Awaken Community

"Power, wealth, privilege often make us blind and deaf to things that are right next to us." This week, Pastor Micah delves into the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus to sort out what they're about. Why is the Rich Man not named but Lazarus, the lowly beggar at the gate, is given a name? Why does Jesus put these two people in the parable so close together? These men couldn't be any further apart - in status, wealth, and religious standing.

Guest speaker Judy Howard-Peterson explores the nature of the Good News and what it means to be the real life presence and body of Christ in the world. 

Guest speaker Jer Swigart from The Global Immersion Project walks us through what it looks like to follow the Spirit out beyond the borders of comfort.  Is this what was happening to Jesus in this moment?  Was Jesus following the Spirit's invitation out beyond his own borders and comfort?  

Worship Director Melody Olson explores the passage where Jesus desires to gather Israel like a mother hen wants to gather her chicks.  Is God male or female or something more than our categories?  

Micah preaches from the shortest passage in the Bible, John 11:35.  Lament and grief are a part of our lives and yet so many of us are afraid of them being a part of our life with God.  

Every year on a Sunday close to July 11th, we gather outside to remember where we started (in Cherokee Heights Park) and to celebrate the ways in which we have found God to be faithful.  Thanks to Vanessa, Andy, Claudette and Micaela who offered their stories. 

Tom Albinson of International Association For Refugees looks at Matthew 25 through the lens a lifetime of working with displaced peoples.

Pastor Micah pulls the thread that Matthew is telling the Jesus story with at a critical moment.  Jesus enters the city, then the temple, flips over tables and quotes from two Old Testament prophets...why?  What happens when something is intended for one thing, but then over time becomes the opposite of what it was intended for?  

Former worship leader and pastor at Awaken, Ben Rosenbush takes an old familiar story and makes it fresh and applicable for today. 

Micah walks through the encounter Jesus has with a rich young man who asks him a loaded question about the age to come and how to inherit it.  Should all rich people sell their things so they can follow Jesus or is this actually about something else?

This week Pastor Micah tackles the tricky subject of divorce and remarriage.  What do we know for certain about God and what do we know about humans and what do we know about the covenant of marriage?

Matt Moberg from The Table in Minneapolis, leads us through a study of Jesus difficult exhortation about hating our mothers & fathers, sisters & brothers.  Who are you willing to show kindness to?  How big is your circle?  Is it possible that Jesus is inviting us to expand our love for others and not shrink it?

In this episode, Pastor Micah looks at a passage from the end of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus instructs people not to cast "pearls before swine".  What does it mean to offer something of value to the people in your life?  Who do you share the pearls of great value with and is it ever wise to hold some things back?