Groundwork

The Great I AM

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:00:42 CDT

Names matter because they define us – our identity, our sense of belonging, our relationships. Today on Groundwork, we conclude our series on Jesus’ identity statements from the book of John and talk about why Jesus so intentional says "I Am".

I AM the True Vine

Fri, 25 May 2012 06:00:51 CDT

Jesus' I AM statements take us on a journey. A journey that helps us understand more of God's character. A journey that helps us grow in our faith. But this I AM statement is different than the rest. Jesus has a new invitation for us; he says it's time to grow roots.

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:09 CDT

What's the most outrageous thing Jesus ever said, the most over-the-top claim he ever made about himself? How about this one: “No one can come to God except through Me.” This statement is found in John 14 and often leads to accusations of intolerance. Let's discuss the significance of Christ's claim and what it means for our relationships with fellow Christians and non-Christians.

I AM the Resurrection & the Life

Fri, 11 May 2012 06:00:46 CDT

Death is not a popular conversational topic. We don’t like to think about dying. It’s so final. But in the gospel of John, Jesus calls himself the Resurrection and the Life. How does Jesus’ encounter with the death of Lazarus give us hope?

I AM the Good Shepherd

Fri, 04 May 2012 06:00:29 CDT

Religious art often depicts Jesus holding a little lamb and surrounded by children. It's a gentle image implying comfort and tenderness. It's a picture that Jesus himself gave us in John 10: The picture of himself as a shepherd, a good shepherd. But the original purpose for this gentle picture was to confront the religious leadership of the day. Let's talk about what Jesus said with that picture long ago and what it means today.

I AM the Gate for the Sheep

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:00:10 CDT

Many of the things Jesus said are difficult - either difficult to understand or difficult to accept. To put it another way: Jesus uttered many ""hard sayings;"" but some of them are hard because we don't understand them, while others are hard because we understand them only too well. Today on Groundwork, let’s dig into an example of one of these hard sayings and what it means for us when he calls himself “the gate”.

I Am the Light of the World

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:00:25 CDT

Light is one of those mysterious things science can’t fully explain. Is it a wave? Is it a particle? From what little I recall of High school physics, I think the answer is “Yes.” But the symbolism of light is also mysterious - and compelling. Why did Jesus call himself the “Light of the world”? What did he mean?

I Am the Bread of Life

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:00:40 CDT

Bread is a symbol of nutritional sustenance and satisfaction. So when Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life, he lets us know that he can satisfy all our needs; but do we even know what our needs really are? What does it mean for Jesus to be the bread of your life?

On the Road

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 06:00:52 CDT

Alleluia! He is Risen! Even amidst our Easter celebrations, we can experience moments of desperation and despair - just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. When your fondest hope gets dashed, when a dream has apparently died, when the bottom drops out on your life, where do you go? Is it possible that we’ll find Jesus even there?

At Golgotha

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:00:25 CDT

On the Friday we call “Good,” the sun was blotted out at noon. Darkness descended over everything, as thought creation itself didn't want to see what was happening on Golgotha. Sometimes darkness seems to fill our lives too, and we can't see any light, any way forward. How can you go on when it seems like there's nothing left to live for?