Cruciform Building: Part 2

Slowing Our Inner Life | Matt. 6:25-34

Continuing in our summer slowdown series, this Sunday we are turning our attention to the words of Jesus regarding our inner lives. We exist in a world that gives us much to worry about. In the midst of that, Jesus invites us to stop, look at the birds and flowers, and consider how the Father provides for them and even more so for us.

Slowing our Outer Life - Luke 10:38-42

This Sunday we are kicking off our summer slowdown series. We’ll begin with the theme of “slowing our outer life.” In this familiar text, we see Jesus interact with Martha and Mary, sisters who are closely connected to the ministry of Jesus. From this passage, we’re going to highlight Jesus’s invitation to sit at his feet and learn his ways even in a world that always has work to be done. Our prayer is that this series gives us tangible takeaways for learning how to slow our pace down even just a little bit.

Not of Talk But Power - 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

In this passage, Paul brings the first part of his argument to a close, revealing that his heart for this church is that of a father. As a father to this church, Paul’s care for them can be both gentle and firm, but it’s always for the purpose of calling them to Jesus. The invitation for us too, is to hear the gentle and firm call to Jesus in our lives every single day.

We Are Fools - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

The cruciform life invites us into an entirely new way of loving our neighbor. Rather than being quick to judge, the posture we’re invited into is a deep trust in the work God is doing, even when it doesn’t look as clean and put together as we think it should. In our text this weekend, we’re invited to do this by imitating the cruciform lives of Paul and Apollos; two people who chose to be fools for Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 - Managing Mysteries

In our text this Sunday, we see Paul begin to press hard into the Corinthian church and their misguided judgments of who Paul and his team are and what they are responsible for doing. Paul sets aside his metaphorical language and begins to directly confront the Corinthians, getting clear on what his mission and purpose is.