The Old Testament law can feel strange, outdated, or even troubling. But what if we’re asking it the wrong questions? In this message, we explore why God gave Israel the law, why grace actually came before the rules, and how understanding the ancient context changes the way we read some of Scripture’s strangest commands. Rather than simply asking, “Do Christians still have to follow this?”, we’ll learn how the law reveals God’s priorities, forms God’s people, and ultimately prepares the way for…
When a church becomes more outward facing, it is natural for people inside the church to ask, “What about me?” The answer is not, “You don’t matter,” or “Everything is about you.” Instead, Jesus shows us that discipleship always included being formed and sent. In Matthew 9-10, Jesus sees the crowds with compassion, tells his disciples to pray for workers, and then sends them as the answer to their own prayer. The harvest is still plentiful, the workers are still few, and sometimes the…
In week four, we take on the value “Taking the Initiative: moving toward others with the grace and intention Jesus has shown us.” At the heart of the Christian story is a God who does not wait at a distance, but moves first. In Jesus, God came toward us in love, grace, and service. Because of that, Rosewood is called to take the same posture: moving toward one another inside the church, and moving toward our community as a faithful…
In the third week of Waypoints, we explore Rosewood’s third value: Got Questions? It means being the kind of community that welcomes doubt and encourages questions that can deepen faith. Beginning with twelve-year-old Jesus listening and asking questions in the temple, we see that Jesus was never threatened by sincere curiosity. Through the stories of Nicodemus, Thomas, John the Baptism, and others, this message challenges Christians to approach faith conversations more like journalists than salespeople by listening to understand rather…
