Pastor Chris looks into a the subtlety and profoun d theology behind an enormous request of the Apostle Paul from his friend Philemon, a request that shatters the way we look at human relationships.
Brotherly Love (Philemon 4-7)
Paul has a fairly large request to make of Philemon, but before he gets to it, he offers a prayer of thanksgiving for Philemon's brotherly love and a prayer that his gospel commitment might be activated by some unexpected news.
Identity (Philemon 1-3)
The Epistle to Philemon, a short letter from an apostle to a slave owner, begins with a rather lengthy introduction that is heavy on identity. In pointing to the identities of prisoner, brother/sister, worker, and soldier, the letter makes the case that a Christian’s identity is radically shaped by Jesus.
Boldness in Mission (Acts 4)
Arrested, accused, beaten, and warned, the Apostles faced a potentially harrowing situation in Acts 4. Bryan Pummel unpacks what might be a surprising response: a prayer for boldness.
A Small Prayer for Big Things (1 Chronicles 4:10)
An obscure figure in an obscure book prays an enigmatic prayer, and God answers it. Why? Pastor Chris looks at how and why God answers the prayer of Jabez. The answer might surprise you.
Worthy Is the Lamb (Revelation 5)
Amidst a world of chaos, it's a fair question, "Who is in charge here?" Revelation 5 tells us that Jesus rose victorious, and he alone is worthy to give direction to human history, to reign in over all of creation.
Prayers for Hard Times (Habakkuk 3)
The old adage, "there are no atheists in foxholes" is a pithy reminder that we often turn to God in our darkest moments. Bryan Pummel, one of our elders, looks at the Old Testament prophet of Habakkuk whose prayer in the midst of great trials is a model for our own dark hours.
Christians Praying for Christians (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)
We often ask for prayers. Sometimes we even offer to pray. But what should we pray and how should we pray for our fellow Christians? We dig in.
Prayers that Matter (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12)
Zac Rybak continues our series on prayer by looking at Paul's prayers for the Christians of Thessalonica. Paul's example is that God should be glorified in our praying by praying with an eternal perspective and praying with a heart like God's.
The Habit of Prayer (Philippians 4:4-7)
What does the habit of prayer look like? How ought a Christian's prayer life be characterized? Part of the answer can be found by examining the pattern of the Apostle Paul.