Cris and Ed Bock to Tallahassee
Trip To Florida Capital.
Eb Bock and Pastor Cris Escher went to Tallahassee with Alzheimer's Community Care to promote Alzheimer's care in Florida.
The Way: Finding Meaning in the Gospel of John (Teaching Series)
There are certain indicators that we are on The Way with Jesus Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power. But what If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration that divide us from ourselves and from God. Come and see how The Way seems broken but how easter vision can bring many along the way of Hope.e. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.
There are certain indicators that we are on The Way with Jesus Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power. But what If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration that divide us from ourselves and from God. Come and see how The Way seems broken but how easter vision can bring many along the way of Hope.
Our Wednesday Series through Lent
Amazon Link
Purchase the Book
Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday
2/19/23 - Justice
Exodus 17:1-7
Hebrews 12:12-15
John 4:5-26, 39-42
2/26/23 - Love
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Matthew 5:38-48
3/5/23 - Spirituality
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
1 John 3:11-18
Luke 4:16-21
3/12/23 - Beauty
Isaiah 52:7-12
Hebrews 13:1-16
Matthew 13:31-35
3/19/23 - Freedom
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
3/26/23 - Truth
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/2/23 - Power
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/9/23 - John’s Easter
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
![[Sunday] Power - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1680273080629-XCV03Y9J57O6AZ9Q0D3X/The+Way+7a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Truth - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1679616916854-2SW43Y0ZWQFJ8JWG9YPX/The+Way+6a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Freedom - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1679016998737-8F39VJCCXSE89XCE58XL/The+Way+5a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Beauty- The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1678411008531-8LTP7MHK3L9CDMJJY8SQ/The+Way+4a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Spirituality - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1677863150736-K2MBOAAKGOBDEMD0ZHAQ/The+Way+3a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Love - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1677255701713-WZETVGX0FTZQ559BHJQO/The+Way+2a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Justice - The Way](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1676572574242-6TYC4KD192DUXY8WVVK9/The+Way+1a.jpg)
Vanishing Grace (Teaching Series)
Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.
Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn't sounding so good these days, at least to some. Let’s acknowledges the problem and then explore how we can respond with both grace and truth.
Amazon Link
Purchase the Book
Reading Plan
The readings for Sunday
2/19/23 - Justice
Exodus 17:1-7
Hebrews 12:12-15
John 4:5-26, 39-42
2/26/23 - What Can We Do About It
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Matthew 5:38-48
3/5/23 - Who are the Grace Dispensers
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
1 John 3:11-18
Luke 4:16-21
3/12/23 - Is it Really Good News?
Isaiah 52:7-12
Hebrews 13:1-16
Matthew 13:31-35
3/19/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
3/26/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/2/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
4/9/23 - Holy Subverses
Exodus 19:1-6
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
Luke 4:1-13
![[Sunday] Beautiful News - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1676040883793-OD2GX6M3TC5TEP1VCAOL/VG5a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Beautiful News - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1675435076313-HR5466XIU5C13G4RWG6A/VG4a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Love Laid Down - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1674835948785-FT4PCOB9XY8UQMPGCZPP/VG3a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Uncomplicated Love - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1674230189454-CL2E9LS648I57WDNKNFC/VG2a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Wells of Grace - Vanishing Grace](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1673530020140-DF98JJAF79TFM4TK0BCN/VG1a.jpg)
![The Urgency of Grace - Family Relationships [Video]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1676044047321-GWJKZZSUZXGT96WH4CY1/FNL-family.2.1%5B1%5D.jpg)
The Urgency of Grace - Family Relationships [Video]
How to Parent Sinners With Law and Gospel
Week 4 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
Is it Really Good News?
Pastor’s Thursday Together Group
Together Group Video Week 4
Discussion Guide | Week 4
Week 3 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
Who Are the Grace Dispensers
Together Group Video Week 3
Discussion Guide | Week 3
I Like It, So God Would Too
Egocentrism in Believers’ Estimates of God
Egocentrism in Believers’ Estimates of God
Read The Whole Article at I Like It, So God Would Too - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
eligion is often seen as a moral compass — it is frequently used by believers as a guide to doing and believing the right thing. People may disagree on social issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and the death penalty and back their opinions by invoking God as the ultimate advocate of their beliefs. But how do people reason about God’s beliefs? In an interesting set of six studies by Nick Epley and colleagues, it was argued that people are remarkably egocentric when asked to infer about God’s beliefs — that is, people seem to draw on their own beliefs about these issues when asked to infer what God’s beli……………………………………..
Read The Whole Article at I Like It, So God Would Too - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
Week 2 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
We have a Problem
Pastor Cris Together Group [Bible Study]
Together Group Video Week 2
Discussion Guide | Week 2
Mark Driscoll and My Desert Temptation
It’s not every day that I’m near the church of a man whose rise (and fall) was the topic of so much controversy.
Read the rest at Mark Driscoll and My Desert Temptation - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
We were driving our rental car around cactus-lined streets on the first day of our snowbird getaway to Scottsdale, Arizona when we realized exactly where we were. We were only a few blocks away from a place of podcast infamy and evangelical intrigue: Trinity Church — AKA, Mark Driscoll’s new church.
It’s not every day that I am near the church of a man whose rise (and fall) was the topic of thousands of Twitter threads, blog posts, and podcast episodes about podcast episodes. That Sunday, we learned, Driscoll was starting a new sermon series titled “Real Romance: Sex in Song of Songs.” Perfect…………………………….
Read the rest at Mark Driscoll and My Desert Temptation - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
Week 1 Vanishing Grace Together Groups
We have a Problem
Pastor Cris’ Together Group
Together Group Video Week 1
Discussion Guide | Week 1
Vanishing Grace Together Groups
Meeting together to talk about Grace
New Together Group Weeks Released Sunday at 11am
We are stronger together and any challenge is better when helped.
I encourage you to meeting with other people to watch each week’s video and go through the discussion questions.
![Philip Yancey on Facing the Canon [Good]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1673053717655-PHP9GW9J76M01Y1EHD6X/maxresdefault%5B1%5D.jpg)
Philip Yancey on Facing the Canon [Good]
Philip Yancey, author of Vanishing Grace is a great interview about his love of Grace.
Philip Yancey, author of Vanishing Grace is a great interview about his love of Grace.
Ringing in the New Me
Life has changed, but have I really changed?
Read whole article at Ringing in the New Me - Mockingbird (mbird.com)
t’s the time of year when our New Year’s resolutions slowly begin to unravel. It doesn’t usually happen all at once, of course. A cheat day here, a provoked outburst there, compounded by the multiplication of days and weeks, and what once felt possible eventually becomes fanciful. Even my best intentions can’t always hold up to the temptation of a Chick-fil-A milkshake.
Every new year is filled with hopeless optimism that I can truly change. At the beginning of this year, I took time to look back and reflect on all the ways that my life is different than it was just 365 days ago. I moved to a new state, I got a new job, I got engaged. Life has changed in some sizab………………………
The Book of Advents (Teaching Series)
The Christmas season is filled with so much tradition, but so often we feel tired and frustrated by our attempts to fulfill our own desires. However, the Bible is the book of advents, the book of new beginnings when we see God come in a new way to save us all.
Abraham just received the best promise from God - it’s like he can do no wrong. However, his life still falls into struggle and troubles, and when he and the promise, Isaac, climb the Lord’s mountain. Abraham truly sees the advent of God for himself.
Reading Plan
Read around the readings for Sunday
11/27/22
Genesis 18:1-15
Romans 4:18-21
John 8:48–58
12/4/22
Genesis 28:10-17
1 Peter 3:15-22
John 1:43-51
12/11/22
Exodus 3:1-15
Hebrews 3:1-6
John 6:32-40
12/18/22
Joshua 1:1-6
1 Peter 1:3-9
Matthew 24:36-44
12/25/22
Isaiah 52:7-10
Titus 2:11-15
Matthew 1:18-25
1/1/22
Isaiah 63:7-14
Galatians 4:4-7
Matthew 2:13-23
1/8/22
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
![[Sunday] Following Light - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1672969335403-APA5I5N562IPH71T9X0Q/BOA+7a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Simeon - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1671683973557-KHIHT6N1G4G8TVFXZEGE/BOA+6a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Prince of Peace Christmas - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1671683129733-WENISFPSXKWH4SV3FA3E/BOA+Christmas+Dayjpg.jpg)
![[Sunday] The Promised Christmas - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1671156329189-FUDG78ZOCCZNTCXZ33HT/BOA+4a.jpg)
![[Wednesday] Advent at Grace 3](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1670950500592-E7Z36Q2O7GGP5RZ1WPNK/Green+Red+Funny+Simple+Illustrated+Christmas+Party+Invitation+Flyer+%281920+%C3%97+1080+px%29+%281%29.jpg)
![[Sunday] Christmas Cheer for All to Hear - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1670595258960-1JWIS954GJWDOSJTIZA2/BOA+3a.jpg)
![[Wednesday] Advent at Grace 2](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1670423381996-DHN22Z6K0GHQMXBHK7D5/1.jpg)
![[Sunday] A Shady Stone - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1669947827451-7LQ4MUUZC5ITG6FSANMN/BOA+2a.jpg)
![[Wednesday] Advent at Grace 1](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1669773836597-HC39G5CX20XS9NYUG9H5/Green+Red+Funny+Simple+Illustrated+Christmas+Party+Invitation+Flyer+%281920+%C3%97+1080+px%29.jpg)
![[Sunday] Promises, Troubles, and Automobiles - The Book of Advents](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1669397241488-WX61JYQFQQUR3JKMPLM8/BOA+1a.jpg)
Service of Thanks 2022 | Thanksgiving
Join us for the Service of Thanks
Available Wednesday at 6pm
Sleeping in Church
When Sanctuary Is Safe
Read whole article at From Issue 21: Sleeping in Church (https_mbird.com)
As a preacher, I can proudly say that I’ve never bored an audience so thoroughly that someone fell asleep and fell out a window. (“Fell asleep,” okay, yes. But never “fell out a window.” I know, it’s a low bar.) I plan to give the apostle Paul a little dig about that if, as I hope, I get to meet him someday………………….
FLGA Middle School Gathering Photos
Great time this year
Pastor Cris, Coli, Pam, and Kyler had fun at the FLGA Middle School Gathering
It’s still dark, but she goes to check on the tomb. Fear strikes her heart as she sees the stone is rolled away! Has this weekend possibly just gotten worse? As she lies weeping at a situation that is beyond repair, the gardener of the sun, moon, and stars, who cultivated everything in 7 days, whispers joy of new creation in the form of her name, "Mary."