Encounter

If we are seeking to follow Christ, we are on the same team. Whether we prefer traditional or contemporary worship styles. It does not matter if we prefer to dress up or if we are a jeans and T-shirt type of person - in Christ we are one. We celebrate that unity.

Part 2 of our discussion of the baggage we all carry. In this podcast, we look learn that Jesus will give us rest from the weight of the baggage. At Encounter, we learn what our baggage is. We learn that Jesus already knows we have baggage. We placed our baggage at the foot of the cross and placed it in a garbage can in order to symbolically represent throwing aside our baggage and allowing ourselves to find rest in Jesus. The video that is referenced cam from Max Lucado's website at upwords.com and is titled Give It All to Him. For copyright purposes, we are not allowed to include it in our podcast.

Baggage: we all have it. It often weighs us down and keeps us from being who God truly intends for us to be. At Encounter, we seek to create an environment where it is safe to admit that we have baggage. Listen in as we learn that we all have baggage and that we can give it over to the baggage handler, Jesus.

The first characater in our series of God's most wanted. Noah was wanted by God for his obedience, endurance, and faithfulness. We look at the character traits of Noah and examine the flaws in our own character and how to improve.

She stood before the crowd, exposed and ashamed. She had been caught in adultery. The law said she should die. What would Jesus say? "If you have no sin, you throw the first stone." Words of fogiveness; words of hope. "Go and leave your life of sin." Words offering an invitation to a new life. At Encounter, we discuss the situation this woman is placed in. We look at our own lives and realize we have stones that could be thrown at us, and we accept the words of Jesus.

The man had been borm blind. Jesus healed him in an unusal way involving saliva and mud. By the end of the John chapter 9 we learn that it was not this man who was blind, but the Pharisees. At Encounter, we discuss this miracle and our own blindness. Join us in the journey toward discovery as we seek to heave Jesus open our eyes.

When there is a large crowd of over 5,000 in attendance, a small amount of food (2 fish and five small loaves of bread) doesn't seem like a very significant amount of food. That is, unless Jesus is throwing the party. He takes a small boy's lunch and turns it into and all you can eat buffet. At Encounter, we discuss if there is some gift that we have that we can give to Jesus. We believe that regardless of how small it is, he can do amazing things with it.

As Jesus was walking with Jairus to heal his sick daughter, a woman with a bleeding disorder touched Jesus. Jesus stopped what he was doing to acknowledge her and let her know that she was freed from her suffering. At Encounter, we discuss what need we have that needs to be addressed right now and how we can be freed from our suffering.

Fishing - for some it is relaxing; for others it is a means of making a living. For Simon, Andrew, James, and John - it was a career. They were fishermen by trade. Jesus told them that if they chose to follow him, they would become fisher of men. The left their way of life in order to follow Jesus. At Encounter, we discuss what it means to go fishing with Jesus. It cost the disciples something in order to follow Jesus. What will it cost us?

One of my favorite features of a video game is the reset button. When I make a mistake, I can push reset and start all over. Do you wish life had a reset button? Fail a test - push reset. Say something you regret - push reset. Make a decision you wish you did not make - push reset. The new year means a new start, but we know that just because the calendar reads January and the year has changed from 2007 to 2008, we do not forget what happened last month or last year. But the wonderful reality is that in Christ, we have a reset button. He gives us a new start; a new life. The old is gone and we are made new. At Encounter, we discuss that new life. We dicuss God's reset button -Jesus.

Christmas has come. Jesus is here! Now what? What is the mission of Jesus? What was his purpose for coming to earth? At Encounter, we look at what Jesus life is all about. The base for this message come from a day in the life of Jesus according to Mark 1:21-39.

The Christmas story is more than a baby in a manger. It is a messy story that is often lost in all the plastic nativity scenes of the holiday season. At Encounter, we look at the messy Savior and learn how he can give us a beautiful life.

Tragedy and hardships affect us all. Whether it is terrorist attacks, losing a loved one, losing a job, or having our hearts broken - it affects who we are. The Christmas story is God's response to suffering. He comes to earth in the form of a human being and offers rest for the weary. At Encounter, we discuss God's response to our own personal tragedies.

We may understand community. We may be able to grasp the idea of a covenant. But what is a covenant community? At Encounter, we want to be a covenant community. Join us as we discuss the covenant and commit to live as a covenant community.

What is light? What is the importance of light? How can we shine a light in a dark world? At Encounter, we discuss what it means to let our lights shine. The video which is referenced in this lesson can be viewed at http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=026dd1f3674774f06c51

We are called to love those outside the spiritual family. At Encounter, we want to be a force of love in the community around us. What does that look like? How will we respond? Explore with us as we seek to love those outside the spiritual community.

What does it mean to truly worship God? How can we express authentic worship? Join the encounter community as we seek authentic worship.

We are called to be the body of Christ. What does that mean? How can we live it? At Encounter, we are learning together how to function as the body of Christ.