Groundwork: Biblical Foundations for Life

God Always Cares and Never Leaves

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Whether life’s changes are good or bad, not knowing outcomes and not yet having answers can lead us to question God. We might feel lonely, uncertain, and anxious and even wonder if God cares or hears our cries. Yet, turning to scripture in the storms of life can provide the comfort and reassurance we long for. Join Groundwork as we study passages in both the Old and New Testaments that remind us and give us examples of just how much God cares about us and the details of our lives. Discover again how his constant, reliable presence and character can encourage us in our discipleship and give us strength to cope with life’s changing circumstances.

Jesus Teaches about Entering God's Kingdom, False Prophets, and Strong Foundations

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Matthew’s record of the Sermon on the Mount concludes with three crucial warnings. Jesus cautions his followers to enter through the narrow gate, to watch out for false prophets, and to be like a wise man who builds his house on a rock. Through each of these teachings, Jesus offers his followers valuable wisdom for staying focused and rooted in God’s grace. He reminds us that there is only one way into God’s kingdom, he gives us the resources we need to protect our gift of faith, and he again offers us his boundless grace. Join us in studying these teachings and together we’ll come to better understand how to recognize the distractions and lies of our world and gain strength to weather the storms of life.

Jesus Teaches about Money, Worry, and Judging People

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

As Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount, we notice a thread emerge in his teaching: stay focused on God’s kingdom first. The next three teachings in his Sermon on the Mount remain as practical and relevant to our daily lives today as they were for the disciples. Money, worry, and judgment have long been areas of vulnerability in our human nature. Jesus warns us to keep our priorities straight, lest money, worry, or our judgment of others lead us away from God. Join us as we study Jesus’ caution and instruction so that we might keep ourselves ever aligned with God’s kingdom priorities.

The Lord's Prayer: Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Prayer is an important spiritual discipline. God desires to cultivate and develop an intimate relationship with us and prayer is vital to this process. Prayer is simple and yet many of us find it challenging to pray. Both new and lifelong Christians alike may question whether they're doing it right, they may feel like they’re not good at it, or they may experience seasons in which it feels like God is not listening. Thankfully, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples, and us, how to pray. Turns out, a good prayer has more to do with the right motivations and a right heart than it does with the right words. Join us as we learn to pray like Jesus by studying his teaching about prayer and the prayer we now call The Lord’s Prayer so that we can better nurture this spiritual habit and cultivate a healthy relationship and strong communication with our God.

“You Have Heard it Said”: Jesus Teaches Us How to Understand God's Law

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

God loves us and wants us to live full, abundant, and blessed lives. With his law, he told us just how to live to make that possible. As Jesus continues in his Sermon on the Mount, he teaches the disciples how to correctly understand the laws from God’s perspective. He makes it clear that the condition of the human heart, what’s on the inside, is just as important as our outward obedience. To illustrate his point, he provides a more detailed explanation of the familiar laws about murder, worship, adultery, divorce, and oaths. Together, let’s study Jesus’ explanation of God’s law to gain a deeper understanding of both the letter and the heart of God’s law, so we might live as God intended in gratitude for the righteousness we’ve received by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ himself.

Salt and Light: A Kingdom Perspective on Jesus' Followers in the World

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-16), Jesus speaks about our identity and character. He declares that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Using these two images, he tells us who we are as his people in the world. He’s telling us our value and our potential as he sees it and again God is giving us a chance to see ourselves from his kingdom perspective. Let’s explore these images so we can better understand what they mean for how we behave and how we should interact with God’s world as his disciples. We’ll discuss the temptations we might face and grapple with what Jesus means when he warns us about losing our saltiness or hiding our light. Together, we’ll grow in our kingdom perspective and understanding of how God values us and how we represent his kingdom in our world today, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Beatitudes: A Kingdom Perspective on People who are Blessed

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Jesus’ well-known Sermon on the Mount begins with what we today call the Beatitudes, a series of sayings in which Jesus describes who among us is blessed. There’s no question that his list of “blessed people” differs significantly from our cultural perspective, much as it did in Jesus’ day. As Jesus corrects our understanding of who is blessed, he challenges us to consider not only groups of people but also the characteristics we value. As we study Jesus’ words, we discover that he’s teaching us how we should be…or become…if we want to reflect the kingdom of God in our own lives.

Discipleship During Life's Tragedies

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

There are so many unexpected situations in life that are beyond our control and that have a profound impact on our faith: the death of loved ones, natural disasters, lost jobs...How do we respond with faith when we suffer? What happens to our discipleship while we experience grief, pain, frustration, and anger? How can we be sure that tragedy and trauma don’t shatter our faith? Join us as we study scriptures together and receive assurance that God cares about all your experiences and emotions, good and bad. Find out what the Bible says it takes, and what God provides, to stay the course of discipleship in the midst of life’s tragedies.

When Discipleship Growth Stalls

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Sometimes the things we do and say are out of sync with the faith we profess to believe as disciples of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we make mistakes and consequently experience setbacks in our discipleship journey. These seasons of stagnation in our spiritual growth are not necessarily evidence of weak faith or failure. Even the Apostle Peter experienced setbacks in his journey of discipleship. Scripture is clear that God is with us even during these seasons, guiding and helping us understand what he expects and what he is doing for us. Join us as we study the scriptures to better understand the value of repentance and the ready abundance of God’s grace and forgiveness for reinvigorating our own discipleship growth.

Grow as a Disciple of Jesus Christ

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

We should expect to grow and mature as disciples of Jesus Christ. What does that growth look like? What is this “solid food” the Apostle Paul says is for mature followers of Jesus? How can we be sure we’re maturing? Thankfully, we don’t need to figure it all out on our own. By his grace, God provides his Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and supply what we need for spiritual growth. Find out how to live as a maturing disciple of Jesus and discover the signs of dynamic discipleship already apparent in your own life.

Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

So you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, now what? While Jesus Christ has done the heavy lifting of salvation for us, that doesn’t mean we are fully formed disciples of Christ at conversion. In fact, our discipleship journey is a lifelong one. So, what do Christians mean by the term discipleship? When does discipleship begin? What does it look like? The Apostle Paul talks about spiritual milk, what is that? Explore these questions with Groundwork as we look to scripture to help us understand what it means to live as disciples of Christ today and as we explore the importance of community in our discipleship journey.

Your Questions about Spiritual Life

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Reflecting on and seeking answers to our questions is one way we learn and grow. The same is true for our faith development. We’re grateful when you write to tell us what questions are most pressing for your faith right now. Discussing them together benefits us all. In this episode, we’ll look at questions and comments that you sent regarding our spiritual lives. Together, we’ll examine Scripture for answers and examples to help us better understand our personal faith and the daily practices we can engage in to grow and strengthen it. We’ll discuss how we can live faithfully in the world, even when division and disagreements are daily struggles, and we’ll remember our calling to share the gospel message and think about how we can respond biblically when that message is challenged.

Jonah: Discovering God's Heart

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

If someone asked you whether or not you wanted to know and understand the heart of God, you’d likely say “yes!”Join Groundwork as we conclude our study of Jonah, gain deeper insight into the heart of God, and witness the stark contrast between our human tendencies and God’s sovereignty. As God questions and teaches Jonah, he gives us a unique opportunity to see his heart. Together, we’ll marvel at the ways God continually provides in order to deliver us and meet our needs, we’ll hear God’s strong critique of the us vs. them mentality, and we’ll recognize God’s invitation to align our hearts with his. We’ll close by reflecting on how we can respond to God’s relentless love and abundant mercy in our own lives today.

Jonah: Doing God's Work

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 05:00:00 +0000

God has work for each of us to do. It doesn’t matter who we are, what we’ve done, or how inadequate we feel, God has a message of relentless love and abundant mercy for us to share with people who need to hear it. As we continue studying the book of Jonah, we’re reminded that our God is a God of second chances—both for us and for others. Whether we like it or not, God is eager to spread his compassion and mercy through us. Together, let's grow deeper in our understanding of how much God cares even about people who don’t know—and maybe even don’t care—about him, and let’s discover the courage to never give up on someone or let our bias hinder our commitment to follow God’s call in the world today.

Jonah: Praying for God's Deliverance

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0000

When we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot fix, it’s natural to feel anxious, desperate, overwhelmed, exhausted, and scared. Sometimes our own bad choices or actions have caused our situation, sometimes not, but the story of Jonah reminds us that no matter what we’ve done or what we’ve experienced, it is never too late to pray. God is ready to hear us, to deliver us, and to offer his abundant mercy. In Jonah, we find encouragement for times of trouble, assurance of God’s constant presence, and a better understanding of the work of Jesus Christ.

Jonah: Running Away from God

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Sometimes, doing what God wants us to do is no easy task. It may be uncomfortable. It may be countercultural. It may even cause others to judge or turn away from you. Sometimes, when God calls us to act, we simply just don’t want to do it. There are so many reasons we might neglect, ignore, or even run away from God’s call in our lives. God’s prophet Jonah knew this feeling all too well. As we study the story of Jonah running away from God, we discover important truths, not only about obedience but about the very character of God. We recognize his persistent and relentless love for us. And we begin to understand that at the heart of God’s call in each of our lives is a call to love people as he loves them.

Biblical Steps for Sharing Your Faith

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0000

In this Groundwork series, we’ve dug into Scripture to better understand what evangelism is and why every believer is called to share their faith. We’ve studied Jesus Christ’s ascension and Pentecost to grasp the role and power of the Holy Spirit in our witness. Now, with this solid foundation, let’s examine stories from the New Testament and discover best practices for how we share our faith. Together, let’s study how Jesus himself interacts with the people he encounters and what the apostles do as they begin their ministry. From these stories, we can glean simple, practical steps that each of us can follow to confidently share our faith.

Sharing Your Faith Relies on the Holy Spirit

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 05:00:00 +0000

When we think about sharing our faith and participating in evangelism, we can find courage in Jesus’ promise to send his Holy Spirit to equip us. Jesus commands us to make disciples, but he does not expect us to do it on our own or by our own power. Study the biblical accounts of Pentecost, when the gift of the Holy Spirit first came upon the disciples. See how the Holy Spirit immediately motivated and empowered the disciples to testify to all they had seen and heard. Together, we’ll discover what Pentecost teaches us about the power of the Holy Spirit and what this power means for us yet today.

Sharing Your Faith Tells God's Story

Fri, 27 May 2022 05:00:00 +0000

For some, the idea of sharing our faith with others can leave us feeling nervous. We might be anxious about what we should say or worried about getting it right. It’s important to recognize that we are not alone in these feelings. Many other believers feel this way too. Thankfully, we can turn to the Bible for wisdom. Join us as we study the Apostle Peter. Peter is an example of how our faith changes us and how we grow even as we share our faith. In his story, we witness how the Holy Spirit not only empowers us to share the good news but reminds us in whose power we are able to tell God’s story. As we seek the confidence to successfully and fruitfully share our faith, let’s study Scripture passages that teach us the what and how of witnessing and evangelism.

Sharing Your Faith Makes Disciples

Fri, 20 May 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Our calling to share our faith is rooted in the biblical story of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It was on that day that Jesus gave his disciples the command we refer to as the “Great Commission,” to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). But as we study this important event, we learn that Jesus is not asking us to do anything he has not equipped us to do. He’s calling us to share our witness. To tell the truth about what we’ve seen, what we’ve heard, and what we’ve experienced. And he does not leave us alone to figure out how to do this. As we study the biblical accounts of Ascension Day, we’ll see that he promises the Holy Spirit, who will give us the power to share our faith and through our ordinary, daily testimony, he will multiply his disciples and increase his kingdom.

Follow: Jesus on the Shore

Fri, 13 May 2022 05:00:00 +0000

When we read the story of Jesus meeting the disciples on the shore in John 21, we learn that even after seeing him twice, Jesus’ own disciples still don’t recognize him. We too have moments like that today, when we don’t recognize God or what he’s up to in his world. The disciples’ story helps us recognize that Jesus is there in the ordinary and that he’s willing to fellowship with us right where we’re at. As we observe his interaction with Peter specifically, we realize that Jesus’ command is consistent from the beginning of his ministry—follow me. So just as Peter’s faith in his risen Lord and Savior grew, so too can we cultivate our faith when our focus stays on the resurrected Jesus, our hope, and his simple command for us to follow him.

Believe: Jesus and the Disciples

Fri, 06 May 2022 05:00:00 +0000

The faith of the first Christians was grounded in their unshakable belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But even the disciples experienced fear and doubt as they began to hear stories of people who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus. As we study the first interactions between Jesus and his disciples, and particularly the disciple we’ve come to know as “Doubting Thomas,” we find assurance that Jesus is ready and willing to meet us wherever we are in our faith journey. These biblical accounts provide encouragement for times when believing in Jesus isn’t easy and they remind us that believing is a lifestyle, not a one-time event. Join us as we study John’s account of Jesus’ first post-resurrection appearances to his disciples, and together we’ll witness how believing cultivates faith and provides us hope to nurture our faith today.

Understand: Jesus on the Road

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

On the evening of the very first Easter, two of Jesus’ followers listened as their companion on the road to Emmaus explained various Old Testament scriptures to them. Unknowingly, they were walking this road with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As they listened that evening, their understanding of Scripture grew and so did their faith. In time, they realized that it was Jesus himself teaching them along the way. Much like those first believers, our faith is a journey too and Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit as our guide. Discover how the Holy Spirit helps us cultivate our faith yet today as we develop a greater understanding of God and his ways through Scripture.

Experience: Jesus and the Women

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Experiencing Jesus is one way we can cultivate our faith. In the gospels, we read about Jesus’ encounters with his female followers, and later his disciples, on that very first Easter day. Their experience of him deepened and grew their faith, and it can do the same for us. As we study their experience of Jesus that day, together we come to see and know again that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We are reminded that Jesus meets us in the ordinary and that we can experience the presence of our resurrected Lord and Savior in our tears, in our doubts, and in the humbleness of our everyday lives.

Crucified and Raised to Life with Christ

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Good Friday and Easter mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the climax of the Christian church year. There’s no doubt these are the events at the heart of our Christian Faith. During Holy Week, Christians around the world pause to remember and celebrate the great gift of salvation that we receive through Christ’s sacrifice. The Apostle Paul teaches us that we receive this gift of salvation by faith, but he also makes clear, it’s not just something that happens to us, but that we participate in both Christ’s death and resurrection as well. Join us as we study Paul’s teaching and discuss what it means and how it impacts our lives as faithful followers of Jesus Christ today.

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

The four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry vary in their selections of stories and in their details. Each gospel writer has a different audience in mind and a different goal, both of which influence what and how they retell Christ’s life. However, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion is so important to the message of salvation that we find an account of it in each of the four gospels. Examining the story of Jesus’ crucifixion in each of the four gospels reveals a beautiful tapestry of perspectives as each writer retells the event and stories of people at the cross. Together we’ll study each of the four crucifixion accounts in the gospels to witness the fulfillment of Scripture and remember the significance of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. We’ll also see where we can recognize ourselves in the story and consequently, find hope and encouragement in the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.

The Complete Sufficiency of the Cross

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0000

When something seems too good to be true, we might find ourselves raising an eyebrow, reading the fine print, and asking “what’s the catch?” But when it comes to salvation, there really is no catch and beyond having faith there is nothing else we need to do. When Christ died on the cross, he paid our debts in full. There is absolutely nothing we can add to his work to ensure our salvation. And yet, sometimes we subconsciously begin to believe that our actions matter for our salvation. During Lent, we pause to remember the truth of Christ’s work on the cross. We’ll study scriptures that help us remember why Christ’s sacrifice is completely sufficient to satisfy God’s wrath, and we’ll discuss how we can keep our fears at bay and keep the right perspective about our salvation and our deeds.

The Paradox of the Cross

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0000

The cross is a paradox. By human standards, it shouldn’t make sense, it shouldn’t work, and yet, it does. In fact, it’s the greatest paradox—life from death, pardon from penalty, and justification from judgment. In the Roman empire, the cross brought death in a brutal, humiliating way. But instead of shame and defeat, believers of Jesus Christ find life in the cross. Studying the paradox of the cross in Scripture reminds us of the profound love of God. It reminds us how much God values and regards his relationship with us and that only Christ can accomplish the impossible. Join us as we explore how sometimes the life of faith contradicts the logic of this world and what it looks like to live in light of this paradox.

The Shame of the Cross

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0000

Shame is a very raw, acute, and distressing feeling. We experience shame when we’re humiliated by our own sinful behavior. Jesus had no sin, yet he too knew shame— the shame of the cross. It’s another aspect of the cross that will help us comprehend the fullness of Jesus’ sacrifice. Together we’ll discuss the relationship between sin and shame in Scripture. We’ll study passages that help us revisit how Jesus experienced shame and unpack why it was necessary for our salvation.

The Curse of the Cross

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Crucifixion was a particularly gruesome way to die, but when Jesus died on the cross it wasn’t just gruesome, it was cursed. Seeking to understand the cursed nature of the cross leads us to make connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament, between our deep-seated guilt and the extreme cost Jesus paid to set us free. We were rightly cursed by God for our failure to keep his covenant, but Jesus became that curse to pay our debt. Join us as we study Scripture to better understand the meaning and implications of the curse of the cross and consider the implications for our lives of faith today.

Why Jesus Had to Die on a Cross

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Sometimes habits or traditions become so ingrained in our lives that we can go through the motions of them without spending much time reflecting on their meaning. Sometimes, it benefits us to slow down and once again ask, “why?” We’ll begin our Lenten series “The Cross of Jesus” by examining scriptures that help us answer the question, “Why did Jesus have to die on a cross?” Together, we’ll grow in our faith by seeking to understand what went wrong, recalling God’s covenant, and remembering God’s character and love so that we can better understand why Jesus Christ’s awful death was necessary.

Finding Meaning in Life and the Passing of Time

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

As humans, we are uniquely aware of time. We talk about the passing of time, we think about the end of time, and we often wish for more time. Sometimes it feels like time is fleeting and sometimes feels like time drags on. Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes contains one of the book’s most well-known passages. The Teacher opens “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” He then goes on to share a well-known list of life’s seasons. He calls time a burden, but also says God has “set eternity in the human heart.” Join us as we discuss the association between wisdom and recognizing the seasons of life, as we seek to understand what it means to have eternity in our hearts, and as we receive the Teacher’s encouragement and advice for finding hope and meaning in life.

A Wise Perspective on Work

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Do you find joy and satisfaction in your work? Or do you consider work a necessary evil? Many of us spend huge portions of our life working, sometimes doing paid work, other times unpaid. You might say that work is a common theme in each of our lives. It’s also a common theme in the book of Ecclesiastes. In his writings, the Teacher repeatedly comes to the conclusion that work, labor, and toil are meaningless. But is it really that simple? If we carefully study the Teacher’s conclusions, we’ll discover some insightful wisdom about work and our identity, about why our motivation for work matters, about work/life balance, and about the secret for finding joy and satisfaction in our work.

When Life is Meaningless

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Does life ever feel repetitive, monotonous? Like day in, day out your struggles are the same, your joys seem fleeting, and nothing ever changes. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes echoed this very sentiment. Throughout the book, we repeatedly read his refrain, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” He considers wisdom, knowledge, and pleasure and determines that all of these are meaningless pursuits in life, they will not provide any lasting value. Join us as we examine what the Teacher means by declaring everything meaningless and discover what we can learn about our life of faith and where we can find value, meaning, and hope in life in the midst of, and in spite of, the Teacher’s grim pronouncement.

Spiritual Attacks and the Armor of God

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt like your faith was under attack? In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul warns believers to expect spiritual attacks on their faith. He makes it clear that the devil will always be scheming to undermine and distract them. This continues to be true for us today. But thankfully, Paul also makes sure to remind us of how God has equipped us to defend ourselves. Paul calls this the “armor of God.” Rightly understood, this passage gives us strength and confidence in our faith, but it is a passage that has also been misused in Christian history. Join us as we study Paul’s imagery to better understand his purpose and intent, discuss how this passage has been misused, and apply this to how we live our faith today.

Living God's Way in Our Relationships

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Relationships are part of life. Whether personal or professional in nature, we are always interacting with other people. And the way we treat others matters. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that once we believe in Jesus Christ, our faith gives us a new identity in Christ and our behavior should change. This includes how we live in relationship with one another. In Ephesians chapter 5 and the beginning of chapter 6, Paul focused on three particular relationships prevalent in the early church in order to flesh out for the Ephesians Christians what it meant to live God’s way in their relationships. By focusing on the marriage relationship, the parenting relationship, and the master-slave relationship, as it was culturally practiced then, Paul gave guidance for both parties in each relationship, challenging cultural expectations and encouraging all of us to submit to each other. Join us as we study Paul’s teaching so that we can better understand what he meant by submission and how it helps each of us live as God intends us to in our relationships today.

Your Identity in Christ and Your Behavior

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Whether you are a new Christian, a life-long believer, or fall somewhere in between, it’s natural to have questions about how your faith should influence your choices and behavior. Does faith only influence our church attendance or does it impact our jobs, our sex life, and the everyday words we speak? In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul tells the Christians in Ephesus that believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior should change your behavior, in all spheres of your life, because your very identity comes from Christ. Thankfully, Paul also teaches us what our new identity in Christ means for us and provides guidance and instruction for how we should live and behave in light of this reality.

You Belong. Be Rooted in Christ’s Love.

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Keeping a strong faith can be hard when life’s circumstances are difficult. It’s easy to second guess what we know to be true when everything around us seems to challenge or oppose that truth. The Ephesian Christians knew firsthand how it felt to question whether or not God’s promises really extended to them and whether or not they were really part of God’s plan. In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers of God’s original plan for inclusion and affirms their identity in Christ and their belonging to God’s family. Join Groundwork as we study Ephesians 3 to receive the Apostle Paul’s assurance that we belong in God’s family, that his promises are, indeed, for us, and to be blessed by his prayer for the Holy Spirit to root us in Christ’s love.

Life and Reconciliation in Christ

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Injustice and sin are rampant in our world. And much of it flows from humanity’s sinful inclination to literally and metaphorically build walls to exclude others. In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul discusses this human tendency. He reminds us that before Christ we were spiritually dead, and without Christ, we continue to be so. But Paul seeks also to energize our faith in the midst of discouraging circumstances. He unpacks the profound truth of God’s grace so we can find hope in God’s gift of life to us through Jesus Christ. But God doesn’t just break the curse of sin and then leave us alone; no, says Paul, God draws near. Join us as we reflect on Paul’s assurance that, in Jesus Christ, God’s grace is abundant and in it, we can find justice, reconciliation, and belonging in God’s family.

God's Plan and Spiritual Blessings

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

When life seems inexplicable and out of control, it’s easy to feel anxious or unsure. Having a plan can bring us assurance in such circumstances. Having a plan ensures we know what direction we’re headed. It often also means we know what comes next and who is going to do what. In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul reassures the early Christians in Ephesus, and us, that God most definitely has a salvation plan, and that his plan isn’t just a reaction to what’s going on in the moment. God put his salvation plan in place before creation. Join us to study and discuss Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 1 and find assurance that God has not abandoned us, but that he actively cares for his creation and provides his Holy Spirit to us as a seal that helps us trust that God is in control.

Christmas Hope: Mary and Christ's Birth

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

As our study of the women in Jesus’ family tree draws to a close and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we’re reminded that even his birth was mired by the appearance of scandal. Join Groundwork for a Christmas reflection on the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus and the last woman named in his genealogy. Together, we’ll discover a God and a Savior who draws close, who does not move away from our sin and pain, but instead comes alongside us, and in the process, redefines righteousness and who belongs in God’s family. Find comfort in God’s grace and great love as we study the true wonder of Christmas together.

Christmas Hope: Bathsheba

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Life is messy. No matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to be perfect. This can be so hard and uncomfortable at Christmas when we want everything to feel cheerful and bring back warm fuzzy memories, but the reality is, our stories are filled with sin and brokenness: mistakes, missteps, and moments when our best simply was not enough. Join Groundwork for an Advent reflection on the story of Bathsheba, the fourth woman referenced in Jesus’ genealogy. Through the story of “Uriah’s wife,” Bathsheba, we witness the traumatic results of King David’s sin and we are invited to take an honest look at our own experiences of brokenness. Together, through Bathsheba’s story, we’ll remember why Jesus needed to come, seek the truth of God’s abundant forgiveness, and celebrate Jesus’ coming at Christmas.