Tag: Dave Fields

Getting It All Back: Jesus’ Resurrection as Ultimate Victory

The Way Through the Wilderness | Good Friday: Passing the Final Test

Jesus passes the three tests he faces in the wilderness, but that isn’t the end of the Enemy's work. The ‘final exam’ comes as Jesus…

Jesus, Caesar, and the Kingdom of God | Part 4: Living With Integrity

Jesus himself lived with deep integrity – the “integration” and consistency of every part of life. We are called, and empowered by Jesus, to do…

Jesus, Caesar, and the Kingdom of God | Part 2: Seeking the Kingdom, Not the kingdoms

We, as humans, were made to join in God’s rulership of the world with wisdom and justice. Jesus has come to redeem and restore us…

Jesus, Caesar, and the Kingdom of God | Part 1: The Complexities of Public Engagement

Our new series, “Jesus, Caesar, and the Kingdom of God: Christian Engagement in Public Life” will focus on this question asked of Jesus: “Is it…

God At Our Side | Part 3: How God Forms Us Through Community

God does not save us apart from others, but into his people, the community of God, the Church. And the Christian community is the context…

God At Our Side | Part 1: Filled Full of God’s Own Life

God’s plan, his great goal for us, is to form us so that we look – in our character, our habits, our priorities, our focus…

The One Who Set the World Singing | Part 5: Simeon — A Song and a Sword

As we gather to celebrate this Christmas Eve, we hear the words of the heavenly messengers expressing their praise to the baby Jesus born that…

The One Who Set the World Singing | Part 2: Elizabeth and the Dancing Baby

Disappointment: with life, ourselves, with God. And joy: In our relationships, in our own hearts, in God. These are two of the most poignant realities…

The One Who Set the World Singing | Part 1: Setting the Stage

In our Advent series, “The One Who Set the World Singing,” we’ll see how God’s big “drama of salvation” comes to its climax when Jesus…

Where Is Your Heart? | Part 1: Walking Away from Jesus, Walking Away from Life

We are all following someone or something. We are all giving our hearts to someone or something. The question about who or what that is…

All Things Bright and Beautiful | Part 9: The Goodness of New Creation

There is a tension we feel between the goodness of creation, but also the fact that it is so broken too. And we know that…

All Things Bright and Beautiful | Part 7: The Goodness of Play

God’s nature, his 'attributes,' include many important features: omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, among other things. But we don’t always ascribe the attribute of joyful or (gasp!)…

All Things Bright and Beautiful | Part 5: What Wine Says About God’s Good Creation

In this message, we are going to listen to what ‘wine’ has to say about God, about our humanity, and about redemption and hope. We’ll…

All Things Bright and Beautiful | Part 4: The Goodness of Food

Food, in the Biblical story, is about far more than simply nourishing our bodies. One of the things we notice as we get inside the…

All Things Bright and Beautiful | Part 2: The Goodness of Being Human

What does it mean to be human? It’s a huge question, and the answer you get probably depends on who you ask. The Biblical picture…

All Things Bright and Beautiful | Part 1: The Goodness of God’s World

God’s creation is still good. This might seem like a very basic point, but from the beginnings of the early church until today, there are…

Proverbs: Skill in the Art of Living | Part 7: Discipline as Discipleship

When we welcome God’s discipline for ourselves, when we learn appropriate “self-discipline," and when we appropriately discipline our children, ultimately, we are joining in God’s…

Proverbs: Skill in the Art of Living | Part 3: Learn So You Can Live

The instructions of the Proverbs begin with a very basic word: listen. Those who live by wisdom are those who have learned to listen well…

James: building a life of integrity | Part 9: Humbly Human

The words of James about arrogant merchants and oppressive landowners works on two levels. It reminds us to remember our lives are contingent on God.…

James: building a life of integrity | Part 8: The Humility at the Heart of Wisdom

Even Christian people, James tells us, can find themselves at odds with God when pride pulls us into self-centred living. As James shows us, the…

James: building a life of integrity | Part 6: A (Better) Way with Words

Words build worlds, and words can burn them down. They are powerful, and often so damaging. In James 3:1-12, we see James calling us to…

James: building a life of integrity | Part 3: Hypocrisy to Wholeness

Religious hypocrisy. It’s one of the most serious critiques levelled against Christians. But interestingly, surprisingly, the most significant critique of religious hypocrisy comes from within…

James: building a life of integrity | Part 1: The Fractured Made Whole

James knows we often struggle with consistency; that we are often a fractured people. Saying one thing but doing another. But he also knows that…

Filled Full (Easter 2025) | Easter Sunday: The Empty Tomb and the Fullness of Life

Jesus says: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). And this story, this day, is all…

Our Father: The Necessity and Wonder of Prayer | Part 9: The Most Powerful Question

Praying together is putting our arms around each other and coming to the presence of the Almighty One who loves us. The most powerful questions…

Our Father: The Necessity and Wonder of Prayer | Part 3: Father So Near, Father Who Reigns

Jesus invites us to pray “Our Father in heaven,” which begs the question of what “in heaven” means and why it matters. In this message,…

Our Father: The Necessity and Wonder of Prayer | Part 1: Motive Matters

The Lord’s Prayer is a great gift of Jesus to all his followers that enables us to step inside Jesus’ own way of connecting with…

Home: Our Place In God’s Family | Part 5: Community and Mission

In his prayer for us, Jesus emphasizes how the way we live as a community reveals the truth of the Gospel. We’ll explore the importance…

Home: Our Place In God’s Family | Part 3: Friends of Jesus. Friends like Jesus. Friends for Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are apprenticing our lives to him – adopting his overall way of life. And, that way values and embraces community,…

Home: Our Place In God’s Family | Part 1: Taking Your Place At the Table

We, as a local church, are not like a family, we are family. We are God’s Home. Which, like any home, can be complicated, messy,…

What Child Is This? | Part 4: The Magi: Coming to Jesus, Bringing Your Best | Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12

We are gathering to celebrate that God has truly come to be “with us” in the birth of Jesus. And, like the Magi we read…

What Child Is This? | Part 3: Herod: Threatened by the True King | Matthew 2:1-20

If Jesus is King, Herod is not. More to the point: if Jesus is King, I am not. Matthew presents Jesus as the True King,…

What Child Is This? | Part 2: Joseph: Faith In the Dark | Matthew 1:18-25

The story of Jesus’ coming, as explored from Joseph’s experience, shows us what it means to live with faith "in the dark," and faith that…

The Heart of God | Part 11: The Good News of God's Final Judgment | Romans 12:14-21

The Heart of God | Part 10: The Cross and the Justice of God | John 18:28-19:7

The Heart of God | Part 8: Jesus Is King! (But You Still Have to Pay Your Taxes) | Romans 13:1-7

The Heart of God | Part 7: True Worship and Justice | Amos 4-5

The Heart of God | Part 5: God and Economic Justice | Deuteronomy 8

The Heart of God | Part 3: God of All Creation | Genesis 1:26-28;2:15

The Heart of God | Part 1: Jesus and the Justice of God | Luke 4:12-30

The Parables of Jesus | Part 7: Lost and Found: Luke 15:11-32

The Parables of Jesus: Part 4: The Kingdom Is Like...: Matthew 13:31-36,44-52

The Parables of Jesus: Portraits of a Kingdom | Part 1: The Sower: Mark 4:1-20

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 15: Stand!

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 13: Fueled for Love

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 12: Leave the Light On

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 11: The Culture of the Kingdom

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 9: Putting On the New Life

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 8: Unity, Diversity, Maturity

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 6: Joyfully Captive to Jesus

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 4: Alive!

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 3: Knocking on Heaven’s Door

ephesians: Living In Sync with Reality | Part 2: Adopted

SHAPE: Your Gifts for God's Good Purposes | Part 8: The Whole Church Part Two: Partners in Ministry

SHAPE: Your Gifts for God's Good Purposes | Part 7: The Whole Church Part One: Paul’s View on Women in Christ’s Ministry: 1 Timothy 2:11-15

SHAPE: Your Gifts for God's Good Purposes | Part 4: Abilities

SHAPE: Your Gifts for God's Good Purposes | Part 2: Spiritual Gifts

SHAPE: Your Gifts for God's Good Purposes | Part 1: God's Good Idea

With Us While We Wait (Advent 2023) | Part 4: Wonder

With Us While We Wait (Advent 2023) | Part 3: Witness

With Us While We Wait (Advent 2023) | Part 1: Watch

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 12: Do You Love Me?

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 11: What is Faith? Mary and the Resurrected Jesus

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 10: Jesus, Pilate, and the Truth

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 8: The Grieving Sisters: How do we face grief and even death?

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 5: What Kind of Solution Does Jesus Offer?

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 2: Jesus and the Wedding Feast

Come and See: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John | Part 1: Nathaniel, the Skeptical

Travelling Light | Part 9: Unburdened of Pride | 1 Corinthians 3 & 4

Travelling Light | Part 6: Becoming Generous

Travelling Light | Part 1: Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace | Matthew 11:25-30

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 15: The Golden Calf and the Broken Covenant

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 11: Need Each Other

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 9: The Song of Freedom

Easter: What We Mean When We Say God | Resurrection Sunday: Hope Has a Name

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 6: Slow to Anger / Ten "Strikes" and They’re Out

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 5: Dealing with Discouragement

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 3: Reckoning with the Holy Other

Exodus: What We Mean When We Say God | Part 1: Keeping His Promises

ascribe: A Series on Worship | Part 5: Worship and the Table

ascribe: A Series on Worship | Part 3: Worship and Justice

ascribe: A Series on Worship | Part 1: Worship and the Meaning of (Your) Life

Waiting for the Light | Part 5: The Light Has Come

Waiting for the Light | Part 4: The Home We Long For

Waiting for the Light | Part 1: Living in Advent Between the Advents

RUTH: Tragedy, Providence, Loyalty | Part 5: Recalculating Route

RUTH: Tragedy, Providence, Loyalty | Part 3: Unexpected Hope

RUTH: Tragedy, Providence, Loyalty | Part 1: A Journey for the Broken-hearted

THINKING CHRISTIANLY: On Loving God with Our Minds | Part 6: Beauty

THINKING CHRISTIANLY: On Loving God with Our Minds | Part 4: Scripture

THINKING CHRISTIANLY: On Loving God with Our Minds | Part 3: Reason

THINKING CHRISTIANLY: On Loving God with Our Minds | Part 1: Made for This

SHAPED BY THE SPIRIT: The Fruit of Life with God | Part 11: Empowered for Missional Engagement

SHAPED BY THE SPIRIT: The Fruit of Life with God | Part 10: In Step with the Spirit

SHAPED BY THE SPIRIT: The Fruit of Life with God | Part 1: LOVE

Jonah: Meeting the God of Mercy | Part 5: The Prodigal Prophet

Jonah: Meeting the God of Mercy | Part 4: Dust and Ashes

Jonah: Meeting the God of Mercy | Part 2: Asleep

Jonah: Meeting the God of Mercy | Part 1: Running from God

LIVING HOPE | Part 10: A God-Gifted Status

LIVING HOPE | Part 9: Transforming Expectations

FEAR TO FAITH | Easter Hope for a World in Pain

LIVING HOPE | Part 5: Foreigners and Exiles

LIVING HOPE | Part 3: Family Resemblance

LIVING HOPE | Part 2: Seeing Our Suffering with the New-Birth Perspective

LIVING HOPE | Part 1: Living Hope

Speaking of Jesus | Part 6: Telling the Jesus Story

Speaking of Jesus | Part Two: Community & Evangelism

Speaking of Jesus | Part One: Good News

Heaven & Nature Sing! | 'Joy to the World'

Heaven & Nature Sing! | ''O Come All Ye Faithful'

Heaven & Nature Sing! | 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'

Heaven & Nature Sing! | 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'

Being Human | Part 6: Reality (How NOT to Be Immortals)

Being Human | Part 5: Mind (How NOT to Be Fortune Tellers)

Being Human | Part 2: Power (How NOT to Be Superheroes)

Why Church? | Part 4: Sent

Why Church? | Part 3: Serve

Why Church? | Part 1: Gather

CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM | Part 10: You Are the Salt of the Earth

CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM | Part 8: Blessed Are The Peacemakers

CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM | Part 7: Blessed Are The Pure In Heart

CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM | Part 5: Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness

CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM | Part 1: The Character of a Kingdom Citizen

Letters From Jesus | Part 7: Laodicea

Letters From Jesus | Part 5: Sardis

Letters From Jesus | Part 4: Thyatira

Letters From Jesus | Part 1: Ephesus

David: After God's Heart | Part Eight: David and Absalom

David: After God's Heart | Part Six: Death and the Dance

Revolution of Love | Easter Sunday: The Day that Changed the World

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 17

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 16

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 14

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 13

Lovers in a Dangerous Time | Part 5: Feasting And Fasting

Lovers in a Dangerous Time | Part 4: Sing It Out

Lovers in a Dangerous Time | Part 2: On Time

Lovers in a Dangerous Time | Part 1: Solitude

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 11

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 10

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 9

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 7

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 6

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 4

ACTS: God’s Mission, God’s People, God’s Power – Part 2

ACTS: God's Mission, God's People, God's Power - Part 1

Bold as Love Part 5

David: After God's Heart | Part Three: Friendship in the Face of Foes

Life. Shared. | Part Five: Missional Community

Life. Shared. | Part Three: Christian Friendship

Life. Shared. | Part Two: Being the Community of Christ

Life. Shared. | Part One: Created for Community

Expecting: Awaiting the God of the Unexpected | Advent IV – Galatians 4:4-5

Expecting: Awaiting the God of the Unexpected | Advent III – Luke 1:39-56

Colossians: Rooted in Jesus | Part 7 – Colossians 4:2-18

Colossians: Rooted in Jesus | Part 5 – Colossians 3:1-17

Colossians: Rooted in Jesus | Part 4 – Colossians 2:6-23

Colossians: Rooted in Jesus | Part 2 – Colossians 1:15-23

Colossians: Rooted in Jesus | Part 1 – Colossians 1:1-14

Tech-Wise: Living with God's Wisdom in a Digital Age | Part 5

Tech-Wise: Living with God's Wisdom in a Digital Age | Part 3

Tech-Wise: Living with God's Wisdom in a Digital Age | Part 2

Tech-Wise: Living with God's Wisdom in a Digital Age | Part 1

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 28

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 27

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 24

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 21

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 19

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 17

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 16

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 28

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 21

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 11

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 10

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 9

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 5

Kingdom Come: The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew 3

On Purpose | Chapter 5: Engage

On Purpose | Chapter 1: Purpose

God with Us | Part 2: Matthew 1:18-25

God with Us | Part 1: Matthew 1:1-17

The Story of Hope | Part 3: The King of the Kingdom

The Story of Hope | Part 1: Exile and Homecoming

The God Question | Part 7: Was Jesus Really Raised From the Dead? How Can We Believe That Today?

The God Question | Part 5: Why So Many Rules? Doesn't Christianity Limit My Freedom?

The God Question | Part 4: If God is Good and All-Powerful, Why is There Evil in the World?

The God Question | Part 2: Does Science Disprove God? What About the Bible?

The God Question | Part 1: Is It Reasonable to Believe in God?

Praying the Psalms: Learning to Pray with Jesus | Part 10

Praying the Psalms: Learning to Pray with Jesus | Part 9

Praying the Psalms: Learning to Pray with Jesus | Part 2

Living in the Light: Letters of John | Part 9

Living in the Light: Letters of John | Part 8

Living in the Light: Letters of John | Part 6

Living in the Light: Letters of John | Part 5

Living in the Light: Letters of John | Part 3

Living in the Light: Letters of John | Part 2

Jesus' Journey from the Cross

Alive | Jesus' Resurrection / Our Hope

Jesus' Journey to the Cross | Part 5: Grace Needed, Granted, Extended

Jesus' Journey to the Cross | Part 3: Desiring the Kingdom

Jesus' Journey to the Cross | Part 1: The Geography of Grace

Loving God: Worship and What it Means to be Human | Part 6 - Worship and Wonder

Loving God: Worship and What it Means to be Human | Part 3 - Embodying a Life of Worship

Loving God: Worship and What it Means to be Human | Part 2 - Becoming Amateurs

Loving God: Worship and What it Means to be Human | Part 1 - Everybody Worships

Christmas Revealed | Part 3: Revelation 12 (cont.)

Christmas Revealed | Part 1: Revelation 12

Real Joy in Real Life | Part 9: Philippians 4:4-9

Real Joy in Real Life | Part 6: Philippians 2:19-30

Real Joy in Real Life | Part 4: Philippians 2:1-11

Real Joy in Real Life | Part 2: Philippians 1:12-26

Real Joy in Real Life | Part 1: Philippians 1:1-11

Life Together - Part 7: Serve One Another

Life Together - Part 2: Accept One Another

The Trinity - Part 4: Being Home

The Trinity - Part 3: Loving God With Our Minds, Keeping Our Hearts On Fire

The Trinity - Part 1: Following Jesus to the Heart of the Trinity

Practices of Jesus' Followers - Part 4: Practicing Community: Being and Belonging in Community

What If? - Part Two: What If Jesus Really was Raised?

What If? - Part One: What If Jesus Really is God and King?

The Gospel in Focus - Part 2: Renovation of the Heart

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

Invited - Part 6: The Gospel in Focus

Grieving In Hope

Invited - Part 5: Invitation Made Simple(r)

Invited - Part 4: Communicating The Good News IN Our Culture (Not AT It)

Invited - Part 2: Whose Invitation Is It Anyway?

Revelation 5 - The Triumph of the Lamb

Soma - Part 9: Jesus' Resurrection and the Death of Death

Soma - Part 6: Church Anatomy 101

Soma - Part 5: God's Gifts for the Common Good

Soma - Part 2: Bodies, Sex and Real Freedom

Soma - Part 1: Called to be a Contrast Community

The Gospel of Mark - Mark 15-16: The Darkness and the Dawn

The Gospel of Mark - Mark 11: Clearing the Way to God's Presence

The Gospel of Mark - Mark 10: Healing Our Blindness

The Gospel of Mark - Mark 6: What's In Your Hand?

The Gospel of Mark - Mark 4: Disclosing the Kingdom

The Gospel of Mark - Mark 3: Jesus, the Lord of Life

Young Adults - God and the Sciences Part 5

Young Adults - God and the Sciences Part 4

The Gospel of Mark | Mark 1: The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Young Adults - God and the Sciences Part 3

Young Adults - God and the Sciences Part 2

Young Adults - God and the Sciences Part 1

New Creation, New Beginning

Relationship Status and the Kingdom of God

Making Room #5 - Not Just for Us -- For the World

Making Room #4 - Praying the Jesus Prayer (Part Two - Forgiven and Forgiving)

Making Room #3 - Praying the Jesus Prayer (Part One)

Making Room #2 - Finding Rhythm

Making Room #1 - Expectancy

Living in Hope #11 - Becoming a Community of Hope: Part Two

Young Adults - Dating and Relationships Series (Week 2 - Difficult Questions About Sexuality - Part 2)

Young Adults - Dating and Relationships Series (Week 2 - Difficult Questions About Sexuality - Part 1)

Young Adults - Dating and Relationships Series (Week 1)

Living in Hope #9 - Becoming a Community of Hope

Living in Hope #7 - Resurrection Hope

Living in Hope #1 - Hope for the Future, Love in the Present

The Other Six Days #6 - Recovering Our Call

The Other Six Days #5 - The Great Exhale: Living Faith In and For the World

The Other Six Days #3 - Called: Joyful Service to God and Others

The Other Six Days #2 - Culture-Making and the Curse

The Other Six Days #1 - The Goodness of Work