Explore the River Blog

When Christmastime roles around, we often think of the traditions that have been passed down through the years. But do you realize that the roots of the Christmas story go back much farther than the story of the child born in a manger? Jesus’ entrance into the world was not a “plan B” for God. From the very beginning, God had what we think of as the “Christmas story” in mind.

In this one evening class, we will explore the roots of Christmas in the first book of the Bible and gain fresh insight into what makes Christmas so very wonderful. The class will be held online on Tuesday, December 12, starting at 6:30 pm (EST). There is no cost for this intensive, but we would like you to register so that we can plan accordingly.

The Epistle of Jude. It’s a short letter with some fascinating imagery and some challenging ideas. Written by a brother of Jesus, Jude calls his readers (and us!) to “contend earnestly for the faith.” 

Why that call? What did he want for his readers? What does it mean to contend for the faith? And how does that call to fight for the faith come to us in our day and time?Those are the questions we will wrestle with in this one evening “Intensive” on Thursday evening, December 14th, from 6:30 until 8:30 pm.

Although there is no cost for the class, we’d ask you to register so that we can plan accordingly. All those who register will be sent a link and further instructions the day before the class.

When the Gospel came to the Galatians, it was amazing and great good news. Acceptance before God and life with Him was made theirs by grace, through what God had done in Christ Jesus. But then other teachers snuck in with a message about rules.

That message? To grow in holiness and life with God, one needed rules to follow. And that was not good news! So Paul wrote a letter to the Galatians about growing in life with God–growth that comes not through rule keeping by by keeping in step with the Spirit of God. And that is good news that we all need to hear.

Over two evenings, we’ll read, listen to, and explore Paul’s letter to the Galatians to uncover the liberating message Paul proclaimed to those believers . . . and through that letter what he has to say to us.

This two-evening intensive will meet on-line (Thursdays, Jan 4 and 11), from 6:30-8:30 pm.

What is the “fear of God”? What does it mean? How should it shape our thought?

The concept of the fear of God is mentioned in the first book of the Bible and the last book of the Bible. And when we begin to notice it, we will find it woven throughout the Scirptures. But we don’t often discuss it, pursue it, or even think much about the fear of the Lord.

Over three consecutive Tuesday evenings, we will step into both Old Testament and New Testament passages to explore the idea of the fear of God–and we will discover how very important this dimension of life with God truly is.

This in-person class is being hosted by Resurrection Church (January 16, 23, 30) at will meet at 6:30pm (EST).

Although the class is free, we do ask that you register so that we can plan accordingly.