Stanwich Church

The central message of Jesus was the arrival of the kingdom of God. The Gospel that Jesus embodied, proclaimed, and demonstrated, was the Gospel of the Kingdom. His arrival was a declaration that a new King was in town. As followers of the King of kings, it makes sense that we would be rooted in a kingdom dynamic. It also is important for us as his church to see how the kingdom God was meant to be the natural cultural and overflow of our lives.The word “kingdom” occurs 120 times in the gospels (53 in Matthew and 45 in Luke). We are going to walk with Jesus into a rich and practical theology of the kingdom for the next 7 weeks.

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4–5)

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord’s prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord’s prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord’s prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord’s prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

It happened on an ordinary day.Jesus had withdrawn to a solitary place to pray—something he did regularly, a rhythm his disciples had observed countless times. After Jesus finished praying, one of his disciples approached him with a request that would change everything: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).It's a remarkable request when you think about it. These were Jewish men. They'd been praying since childhood. But they'd seen something different in Jesus. They'd watched him pray with an intimacy, an authority, an expectation they'd never witnessed before. His prayers weren't performances or recitations.  When Jesus prayed, things happened. Sick people were healed. Demons fled. Storms calmed. The Father's will was done.We will go deeper in the Lord’s prayer around five phrases in the prayer: Our Father, Your Kingdom, Give us, Forgive us, Lead and Deliver us. This is an invitation to go deeper by Learning to Pray with Jesus.

There were three core elements to the very heart of Jesus’ mission: he came to announce the Kingdom, to heal the sick, and to destroy the works of the devil. He sent his followers to do the same. He said that those who believe in him would do the things that he did. The church over the centuries has experienced spurts in the expectation of divine healing. We have a mixed emotional response to healing – we are in awe at the times when God has raised someone up supernaturally and we are confused and disappointed when we do not get the immediate healing for which we prayed. We need to go back to the Scriptures to get a biblically grounded and theologically nuanced understanding of healing so that we can pray with a kingdom perspective.

There were three core elements to the very heart of Jesus’ mission: he came to announce the Kingdom, to heal the sick, and to destroy the works of the devil. He sent his followers to do the same. He said that those who believe in him would do the things that he did. The church over the centuries has experienced spurts in the expectation of divine healing. We have a mixed emotional response to healing – we are in awe at the times when God has raised someone up supernaturally and we are confused and disappointed when we do not get the immediate healing for which we prayed. We need to go back to the Scriptures to get a biblically grounded and theologically nuanced understanding of healing so that we can pray with a kingdom perspective.

There were three core elements to the very heart of Jesus’ mission: he came to announce the Kingdom, to heal the sick, and to destroy the works of the devil. He sent his followers to do the same. He said that those who believe in him would do the things that he did. The church over the centuries has experienced spurts in the expectation of divine healing. We have a mixed emotional response to healing – we are in awe at the times when God has raised someone up supernaturally and we are confused and disappointed when we do not get the immediate healing for which we prayed. We need to go back to the Scriptures to get a biblically grounded and theologically nuanced understanding of healing so that we can pray with a kingdom perspective.

There were three core elements to the very heart of Jesus’ mission: he came to announce the Kingdom, to heal the sick, and to destroy the works of the devil. He sent his followers to do the same. He said that those who believe in him would do the things that he did. The church over the centuries has experienced spurts in the expectation of divine healing. We have a mixed emotional response to healing – we are in awe at the times when God has raised someone up supernaturally and we are confused and disappointed when we do not get the immediate healing for which we prayed. We need to go back to the Scriptures to get a biblically grounded and theologically nuanced understanding of healing so that we can pray with a kingdom perspective.

There were three core elements to the very heart of Jesus’ mission: he came to announce the Kingdom, to heal the sick, and to destroy the works of the devil. He sent his followers to do the same. He said that those who believe in him would do the things that he did. The church over the centuries has experienced spurts in the expectation of divine healing. We have a mixed emotional response to healing – we are in awe at the times when God has raised someone up supernaturally and we are confused and disappointed when we do not get the immediate healing for which we prayed. We need to go back to the Scriptures to get a biblically grounded and theologically nuanced understanding of healing so that we can pray with a kingdom perspective.

God uses unusual people and circumstances to reveal his Son’s coming into the world.

God uses unusual people and circumstances to reveal his Son’s coming into the world.

God uses unusual people and circumstances to reveal his Son’s coming into the world.

God uses unusual people and circumstances to reveal his Son’s coming into the world.

Given that we worship what we love and become what we worship, we want to think about the sanctuaries that we are constructing in our lives. Our first sanctuary is our heart. Out of the heart we move to the outward spaces of our lives that occupy most of time and energy, household and work. The goal is to create intentional practices that support the creation and maintenance of a life of sanctuary. God's Word can guide us in building healthy, sacred spaces.

Given that we worship what we love and become what we worship, we want to think about the sanctuaries that we are constructing in our lives. Our first sanctuary is our heart. Out of the heart we move to the outward spaces of our lives that occupy most of time and energy, household and work. The goal is to create intentional practices that support the creation and maintenance of a life of sanctuary. God's Word can guide us in building healthy, sacred spaces.

Given that we worship what we love and become what we worship, we want to think about the sanctuaries that we are constructing in our lives. Our first sanctuary is our heart. Out of the heart we move to the outward spaces of our lives that occupy most of time and energy, household and work. The goal is to create intentional practices that support the creation and maintenance of a life of sanctuary. God's Word can guide us in building healthy, sacred spaces.

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

Introducing our church’s new discipleship pathway to help make disciples of Jesus Christ that know him intimately (Behold), know who they are in him (Beloved), in community (Belong), and make him known in the world (Beyond).

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

This sermon series examines an often-neglected member of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit. Through this series we will focus on the person and work of God the Holy Spirit and the role he plays in our lives, transforming us and the world around us.

We live in a world that is broken. We pray each week “your kingdom come . . .” This simple line in our prayer is a reminder that there are still significant evidences and manifestation of the kingdom of darkness all around us. We are also somewhat distracted by one of our American virtues – “the right to the pursuit of happiness” – which has bled into a vice – my comfort.

We live in a world that is broken. We pray each week “your kingdom come . . .” This simple line in our prayer is a reminder that there are still significant evidences and manifestation of the kingdom of darkness all around us. We are also somewhat distracted by one of our American virtues – “the right to the pursuit of happiness” – which has bled into a vice – my comfort.