The text is from Acts 4: 5-12 but we backed up a little to include Acts 4: 1, and annoyance of the Religious Authorities.  

The focus is on Peter and his transformation.  He is done denying Jesus.  

Who are we in this scene?  The status quo?  The change?  The listeners who go with the SQ or change?  The questions are directed individually and corporately.  

Acts 3 -- Mario looks at Peter (and John) who focus on remembering Jesus as resurrected.  What does it mean indeed to live on this side of Easter?  Part of it of course is to remember "he is risen, he is risen indeed."  Mario relies on N. T. Wright for part of his settling down points.  Tom Wright has made a visit or three to Hilltop ... great source for helping us frame our conversations.  

I also like how he used Acts 3 to be a place to talk to 1 Corinthians and Paul.  I like illustrations from the scripture!   

"All of my eggs are in that basket!"  

Scripture is Acts 4: 23-33 and the focus is on how the early church was in unity.  I proffer that they were in unity in terms of mission, vision, and values.  The Resurrection is the engine that drove the growth in of the early Church.  

The focus here is on people, not buildings, or denominations.  This is an initial exploration of changing our belong, believe, become to something new and different.  Hospitality, helping, hope and healing.  There is a both an inward and outward focus simultaneously:  Caring for their people and carrying the story into the world.  

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (Taken from Eugene Peterson's The Message) 

This week during our Unafraid series, Pastor Dennis asks the question: Do we trust each other enough to be able to deal with our differences in a way that does not lead to schism? How much is due to a lack of trust in God and between one another. Paul's call to the community is to be reminded that if God is for us, who can be against us? We are reminded and comforted, that although challenges are always before us, it's nothing new under the sun. 

Bob Scarborough vulnerably reflects on his own life experiences to recap Hilltop's Unafraid series. He elaborated on the fear of being alone and the fear of failure. He reminded us that the Lord who calls us to be fearless is for us and with us. 

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:19

Listen in as Pastor Dennis offers reflections of the Church's tradition of observing Lent and takes us on a  journey into Paul's care and lament over the church in Corinth. 

Text 1 Peter 3:13-22

Our first Sunday in Lent called us to remember who we are in Christ. We are a peculiar or "chosen" people, marked out by our baptism. This letter is a call to be encouraged, even when we face trials or suffering because of it. Baptism calls us to remember Christ's passion on our behalf. 

Text: Romans 4:13-25

On the second Sunday of Lent we examined the biblical story of Abraham. His faith is an example that still calls to us today. From Abraham would come the seed through whom all nations of the world will be blessed. The call and covenant of God with Abraham would have been a story that Jesus would have been familiar with. It is ultimatley a story of God's faithfulness. This faith story provides continuity between the Old and New Testaments. We cannot understand the latter without the former.

Text: Exodus 20:1-17

On the third Sunday in Lent we take a look at the two tables known as Ten Commandments. 

Tablet One deals with loving God.

Tablet Two deals with loving our neighbors.

The call for the Christian is to keep these two callings ever before us. As we love the LORD our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, we will then live such lives that allow us to love and affrim our neighbors. 

Text: Ephesians 2:1-10

Join us this week as Susan Dunlap reflects on Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus and how reconciliation looks in the chruch as they serve a world that is diverse, but beautiful. 

Because of Christ, we are not only reconcilied with the Father, but we can now also be reconclied with one another.