. In Exodus 16 the Israelites are on the other side of the Red Sea and entering their freedom. But, the trauma they endured as a people over 400 years of systemic oppression makes it difficult to trust that God will provide for them, even though He worked to miraculously free them. The God who provides manna and quail for His people is also the God who provides for our needs, too, and sees our trauma and moves to heal it.

God Sets Us Free

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 18:30:00 -0400

This week we resume our series on the Old Testament book Exodus. Amanda Wagner walks us through Exodus 14, the story of the Israelites after being set free from slavery and oppression in Egypt, crossing the Red Sea. It's a story of God rescuing His people again, a story of the way that God is at work in the lives of His people, and evidence of God's supernatural capabilities and power. It's also further evidence of God's desire to liberate and deliver His people, whether thousands of years ago or today, once and for all.

Awaiting the Savior of New Life

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Pastor Shaq Hager, as part of our Advent series, walks us through Matthew 3. It's the story of John the Baptist who has come to baptize people in the Jordan River, clearing the path for Jesus to begin His public ministry. People from all over the region of Judea and even some people from the city of Jerusalem, who had been deeply troubled by the birth of Jesus, come to John to repent of their sins and to step into a new way of life. This Advent, we anticipate the arrival of a Savior who completes the work John began, who will once and for all forgive our sins and invite us into a new way of living and loving, and who makes an eternal home for us.

Awaiting the Savior of the New Exodus

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 15:30:00 -0400

This is the third week of our Advent series and Pastor Dennis Allan walks through Matthew 2. Magi arrive in Judea and go to the palace in Jerusalem to inquire about the birth of the new king, a new king that he will try to kill, forcing Joseph to flee in the middle of the night with his family to Egypt. At the end of chapter two, Joseph and his family return to the region and settle in Nazareth. It's in Matthew 2 that we discover that the Savior we await this Advent is a Savior who will challenge unjust and evil political leaders and systems, meets us in our feelings of weakness, vulnerability, and insignificance, and leads us out of our captivity into an eternal Promised Land.

Awaiting a Savior Who is God With Us

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0400

In the second week of our Advent 2021 series, Pastor Shaq Hager walks us through Matthew 1:18-25, the moment when an angel appears to Joseph and confirms that the child Mary is pregnant with is, in fact, "...from the Holy Spirit." It's as Joseph takes time to reflect that God, through an angel, meets with Joseph, comforts him, and speaks direction to him. For this child isn't any child. This child will save people from their sins. This child will be God with us.

Awaiting a Savior for All People

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

This week, Amanda Wagner begins our Advent series by looking at Matthew 1:1-17. These seventeen verses contain Matthew's version of Jesus' genealogy. It's so much more than just a list of names. It speaks to the kind of Savior Jesus will be. He will be a Savior who fulfills both a priestly and a kingly role. He will be a Savior for Jew and Gentile, for men and women, for the righteous and unrighteous. This Advent, we await the arrival of a Savior whose mercy and grace will be for every person.

The God of Reparations

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continues our series on the Old Testament book, Exodus. In Exodus 12:35-36 God plunders the Egyptian people who turn over their financial and material wealth to the Israelite people as they leave Egypt. It’s a staggering redistribution of wealth to a people group who had been oppressed and enslaved for hundreds of years. These verses create the framework for our conversation that starts in Exodus and then moves to Leviticus, Ezra, and the Gospel of Luke, all focused on the biblical and theological concept of reparations, which is the work of restoring that which has been broken and returning that which has been stolen.

*Note: Duke Kwon and Gregory Thompson’s work, Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair, as well as Duke Kwon’s talk, “Race Reparations” at the 2018 Q Conference were resources used in the researching of this sermon and we commend them to you.

The God of the Passover

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager discusses the tenth and final plague recorded in Exodus 11 and then the story of the Passover in Exodus 12. The story of the Passover is really the foreshadowed story of Jesus, our perfect Passover lamb. The deliverance of the Israelites from slavery and oppression in Egypt finds its ultimate fulfillment in the sacrificial death of Jesus, whose body and blood accomplish once and for all the liberation of all people who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus.

God is at Work

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan walks through the first nine plagues recorded in Exodus 7-10, following Pharaoh's hardening heart as a thread through the plagues narrative. In the New Testament book, James, the author quotes from Proverbs: "God opposes the proud, but favors the humble." These eight words become an interpretive lens to Pharaoh and God's response to his hard heart. Through it all, we see the ways in which God is sovereign and Pharaoh is not, and how, if God is sovereign, then He's present, and if He's present, then He's at work.

Is God Worthy?

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager walks through Exodus 6 and the story of Moses confronting Pharaoh for the second time, all while having to deal with his own insecurities and doubts. Moses doubts his ability to represent God to Pharaoh and his ability to lead the Israelite people, who are unwilling to listen to Moses because of their own discouragement. For Moses and the Israelites, their ability to trust in God and believe His promises are rooted in His actions. And so far, God hasn't acted. Are we like Moses and the Israelites? Do we only trust in God and believe His promises when He acts? Or, is He worthy of our worship and praise all the time?

Asking God “Why?”

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan continues our series on Exodus by focusing on the story of Moses confronting Pharaoh for the first time in Exodus 5 and demanding that Pharaoh immediately set free all of the Israelite people enslaved in Egypt, only to have Pharaoh reject Moses' appeal and undermine Moses' credibility with the Israelite people. At the end of the chapter Moses is frustrated, confused, and in pain. And it's from this place that Moses cries out to God, "Why? Why is this happening?" We can cry out to God, too. And, just as He did with Moses, He'll meet us, He'll build relationship with us, and He'll speak with us.

The God Who Speaks

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Shaq Hager continues our series on Exodus by focusing on Exodus 4 and the story of Moses, God, and a burning bush. Moses was engaged in his regular, everyday work when God revealed Himself to Moses, inviting Moses into God's plan of liberation for the Israrelites in Egypt. But God didn't stop speaking or making Himself known to His people thousands of years ago. He still does it today. We just have to listen.

Good Trouble and Civil Resistance

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Pastor Dennis Allan discusses Exodus 2 and focuses on the way that four women engage in various forms of nonviolent civil disobedience in order to resist Pharaoh's unjust policy and how this becomes a template for how Christians can engage and resist unjust social and political policies today while not losing hope in God's ultimate victory.