Horizons Community Church Lincoln

We'll delve into the delicate balance of helping others without succumbing to the pitfalls of enabling or overwhelming ourselves. Drawing inspiration from Galatians 6, we'll explore the wisdom of restoring others gently, carrying each other's burdens, and the importance of managing our expectations in the journey of assistance. Join us as we unravel the paradox of helping—a path that leads to fulfillment of the law of Christ, yet requires a discerning heart to distinguish between the load we share and the burdens we may inadvertently create. https://horizons.church/events/the-helping-paradox/

As Jesus teaches, we intentionally and boldly serve others to show God's love. By doing justice and showing mercy, we humbly care for all people. God's kingdom shines brighter when everyone shares their talents and spiritual gifts. "In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16 https://horizons.church/events/guided-fueled/

We connect as a multigenerational community through all phases of life. With love and truth, we support each other in our faith. We don't have life figured out, we learn from each other, and that's why we're better together. "Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let's grow in every way into Christ, who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does its part." -Ephesians 4:15-16 https://horizons.church/sunday/ https://horizons.church/events/guided-fueled/

Pastor Mandy Barkhaus emphasizes the church's commitment to values of inclusion and welcoming, rooted in biblical teachings. Drawing from the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8, Pastor Mandy emphasizes the church's mission to make its table bigger, echoing Jesus's teachings of expanding God's table. Kaylie's testimonial video further reinforces the church's commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive community for all. https://horizons.church/events/guided-fueled/

In this insightful message, Brian Thomas explores the importance of being guided by the Holy Spirit in our lives and as a community. Drawing inspiration from the movie "Up," he reflects on the distractions that can hinder us from fulfilling our mission. Emphasizing the value statement, "We are guided by the Holy Spirit," Brian highlights the partnership of Scripture and prayer in maintaining focus on God's mission. He delves into the Gospel of Luke, revealing how Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, fulfilled his mission and invites us to join in that same mission today. The challenge is to practice "paying attention with God" in our daily lives. Week 2 of the series "Guided by Values, Fueled by Generosity" on Horizons' Value of being guided by The Holy Spirit. We're anchored in scripture and prayer. As we strive to listen, the Holy Spirit empowers us to be more like Christ. Prayer is the heartbeat of everything we do, say, and believe. "Teach me to do what pleases you, because you are my God. Guide me by your good spirit into good land." -Psalm 143:10 https://horizons.church/events/guided-fueled/

Step into the transformative series "Guided by Values, Fueled by Generosity," our dynamic messages encapsulates Horizons' mission. Rooted in leading all to Jesus for the transformation of the world. As we navigate the series, we'll talk about being guided by the Holy Spirit, anchored in prayer and scripture, growing together in a multigenerational community, impacting the world through intentional service, and extending an open invitation with the vision "We have a place for you at the table." Inspired by biblical passages, we seek collective growth, embodying love, truth, and unity in Christ. Join us on this journey as we live out our mission and visions, finding purpose and belonging together. https://horizons.church/events/guided-fueled/

Pastor Mandy Barkhaus reflects on the concept of "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin." She shares a personal story about discovering her mom's "sin" through a school picture, emphasizing the idea that we are all sinners. Then, she explores whether Jesus explicitly said to love the sinner and challenges the implications of labeling others as sinners. The discussion delves into a biblical passage from Zachariah, highlighting themes of guilt, redemption, and the grace of God. Pastor Mandy encourages a shift from focusing on others' sins to personal reflection and invites everyone to extend unconditional love and grace. https://horizons.church/events/half-truths/

Trentell Gordon shares a humorous experience of navigating an awkward meal at his girlfriend's house, using it as a metaphor for life's uncertainties and gray areas. This is similar to a biblical passage in John 8, where he explores the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, emphasizing the danger of a rigid mindset encapsulated in the phrase, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." Trentell underscores the transformative power of grace, drawing from his life-changing encounter with it. Let us all model Jesus' approach of offering grace and mercy before judgment. We should extend the same love to others and reflect on moments of grace in our lives.https://horizons.church/events/half-truths/

Pastor Mandy Barkhaus explores the theme of God not giving more than one can handle, using the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus from the Gospel of John. Reflecting on the challenges people face, the role of faith, and the support of a community in times of difficulty. Emphasizing that God comes to us in our struggles, walks with us, and turns our graves into gardens. Offering a message of hope and encouragement in the face of life's trials. https://horizons.church/events/half-truths/

Pastor Mandy Barkhaus discusses the saying, "God helps those who help themselves." She challenges the idea that people should solely rely on themselves and highlights the importance of helping those who cannot help themselves, drawing from biblical passages. She emphasizes the need for compassion, grace, and assistance to meet the basic needs of others and shares the message of hope and love through helping. Pastor Barkhaus encourages listeners to have "beautiful feet" by sharing God's good news and concludes with a prayer. https://horizons.church/events/half-truths/

We explore the common belief that everything happens for a reason and reflect on the idea of cause and effect, the consequences of our actions, and the complexities of God's plan. Pastor Mandy discusses how this belief can bring comfort to some but also points out its limitations, emphasizing the importance of understanding God's sovereignty and the role of human free will. She encourages compassion, empathy, and the choice to create meaning through our actions and relationships, rather than attributing everything to a divine plan. https://horizons.church/events/half-truths/

Delving into the biblical passage about "an eye for an eye" and how Gandhi's perspective adds depth to its interpretation. Pastor Mandy emphasizes the necessity of comprehending the complete story and message of scripture to grasp the true nature of God's character. Additionally, she introduces the idea of renewing one's commitment to God, particularly through baptism, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ.https://horizons.church/events/half-truths/

The book of James and putting our faith into action. Derek Steinacher discusses how comedian Nate Bargatze's joke about the silent treatment highlights how people often use it. It delves into the movie "The Sixth Sense" and how the surprise ending was once a big spoiler but now prompts reflections on perspective. The message delves into James 5, discussing the consequences of pursuing wealth and power selfishly, emphasizing the importance of community and prayer. It also shares stories of individuals who have lived selflessly, like Sister Jesse, the solar panel donor, and those who contribute to community projects. The overall message is about embracing a selfless life connected to others, inspired by Jesus' example.https://horizons.church/sunday/https://horizons.church/events/dont-be-fake/

The book of James and putting our faith into action. In her sermon on James Chapter Four, Pastor Mandy focuses on the theme of conflict and its roots in human desires. She discusses how the absence of chapters and verses in the original Bible manuscripts highlights the challenge of interpreting the text accurately. Chapter Four, she explains, delves into the origin of conflicts tied to jealousy, selfish ambitions, and unfulfilled desires, which can escalate into more serious sins.

Pastor Mandy underscores the need for repentance and humility, drawing examples from biblical stories like Cain and Abel, Peter, and Judas. She highlights the transformative power of godly sorrow and emphasizes turning away from sin, resisting worldly temptations, and submitting to God. The sermon concludes with an invitation to seek reconciliation and allow God's grace to guide a path toward inner peace and a deeper relationship with Him.

https://horizons.church/sunday/ https://horizons.church/events/dont-be-fake/

The book of James and putting our faith into action. https://horizons.church/sunday/ https://horizons.church/events/dont-be-fake/

The book of James and putting our faith into action. https://horizons.church/sunday/ https://horizons.church/events/dont-be-fake/

The book of James and putting our faith into action. https://horizons.church/sunday/ https://horizons.church/events/dont-be-fake/

Weird Stories Important Lessons We'll dig into some Old Testaments stories that seem ancient and weird but can help us on our walk with Jesus today. https://horizons.church/sunday/https://horizons.church/events/weird-stories/

Weird Stories Important Lessons We'll dig into some Old Testaments stories that seem ancient and weird but can help us on our walk with Jesus today. https://horizons.church/sunday/https://horizons.church/events/weird-stories/

Weird Stories Important Lessons We'll dig into some Old Testaments stories that seem ancient and weird but can help us on our walk with Jesus today. https://horizons.church/events/weird-storeis/

A story of Esther Weird Stories Important Lessons  We'll dig into some Old Testaments stories that seem ancient and weird but can help us on our walk with Jesus today.  horizons.church/events/weird-stories/

Caring for Yourself https://horizons.church/events/do-better/

Care of Earth for the Earth with Pastor Mandy Barkhaus https://horizons.church/events/do-better/

Care of earth for the next generation. Message outline and more https://horizons.church/events/do-better/

Susan Sapp starts the series Do Better, a story of creation care. We are preparing to learn about God's beautiful creation and talk about how our love for God and His creation connects us in our relationship with God.

There’s power in our stories when we share them and it’s even more powerful when we live out our story. So, how do we live out our story?

Finding Your Story, week 3 in our new sermon series, I Am Horizons. We are talking about our stories- the stories we have when Jesus transforms our lives and we find our story and rediscover our story so we don't wander off into our own path and Jesus is no longer the center in our world. Message Outline https://horizons.church/events/i-am-horizons/ New Here? https://horizons.church/hello Prayer Request https://horizons.church/pray/ Give Generously https://horizons.church/give/ What's Next? https://horizons.church/events/

Confirmation Sunday, you'll hear testimonies of the students getting confirmed. They are the current church and the future church. And so it matters that the church still exists for them as they grow into adults. Confirmation is more than just about students learning about Jesus and exploring their faith- it's also about surrounding them with staff, volunteers, adult and youth mentors, and a whole church that values serving beyond the walls of Horizons. https://horizons.church/events/i-am-horizons/

The first message in our new sermon series, I Am Horizons. Each week, we'll hear stories from people like Gordon who are part of Horizons and who make us who we are- and you'll hear their stories of how their lives are different because of Jesus. Next Sunday is Confirmation Sunday… (you'll get to hear LOTS of testimonies!) I hope you come to support and encourage the youth!We all have stories. The apostle Paul has a story. Paul was one of the greatest leaders in the church- laying the foundation for the early church–sharing the good news of Jesus ALL over, planting churches, and encouraging leaders to join the movement. Paul was not one of the twelve disciples. In fact, he was the opposite of a follower of Jesus until after the resurrection.Message notes and morehttps://horizons.church/events/i-am-horizons/

Horizons is excited about an upcoming event that is sure to bring you to worship (and it will also be inspiring and impactful!). Former Nebraska football coach, Tom Osborne, will be joining us for worship! But the real star of the show will be the incredible work of the TeamMates Mentoring Program and the light of Jesus it is bringing to our community. Coach Osborne founded the TeamMates program in 1991 with the belief that all children need and deserve positive mentors in their lives. Today, the program serves over 10,000 students in Nebraska, Iowa, Wyoming, and Kansas. This Sunday, you'll learn more about the TeamMates mission, hear from some Horizons TeamMates mentors, and have the opportunity to support this important work.

It’s so easy to lose hope for the future. It is easy to lose hope in the church. And when certain things happen, we even wonder if we SHOULD give up? https://horizons.church/events/reconstruct/

You may have heard Horizons talk about Justice in Action, the justice ministry. I want to explain where it started- what scripture can teach us and the hope brewing in our church and our city.

Message Outline http://horizons.church/message-outline

New Here? https://horizons.church/hello

Prayer Request https://horizons.church/pray/

Give Generously https://horizons.church/give/

What's Next? https://horizons.church/events/

In the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can take a look at the core belief of what He has done. Deconstructing our faith from society and building it on the foundation of Jesus. https://horizons.church/events/reconstruct/

To the Salvage Yard - a walk through Holy Week: Hosanna - Salvage/Save US!

https://horizons.church/events/agree-to-disagree/

What was one of your experiences growing up that really impacted your faith? I thought about that and have a few moments, but I remember a formative time in my faith. And it was the first time I heard the story of King Solomon and the two mothers. Message Notes and more on this series https://horizons.church/events/agree-to-disagree/

May the unity of our God, the diversity of our God, and the love of God go with you this week as you create community wherever you go. "Wouldn't it have been wonderful… if everybody's life was like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Then no one person's life would ever be an inconvenience to anyone else's. It would just fit snugly in its very own, specially designed spot, and in so doing, would enable the whole intricate picture to become complete." -The Lincoln Highway Amor Towles

More info at https://horizons.church/events/agree-to-disagree/

God's grace is always available for us (before we even know it). Ephesians 2:8-10 - NIV 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  https://horizons.church/events/agree-to-disagree/

Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures. (Romans 15:4 CEB)

https://horizons.church/events/agree-to-disagree/

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” ― St. Augustine  Learning what agree to disagree really means by diving into what the Bible says and how we can adjust our view of what is most important.

What is it about the end that makes us, at times, anxious or fearful? We fear because of conspiracy theories, false depictions of hell from art, taking scripture out of its context and repeating it without understanding what's actually going on. As we wrap up our series on the Endgame, we will see the hope in the end. But the hope in the end comes with urgency for us to stay focused on our goals.

Prabin will share about Bethel and his leadership role at the children's home and school. Pastor Prabin is also the leader and organizer of the church in India that is growing to make life-changing differences in the people, bringing them the story of Jesus.

What does the Lord your God require of YOU?  37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:36-40  8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

More at https://horizons.church/events/the-endgame/

What do you think of when you think of the end game now? The end game and movies and shows. The end game is full of action and violence and chaos. Think of Game of Thrones or Hunger Games or The Avengers. The end game is the final stages.

https://horizons.church/events/the-endgame/

The third rule John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, calls 'Attending upon the Ordinances of God'. I can understand why the author, Bishop Job, of the Three Simple Rules, changed it from Attending… to simply: staying in love with God. BUT I also think that 'staying in love' with God makes it sound too easy. It's really not enough to SAY 'I am a Christian' and it's way more than just saying 'I love God!'  https://horizons.church/events/3-simple-rules/

Last week we started our sermon series, Three Simple Rules. Rule one: Do No Harm. Rule 2: Do Good. Rule 3: Stay in Love with God. Last weekend’s focus was “do no harm”… we need to be on guard. We need to take a hard look at what are actions (and inactions) and our words could be doing to others. This week “do good.”

Three Simple Rules for the New Year. Based on John Wesley's Three Simple Rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, Stay in Love with God.  How do my words, actions (and INACTIONS) harm others? Doing good is universal. Is doing a little good enough? There are so many obstacles in the way of doing the work to staying in love with God. How do we remove those obstacles? How do we love God with our heart, mind, soul, strength?  

https://horizons.church/events/3-simple-rules/

2023 is going to be hard. It will be full of twists and turn, but because Jesus came to earth and shed his blood and gave his life, we get to have an internal relationship with a God that never changes and is always faithful!  https://horizons.church/events/specials/

There was no shame. There was no blame, there was no condemnation, just unconditional love. And you know my father was not God, but he showed me what God was like that day. When we come to God with our sin, our brokenness, our failure,our pain and our hurt, God says, "Welcome Home." And that invitation is open to you.

If you are looking for a place, if you feel like the inn or guestroom is full- it's not. There's a place for you here. Even if you feel like you are standing at the wrong door with your luggage (or maybe baggage… ) it's okay; you are still welcome. Because here at Horizons, we focus on the gift of Jesus' love. A gift from God. A way for us to have peace. A way for us to belong. A way for us to have a home. A way for us to find a home or return home.

Christmas Season is upon us... But what would it mean if we skipped Christmas? What if we didn't worry about all the presents, treats, Santa and reindeer? Who needs Christmas?  We are in the third week of Advent (how does that happen? Time goes by so fast). But I remember Advent traditions from growing up in the church. Do you ever go down the path of remembering the "good ole days"  Join Horizons as we journey through the Christmas and Advent season with a study and messages about who needs Christmas. Find the study and more at https://horizons.church/Christmas