• 303-791-2143
  • hello@myconnections.church
Directions
Opener
Close
  • New Here
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Pastor Sabbatical
    • Job Opportunities
    • Contact Us
  • What’s Happening
    • Sunday Service
    • Event Calendar
    • Volunteer
    • Community Garden
    • Summer Book Club
    • Summer Sermon Series
  • Ministries
    • Adult Ministry
    • Family Ministry
    • Outreach
    • Prayer and Care
  • Messages
    • Sermons
    • Blog
  • Give

Author: George Saylor

Lent 2022

Posted on February 21, 2022February 21, 2022 by George Saylor

IMAGES OF LENT #IMAGESOFLENT22

What is Lent?

Lent is the 40 day period (not including Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The earliest practices of Lent started following the Council of Nicea, around 325 AD as a time of fasting in remembrance of Jesus’ death. Lent is often thought of as a time to “give up” something, for example chocolate or alcohol, but in the midst of the giving up we sometimes forget that the intention of the fast is for repentance, remembrance, and a time to reflect on salvation through Jesus Christ. Lent is a gift, forty days to reflect, repent, and remember as we approach Easter.

Lent 2022

March 2 – April 16

Easter Sunday

April 17

What is the word of the day project?

This year, as a tool for reflection, repentance, and remembrance we are using the scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary to provide you with five scripture readings and one prayer for each week of Lent. The challenge is to read the scripture, reflect on the word, and create an image that represents the word and the scripture.

One scripture One word One image

You can respond creatively in a way that you choose: art journaling, poetry, photography, calligraphy, collage, etc. You choose! The word prompts are designed to get you into the Bible each day with words that are significant to this season of repentance, remembrance, and reflection, and to help promote creativity as a spiritual discipline to draw close to God and participate in the season.

If you choose, you can share your images on Instagram with the hashtag:

#IMAGESOFLENT22

Follow the hashtag on Instagram (as you would follow a person or group) and the images that

others create should pop up on your social media feed.

Feel free to invite your friends and family to join us on this journey.

And remember, just because you can’t do everyday doesn’t mean you can’t do some of the days; and just because you don’t start at the beginning doesn’t mean you have to wait until

next year, start any time!

Posted in LentLeave a Comment on Lent 2022

Connection Group Questions

Posted on November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 by George Saylor
Connection Group Questions

December 1, 2021

Series: Christmas in Focus

Of course this series is about keeping Christ the focus.  It is far too easy to be swept up into the chaos of Christmas.  But it’s more.

For generations the promise of a savior was coming into focus-  He would be a prophet like Moses, bringing the word of God to the people;  a priest like the descendants of Aaron, bringing sacrifices to God; and a king like David, ruling with justice and righteousness. Like none before he would be the Prophet, the Priest and the King- The promised Messiah. The Christ.

Opening: 

What are the things that distract you from the focus of Christmas?  What do you do, or what could you do, to keep the focus on Christ?

Digging Deeper:

The Heidelberg Catechism interprets the title “Christ” in terms of the threefold office, on Lord’s Day 12, Question and Answer 31:

31. WHY IS HE CALLED “CHRIST, THAT IS, ANOINTED?

Because He is ordained of God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit[1] to be our chief Prophet and Teacher,[2] who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;[3] and our only High Priest,[4] who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us,[5] and ever lives to make intercession for us with the Father;[6] and our eternal King,[7] who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.[8]

[1] Ps 45:7 [Heb 1:9]; Isa 61:1 (Lk 3:21-22, 4:18); [2] Deut 18:15 (Acts 3:22); [3] Jn 1:18, 15:15; [4] Ps 110:4 (Heb 7:17, 21); [5] Heb 9:12, 10:11-14; [6] Rom 5:9-10, 8:34;Heb 9:24; 1 Jn 2:1; [7] Zech 9:9 (Mt 21:5); Lk 1:33; [8] Ps 2:6; Isa 61:1-2; Mt 28:18-20;Jn 10:28; 1 Pt 2:24; Rev 12:10-11, 19:16

WLC Q&A – 41-45

Q. 41. Why was our mediator called Jesus?

A. Our mediator was called Jesus, because he saveth his people from their sins.

Q. 42. Why was our mediator called Christ?

A. Our mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure; and so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability, to execute the offices of prophet, priest, and king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation.

Q. 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his Spirit and word, in divers ways of administration, the whole will of God, in all things concerning their edification and salvation.

Q. 44. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of the people; and in making continual intercession for them.

Q. 45. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.

Using the three-fold office, how can we interpret passages like Hebrews 1:1-3?

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Closing:

Words hold power to bring life or death.  To build up or to destroy.  If appropriate, you could share words that have held power in your life for building up, or tearing down.  (I suspect that all of us have had experiences of both.) 

Prophets used words.  Jesus is the Word made flesh.  What words from Jesus and the Bible do you need to hear today?  Feel free to share favorite bible passages or promises.  

Close with prayer for one another.

Posted in Connection Group QuestionsLeave a Comment on Connection Group Questions

There you are!

Posted on October 7, 2021December 8, 2021 by George Saylor
There you are!

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Ephesians 2:19

Reading through Ephesians has me thinking a lot about how God sees us.

Then it dawned on me… God sees us.

God sees us. Takes notice of us. Pays attention to us.

He chose us, called us, adopted us, predestined us!

As I thought about this I thought about seeing other people through the eyes of God.

I think it boils down to this:

Are you type of person who walks into a room and says, “Here I am!”

Or do you walk into a room and say, “There you are!”

God walks in and says to us, “There you are!”

There you are my beloved. There you are my adopted one. There you are my saint!

I want to be more like that. All of us can be like that.

We can be the person who walks into the room and says to someone, “There you are! I was looking for you. I was hoping to see you. I wanted to talk to you. Now tell me how you are doing. Tell me about yourself. Tell me aoutr your day. Tell me about your pain. Tell me about your dreams.”

The next time you walk into a room, which will probably before the day is over, decide in advance-

Be the person who walks in and says to someone, “There you are!”

Posted in Devotions

Remember… But now… So then…

Posted on October 6, 2021October 6, 2021 by George Saylor
Remember… But now… So then…

Ephesians 2:11-22 provides us a great three-point sermon.

2:11 “Therefore, remember…”

Remember when you were far from God. Or just ignoring God. Or at rock bottom. Whatever the circumstances we can all speak to a past time when things were not well. Here we are invited to “remember.” Don’t forget about that season in life. And more, don’t be afraid to talk about it. Chances are someone in your life is going through the same thing. Trust that God can use your testimony about a past time in your life to open up a conversation. For Paul he talks about people who were separated, excluded, far from God and without hope. Sharing this experience will help you to connect with those who are still stuck.

2:13 “But now…”

Paul don’t stay stuck! “But now…” is all about what God has done for us through Jesus. More specifically, the cross. Don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid. Point to the cross. There we find our savior dying for our sin. Taking the death we deserved. Why? Out of his great love. Here’s the whole verse, “13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

2:19 “So then…”

Why? Why the cross? So that we can union with Christ. This is our salvation. And so that we can come together as the body of Christ. Our Unity. He says we are no longer strangers, no longer outsiders. We are citizens. We are a part of the body of Christ. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit!

Take a few minutes to write your own Ephesians 2:11-22. Tell your story in this formate. “Remember… But now… SO then…” Talk about your time or season without God. Recall what happened that brought you close. Share the difference that it now makes.

Posted in DevotionsLeave a Comment on Remember… But now… So then…

Why you shouldn’t ask Jesus into your heart

Posted on October 5, 2021October 6, 2021 by George Saylor
Why you shouldn’t ask Jesus into your heart

She came up to me after the worship service and declared, “I finally get it!”
“Get what?” I asked.
“You don’t ask Jesus into your heart.  You give your heart to Jesus.”

It may seem like a small, or even petty distinction.
But this is the point we’ve spent the last four weeks unpacking.
In Ephesians we have read more than a dozen times phrases like-
We are alive in Jesus.
We have every spiritual blessing in Jesus.
We are chosen in Jesus.
We are adopted in Jesus.
It’s all about putting your life IN JESUS.
it’s all about our UNION IN JESUS.

Here’s the difference:
It’s not about asking Jesus to come into your life.
It’s about putting your life in Jesus.

Here’s the difference that makes:
It’s not about you.
It’s about him!

When we introduce a child to Jesus we teach them about inviting Jesus into their life.  That’s good.  The bible does express Jesus living in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17).  But over,
and over,
and over again.
we read about our union IN Jesus.
It’s really all about Jesus.

This week I encourage you to make the switch.
Wake up each day and instead of asking Jesus to come into your life, give Jesus your life.
Your life is in him.
Your righteousness is in him.
Your salvation is in him.
Like Paul says,
you are a citizen in God’s kingdom,
you are seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms,
you are members of the household of God.

Giving your life to Jesus is key our our UNION with Jesus.
And it is the foundation for our UNITY as the body of Christ, the church.

You can re-watch or listen to all of the
“Ephesians: Union and Unity” series on the website, YouTube, Facebook, Spotify or iTunes

Posted in DevotionsLeave a Comment on Why you shouldn’t ask Jesus into your heart

Connection Group Questions

Posted on October 4, 2021 by George Saylor
Connection Group Questions

October 3, 2021

Message: “Brought Near“

Series: “Ephesians: Union and Unity”

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near 

by the blood of Christ.”

~ Ephesians 2:13

Opening

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we were created to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.  We talked about “general” good works and “specific” good works.  How do these differ? What do you think some of those good works might be?  What good works you are currently seeking to do?

Digging Deeper

Read Ephesians 2:11-22

Did you ever live separate…excluded…a foreigner…without hope… and without God in the world?  Share a time when you felt like an outsider, or just far from a relationship with God.

“But now…”  How does looking at the cross tear down our dividing walls of hostility?  

Jesus’ mission was to make one new humanity.  What dividing walls do you see in the world today?  What walls do you see in the church today?  How can we tear down walls and make peace with God and people?

Paul expresses our union and unity in several ways: we are fellow citizens, members fo the household of God, built on the foundation, a holy temple.  Which of these images, or how do these images, speak to you?

Living It

We are now the dwelling place, the temple, where God lives by his Spirit. How will you live in light of being a temple of the Holy Spirit and the place where God shows up on earth?

Posted in Connection Group QuestionsLeave a Comment on Connection Group Questions

Posts navigation

Older posts
This is Demo Content. Can be managed from widget. Salt Water Grille About content here!

Recent Posts

  • Lent 2022
  • Connection Group Questions
  • There you are!
  • Remember… But now… So then…
  • Why you shouldn’t ask Jesus into your heart

Saltwater Grille

Content Here
Contact Us
EMAIL NEWS SIGN-UP
Stay connected with our weekly email newsletter!

 

Sign Up

CONNECT WITH US

2121 Dad Clark Dr
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

(303) 791-2143

hello@myconnections.church

2022 © Connections Church. All Rights Reserved

FLT image