For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand

– Ephesians 6

This week, we end our journey in Ephesians with the famous exhortation to put on the Armor of God, and to correctly identify with whom we struggle – because you can’t fight the real fight until you have named the real enemy.

Be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

– Ephesians 5

This sounds great… but there is often a huge gap between the way we know we should be living and the life we actually live day to day. Why is it so hard to actually live this way?

The one who steals must steal no longer; instead he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear

– Ephesians 4

From Ephesians 4, Alison shares four ways in which our new self is the flip side of the old self: the thief becomes a giver, and the gossip a speaker of grace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

– Ephesians 4

How is a raven the church like a writing-desk model house? Ryan answers this unusual question in today’s message about Paul’s call to unity and the church’s role as a preview of the kingdom of God.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

– Ephesians 3:17

In this message from Ephesians 3, we’re reminded that God’s presence isn’t reserved for a place, but for a people—and that we experience His fullness together.

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness. For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

– Ephesians 3

Even as we suffer, even as we wonder why, and even as we doubt there being any good left, we can trust God’s triumph in Christ.

Before God tells us what to do, He tells us who we are.

This week in our series The Triumph of God, Ryan walks us through the long and breathless sentence of Ephesians 1:3-14, and what it has to say about the old stories of our lives … and the new ones spoken by God.

Ephesians is a drama portraying the cosmos-transforming acts of God in Christ.

– Tim Gombis, The Drama of Ephesians

Ryan opens our new message series in the book of Ephesians.

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.

– John 15

As January begins, Alison exhorts us to remain rooted in the Vine and gives us practical ways to connect in the New Year. After all, without the life given by the Vine, all us branches are just … sticks.

Because there was no room in the inn

– Luke 2:7b

In week two of Advent, Pastor Ryan reexamines the “no room in the inn” moment in Luke 2 and shows how the first Christmas was less about rejection and more about rearranging a crowded house to make space for Jesus and the strangers he brings to our door.

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!”

– Luke 1

Advent hope is born when ordinary people make room, in the dark, for the king who has already stepped in.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

– Proverbs 3:5

Guest speaker Garrett Shelp wraps our series on wisdom with a message about how our need for certainty and control can lead us astray, and what it takes to release these things so we can lead a life of wisdom.

To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel. To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity.

– Proverbs 1:2-3

This week, one of the themes of Proverbs we don’t talk about as often: love in action, expressed in justice.

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread.

– Proverbs 30:18

Money isn’t a popular topic in the church, but it’s popular in Proverbs; a huge number of verses in this book of wisdom have to do with money. This week, Ryan helps us make sense of them by focusing on a prayer for financial wisdom and peace found in Proverbs 30.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

– Childhood saying (not true)

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

– Proverbs (12:18) (true)

This week, we look at the wisdom Proverbs has to offer on words – and how to use them wisely.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

– Proverbs 1:7

What does The Fear of the Lord really mean? Pastor Ryan helps us see how awe, not anxiety, is the foundation of wise living.

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.

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? This week at Arbor, Ryan explains why meeting together matters.

– 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?

– 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?

– 1 John 4:18 (NET)

This week, Alison teaches from 1 John 4, featuring a conch, and a sea slug, and the long, spiraling journey to perfect love.

– 1 John 2:24 (NET)

This week, Scott Hetherington teaches from 1 John 2, and its strange warnings about “last hours” and “antichrists” followed by an admonition to “remain in the Son”. What’s John getting at here… and what does it have to do with Seattle snowstorm preppers?

– 1 John 3:11 (NET)

This week, Garrett Shelp explores 1 John 3:11–24, where John highlights a love that’s deeper than being nice—a love that began our journey, meets us in the dark, and finds us wherever we are.

– Mark 15:25-26

This week, guest speaker Garrett Shelp brings us towards the end of our time in Mark with a deep reading of Mark’s account of Jesus’ final hours.

As we near the end of our study in the book of Mark, the text reveals a showdown between two opposing kingdoms. As Jesus stands trial before Pilate, we see the kind of kingdom He represents.

What do we do when we want to change … but don’t feel like we’re changing?

Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

– Hebrews 12:7

The word discipline brings up difficult feelings for some – it makes us think of pain, or abuse, or shame. Can discipline be good? Alison continues our series “Change is Good” with a message about the what, when, and how of God’s discipline.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!

– 2 Corinthians 5

Scott continues our series Change is Good with a message about the compelling love of Christ and what it means to be a new creation in Him.

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

– Romans 12

This week, a message on what lasting change requires: not just resolve, but renewal.

– Psalm 1:2

Ryan concludes our series on Scripture by answering the question, ‘What is Scripture?’ In this sermon, we explore how we can find delight in Scripture and how God uses it to transform us.

– 2 Timothy 3:16

In the first installment of a three-part series, Ryan dives into the sometimes strange, sometimes hard but always impactful thing that is scripture.

Will we guard our small kingdoms or seek the true King?

Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?

– James 4

Today, Ryan closes our series on friendship with a message from James about one of the tougher aspects of friendship: conflict. What if we could learn to handle conflict in a way that actually strengthens our friendships?

– Mark 13:32-33

Today, Scott Hetherington teaches from Mark 13, and helps us find the main thing (which is also the plain thing) and the plain thing (which is also the main thing) in this difficult passage about the end times.

Arbor is … a community that gathers together – following Jesus, growing in generosity, and going in love.

Ryan closes our Arbor Is… series with a message about the distinguishing mark of the believer – love.

Arbor is … a community that gathers together – following Jesus, growing in generosity, and going in love.

Ryana continues our Arbor Is… series with a message exhorting us to grow together in generosity with our time, our talents, and our treasure.

Arbor is … a community that gathers together – following Jesus, growing in generosity, and going in love.

This week, we focus on what it means to follow Jesus as a community, by taking the simple steps of being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did.

Arbor is … a community that gathers together – following Jesus, growing in generosity, and going in love.

As the fall begins and many of us return to more regular rhythms of life, Ryan opens our new series Arbor Is…. Each week we’ll unpack another part of our identity together, and this week we look inward, towards our role as a community that gathers together.

This week, Scott Hetherington speaks to us about living without regret, living with regret, and three ways we can get unstuck from regret.

Plus, a guest appearance from a yeti!

And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled.

– Numbers 11

In today’s passage from Numbers 11, the Israelites are very whiny, and God is not pleased with them. Why do we complain? Is there a right way to complain? Ryan answers these questions and more in today’s message.

You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk – indeed all malice.

– Ephesians 4:31

Ryan’s back, with a message from Matthew 18 about getting unstuck from something we’ve all been stuck in – bitterness.

– Luke 15:20

Addiction is a powerful force that can leave us feeling stuck and alone. Ryan shares how the story of the Prodigal Son can help us find our way back to God’s love and grace.

– Matthew 6:25

When anxiety rises, where we fix our focus determines whether we will fall apart – or find peace. Ryan opens our summer series Unstuck.

– Mark 10:37-38

Today, Ryan speaks about the hard truth that the Disciples confronted in Mark 10: how we so often prefer the security of the throne over the sacrifice of the cross.

– Mark 10:2

The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus into taking sides on the topic of divorce. It was a contentious matter in Jesus’ time, and, in the two thousand years since, it hasn’t gotten any easier. Today, Scott tackles this tough subject with love and humility.

A brief portion of Brian’s message is missing from the beginning of the podcast due to technical difficulties. The Management apologizes for the error.

– Mark 9:24

Today, from Mark 9:14-29, a valley follows the mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration. Can we bring our doubts to Jesus? … And what happens when following Jesus feels like it’s making things worse?

– 1 Kings 19:11-12

This week, Ryan concludes our 3-part miniseries on Solitude with the rest of the story of Elijah’s flight from Ahab and his time in solitude with God.

– 1 Kings 19:3-4

Ryan continues our series on the spiritual discipline of solitude with a framework based on Elijah’s time in the wilderness after a threat on his life. How can we quiet the roiling thoughts and emotions that arise when we try to be alone with God?

– Mark 1:35

Following our series on fasting, this week we embark upon a new series on the spiritual discipline of solitude. Ryan defines solitude and silence and their role in the Christian life.

Teaching elder Scott Hetherington shows us, through the story of Palm Sunday, how our expectations of Jesus cause Him to weep over our blindness to Him as our Savior.

– Mark 8:34

From Mark 7, Alison speaks about Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees, the Law, legalism, our hearts, our insides, our outsides, and (of course) Taylor Swift.

– Matthew 1:23 (NET)

This Advent season, join us as we explore the meaning of Jesus’ name, God with us, and celebrate a God who is ever-present – even in our darkest valleys.

PARENTAL ADVISORY This episode of our podcast contains scatological humor.

Note: This recording was cut off about 45 minutes in due to a brief power outage.

From this passage (and from a variety of As Seen On TV products), Bryan closes our Family Values series with a message on what it means to Serve Sacrifically. How are you using your gift?

Week 4 Booklet (PDF)

Week 3 Booklet (PDF)

Week 2 Booklet (PDF)

If you’re watching or listening online (and especially if you enjoy filling in blanks), we encourage you to download and print the booklet so you can follow along:

Week 1 Booklet (PDF)

Links to resources Garrett mentions in his message: Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace University, EveryDollar Budget App