The Third Place

1. Creativity

We operate in three places. The first place is our home, and the second place is our work. Our third place is any relational space where we engage with others - and this could be anything from a neighborhood barbecue to a book club. Participation in our third place is critical to our well-being and harmony with the world around us.

God actually created a third place for us, called The Church. It is not only a relational place with other people but significantly with the Spirit of God. It is where we pursue God's vision for us to become like Christ. As we come into this third place with our anxieties, struggles, corrupt thinking, and dysfunction we will find that God does a wonderful thing ... God creates in us and renews us. This creative activity brings about peace, order, and joy.

This is not automatic or without our involvement. We must have a willing spirit that cooperates with God's plan. Specifically, our activity is the practice of disciplines.

 Doug Ellis    |   January 11, 2026   |   Psalms 51:10-12

2. Vision

 Doug Ellis    |   January 21, 2026   |  

3. The Discipline of Serving

All disciplines create tension between where we are, and where we need to get to. They open us up to the power of God so that we may become reshaped, but most of us find our lives already so full of the world's routines, that we can hardly find a moment to read a morning devotion. Our worldly routine is the enemy of Christian adventure.

Where to begin? Of top priority is the movement from pride to humility, for pride is a fundamental block to God - as Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:5, "God opposes the proud." Most of us are infected with pride, preferring that others serve us and be beneath us. But, God has given us direction that we are to be servants rather than the bosses of others.

Today's message is on the discipline of serving. It is a discipline as important as prayer and the pursuit of the Word of God, and yet one that we too often neglect.

 Doug Ellis    |   February 1, 2026   |   Matthew 20:20-28

4. The Disciplines of Seeking Truth

We must realize that our souls are full of lies and half-truths that deceive us, hurt our joy, harm our relationships, and ultimately keep us from serving God more fully. We want truth. We need truth.

Many may say, "Just read the Bible, and you'll get truth" but that is a naive suggestion that doesn't appreciate spiritual realities. For all truth can be colored and distorted by pride, ignorance, bias, agendas, and even demons.

God knows that we need guidance, mentoring, and challenge in the pursuit of truth, and seeking truth together with the Holy Spirit is an essential discipline.

 Doug Ellis    |   February 8, 2026   |   2 Peter 3:15-18

5. The Disciplines of Absorbing Truth

After God had given Israel messages about His will, we notice in Deuteronomy 11 that the instructions were not just head knowledge, but to be rooted in their daily rhythms.

This is also true for us. It is not sufficient just to know God's will, for we are to become what God wills.

The disciplines of "absorbing truth" open us up to be saturated in the words of God so that our lives begin to align with God's will and do God's will.

 Doug Ellis    |   February 15, 2026   |   Deuteronomy 11:18-28

6. The Discipline of Simplicity

One thing is common for most American Christians: we are so absorbed in the busyness, cares and concerns of the world around us, that we have little margin to add anything into our agenda. We feel as if we can't squeeze in another thing, and so the disciplines of pursuing Jesus are shelved for sometime later.

If this describes you (and it probably does), then you need to deconstruct your menu of activity with the Discipline of Simplicity.

 Doug Ellis    |   February 22, 2026   |   Matthew 8:18-22