The following post is part 2 of 3 in a series. You can read part 1 , "Revitalization: Our Moment" here. Trends. If you try to follow them too closely you’ll end up turned around, upside down and backwards, like the clothing on my three-year-old when she dresses herself. But if you...
I remember sitting in a chapel at The Master’s Seminary listening to John Macarthur informally share about some of the different ministries he had been participating in over the previous few months. He said something shocking that I have yet to find in print: “Some of you have...
There is nothing in Acts that connects the filling of the Holy Spirit with singing, raising hands, or expressive worship. That's often what we equate the working of the Spirit with today. However, the Spirit was abundantly active in the first century church to give them power to preach in the...
Human flourishing has become a bit of a buzzword phrase, with emphasis being placed on thriving and prospering. It is the idea that we seek for ourselves and help others find well being and happiness in a holistic concern for the spiritual, moral, physical, economic, material, political...
Suffering in the early church (and still for the church today) was not only a means of delivering the gospel - it was a means of spreading the gospel. For the first few years of its visible existence, the church stayed in Jerusalem. The church reached out, but only locally or to those who...
At any point in our day, week, or month, there are a myriad of things to pray for. Health issues, trials, money worries, and upcoming events make up the normal list of prayers that we offer. In Colossians 1:9, Paul teaches us by example what consumed the primary nature of his prayer life. He...
Instead of thinking about the gospel as something only external, or something to be seen, or a story to be heard (which it is), we must also view it as a lens by which we view everything else. The gospel changes our hearts from stone to flesh, but it also allows us to put on new glasses (maybe...
Jaime Mangiafridda graciously agreed to write a review and response to Fear and Faith by Trillia Newbell. We're so thankful for Jaime, for her and David's involvement in our church family, and for Jaime sharing her perspective on this great book. Trillia Newbell is the speaker for our...
Our 2017 Renew summer nights are off to a great start, and we're very grateful to Pastor Brent Hisayasu, lead pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel Ventura, for spending this past Sunday night with us. Listen here to his message on forgiveness if you missed, and to prep for week two of Renew coming...
1 Timothy 3:14-16 says, "I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of...