Do Life With Jesus In the Midst of Everyday Life

I trust you have been hearing a lot about Life Groups these days at the church. That is intentional. Unashamedly, our goal over the next couple of years is for you to hear about them so much, that you won't be able to help but say to yourself "I think I should be a part of one of those!"

We intentionally (along with the afforded opportunity of COVID) stripped away all but the essentials of church programming. We're asking you to engage with church in three ways (outside of generosity and giving to our church!) :

1. Attend a service (in-person or online).
2. Serve (volunteer your time and gifts).
3. Be in a Life Group.

Your experience of what it means to be a part of Sherwood Park Alliance Church is incomplete if you are not doing all three.

Life Groups are becoming, and will continue to be for us, the heartbeat of our church, or the life blood which keeps us connected relationally. But also, Life Groups will be what drives our transformation and discipleship. For us, relationship is the vehicle that guides us toward discipleship. Spiritual growth involves getting connected in relationships. The kind of transformation we aim for requires that we become known, so that our heart and motives can be reoriented in response to Christ.

There are simply things that cannot happen in the rows of a church service, but only happen in circles made up of a small group of people. We believe it now more than ever and we want you to be a part of the action!

We continue to hear stories of groups gathering - new groups starting up all over the place, with a growing number of options to find your place to belong and begin your next leg on the discipleship journey. Today, over 500 individuals are engaging in one of nearly 80 different life groups.

A few new groups I am hearing about are:

• An online Alpha group: a place to explore the Christian faith, or to bring someone who would like to explore the Christian faith. The Alpha curriculum is a phenomenal evangelism tool and doing this online affords an infinite reach! For those who would rather meet for Alpha in-person, that is taking place as well!
• A group geared toward artists who will explore what it means to follow Jesus as an artist.
• A group for women professionals and business leaders.
• A group tackling the big questions around faith and culture--how the two intersect.

Life Groups are places to keep inviting one another to do life with Jesus in the midst of everyday life. Will you take this next step and join a group of individuals to reorient your life around Jesus?

For more information and to see the various groups that are available to join, head to our website, (like right now!) and see where you can jump in. Find Your Life Group

Pastor Brody Jespersen

In this series, we've been learning that preparing to die has a lot to teach us about how to live. The teacher in Ecclesiastes speaks to this reality and comes at us with applicable, and timely arguments.

This weekend, Pastor Jeremy resumes the study of Ecclesiastes in Chapter 7:1-25, where the Teacher invites us to be a wise person, rather than a fool. To realize that living a good life means preparing to die a good death. The wise person is fully alive, engaged with the world and their friends and family and the goodness of creation because they know all this is on loan - it's a gift.

Last weekend, Pastor Greg explored Ecclesiastes 5 where we're given a profound and wise bit of advice: Listen. Listening to what God has said and is saying is our main spiritual discipline. If you've missed last weekend's teaching or any other teaching, they are available On-Demand for your convenience.

Hope you can join us this weekend online Saturday 7 pm, Sunday at 9 am & 11 am, or in-person. Registration is required.

Child Dedication is a way to acknowledge our dependence on the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit as we do our best to be an example and lead our children into a relationship with Jesus.

You have been blessed with an amazing gift. Your child. As an expression of thankfulness for the amazing gift God has entrusted to you, formally dedicating your child is a commitment that your child will be raised in a way that is pleasing to God, and recognizing your dependence on God in raising your child.

The next Child Dedication will take place on November 28 & 29. Register your child or find out more information.