Tag Archives: teaching

A Note From Kyle Zimmerman

MessageFrom-IR

Ephesians 3:20, 21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I love this promise and how it speaks to a loving Heavenly Father who is not just able, but desires to surprise His kids (us:) with transformation beyond anything we could ever think to dream or anticipate. I believe we are experiencing this truth together in powerful ways this season through our Beautiful Mess series. Each week we’re hearing stories of healing, reconciliation, and hope through the power of Jesus. If you missed last week (or any of this series) you can always listen online here. And make sure to invite your friends and family to join us for the last couple weeks of Beautiful Mess – they will be forever grateful that you loved and cared enough to bring them.

Also…Happy (almost) Valentines Day! I know we’re all looking to affirm and express love for those we care about, and if you’re searching for a last-minute gift idea consider inviting someone to join you at Fight Night on February 28. Fight Night is a fun event for couples of any age or stage. Filled with humor, fresh insight, and new strategies for turning conflict into a means to more intimacy, Fight Night is for everyone wanting to make a good relationship great! To find out more and register click here. 

Peace…

kyle

A Note From Jeff Pries

MessageFrom-OH

Question for you – What kind of person do you want to be?

That is what we have been answering in our recent weekend series called Heroes. Not only has it been a great series on what it looks like to be heroic, but we are reminded how the Bible is so remarkable, full of amazing stories that were relevant thousands of years ago as well as today. This week, we will be looking at a story that was a defining moment in my life, and I’m praying that it will be powerful for you as well.

Also, it is an exciting weekend because we will be welcoming back Jon Ramsay. As you know, Jon went through surgery for a brain tumor four months ago, and has been sharing his journey with his wife Deanna on her blog. We are thrilled to have him back, and look forward to hearing from Jon and encouraging him as he continues on his journey toward healing.

A Note From Jeff Maguire

MessageFrom-MV2

When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, ‘Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what’s happened to him?’” Exodus 36:1

I read this passage this week in the Daily Message (We discovered, incidentally, that the mobile-app version of the Daily Message finishes the year of reading 16 days earlier than the paperback version. In case you’re wondering why I read Exodus 36 this past week). But, this hit me. At some level, it’s a passage about impatience. It’s more than the feeling of not getting stuff when we want it. It’s a passage about this – WHAT WE DO when we don’t get what we want when we think we deserve to have it.

To recap: God’s people have been miraculously rescued from captivity in Egypt. They’ve walked through the Red Sea. They’ve followed a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud by day. They’re standing at the foot of a mountain where God’s full pyrotechnic array has been on display. Moses has gone up to meet with God. And… he’s taking too long. God’s people reason, not only that God had abandoned them, but that they need something else — something that will capture their hearts. Clearly, God-who-rescues isn’t around anymore.

So, they create something to worship, something to which they can dedicate themselves: “gods…who will lead us.”

This is us. This is me. I suppose none of us have actually melted our jewelry into molten liquid so that it can be reshaped into a literal idol for worship. But, we do get impatient. When God isn’t operating on my schedule, when He’s decided my need for traffic abatement isn’t His priority, or that my need to have that thing everyone else has isn’t something I ought to have, I bow down to other some lesser gods who promise to deliver much more quickly. I kneel before the idols of my own desires. I bow to the gods of my own self-gratification. I lay down before the statues of my own ego — the ones I’ve built with my own hands.

For us, when our needs (so often confused for our desires) aren’t met the instant we can think of them, we find the most troubling thing about God — He tends to take way too long. Clearly, He must be confused, not only about our time table, but about what actually constitutes real need. We run to the lesser gods who give us everything, no matter the damage to our souls. We run to the gods who leave us emptier and hungrier than we’ve ever been. We keep building idols, hoping that the next one will fill us. It is in those idols that we lose our true humanity. We self-sabotage. We sabotage others.

We need a re-rescue from God. We need a rescue from the mess we continue to create for ourselves. We need a rescue from the mess we create for others. We believe God can and wants to restore brokenness. We’ll continue to look at this God who rebuilds and restores and re-rescues this Sunday morning as we continue in our relationship series: BEAUTIFUL MESS.

See you Sunday,
Jeff

A Note From Caleb Anderson

MessageFrom-HB

So, it’s February. And perhaps you’re thinking, “2014 is off to a pretty good start…My pastor’s talking about healthy relationships, I’m about to get a decent tax return, and despite the polar vortex, I’m living in the sunshine!”

Guess what? It’s about to get even better.

Friday Night: Date Night. Married couples, dating couples, couples with kids, couples without kids…This is for YOU. You’re going to arrive at the Central Library Theater at 6-6:15pm. I’m going say a few things about why dates are so important… then I’m going to give you an assignment–complete with a table card–and send you out to your place of choice. (In the meantime, we’ll watch the kids–see details below.) Don’t miss this opportunity to honor your significant other.

Sunday Morning: Parenting + Pancakes. Even if you’re not a parent you need to hear 5 Things Every Kids Needs from Adults. Plus, we’re serving another quality Pancake breakfast in the parking lot. Invite a few young families you know.

Next Weekend: Next Sunday (2/16) is the most significant message of the series. Plan ahead to attend.

Your Mariners Church staff and leader pray for you and thank God for you regularly.

caleb

P.S.: catch up on past messages here
P.P.S.: give to Mariners HB here

A Note From Kyle Zimmerman

 

MessageFrom-IR

Beautiful Mess checklist:

Week 1:  Embracing the truth that we were created for relationship with God and one another.
Week 2:  Becoming the person God intends rests on believing the best in others.
Last weekend:  Learning about and living in the gift of sexuality in God’s design.
This weekend:  The key to guarding everything we’ve talked about thus far.

What has God been saying to you during this series? How are you walking in the grace and freedom God intended? I love how Beautiful Mess is providing the conviction and opportunity to really become the people and the church God designed us to be…to live in loving relationship with Him and one another. I know there are people in your life who are desperate to hear the inspiring message of hope we’re discovering each week in this series. I’m believing that God will provide an opportunity and you will have the courage to step into the conversation and invite them, knowing they will have a chance to experience the transforming power of the gospel.

Looking forward to another amazing weekend together…

Peace,

kyle

A Note From Jeff Pries

MessageFrom-OH

We continue with our series on Heroes. Last week, Denny did great teaching us about Esther. What an amazing story! And, just another reason we are reading through the Bible together – there are so many stories we can overlook. This week, we will be looking at a powerful man in the Bible – so amazing – you may see him as a “super hero” by the name of Samson. He too has an incredible story. You will see that we are more like Samson than we thought.

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend,

Jeff

A Note From Jeff Pries

MessageFrom-OH

We hope you are enjoying our third week in the series Heroes, where we have been looking at what it means to trust God and live life heroically. It’s encouraging to hear how God can use the unexpected – people, encounters, your weakness – to do heroic things. Invite a friend or someone you know who could use some encouragement and join us.

Rooted kicked off last week with 45 people jumping into this ten-week adventure. I know God will change their lives in powerful ways, and they will grow in community with others. The Junior High Ministry came back from an exciting winter camp – join us this weekend to hear some of the stories.

Over the course of the week, you will be running into people at work and in your neighborhood who are looking to connect with a church and with Jesus. More often than not, all it takes is an invitation, and you may be changing someone’s life in a powerful way. We want to be a church that reaches our community, so please always be thinking about who you can invite.

It’s fun doing life and ministry with you.
Blessings,
Jeff

A Note From Caleb Anderson

MessageFrom-HB

Real talk this Sunday, friends.

“Better Sex” is the topic. I’ll answer all your long-standing questions about sex, attraction, and human anatomy. Well, maybe.

Check your kids into their classrooms, sharpen your pencils, and try not to get the giggles.

God designed it, and we’re going there.

See you Sunday.

caleb

P.S.: catch up on past messages here

P.P.S.: give to Mariners HB here

A Note From Jeff Maguire

MessageFrom-MV

A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. From his palace he hears my
call; my cry brings me right into his presence — a private audience!
Psalm 18:6 (Day 22 of the Daily Message)

I remember once, when I was in college and my mom had driven up for a visit, she took me to dinner at the Hamburger Hamlet in Westwood Village. The dinner, served hot, and on real plates stood in stark contrast to the steady diet of Top Ramen and hot dogs comprising the bulk of my collegiate meals. As we were eating, my mom took a pen from her purse and wrote on an unwound paper napkin ring. She slid it across the table to me. It read: “Magic Johnson.”

Magic Johnson?

Puzzled, I looked up from the note. She silently mouthed the words: “He’s right behind you.” Nervous, and not all that subtly, I turned to get a glimpse of one of my childhood heroes. I was somewhat disappointed to see that he opted for street clothes, instead of the Lakers purple and gold uniform. Why would anyone, once they get to be a Laker, ever wear anything else? I turned back to look at my mom trying to figure out how to get Magic to invite me over to his house. I was certain we’d be friends. I don’t remember much of anything else at the meal. Just to be next to him, felt like I had somehow become a part of the mystique — his mystique. My life and his legendary life intersected in that moment — burgers, french onion soup, two athletes bound to be friends (I’m convinced he’s writing about it now on his own blog). The dinner had a new focus now. Before that moment, I was catching up with my mom, grateful for a meal that didn’t need to be prepared in a styrofoam cup. But now, everything was about Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

David, the Psalmist here,  writes “my cry brings me right into his presence.” For a lot of us, we tend to understand God to be primarily distant — a celebrity who might be polite to us but to whom, we’re generally unremarkable. Only, it is His delight, His desire that He would be with us. So we, rather than worrying if we’re interrupting His meal or fearing that we might be turned away for trying to get a quick picture or an autograph, we’re invited into a “private audience” simply because we cry out to Him. When we get to be with Him, it’s in His presence that everything DOES change. We were designed to be with Him and to build our lives around Him.

What does it look like to cry out to Him? In joy? In despair? In loneliness? In wonder?

Join us this week as we hear from Doug Fields in his second of three messages in the BEAUTIFUL MESS series on parenting. We heard so much great feedback last week. It is a great opportunity to invite people who are presently parents, soon-to-be parents, or people looking to receive some healing from the way they were parented.

See you Sunday,
Jeff

A Note From Kyle Zimmerman

MessageFrom-IR

Believing the Best or Assuming the Worst…

How have you been filling the gap between expectations and behaviors this week? Have you seen a difference in the relationships you’ve intentionally chosen to believe the best in? What a great tool we received last week to help us become more loving in our relationships with others, bringing healing and joy.

This weekend, we continue our Beautiful Mess series and the message is on SEXuality! (note: very PG-13 😀 )  I believe it’s going to provoke and unlock some new thinking and bring healing and fullness as we learn to see one another and sex the way God designed and intended. You’re not going to want to miss this week – bring your family and friends…it will absolutely create healthy conversations!

Also – if you’re new to our church community and looking for a smaller place to connect – with me, our staff, and others in our church – we’re hosting a “family dinner” this Saturday night. Bring your family and join us after the 5p service for an informal gathering to share a meal, get to know one another, and take your next step forward.

Peace…

Kyle