REUNION Christian Church

If God were to show up, we might be the last ones to recognize it.

Acts 1:1-11 with Nathan Caddell. What do you do when you know something big is happening… but you have no idea what comes next?In the opening message of The Way, we step into Acts 1 and the uncomfortable space of waiting. The first followers of Jesus had seen the resurrection, but instead of clarity, they were told to wait. This message explores why waiting isn’t wasted time, but a place where trust is formed, desires are reshaped, and community becomes essential.If you’ve ever felt stuck between what was and what’s next, this is for you.

John 20:1-16 with Matt Chin.Is there any light at all?In one of the most personal moments in the Easter story, Mary stands in the dark, overwhelmed with grief, unable to recognize that Jesus is right in front of her.Everything changes when he says her name.This message explores how resurrection isn’t first about belief or explanation, but about recognition — when something that felt distant suddenly becomes personal.If you’ve ever felt stuck in the dark, unsure what you believe, or wondering if hope is real, this is for you.

When Scripture becomes the light that guides our steps, we can walk through any season with hope, knowing it is leading us toward a life of true flourishing.

Psalm 1 with Nathan Caddell. Many of us carry quiet voices in our minds that tell us painful stories about who we are: that we are not enough, not wanted, not loved, or just waiting to be exposed. In this message from our Still Alive series, Nathan explores Psalm 1 and the idea that where we look for belonging and identity shapes the direction of our lives.Rather than treating the Bible like a textbook, a rulebook, or something to avoid, this teaching invites us to see Scripture as something far more personal. A place we return to again and again, not out of obligation, but because it reminds us of what is true when the lies get loud. Through honest reflections on depression, identity, and the quiet ways our hearts drift toward counterfeit sources of love, this message offers a hopeful vision: Scripture is not just information to study. It is a living invitation that roots us in the love of God and leads us back home to who we truly are.

Genesis 1:26–28, Genesis 2:15, Ecclesiastes 2:17–25 with Nathan Caddell.Work carries a lot of weight for many of us. We want it to pay the bills, reflect our values, use our gifts, and give us a sense of purpose. But what happens when our jobs don’t live up to that hope, or when work starts carrying more meaning than it was ever meant to hold?In this message, Nathan explores the Bible’s vision of work through Genesis and Ecclesiastes, showing how our desire for meaningful work is deeply human and deeply spiritual. We were made to create, cultivate, and bring order out of chaos, yet work has also been marked by frustration, fatigue, and disappointment. This teaching looks at why work matters, why it often leaves us unsatisfied, and how we can begin to see our vocation in a healthier, freer way.If you feel burned out, stuck, restless in your career, or unsure how faith connects to your job, this message offers a hopeful reframing. Work was never meant to be your identity or your savior. It was meant to be one of the places where God’s love and calling flow through your life to bring a little more goodness, beauty, and order into the world.

John 15:12-16 with Matt Chin. Why does friendship feel so essential—and yet so fragile?In this message, we explore why so many of us long for deep connection but struggle to believe it’s safe. Drawing from John 15, we listen to Jesus on the night before his death as he does something surprising: he calls his disciples friends—knowing they’re about to fail him.We talk about loneliness in every stage of life, why intimacy feels risky, how belonging comes before vulnerability, and why Jesus insists that love and friendship sit at the very center of faith.If you’ve ever felt lonely, guarded, tired of trying, or unsure how to build meaningful relationships, this message is an invitation to slow down, remember that you are chosen, and imagine friendship not as something optional—but as sacred.Belonging comes first. And from that place, real friendship can begin.

Psalm 25 and 1 Kings 17-19 with Matt Chin. Many of us approach discernment like a test. We want the right answer, the clear sign, the certainty that we won’t mess things up. In this message from our series The Intentional Year, Matt explores a different vision of discernment through Psalm 25, the story of Elijah, and his own experience of waiting through disappointment and loss.This teaching reframes discernment not as getting a map from God, but learning to trust a guide. It looks at how trust is formed in seasons of confusion, why silence does not mean God is absent, and how familiarity with God’s heart shapes us long before clarity ever arrives. If you are standing at a crossroads, living in a long in-between, or wondering if you heard God wrong, this message offers a steady reminder. Discernment grows out of relationship, not answers, and God is closer than you think.

Deuteronomy 8:2–18 with Nathan Caddell. Many of us rush into a new year looking ahead, setting goals, and hoping things will be better. But before we decide where we are going, we often need to slow down and look back. In this message from our series The Intentional Year, Nathan reflects on why honest remembrance matters, especially after seasons of pain, disruption, or growth.Drawing from Deuteronomy 8 and his own story of loss and healing, this teaching explores how reflection is not about reliving suffering or explaining it away, but about noticing where God stayed near. It looks at how forgetting God’s faithfulness, both in hardship and in abundance, shapes our trust, and how remembering can form us for whatever comes next. If you are entering a new year carrying grief, gratitude, hope, or unanswered questions, this message invites you to pause, remember, and ground your future in the steady faithfulness of God.

Galatians 5:22–25 with Nathan Caddell. A new year often comes with big goals and quiet pressure. Do more. Fix more. Become a better version of yourself. Before long, life starts to feel like a scoreboard, ahead or behind, winning or failing, productive or disappointing. And for many of us, faith becomes one more place to perform.In this message kicking off our series The Intentional Year, Nathan explores a different way to begin 2026. Through Paul’s letter to the Galatians and Jesus’ words in John 15, we look at the difference between achievement and fruit, performance and formation, striving and abiding. Instead of treating spiritual growth like a to-do list, Paul describes “the fruit of the Spirit”, the kind of character that grows when our lives are shaped by God’s presence rather than pressure.If you feel tired, driven, or stuck on a treadmill of never enough, this teaching is an invitation to step off the scorecard and stay connected to the true source of life. Not to do more for Jesus, but to be with Jesus, and let a slower, deeper kind of change take root.

Matthew 1:18–25 with Nathan Caddell.Fear is a deeply human experience. It shows up when plans fall apart, when control slips away, and when the future feels uncertain.In this Advent message, we explore the story of Joseph in Matthew 1 and the fear that surrounds the first Christmas. Through a surprising Joseph’s quiet crisis and the angel’s words “Do not be afraid,” we discover that Christmas is not about fear disappearing, but about God drawing near.This sermon looks honestly at how fear shapes our decisions, why fear often tells us to run or protect ourselves, and how God responds not by fixing circumstances, but by offering his presence. Joseph doesn’t get all the answers, but he learns that he is not alone. And that changes everything.

Luke 2:1–20 with Matt Chin.What does “peace on earth” mean when life feels anything but peaceful?In this Advent message, we explore the birth of Jesus through Luke 2:1–20 and discover that the first Christmas happened in a world marked by fear, power, and instability. Rome promised peace through control and force, but God chose a different way. Quiet. Vulnerable. Unexpected.From Caesar’s census to shepherds in the dark, this sermon reflects on peace not as escape or calm circumstances, but as restored relationship and inner wholeness. We look at why God comes near to the overlooked, how peace grows in ordinary lives, and what it might mean to take one small step toward hope when everything feels unsettled.

Luke 1:57–80 with Nathan Caddell. Waiting is exhausting. Whether it is for test results, a relationship to heal, a job to come through, or simply for life to feel less chaotic, most of us treat waiting as something to endure until peace finally arrives. In this Advent message, Nathan looks at the story of Zechariah in Luke 1, a priest who receives the news he has prayed for his whole life and still struggles to trust it. Instead of instant answers, Zechariah is led into a long season of silence, and God meets him there.This teaching explores how waiting, doubt, and silence are not signs that God has abandoned us, but places where God often forms a deeper kind of peace in us. Peace that is received, not achieved. Nathan reflects on Zechariah’s transformation, the practice of silence, remembering God’s past faithfulness, and what it might mean this Advent to stop trying to control our way to peace and begin to open ourselves to God’s presence in the middle of the unfinished story.

Luke 1:26–38 with Matt Chin. In this Advent message, we look at the story of Mary and the kind of peace God offers in the middle of real life. Many of us long for clarity, control, and a future that feels predictable. Yet when God steps into Mary’s life, none of those things are promised. Her plans shift. Her questions grow. Her world becomes more fragile, not less.What changes for her is not her circumstances, but God’s presence. Peace begins in the moment she realizes she will not walk her uncertainty alone.This teaching invites us to slow down and pay attention to the places where life feels unsettled. It explores honest questions, the difference between control and trust, and how God draws close in the moments we would avoid. If you are tired, anxious, or holding a part of your life that feels unpredictable, this message offers a quiet reminder. Peace does not wait for everything to make sense. Peace begins when God meets us right where we are.

John 15:4-11 with Nathan Caddell.Many of us feel pressure to build a “fruitful” life through the right job, relationship, income, or image, yet still feel tired and restless. In this message, Nathan wraps up our “With” series by looking at Jesus’ words in John 15 about the vine and the branches.We explore why our usual go-to sources of peace and joy fall short, what it means to stay connected to Jesus in seasons of pruning and disappointment, and how surrender can lead to a deeper experience of friendship with God rather than blind obedience. If you feel worn out from trying to hold your life together on your own, this teaching offers an honest, hopeful invitation to rest, remain, and receive the kind of life you were made for.

Mark 5: 25-34 with Nathan Caddell. In this teaching from our series “With,” Nathan looks at the story of the bleeding woman in Mark 5, a woman who tried to stay hidden, reached for Jesus in secret, and then had to tell her “whole truth” in front of everyone.We talk about shame, church hurt, and why so many of us are afraid to be fully known, even by God. And we explore how Jesus meets this woman, not with condemnation, but with welcome, calling her “daughter” and sending her out in peace.If you are tired of hiding, wondering if God (or the church) would still want you if you told the whole story, this message is an invitation to step into the light and find healing, freedom, and family with Jesus.

Luke 10: 38-42 with Matt Chin. We live in a world that celebrates busyness and constant motion. But what if Jesus is inviting us to something different? In this message, Matt reflects on the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10 and the one thing Jesus calls “necessary.” It’s not more doing—it’s being loved.Through stillness, presence, and contemplative prayer, we learn that God isn’t asking for our performance—He’s inviting us to sit at His feet, receive His love, and find the peace that can’t be taken away.

Lamentations 3:16-27 with Nathan Caddell. What do we do when God feels silent?After four months on sabbatical, Nathan shares about longing to hear God’s voice—and being met instead with silence. Drawing from the book of Lamentations, he explores how God’s silence doesn’t mean God’s absence, and how hope is not rooted in optimism or easy answers, but in the unchanging character of God.Even when prayers go unanswered and life feels uncertain, God’s steadfast love remains. The invitation isn’t to fix the silence, but to stay near—to discover that what our hearts long for most isn’t clarity, but communion.Because even in the silence, God is still with us.

Haggai 1:1–15; 2:1–9 with guest speaker Patrick Harden. We love stories with happy endings—where the hard work finally pays off, the hero wins, and everything feels complete. But what happens when the ending we hoped for never comes? In this final message of the Build Your Life series, Patrick shares how the Israelites’ return from exile didn’t go as planned. The temple they rebuilt was smaller, the work was harder, and their dreams felt unfinished. Through the prophet Haggai, God reminds them—and us—that what makes life meaningful isn’t the size of what we build, but the presence that fills it.

Genesis 37-50 with Matt Chin. What do you do when the dream you believed was from God doesn’t unfold the way you hoped? When it takes longer, costs more, or looks nothing like you imagined? In this message, Matt explores the life of Joseph—a young man with a God-given dream who finds himself betrayed, forgotten, and waiting in the dark. Through Joseph’s story and his own, Matt invites us to consider how God works in the waiting, reshapes our expectations, and meets us in the in-between. Because sometimes, the dream has to be broken before it can be rebuilt.

Matt 7:24-27, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 25 with Matt Chin. What if the wisdom of Jesus looks like foolishness to the world—but is actually the only way that leads to life? In this message, Matt shares how pain, weakness, and surrender aren’t signs of failure but invitations to rebuild on a better foundation. Through his own journey of loss, we see that the “foolish” way of Jesus—the way of mercy, grace, and trust—isn’t a quick fix. It’s an invitation to become whole, one small act of faith at a time.

Matt 7:24-27 with Matt Chin. What happens when the life you built starts to crumble?In this opening message of Build Your Life, Matt shares his own story of faith, loss, and rebuilding—and how Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 invite us to build our lives on something that lasts.This isn’t a sermon about avoiding the storm; it’s about finding a foundation that holds when it hits. Through heartbreak, doubt, and the silence of God, Matt reminds us that even when everything falls apart, grace can still rebuild what’s real.

Mark 14:1-10 with Matt Chin. In the final week of our This Is Reunion series, we explore a moment of extravagant generosity in Mark 14—when a woman breaks open a jar of expensive perfume and pours it out on Jesus. While others call it wasteful, Jesus calls it beautiful.This sermon is about worship, trust, and what it means to live open-handed in a world that tells us to hold tight. It’s about how generosity—of money, time, presence—can become an act of love rather than a performance. And it’s about how our small, unseen acts of faith might matter more than we know.Whether you’re a longtime part of REUNION or you’re just curious about faith, this message is an invitation to consider what you’re holding onto—and who you might be willing to trust with it.

John 9 with Matt Chin. What if healing is how Jesus brings heaven to earth? In John 9, Jesus restores a blind man’s sight—but the deeper story is what happens after. Rejected by his community, thrown out by the system, the man is found again by Jesus. Because true healing takes time. It’s not just a miracle moment—it’s the slow, faithful work of God rewriting our stories.In this message, we explore what it means to be a church of healing, not hype. A place of presence, not performance. And we ask: What if REUNION became a glimpse of heaven—right here, right now?

John 20:24-29 with Matt Chin. We often remember Thomas for his doubt—but maybe we should remember him for his honesty, his courage to return, and the encounter that changed everything. In this sermon, we explore what it means to bring our questions to Jesus, how faith and doubt often walk side by side, and why real trust is formed not through certainty, but through presence.At REUNION, we want to become the kind of church where doubt and faith can sit at the same table. A place where you don’t have to have it all figured out—but you’re still invited to encounter the living God.If belief feels hard, if you’re carrying questions, or if you’re wondering whether Jesus still shows up—we hope this talk encourages you.

Luke 15:11-32 with Matt Chin. In one of the most well-known stories Jesus ever told, a son runs away—and a father runs to meet him. But this isn’t just a story about rebellion. It’s about grace. It’s about a father who doesn’t wait for an apology. It’s about the older brother who never left, but still feels far from home.In this message, we explore what it means to be lost, what it means to come home, and the kind of church we’re becoming—a community of reunion, shaped by the heart of the Father.To learn more or get connected, visit reunionboston.com.

Luke 5:1-11 and John 21:4-7 with Matt Chin. We talk about grace all the time— in songs, at HomeGoods, even before meals when we “say grace.” But what does the grace of God really mean?In this message from our Lexicon series, Matt takes us to an unexpected passage in Luke 5, where Peter experiences grace in a way that changes everything. Peter expects rejection, but instead hears Jesus say, “Don’t be afraid. Follow me.”Along the way, we’ll see how grace isn’t just forgiveness—it’s an invitation to transformation. Grace meets us in our shame and failure, but it doesn’t leave us there. It calls us into a new identity, a new mission, and a new way of life.Whether you’re in a “Luke 5 moment”—realizing for the first time that Jesus knows you fully and still chooses you—or a “John 21 moment”—running back to Him after failure—this sermon is a reminder that grace is already here. It looks at the real you, and says, “I still choose you.”

Romans 5:1-5 with guest speaker Hannah Kayali. What do we do when hope feels too heavy to hold? When life doesn’t go the way we prayed it would—and we’re left wondering if God is even listening?In this honest message where Hannah shares her own experience of health issues, we explore what the Bible really means by hope. Not blind optimism or a happy ending, but a deeper trust that gets formed slowly—often through suffering. Drawing from Romans 5, we’ll consider how hope isn’t something we’re born with. It’s something we learn. Something that grows and forms over time.

Genesis 3 with Matt Chin. Why is the world so broken—and why do we feel it so deeply? In this message from our Lexicon series, we take a fresh look at the word "sin." Not as just rule-breaking, but as broken trust. Drawing from Genesis 3, we explore how sin fractures our relationship with God, ourselves, others, and creation—and why understanding the nature of sin is essential to recognizing the beauty of grace. This isn’t a message about guilt. It’s an invitation to come out of hiding and trust the One who comes looking for us.

Genesis 27:1–40 and Genesis 32:22-32 with Matt Chin. “Blessed” is one of the most common—and most confusing—words in the vocabulary of faith. We say it without thinking, hashtag it online, and often wonder what it really means. Is it about success? Favor? Feeling happy? And what happens when your life doesn’t feel “blessed” at all?In this message, we explore the ancient story of Jacob—a man who lied to his father and disguised himself as someone else, all to receive a blessing he thought he could never get as himself. His story speaks directly into our own questions about identity, approval, and love.Through Jacob’s hunger to be seen, and Jesus’ willingness to bear our shame, we discover a deeper truth:You don’t have to disguise yourself to be loved. In Jesus, the blessing we most long for is already being spoken over us.https://www.reunionboston.com

Matt 3:13-17 and Exodus 14:28-29 with Matt Chin. Baptism. It’s a word many of us have heard, some of us have experienced—but few of us have really paused to ask: What does it mean?In this week’s message from our summer series Lexicon: A Fresh Look at Ancient Words, we explore the deep story behind baptism—not just as a religious ritual, but as a symbol of rescue, identity, and belonging. From the parted waters of the Red Sea to the muddy banks of the Jordan, Scripture tells a recurring story of a God who meets us in our stuck places and leads us into new life.Whether you’re spiritually curious, rethinking faith, or already walking with Jesus, this teaching offers a grounded and hopeful look at one of the church’s most misunderstood practices. Because baptism isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about saying yes to the God who’s already stepped into the water with us.https://www.reunionboston.com

Hebrews 11 with Matt Chin and his wife Jean co teaching together. We’ve all heard the word faith. But what happens when faith doesn’t “work”? When the prayers go unanswered, the healing doesn’t come, or the life you hoped for slips further out of reach?In this deeply personal message, Matt and Jean open our new summer series, Lexicon of Faith, by reflecting on their own story of waiting, disappointment, and loss. Together, they explore the meaning of faith through the lens of Hebrews 11—a chapter filled with both miraculous triumph and deep, unfulfilled longing.This isn’t a feel-good sermon about believing harder. It’s an honest invitation to rediscover faith as a rugged, rooted trust in something more solid than circumstances. A faith that holds—even in the coldest seasons of life.Because real faith doesn’t deny the winter. It dares to live like spring is already on the move.https://www.reunionboston.com

Some of us think that, because we know about God, we are close to him.  Jesus tells a parable to show us that simply knowing your master does not mean we are acting in a way that pleases him.

Matthew 18:21-35 with Nathan Caddell. Forgiveness isn’t easy—and it’s rarely clean. But what if forgiving others isn’t just for their sake, but for ours? In this message from REUNION’s By Our Fruits series, Nathan unpacks Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant and challenges us to rethink forgiveness not as forgetting or enabling, but as the path to healing, freedom, and wholeness.

Luke 14:12-24 with Matt Chin. In this message from our By Our Fruits series, Matt reflects on Jesus’ parable in Luke 14 and challenges us to rethink who we invite into our lives. In a culture of curated guest lists and self-protective hospitality, Jesus calls us to set a bigger table—one marked by grace, not gain.The message concludes interviewing Ryan, who is a part of our community around the impact of Miracle Mile Ministries on his life and his invitation for others to join him.

Luke 10:25-37 with Matt Chin. What if compassion isn’t just something we do, but something we become? In this sermon on the Good Samaritan, we explore how Jesus reframes the question “Who is my neighbor?” into “Who are you becoming?”—and what it means to live a life marked by mercy, not just morality.When we remember that we’re the ones rescued on the side of the road, we begin to see others—and love others—the way Jesus does.If this message was helpful, share it with a friend or visit reunionboston.com to learn more.

Genesis 4:9-16 with Nathan Caddell. Why do we build cities—and what is God building instead? In this sermon, Nathan explores the origin of cities in the Bible, the human desire for safety and significance, and how followers of Jesus are called to live for the good of the city, not just their own gain.If you’re wrestling with ambition, anxiety, or purpose in urban life, this message offers a better story—and a deeper calling.

Matthew 6:19-24 with Nathan Caddell. In a world chasing happiness through comfort and consumption, could joy be found in something deeper? In this sermon from REUNION’s By Our Fruits series, Nathan explores Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 and the surprising truth that generosity—not self-gratification—is the path to a flourishing life.What (or who) is shaping your heart—and are they worth serving?

Mark 3:31-35 with Nathan Caddell. We’re surrounded by people—but why do so many of us still feel alone? In this sermon from REUNION’s By Our Fruits series, Nathan explores how Jesus redefines family—not by blood, but through a community of people committed to love, sacrifice, and spiritual formation.If your heart longs for something deeper than surface-level connection, this message offers hope—and a vision for the kind of family the church is called to be.

Romans 8:22-27 with Nathan Caddell. “Thoughts and prayers” often feel like a cop-out—but what if they’re actually a powerful way to love a hurting world? In this sermon from REUNION’s By Our Fruits series, Nathan explores Romans 8 and the true purpose of intercessory prayer—not as a retreat from pain, but as a courageous act of hope and healing in the face of suffering.If you’ve ever wondered whether prayer really matters, this message will help you see it—and God—in a new way.

Matthew 7:15-20 with Nathan Caddell. How do you measure spiritual growth? Is it by what you know—or by how you love? In this kickoff to REUNION’s By Our Fruits series, Nathan shares a deeply personal story and explores Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 to remind us that true formation isn’t about knowledge or performance, but about becoming people of love.Because in the end, we’ll be known—not by what we believe—but by the fruit our lives produce.

The death and resurrection of Jesus means true life for us today.  We needed healing from so many different things, and that healing comes through the sacrifice of Jesus.  Something perfect became imperfect so that something imperfect could become perfect.

The Triumphal Entry was something that would have been very common in Jesus' time.  The irony of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is that it mirrored a common Roman practice also called a Triumphal Entry. We have a vision of freedom in our heads, that we can do whatever we want, but Jesus comes to offer a better kind of freedom.  Jesus subverts this Roman tradition, which would have offered a kind of freedom to specific people, and shows us that he is offering a different kind of freedom.  A spiritual freedom for all people.

Isaiah, in this passage, is speaking to a nation who has wandered from the path God had put them on.  Not only had they wandered, but they found themselves wandering down a road that was leading to their brokenness, to pain, to frustration, and to a life that they had longed to leave behind in Egypt.Isaiah tells of someone who is going to come and suffer on behalf of his people, in order to bring them back onto the path they were originally called to.  Although there is a present truth in this promise, that God is going to redeem them and free them from their exile in Babylon, this was also a promise of one to come, who would free all of us from the exile that sin puts us into.  What Isaiah is promising the nation is what Jesus fulfilled on the cross.  A suffering servant, who gave his life on our behalf, to stop us from continuing to travel down a road of destruction, and to offer us a chance to come back to the path of life.Humanity is hopeless in our pain and suffering, but Jesus became a suffering servant, which defeated sin, but also gives us hope in the midst of our pain and despair.

The Passover was a foreshadowing of what would happen on a spiritual scale through the death of Jesus.  Punishment was coming on those who would not submit to God and trust in his way and offer of life.  But there was hope to be rescued and redeemed from this punishment and destruction.A lamb could be killed, and its blood spread over the doorposts of a house.  Blood could cover a family and forgiveness and grace would be offered to them, if they trusted in God’s invitation and followed his commandments.This lamb was really just a foretaste of the ultimate lamb, whose blood would one day be shed to cover all of humanity.  Jesus is the great passover lamb, and God’s grace and mercy is offered to us when we cover the doorposts of our lives with his blood.Humanity is deserving of death and punishment… our sins should lead to our destruction as well, but Jesus shed his blood to offer us life instead.

Jude with Matt Chin. Is faith something we’re meant to figure out on our own? In this message on the book of Jude, we explore how our culture’s obsession with independence can lead us into isolation—and how Jude calls us back to a different way: one rooted in community, mercy, and shared faithfulness.Because in a world where doubt is rising and connection feels harder than ever, we don’t need to go it alone. We need each other to build, to contend, and to grow into the people God is forming us to be.For more about REUNION, visit www.reunionboston.com

Jude with Nathan Caddell. In a world flooded with voices, how do we know who’s worth following? In this message on the book of Jude, Nathan explores how our lives are shaped—often subtly—by the content we consume and the people we trust. Jude’s ancient letter sounds a timely warning: not all influence leads to life.If we become like the ones we follow, then following Jesus means choosing the harder, better way—a way marked by trust, surrender, and life to the full.For more about REUNION, go to www.reunionboston.com

When we seek behavioral modification instead of true heart change, it is like stapling healthy apples to a struggling tree. Our temporary solutions and quick fixes will end up rotting because they are disconnected from a true source of life. Our world is obsessed with the visible fruit of productivity, however, without a secure identity we end up making fragile, cosmetic changes that only last as long as our will power. As followers of Christ, our identity is sealed in Him and His love for us. This truth should enable us to live freely and wholeheartedly for him, but division can still make its way into our hearts. There will always be a temptation to withhold part of our heart from God, but we were created to remain in His love. In His mercy, God desires to unite our hearts towards Him. When we humble ourselves to learn how to fear His name and rely on His faithfulness, God promises to change our hearts to bear enduring fruit connected to Christ.

While the modern world is riddled with deceptive mindsets and mechanisms created to steal and waste our time, God calls us to be conscious stewards of our time, and aim to live in our current seasons with the knowledge and hope of our future in eternity with Him. As creations intentionally made in His image, eternity is set into our hearts, providing us with a purpose that should drive our lives on Earth.  Many of us need a new perspective on time, what it actually is, and how we should actually use it.  Time is the most important commodity in our lives, and by moving from carelessness to carefulness we can honor God with the time He has given us on Earth. Treating our time foolishly can look like wasting it through exchanging worship of God for unsatisfying idols, hoarding possessions that will not last, and building our lives on weak foundations. However, pursuing a wise perspective ensures that we devote our lives to what truly matters rather than things that ultimately pull us away from God. When we live in light of the future, we can shift from squandering to leveraging our time to fulfill the purposes God has given each of us.

We are all given one life to live.  The problem for many of us, is that we aren’t entirely sure what we should do with it.  We don’t know how to focus it or what we should be giving the majority of our life to.  We don’t know how to live in ways that are honoring to God. We might end up wasting, or wrongly using our lives, but as followers of Jesus, we can actually live a life fully pleasing to the Lord. Spiritual gifts are sovereignly given spiritual abilities meant to serve the Christian community. Spiritual gifts are one way in which we can love and serve the church, as well as the city around us.   We often fall into traps of believing our gifts are insignificant, that they don’t matter when it comes to the church or the world.  But our spiritual gifts should lead us to a life of love.  They should be an avenue for us to love others well, and find meaning and purpose of the life God has given us.  It’s a way to use our life to love others well, and build something bigger than ourselves… the kingdom of God.