community

A NEW KIND OF COMMUNITY

Every community has distinctives...that is what makes a group a community.  Jesus dismissed the distinctives of class, gender, race, ethnicity, nation, religion, and politics we use to form community and created something never seen before.

This Sunday at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright explored how Jesus created community and the enormous challenge and opportunity it for us.


GOOD & HAPPY - Beyond Happiness, part 3

We all want to be happy. Yet, statistics overwhelmingly show that Americans fall short of this goal. In a world where we have more money, comfort, and free-time than ever before, why are we as a society becoming less and less happy?

This Sunday at Storyline’s Gathering, Jill McNabnay continued our series of talks on “Beyond Happiness,” and will explore what does it take to make us happy. 

IDENTITY, Part 3 - Ecclesia

Figuring out who we are, personally and communally, is not something we think about often.  But life has a way of begging this question.  What now? What next? Why?  The answers to basic questions like these are grounded in our identity.  Who we are.

This month at Storyline's Gathering we've been considering the topic of identity; Sunday Mike Gathright continued this discussion by revisiting Jesus's view of the identity of His community.

IDENTITY, Part 1 - The Missionary Encounter

In large part the identity of an object and even a person is wrapped up in its design - what it is for.   Jesus seemed to think people and communities were designed on purpose - and FOR a purpose - that have a dramatic impact on our identity, how we see ourselves and one another. 

This Sunday at the Gathering Mike Gathright looked at Storyline's design, and what we are for.  If you have struggled to explain what Storyline is to some of the people in your life (and we all have!) - this Sunday helps to describe it.

SEPTEMBER 10th PEOPLE

It is not good for us to be alone. Life is a team sport.  We need a small boat. We've said it a number of different ways the last month - why it is that we need one another.  

This Sunday at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright wrapped up our discussion about community with one last image - one that helps us to deal realistically with the struggle that life can be, yet remain not only hopeful, but optimistic about our future.

TEAM SPORT

"I'm spiritual but not religious."  This is a very common way for people to describe themselves and Storyline is a community that resonates with this in many ways.  Yet, Jesus invites to be together, to live together, to be a team.  Is there a way to do that?  To live that way, somehow avoid being religious and maintain our spirituality?

These are a few of the questions Mike Gathright explored Sunday at Storyline's Gathering. 

THE WHOLE STORY

Families, schools, companies, organizations can sometimes look very different from one another.  But sometimes they look very similar - but FEEL very different.  Why do some groups, organizations, families and communities feel open, friendly, inclusive and others feel stiff, closed, exclusive and judgmental?  
All kinds of people felt included, welcomed and loved by Jesus.  How did he do it? And why do communities of faith in Him so often fail to "feel" like this?
These are the questions Mike Gathright  explored  Sunday morning at Storyline's Gathering

LIVE TOGETHER, DIE ALONE

The truth is the best thing about life, and the worst thing about life is often the same thing - people.  Relationships are difficult, messy, unpredictable and.. absolutely necessary for our life to work.  There are all kinds of reasons to avoid relationships, to keep a safe distance, to keep life simple - but at what cost?

This Sunday morning at Storyline's Gathering Mike Gathright considered the cost of living in community and the benefit of the living community God is inviting us to.

 

 

WHAT'S NEXT

What is it that brings us together?
What is it that pulls us apart?
Why can you meet someone for the first time, and in that same moment feel like you've known them forever?
Or why can we walk into a room full of people and feel utterly alone?
Is there something at the root of it all that is attempting to bring us together or tear us apart?

This week at the Gathering, Paul Knapp asked these questions and wondering what is more important...
What we do...or who we do it with...

BREAD & WINE

In a time where "capturing" comes at a much higher premium than "cherishing" what role does remembrance play in our day-to-day lives? What does it truly mean to come together and remember the good things in life that have been given to us?

This Sunday at the Gathering, Paul Knapp explored and unraveled one of the beautiful and mysterious practices that come with living a life of faith.