Restoration Church

Advent | How Judgment Is Good News

The prophecies that promise the Messiah aren’t just words of hope. They are also pronouncements of judgment. Both then and now, sin and injustice wreck havoc in the world around us. Judgment is coming, yes – but not to ruin us. God’s justice restores. (Isaiah 11:1-10)

Advent | The Tension Of Hope

Theologian Fleming Rutledge tells us that “Advent begins in the dark.” It is a season that encourages us to name and embrace the waiting and the longing we feel. As we begin the season of Advent, the Bible calls us to live in the tension – a tension between the darkness we see around us and the light we know is on the way. (Romans 13:11-14)

A Story-Formed Faith

For better or worse, our lives are the product of the stories we immerse ourselves in. So as a Church, we need rhythms and practices that reorient our lives around the story God. This week, we’re talking about how our Church practices the story of Jesus together – and how you can walk with us. 

Jonah | The Scandal Of Mercy

To the surprise and horror of Jonah, Nineveh repents and turns to God. And while this would might seem like good news (it was!), it made Jonah furious. Jonah’s story raises an important and difficult question: how do we respond to a God to loves the people we despise? As we close out our time in Jonah, we’re exploring how God’s widening mercy challenges the walls we place between “us” and “them.”

Jonah | The God at the end of our rope.

Jonah 2 is a prayer from rock bottom. After running from God, Jonah finds himself sinking deep into the worst moment of his life. And yet unlike Jonah, our worst moments don’t have to harden us. If we allow them to, we can find humility, clarity and a hope that can only be found at the end of our rope. 

Jonah | How To Run From God

Jonah is a prophet that does like what he hears from God. So what does he do? He runs. And the result? Rock bottom. But strangely, the belly of the whale isn't a sign of God's anger, but rather his mercy. 

It's not a matter of if - but when - we'll reach our own rock bottom. So what kind of God will we meet at the end of our rope? (Jonah 1) 

Student-Led Sunday | RAGE!

This weekend, our students are leading every aspect of our gathering! As a part of this special Sunday, Our Student Pastor Casey is speaking about rage: namely, our culture’s obsession with reactivity and judgment towards our neighbors. How can we find a better way in Christ?

Restorers | The Good News Of Justice

Sin doesn’t simply bring death and chaos to individuals. From the beginning, it has moved outward – into our systems, policies, and power structures. It subjugates, marginalizes, and disadvantages people made in the image of God. And correcting these wrongs? That’s called justice – and it’s woven into the very fabric of the Scriptures.

Restorers | Welcomed And Wanted

In this week's message in our series Restorers, we unpack the centrality of hospitality in the mission of God. (guest co-preacher: Amanda Hubler)

Restorers | The Strength Of Mercy

Do you know what the very first word that God uses to describe Himself to Moses? Merciful. Would that be the first word that is used to describe Christians today? The answer is, well… no. And we need to talk about why. This week, we’re continuing our Restorers series by looking at the centrality of mercy and compassion to our mission with Jesus – what it is, what it does, and why *our own* need for it lies at the heart of what God has calls us to in the world.