Crucifixion was a particularly gruesome way to die, but when Jesus died on the cross it wasn’t just gruesome, it was cursed. Seeking to understand the cursed nature of the cross leads us to make connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament, between our deep-seated guilt and the extreme cost Jesus paid to set us free. We were rightly cursed by God for our failure to keep his covenant, but Jesus became that curse to pay our debt. Join us as we study Scripture to better understand the meaning and implications of the curse of the cross and consider the implications for our lives of faith today. 

Sometimes habits or traditions become so ingrained in our lives that we can go through the motions of them without spending much time reflecting on their meaning. Sometimes, it benefits us to slow down and once again ask, “why?” We’ll begin our Lenten series “The Cross of Jesus” by examining scriptures that help us answer the question, “Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?” Together, we’ll grow in our faith by seeking to understand what went wrong, recalling God’s covenant, and remembering God’s character and love so that we can better understand why Jesus Christ’s awful death was necessary. 

Many of us are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer. In it,  Jesus taught his followers to pray, “...forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Through these powerful words, Jesus highlights the central importance of the virtue of forgiveness to the Christian life. However, saying we believe that forgiveness is important is a lot different than forgiving; most people would agree that true forgiveness can be quite difficult and often takes a lot of time and work. Join Groundwork as we dig into Scripture to better understand what it means to forgive, why we forgive, and what forgiveness requires of us. We’ll discuss real-life complications of forgiveness, the importance of recognizing forgiveness as a process, and useful steps for cultivating the virtue of forgiveness in our daily lives.  

Most people would say it is wrong to lie and good to tell the truth. Yet, most people would also admit that at some time in their lives, they’ve told a lie. The apostle Paul identifies truthfulness as a defining virtue of a faithful believer. So, what does that mean for us imperfect followers of Jesus today? Join Groundwork as we study truth in the Bible and explore Scripture to discover what it means to be truthful and how it can shape our lives and faith. Together we’ll discuss the nature of God's truthfulness and explore the connection between truthfulness, integrity, and trust. We’ll also look at what we risk when we lie and how we can practically embody the Christlike virtue of truthfulness in everyday life.

The apostle Paul encourages Christ’s followers to be generous people. Yet, for many of us, generosity does not come naturally. In our human nature, we often feel resistant to giving very much of our time, talents, or money for the sake of others. Join Groundwork as we study Scripture to discover why generosity is an important virtue for Christ's followers to cultivate and what it means to be a generous person. We’ll discuss the generous character of God, the generosity of Jesus, and how we can lean into their abundant generosity so that it nurtures our own. Together, we’ll identify practical ways we can cultivate this important virtue in our everyday lives. 

Why are thanksgiving and gratitude important virtues for Jesus' followers to cultivate? Join Groundwork as we explore the Scriptures to answer this question by defining thankfulness and gratitude and what it looks like to give expression to these essential virtues in our lives. Together, we’ll look at the connection between grace and thanks and ways we can nurture thankfulness and gratitude in our thoughts, prayers, and actions.  

We talk about humility in the church a lot, but what exactly does it look like? Is it possible to be proud of yourself and be humble? The Christlike virtue of humility is a root virtue from which many of the other virtues flow. Join Groundwork as we explore Scripture to discover the biblical understanding of humility, to identify what humility is not, and to witness and learn from how Christ demonstrated humility here on earth. Together, we’ll also discuss how we can live out Christlike humility in our everyday thoughts and actions today. 

The Christlike virtue of compassion is more than an emotion. The apostle Paul identifies compassion as a defining characteristic in followers of Jesus. Join us as we look in the gospels to witness the compassionate character of Christ. Then we’ll discuss how compassion relates to empathy and its connection to comfort. We will see examples of God’s compassion to discover the roots of our own capacity for compassion and what it looks like in our everyday lives. 

Questions are a natural part of our faith. Asking questions helps us to clarify what we believe and what it means to live as Christians in the world. In this episode, we consider some of the questions you asked in response to our series on the Lord’s Prayer, Joshua, and Revelation. Then we’ll discuss issues that some of our listeners shared are most pressing for their faith right now and look at the scriptures to find the hope and encouragement we need to live faithfully each day. 

As we celebrate Christmas and re-tell the story of baby Jesus—the Savior of the World, born in a lowly manger—may we also remember that he is the one the prophet Isaiah called the “Prince of Peace.” Join us as we reflect on our real need for this peace in our lives and our world. Together we’ll study the story of Jesus’ birth and dig into Scripture to discover the deep and meaningful shalom that Jesus brought to us in his birth, that he promises to establish permanently when he returns, and that we can share now as his agents of peace in our world. 

The prophet Isaiah continued to reveal the nature of the coming Messiah when he prophesied that he would be the “Everlasting Father.” Now that we know that Jesus was the “coming Messiah,” we might wonder, how can the Son of God also be the Everlasting Father? Join us as we discuss how our understanding of the Triune God clarifies how Jesus is our Everlasting Father. Together, let’s prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas, with an Advent reflection on the true nature of a father as revealed to us in both the Old and New Testaments. We’ll come to better understand how this revolutionary title reveals the nature of Jesus and discover the comfort and belonging offered to us in Jesus, our Everlasting Father.

The prophet Isaiah first calls the coming Messiah a “Wonderful Counselor.” Join us as we dig into Scripture to discover what this title communicates about Jesus and how it is connected to the biblical wisdom tradition. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we’ll discuss what it means that Jesus is the wisdom of God and therefore, truly is a wonderful counselor whose guidance, when we seek and follow it with humility, will keep us on the right path. 

As the apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Romans, he instructs this early community of believers regarding how they should handle their differences. He knows that differences and disagreements are inevitable because the good news of the gospel calls people of many ages, backgrounds, and experiences. In Romans chapters 14-16, we find Paul’s instructions for Christian living, teachings that continue to help us understand how we can live together today as changed and changing people. Paul shares practical ways we can love our neighbor and reminds us that sometimes showing love means choosing not to do something. Join us and be reminded of the heart of Paul’s message: love for God and love for each other. 

As the apostle Paul continues to unpack the new realities of life for the early Roman Christians, he challenges them to live transformed lives—lives worthy of the grace and mercy they received in Jesus. Join us to study Paul’s teaching in Romans 12-13 and discover how we might live in light of the gospel, renew our minds, and be living sacrifices for God. Let’s walk with Paul through the process of discerning what transformed living means for our civic life. And finally, let us reflect on Paul’s declaration that love is at the heart of a transformed life. As Christ followers today we can demonstrate the same love and compassion as Jesus Christ because of the help of the Holy Spirit. So how are we putting on Christ and being conformed to his likeness, and not conformed to the pattern of this world?   

When loved ones don’t believe in Jesus despite being raised by Christian parents or growing up in church, it can leave us with deep aches and painful questions about God’s sovereign choices and our free will. The apostle Paul understood this ache and wrestling.  Even as he celebrated the inclusion of Gentile believers into God’s family through faith in Jesus, he was distraught by what this same truth meant for Jews who did not come to believe in Jesus. In Romans 9-11, Paul laments his concern for the Jews and demonstrates what it looks like to turn to Scripture to seek wisdom for the concerns of our hearts. Join us as we dig into Paul’s teaching, a teaching that informs what we today call the doctrine of predestination. May we find comfort in the truth that God, in his mercy, has chosen us. Like Paul, may the truth of God’s mercy give us hope and assurance that God is patient and there is still time for those we love to believe and receive salvation in Jesus Christ.  

If there’s one thing that Paul wants believers to understand, it is that the power of the gospel is life-changing. In his letter to the Romans, he details why we so desperately need the gospel and how the good news of salvation is for all people. In Romans 8, Paul turns to answering the question “Now what?” Join us as we unpack Paul’s writings about our justification—our being made right with God—and what it means for us to be IN CHRIST. Find encouragement and comfort in Paul’s teaching about pain and suffering in this world, and how we have help from the Holy Spirit, to live into the reality of our new life in Christ. And the best, most assuring truth of all? Paul assures us nothing can take our salvation away or separate us from Jesus Christ. 

After Paul writes his summary of the gospel and explains the purpose of God’s law, he turns to a very important topic: making sure that the believers in Rome understand just how much God loves them. A truth we can all continue to cling to today. By studying Paul’s writing about the implications of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we gain a better understanding of the Christian doctrines of justification and sanctification. We are reminded that we are indeed saved through God’s grace and made right with God through our faith alone—nothing we do saves us. Finally, we reflect on Paul’s pivotal point: salvation is for all people, not just the Jews. Join us in studying Paul’s teaching so that we might remember the good news of salvation and glean wisdom for the struggles we experience while we are becoming more Christ-like.

Why do we need the gospel? How is the gospel relevant to my life? In the opening chapters of Romans, the apostle Paul records concise explanations to these questions, and his teaching remains greatly beneficial for all believers. In this episode, we’ll begin by looking together in the book of Acts to establish the context for Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Then we’ll turn to Romans to study and discuss Paul’s summary of the gospel, his explanation of the purpose of God’s law, and the problem of sin. Lastly, we’ll explore what Paul says about how we are transformed, where we can turn for hope, and what all of this means for our lives today. 

Daniel was a prophet who could interpret others’ dreams. Many of us are quite familiar with the stories of  Daniel interpreting the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar. But God also spoke to Daniel in his own dreams—dreams in which God revealed important truths about the End Times. Daniel’s apocalyptic dreams are full of complex symbolism and otherworldly images. At times, they can be mystifying. Christians throughout history have tried to precisely identify the meaning of each and every number and image found in Daniel’s dreams. However, when we study Daniel 7-12 and focus solely on finding correlations or solving puzzles, we can miss the important overarching truths. Join us as we study Daniel’s dreams and prayer to find assurance of God’s constancy and power, and to remember that only God’s kingdom will endure forever. Let us rejoice together that we can entrust our lives to God because he alone is sovereign now and always. 

At some point in life, each of us will find ourselves in a situation that is simply unfair. We try our best to live moral lives that honor God, but sometimes it feels like the world wants to punish us for it. When we experience this kind of  injustice, it can lead us to ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” And when unfair circumstances threaten our way of life, it can be tempting to compromise our beliefs and values in order to protect ourselves and preserve our way of life. But the Bible is clear that God is with us in those difficult circumstances. The story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den is a reminder that we are not on our own and that God is able to deliver his people. Join us in studying Daniel 6 and discover the courage to trust God and remain steadfast in our faith, even when evil seems to be winning. 

“You reap what you sow.” “Cause and effect.” “Actions have consequences.” There is truth in these common phrases, but it can be easy for us to forget such wisdom in the heat of a moment. When we face difficult decisions, we often wish for a clear and obvious divine message from God, but it is important to remember that much of what we need or desire to know, we can already find in the Bible. When we are tempted to seek power and glory for ourselves, it is valuable for us to revisit the story of “the hand writing on the wall” in  Daniel, chapter 5. As Daniel interprets the meaning of this divine message for King Belshazzar, we learn a great deal about the relationship between accountability, consequences, and our faith. And we are reminded and assured that God is in control, sovereign over all, and that he deserves all the glory.

Living faithfully in this world isn’t always easy. At times, we all experience pressure to compromise our faith.  Sometimes, it can feel easier to just go along with what is culturally accepted.  Other times, we may fear the attention that standing firm in the convictions of our faith can bring. And even other times it can be especially difficult to maintain our resolve in the midst of daunting opposition. At these moments, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace can provide us with great hope, and encourage us to stand firm, trust God, and remain faithful even in the most challenging of circumstances.  Join us as we dig into Daniel 3 to be reminded that in all situations, God is with us—helping, strengthening, and protecting us. When we trust God and refuse to compromise our faith, God is glorified.

Our lives are filled with changing situations and circumstances beyond our control. When we experience injustice or lack power over aspects of our own lives, it can be tempting to question if God is present in our situation. We can begin to wonder if God is even able to help us in the face of unjust authority. The Israelites living in exile under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar likely experienced similar challenges to their faith. But in Daniel 2 and 4, God reminds us of his sovereignty through the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar. As Daniel retells the king’s dreams and interprets them, we find hope because those dreams remind us that in all things, no matter the situation, God is sovereign and in control.

When we lack control over our circumstances or when our culture pressures us to compromise our faith, it can be difficult to stay committed to following God’s commands and living out what we believe. Daniel and his Jewish friends knew what it was like to live in a culture that was not particularly welcoming to their faith practices. As the book of Daniel opens, we meet Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—four young Jewish men preparing to serve the Babylonian king. Join us as we unpack the context in which the book of Daniel takes place. We’ll discuss how and why the Israelites found themselves living in exile in Babylon and study the challenges these four young men faced in Daniel 1. Together, let’s witness what God can do when we let our faith, not our context, define our character.

After the Apostle Paul started the church in Corinth, others came after him that began to teach the Corinthian Christians differently. These false teachers were challenging Paul’s teaching on the resurrection, a crucial and important truth at the heart of the Christian faith. Influenced by the culture around them, they suggested that Christ’s resurrection was not a true, physical, bodily resurrection. As Paul responds to these false teachings, he is adamant that it is necessary to believe in the truth of Christ’s bodily resurrection. Discover what Paul says are the consequences for our faith if Jesus is not raised from the dead and why this truth is crucial to the gospel message. Learn from Paul’s message to the Corinthians why you can continue to stand firm today on the truth and reality of Christ’s resurrection. 

Every church is made up of broken, sinful believers redeemed by the blood of Christ. But far too often our human condition gets the better of us and we argue, disagree, inflict pain on one another, and sometimes even experience a break in a relationship.  This reality is not unique to the modern church. The Corinthian church struggled with unity too. They did not care for one another as they should have and the church had an almost clique-like mentality. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul calls their behavior unacceptable and instructs them to make Christ-like love their guiding principle for their thoughts, motives, and actions. He also gives them further teaching on spiritual gifts so they can better understand the value of each of their members. Studying Paul’s instruction to the Corinthian Christians provides guidance for us still today as we seek to worship and live well together in community.

Freedom is a value most of us cherish and protect. But what happens when our personal freedom is in direct conflict with someone else’s personal freedom? How do our Christian faith and our freedom in Christ help us navigate these conflicts and make it possible to continue living in unity? And how can we be sure that our efforts to live in unity don’t compromise our integrity or cause us to become lukewarm or wishy-washy Christians? Join us as we study the Apostle Paul’s guidance to the early Christians in 1 Corinthians to discover the wisdom we seek to reconcile these questions. Discover why Paul does not equate personal freedom with Christian freedom and why remembering the second Greatest Commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39)—helps us embrace our Christian freedom more fully.   

How does faith in God affect the daily choices you make? Sometimes, it’s easy or clear to see how faith influences a decision. Should I steal? No, that wouldn’t be the choice of a faithful Christian. But other things are less clear. Can I enjoy sex or is it sinful? Can I eat anything I want or do I need to be more discerning? The early Christians in Corinth had many questions about how they should best honor God through their choices and they sought advice from the Apostle Paul. Let’s study Paul’s guidance to the Corinthians so that we can glean his wisdom and gain a better understanding of God’s vision for how we honor and glorify him through our choices and how our faith informs how we act—in our personal lives, in our relationships, and in our communities. 

The early Christians in the Corinthian church had many questions about how their faith impacted various aspects of their lives. You might be surprised that many of the topics the Apostle Paul advised them on in his letter are things we’re still wrestling with today: sexuality and sexual immorality, accountability in the life of the church, and lawsuits or disagreements among believers. Discover why in each of these situations Paul admonished believers to remember their identity as those baptized in Christ and to act accordingly.

As humans, we almost can’t help but make comparisons. But when comparing distracts us from what’s true and what’s important, then it becomes unhelpful and even problematic. The Christians in Corinth struggled with a comparison problem. As Paul addresses their problem in 1 Corinthians, he offers not only the Corinthians, but us too a valuable perspective on power, authority, and leadership in the church, and a vital reminder that Christ is the foundation upon which we should build all things. Together, let’s study Paul’s guidance to the Corinthians to gain a better understanding of what it means to dwell in Christ and live and work as believers today.

The Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Corinthian church by addressing those who are "sanctified and called." But we quickly discover that much like ourselves, the Corinthian church was full of imperfect believers sorting out the impact of their faith on how they lived in the world. In the opening chapters of this letter, Paul reminds believers that God’s wisdom may not make sense by the world’s standards, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25). Join us in digging into Paul’s reminder that when we are confused or need help discerning God’s way, we should return back to the basics and the heart of the gospel message.

For centuries, Christians around the world have concluded the Lord’s Prayer the same way: “For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.” However, these meaningful words are not in the prayer Jesus teaches his disciples in Matthew 6 or Luke 11, so where do we get them? Join us as we conclude our study of the Lord’s Prayer by studying the scriptural sources that give credence to this historically accepted conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer. Together we’ll discuss the importance of these words, what we mean when we say them, and why we end the Lord’s Prayer this way. 

In the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Some Bible translations present slight variations like “save us from the time of trial” or simply translate the second half as “deliver us from evil.”  Perhaps you’ve wondered, “Why do we need to ask God not to lead us into temptation? Is that something he does?” Join us as we study Scripture passages that assure us that God is indeed good and does not lead us into temptation. We’ll also discuss the nature of sin, what temptation is, and how it plays out in our lives. Together, we’ll clarify the meaning of evil, we’ll remember that Jesus has already won the spiritual battle with evil, and we’ll see how praying this petition helps us remember our own identity and purpose. 

In the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Whether your Bible translates that particular word as debts, trespasses, or sins, Jesus addresses our broken relationships and the necessity of giving and receiving forgiveness. As fallen human beings, we know that forgiving someone who has wronged us is not always easy—and sometimes it’s complicated by a lack of repentance, or even serious issues of abuse or mistreatment.  Join us as we examine Scripture to glean a biblical definition of forgiveness and better understand the concept of spiritual debt. Together, we’ll discuss what it means that Jesus connected our petition for forgiveness from God with our willingness to forgive each other, and we’ll consider the implications of forgiveness for both our daily and our eternal lives. 

In the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray “Give us today our daily bread.” Join Groundwork as we dig into Scripture to understand this petition better, why it’s meaningful, and what it helps us remember. Together, we’ll discuss how asking God for our daily bread nurtures our faith—both in times of want and in times of plenty, and we’ll explore how this petition speaks to our worry, teaches us to trust, and encourages our gratitude. 

In the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to ask God to bring his kingdom to earth, just as it exists in heaven right now. Likewise, he models the importance of asking God to do his will on earth, just as his will is being done in heaven. Join us as we study Scriptures that teach us about both God’s kingdom and God’s will, so that we might better understand what we’re asking of God in this petition. Discover how this line of the Lord’s Prayer shapes us and continues to help us align our agenda with God’s agenda. And together we’ll reflect on how we live as kingdom citizens today, and what this prayer does in and for us as we pray it before God. 

In the opening line of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us the importance of opening our prayers by acknowledging who we’re talking to. Join us as we study the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer and dig into Scriptures that help us better understand what we mean and what we’re asking when we pray  “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.” We’ll discuss what this opening line acknowledges about who God is, what it affirms about our own identity, what it communicates about our relationship with God, and what it means for us. 

The Bible repeatedly makes clear that it is God’s nature to provide for his creation. And in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clearly teaches us not to worry (Matthew 6:25-34). Join us as we study Scriptures that teach us about God’s providence. We’ll talk about the difference between worry and having proper concern for our circumstances.  We’ll discuss God’s character and his involvement in our lives, and what it means for us to trust in God’s provision. Finally, we’ll examine how our belief informs the way we think and pray about our needs and our finances. Together, we’ll consider practical ways we can demonstrate our trust in God’s providential care both in times of need and times of plenty. 

Is tithing still relevant for Christians today or is it an outdated practice from the Old Testament? Does God really want us to “give until it hurts”? As Christians, we wrestle with questions like these as we try to discern what it means to live faithfully with our finances. The Bible teaches us that everything we have belongs to God. So, as stewards of God’s resources, let’s study Scripture together to better understand biblical stewardship and what this means for how we handle the money and possessions we have in this life. We’ll also dig into the meaning and purpose of the Christian practice of tithing and look at what it realistically means for us today. Together, we’ll cultivate a spirit of generosity in our lives while also considering what good balance looks like so that we might use God’s resources wisely to honor his heart. 

It can sometimes feel tricky to know what God wants us to do with money. On the one hand, Jesus told the rich young ruler to give all of his money away (Mark 10:17-27). On the other hand, he got upset with the religious leaders when the poor widow gave her last coins to the temple (Mark 12:41-44). How exactly is Jesus expecting his followers to handle their money? Should we really give it away if we struggle to provide for our families? Join us as we examine these stories and additional Scripture references that teach us God’s concern for our hearts in matters of money. Whether we have a little or a lot, together we’ll discover how to maintain a balanced attitude toward our money and possessions— having appropriate concern for it in this life without letting it become a master of our lives, the source of our identity, or a snare for our salvation. 

In a consumer-driven culture, there is often a disparity between those who “have” and those who “have not.” Whether we’re aware of it or not, our fallen, human nature can easily cause our pride, our feelings, and even our identity to get entangled in this worldly view of wealth. However, when we turn to Scripture, we discover that God offers us a lot of guidance about our finances. Studying what the Bible says about money in both the Old and New Testaments reveals a clear theme: we might own things in this life, but in actuality, we are stewards of God’s resources and everything we have is from him. When we begin to view our resources—whether meager or plentiful or somewhere in between—from God’s perspective, we begin to relate to our money, finances, and possession in a way that honors God and his design for life. 

When we read the story of Jesus meeting the disciples on the shore in John 21, we learn that even after seeing him twice, Jesus’ own disciples still don’t recognize him. We too have moments like that today, when we don’t recognize God or what he’s up to in his world. The disciples’ story helps us recognize that Jesus is there in the ordinary and that he’s willing to fellowship with us right where we’re at. As we observe his interaction with Peter specifically, we realize that Jesus’ command is consistent from the beginning of his ministry—follow me. So just as Peter’s faith in his risen Lord and Savior grew, so too can we cultivate our faith when our focus stays on the resurrected Jesus, our hope, and his simple command for us to follow him. 

The faith of the first Christians was grounded in their unshakable belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But even the disciples experienced fear and doubt as they began to hear stories of people who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus. As we study the first interactions between Jesus and his disciples, and particularly the disciple we’ve come to know as “Doubting Thomas,” we find assurance that Jesus is ready and willing to meet us wherever we are in our faith journey. These biblical accounts provide encouragement for times when believing in Jesus isn’t easy and they remind us that believing is a lifestyle, not a one-time event. Join us as we study John’s account of Jesus’ first post-resurrection appearances to his disciples, and together we’ll witness how believing cultivates faith and provides us hope to nurture our faith today.

On the evening of the very first Easter, two of Jesus’ followers listened as their companion on the road to Emmaus explained various Old Testament scriptures to them. Unknowingly, they were walking this road with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As they listened that evening,  their understanding of Scripture grew and so did their faith. In time, they realized that it was Jesus himself teaching them along the way. Much like those first believers, our faith is a journey too and Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit as our guide. Discover how the Holy Spirit helps us cultivate our faith yet today as we develop a greater understanding of God and his ways through Scripture.

Experiencing Jesus is one way we can cultivate our faith. In the gospels, we read about Jesus’ encounters with his female followers, and later his disciples, on that very first Easter day. Their experience of him deepened and grew their faith, and it can do the same for us. As we study their experience of Jesus that day, together we come to see and know again that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We are reminded that Jesus meets us in the ordinary and that we can experience the presence of our resurrected Lord and Savior in our tears, in our doubts, and in the humbleness of our everyday lives.

Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter. For the majority of Western churches, there are no special services or particular events we celebrate on this day. What would we celebrate…Jesus Christ is utterly, completely dead in the tomb. But as Christians, we already know Jesus is risen and we eagerly anticipate celebrating his victory over death through his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Join us as we ponder and reflect on Jesus’ death and what the Bible tells us happened on Holy Saturday. Then together we’ll read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ resurrection and the first encounters with the risen Lord on Easter Sunday. Together, we’ll join Christians around the world in the Easter celebration as we again remember the unexpected, mind-blowing thrill of our salvation and victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

After three days of teaching, Jesus gathers privately with his disciples to observe the Jewish Passover meal. During his time with them, he institutes what we now observe as the Lord’s Supper, or Communion. As they sit together, Jesus gives them a new command to “love one another.” Soon after, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus is arrested, tried, and finally crucified. All throughout these events, Jesus demonstrates humility and displays the kind of servant Messiah he is. Join us as we study Jesus’ sacrifice and the example he sets for us on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Together we’ll discuss the origins and meaning of these holy days in Scripture, re-examine our expectations, and reflect on Jesus Christ’s example and its influence on our mindset and behavior today. 

Each year on the Sunday before Easter, Christians around the world observe Palm, or Passion, Sunday. Many churches celebrate this holiday by singing festive songs and waving palm branches to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Each of the four gospels includes an account of Jesus’ triumphal entry, a day when the crowds hailed him as a king. Studying each of the gospels’ perspectives further informs our faith and more deeply prepares our hearts for Easter. Join us as we discuss the meaning of Palm Sunday and learn from  Jesus’ actions and countenance as he experiences the events of that first Palm Sunday.

Waiting for Jesus Christ’s second coming can feel discouraging as we continue to witness the pain and brokenness of this world. It’s not unusual to cry, like the Psalmist, “How long, Lord?”  Exiled to Patmos, John knew what it felt like to long for God’s promised coming while enduring injustice and watching evil, grief, and pain continue to weigh heavily on a weary world. But as Revelation closes, John shares an encouraging vision of a restored heaven—a beautiful, life-filled city whose light comes from God himself.  Join us as we study John’s vision and discuss the immense hope it offers as we remember that God is still in control and Christ has already won the final victory. Discover with us encouragement for persevering in our faith and remaining faithful in the work to which God has called us while we, like John, wait for the fullness of God’s kingdom to come.

In difficult seasons of life, we often find hope and encouragement by thinking about what we have to look forward to: upcoming celebrations, kids or grandkids, vacations, promotions, or anything else that motivates us. Yet, all of these things provide only short-term motivation or encouragement—they don’t address the bigger feelings of pain, sorrow, or injustice we encounter in our lives. As Christians, we know that the promise of a new heaven and new earth provides the eternal hope and encouragement we need for faithfully living our lives right now. Join us as we study John’s vision of the new heaven and earth in Revelation 21. We’ll discuss the meaning of his visions, the promises of restoration we have to look forward to, the comfort and encouragement these images continue to provide us, and what this vision of the future means for us and how we live today. 

Seeing a situation or experience from another perspective typically expands our understanding. It provides us with a perspective we cannot achieve when we only consider the situation from our own perspective. When John was exiled on Patmos, he found comfort in God's cosmic perspective. In Revelation chapters 7-14, John shares his heavenly visions of life as a spiritual battle between God and evil—a battle God has already won. Christians today can continue to find comfort in the eternal truths found in John’s cosmic visions. They reveal the diversity and abundance of heavenly worship, they affirm our forgiveness of sin, and they assure us that no matter what spiritual challenges we face in this life, God has already won the eternal victory. Join us as we discuss the meaning of the images and symbols in John’s heavenly visions and find confidence and encouragement for our faith today. 

When the world tries to squash our faith and it seems like evil is winning, Christians can find encouragement through their participation in and reflection on worship. Studying John’s visions of heavenly worship in Revelation can still be a source of great encouragement and comfort for believers today. These visions paint a picture of the worship happening right now in heaven, remind us of who sits on the throne, and confirm that there is an end to the spiritual battles we face. Join Groundwork as we discuss the truths these visions convey and why they offer valuable assurance for our faith.

Every believer must discern what it means to live out their Christian faith in the midst of the larger culture, and every church must figure out how to live this kind of faith together. The first Christians discovered just how tempting it was to compromise their new faith in order to fit in. The book of Revelation records Jesus’ assessment of how seven of those early churches did. Dr. Jeff Weima joins our Groundwork conversation to unpack the seven letters or sermons to the seven churches in Revelation. We’ll discuss common misperceptions, patterns and themes, and the heart of the messages conveyed to those seven early congregations. Then, we’ll consider together what these messages still have to say to the Church today.

How do you react when you hear the word “apocalypse”? Do you automatically think of the “End Times”? Does it frighten you? Or do you get excited to talk about it? Revelation is an apocalyptic book of the Bible. Knowing what exactly that means provides us the right foundation on which to understand the meaning of Revelation’s content. As we study the opening chapter, John states clearly who he is, who God is, who has given him the visions, and to whom he’s writing. He reminds followers of Jesus Christ that we are kingdom citizens. His powerful opening vision of Jesus Christ enthroned in heaven provides assurance and comfort to believers, because it means what we believe is true right now. 

Joshua was a successful and God-fearing leader. He led the Israelites in following and obeying God, and under his leadership, they experienced God’s provision and the fulfillment of his promises. We long to hear the advice of successful leaders like Joshua and learn from the secrets of their success. The book of Joshua concludes with Joshua’s farewell speech to the Israelites. In it, he recalls that all his strength, all his victories, and all his successful leadership is God’s doing and he urges Israel to remember it too. Join us as we study Joshua’s farewell speech and discuss how we can continue to remember our promise-keeping God and all he has done for us through the work of Jesus Christ. 

The Bible is clear that God is always providing for and preparing the way for us. However, it can be easy in times of trouble to question that truth, and in times of prosperity, to think too highly of our own strength or skill. These temptations can be a slippery slope for our faith, however, the stories in Joshua that retell the final victories in Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land can help remind us of God’s providence and care. Just like the Israelites needed to trust God to provide the victories that would finally give them the Promised Land, we too need to learn to trust that God is in full control of our lives and will thoroughly provide for all our needs. Join us as we explore Joshua 10-11 and together we’ll witness God’s faithfulness and be reminded that it is not our own strength or skill, but God’s provision and leadership that will bring eternal rest for all his people.  

As God led the Israelites into the Promised Land, all they needed to do was obey him. As we study the fall of Jericho in Joshua, we learn that obedience is not always easy or even logical to us. But trusting God’s unconventional ways will always honor him, and when we obey, he provides for us better than we could ever provide for ourselves. After the fall of Jericho, the story about Achan demonstrates the risk we take when we depend on ourselves instead of God, and the impact our choices can have on our community.  Join us as we discuss the unconventional ways God works in our lives and what they mean for our faith.

Change and transitions are unavoidable parts of life. We all experience seasons of transition as we grow and simply get older. Sometimes we choose to make changes in our lives and other times changes feel thrust upon us. Regardless of whether changes are welcome or unwelcome, they are often emotionally and spiritually challenging. During these seasons, studying the transition of the Israelites from slaves to wanderers to soldiers in Joshua can help us find assurance of God’s presence with us in our times of change. Through the story of the Israelites, we see that God always provides a way and remains with his people. We learn the importance of sharing our testimonies and passing on the memories and stories of God’s faithfulness to the next generation of believers. By saying “look at what God has done,” we provide ourselves and others with the assurance of God’s presence and the confidence to continue walking forward in faith. 

Sometimes the circumstances of our life can feel overwhelming and impossible to navigate. Is there something from your past that causes you to feel trapped or unlovable? Or does a current trial seem insurmountable and make you feel like you don’t belong? During life’s difficult seasons, it can feel like God has given up on you. But at times like these, the story of Rahab and the Israelite spies can encourage and challenge our faith. This story reminds us that God is not limited by our past, by our current circumstances, or by our perspectives. Even when we least expect it or can’t see it, God is still at work advancing his plan and fulfilling his promises for your life. 

No matter how many times we make mistakes or fail, God stays true to his Word and keeps his promises. As the book of Joshua opens, we witness God acting to keep his promises to Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites. As we study God’s work in Joshua, we’ll consider what promises he’s working to keep in our own time and lives. We’ll examine how  God works through his people and the importance of community. Joshua prefigures the work of Jesus Christ, the keeper of God’s promise of salvation from sin and evil and to provide rest. We know we can follow God’s command to “Be strong and courageous” because we trust God to keep his promises. 

Nativity scenes are iconic throughout the Christmas season. The story of baby Jesus is wonderfully familiar. But slowing down to read and study it again brings comfort and renewed hope. Join us as we reflect on the good news of Jesus Christ’s birth and the magnificent message the angels delivered to the shepherds. Together, we’ll discuss the important message Luke communicates in his account of Jesus’ birth and what we learn about how God works in our lives from the intentional and specific ways he shares the good news that the Savior has been born. 

It isn’t until Joseph receives angelic confirmation that he believes in the miracle of Jesus’ divine conception. Studying Joseph’s experience reveals the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and gives us the confidence to trust God’s continued presence and faithfulness in our lives. Joseph’s story also provides us clarity about God’s understanding of righteousness and the importance of our obedience. Through Joseph, we receive the opportunity to align our understanding of what it means to be righteous with God’s understanding, we witness a model of what it looks like to live out our faith in our own personal experiences, and we continue to prepare our hearts to both celebrate Jesus’ birth and await his second coming.

Advent is a time to reflect on and ponder the miracle of Jesus’ virgin birth.  And this story begins with the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and announcing Jesus’ coming birth, an event the Church calls the Annunciation. Studying Mary’s role and response to Gabriel offers us valuable reminders for our faith and helps us better understand our place in God’s story. As we continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas let’s learn from Mary’s strong example of faith—what it means to wholly trust God and be obedient to his will even if we don’t fully understand it or have all the details. 

Every year many of us spend the weeks leading up to Christmas preparing. We put up festive decorations, plan menus, buy presents, and orchestrate schedules. Many occasions in life, from big to small, require preparation for what’s to come. And just like we set aside time to prepare for life’s events, God set aside time and sent people ahead to prepare the world for salvation. Join Groundwork as we continue our way through the Christmas story by studying the story of Zechariah’s encounter with the angel Gabriel and witnessing how Zechariah, Elizabeth, and their son John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus’ birth. Let us allow their message to prepare our hearts again this Advent for Jesus’ second coming. 

Studying the Magi may seem like an odd place to start reflecting on the Christmas story. It’s true, the Magi weren’t even present at the birth of Jesus—even though they are commonly included in most nativity displays and church Christmas pageants. But the inclusion of the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew is no mistake. In fact, it’s strategic and intentional. Looking at the story of the Magi reveals a valuable theme in the Gospel of Matthew: that Jesus Christ came to be Savior for all. Contemplating what the presence of the Magi means and examining our hearts in the light of this truth is fitting for Advent and prepares our hearts well to once again celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  

Have you ever felt so hopeless that the idea of experiencing or attaining anything remotely good seemed impossible and out of reach? It’s during similar moments of hopelessness in the book of Ezekiel that God interrupts his messages of judgment with powerful images of restoration. In Ezekiel, God famously depicts Israel’s sinful condition as a valley of dry bones. But in this vision, the bones amazingly do not stay dead. Slowly, death is reversed and beyond all reason and logic, the dry, dead bones are restored to life. The bones were not lost forever and through this vision, God was promising restoration for Israel. Join us in studying the hope-filled imagery of this and other restorative visions in Ezekiel and be reminded of just how great God’s love is for his people, how seriously he takes his promises, and how deeply we can trust that one day God will restore us fully too.