Another election is upon us. Who and what should we support? How should we go about doing it? We all have our blind spots, don’t we? Therefore, we all need to do our best to visit and revisit the Scriptures and have our minds renewed.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is among the most well-known stories in the Bible, yet it is also one of the most challenging to practice. How do we truly love people as we love ourselves, despite how unlovable they may seem to us? We start by loving God and being loved by him.

Within three short parables, Jesus communicates a deep message about the value of his kingdom and what it takes to be a part of it. These stories challenge us to take stock of our lives and notice what we really value . They also caution us against judging too quickly and inspire us to invite others into the kingdom of God. In the end, our response to the kingdom is simple: seek, receive, and invite.

What motivates us to do good things? Though our motivations are usually mixed, those good things can sometimes distract us from our need for mercy and the Lord. Through this parable, we will explore how our need for mercy is a gift and how it changes the posture we take in life.

Message from Gary Gaddini on August 11, 2024

On the surface, if you look out on our world, there is more than enough to depress you all day, every day. But we all know that appearances can be deceiving. Jesus told a story to help us understand what’s really going on in our world, appearances notwithstanding. We call it the Parable of the Sower.

What does Jesus think about the way we use our money? In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus uses strong words to warn us against the dangers of hoarding money for ourselves rather than orienting our lives towards God and his kingdom.

You may have heard that God's love is given to everyone equally. You may know that no one actually deserves God's love, but he pours out salvation as a free gift of mercy. But many of us don't realize how controversial or unsettling God's generosity really is. Without knowing it, many of us begrudge the generosity of God. To help diagnose our hearts, Jesus tells a story that makes it clear how we feel about the scandal of grace.

Have you ever lost something of value, and when you found it, celebrated with others? This week, we will look at Luke 15: 11-32 into the window of a father and his two lost sons. How the father responds to his sons will show us a picture of God's heart, and how the sons respond to the father will be a mirror to our hearts.

Sometimes, the most unassuming things have the most potential for pervasiveness and impact. Together we'll explore one of Jesus' shortest parables in Matthew 13 and discover that small hidden things can grow, permeate, and even overwhelm their surroundings.