Summer worship series - you are invited to the conversation

An invitation from your pastors. 

"What if Jesus meant what he said?” asks Shane Claiborne. Yes indeed, what if? Do you think Jesus meant everything he said?

Does the challenge to follow Jesus frighten you? It should. Here’s why. You have only one life. Jesus wants it. He wants it all. He wants it completely. How much room is there for Jesus in your life?

Your pastors are inviting you to read the book ‘One. Life: Jesus Calls We Follow” by Scott McKnight. We believe that McKnight challenges us to allow the Gospel to hit us head on, overpower us, own us, and then direct our lives each day.

Are you/we up to the challenge?

Want another reason to read this book? We’re going to use each of the fourteen chapters as a springboard for our sermons beginning May 29 and through the end of August. In addition we are inviting you to attend either a Wednesday brown bag lunch time (12-1 p.m.) or Wednesday evening (7-8:30 p.m.) to study with us. We hope to move through two chapters per session with the evening being a repeat of the noon study. We’ll begin these sessions on May 18th and following Wednesday noons and evenings.

Another reason for reading this book? Scot McKnight has a heart for young people. He teaches college level theology, has taught at a seminary and is considered an exceptional teacher. One reviewer remarked, “In chapters with names like Kingdom.Life, Love.Life, Peace.Life, Sex.Life, Vocation.Life, and Eternity.Life, his (McKnight’s) approach both stylistically and narratively seems geared toward a youthful audience. He tells stories about his students and then proceeds to answer the questions these stories pose or advocate the big living they demonstrate.”

Another chapter centers on “Eternity.Life” and engages a discussion of hell. Anyone who has read Time Magazine knows how current that discussion is.

Rev. Tim Keller in a recent interview stated that the Gospel will question every culture at its root. We take this to mean that Jesus questions us at the root of who we are. Jesus wants to lead us into the life we were created to live, the life Jesus died for us to have. The life the Holy Spirit empowers us to live.

So, will you read the book, join us for discussion and then come on Sunday ready to hear how we engage the Scriptures and discuss the subjects McKnight raises?

Good! We’re looking forward to it.

Pastors Ryan and John

p.s. if you would like to order the book let us know. It retails for $14.99, we can put it in your hands for $10:25.