What I Learned This Week

For the last seven days, our church has held a prayer meeting every night in which we worshiped together, prayed together, confessed together, and rejoiced together. God moved in mighty and life-changing ways for many of us. As we gather on this Sunday morning, I want to share from my heart some of what God has been teaching and showing me over this past week. I trust it will intersect with what you have experienced and learned as well. 

The Year of the Lord's Favor

As we begin this new year, let us consider our hopes and desires. What do we hope for in our relationships? Our spiritual lives? Our health and well-being? More importantly yet, what is it that we want God to do this year? In us and through us. As we begin this year, let us embrace a mission and a promise that Jesus sets forth in Luke 4:18-19 when he proclaims the pouring out of the spirit, good news for the poor, freedom for the captives, sight for the blind, and the year of the Lord’s favor. 

Closing the Distance: Guest Preacher, Yemi Okunogbe

Yemi Okunogbe is a minister of the gospel of Christ and a teacher of the Word of God. He leads Fullness, a ministry dedicated to equipping believers to grow in intimacy with Jesus and to walk in the fullness of their purpose in Christ. He is married to the love of his life, Oyebola, and they have 2 amazing children. They live in Alexandria VA and attend The District Church (TDC), where he recently served as the Chair of the Executive Board

The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us: Bigger Still

The season of advent is a season of possibility. Jesus’ birth means the impossible has become possible. God taking on human flesh means that though you thought life had to be one way, it turns out another way is possible. The Creator becoming part of the creation, means that though you knew God was supposed to do one thing, God knows some things you don’t know. To paraphrase Isaiah, Christmas means, God’s ways are not our ways because His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. And in the face of this kind of bigger-still God, the proper response is faith.

The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us: Joy-Filled

The third week of Advent is often dedicated to joy. And that is precisely what we want to talk about today. The heavenly joy that erupts when Jesus is born is connected to the heavenly joy that erupts when the lost sheep is found. This joy is essential to Jesus’s character, and he is a revelation of the divine character. This kind of joy is everywhere this time of year if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us: Humble

There is no debating that Jesus’ humility is a striking aspect of the Christian faith. Jesus was born in a humble manner, he lived a humble life, and he died a humiliating death. Among the world religions, elevating human humility is not unique. What is unique, however, is that Jesus as God incarnate reveals to us a humble God. Could it possibly be true that we serve an almighty, all-powerful God who is also humble? What would that mean?

The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us: Life-Giving

In this advent season, we will look at some traditional advent passages to see how they reveal the character of Jesus who reveals the character of the Father. Today we look at the opening lines of John’s gospel. In them we see that the Father and Son are co-authors of all creation. They breathe life into the world. As we prepare for the birth of Jesus, we ready ourselves to receive the author of life himself.

Amazing Grace

Last week we talked about giving thanks and this week we talk about grace. The easiest definition of grace is simply “a gift,” though more often than not it is a gift that is unearned. The relationship between gifts and gratitude is an intimate one. A proper gift should be followed by gratitude, and feelings of gratitude are almost always preceded by a gift of some kind. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, and in today’s Scripture reading the gift given is that of forgiveness. The response, by the woman who receives it, is gratitude and love. You too have been offered forgiveness, what will your response be?