The True Story

The Cycle of Judges

The Cycle of Judges

Israel had been rescued by God and finally entered into the promised land of rest. But it didn’t take long for them to rebel against Him and worship other gods. So, God would hand them over to their rebellion and let the gods they worshipped and the nations they longed for take them over. They would cry out for rescue so God would send someone as a judge over sin and the other nations. The people would rejoice, but again, it didn’t take long to repeat their rebellion.

They found themselves in an exhausting cycle: rescue, rest, rebellion, reaping the consequences, rescue… repeat. Who could come and break the cycle?

Crossing Over

Crossing Over

God’s people had been freed from slavery but had been wandering around the wilderness now for decades. To make matters worse, their leader Moses had passed away. Would this new leader, Joshua, be able to cut it? Would the people finally enter into the land promised to them long ago? Would they finally learn that it was not Moses or Joshua who would rescue them, but Yahweh himself who is their salvation?

The People At Sinai

The People At Sinai

Once God set His people free from slavery to Egypt, He showed His power to them and gave them a new way to live. In His ways. As His representatives.

These commandments were not just rules to follow. They were a liberating new way of life that would display God’s glory and goodness to the rest of the nations.

The Passover

The Passover

God has gone head to head with Pharaoh, perhaps the most powerful man in the world. Pharaoh brought all of his gods to the battle as well. God, the Lord of Israel, the Creator of all the universe, has been victorious every step of the way. Nine times, he defeats the gods of Egypt. Then He had one last blow to deal. Yet, even in the brutal discipline and judgment of God, He provides a way out. He gives an opportunity for not just Israel, but all who would trust in Him, to have death pass over them and lead them on to life.

Stuck In Egypt

Stuck In Egypt

Could you imagine going somewhere on vacation only to find yourself stuck there for the rest of your life? The vacation spot would turn into a prison. What if then the indigenous people who you once traveled to enjoy their culture begun to oppress you and your family, putting you to work for them, and replacing the once delicious culinary experience with bland food that serves only as sustenance for more work?

This is sort of what happens to Israel. They went to Egypt as a rescue from the famine. 400 years later their descendants still lived there as slaves. Who would come to rescue them? What about the promise God gave their ancestors of their own land in Canaan? In Exodus 1 & 2, we hear about a God who hears, sees, and knows. A God who has not given up on His people. A God of rescue.

Reboot or Rerun?

Reboot or Rerun?

If you read Genesis, and much of the Old Testament, you might come across this reoccurring theme: God calls a human to be His representative, that human fails or rebels against God, God disciplines but also makes a promise to continue. Then, He starts with another human.

Is God rebooting His plan over and over again until He finds the right human for the role? Or are we seeing a rerun episode of God doing what He has always done, continuing the plan He set forth from the very beginning?

As we look at the 12 brothers of Jacob (Israel), we find a great prospect for this lineage to continue through Joseph. However, Jesus one day would come through the tribe of Judah, the brother who betrayed Joseph for some silver. What is God up to?

A Brothers Battle for Birthright

A Brothers Battle for Birthright

Israel’s family history is one with a sketchy past. Deceit, manipulation, lack of trust, and outright rebellion are just a few characteristics - many of which can be seen in the man whom the entire nation would be named after. Jacob, is later renamed Israel, grasps for what was not his while his twin brother lets it all go for fleeting satisfaction. And yet, though these two brothers lived thousands of years before us, they not only tell the story of Israel but the story of humanity.

A Bloody Covenant

A Bloody Covenant

God just won’t give up on His plan to partner with humanity as His representatives to care for creation. He chose a man, Abram, to grow a family which would build a nation in order to bless the rest of the world. Abram didn’t always come through on his end of the partnership. Neither would his descendants. But there would be one who would come as a descendant of humanity and of God Himself, who would uphold both ends of the partnership, and take on the bloody consequence of those who broke it.

Washing the World

Washing the World

The story of the flood is not a cutesy children’s tale with animals and a boat. It’s a horrific, tragic, true story. Yet, on the other side of the chaotic waters, it is also a true story of hope and restoration. Join us as we look at this story and try to tackle some of the difficult questions it brings up.

From the Dust

From the Dust

This week's gathering was a little different as the realities of Covid forced us to all meet via Zoom. Please excuse the recording quality and the tone which was much more teaching and discussion than sermon.

God created some great potential in small beginnings, and called humanity to partner with Him in making it all flourish. How has humanity done with this partnership?

Back in the Day

Back in the Day

We begin a 40 week series through the entire True Story of Scripture, starting at the very beginning. Back in the day, God made everything up there and down here. He made order in the midst of chaos and placed life in the space where it could flourish. Then He appointed a particular creature, humans, to care for all of it.