In Week 5 of our And Justice For All series, we consider God's heart for the orphan, the widow, and the enslaved. We live in a world filled with 153 million orphans and 245 million widows, many of whom live in conditions of poverty, without the common protections and provisions of a family. Such vulnerability puts these orphans and widows at risk of one of the most wicked industries in our world today- human trafficking. When we look to the scriptures we see a God who is Father to the Fatherless; one who executes justice for the orphan and widow and calls his people to do likewise. While the need is overwhelming, the gospel of adoption equips the people of God to act on behalf of the orphan, the widow, and the enslaved.
Justice and Poverty // Luke 10:25-37
In Week 4 of our And Justice For All series, we consider what God has to say about poverty. Proverbs 21:13 says, "Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered." This Sunday we will open our ears and discover how God has called and equipped us to love, serve, and bless the poor from a heart transformed by Christ who became poor for us.
Justice and The Unborn // Psalm 139:13-16 & Selected Texts
In Week 3 of our series, we consider the plight of the unborn. Thousands of unborn children are aborted each day in our nation. The politicized language surrounding abortion has tempted Christians to remain silent or passive on what scripture makes clear: God is the Author of life. He knits us together in the womb (Psalm 139:13). So how do we think biblically, speak clearly, and act justly for the sake of the unborn?
Justice and Racism // Ephesians 2:11-22
Racism is a deeply rooted belief that one race is superior to another. In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul directly addresses this dividing wall of ethnic hostility and shows how the gospel reconciles us to God and one another. As God's people, we oppose racism, seek reconciliation with one another across ethnic divides and celebrate the beautiful diversity of God's kingdom, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.
What is Justice? // Psalm 146:5-9 & Select Texts
Scattered by Pride, Re-Gathered by Grace // Genesis 11:1-9
God has always intended for humanity to fill the earth. But, as Genesis 11 shows us, this filling happens in ways God did not intend. In the Tower of Babel story, we see humanity become united in its defiance of the Creator. Devastating things happen when we deny the will of God and seek to replace the pursuit of his glory with the pursuit of our own glory.
God's Preserving Grace // Genesis 8:20-9:29
The flood has subsided. Noah and his family have stepped off the ark into this new world. God makes a covenant with Noah to preserve the earth until the final judgment. But will this new world be free from the corruption of the past? No. Noah took his sin with him into the ark, and he brought it with him out of the ark. God's preserving grace is on display in Genesis 9 alongside the continued corruption of man, pointing to our need for a new and better covenant found in Christ alone.
The Flood // Genesis 6:6-8:19
As the sinfulness of man continues to increase, God intervenes to bring judgment through a world-wide flood. Yet his mercy is evident in choosing a righteous man who walked with God. Noah constructed an ark and led his family and the clean and unclean animals into it. He received the promise of preservation through covenant and waited patiently for the flood to be over; demonstrating what it means to walk by faith in God.
Resolved to Live // 1 Peter 4:1-11
In this passage, Peter writes to Christians living in an extremely tumultuous time. The temptation to ignore the will of God and pursue the pleasures of this world was strong, but not an option for the Christian. Christ has died so that we may live no longer for human passions but for the will of God. As God’s people, we must live in light of the end, stewarding the grace he has given us for the good of others and the glory of his name.
Unity in Prayer // Philippians 4:1-7
On the last Sunday of every year, we spend time reflecting on the necessity of prayer from God’s word. We then put those truths into practice by praying together in the gathering. This year our scripture text is Philippians 4:1-7. 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year of anxiety and turmoil. Into this reality, God invites us to call out to Him in prayer and discover a true and lasting peace that is unknown to the world around us.