Today's verse: Mark 13:32-33
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
Keep watch! But for what? This might have been the question of Jesus’ disciples after Jesus warned them to keep watch for his return. Often, we forget that the disciples did not know the future events of Jesus’ life that might be common knowledge for us. Jesus returning…before he even died or left…that makes no sense! Jesus often speaks past our reality and only speaks to our faith. The faith we need to keep following him.
At Agape, we talked about how to look past our reality of violence and brokenness in New Haven plus our 2000+ years of waiting for Jesus in order to actively wait for Jesus to come through promoting the peace of our city. After all, it’s not that we completely forget to keep watch. It’s that we slowly get distracted…by wealth, by romance, by addictions, and more. These things (just like the astounding buildings on Jerusalem…the distraction that begins Jesus’ exhortation) distract us from keeping watch for someone who constantly empowers us to love, serve, and promote the peace of our city.
Please pray for our Agape community as we seek to wait for a God who loves us and who desire us to love others instead of giving into other distractions that will keep us from that path of help and health.
2.27.2011
2.20.2011
The Greatest Commandment
Today's verse: Mark 12:29-30
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'"
A teacher of the law had just asked Jesus which of the commandments was the most important. The verse above was Jesus' answer. Definitely a clear and direct one. Around the circle in Agape today we tried to answer two additional questions: what does it mean to love the Lord with everything that we are, and why would we even want to do that? One of the answers that surfaced brought us back to the parable of the tenants at the beginning of Mark 12.
The parable describes God as a vineyard owner who is gracious and merciful beyond reason. Some might even describe his character as naive, foolish, or ignorant. Certainly, God's response to the evil tenants in the parable was probably very different from what ours might have been, as we often look for opportunities to institute justice or to "make things right." in our lives and in this world. Instead, the vineyard owner sends his only son, revealing his desire to pursue us to the point of death, to the point of divine sacrifice.
This God is the one that desires our hearts. And once we offer that heart to him, he starts the work of healing it. He takes our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength and refines them all. Do you want to be in relationship with a God who sees the heart, offers his son, and only desires intimacy with us? Come as you are. At Agape, that's what we're trying to do.
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'"
A teacher of the law had just asked Jesus which of the commandments was the most important. The verse above was Jesus' answer. Definitely a clear and direct one. Around the circle in Agape today we tried to answer two additional questions: what does it mean to love the Lord with everything that we are, and why would we even want to do that? One of the answers that surfaced brought us back to the parable of the tenants at the beginning of Mark 12.
The parable describes God as a vineyard owner who is gracious and merciful beyond reason. Some might even describe his character as naive, foolish, or ignorant. Certainly, God's response to the evil tenants in the parable was probably very different from what ours might have been, as we often look for opportunities to institute justice or to "make things right." in our lives and in this world. Instead, the vineyard owner sends his only son, revealing his desire to pursue us to the point of death, to the point of divine sacrifice.
This God is the one that desires our hearts. And once we offer that heart to him, he starts the work of healing it. He takes our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength and refines them all. Do you want to be in relationship with a God who sees the heart, offers his son, and only desires intimacy with us? Come as you are. At Agape, that's what we're trying to do.
1.11.2011
Welcome Back!
Thanks to Tina for leading us in an extended service of worship and prayer this Sunday. The memory verse for this week is:
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."
-1 Corinthians 15:57-58
"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."
-1 Corinthians 15:57-58
12.20.2010
Agape on Winter Hiatus
Thanks to Joshua for teaching this week on confession and forgiveness, and for leading a really wonderful discussion.
This week's memory verse is:
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:21, 23)
Agape is on hiatus for the winter holidays. We will start again on Sunday, January 9.
This week's memory verse is:
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:21, 23)
Agape is on hiatus for the winter holidays. We will start again on Sunday, January 9.
12.09.2010
ORDER TODAY!
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the concert last night-- we had a blast and hope you did too! We appreciate you all so much.
If you couldn't make it, or have decided that you want more... order your copy of Advent Unplugged online today (right now! go do it!) at http://www.tinacolon.com/ ; You can have it shipped to you anywhere, or -- if you go to Yale or live in New Haven-- we will deliver to you for free in the next week.
The CD makes a great addition to your holiday season, and it's the perfect gift for hard-to-buy-for friends, relatives, and co-workers. Plus, the proceeds go to a great cause. Don't miss out!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
If you couldn't make it, or have decided that you want more... order your copy of Advent Unplugged online today (right now! go do it!) at http://www.tinacolon.com/ ; You can have it shipped to you anywhere, or -- if you go to Yale or live in New Haven-- we will deliver to you for free in the next week.
The CD makes a great addition to your holiday season, and it's the perfect gift for hard-to-buy-for friends, relatives, and co-workers. Plus, the proceeds go to a great cause. Don't miss out!
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
Got Cup Ramen?
Need some snacks? Late nights at work? Studying for finals?
Buy cup ramen for $2 each! Get one, three, five, even a box. Get them for yourself or for your friends who might be hankering for a midnight snack.
United Church of Westville is organizing this great fundraiser for Agape Church for the Homeless. Thanks guys!
Order your ramen here! You have until December 17th!
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEw3NnpGbmMzeGZZMmxDb2xnekZhNHc6MQ
Order your ramen here! You have until December 17th!
https://spreadsheets.googl
Do you have a fundraising idea for Agape? Let us know @ agape.church.homeless at gmail.com!
All proceeds from this sale go towards Agape Church for the Homeless, an organization that seeks to love, serve, and empower the homeless and low-income community in New Haven. Agape is currently fundraising to build a DAY CENTER where men and women who have nowhere to call home are welcome to come in and rest, wash, have access to counseling and networking, and simply keep warm. All of the proceeds (as well as other donations) will go towards the Agape Center. Thank you for helping us create a loving home for our homeless neighbors.
All proceeds from this sale go towards Agape Church for the Homeless, an organization that seeks to love, serve, and empower the homeless and low-income community in New Haven. Agape is currently fundraising to build a DAY CENTER where men and women who have nowhere to call home are welcome to come in and rest, wash, have access to counseling and networking, and simply keep warm. All of the proceeds (as well as other donations) will go towards the Agape Center. Thank you for helping us create a loving home for our homeless neighbors.
12.06.2010
Winter Coats and Boots are now being passed out!
Our annual winter coat and boot sign-up is going on now... for more information, talk to Jackie on Sunday.
Thanks to Tina for leading an awesome teaching on Mark 5 this week, and to everyone who shared their own testimonies of seeing God's light when it seems like they are at the absolute end, and then discovering hope and transformation. It was a really powerful testimony to what God's doing in our lives.
Thanks to Tina for leading an awesome teaching on Mark 5 this week, and to everyone who shared their own testimonies of seeing God's light when it seems like they are at the absolute end, and then discovering hope and transformation. It was a really powerful testimony to what God's doing in our lives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)