Summit Spokane Church

Haven't we all had enough experiences in the dark to know that we don't want another one? Not physical darkness, but the kind that infiltrates your relationships, your spirit, and every part of your life. Psalm 119:105 says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path," this light illuminates our direction and our choices. Jesus refers to himself as the light in John 8:12 when he says, "I am the light of the world," and this light illuminates our soul and changes every part of how we live our lives.

John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He is the light shinning in the darkness, making order out of chaos, bringing sight to the blind, the very presence of God - the light of salvation. Jesus has also called US to be His light in the world. We influence others by being with them, living life in community with people - to give people a taste of what life with Jesus is like and to light the pathway to God.

There’s something about darkness that makes it unlike anything else. Darkness is lonely, chaotic, and empty. In the beginning, God brought light into the darkness that hovered over the earth. Light came to the earth again when Jesus was born, and in his light came peace, hope, love and joy. This weary world had been waiting in the dark, anticipating the arrival of a king who would change the world forever. Darkness illuminated, by the light of the world.  

Brad wraps up our series “Free To Be,” with this last message on how we have been set free to be a Contrast Community in our world today. Jesus has called us as Christians, to be salt and light in the world, to stand out from the crowd in our actions and words and how we live our lives. It should cause people to ask what makes us different. This counterintuitive lifestyle takes great intentionality and wisdom and helps us realize even more, just how much we all need Jesus as we strive to live as a Contrast Community.

We know we all feel the emotions of gratitude, but do we actually express them? Do we show our gratitude tangibly? Nick Kimmet takes us through Colossians 3:15-17 and compares thankfulness to God with the story of the healing of the 10 lepers in the gospel of Luke. “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet giving him thanks.” “Free To Be Grateful”

This week of our series Free To Be, we dive into Colossians 3:16-17 and look at the main thoughts of verse 16, "Let the word dwell richly in you." Brad unpacks what the Apostle Paul is really trying to get across to the early church in this phrase as well as our call as the church to sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs unto the Lord. "Free To Be Spiritual."

We look at Colossians 3:5-10 where Paul challenges the early church to, "Put to death what is earthly in you." Is that just behavior modification or is it choosing to put on a new self, being renewed after the image of our Creator? But this is a process, we are daily in process of taking off the old and putting on the new... we are "Free To Be In Process."

Colossians 3:1-4 encourages us to set our minds on things above, not on things of this earth. This idea creates a tension of being fully present here on earth with people and real issues of life, and focusing beyond the here and now, on Christ. We look at this tension through the lens of setting our minds on things above and allowing that to shape the direction of our lives. Jesus came not to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive. - "Free To Be Present."

In week two of this three part series, Grant talks about the promises of the Holy Spirit.

To live missionally, we need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes as a guarantee when we choose to follow Jesus. Don't settle or the best you can do, engage the Holy Spirit to do what only God can do.

Jesus came to do a lot more than just clean up our mess. Because of Jesus, we can be made alive in God, restored in our faith with relationships characterized by wholeness, health, and peace. We can experience and extend the Kingdom of God today.  

If you want to live the mission of God, you don't just invite Jesus on your path, you live in Jesus, who is the epicenter of the mission of God. 

Brad talks about the idea of identity, and where we fit in the big picture. 

People are intended to meet Jesus in us. Are you participating with Jesus' mission and purposes? Or is the cross just a symbol?