Arbor Church

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25 Why would we spend our time in a church community when it’s so much more comfortable and efficient to watch a well-produced sermon and some worship videos from home?

Ryan opens a new miniseries about our church community as fall begins in the Pacific Northwest. From John 13, he asks the question you might have held privately if you’ve waded outside the comfort and efficiency of your home to get involved in the messy work of serving other people… why are we doing this?

As the Israelites wandered in the desert after being led out of Egypt, Moses was struck with a nagging question … have I heard God wrong? Aaron Dimos (Arbor Students) shares about a time in his own life when this question loomed large, and what we can do when start to wonder if God really said what we think He did.

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. – 1 John 5:21 (NET) John concludes his letter with these words, and Ryan concludes our summer series with this message. An admonition to keep oneself from idols probably isn’t how you sign your letters – why did John choose to end this way?

And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. – 1 John 5:14 (NET) Ryan continues our summer series in 1 John with a message from Chapter 5 of the book and its teaching on prayer. What if prayer isn’t about long silences or convincing God to care about what we care about … but about presence?

Have you ever felt as though your relationship with God is harder than it’s supposed to be? Today, as we open the final chapter of 1 John, Ryan draws a parallel between our life with God and a river.

Ryan dives into the profound meaning of one simple word: 'Abide.' The discussion emphasizes the importance of staying connected to God and to each other through divine love. Personal anecdotes from a staycation add warmth and gratitude, while the exploration of 1 John encourages deeper engagement with faith. The idea of moving away from performance-based spirituality invites listeners to embrace a more authentic relationship with God.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. – 1 John 4:18 (NET) This week, Alison teaches from 1 John 4, featuring a conch, and a sea slug, and the long, spiraling journey to perfect love.

As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. – 1 John 2:24 (NET) This week, Scott Hetherington teaches from 1 John 2, and its strange warnings about “last hours” and “antichrists” followed by an admonition to “remain in the Son”. What’s John getting at here… and what does it have to do with Seattle snowstorm preppers?

For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another. – 1 John 3:11 (NET) This week, Garrett Shelp explores 1 John 3:11–24, where John highlights a love that’s deeper than being nice—a love that began our journey, meets us in the dark, and finds us wherever we are.