Sanctuary @ MPPC

Scott Scruggs on 2010-10-17 : Christian Atheist / I Believe in God but Trust More in Money On the back of each denomination of US currency you will find the phrase, "In God We Trust." But when it comes down to our future and our longing for comfort and security, it�s often easier to trust in the power of money than it is to trust in God. So what does the Bible really say about money and how to use it well?

John Ortberg on 2010-10-10 : Christian Atheist / I Believe in God but Still Worry All the Time Jesus once asked the question, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" While it may be obvious that the answer is "No, I can't," that doesn't mean that we don�t still wrestle with fear and anxiety. So how do we live a life beyond worry and what are the ways we can move toward a more winsome faith in Jesus?

Scott Scruggs on 2010-10-03 : Christian Atheist / I Believe In God but I Don't Really Know Him There's a big difference between knowing about God and knowing God. And there are so many barriers that keep us from intimacy with God-things like busyness, perfectionism, selfishness and doubt. But Jesus wants to teach us how to live, not just for God, but with him as well.

Scott Scruggs on 2010-09-26 : Christian Atheist / I Believe in God but Don't Think He Loves Me Far too many Christians have real doubts about God's love. They might read about it in the Bible-or even say that God loves other people-but they struggle to experience the love of God in their own lives. So before you keep striving to be that good and faithful Christian, it's time to receive and enter into this mind-bending, heart-melting, life-altering reality-that God loves you.

Scott Scruggs on 2010-09-19 : Christian Atheist / A Recovering Christian Atheist I believe in God-and I know a lot about the Bible-and I go to church on Sundays. But all too often, in my heart and in my actions, I question God�s love, I put my needs first, I trust more in money, I worry about my future, I refuse to forgive, and the list goes on. In truth, I'm a recovering Christian Atheist. But at least now I can admit that I have a problem. How about you?

Scott Scruggs on 2010-09-12 : Vision Night / Finding Our Way Back to Jesus While we have been praying and planning for an incredible year at Sanctuary, we must not lose sight of what matters most: Helping people find and follow Jesus.

Scott Scruggs on 2010-08-01 : Grace Happens / What Do These Stones Mean?

Russell Mowry on 2010-07-25 : Grace Happens / The End of Enmity

Lindsay James on 2010-07-18 : Grace Happens / Grace at a Well There are places in our lives where we run to in order to avoid the hard truth of reality. Come take a long loving look at the real in your life as we explore the hidden story of the woman at the well.

Chris Sturgeon on 2010-07-11 : Grace Happens / Jesus Wept Grace Happens... Have you ever wondered how God feels when everything feels bad for you? The story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus gives us a look into how our predicament affects Jesus and the depth of his love for us all.

Scott Scruggs on 2010-06-27 : Grace Happens / It Could Happen to You The story of David and Bathsheba reminds us that even good people can make bad decisions - and that we are prone to try to cover up our sins rather than confess them. But when we confess, God promises to be gracious and to bring good out of even the worst situations.

Jim Candy on 2010-06-20 : Grace Happens / What Free Really Costs Grace is a free gift... right? Or is there a cost to 'free'? The story of Zacchaeus and his interaction with Jesus shows that grace actually does cost something - and it's a steep price, but one that moves us toward a deeper love of Christ.

Nancy Ortberg on 2010-06-06 : The Church You Want It's no secret that churches don't always live up to what God calls us to be. But that doesn't mean that God has given up on the local church or that we are not part of the solution. Join Nancy Ortberg as she helps us think about how to bridge the gap between the church we are part of and the church we want.

Russell Mowry on 2010-05-31 : Parables / The Rich Fool What are you doing with your money? Jesus uses the parable of the rich fool to show us how our money can have real value and how we can find fulfillment when we use our money well.

Scott Scruggs on 2010-05-23 : Parables / The Prodigal, Part 2 The climax of the parable of the prodigal son is actually the story of the other son, the older son who remained home, worked hard, earned his keep, and always played by the rules. Yet when his younger brother returns home, he becomes angry, envious, and resentful. But even more shocking than his bitter outrage is how his father responds to it. And here lies the moral of the story.