NEW YEAR, LESS ME - Part 5, The Selfless Church

February 24, 2020

“I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” Pope Francis

We wrapped up our New Year, Less Me series and special thanks to Steve Messeh for talking to us about what it means to apply these principles at the church level. Just like our personal lives, we need to make sure our churches are “others-focused” and continue to be the Body of Christ in our local communities.

Why? Because as we’ve been saying throughout this series, “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

NEW YEAR, LESS ME - Part 2, How to be the G.O.A.T.

February 5, 2020

What does it take to the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time)? Today Jesus answers that questions for us and what you’ll see is that His answer is the exact opposite of what we’re trained to believe today. The world teaches us to be great we must be self-serving and self-promoting; but Jesus says the exact opposite: my greatness is connected to my serving others.

NEW YEAR, LESS ME - Part 1, The Problem of Selfishness

January 27, 2020

At the start of every new year, we make resolutions and set goals about who we want to be and what we want to accomplish. But often these goals are focused on ourselves. We want to lose weight or save money or get a new job.

But to live the life God has for us, we must be willing instead to offer our lives in service to God and service to others, because "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45).

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

December 13, 2017

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistle-toeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year
(lyrics by Andy Williams)

Yeah yeah yeah… we’ve heard it on the radio… we’ve see it in the movies… we even hear about it at church during this time of year. We know that it’s supposed to be a season of joy, a season of laughter and a season of good cheer… the “hap-hap-happiest time of year” right?

But there’s just one problem….IT ISN’T! The holiday season reminds us of everything that ISN'T right in our lives and highlights all the areas that AREN’T going according to plan.

It’s a season where the feelings of loneliness that exist all year long get magnified.
It’s a season that every year is less and less joy and cheer, and more and more anxiety, stress and fear.
It’s a season where we’re flooded with images of families having fun and people being happy and we’re left to just wonder…why not me?

Why doesn’t my life match? Why can’t I have that too? Things were supposed to be different by now; this circumstance wasn’t supposed to still be here. Why God, why?

Every Wedding is a Funeral – CROWNS OF GLORY Part 1

September 19, 2016

Kicked off an exciting new series at The Well yesterday, CROWNS OF GLORY: Lessons from an Orthodox Wedding Ceremony. In this series, we’ll take a look at the rites and rituals of an Orthodox wedding and see what lessons the Church is trying to teach us through them.

Lesson #1: Every wedding is actually a funeral.

That’s not a typo, nor is it a joke. It’s the truth. If you aren’t ready to die then you aren’t ready to be married.

What does that mean? Check out the video above and see for yourself.

GROWING OLD VS GROWING UP - The BodyShop Part 4

March 16, 2015

"God uses COMMUNITY to lead us to MATURITY."

God's plan for humanity has always been clear - that we "may GROW UP in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). As any parent, God isn't content for us to merely be born into His family; He desires that we would grow and reach the point of maturity. His desire is that we wouldn't just grow OLD, but that we'd grow UP as well.

How does that maturity happen? I believe that a major portion of the process takes place in the context of community. Without community, you'll never reach the level of spiritual maturity that God desires for you life.

How can I say that? Check out Part 4 in The BodyShop series as we continue to look at the different markers that make for a healthy member of the Body of Christ.

BUILDING COMMUNITY Part 1 - Relationship Busters

September 16, 2013

Community. Maybe the most overused word in churches today. It's something that we all need (see Genesis 2:18) but it's just so hard to do - especially at a non-superficial level.

Yesterday at The Well, we looked at some of the reasons why that is. We talked about 3 RELATIONSHIP BUSTERS - those things which are within us that prohibit us from attaining authentic community. If left unaddressed, these three things will eventually rear their ugly heads in every relationship you have - especially the ones closest to you.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH | PERSONAL GROWTH | RELATIONSHIPS | ENCOURAGEMENT | STSA Church | GUEST POSTS

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