Doubts don't disqualify you; doubts qualify you to seek. Here at Open, seekers are welcome, because embracing questions helps us grow, learn, and journey — exactly what God wants for us. Find out why we say clearly, "Seekers are welcome here."
If you've ever been to Open Worship, you know that the phrase "All Are Welcome Here" is very important to this community. In fact, we say those words together 4 times as we start the service every week! In this series, we explore what that phrase means for us and why we believe that God is (and has always been!) open to all.
Our words have weight — they have power to give life or diminish life. In a world full of negative or harmful messages, we are called to speak God's message of love to the world in all our words. Join us as we seek to learn how to use words wisely.
There is a message we speak by listening — that all people are worthy of being heard. Learn lessons from scripture and Mr. Rogers, who listened well to his neighbors, especially a young neighbor named François Clemmons. Together they teach us that listening is the beginning of love. From James 1:19
Despite what we may have heard, the story told in scripture is clear: all people are equally created in the image of God; the masculine and feminine together reflect the divine. We need all of us to know God all the more. On Mothers' Day, we honor the many women in our lives who have helped us glimpse the heart and character of God, and we renew our commitment to proclaim, empower, and cultivate the image of God in the women and girls in our community and world.
In our world and communities, there are places where the interwoven fabric of humanity is weak or torn. God invites us to be people of justice, who strengthen the world around us and repair the breaches. Learn how to be at work for justice and hear the story of someone from Denton's history who helped reweave our common fabric.
We don’t always know how to respond to the story of Easter, this amazing story about how nothing can stop God’s love. But when we find ourselves feeling far away, God responds to us with an unending, unstoppable love that invites us to simply come as we are and...have breakfast! (it will make sense once you’ve heard the message :)
We apologize for the audio trouble this week, but we wanted to share this helpful message on prayer anyway! Jesus’ disciples asked, “Teach us to pray.” Even though they had seen lots of prayer in their lives, Jesus prayed with an authenticity and deep connection that was like no other. In this sermon, learn from what Jesus taught, and add a practice to your palette to help you connect with the God who loves you.
In a black and white world, we were built to live in abundant color. Learn about some of the ancient spiritual practices like meditation and contemplation that Jesus followers have used to remix their creative palette and be part of making a more loving, colorful world. This video includes a special guided meditation and song by the Open band.
As we go through life, we accumulate wounds and scars and baggage. But God wants to help us be free. Forgiveness helps break the cycle so we can be who we were built to be. Forgiveness is incredibly hard, but it is powerfully life giving. Find out More about this tool for being new and living without baggage.
We find ourselves at the intersection of relationships with God (or something greater), others, and ourselves. Sometimes those relationships are unbalanced or fractured, but Jesus came to put them back together in love. When all of those relationships align, we find a new sense of purpose and an empowering sense of self.
We’re invited to have a style that is new, even when all around is old. There are a lot of old things we can wear around — selfishness, close mindedness, resentment — but Jesus invites us into a whole new way of being and living and clothing ourselves. This new way has love at its center and compassion as its outer layer. Find out how this new style can help you be new when all around is old.
This Sunday, we reflected on the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wall-breaking, bridge-building work that challenges us to answer the call in our time. Like Jesus, MLK worked to make the world new even when the world around him was trapped in the old patterns and prejudices. Learn how Jesus’ wall-breaking work overcame the old walls of separation, and calls us to continue breaking walls and building bridges in our lives.
It's hard to imagine that things could really be different. But Jesus brought something that wasn't just religion 2.0, it was brand new—and all about a new start in love. Find out how this can be the key to breaking through, being new, and making a difference this year.
In a world of division, suspicion, and even hate, how do we make peace and live out love? Jesus said the kingdom of God, those places where God’s love and live reign, is like a seed that is planted that grows into a tree that gives safety and life to many. Seeds are small, but with nutrients, time, and growth, they can flourish.
God calls us to be for the places where we live. That means seeking the shalom, or universal holistic flourishing of our communities. Find out how oyu can start where you are, with what you have, and seek shalom in your city.
We all want to live the good & beautiful life—and God wants that for us as well. The skills to get there are called wisdom, and the book of James is full of wise thought and direction. But, the wisdom from above comes when we use our skills and our self for the good of others. Find out how in this final installment in our summer James series.
Your words have power — they can bring life and healing in your home, school, or workplace — anywhere they are needed — or they can squash life and cause harm. Learn how you can learn to use the power of words to build up and bring life to those who need it.
“Faith makes you alive, apart from works” — and “faith that is alive works for love.” These two perspectives run throughout Scripture. Taken together they give us a deeper picture of life with God and how you can come alive in the life and love you were meant to find.
Though it seems counterintuitive, God declares that mercy triumphs over judgment. No matter where we come from, when we draw near God's heart, what we find is mercy not judgment.