This sermon tackles the difficult and sensitive topic of divorce and remarriage as addressed by Jesus in Mark 10. The sermon highlights that Jesus's teaching is not a set of general rules but a lesson in discipleship, calling followers to pursue God's design for marriage. Jesus points back to the beginning of creation, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, and that a follower of Christ should tenderheartedly pursue their spouse’s flourishing. The sermon acknowledges that we all have a story of divorce and offers specific guidance for those who are single, divorced, or married, emphasizing that Jesus offers grace and wholeness to all. It concludes with a powerful illustration of communion as a marriage covenant offered by Jesus.

I unpack:

• The context behind the Pharisees' question about divorce, revealing it as a test for Jesus rooted in their hard-heartedness.
• How Jesus reorients the conversation back to God's original design for marriage as a lifelong covenant, not a contract to be broken for any reason.
• The high calling for all believers—single, married, or divorced—to tenderheartedly pursue marital flourishing, whether in their own relationships or in supporting others.

📖 Key Passage: Mark 10:1-12
🎧 Listen and reflect: A married congregant once said that marriage may not always be happy, but it can always be redemptive. What is one way you can be redemptive in your relationships this week?

This lecture, from the "Belong" core class, traces the meaning of hope from Genesis to the modern day, explaining what it means for the church to embody hope and be the hope of the world. The lecture defines Christian hope as a confident expectation rooted in the faithfulness of God. It contrasts this with worldly expectations, which are often based on past experiences. The lecture demonstrates how this type of hope has been present throughout the history of God's people, from Abraham's unwavering belief in God's promises to the people of Israel's confident expectation of a Messiah. This hope finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus and is now a "living hope" for the church, empowering us to become a safe refuge for the world.

I unpack:

• The distinction between worldly expectation and biblical hope, defining Christian hope as confidence in God's faithfulness.
• How God's people in the Old Testament expected hope, while those in the New Testament experienced it through Jesus.
• How the church today is called to embody a living hope and become a safe refuge for the weary and oppressed.

📖 Key Passage: Romans 4:17-21
🎧 Listen and reflect: The sermon challenges us to consider what we would do differently if we had radical hope in God's promises. What is one tangible action you can take tomorrow that demonstrates this kind of hope?

This episode introduces the "Belong" core class with a biblical theology of belonging rooted in the Trinity. The lecture explains that the church family is a community devoted to one another in love, meeting regularly to encourage unity, support, and good works. This devotion and love find their ultimate expression in the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed in a triune fellowship of love from all eternity. The sermon argues that God, out of the abundance of this love, created humanity to share in that relationship and calls the church to be a reflection of that love. Viewing community through this Trinitarian lens redeems our sense of significance, peace, work, and relationships.

I unpack:

• A definition of Christian community as a place of mutual devotion and love, which serves to foster unity, support, and good works.
• How the Triune God's perfect fellowship of love is the foundation and model for human belonging and community.
• The four areas of life—significance, peace, work, and relationships—that are redeemed when we view our lives and community through a Trinitarian lens.

📖 Key Passage: John 17:20-23
🎧 Listen and reflect: The lecture asks if your community is so powerful that the world can see the glory of Christ through your unity and love for one another. What is one way you can actively demonstrate this love in your own community this week?