Critical Conversations
As a nation, we are becoming more secularized and more divided as everyone seems to be debating everything. In the meantime church attendance across the country has dropped by 28% even with offering online services. One in five churched adults (22%) has abandoned attending church all together.
How do we speak to others so that the only thing offensive about us is the cross, not our attitude or conduct towards them? What is the best way to engage in these conversations when the typical view of Christianity is that we are boring, naïve, and irrelevant? How do we engage the culture while being true to the gospel?
“Critical Conversations” is a series of messages dealing with some of the crucial issues we are facing today from a gospel perspective. The truth is that all of us are facing these issues in school, at work, and even in our families. As ministers of reconciliation, how do we offer the hope and message of the gospel while we seek, not to win an argument, but people to faith in Christ?
Join us as we face issues like Racial justice, Gender identity, Climate Change, Cancel culture, and more as we “rightly handle the word of truth.”
No one will contest that we are currently living in increasingly difficult times. The question is why? Why is there so much fighting, violence, anger and hatred? Why is it that generations, races, and even Christians are seemingly at odds with one another? Join us this Sunday as we finish perhaps our most controversial sermon series as we look for answers in, “Kingdoms in Conflict.”
Abortion is probably one of the biggest political hot buttons in America. But politics aside, the sad reality is that there are many who have an abortion story that have been living in shame and secrecy for years or even decades. This Sunday we examine how believers can interact and engage with those who have been impacted by abortion and to respond in a godly way that points to the attributes of God.
For years now we have seen younger generations walk away from church and from the faith. We’ve also seen a trend at Laurelwood of younger generations leaving to find a church elsewhere. Laurelwood's leadership has had many discussions centered around this problem, however, to work towards solutions, we really need the whole church to be involved in this critical conversation. Please join us in this conversation and prayer over finding ways for Laurelwood to help the younger generations connect with church, experience Jesus, and become his disciples.
Is Scripture true? Is science true? Are they both true? Has science disproven the existence of God or the credibility of the Bible? These are critical questions that people in our technologically advanced world are asking and we should do our best to address them. Join us as we explore how Scripture and science relate to each other.
We live in a day that is becoming increasingly divided. Our culture loves to “take sides” and unfortunately, Christians sometimes take sides based on which voices are the loudest. When it comes to the issue of our planet and how to care for the world we live in, the Bible should be the loudest voice of all! This Sunday, we will try to ignore the noise from the different sides and the politics that often try to influence us, and we will examine what God says about stewarding this amazing world we live in.
The culture war between the LGBTQ+ community and the church has been exponentially increasing over the last decade. How should we as Jesus followers respond to this culture war? How can we minister and share Jesus with a community that seems at times opposed to us and our beliefs? Join us as I go through scripture to give us suggestions on how we should respond to this growing tension.
This Sunday we are talking about holy sexuality. Talking about sexuality might make some people feel uncomfortable, but we don’t need to let it be uncomfortable. Steve, Patricia, Sam, and Mindy will unpack for us why it is important to have this critical conversation with our loved ones.
Racial injustice is literally a hot topic today, yet, I believe this is the best time in our nation’s history to address it in a way that brings justice for all. Join us this Sunday to see how God would have us to not only have critical conversations on this topic but be part of His solution in “Racial Justice."
There are so many critical issues today with such strong and divided opinions: social justice, climate change, gender identity, science and the Bible, political divisions, etc. How do you respond as a believer in Christ? How do we, as a church, “become all things to all people so that we may by all means save some?”
There are so many critical issues today with such strong and divided opinions: social justice, climate change, gender identity, science and the Bible, political divisions, etc. How do you respond as a believer in Christ? How do we, as a church, “become all things to all people so that we may by all means save some?”