This past year has been filled with disturbing unrest. The year of 2020 was marked by political, civil, economic and natural unrest. And even as the opening days of 2021 have proven, not much seems to be changing. So how is a Christian to navigate these ongoing and ever-nuanced trials? How is our church family to maintain unity and focus amidst all of these cultural tensions? This series seeks to address these questions and more while giving an outlook for how we can grow in our faith over the year to come.
THE YEAR OF CALEB’S FAITH
Joshua 14:6-15
Caleb was a man who endured decades of uncertainties and challenges, yet he was commended by God for his steadfast faith. He believed that God would be faithful to fulfill his promises, despite the circumstances that seemed to derail those promises. As we look out into a new year with new challenges, it is essential that we anchor ourselves to the truth of our God and his promises and act in a way that demonstrates our belief in that truth.
FAITH FOR COMMUNION
Hebrews 12:1-17
While our outlook for 2021 is to be a people of steadfast faith like Caleb, it’s important that we make practical connections and have “feet” for that faith to walk on. Our desire is to examine our values in light of what biblical faith is and to consider how faith as described in Hebrews should compel us to live out our values as a church family. In this section we tackle the question: what does faith look like when it comes to vulnerable communion with God?
FAITH FOR COMMUNITY
Hebrews 12:18-29
Often we become so focused on the intensity of the “here and now,” both in good times and in bad times. But the reality of God’s community is that it goes far beyond what we can see or touch. The community of God is centered in the Heavenly City of the Living God, and the people of God assemble around the throne of the Risen Lamb. The people of God belong to a community that can never be shaken and we must be filled with gratitude and a desire to be holy!
CULTIVATING HOLY AMBITIONS
Hebrews 10:19-25
In light of the heavenly nature of God’s community, how do we go about cultivating holy ambitions that align with our heavenly citizenship? The bedrock truth is that Jesus, our Great High Priest, has made a way for us to boldly approach the throne of grace, despite our “not-yet” status as sojourners on earth. We must hold fast to Christ and his word together and stir one another up to love and good works that are worthy of our heavenly calling!
FAITH FOR MISSION
Hebrews 13:12-16
To continue growing in our faith, we must turn believed truth into action. When it comes to our mission as a church, we must act upon the reality that Jesus went “outside the gate” to bear reproach on our behalf. When we follow him in going outside the gate to bear reproach for his name, we will experience companionship with him that results in a sacrifice of praise welling up from a heart that acknowledges his name.
APPREHENDING OUR INHERITANCE
Joshua 14:6-13
Paul refers to our inheritance as “all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.” Christ has won this inheritance, but we live here on earth to apprehend it. That inheritance is not just something we will receive one day when we arrive in glory. It’s something to be contended for now and apprehended now. That’s why Jesus tells us to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” We’ve received the seal of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance — the resurrection power that empowers us to fill all in all with authority of Christ. In that sense we are called to apprehend our inheritance! To see Christ’s kingdom realized in greater measure.