Koinonia: More Than "Just" Fellowship

If you look at how Christians are to interact with one another, you won’t get very far in your studies without encountering the Greek word koinonia. It is typically translated “fellowship,” and certainly that is an important part of it; however, it goes deeper than the typical understanding that one English word conveys.

A Place to Belong

The second tenet of our church motto is “Connecting People to One Another.” While some people hold that Christianity can be a private thing, but the Bible is clear that we can only flourish when we connect ourselves with others.

Lessons from the Rich Man

Jesus told a story about a rich man and a poor man (Lazarus). Through looking at the rich man’s tears, prayer, and concern for the lost, we see the urgency with which he would tell people about Jesus. The urgency should be no less for us.

2015 Easter Tenebrae

A Tenebrae service is a service of shadows; as the service progresses, more and more lights are extinguished, until the gathering is in darkness. When done on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, the service ends there, but on Easter, that’s the beginning of the celebration. In the pauses you hear in this recording, there were songs* sung; those had to be removed for copyright reasons. The effect will not be the same, but we pray that you will prayerfully reflect on the sacrifice Christ made through His death and crucifixion, and celebrate His victory over death with us.

* Songs

• “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” (in minor key)
• “At the Cross” with “The Deep, Deep Love of God”
• “Jesus Paid It All”
• “Amazing Love / You Are My King”
• “Amazing Grace” (instrumental - violin)
• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
• “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord”
• “Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)”

Two Approaches to Telling Others about the Lord

In the Old Testament, the people heard from God at the temple; they were told to “come and see.” The Great Commission, on the other hand, tells us to take the message out from the building; we are to “go and tell.”

When Does Worship End?

We have spent the past few months learning about worship, and all that it entails. At what point are we done?

The Place of the Offertory in Worship

If you have been to church, you’ve seen people pass the plate. Why do we do this? As it turns out, the principle behind this goes back thousands of years. While actually performing the act is important, the heart behind it is even more important.

The Place of Prayer in Worship

Nearly every worship service has lots of prayer. What purpose do these many public, corporate prayers serve in our worship, and what can the results of this prayer look like?

The Place of Music in Our Worship

Music is a near-universally enjoyed activity. Where does music belong in a worship service, and how does it help connect us to God?

Worship in the Time of Struggle

When the children of Israel returned to their land, establishing worship was a priority for them. As we look at their efforts, we can gain valuable insight as to the priority we should place on worship, even when facing struggles.