In the intro to this week’s sermon, Dean offered some of his thoughts on how we as a church community should respond to The DaVinci Code. If you weren’t able to be here, here is an mp3 for you to listen to.

The end is near! After five months, we are wrapping up The Story of God. These week, we look ahead at what is yet to come.

As we’ve seen throughout the story, God has continually been at work to redeem his people and his creation. Revelation 21:1-22:5 describes his ultimate redemption. A renewed heaven crashes down to a renewed earth and God once again dwells among his people.

Ever since Jesus ascended into heaven, lots of effort has been spent as humans have tried to determine exactly when Jesus might return, or what that might look like. All this speculation can be captivating, but it can also be dangerous. How can followers of Jesus find a proper balance between going about the tasks God has given us for today, while still looking forward to this final redemption?
How much do you think we should try to speculate on when and how God will bring about this final redemption?

The role of the church in the world is to continue the ministry of Jesus. We are continually trying to understand how we can do just that in the community we live in. We pray that our community and world would be better because Pathways exists.

Over the past few months, the community service dream team has been exploring this very idea. I personally have been thrilled to see the heart of the people on this team – we’ve had no shortage of ideas and passion. Through all of this, we’re attempting to focus our efforts in a few immediate areas where we believe that we can make a difference.

Starting in June, we will have a blessings barrel at every weekend gathering. Each month, our community will fill the barrel with different items to help needs that we become aware of. In June, we will begin by collecting new twin sheet sets, pillows, and crib sheets for the Everett Gospel Mission.These will help provide bedding for families who might otherwise be on the streets. Every Sunday in June, the barrel will be available for you to drop off these items. Terrie Heyart and Cyndee Baldwin are coordinating the barrel each month, so if you are aware of other needs that it might go toward, let them know.

We are also working to put together a time when each home group can go and serve together at the Everett Gospel Mission during one of their normal gathering times this summer. We think Everett Gospel Mission is doing a great service in our area, and we want to partner with them to meet their needs as they serve others. I’m thankful that Catrina Coulson and Chuck Aplin are working with them to help us put this together.

We have a few other projects in the works, but the details aren’t yet in place, so I’ll share more as those get hammered out. Until then, thank you to those of you on the community service team for dreaming with us. I hope that this is just the beginning of many ways in which Pathways continues the ministry of Jesus to those around us.

Ever stuck your foot in your mouth?
Ever been absolutely confident of something? So confident you were willing to voice your confidence loudly and strongly — only to find out that you were wrong?
Ever have to face those people to whom you spoke so confidently and errantly?

I’ve done it so many times that coming up with an example is almost laughable. It happens all the time with my wife, Leslie. The less vulnerable stories revolve around my confidence of an actors name in a movie or television show and her correction of me. I am confident. She is confident that I am wrong. She is ALWAYS right. Seriously. I should quit trying, but my pride always convinces me that this one time I am right. There are examples that are more embarassing, but you get the picture.

We are not alone. The story that God tells through Scripture is filled with people who have been humbled. This week we’ll take a look at Peter. His stories of eating “Humble Pie” are long and numerous, but as I imagine myself walking in his shoes, I feel my pride welling up inside me. Peter walked with Jesus. Peter walked with Jesus on the water. Peter was there when Jesus appeared on a mountainside with Moses and Elijah. Peter saw the crucifixion and was an eyewitness to the resurrection. Peter preached the first sermon after the resurrection that led thousands of people to reconsider their opinion of Jesus and be baptized as an act of obedience in following Him. Peter is “The Man”.

This week, we’ll take a look at how often Peter was wrong - and in key teachings that would eventually effect the world. You see…Peter was a first century “bigot” of sorts, because He believed that Jesus was only for the Hebrew people. Maybe “bigot” is a harsh term because he did not dislike people of other cultures, he simply thought that he was better than they were. The truth does not hit him all at once, but as he walks this journey of following Jesus. Read Acts 10 & 11. For extra credit read Galatians 2:11-21.

Is it possible that there are areas in our life in which we need to allow God, through Scripture, to speak to us with a fresh voice?
Perhaps there are some areas in which God has already changed some of your preconcieved notions about HIm? Would you be willing to share the journey that you have walked on this blog?

Encourage us…remember, it’s called growth and you are placing yourself alongside a list of people like Peter, Paul, Moses, and Elijah — not bad company.

This week, we celebrate mother’s day. Having a mom is something that all of us have in common – it’s a fact that is unavoidable. Moms are at the beginning of each of our stories, but beyond that, things vary greatly.

This past Sunday, we spent a lot of time talking about stories. We talked about how Saul’s story intersected with the story of God. Saul had the courage to join his story with God’s story even though it meant drastic change.

In honor of mom, spend some time this week reflecting on your own story. As we’ve studied the story of God, we want the people of Pathways to be thinking about our own stories. This week, in home groups, we are going to spend some time sharing our stories. How have you seen God at work in your story? What are the challenges you face as you try to join your story with God’s story? These questions are more complex and personal than usual, and are primarily for your own reflection, although you are welcome to share some responses on the blog if you like…

As Dean said this past weekend, when you come to an understanding that Jesus was raised from the dead, it changes everything. There might not be a clearer example of that than Saul, who was later known as Paul. Saul was the main persecutor of Christians until he came face to face with Jesus, and then everything changed. Take some time to read this story in Acts 9:1-31.

After Saul’s confrontation with Jesus, he went on to become one of the most prominent figures in the Bible and Christian history. He literally became a man on a mission as he traveled throughout the Roman Empire telling people the good news about Jesus.

As far as I know, we don’t have people within the Pathways community who are persecuting believers in Jesus, but we do have people who can identify with both sides of Paul’s story and we’d love to hear all perspectives. So, please share your thoughts, as brief or detailed as you want to be, on these questions…

-For those who find themselves resistant to embracing the resurrection of Jesus, what causes your hesitations?
-What can/should a conversion experience look like?
-For those who have been changed by the resurrection of Jesus, how does your conversion story compare to Saul’s? How has it reshaped how you approach life?