The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem- Mary of Nazareth

It is one of western civilization’s best-known stories. For two thousand years it has been told and retold, preached and sung about. It has been represented by the titans of art and by the purveyors of mass-produced lawn figures. We celebrate it every year with Christmas trees and lights, with gifts and cards, carols and hymns.

Even if you did not go to church growing up, you’re probably familiar with the story. You know the locale—a manger in Bethlehem. You know the cast of characters—Mary and Joseph, the angels and shepherds, the wise men and King Herod. You may know plot details—the census, the long journey, the overcrowded inn.

And yet, as is often the case, the story’s very familiarity may keep us from fully grasping its riches. We think, “Well, yes, I know that story,” as its depth and nuance escape us.

There is much more to the Christmas story than meets the eye. There are details we may have missed entirely. And there are certainly a few places where the picture you have in your mind’s eye is actually wrong!

Based on the book of the same title by Adam Hamilton, we will explore the story of Jesus’ birth with fresh eyes and ears. We will walk through the Holy Land and retrace the steps of those involved. We will draw upon insights gained from historians, archaeologists, biblical scholars, and theologians and from walking in the places the story occurred, all in an effort to discover the real meaning of Christmas.

In seeking that meaning, we will address four questions:

—What actually happened leading up to and including the first Christmas?

—What does the story teach us about the character of God?

—What does it tell us about the child whose birth we celebrate?

—What does this story mean for our lives today?

Join us this Advent season beginning November 28 for The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem.

Live Well: Spiritually

The past few years have probably challenged our health and wellbeing more than any other time in our lives.

We have experienced heightened anxiety and strained relationships. With this added stress and the COVID shutdown, we have probably been tempted to overeat and exercise less. On top of that, many of us have embarked on a spiritual journey during which we left old paradigms behind and have been searching for a new kind of spiritual wellbeing.

In this series, we will explore time-tested wisdom for living well in a challenging time.

Sermon Schedule
Oct. 24- When Life Doesn’t Go Well
Oct. 31- Emotional Wellness
Nov. 7- Relational Wellness
Nov. 14- Physical Wellness
Nov. 21- Spiritual Wellness (Thanksgiving Sunday)

Join us beginning October 24 for a new series, Live Well.

Live Well: Physically

The past few years have probably challenged our health and wellbeing more than any other time in our lives.

We have experienced heightened anxiety and strained relationships. With this added stress and the COVID shutdown, we have probably been tempted to overeat and exercise less. On top of that, many of us have embarked on a spiritual journey during which we left old paradigms behind and have been searching for a new kind of spiritual wellbeing.

In this series, we will explore time-tested wisdom for living well in a challenging time.

Sermon Schedule
Oct. 24- When Life Doesn’t Go Well
Oct. 31- Emotional Wellness
Nov. 7- Relational Wellness
Nov. 14- Physical Wellness
Nov. 21- Spiritual Wellness (Thanksgiving Sunday)

Join us beginning October 24 for a new series, Live Well.

Live Well: Emotionally

The past few years have probably challenged our health and wellbeing more than any other time in our lives.

We have experienced heightened anxiety and strained relationships. With this added stress and the COVID shutdown, we have probably been tempted to overeat and exercise less. On top of that, many of us have embarked on a spiritual journey during which we left old paradigms behind and have been searching for a new kind of spiritual wellbeing.

In this series, we will explore time-tested wisdom for living well in a challenging time.

Sermon Schedule
Oct. 24- When Life Doesn’t Go Well
Oct. 31- Emotional Wellness
Nov. 7- Relational Wellness
Nov. 14- Physical Wellness
Nov. 21- Spiritual Wellness (Thanksgiving Sunday)

Join us beginning October 24 for a new series, Live Well.

Live Well: When Life Doesn’t Go Well

The past few years have probably challenged our health and wellbeing more than any other time in our lives.

We have experienced heightened anxiety and strained relationships. With this added stress and the COVID shutdown, we have probably been tempted to overeat and exercise less. On top of that, many of us have embarked on a spiritual journey during which we left old paradigms behind and have been searching for a new kind of spiritual wellbeing.

In this series, we will explore time-tested wisdom for living well in a challenging time.

Sermon Schedule
Oct. 24- When Life Doesn’t Go Well
Oct. 31- Emotional Wellness
Nov. 7- Relational Wellness
Nov. 14- Physical Wellness
Nov. 21- Spiritual Wellness (Thanksgiving Sunday)

Join us beginning October 24 for a new series, Live Well.

A More Christlike Way: Radical Compassion/Justice

The Well fall all-church study this year is a book entitled A More Christlike Way: A More Beautiful Faith.

Author Brad Jersak deconstructs four counterfeit ways and then explores seven facets of the Jesus Way. From the book description: “Christ’s radical revelation of true humanity beckons us, ‘Would you be human? Take up your cross and follow me.'”

For six weeks, the sermons and a brand new Online Connect Group will coincide, as we discuss A More Christlike Way.

To participate:

Purchase your copy of A More Christlike Way, by Brad Jersak, wherever books are sold.

Beginning September 12, hear weekly sermons based on the book, and discuss your reading in the Online Connect Group.

Reading Schedule

Sermons begin September 12, and the Online Connect Group begins Wednesday September 15.

Ex. On September 12, you will hear a sermon on Week One- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3, then you read those portions for yourself, then you will discuss your reading at the Online Connect Group on September 15.

Week One (week of Sept. 12)- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3
Week Two (week of Sept. 19)- Counterfeits 1-4
Week Three (week of Sept. 26)- Facets 1 and 2
Week Four (week of Oct. 3)- Facets 3 and 4
Week Five (week of Oct. 10)- Facets 5 and 6
Week Six (week of Oct. 17)- Facet 7 and “Finale”

A More Christlike Way: Forgiveness

The Well fall all-church study this year is a book entitled A More Christlike Way: A More Beautiful Faith.

Author Brad Jersak deconstructs four counterfeit ways and then explores seven facets of the Jesus Way. From the book description: “Christ’s radical revelation of true humanity beckons us, ‘Would you be human? Take up your cross and follow me.'”

For six weeks, the sermons and a brand new Online Connect Group will coincide, as we discuss A More Christlike Way.

To participate:

Purchase your copy of A More Christlike Way, by Brad Jersak, wherever books are sold.

Beginning September 12, hear weekly sermons based on the book, and discuss your reading in the Online Connect Group.

Reading Schedule

Sermons begin September 12, and the Online Connect Group begins Wednesday September 15.

Ex. On September 12, you will hear a sermon on Week One- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3, then you read those portions for yourself, then you will discuss your reading at the Online Connect Group on September 15.

Week One (week of Sept. 12)- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3
Week Two (week of Sept. 19)- Counterfeits 1-4
Week Three (week of Sept. 26)- Facets 1 and 2
Week Four (week of Oct. 3)- Facets 3 and 4
Week Five (week of Oct. 10)- Facets 5 and 6
Week Six (week of Oct. 17)- Facet 7 and “Finale”

A More Christlike Way: Radical Self-Giving and Radical Hospitality

The Well fall all-church study this year is a book entitled A More Christlike Way: A More Beautiful Faith.

Author Brad Jersak deconstructs four counterfeit ways and then explores seven facets of the Jesus Way. From the book description: “Christ’s radical revelation of true humanity beckons us, ‘Would you be human? Take up your cross and follow me.'”

For six weeks, the sermons and a brand new Online Connect Group will coincide, as we discuss A More Christlike Way.

To participate:

Purchase your copy of A More Christlike Way, by Brad Jersak, wherever books are sold.
Join the new Online Connect Group here.
Beginning September 12, hear weekly sermons based on the book, and discuss your reading in the Online Connect Group.

Reading Schedule

Sermons begin September 12, and the Online Connect Group begins Wednesday September 15.

Ex. On September 12, you will hear a sermon on Week One- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3, then you read those portions for yourself, then you will discuss your reading at the Online Connect Group on September 15.

Week One (week of Sept. 12)- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3
Week Two (week of Sept. 19)- Counterfeits 1-4
Week Three (week of Sept. 26)- Facets 1 and 2
Week Four (week of Oct. 3)- Facets 3 and 4
Week Five (week of Oct. 10)- Facets 5 and 6
Week Six (week of Oct. 17)- Facet 7 and “Finale”

A More Christlike Way: The Ugly Side of Christianity

The Well fall all-church study this year is a book entitled A More Christlike Way: A More Beautiful Faith.

Author Brad Jersak deconstructs four counterfeit ways and then explores seven facets of the Jesus Way. From the book description: “Christ’s radical revelation of true humanity beckons us, ‘Would you be human? Take up your cross and follow me.'”

For six weeks, the sermons and a brand new Online Connect Group will coincide, as we discuss A More Christlike Way.

To participate:

Purchase your copy of A More Christlike Way, by Brad Jersak, wherever books are sold.
Join the new Online Connect Group here.
Beginning September 12, hear weekly sermons based on the book, and discuss your reading in the Online Connect Group.

Reading Schedule

Sermons begin September 12, and the Online Connect Group begins Wednesday September 15.

Ex. On September 12, you will hear a sermon on Week One- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3, then you read those portions for yourself, then you will discuss your reading at the Online Connect Group on September 15.

Week One (week of Sept. 12)- “Read this First!” and Chapters 1-3
Week Two (week of Sept. 19)- Counterfeits 1-4
Week Three (week of Sept. 26)- Facets 1 and 2
Week Four (week of Oct. 3)- Facets 3 and 4
Week Five (week of Oct. 10)- Facets 5 and 6
Week Six (week of Oct. 17)- Facet 7 and “Finale”

Vintage Jesus: “Nationalist Jesus” vs. The Good Samaritan

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.

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