We are called to generosity, yet we are living in a decidedly challenging and uncertain financial climate.  How can we be generous at a time like this?  In this series we’ll learn from our brother Job who experienced terrible losses, only to find ways to be faithful and even receive blessings in the midst of it all.

We are called to generosity, yet we are living in a decidedly challenging and uncertain financial climate.  How can we be generous at a time like this?  In this series we’ll learn from our brother Job who experienced terrible losses, only to find ways to be faithful and even receive blessings in the midst of it all.

Anyone who has ever been on a boat knows that the conditions can change at any moment.  The wind blows, the water gets choppy, the weather is unpredictable.  So is life.  What will it take for us to adjust our course so that we can make it through storms of life?  Three things: grieving, accepting, and trusting.

Covid-19 has challenged most of life, including how we do church.  On the one hand, gathering in large groups for worship may not feel safe to some.  On the other hand, staying at home alone lacks community.  What could we do that embraces both safety and community?  House Church.  The early church in the book of Acts met at home.  Could this be an emerging option for our Timberlake ministry?  Let’s talk about how God brings new things out of the old, and blessing out of difficulty. 

Our American political system is broken, characterized by unhealthy competition, broken promises, harmful accusations, and a lack of representative governance.  The political culture is more divided and more dysfunctional than most of us can remember.  Surely there is a better way.  How are disciples to live in this context?

The politics of Jesus are characterized by a concern for people, honest conversations about sin and virtue, and most of all, a desire to do the will of God.  While “playing politics” has a highly negative connotation, especially these days, imagine the good God’s people can accomplish by claiming politics as merely another arena in which we can honor God and love our neighbors.  In order to do that, we will have to look at politics through the lens of our faith.

Covid-19 has challenged most of life, including how we do church.  On the one hand, gathering in large groups for worship may not feel safe to some.  On the other hand, staying at home alone lacks community.  What could we do that embraces both safety and community?  House Church.  The early church in the book of Acts met at home.  Could this be an emerging option for our Timberlake ministry?  Let’s talk about how God brings new things out of the old, and blessing out of difficulty. 

Humans have long known the power of story.  We use stories to teach morals to our children, to understand the world, to make meaning of our lives.  And everyone loves stories – from the very young to the very old. And did you know this: Everyone has a story.  What, me?!  Yes you!  You have a story.  What’s more, God has been working to shape your storyinto something beautiful and redemptive.  So that when you become willing to tell it, others will be blessed.  Join us as we celebrate the power of story.  We will hear testimony from a few of our Timberlake people and open the Scriptures to remember that the good news is God has included us in the story of salvation through Jesus Christ.

2020 has been rough… Coronavirus, a struggling economy, violence, riots, and even murder hornets.  The good news is that God allows do-overs.  The hard news is that the way to new life is through confession and repentance.  Most every problem we face, from racial injustice to economic disparities to divorce, can be attributed to a problem of relationship.  Our covenants – with God, and with one another – have been violated.  We are people who break our promises.  This is the time for repentance and change, and living with the hope that God will restore our relationshipsand renew our covenants.

Living with our current quarantine and COVID-19 concerns is a bit like living in the wilderness; it is wild, unfamiliar, and even scary.  We’ve never done this before.  Yet God’s people are no stranger to the wilderness.  After God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they wandered in thedesert for 40 years, a story captured in the book of Exodus.  What can the Church learn about life in the wilderness?  A few things… 1.) The church in the wilderness is still the church – we still worship, we still study the Bible, we still feed our neighbors.  2.) The wilderness is a time of testing – when earthly resources fail us we are learning how to depend on God. And 3.) Our God is a God of the wilderness. Join us as we explore the book of Exodus to see what we can learn about… LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS

Quarantine and physical distancing have become our new normal.  We are separated from friends and neighbors, working from home, and not able to eat at our favorite restaurants.  Life is different.  At least for now. Is there any good news?  Is there hope? Behavioral psychologists tell us that when very young children play peek-a-boo, they genuinely believe that Mommy and Daddy have disappeared, since they cannot be seen.  We think, Put your hands down, silly babies, and see the truth.  They haven’t disappeared, they’ve only been removed from your view temporarily.  Just because something is hidden doesn’t make it any less real. We cannot see the wind, or love or peace, but they are no less real. When we look around we see illness, hardship, separation.  And yet in Christ, resurrection is more real than any of these challenges that we face.  Our lives are now hidden with Christ.  Momentarily obscured, out of view for now, but no less real.  Therefore set your minds on things above.

The Coronavirus is real. People are afraid. Many are panicking. What can we do? James 4:8 says, “ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts….” There are many things about our current situation that we cannot control. But we can do two things: we can wash our hands, and we can pray. Come near to God. Pray for yourself, your family and friends, our community, and our world.  Come CLOSER. God is ready to hear from you.

Everyone loves Mr. Rogers.  He was kind, gentle, compassionate, and he taught us how to love our neighbors.  At a time when disciples have been accused of being judgmental and exclusive, what would it look like for us to be good neighbors?

At the beginning of a new year we took some time to talk about purpose.  Why are we here?  What are we supposed to accomplish?  Having survived something difficult, life begs the question, Now What?What happens after we die?  Is heaven real?  How can we know for sure?   Much has been made about heaven in books and movies, but what does the Bible say?  This three-part series will explore the good news that our present struggles are nothing compared to the glory of heaven, that heaven is a present reality, and that there is a great feast waiting for all of God’s people.