Reach Church - Everett

It’s hard to stay faithful when the world is so dark - UNLESS we have a clear picture for what we’re running towards. When life gets hard, and when there are no simple answers for the problems we see in the world, it becomes all the more challenging to stay the course - UNLESS we have clear vision. This week, Pastor Sean walks us through Peter’s struggle to stay the course in being faithful and how we can avoid destructive tendencies ourselves.

"Is Jesus God?" "Christianity seems too complicated." "What if I've been hurt by Christians in the past?" "I tried already, and failed." Our God is not intimidated by doubts and questions like these. As we continue studying the final night of Jesus' life, we see Jesus ramping up the compassion and the clarity for his closest friends...the same way he wants to for you.

Whether you've walked towards Jesus or away from him, there is grace available for those who opt in.

Jesus breaks from all expectations of a rabbi on Passover to do something typically only done by the lowliest of servants — he washes his disciples’ feet, and commands them to do the same for others. Before we can do what Jesus did, we must know the 3 things he knew that empowered him to love to the uttermost.

In Luke 24, two disciples moved from crisis to clarity after an encounter with the risen Jesus. We too can move from crisis to clarity in our own lives.

Who is Jesus? Why did he come? Is there hope for me? Do my decisions matter? How can I have eternal life?

Whether you’re on a mountain top or walking through the valley - we ALL need hope in this season. As the church, it’s our job to share about the hope we’ve found in Christ, and offer support wherever possible.

We have a choice - to walk in darkness or to walk in the light. Both have consequences, but one leads to the life each of us ultimately desire.

We’re in a unique point in history, truly a trial we’ve never experienced. Be encouraged to trust Jesus, believing he will transform us and those around us in the process.

Have you ever had to gear up for something you knew would be good in the long run but difficult in the immediate? Jesus did and, as it turns out, his response to that question is the exact hope each of us longs for - especially in times of great need.

Everyone is dying to live, but we’re killing ourselves in the process. The striving for purpose and fulfillment only wears us down. Jesus invites us to die, and in doing so, find the abundant life we’re all searching for.

How do you 'see' Jesus? In John 12, Some Greeks who were looking for Jesus stand out against the gospel narrative as unusual in the political landscape of the time. In a culture where there was separate "worship" for the Gentiles at the Jewish temple, these men were a picture of all who want to know God. As these Greeks request to see Jesus, his response is that in order to rightly see him, you have to see his death, burial, and resurrection.

It's possible to engage in the legalistic act of giving but never experience the abundant joy of generosity. God, instead, calls us to trust in His provision, living lives of open-handed generosity. Not because religion requires us to but because grace invites us to.

Prayer is one of the most fundamental aspects of the Christian faith. What we see in scripture is a model, given by Jesus, on what it looks like to align ourselves with our creator.

We get tired. Exhausted. Depleted. We crave vacation. Days off. A BREAK. Yet it seems nothing does the trick. God has a response to the hustle, a rhythm to slow us down in order to fill us up. It's called sabbath and it's something citizens are invited to practice.

Why does the Bible matter? How should we approach it? Dive in with us as we learn about the Bible, from the Bible.

Citizens of God’s kingdom are called to love our neighbors on earth. But who is my neighbor? How should I love them? Jesus shows us the way.

Ephesians 2:19 - "So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household..." Eternal rights in the Kingdom. Intimate connection with a perfect Father. Through Christ, we are invited into something quite remarkable - The Kingdom of God.

Reach fam, It's the end of the year - can you believe it? If you're like me, you're beginning to feel both a sense of excitement and simultaneously a sense of panic as 2020 approaches. "Did I do enough this year?" "Will I make the most of next year?" Hey, take it easy for a second. What if we've made "achieving" and "accomplishing" our chief end...to our detriment. What if the filter with which you look at goal setting needs to change, perhaps in a way that would set you up for growth every time? God's plan for us is greater than we can see or imagine, why not learn to trust him as we do our best in making plans? I hope this brief message encourages you. Know that I'm praying for you, and I sure am grateful to be your pastor. Bring on 2020, Sean Gasperetti P.S. I mention a goal-setting PDF at the end of the video. You can download it by clicking the link above.