Groundwork: Biblical Foundations for Life

Arriving at Golgotha, Jesus spoke a harrowing warning to the women he saw weeping for him along the road. At the ninth Station of the Cross, we’ll examine the warning Jesus gave the women he called “Daughters of Jerusalem.” Then comes the tenth Station of the Cross: Jesus’ crucifixion. With awe and trepidation, we’ll witness Jesus, nailed to a cross, bear the full weight of human sin. We’ll reflect on the words he spoke from the cross, discuss what Jesus accomplished there, and what it all means for our lives today.

When we reach stations seven and eight of the Stations of the Cross during Lent, we reflect on the movement toward Golgotha as Jesus takes up the cross, steps onto the road, and a stranger is drawn in to help carry the weight of the cross. Together, let’s consider the symbolism of the cross beam placed on Jesus, the significance of Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross, what it means to bear the cross with Jesus in our lives, and how it helps us understand what to expect in a life of discipleship.

The emotional weight of what Jesus suffers gets heavier as we journey through the Stations of the Cross during Lent. At station five, we read about Jesus before the Roman governor, Pilate. We’ll consider who Pilate was in history and why his presence is important. Then, at station six, we somberly remember the mockery, persecution, and suffering Jesus endured at the hands of the Roman soldiers. Together, we’ll reflect on how these stations highlight Jesus’ innocence and the magnitude of his sacrifice, and what they mean for us as his disciples today.

There are situations in life when forgiveness seems especially difficult, maybe even impossible. For example, how do I forgive myself? What if someone died before I could offer them forgiveness? Is it possible to forgive someone who is not sorry? Do I have to forgive someone who keeps hurting me? Let’s see how Scripture helps us address the hard questions that arise when life’s circumstances make forgiveness complicated, and discover what happens in our hearts when we bring our struggles with forgiveness to God.

If we are saved by grace, what is the purpose of our works? If God does it all, do our works matter? We all long for purpose, but in our daily lives as Christ’s disciples, we can find it challenging to understand the relationship between grace and works. Our thoughts and expectations might quickly slide into legalism on one hand or laziness on the other. The apostle Paul clarified the relationship between grace and works in his letters to early Christians. By studying his writing, we can gain a deeper understanding of how God’s grace and our works cooperate to help us grow in Christlikeness.

We may experience some tension when trying to discern the relationship between God’s grace and our works as it relates to our salvation. This is understandable if we limit our study to the writings of Paul and James in the New Testament. However, by revisiting God’s original covenants with Abraham in Genesis and the new covenant Jesus establishes in Matthew, we gain understanding of how God works, his gift of grace, and what he expects from us as his people.

Twelve days after Christmas every year, churches around the world mark the day of Epiphany, remembering the appearance of the star to the Magi. The light of the star led the Magi to Jesus; this event signifies the extension of God’s family to include Gentiles, which had a profound effect on the future of God’s people. Thankfully, the Bible tells us what to expect when we encounter the transformational light of Christ and how that light affects our discipleship.

Together, let’s explore the moment the prophet Isaiah’s anticipation of light becomes the reality of the Light of the World among us. We’ll explore the profound meaning of Christ’s light shining in our world by examining Bible passages that describe his birth, life, and the hope he brings, and what this means for how we live as children of light.

Light changes everything. A lamp illuminates the room, giving clarity to our surroundings. Dawn brings daylight that transforms the landscape and banishes the uncertainties of night. What happens when the Light of the World arrives? The Bible shows us how Jesus Christ illuminates our lives and the world.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate light of the world. During Advent, we celebrate his birth and look forward to his second coming. Let’s discuss what it means to prepare our souls for the hope and illumination that Jesus brings, and learn what it means to live in the light of Christ with expectation.

Advent is a season of waiting. We’re waiting for the Light of the World. The Bible uses the imagery of light from Genesis to Revelation. Exploring the Bible’s theme of light from the beginning, through the prophets, in the gospels, and in the prophecies of Revelation gives us a fuller understanding of what we’re waiting for as we begin to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus at his birth at Christmas.

Discover what Jesus taught us about the heart and mind of an ideal disciple. Join us as we examine the remaining beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5:7-12 with our guest, Danny Daley. Together, we’ll explore what Jesus taught us when he described the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted as blessed. Then we’ll discuss how understanding and cultivating the dispositions Jesus described in the Beatitudes in our lives of discipleship gives the world a glimpse of God’s kingdom here on earth.

The Beatitudes have provided generations of Christians comfort, guidance, and strength for their faith. Join Groundwork as we study the first four of Jesus’ Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-6 to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We’ll also discuss why Jesus promises the kingdom of heaven and blesses those who possess these dispositions, and why he invites us to cultivate them in our own lives of discipleship.

Jesus taught about the ways of his kingdom as he traveled from place to place with his disciples. One of his most famous sermons, “The Sermon on the Mount,” begins with a series of statements that start with “Blessed are…” Known collectively as “The Beatitudes,” these teachings of Jesus hold profound meaning for us as disciples today. Join us as we discuss the context and setting of Jesus’ Beatitudes and their connection to the Old Testament with our guest, Dr. Danny Daley. We’ll gain a deeper understanding of the purpose and meaning of this list of blessings and how they serve as a guide to a kingdom lifestyle on our journey of discipleship with Jesus.