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Isaiah 25:1-9 - The prophet Isaiah used pictures and images to announce God's hope to people living in an uncertain, anxious time. These pictures are meant to remind us that God loves us and is trustworthy. One day he will right every wrong and renew the world, including us.

Isaiah 2:1-5 - Hundreds of years before Jesus, walked the earth, God started talking about what was going to happen. One of the prophets he spoke to was a guy named Isaiah. He spoke in pictures and images that were intended to get inside people's heads and get them dreaming about a different kind of life. In today's passage, God has us dreaming about an event (on a rock!) that would change history and especially change the way we settle our disagreements and disputes.

Isaiah 1:15-20 - This week we start a new series titled "Unshakeable," exploring the epic images God gave His people (including us!) in the book of Isaiah. The book begins with a call to repentance. Get honest about what you're doing. Get honest with God. Make things right with the people you've hurt.

1 Samuel 24:1-22 - David had a clear shot at making his life a whole lot easier. The problem was that his easier life would have cost King Saul his life. Just about everyone was okay with that trade-off except Saul, obviously, and, remarkably, David. David saw something in Saul that no one else saw, and so he put his own life at great inconvenience and risk. Jesus did the same. He calls us to do that too! He calls us to "Go!" which always means inconvenience, and sometimes it means someone else finds Life.

2 Samuel 24:18-25 - David had at least 2 colossal fails in his life. This story is the aftermath of his second failure. The short story is that God called David to make a sacrifice, and David, wisely, decided he wouldn't cheap out; he'd pay full price. God accepted David's sacrifice and ended the plague. Better still, God used the site of David's sacrifice as the place where heaven would come to earth, where the Temple was built. Amazing what God does with our obedience.

1 Samuel 23:14-18 - Using the life of David, we're taking four weeks to look at four essential practices that Christians have devoted themselves to for two thousand years: Gather, Grow, Give and Go. These practices are what Jesus has always called his church to do. This week we're talking about growing … together.

1 Samuel 17:32-53 - This Sunday, we begin a 4-week series on the Vision of St. Paul's. Using the life of David, we're going to look at 4 essential practices that Christians have devoted themselves to for 2000 years. Gather, Grow, Give and Go. These practices are what Jesus has always called his church to do, and we are no exception. Today we look at the essential practice of gathering.

Colossians 4:2-9 - Paul's brief letter to these believers finishes with a call to pray. God wants to hear from us! And, for those of us who can fall into a rut with praying or fall out of praying altogether, he offers good direction. Devote yourself to this, which means prioritizing it and putting your conversation with God at the top of your day's activities. Keep your eyes open! Find the good stuff! And pray for open doors to talk about Jesus. It's a great way to wrap up a letter and launch Christians into the world that God loves.

Colossians 3:18-4:1 - As Paul brings his letter to a close, he takes the time to talk about how the truth of Jesus as Master and King plays out in our everyday relationships. Wives and husbands, kids and parents, employees and employers. The consistent point he makes throughout is how Jesus makes all the difference in the world as we care for each other and show kindness to the people closest to us.

Colossians 3:12-17-Sometimes Christianity gets known for the things we don't do. That's part of the story, but not the biggest (or best) part of the story. Paul lays out the Christian code of conduct in this passage. How do we be us? How do we deal with each other? What are the markers of a genuine Christian community? Not surprisingly, all of who we are called to be finds its root in who God is and how much God loves us.

Colossians 3:5-11 - The Colossian believers were figuring out what needed to stay and what needed to go in their lives. Paul, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, picked out two areas that needed special attention: sex and speech. These things reveal who we are at the deepest level. Thankfully, it isn't a matter of nitpicking and navel-gazing; the right way to find health and freedom in these areas is to stay close to Jesus, study him, grow in knowledge of him, to stay close to him. Christianity isn't harsh rules; it's a vibrant friendship.

Colossians 2:20-3:4 - The believers in Colosse were struggling. We can't avoid it; we bring religious baggage with us when we come to trust Jesus. In our day it's more likely that people go to church and think God should be chill and adjust to their thinking and preferences.  2000 years ago it was the opposite; people brought rules and restrictions, believing that God (or the gods) needed to be placated with displays of earnestness. They basically guessed what God wanted. Paul wanted those believers to guess no more! Get back and stay with the core of Christianity, which is, I hope, obvious: Jesus!

Colossians 2:13-19 - Humans have a problem that we can't save ourselves from—not through secular programs or religious systems. The good news of Jesus is that on the cross, Jesus dealt with it all. In him we are alive, forgiven, and free!

Colossians 2:8-12 - The Colossian Christians were in danger of losing their freedom in Jesus because of teaching that told them they needed to supplement faith in Jesus with religion or spiritual experiences. Paul warns them not to get tricked by this, because Jesus is more than enough.

Colossians 2:1-7 - The way forward for the first Christians had its bumps and tumbles. Not everyone who claimed to be a teacher had their story straight, and some were downright deceptive and wrong. One of the reasons Paul wrote this letter was to speak directly to the false teaching that was being introduced. They say that the best way to learn what a counterfeit bill is to handle a genuine bill over and over. Turns out, Jesus is the genuine article!