ARE WE THERE YET? Debunking the Arrival Fallacy (A Lenten Series)
Do you ever feel like if you just make it over the next hurdle or reach your next goal that you will have finally arrived in life? Many people do, including our Biblical friends, but guess what? That’s called the arrival fallacy, and it can keep us feeling disappointed and unhappy when we get to the “next thing” and find we still haven’t arrived at our hoped-for destination. We are still unfailingly human, flawed, broken. This Lent, let us learn to savor our uniquely human journey without the pressure of arrival, as we reconnect with the God of Jesus Christ who leads us in the way, providing sustenance, meaning, and hope through all our ups and downs.
Do you ever feel like if you just make it over the next hurdle or reach your next goal that you will have finally arrived in life? Many people do, including our Biblical friends, but guess what? That’s called the arrival fallacy, and it can keep us feeling disappointed and unhappy when we get to the “next thing” and find we still haven’t arrived at our hoped-for destination. We are still unfailingly human, flawed, broken. This Lent, let us learn to savor our uniquely human journey without the pressure of arrival, as we reconnect with the God of Jesus Christ who leads us in the way, providing sustenance, meaning, and hope through all our ups and downs.
Week 1: Getting Free and Staying Free | Exodus 15:22-27
Like the Israelites who were freed from Egypt only to find themselves without drinkable water, we too can find ourselves freed from one trouble only to be met with another. God invites us to shift perspective and find our freedom in relationship with God.
Like the Israelites who were freed from Egypt only to find themselves without drinkable water, we too can find ourselves freed from one trouble only to be met with another. God invites us to shift perspective and find our freedom in relationship with God.
Week 2: It’s Not the Destination, It’s the Journey | Deuteronomy 32:1-10, 44-52
We can work for weeks, months, even years to arrive at a certain point in life, our own “Promised Land.” But sometimes that Promised Land is not what we envisioned. Sometimes we don’t even make it there. And even when we do, the Promised Land is not the end of the journey. How can we let God reshape our vision of both the destination and the journey so that we can find beauty and meaning in all of it?
We can work for weeks, months, even years to arrive at a certain point in life, our own “Promised Land.” But sometimes that Promised Land is not what we envisioned. Sometimes we don’t even make it there. And even when we do, the Promised Land is not the end of the journey. How can we let God reshape our vision of both the destination and the journey so that we can find beauty and meaning in all of it?
Week 3: Who’s Your Hope? | 1 Samuel 8
When we are dissatisfied, the idea of a strong new leader can seem like our only hope to get where we want to go. But the story of the Israelite people and their demand for a king is a powerful reminder that leaders are all too human and that we must place our ultimate hope in God, the true King.
When we are dissatisfied, the idea of a strong new leader can seem like our only hope to get where we want to go. But the story of the Israelite people and their demand for a king is a powerful reminder that leaders are all too human and that we must place our ultimate hope in God, the true King.
Week 4: No Going Back | Ezra 3:10-13
Sometimes we think that everything will be fine if we can just go back to the way things were, but the present will never be the past. The good news is that God is in what was, what is, and what will be.
Sometimes we think that everything will be fine if we can just go back to the way things were, but the present will never be the past. The good news is that God is in what was, what is, and what will be.
Week 5: The Fake Out | John 2:13-25
Just when we think we have it all figured out – the right job, the right routine, the right way of doing things – Jesus comes in and upends our certainty, always moving us into deeper truth, justice, and relationship.
Just when we think we have it all figured out – the right job, the right routine, the right way of doing things – Jesus comes in and upends our certainty, always moving us into deeper truth, justice, and relationship.
Week 6 (Palm/Passion Sunday): Staying Power | Luke 19:28-40
Everyone loves a parade but what happens when the party is over? Real hope is built in daily acts of showing up – in times of celebration, in times of challenge, and in the ordinary in-between.
Everyone loves a parade but what happens when the party is over? Real hope is built in daily acts of showing up – in times of celebration, in times of challenge, and in the ordinary in-between.
Holy/Maundy Thursday: Detour Ahead | John 13:1-17, 33-35
The disciples thought they knew where they were going but Jesus says, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” Instead, he gives them instructions for a detour, “Love one another.” How do we love one another on the roadway to God?
The disciples thought they knew where they were going but Jesus says, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” Instead, he gives them instructions for a detour, “Love one another.” How do we love one another on the roadway to God?
Good Friday: Holding On When the Cross Feels Final | Matthew 26 & 27
Jesus’ cross feels like the worst kind of arrival; it bears the finality of death. When “arriving” means there is nowhere left to go, Jesus remains with us holding the promise that even this is not our final stop.
Jesus’ cross feels like the worst kind of arrival; it bears the finality of death. When “arriving” means there is nowhere left to go, Jesus remains with us holding the promise that even this is not our final stop.
Easter Sunday: Setting Out Again | Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20
Death is not our final arrival. Jesus lives and so do we. He sends us out on the journey anew and promises to be with us the whole way.
Death is not our final arrival. Jesus lives and so do we. He sends us out on the journey anew and promises to be with us the whole way.
New Sermon Series: The Names of God.
Journey with us as we explore the Old Testament, looking into the names of God that we do not hear regularly. Each week Pastor Robyn will share with us a Hebrew name and explain the meaning using scripture from the Old Testament.
Journey with us as we explore the Old Testament, looking into the names of God that we do not hear regularly. Each week Pastor Robyn will share with us a Hebrew name and explain the meaning using scripture from the Old Testament.
Week 1: Jehovah- Jireh
“The Lord will provide a sacrifice”| Genesis 22:13
www.youtube.com/live/Hf2LEocW8_s?si=N6NbvK0O3pXYa4j6
“The Lord will provide a sacrifice”| Genesis 22:13
www.youtube.com/live/Hf2LEocW8_s?si=N6NbvK0O3pXYa4j6
Week 2: Jehovah- Rapha
“The Lord that health thee” | Exodus 15:2
www.youtube.com/live/64OGpV-TbSc?si=klazP97xTf1Fnhlo
“The Lord that health thee” | Exodus 15:2
www.youtube.com/live/64OGpV-TbSc?si=klazP97xTf1Fnhlo
Week 3: Jehovah- Shamma
“The Lord is present”| Ezekial 48:35
www.youtube.com/live/QWLj4FRk-Zk?si=XQ9V_mAr-230zTRY
“The Lord is present”| Ezekial 48:35
www.youtube.com/live/QWLj4FRk-Zk?si=XQ9V_mAr-230zTRY
Week 4: Jehovah- Shalom
“The Lord our peace"| Judges 6:24
(No recording due to technical difficulties)
“The Lord our peace"| Judges 6:24
(No recording due to technical difficulties)
Week 5: Jehovah- Nissi
“The Lord our banner"| Exodus 17:8,15
www.youtube.com/live/NlmaZTKUM6I?si=Xk8ntBNfAb64nAaz
(Is not the full service, we had some technical difficulties)
“The Lord our banner"| Exodus 17:8,15
www.youtube.com/live/NlmaZTKUM6I?si=Xk8ntBNfAb64nAaz
(Is not the full service, we had some technical difficulties)
Week 6: Jehovah- Raah
“The Lord my Shepherd”| Psalm 23
www.youtube.com/live/xVVsAbWNEK8?si=kqtDRoybjIhPe1yk
(Is not the full service, we had some technical difficulties)
“The Lord my Shepherd”| Psalm 23
www.youtube.com/live/xVVsAbWNEK8?si=kqtDRoybjIhPe1yk
(Is not the full service, we had some technical difficulties)
Week 7: Jehovah- Tsidekno
“The Lord our righteousness ”|Jeremiah 23:6
www.youtube.com/live/8zdRgYMLRK8?si=45CMCgWxray91emk
“The Lord our righteousness ”|Jeremiah 23:6
www.youtube.com/live/8zdRgYMLRK8?si=45CMCgWxray91emk