I Will Move from “I Am” to “I Will.”
This week we begin a new series based on the book, I Will: Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian, by Thom Rainer. Last year, we looked at Rainer's book, I Am a Church Member. That book challenged us to consider our attitudes when it comes to the local church. This book takes the next step. Once we have our attitudes right, what will it cause us to do in the church?
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- Sep 11, 2016I Will Move from “I Am” to “I Will.”
I Will Move from “I Am” to “I Will.”This week we begin a new series based on the book, I Will: Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian, by Thom Rainer. Last year, we looked at Rainer's book, I Am a Church Member. That book challenged us to consider our attitudes when it comes to the local church. This book takes the next step. Once we have our attitudes right, what will it cause us to do in the church?
- Sep 4, 2016The Rich Man and the Beggar
The Rich Man and the BeggarToo late. Those words can be so frustrating. God wants desperately for those words not to apply to our spiritual lives. He warns us again and again to be ready. He tries throughout scripture to bring His people into a closer relationship with Him. In this parable, Jesus tells us what can happen if we ignore that warning. Don't wait; get ready!
- Aug 28, 2016Parable of the Talents
Parable of the TalentsGod entrusts each of us with work to do for His kingdom according to our ability. What are we doing to serve Him?
- Aug 21, 2016Persistence and Perspective
Persistence and PerspectiveIn Luke 18, we find two parables whose main characters are a widow, a tax collector and a Pharisee. These parable serve to remind us not to give up and that God's criteria in seeing the importance of people is very different than our culture's.
- Aug 7, 2016Are You Ready?
Are You Ready?In Matthew 24 and 25, Jesus finds several ways to explain the importance of being prepared. We know that He will return, but we do not know when. Are we ready?
- Jul 31, 2016Wise and Foolish Builders
Wise and Foolish BuildersWhen building a house, it is essential to begin with a strong foundation. What is the foundation of our spiritual lives?
- Jul 24, 2016Count the Cost
Count the CostIn the Parable of the Tower, Jesus makes the point that a builder would not begin a tower without first considering the cost. Although there are blessings in following Jesus, it is not always an easy path. What will that commitment cost?
- Jul 10, 2016The Two Sons
The Two SonsAs Christians, we sometimes know the right answers and say the right things. One of the sons in this parable is a lot like that. As Jesus points out, the right answers do not count for much if our actions do not match up.
- Jul 3, 2016The Wedding Banquet
The Wedding BanquetThe king planned an amazing banquet for the wedding of his son. He invited many, but they refused to come. How doe people respond today to the invitation of God? Are we ready?
- Jun 26, 2016Be Strong and Courageous
Be Strong and CourageousLast week in VBS, we shared the story of Joshua with a great group of kids from our community. This lesson ties those thoughts together with some reminders about God's faithfulness and our need to set aside fear.
- Jun 19, 2016A Father’s Love
A Father’s Love"2016-06-19".
- Jun 5, 2016The Good Samaritan
The Good SamaritanIt's very easy sometimes to let stereotypes get in the way of how we see people. If someone in the first century heard this cast of characters--a Priest, a Levite, a Samaritan--they might already have in mind who the hero and villain of the story might be. Jesus challenges our judgment and challenges how we see others and who we should be.
- May 29, 2016Lost and Found
Lost and FoundIn Luke 15, we find three parables of things that were lost and later found, and we learn something very important about God. He wants desperately to find the lost, and he wants to restore a relationship with them.
- May 22, 2016Perfecting Love
Perfecting LoveAt the core of being the body of Christ is love. We love God. We love our neighbors. What should that love look like? We find a lot of those answers in 1 Corinthians 13.
- May 15, 2016Reflecting Love
Reflecting LovePart of being the body of Christ is reflecting the image of Christ to the world around us. An essential part of that image is love.
- May 8, 2016Committed
CommittedThis Mother's Day, we look at the story of Hannah. Even though life was not going as she planned, she remained committed to God and wanted to commit a child to his service.
- May 1, 2016Time With God
Time With GodThe National Day of Prayer is coming up later this week. In this lesson based on Bill Hybels' book,Too Busy Not to Pray, we look at the importance of prayer and some practical steps to improve our communication with God.
- Apr 24, 2016Improve Your Serve
Improve Your ServeIn Galatians 6:9 Paul writes, "Let us not become weary in doing good." We are probably weary about many things, but I wonder how many of us actually wear ourselves out by serving others. This week, be encouraged that part of being the body of Christ is being heavily involved in service to others.
- Apr 17, 2016Church Without Walls
Church Without WallsOne of the key functions of the church is to reach out to the world to share the gospel and love our neighbors. Those two things rarely happen if we do not take the mission of the church beyond the walls of our building.
- Apr 10, 2016To Be Holy
To Be HolyAs a church that follows a holy God, we too are called to be holy. In this lesson, we discuss the importance of holiness and righteousness and acknowledge that they can only be achieved through the power of God.
- Apr 3, 2016Above All
Above AllIn Colossians 1:18 Paul writes, "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." As we consider what it means to be the body of Christ, we have to begin with the foundation of Jesus.
- Mar 27, 2016Hope
HopeThe message of the resurrection is a message of hope. Because Jesus overcame death, we know we can spend eternity in His presence.
- Mar 20, 2016New Life
New LifeAs we near resurrection Sunday, we take a look at what the resurrection means for us: a new life. What should that new life look like? Does it resemble the lives we are living?
- Mar 13, 2016Connected
ConnectedOur Life Groups are currently in a study entitled "Being the Body of Christ." In this lesson from 1 Corinthians 12, we will talk about what it means to be part of the church and how each of us brings something unique that God intends for us to use for Him.
- Mar 6, 2016Changing the Pattern
Changing the PatternOur series on the book of James comes to a close with this lesson. If we are going to live the kind of life James describes in his book, we have to change our patterns of thinking and behavior. We must learn to view God and His church as our first source of help instead of as a last resort. And in all things, we should pray with the knowledge that God is able.
