Connection Church Sioux Falls

While "So-and-so begat so-and-so" might be the most dreaded words when reading the Bible, there can be found incredibly good news in Jesus' family tree.

The birth of Jesus isn't the first thing mentioned in the story of Jesus by Luke. Instead, he gives us a picture of what preparing for the coming of Jesus looks like.

Jesus seeks to restore us to our God and Father - both those of us who have dishonored Him in rebellious disobedience, and also those of us who have dishonored Him in self-righteous religiosity.

Every time we lose something and seek to find it, we are reminded of the Good News that God seeks to save those that are lost.

Jesus illustrates the Good News of the coming of God's Kingdom by telling a story of another farmer, an adversary, a seed, some yeast, and a Loving Father who is King.

Jesus paints a picture of the Good News of the Kingdom He is bringing; and instead of illustrating it with military or political terms, he tells us about a Farmer planting seeds.

The First Followers of Jesus witnessed amazing signs and wonders as the Gospel spread and changed lives, including a unique account with a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. In this passage, the first enemy of early church was internal and, in this particular case, lethal: Hypocrisy.

The First Followers of Jesus were so compelled by God's generosity to them in Jesus Christ that their own concept of generosity was transformed.

Even after Jesus ascended, the power of His Name and the Good News of His work continued to transform lives through His followers; and by walking in His footsteps a movement began that carries on to this day.

While most of our experience with family and the church is far from perfect, the first followers of Jesus embraced a radical loyalty to Him that gave them not only a new life and relationship to God but also a new relationship to those around them.

During the celebration of Pentecost, the Spirit of God allows people from different nationalities to miraculously hear the amazing works of God in their own language. Then the Apostle Peter shares what seems to be the first public sermon recorded by the first followers of Jesus.

Jesus entrusts his followers not with secret knowledge of the future but with a message that is too great to keep a secret.

Two travelers' encounter with Jesus encourages us in our difficulty to believe that Jesus is really alive and invites us to follow their example as they see Jesus for who He really is.