Vintage Jesus: “Prosperity Gospel Jesus” vs. The Rich Man and Lazarus

It seems there are many versions of Jesus now.

Some people are using Jesus to support their own materialism, prejudices, and political agendas. Projecting their own views onto Jesus and distorting Christianity to fit their own narrative, it is as though some are creating Jesus in their own image.

In this series we want to discover the authentic Jesus we encounter in the Gospels by exploring some of His most famous parables. Parables are short stories that illustrate a spiritual point, and parables are one of Jesus’ most common teaching devices.

If you want to follow the actual Jesus we encounter in the Gospels, join us for this series on parables, Vintage Jesus: Spotting the Authentic Jesus in A World of Newly Invented Fakes.

Sermon Schedule
August 1- “Militant Jesus” vs. The Prodigal Son
August 8- “Prosperity Gospel Jesus” vs. The Rich Man and Lazarus
August 15- “Anti-Outsider Jesus” vs. The Great Banquet
August 22- “Nice Guy Jesus” vs. The Barren Fig Tree
August 29- “Political Party Jesus” vs. The Mustard Seed
September 5- “Nationalist Jesus” vs. The Good Samaritan

Join us as we explore some of His most famous parables so that we can spot the authentic Jesus in a world of fakes.

The Ten Commandments: You Shall Not Steal

You may think you know what the Ten Commandments mean, and you certainly know how they are often used in American society as a political football. For example, certain politicians or groups will lobby to display the Ten Commandments on public property in an attempt to gain religious voters. If we’re honest, we may view them as trite or archaic.

The truth is that the Ten Commandments were a leap forward when they were first introduced perhaps 3,000 years ago, and they are still a leap forward for us now.

While we think ourselves as advanced beyond the ancient sheepherding people groups in the Middle East who first encountered the Ten Commandments, consider how we as a people are currently struggling with idolatry, telling the truth vs. lies, coveting, etc.

The Ten Commandments are about how we order society for the benefit of everyone, and they are an inspiring challenge to us just like they were to the first people who heard them.

Join us beginning May 23 for a new series The Ten Commandments.

Sermon Schedule

May 23- No Other Gods Before Me
May 30- You Shall Not Make for Yourself An Idol
June 6- You Shall Not Misuse the Name of the Lord Your God
June 13- Remember the Sabbath to Keep It Holy
June 20- Honor Your Parents
June 27- You Shall Not Murder
July 4- You Shall Not Commit Adultery
July 11- You Shall Not Steal
July 18- You Shall Not Give False Testimony
July 25- You Shall Not Covet (w/ Special Guest Amy Price)

Join us beginning May 23 for a new series The Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments: Honor Your Father and Mother

You may think you know what the Ten Commandments mean, and you certainly know how they are often used in American society as a political football. For example, certain politicians or groups will lobby to display the Ten Commandments on public property in an attempt to gain religious voters. If we’re honest, we may view them as trite or archaic.

The truth is that the Ten Commandments were a leap forward when they were first introduced perhaps 3,000 years ago, and they are still a leap forward for us now.

While we think ourselves as advanced beyond the ancient sheepherding people groups in the Middle East who first encountered the Ten Commandments, consider how we as a people are currently struggling with idolatry, telling the truth vs. lies, coveting, etc.

The Ten Commandments are about how we order society for the benefit of everyone, and they are an inspiring challenge to us just like they were to the first people who heard them.

Join us beginning May 23 for a new series The Ten Commandments.

Sermon Schedule

May 23- No Other Gods Before Me
May 30- You Shall Not Make for Yourself An Idol
June 6- You Shall Not Misuse the Name of the Lord Your God
June 13- Remember the Sabbath to Keep It Holy
June 20- Honor Your Parents
June 27- You Shall Not Murder
July 4- You Shall Not Commit Adultery
July 11- You Shall Not Steal
July 18- You Shall Not Give False Testimony
July 25- You Shall Not Covet (w/ Special Guest Amy Price)

Join us beginning May 23 for a new series The Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments: You Shall Not Misuse the Name of the Lord Your God

You may think you know what the Ten Commandments mean, and you certainly know how they are often used in American society as a political football. For example, certain politicians or groups will lobby to display the Ten Commandments on public property in an attempt to gain religious voters. If we’re honest, we may view them as trite or archaic.

The truth is that the Ten Commandments were a leap forward when they were first introduced perhaps 3,000 years ago, and they are still a leap forward for us now.

While we think ourselves as advanced beyond the ancient sheepherding people groups in the Middle East who first encountered the Ten Commandments, consider how we as a people are currently struggling with idolatry, telling the truth vs. lies, coveting, etc.

The Ten Commandments are about how we order society for the benefit of everyone, and they are an inspiring challenge to us just like they were to the first people who heard them.

Join us beginning May 23 for a new series The Ten Commandments.

Sermon Schedule

May 23- No Other Gods Before Me
May 30- You Shall Not Make for Yourself An Idol
June 6- You Shall Not Misuse the Name of the Lord Your God
June 13- Remember the Sabbath to Keep It Holy
June 20- Honor Your Parents
June 27- You Shall Not Murder
July 4- You Shall Not Commit Adultery
July 11- You Shall Not Steal
July 18- You Shall Not Give False Testimony
July 25- You Shall Not Covet (w/ Special Guest Amy Price)

Join us beginning May 23 for a new series The Ten Commandments.

Reset: Life After the COVID Lockdown / Joy and Peace

No one knows exactly when the COVID lockdown will end, but on April 11, we will begin a new sermon series to help you prepare. During Reset: Life After the COVID Lockdown, you will be able to explore the question:

What have you learned about life during the COVID lockdown that will help you after the lockdown ends?

The COVID-19 lockdown has given you the opportunity to hit the reset button on life. We have been forced to slow down, spend more time alone or with close family members, reevaluate many things, and the division and drama of this past year has tested our resolve and relationships.

To help us explore, we’ll look to a familiar list of traits that Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23, the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Chances are, what you have learned about life has something to do with one or more of those words.

Don’t miss this chance to hit the reset button.

Sermon Schedule

April 11- Love
April 18- Joy and Peace
April 25- Patience and Kindness
May 2- Goodness and Faithfulness
May 9- Gentleness and Self-Control (Mother’s Day)

Join us beginning April 11 for Reset: Life After the COVID Lockdown.

Postcards from Babylon: Chapters Nine and Ten

The series is based on a book of the same title by Brian Zahnd. Every week, the sermon will be based on the book, and the following Wednesday at 6:00pm Arizona time, you will have the opportunity to discuss the reading for that week in a new Online Connect Group.

Click here to get more information about the Online Connect Group.

Series Schedule

February 21- Chapters 1 and 2
February 28- Chapters 3 and 4 with special guest Travis Lovrien
March 7- Chapters 5 and 6
March 14- Chapters 7 and 8 with special guest Aaron Strietzel
March 21- Chapters 9 and 10 with special guest Jezekiel Vitalsey
March 28- Special Guest Brian Zahnd

From the publisher:

The original gospel proclamation that the Lord of the nations was a crucified Galilean raised from the dead and that salvation was found in vowing allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth unleashed a shock wave that turned the Roman Empire upside down. Early Christianity was subversive and dangerous—dangerous for Christians and a threat to the keepers of the old order. Most of all Christianity was countercultural.

But what about contemporary American Christianity? Is it the countercultural way of Jesus or merely a religious endorsement of Americanism? In his provocative book, Postcards From Babylon, Brian Zahnd challenges the reader to see and embrace a daring Jesus-centered Christianity that can again turn the world upside down.

Purchase your book anywhere books are sold, and join us beginning Sunday February 21 for the Lent 2021 series, Postcards from Babylon: The Church in American Exile.

All Was Not Calm: Preparing the Way for God and Good

This Christmas will feel different than others.

We will celebrate during the darkness of a pandemic, often at a distance from those we love. It may feel even more painful because of the “warm and fuzzy” feelings we have toward Christmas, an idyllic view of a perfect day of light and inspiration, like the lyrics of “Silent Night.”

But that’s not what the first Christmas was like.

The real Christmas story tells us that it was not a silent night and all was not calm. Jesus was born into a dark, noisy world, a world ruled by dictators, with fear of disease, and increasing hatred for those perceived as different in any way.

When the Christmas story speaks of light shining into the darkness, we now know what that darkness feels like. The first Christmas was just like this one. The world into which Jesus was born was just like ours. So, in 2020, the real Christmas story means more now than ever.

This Advent,  join us for “All Was Not Calm.”

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