Living Stones Christian Church - East Bay

Scary: Anxiety | Num 13:17—14:9; Isa 41:10

Anxiety is fear that cripples us from action. Trusting in God releases us from fear.

Where Jesus Shows Up | Jn 20-21

Jesus shows up in our sorrow, doubts, and shame

Story of Two People's Feet | Jn 12-13

Working: God at Work | Gen 1-3

How God is present at work and school - maybe use burning bush, or jesus at sea/fisherman?

Believing in Faith | Mk 9:24

Stepping into our Calling | Mt 25:14-30

How each of us has been created uniquely and with intention by God and have been given a mission to expand the kingdom of God in a way only we could do? Compare and contrast those who step courageously into the calling God has put on their lives with those who settle for a safe and ordinary existence. My hope is that it would encourage people to refuse to settle for less than everything that God wants to do in them and through them.

Working: As a Body | Eph 4:1-16; 1 Cor 12

How God is present when we serve one another with our gifts. God uses our work/service in the body to shape us for work at home/world

Their Table (The Table Effect) | Lk 10:1-12

What if we recognized Christ when we are guests at other tables? Would we help others see him too? Would we recognize God's agency - and join him?

Wrong with God | Acts 16:6-15

Getting it "wrong" with God and his people - yet God still leads us to where he ultimately wants us as he reweaves all of us and creation back to himself

The Prayer of Examen | Psalm 139

Reflecting on how God is moving in our lives

Prayer Vision | Mt 6:9-13

Focus God's Kingdom presence and work in the world (agency), not only in our hearts. Big push on Lectio practice, which is both contemplative and missional.

Interwoven | Gen 28:10-22

Beginning the year with an awareness of God's active presence *everywhere*.

Give Strength to the Weak (God Will) | Isaiah 40:21-31

We think God doesn't see us - we argue with him about it! But no matter how weakened we've become, those who hope in the Lord, God will lift us up to strength!

Dream Again (God Will) | Joel 2:28-32

We have lost dreams/vision. God will give us his Spirit, and help us dream (his) dreams again.

Restore the Lost Years (God Will) | Joel 2:25-27

The locusts have eaten so much during the last 3 years. But God can and will restore those years.

Thanksgiving as Resistance | Phil 4:5-7

Thanking God helps us resist the constant onslaught of anxiety, despair

A Desperate Faith | Luke 15:11-32 NLT

Welcome One Another | Romans 14:1 - 15:7

Unity is only miraculous when we live in love and peace with each other even though we disagree over important matters (not just little things). We do, of course, need to maintain unity in the essentials of the faith.

Thru Community (Uncomfortable Paths to God) | Eph 4:1-6

Unity in the Body of Christ is *hard work* and uncomfortable. But if we are the Body of Christ, we cannot truly know God unless we embrace Him within each other

Thru Sin (Uncomfortable Paths to God) | Lk 18:9-14; Rom 5:20

Knowing Jesus by knowing the depth of our own sinfulness

Thru Risky Steps of Faith (Uncomfortable Paths to God) | Matthew 14:22-33

Often, not until we step out in faith, to do something where there is no more of our usual security/comforts, do we truly know God -- and his true power!

Thru Suffering (Uncomfortable Paths to God) | Phil 3:7-11

Knowing Jesus by sharing/solidarity in his sufferings

Testimony Sunday

Stranger Things | How (Not) To Read the Bible

Note: We had a recording error, hence the low quality audio and length. Apologies! How do we read some of the strange commandments in the Bible? Ultimately, the answer is in Jesus, who fulfilled the OT & taught us the greatest commandments. This brings together the principles from the first 2 sermons in this series.

When words are not enough | Genesis 15

In the darkest times of our lives God meets us in our cultural condition and takes us farther than we imagined.

Is the Bible Anti-Science? Or The Bible's Written For Us, But Not To Us (How (Not) To Read the Bible)

Certainty in the Midst of Uncertainty

Is the Bible Pro-Slavery? Or Never Read Just a Verse (How (Not) To Read the Bible)

The Bible is ultimately a story that points us to Jesus -- not just individual verses we cherry pick. Entry point: Is the Bible Pro-Slavery?

Holy Interruptions | Luke 7:11-17

As followers of the way of Jesus, what would it look like to be open to holy interruptions that lead to acts of compassion in our daily lives?

Danger of Comfort | Contagious Kingdom Lifestyle

I Was Not Aware of It | Gen 28:10-22

Tending to God's presence even in unexpected places

Scary Places - Esther 4:9-16 (Series:WOW)

The awe of having a calling/purpose, and the fear of doing the right thing

Invitation to Abide

Jesus doesn’t just invite us into a way of life, but a way of being; being in his presence, being in his care, being in his love.

Contagious Kingdom Lifestyle - Context

Pentecost Race & Faith Panel

How the Spirit makes a new family

The Scary Love of God - Acts 10 (Series: WOW)

The fear of crossing social lines/boundaries to be with/love people who are different

Contagious Kingdom Lifestyle - The Motivation in Serving

What is our motivation in Serving, Going to Church, pursuing to be Subversive Subarbanites?

Plot Twist - Amos 5:18-24 (Series: WOW)

We long to see God, but as sinners, are we ready? Might there be judgment too?

Holiness - Ex 3:1-14 (Series: WOW)

The awesome holiness of God

Wonder - Lk 24:36-52 (Series: WOW)

The joy of fearing God in a world full of too many fears - and too little joy (pragmatism, secular humanism)

The Unexpected Hope | Lk 24:13-35

With all that's been going on in our world -- every authority and solution has disappointed. But Christ, who was risen, is the unexpected savior that can and will.

Palm Sunday

A Community of Good Desires (At The Heart) - Acts 2:42-47 ESV

Community! We need to be part of and contribute to a community of desires that are good - bc we are social beings, we mimic but also are shaped by community

Retraining the Heart (At The Heart) | 1 Timothy 4:7-9

Our behavior flows from the heart. But what if our behavior can shape our hearts too?

Too Easily Pleased (At The Heart) | Ps 63:1 OR Ps 42:1-2 OR Mt 13:44

Look for truest desires fulfilled in Christ/Kingdom. Is this in the Bible [link]? "}" data-sheets-userformat= "{"2":1057409,"3":{"1":0},"10":1,"12":0,"16":8,"23":1}" data-sheets-textstyleruns= "{"1":0}{"1":73,"2":{"2":{"1":2,"2":1136076},"9":1}}{"1":161}{"1":185,"2":{"2":{"1":2,"2":1136076},"9":1}}{"1":189}" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns= "{"1":73,"2":"https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/702-it-would-seem-that-our-lord-finds-our-desires-not"}{"1":161}{"1":185,"2":"https://www.desiringgod.org...

Bent Desires (At The Heart) | Eph 4:22 OR 1 Pet 2:11

A fuller theology of sin: Sin isn't just wrong actions, it comes from bent/broken/corrupted desires of the heart. What is the good news for our bent/corrupted desires? Confession: Begins with bringing them genuinely before God of grace; who not only loves us as we are, but is powerful enough to change our hearts.

The Heart of the Problem (At The Heart) | Ez 36:24-32

We have too little desire for God, we sin, we can't break out. But God does more than reform, he gives us a new heart

Testimony Sunday 1

Amy and Christina share their testimonies

Breathe (We Need God's Breath) | Ez 37:7-14

We need the word AND SPIRIT to give us life

Listen (We Need God's Breath) | Ez 37:1-6

The word of God gives us life