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God is still at work in us, forming us into people who look more like Jesus, and we can trust him to finish what he started as we follow him together. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: Philippians 1:3-11 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Tbke9MgSYTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/13

Every day, we are being shaped by our experiences, relationships, and habits, so the question is not whether we are being formed, but who or what is forming us. Through following Jesus, we grow in spiritual maturity as the Holy Spirit transforms our character, attitudes, and actions to reflect Christ. Speaker: Ken Figueroa Scriptures: Colossians 3:1-17 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxD00zE80NQTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/12/transcript Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV) 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Jesus sends us, empowered by his Spirit, to share his love and new life by intentionally blessing the people around us. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: John 20:19–23; Genesis 12:1–3 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2h4j5RB-ZUTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/11/transcript John 20:19-23 New International Version Jesus Appears to His Disciples 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Genesis 12:1-3 New International Version The Call of Abram 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation,    and I will bless you;I will make your name great,    and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you,    and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth    will be blessed through you.”

Because every person matters and everyone has something to contribute, we trust God through change and use the gifts he has entrusted to us to serve others and join his work. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: Psalm 46:1–2, 6, 8–11; 1 Peter 4:10–11 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip0Jgmplnik

Everything we have belongs to God, and faithfulness means using whatever he has placed in our hands for his purposes rather than comparing, wasting, or burying it. Speaker: David Sauls Scriptures: Matthew 25:14–30; Psalm 24:1; 1 Peter 4:10; Exodus 4:2 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebPOv2KYj3sTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/9/transcript

Our unity is not built on agreeing about everything, but on our shared allegiance to Jesus. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:10–13, 30–31; Romans 14:1–4, 13, 19; Ephesians 4:3 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAAY1v3S9eUTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/8/transcript

Maturity in Christ happens together as we live in unity, speak truth in love, and each do our part in the body. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbqIlakjqOATranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/7/transcript

We are Avalon: a people following Jesus together, becoming family, and blessing our neighbors as we join God’s story of making all things new. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: Mark 1:14-18, John 5:39 Episode Page.& Transcript:  https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/6 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GGZ8OuCWJITranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/6/transcript

We are called to use technology as image-bearers of God, not allow technology to remake us in its image. Speaker: James Cowan Scriptures: Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13–14; Acts 17:28; Genesis 11; Psalm 139:1–4; Genesis 1:28; John 1:14 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Z9JSJvedkTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/5/transcript

God’s will is less about discovering one hidden, perfect choice and more about becoming the kind of person who is being formed by Jesus and can make wise, faithful, loving decisions. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6, 5:16-18, 1 Peter 2:15, John 6:40, 1 Timothy 2:4, Micah 6:8, Romans 12:1-2 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdnbvVA-RDITranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/4/transcript

When suffering makes God feel absent, Jesus invites us to bring him our honest pain, remain present with one another, and trust that death will not have the final word. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: Luke 7:19, Matthew 26:36-46, Hebrews 4:15-16, Revelation 21:3-5 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfOLntabttATranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/3/transcript

Scientific discovery can challenge the way we understand Scripture and the world, but it does not have to threaten faith. When pursued with humility and curiosity, science and faith can deepen our understanding of truth and lead us toward greater wonder and trust in God. Speaker: Pastor Don DodgeScriptures: Luke 7:18-23Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-46Zyu6yZITranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/2/transcript

The resurrection gives us good reason to trust Jesus, not with blind faith, but with a faith grounded in where the evidence points. Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-A70XieKwYTranscript: https://avalonchurch.transistor.fm/s2026/1/transcript

God’s story that began before the world was created was a hidden mystery that was finally revealed in Jesus. Series: A Beautiful Mess, Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge, Scripture: 2 Peter 3:15-16, 1 Corinthians 2:6-9, 1 Corinthians 2:16, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C72fhYn6y1E, Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/a-beautiful-mess-the-mystery-of-god-week-5/, Discussion Questions: 2021-10-31_A-Beautiful-Mess_Week-5_DQ.pdf, Notes:  Title Slide ... This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. – 2 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT) Translation Slide Yet when among mature believers, [we] do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” –1 Corinthians 2:6-9 (NLT) “[It’s] the moment when the great melody of history has begun to be heard in a major key instead of a minor one.” –NT Wright, Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. –1 Corinthians 2:16b (NLT) I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. –John 15:5 (NLT) That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” –1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT) Baptism Slide Communion Slide

The power of the gospel is often revealed in the ordinary, weak, and foolish. Series: A Beautiful Mess, Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge, Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Galatians 6:14, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Galatians 5:22-23, Video: https://youtu.be/vrrdUjSZ2C4, Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/a-beautiful-mess-gods-power-is-revealed-in-weakness-week-4/, Discussion Questions: 2021-10-24_A-Beautiful-Mess_Week-4_DQ.pdf, Notes:  Title Slide Map Ways to Participate AvalonChurch.org/Commentary 1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV) Vs. 1 Vs. 3 Vs. 2 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. –Galatians 6:14 (NIV) The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less. –2 Corinthians 5:5 (The Msg) Vss. 4-5 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. –Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)