Arbor Church

Kicking off Make It Make Sense, Pastor Ryan walks us into the wiser, older path of Proverbs. Fewer hot takes and more holy formation for real modern life.

Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NET) Alison continues our series on community with a message from Ecclesiastes 4 that answers both the questions (a) where road trip Slurpees were stored before cupholders, and (b) why we do community in the first place.

We are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness in America; a record number of people say they are craving community. Today, a message about what that kind of community actually is, as we open a 3 part series on the what, why, and how of community.

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.