:15 With Andy, Randy, & Jeff

We sometimes forget the controlling nature of the rules of those who wished to impose all the laws of Judaism on the early church. As followers of Christ, we are called to live in obedience to him, not in obedience to traditions—shadows that were pointing to the reality we now have in Christ. We are no longer bound by the rules of this world and can live in freedom. One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked:  How do you feel...

In Paul's letter, he agonizes over people he’s never even met. He wants to be sure people are told the simple truth of Christ, and Christ alone, and that this gospel is for everyone. One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked: Who would you be willing to agonize in prayer for their salvation? So, who can you pray for that doesn’t know Jesus?  Commit to praying for them daily this coming week and share what God did in yo...

The work of God in Christ makes peace for and with fallen humanity. Salvation is not our work, but that of God in Christ. One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked:  When you read the Bible how hard is it to reconcile that God and Jesus are just alike?  Where is it most difficult to believe? So, in your bible reading, where do you find it most difficult to reconcile that God and Jesus are just alike?  You can share by usin...

We may think of Paul’s conversation about his prayers for the Colossians as prayers for us. However, are the things he says and praises about the Colossians true about us? How will it impact us to think about the content of this prayer and what we might want for one another from God?One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked:  WholeLife Church’s mission is “Loving people into a lifelong friendship with God.  What is the evidenc...

One of the results of social distancing is that we are more likely to become socially distant.  Just because you’re practicing social distancing it doesn’t mean you have to be socially distant.  We can still call people, text people, video chat people, engage more deeply with people that we're quarantined with and so on.  The trouble is sometimes, even when we’re not practicing social distancing, we can still be socially distan...

How do you move towards hope?  In our current world with all that is going on, there can easily be a move to cynicism. Christians are called to be people of faith and faith, exercised well, leads to hope – a change in direction from cynicism. How can we make sure to be people of hope?One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked:  How confident are you that God can keep you through the days ahead?Please reach out if you have quest...

We live in uncertain times, and life isn't always what we expect. Even during the turmoil currently invading our lives, is it possible to experience rest? Is a day to stop and put our trust wholly in God exactly what we need right now? One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked:  What do you think about Sabbath’s role to remind us that we are worth more than what we can produce?So what about you?  Does this idea of our wort...

It seems clear from the commandment that at least part of what “keeping Sabbath” means has to do with the day being “different” from the other days of the week. Six are designed for working, and one designed for rest. Paul says the law is good, and that we are not “under the law," so how does this relate to Sabbath? One of our #WholeLifeTakeAways this week asked:  How has this time of “social distancing” affected your thoughts ...

Jesus broke the Sabbath taboos, but he also never sinned, which means he “kept the Sabbath holy.” How do blessings get turned into curses? The way Jesus related to the Sabbath was to return to its original intent: it was made for people—people weren’t made for it! It fits the New Testament idea that the law is meant to be descriptive of the life of a follower of Jesus, not a means to please or appease God. One of our #WholeLifeTake...

It is often thought that the Sabbath is a Jewish construct beginning when the 10 Commandments were given on Mt. Sinai. It is important to remember that, whatever Sabbath would become in the culture of a fallen world, it preceded the fall. The Sabbath finds its roots in the story of creation, God’s story of what is ideal for his perfect creation in a sinless garden. How will this clear place of Sabbath’s birth change our relationshi...

This year’s Retreat speaker was Dr. Carla Gober Park. Carla is currently the Executive Director of Faith Community Strategy at AdventHealth in Florida and the Special Assistant to the President at AdventHealth University. Before moving to Florida, she was Assistant Vice President for Spiritual Life and Mission at Loma Linda University Health and director of a center for whole-person care. Carla has degrees in four different fields:...

Great Question 2020 - This annual series invites questions from young adults about Christian beliefs they would like explained more thoroughly. This week's question:  How can I keep from having doubt with such ambiguity in the Bible? This week our final #fhcTAKEAWAY, EVER… asked:   Does the fact that the Bible contains poetry, idioms, hyperbole, etc. diminish its authority? How would you answer that question for someone who’s w...

Great Question 2020 - This annual series invites questions from young adults about Christian beliefs they would like explained more thoroughly. This week's question:  How Does Conscience, Free Will, and Compliance To A Denomination Fit Together? This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked:   How hard is it for you to abandon rebellious independence and let God be God?How have you been able to let God be God?  Let us hear your thou...

Great Question 2020 - This annual series invites questions from young adults about Christian beliefs they would like explained more thoroughly. This week's question: Is the Bible meant to speak to my culture today?This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked:   How has God revealed himself to you in nature, your family, the Bible, and through Jesus?This is a discussion that we should all be having and getting ourselves ready to be ...

The Hospital Church Vision: “to be a church without walls fully engaged in serving the people of our community.” Wherever we are for our whole life, no matter who we are with, they are our community, and our whole lives are lived to serve.This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked:   What will it take for you to be “all in” on our church’s Mission, Strategy, Values, Metrics, and Vision? This is a discussion that we should all be hav...

When we segment our lives into the sacred and the secular, we end up using the wrong measures.  When we live an integrated whole life, then we can see the importance of measuring or having markers to let us know how we are connecting. Our church Metrics relate to our whole life.This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked:   When will you do a self-reflection to mark your progress in becoming a lover, worshipper, volunteer, and giver?W...

Ours is a divided culture. We each see things from our own perspective. Too often there are values we live at home, different ones at work or school, and still a different set when we come together to worship.  The Hospital Church has four Values that we believe should oversee our lives 24/7: Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness, and Grace. They are to be with us, enmeshed in our whole life.This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked:   Wher...

The Hospital Church Strategy is a strategy for friends, family, and strangers, and it encompasses our whole life: Connect with people – Demonstrate compassion – Meet their needs – Win their confidence – and Invite them to join us in following Jesus. It doesn't fit in a box, and it can't be applied to just one part of our life.  This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS asked a very simple but profound question:   Who needs you to ...

We are stewards of the love of God that he has poured into our hearts. There is no place, no time, no persons who are not part of our whole life loving.This week one of our #fhcTAKEAWAYS got super-personal and asked us self-check ourselves:   What barriers to love are most attractive to you? Ethnicity-Economics-Social-Political-Religious-Gender-Sinfulness….How will you self-evaluate and work to remove your barrier?  Let us hear you...