This Jesus Thing

In Lent, Jesus invites us to come into the light. Scriptures:  Psalm 32 Genesis 12.1-4 Romans 4 John 3.1-17

Let God begin addressing the distorted thoughts, disordered desires, and disoriented life that serve the root of your sin.  Scripture:  Psalm 121 Genesis 3.1-7 Romans 5.12-19 Matthew 4.1-11

Jesus has a recognizable teaching cadence in the Sermon on the Mount, "You have heard it said... I say to you." Not only is he reinterpreting some common teachings from his day, he is inviting us to follow him deeper into our own lives.   Scriptures Psalm 119.1-9 Deuteronomy 30.15-18 1 Corinthians 3.1-9 Matthew 5.21-30

Jesus invites us to be part of what he is doing in the world, sort of like Salt and Light!  Scriptures:  Psalm 112 Isaiah 58.1-12 1 Corinthians 2  Matthew 5.13-20 

Explore the characteristics of a happy person in the Kingdom of God!  Scriptures:  Psalm 15 Micah 6.6-8 1 Corinthians 1.18-31 Matthew 5.1-12

The primary purpose of Jesus' life is to announce the good news of the Kingdom of God!  Scriptures:  Psalm 27 Isaiah 9.1-4 1 Corinthians 1.10-18 Matthew 4.12-23 

Some of the first things Jesus addresses have to do with the deepest parts of who we are - our desires, community, identity, and behaviors.   Scriptures:  Psalm 40 Isaiah 49.1-7 1 Corinthians 1.4-9 John 1.35-44

The story of Jesus' baptism is when God reveals himself and begins remaking creation. It is this God that says to you, "You are my child. You are loved. You bring me great joy."  Scriptures:  Psalm 29 Isaiah 42.1-9 Acts 10.34-43 Matthew 3.13-17

The story of the Magi teaches us that when we meet Jesus our past comes into focus, our present shifts perspective, and our future gains direction.    Scriptures:  Psalm 84 Jeremiah 31.7-14 Ephesians 1.3-19 Matthew 2.1-12 

The Christmas season starts on Christmas and is a 12 day celebration!  What are we celebrating?  That God, is with us, in Jesus.      Scriptures:  Psalm 147 Isaiah 61.10-62.3 Galatians 3.23-25; 4.4-7 John 1.1-18 

Merry Christmas! God is with you.  He wants to be with you, he is going to be with you, and one day soon he will return to restore all things!    Scriptures:  Luke 2.1-14 Psalm 96 Isaiah 9.2-7 Titus 2.11-14

Loving God combines our love for God and our love for others.  For Jesus, love was a feeling to be pursued, but actions that pursued others.    Passages:  Psalm 80 Isaiah 70.10-16 Romans 1.1-7 Matthew 1.18-25

Christian hope is rooted in the belief that Jesus has come and will come again, providing a sense of peace and joy. Joy is described as a constant state of well-being and is our external response to the hope found in Christ.    Passages: Psalm 146 Isaiah 35.1-10 James 5.7-10 Matthew 11.2-11 

Who do you call when things are starting to break? Do you believe that Jesus can actually put your life back together again?  Advent is about the coming of Jesus and his arrival brings about hope. Because our hope is in him, we are filled with a pervasive sense of peace, helping us see God at work in our life.    Passages:  Psalm 72 Isaiah 11.1-10 Romans 15.4-13 Matthew 3.1-12

For hundreds of years, followers of Jesus have been following a calendar that keeps This Jesus Thing at the center of their lives.   Advent - Christ has come Epiphany - Christ with us  Lent - Christ for us Easter - Christ in us  Pentecost - Christ through us Passages:  Psalm 122 Isaiah 2.1-5 Romans 13.11-14 Matthew 24.36-44 

In this inaugural episode of 'This Jesus Thing,' hosts Brandon and Connie Lemois explore the foundational aspects of following Jesus.  They emphasize the importance of starting with the Scriptures and understanding the overarching narrative of the Bible, which includes creation, the fall, the struggle of humanity, redemption through Jesus, the ache of the present, and the hope of restoration. The conversation invites listeners to engage with their faith and the story of Jesus in a meaningful way.

Welcome to This Jesus Thing!