Missio Dei: Phoenix

For Easter Sunday 2024 we gathered together with two other congregations to share in the joy and celebration of the newness of life, only because of the resurrection of Jesus. The tomb is empty. He is risen. He is risen indeed.

What is your life built upon? What is at the foundation of all you do and how you view the world? Can it withstand the storms and waves that life will inevitably throw at it? Jesus offers an invitation to come and build your life on a solid foundation that can weather any storm.

You've got something in your eye. Pointing the finger at another's fault or shortcoming comes naturally to us. It was the first response of the first man and woman when God approached them in the garden after their rebellion. 'It was the woman'. 'No, it was the serpent'. Jesus has some wisdom for us when it comes to pointing fingers.

You’ve heard the phrase “Love your neighbor”, but was Jesus really serious when he said we are to love our enemies? This countercultural and counterintuitive way of Jesus is not only exemplified in his life and death, but it is also an expectation on those who would call themselves his followers. But how can we do this?

Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection. Read. Listen. Reflect. This week we focus on Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful…” Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes

Ever broken a promise? Ever had someone break a promise to you? Jesus seemed to think this was a pretty big deal. But why did it matter enough to put up there alongside murder, sex, and the tearing apart of households? Could it really be that any time we are not true to our word that is ‘from the evil one’? How can we even have hope of being more honest, reliable, and faithful

Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection. Read. Listen. Reflect. This week we focus on Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes

Murder. Sex. Adultery. Divorce. Jesus wasn’t afraid to talk about the heavy stuff. But where the religious leaders thought they had these things all figured out, Jesus seemingly takes it a step further and makes it even harder to be right with the Law. When it came to obeying the Law, Jesus seemed to agree with what they all should’ve already seen through the Old Testament Scri

Each week over the next two months we’ll journey through one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5. Take time to move slowly through the rhythms of reflection. Read. Listen. Reflect. This week we focus on Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the humble…” Find the full guide here: missiodeicommunities.com/beatitudes

Jesus said he had come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill it. But what exactly does that mean? Has he fulfilled it? And if so, how? And what exactly would his listeners have interpreted as 'the Law and the Prophets' to mean?