Who is Jesus, according to Jesus? We are going to answer that question by exploring seven scandalous claims that Jesus makes in the Gospel of John. These are known as the "I AM" statements.

In John 10, Jesus declares: "I am the good shepherd". We live in a culture that prizes self-determination and independence, yet we often find ourselves exhausted, anxious, and aimless. Jesus reveals that we cannot find true security while we are busy trying to be our own protectors. When we stop trying to outrun our vulnerabilities and look to the Good Shepherd, we realize that our need for safety, guidance, and belonging can only be met by the one who knows us by name and was willing to lay down His life for the flock.

Every year, as we enter into the lenten season, we are invited to reflect upon our brokenness, our mortality, and our deep need for Jesus and His resurrection.

This exercise of writing your own epitaph will encourage you to consider your life - as it has been, as it is, and as it could be. What matters most? How do you want to be remembered? What does it look like to live life to the fullest? As we do this, we turn towards God, who is the author of our lives, and discern what it looks like to lead lives defined by worship and gratitude.

Who is Jesus, according to Jesus? We are going to answer that question by exploring seven scandalous claims that Jesus makes in the Gospel of John. These are known as the "I AM" statements.

In John 6, Jesus declares: "I am the bread of life". We all have this tendency to seek fulfillment in things that will never truly satisfy, leaving us perpetually disappointed. Jesus reveals that we cannot find satisfaction in him, while we are looking to be satisfied by something else. When we turn away from those things that we are looking to for fulfillment, we realize that our deepest longings can only be met by him and him alone.

Why does God allow pain and suffering? It’s one of the most frequently asked questions about God and one that keeps many from choosing to follow Him. Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t offer clear and concise answers to every question we have about suffering. Suffering is unpredictable, messy, and deeply personal. The good news is that Scripture offers us stories of real people who live through suffering and still draw near to God despite not having all their questions answered.

Acts 27 is one of those stories. After years of trials and suffering , Paul finds himself in the middle of a violent storm as he sails to Rome. Through Paul’s experience and example, we uncover some profound truths that will help us to live well in the midst of suffering in our own lives.

What do we do when we are overcome with the brokenness in the world around us? Often, Christians respond in one of two ways: we separate or we assimilate. We remove ourselves from the culture so that we are not affected by the brokenness; or we assimilate so that we are not bothered by it. Both of these responses prevent us from being able to have any meaningful impact on the world around us. Instead, Jesus offers a third way: We call this contextualization.

In Acts 17, Paul is overwhelmed by the brokenness that he sees in the city of Athens. But instead of isolating or conforming, he contextually engages the culture. As a result, the people of Athens hear the message of Jesus in their own language and are compelled to consider if Jesus is truly God and King of the world.

In this episode with have a conversation with Larry McCrary, missionary and founder of The Upstream Collective. Larry and the Upstream team train marketplace missionaries to go abroad and engage their context through their vocation. They partner with churches to send well and support people during their time overseas.

Larry shares a helpful tool for assessing the unique rhythms of your neighborhood or missional context and identifying the best times to build relationships and connect with people on a deeper level.

If you want to learn more about The Upstream Collective, visit https://www.theupstreamcollective.org/.

Acts 13:1-4

As the early church continued to grow, more and more people outside of the Jewish community began to follow Jesus. This created questions regarding the relevance of the law for the Jesus community.

In Acts 11, the leaders of the church are wrestling with some of these questions when Peter shares a vision that he received from God. The vision revealed that though the law was a good thing, it was not the ultimate thing. The law was given to God's people so that they could understand and reflect God's heart. It was not just a list of rules to follow. It was a gift that revealed the will of God for their lives and their community. As they navigate this new era of the family of God, the leaders of the church need to make the difficult decision to follow the heart of God as displayed in the person of Jesus, even if it means breaking their old laws and customs.