Scripture Reference: Matthew 3:1-4:11 & Luke 4:14-21
Taking a brief look Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and first sermon together gives us a greater understanding of how they are connected and how these three episodes can encourage us to live in and live out the Gospel.
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Scripture Reference: Matthew 12:1-8
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Scripture Reference: Matthew 11:27-12:14
If we are going to be the kind of church that looks and feels like Jesus, then there should be something about our body that is restful. A body of Christ removes burdens rather than heaps on burdens and shame. Jesus interaction with Pharisees on the Sabbath presses home this point, in the person of Jesus, people finally find true Sabbath rest. The One who says “come to me and you will find rest” should shape the way Christ Pres functions with each other and in Oxford.
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Scripture Reference: Matthew 6:11, Leviticus 23:37-43, Matthew 6:16-18
The New Year typically brings renewed goals! The Scriptures give us numerous practices that help form us individually and communally into the likeness of Jesus. What would it look like for our practices around food this year to point us to what God is doing and shape us into the likeness of Jesus. Scripture points us to the practices of feasting and fasting.
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Scripture Reference: Matthew 18:21-35
Cancel Culture as we knew it in the last decade seems to be fading somewhat, but the questions our society faced throughout still linger in the conscience. But Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness as THE necessity of the Christian life is just as fresh (and challenging) as it ever was and the Creed seeks to keep every generation from forgetting that.
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