Questions play an important role in our lives as we follow Jesus. Lots of times, we have urgent and important questions for which we’d love to get answers. One question we’ve heard from some younger people in our congregation goes something like this--Is it worth it anymore? Wrapped up in that question are several questions that our teaching team hopes to answer during this next teaching series: Is it worth it to keep trying to get something out of the Bible? Is believing the gospel of “good news” still worth it? Is supporting and participating in the local church still worth it? Is faith even worth it these days? God doesn’t get mad at us or disappointed in us when we have questions like these. He knows we are on a journey and questions are a part of that. So, we hope you will join us as our teachers bring God’s answers and their own way of answering these questions.

Orchard Hill Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa

Is it Worth it Anymore?: Engaging the Bible - Alice Shirey

Is It Worth It Anymore? : The Gospel - Stef Rohler

Is It Worth It Anymore: The Church - Dave Bartlett

Jesus’ earliest followers lived in a world even more divided and polarized than ours. Hard to believe, but true! They faced tremendous pressure from cultural, religious and political leaders to conform to their world views or to simply be quiet and go away. Neither of these options would help them accomplish what Jesus had asked them to do - help others know and follow him. They had to find another option, a third way. They chose the way of Jesus -- no matter their cultural, religious or political background. They chose to live as if God’s kingdom had come to earth, and this way of life drew more and more people into God’s kingdom. This way is the same way Christ followers are called to live today. In our polarized and divisive society, we are called to be people of the third way - the way of Jesus. We will still have opinions and views and perspectives. But our views and opinions don’t have our primary allegiance. Jesus and his kingdom has our primary allegiance. When the world around us tells us there are only two options, two sides, two choices, we remember we are people of the third way, the way of Jesus.

The Third Way: The Way of Humility - Dave Bartlett

The Third Way: The Way of Radical Generosity - Brian Steenhoek

Have you ever heard someone at Orchard say, “Everyone’s welcome?” Does the church really mean it? And what exactly does that look like in practice? Or, how about, “pick up your paddle?” That’s kinda weird, especially if you’re somewhat new to the church. However, the reference is decades old and refers to a metaphor of the church as a whitewater raft and the need to have everyone in the raft working together, serving in order to navigate the turbulent water. Come find out what rafting and welcoming have to do with accomplishing the mission God has given our church. Learn how and be inspired to jump in a raft with us and find out what you can expect from the experience and where the adventure is leading us.

The Third Way: The Way of Hospitality - Alice Shirey

The Third Way: The Way of Community - Jeff Mickey

Vision 2021: Outdoor Church - Alice Shirey

Vision 2021: Doug Tensen

Vision 2021: Jeff Mickey

At the very center of the Christian faith lies a Community; a loving, self-sustaining, beautiful Community. The Trinity - God as Three-in-One - is the Mystery at the center of it all. We want to spend the summer exploring the Trinity by looking at each unique person that makes up the Godhead. We will first spend 5 weeks asking: Who is Jesus? Next, we will move to look at 4 key attributes of God the Father. The fact that God is trustworthy, holy, generous and self-sacrificing. Last, but not least, we will spend 2 weeks pondering how God the Spirit works in the world and in our lives. At the heart of our faith, lies a Community. A Community we are invited into because of God’s love for us and God’s desire to bring us into unity with himself.

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Orchard Hill Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa

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