SERMONS
Mark Part 17
Mark 15:1-20
Chris Brister - May 22, 2022
The final sermon of Union Church - we look at the crucifixion of Christ through the eyes of Pilate.
Mark Part 16
Mark 13:1-13
Chris Brister - May 15, 2022
Jesus gives words of instruction on how to handle chaos and suffering that is sure to come our way.
Mark Part 15
Mark 12:1-12
Chris Brister - May 8, 2022
Jesus’ vineyard parable describes an incredibly patient God but not an infinitely patient God.
Mark Part 14 (with special announcement)
Mark 14:3-9
Chris Brister - May 1, 2022
What on the surface appears to be a waste can actually be a beautiful act of love.
Mark Part 13
Mark 10:17-27
Chris Brister - April 24, 2022
Lessons from the rich young ruler on how to walk away from Jesus.
Mark Part 12 - Easter
Mark 16:1-8
Chris Brister - April 17, 2022
The resurrection has implications for every area of our lives, not just a once a year celebration.
Mark Part 11
Mark 11:1-19
Chris Brister - April 10, 2022
Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ final week of life, where the true king paradoxically enters into the city on a humble donkey.
Mark Part 10
Mark 9: 2-29
Chris Brister - April 3, 2022
The central moment of Christianity is the cross, which is clarified against the backdrop of the transfiguration.
Mark Part 9
Mark 8: 27-37
Chris Brister - March 27, 2022
Jesus is the true king but He is not just a king on a throne, He is a king on a cross.
Mark Part 8
Mark 7: 24-37
Chris Brister - March 20, 2022
Faith in both Jesus’ power and goodness lead to deep humility and tenacious perseverance.
Mark Part 7
Mark 6: 30-44
Chris Brister - March 13, 2022
The Good Shepherd’s compassion for the crowd is expressed primarily through spiritual teaching and physical provision and ultimately his personal sacrifice.
Mark Part 6
Mark 5: 21-43
Chris Brister - March 6, 2022
Followers of Jesus must embrace patience as a virtue because Jesus’ timeline is different from our own.
Mark Part 5
Mark 4: 35-41
Chris Brister - February 27, 2022
Jesus has complete power over storms and complete wisdom to allow them.
Mark Part 4
Mark 3: 13-15
Chris Brister - Jan 30, 2022
The Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is bringing to earth will be spread by disciples not consumers.
Mark Part 3
Mark 2: 3-8
Chris Brister - Jan 23, 2022
Mark describes Jesus as both the Son of Man and the Lord of the Sabbath. Both demonstrate and declare who God really is.
Mark Part 2
Mark 1:1
Chris Brister - Jan 16, 2022
Mark describes a Jesus that has total power over the physical, social and spiritual worlds and therefore we should follow him in all areas of life.
Mark Part 1
Mark 1:1
Chris Brister - Jan 9, 2022
Laying the foundation for our 17-week study of Mark, we look at the setting, style and structure of the gospel according to Mark.
New Year - Same Gospel
Matthew 14:13-21
Chris Brister - Jan 2, 2022
Matthew 14 is an example of Union Church’s core values. We see Jesus rooting himself in the gospel. We see the fruit of the gospel as he pursues his mission to feed the hungry. And all of this takes place in the context of the family Jesus was building into his church.
Advent 4 - God is Gracious
John 1:14
Chris Brister - Dec 19, 2021
Christmas shows that God is operates out of mercy rather than merit.
Advent 3 - God is Good
Matthew 1:18-23
Chris Brister - Dec 12, 2021
Christmas shows that God is good because He is not us, He is for us and He is with us.
Advent 2 - God is Great
Luke 1:26-38
Chris Brister - Dec 5, 2021
Christmas demonstrates that God is in control of all things, big and small, regardless of our awareness or approval.
Advent 1 - God is Glorious
Luke 2:8-14
Chris Brister - Nov 28, 2021
God’s glory is shown not through the overwhelming force of a king but the fragile incarnation of an infant.
Interactive Gratitude
Luke 24:13-21
Chris Brister - Nov 21, 2021
Thanksgiving is the vehicle that lead us toward experiencing God’s presence.
Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:1-8
Abe Mysenburg - Nov 14, 2021
We are engaged in a spiritual battle that requires us to put on our armour.
Gethsemane
John 18:1-8
Chris Brister - Nov 7, 2021
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus declare that He is God and then demonstrate what God is like.
Nehemiah - Part 12
Nehemiah 13:17-18
Chris Brister - Oct 31, 2021
Nehemiah points us towards Jesus in his passion for the purity of the house of God and his commitment to relational truth telling.
Nehemiah - Part 11
Nehemiah 12:27
Chris Brister - Oct 24, 2021
Maturity comes from reflection, dedication and celebration.
Nehemiah - Part 10
Nehemiah 11:1-2
Chris Brister - Oct 17, 2021
After a fresh encounter with God’s grace, Israel pledges a series of reforms to obey the law (part 2).
Nehemiah - Part 9
Nehemiah 10:28-31
Chris Brister - Oct 10, 2021
After a fresh encounter with God’s grace, Israel pledges a series of reforms to obey the law.
Nehemiah - Part 8
Nehemiah 8:1-8
Chris Brister - Oct 3, 2021
Revival comes to Jerusalem through Ezra’s explanation of the Scriptures, leading the people to set up rhythms and structures to remind themselves of God’s unmerited kindness and their mission to demonstrate and declare it to the world.
Nehemiah - Part 7
Nehemiah 7:4-6
Chris Brister - Sept 26, 2021
Nehemiah publicly records Israel’s family lineage as a reminder of the generational story that they are born into.
Nehemiah - Part 6
Nehemiah 6:1-9
Chris Brister - Sept 19, 2021
Nehemiah’s enemies package fear as both temptation and accusation and yet Nehemiah models how to move forward in faith.
Nehemiah - Part 5
Nehemiah 5:1-9
Chris Brister - Sept 12, 2021
Nehemiah pushes pause on the rebuilding effort to address the exploitation happening within the community - asking the question, why rebuild Jerusalem if it is going to function just like Babylon?
Nehemiah - Part 4
Nehemiah 4:10-16
Chris Brister - Sept 5, 2021
Nehemiah’s response to a physical battle shapes our response to spiritual battles.
Nehemiah - Part 3
Nehemiah 3:8-12
Chris Brister - August 29, 2021
Chapter three’s diverse yet unified roster of builders teaches us about work, ministry and how they overlap.
Nehemiah - Part 2
Nehemiah 2:11-18
Chris Brister - August 22, 2021
Nehemiah’s vertical characteristics precede his horizontal success.
Nehemiah - Part 1
Nehemiah 1: 1-11
Chris Brister - August 15, 2021
During a time of anxious uncertainty, Nehemiah models how we can faithfully rebuild a city and a people.
Remain
John 15:4-11
Chris Brister - July, 25 2021
Remaining in Christ is both the foundation of our faith as well as the result; the steady, enduring, patient witness of the church to our neighbors and cities.
Psalm 119 - Pt. 5
Psalm 119:81-88
Chris Brister - July, 18 2021
This section of Psalm 119 gives us permission to honestly and bluntly cry out for help in times of pain and confusion.
Psalm 119 - Pt. 4
Psalm 119:65-72
Chris Brister - July, 11 2021
God is good and He does good even in our pain and suffering.
Psalm 119 - Pt. 3
Psalm 119:49-56
Chris Brister - June 27, 2021
The word of God is the transcendent anchor that helps us make sense of our past, persevere in the present and gives us hope for the future.
Psalm 119 - Pt. 2
Psalm 119:25-32
Chris Brister - June 13, 2021
Even in the dust of death, Psalm 119 sees the Law, not just as a collection of rules but as a testimony of who God is and what He has done.
Psalm 119 - Pt. 1
Psalm 119:1-8
Chris Brister - May 30, 2021
Psalm 119 is a celebration of the wisdom found inside the Law, specifically the fact that our obedience to the law begins from a place of rest and acceptance rather than in order to earn rest and acceptance.
Jonah - Pt. 5
Jonah 4:1-11
Chris Brister - May 23, 2021
Jonah concludes by magnifying Jesus’ genuine attributes against the backdrop of Jonah’s counterfeit ones.
Jonah - Pt. 4
Jonah 3:1-4:1
Chris Brister - May 16, 2021
Even in Jonah’s half-hearted obedience, God shows himself to be a God of justice, grace and faithfulness.
Jonah - Pt. 3
Jonah 2:1-10
Chris Brister - May 9, 2021
Jonah’s prayer points us to God’s true character, as a God of grace who is kind to the weak.
Jonah - Pt. 2
Jonah 1:4-17
Chris Brister - April 25, 2021
God sends storms to reveal our identity, shape our identity and in Jonah’s case, foreshadow the gospel.
Jonah - Pt. 1
Jonah 1:1-3
Chris Brister - April 18, 2021
In the book of Jonah we see both the paradox of grace and parallels of Jesus.
Back to Basics
Galatians 5:1-6
Chris Brister - April 11, 2021
At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself in love.
Easter 2021
Psalm 88
Chris Brister - April 4, 2021
Believing in Jesus’ literal resurrection is essential for Christian living but we cannot live as if this historic event has no bearing on our daily lives here in 2021.
Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-14
Chris Brister - March 28, 2021
Jesus’ satirical entry into Jerusalem paints Jesus as an unexpected by powerful savior and king.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 9
Matthew 28:18-20
Chris Brister - March 21, 2021
We are structuring our church in a 3-dimensional way to reflection the 3-dimensional God we serve.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 8
Ephesians 4:4-13
Chris Brister - March 14, 2021
In order to faithfully embody who Jesus is, the Church should be a people marked by unified diversity.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 7
Revelation 19:11-16
Chris Brister - March 7, 2021
According to the apostle John, Jesus is a king who suffers and serves but also conquers evil and fights for his people.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 6
Nehemiah 3:6-12
Chris Brister - February 28, 2021
In Christ, we have the status and access of priests but we also need to accept the missional responsibility of priests.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 5
Ephesians 4:11-16
Chris Brister - February 21, 2021
In following Jesus - The Prophet, the Church needs to embrace our role as a prophetic voice in our world.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 4
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Chris Brister - February 14, 2021
In order to embrace all aspects of Jesus, we need to understand each aspect, beginning with the massive role of Christ as King and his redefinition of kingdom.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 3
Hebrews 4:14-16
Chris Brister - February 7, 2021
In order to embrace all aspects of Jesus, we need to understand each aspect, beginning with the massive role of Christ as Priest.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 2
Joel 2:28-29
Chris Brister - January 31, 2021
In order to embrace all aspects of Jesus, we need to understand each aspect, beginning with the massive role of Christ as Prophet.
Three Dimensional Discipleship - Part 1
Genesis 3:1-8
Chris Brister - January 24, 2021
A one dimensional Jesus is easy to compartmentalize or ignore but a three dimensional Jesus demands a holistic response.
Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe
Mark 5:21-43
Chris Brister - January 3, 2021
Despite his apparent slowness, Jesus performs miracles in his own time, at his own pace.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 18
Matthew 7: 24-8:1
Chris Brister - December 20, 2020
Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by declaring that unconditional surrender to him is the only secure foundation to build your life on, everything else is shifting sand.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 17
Matthew 7:13-23
Chris Brister - December 13, 2020
Jesus begins the conclusion of his sermon by doubling down on the difficulty of the Christian life and the narrowness of surrendering to Jesus as Lord.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 16
Matthew 7:7-12
Chris Brister - December 7, 2020
The framework of family shapes how believers should engage relationships - with one another as brothers and sisters, with God as father and with others as we wish to be treated.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 15
Matthew 7:1-6
Chris Brister - November 29, 2020
Jesus lays out the relational expectations of His church where patience and generosity are normative and judgement and hypocrisy are forbidden.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 14
Matthew 6:19-34
Chris Brister - November 22, 2020
Jesus teaches that our vision of God shapes how we see the world and how we see the world informs how we live in the world.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 13
Matthew 6:5-13
Chris Brister - November 15, 2020
Jesus’ followers are a fragile and nervous coalition of misfits trying to create an alternative community of faith. Its in this context that he teaches them to pray The Lord’s Prayer.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 12
Matthew 6:1-15,16-18
Chris Brister - November 8, 2020
The countercultural kingdom of heaven is made up the difficult tasks of giving, praying and fasting, which we are constantly tempted to ignore entirely or manipulate in order to receive applause.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 11
Matthew 5:43-48
Chris Brister - November 1, 2020
The countercultural kingdom of heaven is made up former enemies of God who were treated as sons and daughters, therefore it is incumbent that we treat our enemies with love.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 10
Matthew 5:38-42
Chris Brister - October 25, 2020
The countercultural kingdom of heaven as taught and modeled by Jesus, absorbs violence and insults in love rather than lashing out in revenge.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 9
Matthew 5:31-37
Chris Brister - October 18, 2020
The countercultural kingdom of heaven is holistic and encompasses marriage, divorce and vows.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 8
Matthew 5:27-30
Chris Brister - October 11, 2020
The countercultural kingdom of heaven is made up of citizens who are not casual about the things that Jesus takes seriously.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 7
Matthew 5:21-26
Chris Brister - October 4, 2020
The countercultural kingdom of heaven has a more holistic definition of righteousness than the world does…
Sermon on the Mount - Part 6
Matthew 5:17-20
Chris Brister - September 27, 2020
The Law can be perverted by both rebellion and legalism but Jesus fulfills the law on our behalf.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 5
Matthew 5:13-16
Chris Brister - September 20, 2020
The Sermon on the Mount uses the metaphors of salt and light to describe the purpose of the church, which is to be a distinct community that points people to the God of the Covenant.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 4
Matthew 5:9-12
Chris Brister - September 13, 2020
The Sermon on the Mount includes 3 beatitudes that together call followers of Jesus to a countercultural life that accepts sacrifice and persecution in order to make peace.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 3
Matthew 5:6-8
Chris Brister - September 6, 2020
The Sermon on the Mount includes 3 beatitudes that together call followers of Jesus to a countercultural life of righteousness against the backdrop of the broken status quo.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 2
Matthew 5:1-5
Chris Brister - August 30, 2020
The Sermon on the Mount begins with 3 beatitudes that together call followers of Jesus to a countercultural life of humility against the backdrop of pride.
Sermon on the Mount - Part 1
Matthew 5:1-16
Chris Brister - August 23, 2020
The Sermon on the Mount offers a vision of a countercultural kingdom that welcomes those who feel disqualified and wounded.
Hand to the Plow - Part 3*
Luke 9:57-62
Chris Brister - August 16, 2020
Part three in our deep dive into the agricultural metaphors of the Bible, Jesus speak of singular focus of plowing ahead as we follow him and dying to anything that would distract us.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Hand to the Plow - Part 2*
Luke 8:4-15
Chris Brister - August 9, 2020
Part two in our deep dive into the agricultural metaphors of the Bible, Jesus speak of the soil that the gospel is planted and the roots that reveal our fruit.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Hand to the Plow - Part 1*
John 15:1-11
Chris Brister - August 2, 2020
Part one in our deep dive into the agricultural metaphors of the Bible, beginning with our foundational call to abide in the vine.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 12*
Psalm 139
Chris Brister - July 26, 2020
King David describes the Lord as both powerfully omnipresent and intimately personal, He is both. God destroys any categories that try to limit who He is. Therefore the church should follow Him in both grace and truth and destroy partisan misconceptions of His unique character.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 11*
Psalm 116
Chris Brister - July 19, 2020
The Lord deserves authentic, public praise for his faithfulness. And those that understand that they cannot save themselves are best positioned to experience that faithfulness and offer up that praise.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 10*
Psalm 109
Chris Brister - July 12, 2020
Psalm 109 acts as a template on how to channel our rage and hate without becoming instruments of violence while also pointing us to the violence and necessity of the cross.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 9*
Psalm 51
Chris Brister - July 5, 2020
David grieves his sin, longs for a clean heart and tells of God’s faithful kindness to others.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 8*
Psalm 40
Chris Brister - June 28, 2020
The Lord is looking for fully devoted followers, even if that means crying out for help from deep pits.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 7*
Psalm 27
Chris Brister - June 20, 2020
If the Lord is our salvation from the past, stronghold in the present and light for the future… then why would we ever be afraid?
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 6*
Psalm 23
Chris Brister - June 14, 2020
The most familiar psalm in Scripture actually points us to a deeply profound reality - the Lord is our shepherd, and the protected status and missional imperatives that stem from that truth.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 5*
Psalm 22
Chris Brister - June 7, 2020
Because of God’s actual abandonment of Jesus, David finds hope for the future, even in God’s apparent abandonment of him.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 4*
Psalm 13
Chris Brister - May 30, 2020
In a season of grief and confusion, Psalm 13 asks the question we all have asked… How long O Lord?
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 3*
Psalm 3
Chris Brister - May 24, 2020
Psalm 3 is David’s template for processing his fears, remembering truth and using that as fuel to minister to his people.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 2*
Psalm 2
Chris Brister - May 17, 2020
A psalm for Israel’s anointed leader which foreshadows Christ.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Summer in the Psalms - Part 1*
Psalm 1
Chris Brister - May 10, 2020
Introduction to the Psalms (the hymn book of wisdom) contrasting the blessed and the wicked.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 25 - Set Free, Set Apart, Sent Out*
Exodus 40:12-15
Chris Brister - April 26, 2020
Exodus concludes with the commissioning of the priests, who are reminded that what they do is based on who God is.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 24 - Rebuilding from Repentance*
Exodus 35:21-29
Chris Brister - April 19, 2020
Fueled by God’s merciful covenant renewal, Israel finishes the tabernacle and rebuilds the Hebrew missional culture.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Easter*
John 20: 11-16
Chris Brister - April, 12 2020
Because the resurrection was real, Jesus is currently our shepherd, operating with all authority, even in the midst of a pandemic, giving us hope.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 23 - Marriage Restored*
Exodus 34:1-9
Chris Brister - April 5, 2020
God invites is rebellious bride into full restoration.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 22 - Cleft of the Rock*
Exodus 33:1-6
Chris Brister - March 29, 2020
God’s pleasure in Moses is transferred to the people.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 21 - Idol Worship*
Exodus 32:1-5
Chris Brister - March 22, 2020
During a prolonged season of anxiety, the people of God turn to a false god instead of YHWH.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 20 - Sabbath… again*
Exodus 31: 12-18
Chris Brister - March 15, 2020
The importance of the Sabbath is explained (again) to the people of Israel as both an external, distinguishing mark to the people around them and internally as a theological reminder.
*Coronavirus Quarantine Edition
Exodus Part 19 - Pleasing Aroma
Exodus 30: 34-38
Chris Brister - March 8, 2020
In the same way that the incense in the Tabernacle rises to heaven, our prayers form a pleasing aroma to God as we come before Him.
Exodus Part 18 - The Clothes of the Priests
Exodus 28: 4-12
Chris Brister - March 1, 2020
In the same way that the details and symbols of the tabernacle point us toward the character of God, the symbols and fashion of the priest’s garments do the same thing.
Exodus Part 17 - Behind the Curtain
Exodus 26: 31-37
Chris Brister - February 23, 2020
The tabernacle was designed to point backwards to Eden (the first time God lived among his people) and point forwards to heaven (the next time God will live with his people) but does so in a way that is fully aware of the problem of sin.
Exodus Part 16 - Construction of the Tabernacle
Exodus 25: 1-9
Chris Brister - February 16, 2020
The details of the Tabernacle are meant to teach what God is like and ultimately point to Jesus, the clearest picture and the exact pattern of what God is like.
Exodus Part 15 - The Two Words of God
Exodus 24: 3-8
Chris Brister - February 9, 2020
Both the Law and the Gospel are good (they are both from God and reflect who He is) but they are not interchangeable. Confusing these two categories leads to many of our misconceptions about who God really is.
Exodus Part 14 - 10 Commandments
Exodus 20: 1-17
Chris Brister - January 26, 2020
The 10 Commandments is the backbone of the Old Testament Law which creates a unique, missionary culture and also sets an impossibly high standard that points us toward our need for a savior.
Exodus Part 13 - Set Apart
Exodus 19:1-6
Chris Brister - January 19, 2020
The first half of Exodus describes how Israel was set free from bondage. The second half, beginning in chapter 19, describes how Israel is to be set apart as a unique nation of priests.
State of the Union
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Chris Brister - January 12, 2020
As we begin 2020, we want to reflect on God’s faithfulness in 2019 and remind ourselves of our mission and vision so we can the counter-cultural church we were meant to be this year.
Sabbath Rest
Luke 4:14-21
Chris Brister - January 5, 2020
As we launch into 2020 with all of our ambitions and goals we need to trust in the Lord of the Sabbath who gives us a day to re-set and remember where our true identity really lies.
Advent 4: God is Gracious
John 1:1-14
Chris Brister - December 22, 2019
Part 4 of our Advent Series: Through the Christmas story we see aspects of God’s graciousness, and because of that graciousness we do not have to prove ourselves.
Advent 3: God is Good
Matthew 1: 18-24
Chris Brister - December 15, 2019
Part 3 of our Advent Series: Through the Christmas story we see aspects of God’s goodness, and because of that goodness we can trust him.
Advent 2: God is Glorious
Luke 2: 8-14
Chris Brister - December 8, 2019
Part 2 of our Advent Series: Through the Christmas story we see aspects of God’s glory, and because of that significance and weight, it is appropriate to treat Him as such.
Advent 1: God is Great
Luke 1:26-38
Chris Brister - December 1, 2019
Part 1 of our Advent Series: Through the Christmas story we see aspects of God’s greatness, sovereignty and power and because of that greatness, we understand that we do not have to be in control because God already is.
Exodus Part 11 - Rebellion (again) Provision (again)
Exodus 17:1-15
Chris Brister - November 17, 2019
God continually provides not only food and water in the wilderness but also military protection.
Exodus Part 10 - Manna from Heaven
Exodus 16: 1-8
Chris Brister - November 10, 2019
God not only provides for us in the wilderness but uses the wilderness to shape us into the people of God.
Exodus Part 9 - Victory Song
Exodus 15:1-18
Chris Brister - November 3, 2019
Israel finally emerges on the other side of the Red Sea as a free people. In response, the Hebrews worship God through a victory song designed to remind the people that God is a warrior who fights for them.
Exodus Part 8 - Old Slave Masters
Exodus 14:10-15
Chris Brister - October 27, 2019
God is committed to our salvation and our sanctification - which is another way of saying that is God is committed to taking people out of slavery, but to also taking the slavery out of people.
Exodus Part 7 - Passover
Exodus 12: 21-28
Chris Brister - October 20, 2019
The Passover is the central ritual of Hebrew life which explains who God is, what He has done and who we are as a result.
Exodus Part 6 - The Final Plague
Exodus 11:1-10
Chris Brister - October 13, 2019
The final plague highlights both the brutal reality of sin and evil as well as God’s significant response to sin and evil.
Exodus Part 5 - Unconditional Surrender
Exodus 7:1-13
Chris Brister - October 6, 2019
The plagues demonstrate God’s power to punish sin as well as his power to save his people from slavery.
Exodus Part 4 - Bad to Worse
Exodus 5:1-9
Chris Brister - September 29, 2019
How should we respond when the promises of God and the evidence around us don’t add up?
Exodus Part 3 - Theology, Identity, Action
Exodus 3:9-12
Chris Brister - September 22, 2019
God reveals who He is to Moses, in light of that theological reality Moses and the Hebrew people understand who they are and out of that identity they understand how they (we) are to live.
Exodus Part 2 - Prequels and Sequels
Exodus 2:23-25
Chris Brister - September 15, 2019
Chapter one of Exodus gives us the back story of Hebrew slavery and chapter two gives us the back story of the Hebrew liberator, Moses. Embedded in the details of both we see patterns emerge of how God rescues and protects his people.
Exodus Part 1 - The Exodus Shaped Bible
Luke 9:28-31
Chris Brister - September 8, 2019
The story of Exodus is not just one story in one part of the Bible, rather it is the overarching narrative of the entire Bible. Exodus is how God engages this world by setting the captives free so they can worship Him by embracing their true identity as children of God.
Where Else are We Going to Go?
John 6:1-71
Chris Brister - September 1, 2019
Following Jesus is incredibly difficult, incredibly scary and many times doesn’t make a ton of sense but following anything else will kill your soul.
Union Church Environments
Matthew 28:18-20
Chris Brister - August 25, 2019
Union Church makes disciples (gospel learners, family members and kingdom ambassadors) through participation in our three environments; house churches, the worship gathering and the prayer meeting.
Union Church Vision
Jeremiah 29:4-7
Chris Brister - August 18, 2019
The vision of Union Church is to see a gospel saturated, multi-ethnic family formed out of Auburn and Opelika that advances the mission of Jesus in our city and beyond.
Marks of Maturity #9 - Courage
Philippians 1:27-28
Chris Brister - August 11, 2019
Mature Christians understand that because God is with us, we never have to be afraid and therefore can live lives of deep courage.
Marks of Maturity #8 - Generosity
2 Corinthians 8:8-10
Chris Brister - July 28, 2019
Mature Christians understand the root of salvation is undeserved generosity, and therefore as beneficiaries of that undeserved generosity, it makes logical sense to lead sacrificial and generous lives.
Marks of Maturity #7 - Servant Posture
Philippians 2:3-8
Chris Brister - July 21, 2019
Mature Christians, following Christ’s servant example, find a contentment in the gospel that results in an instinct to serve rather than be served.
Marks of Maturity #6 - Faithful Presence
Jeremiah 29:4-7
Chris Brister - July 14, 2019
Mature believers will be marked by an individual consistency and faithfulness, and the life of the Christian community will be marked by a faithful presence within the culture.
Marks of Maturity #5 - Deep Friendships
1 John 4:7-12
Chris Brister - June 30, 2019
Mature Christians are shaped by deep friendships inside the church and invest in deep friendships outside the church.
Marks of Maturity #4 - Gospel Fluency
Luke 13:10-17
Chris Brister - June 23, 2019
Mature Christians view the Gospel as our primary language, therefore we study it’s nuances so that we can both speak and listen fluently as we go through the world.
Marks of Maturity #3 - Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:16-24
Chris Brister - June 16, 2019
Mature Christians not only have orthodox beliefs but internalize those beliefs so that it will eventually produce godly postures and actions towards others.
Marks of Maturity #2 - First Hand Knowledge of Jesus
John 9:25
Chris Brister - June 9, 2019
Mature Christians should have a first hand relationship with Jesus rather than a second hand cultural awareness of Him.
Marks of Maturity #1 - Self Awareness
Romans 12:3
Chris Brister - June 2, 2019
Mature Christians should have a sober judgment of themselves so that they can accurately apply the gospel to their unique wounds, wirings and sins.
Abide
John 15:1-11
Chris Brister - May 19, 2019
Israel was supposed to be a vineyard - producing fruit for the nations and pointing back to the original source of power in the garden. If we hope to produce fruit, it will only happen if we are connected to Jesus - the true vine.
The Ego On Trial
1 Corinthians 3:21 – 4:7
Chris Brister - May 13th 2019
Most believers think the gospel is a way to improve your case and impress the Judge, Paul argues the gospel removes you from the courtroom entirely.
Ambassadors of Christ
2 Corinthians 15:17-21
Chris Brister - April 28th 2019
When you are baptized, you are commissioned as an ambassador of Christ with the responsibility of both demonstrating and declaring the gospel.
Easter 2019
1 Corinthians 15:17-22
Chris Brister - April 21st 2019
Christians are not just people who believe in the resurrection. We are people that are shaped by the resurrection.
Ephesians Part 12 - The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-23
Chris Brister - April 14th 2019
Paul's final directive to the Ephesian church is to stand firm in the midst of our ongoing spiritual war.
Ephesians Part 11 - The Gospel at Home and Work
Eph 6:1-9
Chris Brister - April 7th 2019
The gospel sets both the content and the tone of the relationships between parents and children and employers and employees.
Ephesians Part 10 - Husbands And Wives
Ephesians 5:22-33
Chris Brister - March 31st 2019
The gospel shapes the practical roles of husbands and wives while also illustrating Jesus' love for the church.
Ephesians Part 9 - Walking In The Light
Ephesians 5:1-14
Chris Brister - March 24th 2019
The gospel is not only our basis for salvation but also the basis for our daily behaviors.
Ephesians Part 8 - Behaviors of the New Self
Ephesians 4:25-32
Chris Brister - March 18th 2019
Paul lays out a list of do's and dont's so that the Ephesian believer's practical behaviors reflect their theological beliefs.
Ephesians Part 7 - The New Self
Ephesians 4:17-24
Chris Brister - March 3rd 2019
In order to walk out our true identity, Paul offers a 3 step approach to repentance.
Ephesians Part 6 - Unified diversity... leading to maturity
Ephesians 4:1-16
Chris Brister - February 24th 2019
The ministry of Jesus was given to the church through a diversity of gifts so that the body would be equipped to advance the kingdom and grow in maturity.
Ephesians Part 5 - Paul’s Unique Insight
Chris Brister -February 17th 2019
The religious violence of Paul's background uniquely positioned him to understand and explain the depth of the gospel and the primacy of the church.
Ephesians Part 4 - The Peacemaking Church
Chris Brister - February 10th 2019
Jesus' work restores our vertical relationship with the Father as well as our horizontal relationships with people - resulting in the groundbreaking creation of the multi-ethnic, multi-class, multi-cultural church - which remains His primary vehicle for making peace.
Ephesians Part 3 - Learn To Sit
Ephesians 2:1-10
Chris Brister - January 27th 2019
Before we accomplish anything for Christ, we first need to understand our identity as being seated with Christ in his finished work.
Ephesians Part 2 - A Prayer for Fullness
Ephesians 1:15-23
Chris Brister - January 20th 2019
In the second half of Ephesians 1, Paul offers very little new content but includes a powerful prayer for his readers to deeply understand both the fullness of the doctrine of union with Christ as well as their responsibility to embody the fullness of Christ in the world.
Ephesians Part 1 - The Foundation of Adoption
Ephesians 1:1-14
Chris Brister - January 13th 2019
Paul opens Ephesians with an outburst of praise, outlining the many blessings and privileges we have in Christ. The source of these blessings; personally, corporately and cosmically all can be understood through the lens of adoption, and therefore should be foundational to our understanding of the gospel.