Teachings
Baewatch | Week 3 - The Gift of Marriage
God has given us the gift of marriage as an opportunity to symbolize his love for his people.
Big idea:
God has given us the gift of marriage as an opportunity to symbolize his love for his people.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, February 28th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Genesis 1-3
Ephesians 5
Baewatch | Week 2 - The Gift of Singleness
God created humans with the opportunity for intimacy and attraction as an echo of his love within the Trinity.
Big idea:
God has given us the gift of singleness to steward for his mission and kingdom.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, February 14th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
1 Corinthians 7
Matthew 17
Baewatch | Week 1 - Intimacy and Attraction
God created humans with the opportunity for intimacy and attraction as an echo of his love within the Trinity.
Big idea:
God created humans with the opportunity for intimacy and attraction as an echo of his love within the Trinity.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, February 14th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Gen 1-3
Song of Solomon (Songs) 1
Disruptive Discipleship | Week 5 - Generosity over Greed
Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice leads us to sacrifice and the removal of greed for generosity.
Big idea:
Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice leads us to sacrifice and the removal of greed for generosity.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, February 7th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Luke 12:13-21 ; 16:13-15 ; 19:1-10
2 Corinthians 8:9
Disruptive Discipleship | Week 4 - Dependence over Deeds
Our deeds (works) will never amount to the importance and weight of dependence on Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
Big idea:
Our deeds (works) will never amount to the importance and weight of dependence on Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 24th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Ezra
Nehemiah
Ezekiel 26:22-32
Matthew 15:10-20
Disruptive Discipleship | Week 3 - Intentionality over Complacency
Following Jesus requires intentionality centered on a lifelong pursuit of growing, and becoming more like Him.
Big idea:
Following Jesus requires intentionality centered on a lifelong pursuit of growing, and becoming more like Him.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 24th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Daniel 4
2 Samuel 11
Luke 19
Training
Disruptive Discipleship | Week 2 - Presence over Distraction
A mark of disruptive discipleship is a prioritized presence with Jesus that overflows into a presence with others.
Big idea:
A mark of disruptive discipleship is a prioritized presence with Jesus that overflows into a presence with others.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 17th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Daniel 6
Luke 10
Luke 23
Training
Four Practices for unhurried your life:
*From Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Silence and Solitude
In Matthew 4, Jesus’ first step into ministry he goes and fasts for 40 days, is tempted by Satan. In this we see, not weakness, but strength. He was most strong at the end of that fast because he had been in the presence of God for so long.
Silence and Solitude reminds us of our true identity and calling before the world gets a chance to taint it.
Sabbath
If the Lord of the universe created the entire universe and then took a day off, your busy week is not an excuse to not Sabbath.
Walter Bruggeeman” People who keep Sabbath live all seven days differently.. “
Sabbath is:
Rest and worship (a day off is a “bastard Sabbath by Peterson).
Resistance (to the world of go, more, and hurry).
Simplicity
Less is truly more..
Inward reality seen in an outward lifestyle.
Slowing
“Cultivating patience by deliberately choosing to place ourselves in positions where we simply have to wait”
Practices for slowing
Turn your smart phone into a dumb phone.
Delete social media off your phone
Set times to be on social media
Keep phone off until after morning quiet time.
Journal
Take long vacations
Disruptive Discipleship | Week 1 - Resilience over Compromise
In a culture of compromise, followers of Jesus must lean into a disruptive discipleship that embodies resilience.
Big idea:
In a culture of compromise, followers of Jesus must lean into a disruptive discipleship that embodies resilience.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Jan 10th, 2021.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Daniel 1
1 Peter 1-2
Luke 22
Training Notes:
5 Practices for Resilient followers of Jesus.
*From Faith for Exiles
Experience intimacy with Jesus
This is done powerfully with others (like CORE),
Asking big questions and finding the answers in Jesus,
Learn what it means to talk to God, but also listen and respond in conviction.
Develop the muscles of cultural discernment
Don’t live under a rock, anchor to the Bible and trust its convictions on you.
Don’t just engage, prepare to engaged.
Learn how to have theology with a cultural backbone.
Forge meaningful, intergenerational relationships.
Have a group of people that you love, but sometimes don’t like (they call you on your crap).
Have someone ahead of you, helping you navigate
Be someone who is worth being around, be vulnerable.
Train for vocational discipleship
Form a good theology of work and calling.
Find meaningful ways to engage in mission at your work.
Engage in Countercultural mission.
Curb entitlement and self-centeredness by serving
Don’t always put safety first.
Embody a Godly sexual ethic (more on that in a few weeks).
Lead with love
Contrast Christmas Service 2021
God invites even the most low, down-trodden people to his banquet.
Big idea:
God invites even the most low, down-trodden people to his banquet.
Following Jesus | Week 9 - Don't Believe the Hype
The call of followers of Jesus is faithfulness.
Big idea:
Our call as followers of Jesus is faithfulness.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Nov 15th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Ecclesisates 1 & 2
Mark 8:34-37
Following Jesus | Week 8 - Sacrifice & Service
Jesus’ call to discipleship, and union with him is a radical denial of self which leads to loving and serving others.
Big idea:
Jesus’ call to discipleship, and union with him is a radical sacrifice (denial of self) which leads to loving and serving others.
We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.
- 1 John 3:16
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Nov 8th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Mark 10:35-45
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Galatians 5:13-16
Baptisms!
This week we had the opportunity to baptism four of our launch team members! Below are the videos for each of their brief testimony and baptisms.
Following Jesus | Week 7 - Love thy Neighbor
Love for neighbor, and hospitality are at the heart of the gospel and mission of the church.
Big idea:
Love for neighbor, and hospitality are at the heart of the gospel and mission of the church.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Nov 1st, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Luke 10:29-37
James 1:22-25
Love thy Neighbor Week!
Our training, and practical application this week is centered around loving our neighbors.
If you are interested in participating in Love thy Neighbor week, click here for a document that explains our goal as a launch team.
Following Jesus | Week 6 - Diversity in Unity
The diversity of the Body of Christ is to foster unity with its unique gifts rooted in love.
Big idea:
The diversity of the Body of Christ is to foster unity with its unique gifts rooted in love.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Oct 25th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
1 Corinthians 12-13:7
2 Kings 18
Ephesians 4:14-16
Training
This week we learned about the 4 occurrences of Spiritual “gifts,” roles, and manifestations in order to better understand the work of the Spirit in our lives.
In tandem with the audio training, we went on to this Spiritual gifts website and learned about our gifts after taking the test.
Following Jesus | Week 5 - Reverential Awe
Our devotion for following Jesus leads to a reverential awe that produces Kingdom wins.
Big idea:
Our devotion for following Jesus leads to a reverential awe that produces Kingdom wins.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, October 18th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
Acts 2
Acts 4:13-14
Acts 5:12-14
Training
This week we discussed our Philsophy—Mission, vision, and DNA of Contrast Church. Below are three PDFS that briefly describe each one.
Following Jesus | Week 4 - Together
The church is to be a tangible display of God’s love, known by our unity and radical love for one another and the world.
Big idea:
The church is to be a tangible display of God’s love, known by our unity and radical love for one another and the world.
The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, October 4th, 2020.
The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:
John 17:20-26
John 13:33-35
Acts 2:42-43
Ephesians 1:22-23