Living Stones Christian Church East Bay (formerly Great Exchange)

We think God doesn't see us - we argue with him about it! But no matter how weakened we've become, those who hope in the Lord, God will lift us up to strength!

We have lost dreams/vision. God will give us his Spirit, and help us dream (his) dreams again.

The locusts have eaten so much during the last 3 years. But God can and will restore those years.

Thanking God helps us resist the constant onslaught of anxiety, despair

Unity is only miraculous when we live in love and peace with each other even though we disagree over important matters (not just little things). We do, of course, need to maintain unity in the essentials of the faith.

Unity in the Body of Christ is *hard work* and uncomfortable. But if we are the Body of Christ, we cannot truly know God unless we embrace Him within each other

Knowing Jesus by knowing the depth of our own sinfulness

Often, not until we step out in faith, to do something where there is no more of our usual security/comforts, do we truly know God -- and his true power!

Knowing Jesus by sharing/solidarity in his sufferings

Note: We had a recording error, hence the low quality audio and length. Apologies! How do we read some of the strange commandments in the Bible? Ultimately, the answer is in Jesus, who fulfilled the OT & taught us the greatest commandments. This brings together the principles from the first 2 sermons in this series.

In the darkest times of our lives God meets us in our cultural condition and takes us farther than we imagined.

The Bible is ultimately a story that points us to Jesus -- not just individual verses we cherry pick. Entry point: Is the Bible Pro-Slavery?

As followers of the way of Jesus, what would it look like to be open to holy interruptions that lead to acts of compassion in our daily lives?

The awe of having a calling/purpose, and the fear of doing the right thing