Aaron Stern

Follower of Jesus. Husband to Jossie. Father to Parker, Cohen, Brooks and Smith. Lead Pastor of @mill_citychurch. Author of ‘What's Your Secret?’

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.”

Frederick Buechner

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

@jr_briggs Congrats, J.R.!

[Steve Bezner @Bezner]

What if the only way to eradicate our enemies is to love them into becoming our neighbors?

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“You can’t see your own butt.”

Dr. Hud McWilliams

We need others to see ourselves.

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

C.S. Lewis from The Screwtape Letters on how politics can divert a Christian.

“As long as activism matters more to him than genuine religious practices, he’s in our grip. And the more he prioritizes those worldly causes under the guise of being ‘religious,’ the better.”

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“Burnout is usually regarded as the result of trying to give too much, but in my experience it results from trying to give what I do not possess.”

Parker Palmer

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“If you are not anchored in the goodness of God, you will lower your theology to match your pain.”

Christa Gifford

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

The message of Jesus is undermined when things are done in the name of Jesus but not in the way of Jesus.

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

To be still doesn’t mean we do nothing. It often takes effort to be still.

[Rich Villodas @richvillodas]

Grateful for a couple of days with these brothers. We’ve been connecting monthly for 7 years.

Every pastor needs this. Every human needs this.

@gpackiam @aaronstern

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

There were two responses to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2).

“They have had too much wine.”

and

“What does this mean?”

Cynicism and curiosity.

Responses still common today.

[Rich Villodas @richvillodas]

I love that on the 1st Pentecost Sunday, it is the Apostle Peter who preaches. This same Peter had just denied Jesus a few weeks earlier.

The Holy Spirit is not a reward for good behavior & unwavering faith. The Holy Spirit is a gift to those who turn to Jesus & wait on him.

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

@stevecusswords Yes!

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“A leader must take special responsibility for what’s going on inside, lest the act of leadership do more harm than good.”

Parker Palmer

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

Fasting picks a fight with our flesh to ensure that our appetites are not our god.

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

“The greatest threat to America is not the absence of divine morality in society, but divine love in the church.”

J.T. Thomas

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

Say it again for the people in the back!

[Rich Villodas @richvillodas]

The bible doesn't end with souls ascending to a disembodied heaven. It ends with a fully embodied heaven descending to earth

The resurrection is the good news that God in Christ is committed to the renewal, reconciliation & resurrection of all things—and so should the Church be.

[Justin Brierley @JusBrierley]

Easter weekend is a good time to tell the story of how agnostic UNC prof Molly Worthen recently discovered the evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. A 🧵…

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

On Good Friday, Jesus didn’t just go to the cross to show us His love.

He also went to the cross to show us how to love.

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

Now, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Are there any tables in your heart Jesus needs to flip that cause you to be hardened to love?

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

On Holy Monday, Jesus flips tables in the temple, confronting the religious leaders for their abuse of power.

Power is a tricky subject. It regularly gets a bad rap because of its misuse, but power is unavoidable. Everyone has power…how it is used is the issue.

[Aaron Stern @aaronstern]

Henri Nouwen wrote, “Power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.” (In the Name of Jesus)