It can be hard, even shocking to follow God’s call on our lives. Join Groundwork as we study the story of Ezekiel’s call to ministry as a prophet of God. We’ll see Ezekiel wrestle with his calling and listen as God warns of the difficulty Ezekiel will face speaking truth to an audience of people that don’t want to hear his message. Together, we can…

The fourth major theme of the Bible is that of consummation, the time when God will complete his redemptive plan and make all creation new. Join us as we study biblical passages that describe a future where God’s presence eradicates suffering and evil, and brings justice and eternal joy. We’ll talk about what the hope of consummation means for us a…

The biblical theme of redemption is unique to Christian theology and sets Christianity apart from other religions. Join us as we trace God’s story of redemption from Genesis through the Old Testament to the ultimate sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. Together, we’ll learn how our loving God sent his only Son to accomplish our salvation, without …

Just after the story of creation, the Bible tells us the story of humanity’s fall. The immediate result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden was alienation from God and relational discord. It released sin and brokenness into the world with all the strife, suffering, and decay we see around us to this day. Together, let’s examine the…

The Bible begins with an origin story: God’s creation of our world and of us, his image bearers. It’s a story that introduces us to our loving Creator God and the theme of creation that echoes throughout the Bible. Join us as we study the creation theme and discuss what it reveals to us about God’s character, love, and intentions. We’ll marvel at G…

The Christian belief in the Holy Trinity significantly influences our worship, prayer, and daily living. As we reflect on the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught his disciples, the Great Commission he gave them before he ascended to heaven, and other apostolic teachings in the New Testament, we can see how these biblical truths shape our worship and prayer.…

Within the triune nature of God, each person of the Trinity is distinct from the others. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have important traits, attributes, and roles. Three persons, united as One. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must accept the Trinity as a mystery. Yet, we can study Scripture to better understand the nature of each person o…

Christians believe there is only one God. Since its beginning, the Christian faith has always been monotheistic. But after Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, early Christian teachers recognized the divinity of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit and formulated the doctrine of the Trinity to encapsulate these truths. Join us as we explor…

As Christians, many of us long to make the world a better place. When we want to effect real change in the world, we may be tempted to seek the power or position to make it happen. Whether or not we serve in the public sector, turning to Scripture to weigh our motivations and guide our methods will help us find the most Christlike way forward. Join…

Should Christians engage in politics? What about issues of social justice? Together, let’s delve into the complexities of Christian engagement in societal issues. We’ll examine Scripture to uncover practical wisdom that empowers us to stand for righteousness while navigating the intricacies of governmental authority. Join us as we acknowledge the t…

How do we disagree without being disagreeable? How do we handle conflicts when people slander or talk against us? Everywhere we turn, it seems as if our culture encourages division. It feels like there is little room for civil debate on nearly any topic, and confrontation and hatred of those with different viewpoints are becoming normal. Even when …

Throughout the book of Galatians, Paul makes it very clear that we can’t do anything to earn our salvation. So, do our actions and behavior even matter? Keeping laws and customs won’t benefit our salvation at all, but that doesn’t mean our actions don’t matter. Paul explains the importance of freedom with limits. These limits empower us to serve ea…

In Galatians 3 and 4, Paul continues to impress upon the new believers in Galatia that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by their works nor by their ability to follow the Mosaic law. Paul explores in depth the contrasting paths of legalism and freedom in faith. As we study Paul’s teaching, we discover that God gave us his …

As Paul continues his letter to the Galatian Christians, he continues to address their confusion about salvation. He tells them that the esteemed leaders in Jerusalem affirmed Paul’s message of salvation and his calling to preach to the Gentiles. He reiterates that Jewish customs like circumcision are not required for salvation. Then he publicly co…

The Christian faith spread as Paul and the other apostles traveled around and shared the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. However, after Paul left Galatia, other teachers came in and added to his message, spreading false truths about the requirements needed to receive salvation. When Paul gets the news, he urgently writes a letter to th…

Malachi prophesied to God’s people after they had returned to Israel from exile in Babylon. His message was one of caution and warning. Back in their homeland, the people were finally comfortable again and spiritual apathy began to settle in their hearts. Through Malachi, God addresses Israel’s indifference and unfaithfulness to him. Join Groundwor…

In good times and bad, life is full of struggles and challenges. Even when God answers our prayers, the way forward isn’t always straight. The Israelites felt this truth acutely when they were finally allowed to return home after living in exile in Babylon. But God was always with them and through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, he provided his …

When it seems like evil is winning all around us, and when we don’t understand how God can be both vengeful and loving, angry and good, it can be helpful for us to turn to the minor prophets of Nahum and Zephaniah. Both prophets urge God’s people to examine their hearts and act in ways that honor God and reflect his character. These prophets don’t …

The prophet Micah is most well-known for a famous and often quoted verse: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). But the prophet Micah speaks these words in the midst of declaration after declaration of God’s judgment on his peo…

The prophet Amos had an urgent message from God. God wasn’t going to tolerate the serious and grievous injustices of his people. During Amos’ lifetime, oppression and exploitation were so pervasive in Israelite society that it tainted their worship. As God’s people today, we have a lot to learn by studying the book of Amos. Join us to discover the …

The prophetic books of Obadiah and Joel are quite short and easily overlooked. However, their messages are hard-hitting and remind us that our God is a holy God. Obadiah and Joel were written hundreds of years apart, but they both call out the injustices that God’s people were committing in and around Israel during the lifetimes of the two prophets…

Good Friday and Easter mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the climax of the Christian church year. There’s no doubt these are the events at the heart of our Christian Faith. During Holy Week, Christians around the world pause to remember and celebrate the great gift of salvation that we receive through Christ’s sacrifice. The Apostle …

The four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry vary in their selections of stories and in their details. Each gospel writer has a different audience in mind and a different goal, both of which influence what and how they retell Christ’s life. However, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion is so important to the message of salvation that we find an …

When something seems too good to be true, we might find ourselves raising an eyebrow, reading the fine print, and asking “what’s the catch?” But when it comes to salvation, there really is no catch and beyond having faith there is nothing else we need to do. When Christ died on the cross, he paid our debts in full. There is absolutely nothing we ca…

The cross is a paradox. By human standards, it shouldn’t make sense, it shouldn’t work, and yet, it does. In fact, it’s the greatest paradox—life from death, pardon from penalty, and justification from judgment. In the Roman empire, the cross brought death in a brutal, humiliating way. But instead of shame and defeat, believers of Jesus Christ find…