The Christians here stood strong in their faith in and worship of Christ, but struggled with tolerance and compromise over wrong teachings about Him. Living in such a hostile environment towards the things of Christ would have been difficult. The belief systems and practices surrounding them were idolatrous and immoral and to hold fast not just to declaring Christ as Lord but also discerning practically how that applies to daily life would require courage and fortitude. Allowing idolatrous and immoral teaching and practice to creep into their church hindered their ability to fully honor Jesus and maintain faithfulness to His word. The church needed to take these things seriously and stop. 

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To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11:

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **Revelation 2:12-17**

Though living in this wealthy city, Jesus tells us that the Christians there were poor. It appears their commitment to declaring *Jesus only* as Lord has cost them. To this suffering church, Jesus reminds them of His deity (I am the first and the last) and His conquering of death. He has seen their suffering – they are not alone or unknown in all that they have been facing. What comfort these words must have been!

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To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: 

 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Revelation 2:8-11 with Isaiah 44:6

Ephesus was a seaport city and a place where the Apostle Paul founded a church. The temple of Artemis (or Diana) was ranked among one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Apostle John also spend time in Ephesus ministering to the Ephesian church there. In Acts 19:1-10 we read of how the gospel went forth out of Ephesus and in Acts 19:23-41 we read of how the silversmiths feared a loss of income from their sale of idols by the rise of Christianity there.

To really make the most out of this week’s message (and this series) we encourage you to read Acts 19, the book of Ephesians and Revelation 2:1-7. It would take about 30 minutes, less then a podcast episode!, and will greatly enhance your understanding of the church in Ephesus, give insight into what they were facing, how God has been at work among them, and the means of maintaining Love and Devotion to Jesus – who is Worthy of it all.

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 2:1-7, with Acts 19 and Ephesians 1-6

Seven churches in Asia minor were each given a letter with encouragements, corrections and promises to those who overcome. How do we overcome and live victoriously? It is by faith alone, through grace alone. Jesus' victory is ours through faith in His work on our behalf. All Praise, Honor, and Glory to Jesus, the Living One who was dead and is alive for ever and ever!!

**A Note on the book of Revelation:**

Revelation is a letter of prophecy written to seven churches in Asia minor. There are differing perspectives among Biblical scholars as to how Revelation is to be read and understood. This is true of not yet fulfilled prophecy in all of scripture, both Old and New Testament alike. We need not be afraid of reading this portion of scripture because of all the controversy. As with every text of God’s word – Jesus is both the One revealed and the One who is doing the revealing. Jesus makes Himself known to us and as long as we keep our eyes focused on magnifying Jesus and resting in His consistent character we can allow room for mystery and our own limitations without losing heart or getting off track.

Our sermon series will focus on each individual church's letter found in chapters 1-3. These first-century churches in the Roman province of Asia (currently western Turkey) are mentioned; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. We'll begin with the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos where he sees Jesus in all His glory. John does his best to record what he has seen and heard within the limitations of human language. (Chapter 1)

To help us maintain our focus over the next eight weeks, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: 

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

To help you begin, take time to write the memory verse on notecards and place in an ideal location for your daily review.

Additionally, as you prepare for this week’s teaching, read Revelation 1:1-20 and your study Bible’s introduction (if applicable, or Click here for the ESV Global Study Bible’s Introduction to Revelation)

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Luke 19:28-44. For your continued pursuit, use our Holy Week Devotional for daily readings and join us for our Good Friday Service at 5:30pm or 7:00pm

1 Peter 1:3-5

Pages 17-18 of our 40 days guide gives space for you to walk with Jesus from Palm Sunday, to the cross, culminating with Easter Monday. Carve out time this week for extra prayer, study, and fellowship with your Savior to deepen your understanding of all that He accomplished each day of this very intentional and purposeful week.

Join with us as we remember and rejoice over our Risen Savior, Lord, Overcoming King, and Faithful Friend!

Download our Holy Week Devotional to enhance your understanding and celebration of Jesus' work of salvation for us!

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading all of Colossians, giving special attention to Colossians 4:2-18

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3, giving special attention to 3:22-4:2

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3, giving special attention to 3:18-21

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3:12-17

While we will continue to battle with our old nature, our new nature will grow in influence and impact more and more as we submit to Jesus’ rule in our lives. Sexual integrity, a right attitude towards material things and love for all people will become markers of our personalities. These things carry a different difficulty for each of us. Do you struggle with sexual immorality? Are greed and covetousness hard for you to overcome? Do you love as the world loves, being selective in who you give honor and behaving hatefully towards others? The first step in victory is honesty.  

As you review Paul’s list of named sins, ask the Lord to open your eyes to anything you are practicing, to give you understanding as to how grievous it is, and to empower you to live into His Grace and to be renewed by His love. May we all have the courage to rid ourselves of perspectives and practices that compete with Jesus’ nature within us. 

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 3:5-11

Since we belong to Christ and His kingdom, it is to His power and authority we now yield—not the world’s or mankind’s. It is for freedom that we have been set free! Let us stand firm and guard against being yoked back into slavery. As Pastor Erik shared with us previously, the Old Testament is Jesus concealed, the New Testament is Jesus revealed. So the feasts and festivals all pointed to Christ and have been fulfilled by Christ. Anything we now participate in is merely a means of helping us run our race and grow in our faith.  

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Colossians 2:16-3:4

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Colossians 2:6-15

There are times in our faith walk when we need leaders to help us mature and grow in the skill of biblical discernment. There are also times when we need to step up to the task of helping another brother or sister in Christ along. In whichever season we find ourselves, may we grow into men and women who are steadfast, relying on Jesus with a confident trust in His power, wisdom, and goodness.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Colossians 1:24-2:5

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading through Colossians 1:15-23, taking in the beauty of the truths Paul states about our Savior, Shepherd and King Jesus.

 - to bear fruit

 - to grow in knowing God

 - to be strengthened by God

 - to give thanks to God

This will of God resides over, under, and within the specific details of our day to day. It is not so much as discovering which career to pursue, etc, as it is learning what it means to live as a child of God and citizen of His kingdom.  

"‘Fruitful in every good work.’ Here is room and range enough — in ‘every good work.’ Have you the ability to preach the gospel? Preach it! Does a little child need comforting? Comfort it! Can you stand up and vindicate a glorious truth before thousands? Do it! Does a poor saint need a bit of dinner from your table? Send it to her. Let works of obedience, testimony, zeal, charity, piety, and philanthropy all be found in your life. Do not select big things as your special line, but glorify the Lord also in the littles — ‘fruitful in every good work.’” ---Charles Spurgeon

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Colossians chapters 1-4 giving special focus to Colossians 1:1-8

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Genesis 1-2 with Revelation 21-22

As we enter into our Christmas celebrations, let us remember what Joy it is that our Lord has come and that He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love!

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Luke 2:1-7 with Colossians 1:15-23 & Hebrews 1:3

For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Luke 2:8-20 with 1 Peter 1:3-12

For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Luke 1:26-56

For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The prophets in the Old Testament often wrote of the coming Messiah and the salvation He would bring. In our first week of Advent we will study Isaiah’s plea and prayer for God to ‘come down’. In his prayer he remembers all the amazing things God has done for His people. As a child coming before a father, Isaiah shares this heart cry confident in God’s character and love.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Isaiah 64:1-9, 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 15:13

For your continued pursuit, utilize our Advent Reflections each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Prepare for this week's sermon and this new year to come by reflecting on Jesus' great commission and great command:

The Great Command:

Matthew 22:34-40 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Mark 8:34-38

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Matthew 6:25-33; 8:5-13; 18:12-14; and 28:16-20

This year, we invite you to endeavor to know and love Jesus more. Join us on Sunday as we discover practically what that looks like. 

Prepare for this week's message by reflecting on the character of Jesus found in John chapter 8

Join us as we dive into how Jesus is at work to heal, strengthen, and equip us for His glory and our good.

Prepare for the message by reading: Luke 4:16:21, Eph 2:1-7, Rom 12:2, Col 3:13, 1 Tim 4:7-8, Phil 2:12-13, Eph 2:8-10, Matt 28:18-20

Join us this week as we uncover truths about our Amazing God through these varied stories.

As we conclude our study of Titus, remember Paul's main takeaway is to keep the Gospel always at the center and keep on course with conduct that reflects gospel transformation. 

During our sermon series we have encouraged you to memorize Titus 2:11-14 to this end. We pray that tucking this verse into your heart will serve as a regular reminder of the Grace of the Lord that is with you!

For this week **practice reciting the full passage from memory!**

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 

12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 

13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 ---Titus 2:11-14

Great Job!!

During our sermon series studying Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14. 

For this week **work on memorizing Titus 2:14**:

"who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." ---Titus 2:14

For this week continue to **work on memorizing Titus 2:13** stacking it onto vs 11-12

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 

It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ---Titus 2:11-13

During our sermon series studying Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14. 

For this week **work on memorizing Titus 2:13**:

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Titus 2:9-10

Chapter 2 of Paul’s letter reiterates this in his instructions that Titus teach sound doctrine within the context of relationships. Sound doctrine simply means teaching that aligns with all that Jesus taught and that promotes Christlikeness. Making disciples happens within relationships just as Jesus modeled with his own disciples. Here Paul expounds on this truth instructing men and women to encourage one another in behavior that honors God. As we study these passages on right living, it’s vital we remember the foundational truth highlighted in our memory verse. It is by Grace alone that our lives are transformed and our ability to obey Jesus comes thru His power and not our own efforts.  

During our sermon series studying Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14. 

For this week continue to **work on memorizing Titus 2:12**, stacking it on 2:11

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ---Titus 2:11-12

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Titus 2:1-8

In our study of Titus, it is vital that we grasp the solid truth that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. While Paul’s letter will speak into Christlike character, sound doctrine, and righteous living – we must be careful we don’t find ourselves falling into the trap of thinking right standing with God is based on the things we do or the popularity we have. 

Let us seek to be discerning people, willing to receive correction if our own ways of thinking have gone astray. 

During our study of Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14.

For this week work on memorizing Titus 2:12

“ It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Titus 1:10-16

During our study of Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14.

For this week continue to work on memorizing Titus 2:11:

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Titus 1:5-9

This letter from Paul is meant to strengthen and exhort Titus to exercise his authority as a representative of the Apostles. Paul stresses that proper belief is the basis for proper behavior, and weaves in the reality of our salvation being by faith alone, through grace alone, resulting in lives that change. 

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Titus 1:1-4

Additionally, as we embark on our study of Paul’s letter to Titus we encourage you to memorize Titus 2:11-14. 

We have found that memorizing one verse at a time and then stacking a new verse onto the old one to be a helpful way to memorize a larger portion of Scripture. 

For this week focus on memorizing Titus 2:11:

" For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and Ephesians 4:1-16

These are tough questions to answer. Thankfull we are not left to guess or figure it out on our own. God's word gives us help and contrasts for us acts that come from our flesh with acts that come from the Holy Spirit living within us. 

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **John 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 3:1-3, Galatians 5:16-26, and Ephesians 5:15-20 **

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **Acts 1:3-8; 2:1-41, John 16:7-14; 3:3-6, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:6, John 14:16-17, John 14:26; 16:12-15, Romans 8:26-27, and John 14:15-18**

>>> We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Trinity, is to apply the saving work of Christ. He does this by bringing conviction of a person’s need for the forgiveness of Christ. He regenerates their heart and then permanently indwells them when they believe. His ongoing work is to guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service. www.gracecomm.org/what-we-believe

Who is the person of the Holy Spirit? What is He like and what does He do? Join us Sunday as we begin a new series to help us better understand the Holy Spirit as He is revealed to us in scripture. 

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Mark 8:34-38 with 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, John 14:16,26;15:26

“Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.” ---Romans 4:4-6

Paul is referring to psalm 32 where David recounts the joy - the relief – the true delight he found in having the weight of his sin lifted by the Lord’s forgiveness.

This is a psalm to think deeply on. A Psalm to pause at each section and ponder the meaning and implications held there. The instructions given in the title; *“A Psalm of David, a Maskil"* is thought to label this psalm as a song or poem of contemplation and instruction. As our understanding of God’s forgiveness deepens, so too our understanding of His unfailing love deepens. This creates in us a deeper trust in and greater praise of God, the Forgiving One who is our Savior and King.

In Matthew 21, Jesus quotes this psalm to the Pharisees, declaring to them once again His identity as God;

...when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.  

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

  “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants

                   you, Lord, have called forth your praise]?”

When we take time to read these words slowly and consider the depths of their meaning, we are left in awe of the grandeur of God, His work among us, and His attention towards us.  How majestic indeed is our Lord’s character magnified throughout all the earth!

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 8.

There is a grandeur in nature that leaves us awe-struck, it shows us how big and powerful and creative God is. While God’s glory appears much in the works of creation, it is shown even more through the words of scripture. The scriptures give us a more complete and intimate knowledge of the character of God. As we come to understand God more deeply, we realize how small, ignorant and powerless we truly are. The beautiful thing is we are not left hopeless and discouraged, because while our God is big and majestic, He is also a kind and merciful Savior. He has invited us to know Him and be known by Him. He does not leave us to fend for ourselves but helps us. 

May this be our daily plea; that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts bring glory to our worthy God.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 19

This psalm illuminates the grandeur of God’s mercy, His love that does not fail, and His compassion towards us in our wretched state. May the words of this psalm restore to us the joy of His salvation! May we be open to recognizing our sin, knowing that it is safe to do so because our Father God welcomes our broken and contrite hearts as an offering of faith.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by meditating on the words of Psalm 51 with 2 Samuel 11-12

In this psalm, David cries out to God in his distress. “His holy trust, his many conflicts, his great transgressions, his bitter repentance, and his deep distresses are all here;” comments Charles Spurgeon. 

In addition to being another acrostic psalm (with each line representing a letter from the Hebrew alphabet) this psalm contains a rhythm of movement between prayer and meditation on God’s character. 

- Prayer – Psalm 25:1-7

- Meditation – Psalm 25:8-10

- Prayer – Psalm 25:11

- Meditation – Psalm 25:12-15

- Prayer Psalm 25:16-22

This is a pattern we can copy to bring comfort and restored hope in the midst of our crying out to God in our distress. Prepare for this weeks teaching by reading Psalm 25. 

At the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples would have sung these psalms. To think of these words being sung by our Lord before He went to the Mount of Olives to pray gives added depth of meaning to the words. (Mark 14:12-26)  As you read through this psalm, do so in light of God’s previous acts of deliverance culminating with Jesus’ work on the cross ultimately delivering us from sin and death, working for us the blessing of salvation and life eternal. 

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 115 

Prepare for this week's message by reading through Psalm 16, praising God that "because the Lord is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

This is an ache you may know well, either from personal suffering or from your love of another who is suffering. This world is not as it is supposed to be.  

The cry of lament is a faithful practice of taking our pain, our complaints, and our sorrows to the Lord, trusting that He will not turn away from us. If we struggle to find words, there are at least 50 Psalms we can turn to. As we do, we will find that the psalmist pours out his anguish to the Lord, but does not stay there. Often the psalms of Lament end with reminders of God’s character, His faithfulness, salvation, and unfailing love. This pattern is instructive – showing us the way through our grief, not by pretending and stuffing it down, nor by sitting in it as though it is the only true thing. Rather, by pouring out our raw and honest emotions to the One who comforts as no one else can and then reminding ourselves of His love that knows no bounds—we are helped.

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Psalm 13.

·        He satisfies the desires of every living thing.

·        He is righteous in all His ways

·        He is loving towards all He has made.

·        He is near to all who call on Him, He hears their cry and saves them.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 145

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 95 with Hebrews 3-4

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

 Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

 who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

 who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

 who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

So begins our next Psalm in our summer series. The Psalmist reminds us of so many ways our God is good to us. Let us honor and praise Him as we meditate on the words of Psalm 103. 

With Jesus as our Shepherd, every need we have is met through His loving care.

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading through Psalm 23, pondering all the implications of the Lord being our Shepherd.

The psalmist opens with words that ring familiar to the Aaronic blessing;

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." --Numbers 6:24-26

Continuing with a call for global praise; "Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!" --Psalm 67:3

One doesn't have to go far to encounter *all the peoples* praising and worshiping something else instead of God. Even us, at times, will attend church seeking other things instead of the worship of Jesus. Let us meditate on the words of this psalm, praying for our hearts to be in tune with this song of praise even while we wait on the world to join in. May our lives be given to helping others see God's worth and give to God alone all glory, honor and praise!

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalm 67

Why all this talk about poetry? Over the next 15 weeks we will be moving into a new sermon series on the Psalms, the poetry and songbook of the Bible. In this book you will find a wide variety of structure, subject, and emotions: Joy, triumph, peace, praise, worship, war, distress, judgment, and, lament, along with prophecy of the Messiah – Jesus!

Poetry is a style of writing, often using an economy of words and cadence and rhyming scheme. Poems put to music are what we call hymns and songs. Our understanding and application of this rich and meaningful book can give us words for our emotions and deepen our relationship with Jesus.  

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Psalms 1-2

“In the end, there is one basis of salvation; it isn’t mere verbal confession, not “spiritual works,” but knowing Jesus and being known by Him. It is our connection to Him — by the gift of faith that He gives to us — that secures our salvation. Connected to Jesus we are secure; without connection to Him all the miracles and great works prove nothing.” -David Guzak

We cannot base our citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven upon anything but Jesus--not anything we do or say or perform, no matter whose name we claim to serve—it is Only faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s work on our behalf by which we enter.

Let us take these words to heart, submit our lives to His Lordship, rely upon His all-sufficient Grace and seek Him as our only source of Life. In Christ alone are we secure.

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Matthew 7:21-23 with Paul’s words of assurance in Ephesians 2:4-10 and Romans 8:31-39

Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Galatians 5:13-26 with Matthew 7:15-20

The way to enter is narrow – it is only through Jesus. Let us seek to understand the implications this has for us in how we live and love others. Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Matthew 7:13-14 with John 10.

Prepare for this week's message by reading Matthew 7:7-12 with Hebrews 4:14-16

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Matthew 7:1-6 with 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Matthew 6:25:34 with Psalm 23

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Matthew 6:19-24 with 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Prepare for this week's message by downloading the [40 days Preparation Guide](https://www.gracecomm.org/40days), revewing Matthew 5-7, and reading Matt 6:16-18. 

Prepare for this week's message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special focus to 6:5-15

Prepare for this week's message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special focus to 6:1-4

Our natural bent is to desire the worst for our enemies, not the best for them. We like to see them as different from us and underserving of compassion, grace or help. Justice for you and grace for me is often the posture we take. But for a Christian, it must not be this way. Love for our enemies is foundational both to our understanding of the gospel and in our call to be like Jesus.  The Holy Spirit in us is our source and strength in loving others as Christ first loved us. May it be so, Lord, all for the praise honor and glory of Jesus!

To prepare for this week’s message think of an enemy and begin praying for them and for your own heart posture towards them. As you read Matthew 5-7, give special attention to 5:43-48

Prepare for this week's message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special focus to 5:38-42

In our Matthew passage, Jesus expands our understanding on what it means to be trustworthy in our speech and our actions. Ultimately our ability to behave honestly stems from our heart's trust in God's sovereignty, care and provision. 

Prepare for this week's message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special focus to 5:33-37

Remember, the purpose of the law is to show we are all guilty so that we remove any possibility of basing our relationship with God on our own righteousness or allowing our own failure to have the final say. Because of Jesus we need not shrink back from hard truths that reveal our sin, but instead draw near to His Throne of Grace, where we will always find Mercy and Grace to help us.

Prepare for this weeks message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special focus to 5:27-32

**Prepare for this week's message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special attention to 5:21-26**

“To show that he never meant to abrogate the law, our Lord Jesus has embodied all its commands in his own life. In his own person there was a nature which was perfectly conformed to the law of God; and as was his nature such was his life.”

This week’s passage begins a long discussion where Jesus explains many points of the law. His explanations drive us all to Him for our justification as we realize how much of it we have broken.  Remember, we are not made righteous by keeping the law, thanks be to God that Jesus offers us a different righteousness, one that He earned on our behalf through His perfect keeping and fulfilling of the Law and payment for our breaking it!

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special attention to 5:17-20

“The object of our shining is not that men may see how good we are, nor even see us at all, but that they may see grace in us and God in us, and cry, ‘What a Father these people must have.’” (Spurgeon)

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Matthew 5-7 giving special attention to 5:1-16

> The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:15-17)

Prepare for this week's message by reading through Matthew 5-7, giving special attention to 5:9-12

Jesus was completely righteous; He was perfectly merciful and pure in heart, that is, undivided in His devotion to the Father. Since our relationship with God is the source of these blessings, and this relationship is made possible through Jesus alone, let us make it the priority of our lives. To be truly satisfied, to receive mercy and to see the face of God far surpasses any temporal happiness available to us here on earth.

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading through Matthew 5-7, giving special focus on chapter 5, verses 6-8.

As you prepare for this week’s teaching, take some time to locate the context of Jesus’ sermon by reading an Introduction and background on the book of Matthew and skimming Matthew 1-5.

During this series, we encourage you to commit to reading (or listening) to Matthew chapters 5-7 daily (or at least weekly.) It will take you about 15 minutes and will greatly enhance your understanding and application of this important passage of scripture.

Use the Advent Guide to help you reflect on this week's message.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one & only Son,

who came from the Father, full of grace & truth.

Use the Advent Guide to help you reflect on this week's message.

When unexpected plot points enter into the storyline of our lives, the assurance of Jesus’ presence and promises equip and enable us to respond with faith and take practical action steps.

Use the Advent Guide to help you reflect on this week's message.

Use the Advent Guide to help you reflect on this week's message.  

Use the Advent Guide to help you reflect on this week's message.

This special session with Dr. Eric Moyer serves as a capstone to our identity series.

Prepare for this week’s message by reviewing Isaiah 58:6-9, Galatians 5:22-25, Ephesians 4:22-30, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Timothy 4:7-8 and 6:11-19, 1 Peter 1:13-21, and 2 Peter 1:3-8.

God's glory is a theme woven throughout scripture. Prepare for this week’s message by reading: Romans 15:5-6, 13, Ephesians 3:17-21, Philippians 4:19-20, Colossians 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:15-16, Hebrews 13:20-21, 2 Peter 3:18, Jude 24-25

 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37-39)

Prepare for this week’s message by thinking through the implications of these verses: Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:12-13, Colossians 3:12-14, 1 Peter 4:8, John 13:34-35

The hero of this story is Jesus whose life, death, and resurrection make us equal citizens of God’s kingdom. People from completely different backgrounds—like Paul, a former Jewish leader; Onesimus, a runaway slave; and Philemon, a Gentile slavemaster—are brought together by the gospel under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Jesus helps us when we have trouble forgiving or seeing others as equal members of God’s family. In light of God’s love for us, we can be loving, kind, and forgiving to our brothers and sisters in Christ for the glory of God.

The hero of this story is God, who used Priscilla & Aquila in the spread of the gospel and the strengthening of the early church. By supporting Paul and teaching Apollos, – two prominent ministers for Christ - Priscilla & Aquila’s faithfulness was used by God to impact many. 

We might think the things we do to help Jesus and His church are too small to count. Every time we teach someone about Jesus, share our home or give help to another Christian, we help God’s kingdom grow. Jesus takes our acts of love and multiplies them for His glory and the growth of His people. 

The Hero of this story is Jesus who met Nicodemus where he was at, challenging him to embrace the truth of Jesus identity and Nicodemus’ only source of righteousness and rescue. Although Jesus gave Nicodemus everything he needed to believe and be reborn, it took Nicodemus time to understand and be willing to commit to Jesus in a public way. Jesus helped Nicodemus when Nicodemus was afraid for people to know he was Jesus’ friend. 

Our own intellect is inadequate to lead us to Faith in Jesus and active obedience in following Him and sometimes it takes us time to fully grasp His character and His worth. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to show us our need and to understand His sufficiency in meeting that need. Jesus’ keeps His promise to be found by all those who seek Him and to save all those who call on His name.

The hero of this story is God who “delivered Mary from the dominion of darkness and transferred her into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14) Jesus called to Mary by name, opening her eyes to His presence, turning her sorry into Joy and giving her the job of telling all the others about His resurrection.

We have the same Savior who calls to each of us by name and offers us His rescue and turns our sorrow into Joy! We get to share the same message that Mary did all those years ago. We get to share the hope and joy of the Gospel to everyone!

Timothy was tasked with leading the church in Ephesus and Paul’s letter to Timothy gives us a glimpse of what he was dealing with in carrying out that duty. Paul councils him to be diligent to watch your life and doctrine closely, to be courageous in your commitment to the Gospel of Jesus,  to flee from the love of money and pursue contentment, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. (1 Timothy 4:15, 2 Timothy 1&2)

The Hero of this story is God who through his faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit gave Timothy power to carry out his leadership. Through his time serving alongside Paul and Paul’s pastoral letters of encouragement, Jesus gave Timothy training, fellowship and support.

We need help and courage to commit to the Gospel of Jesus, fulfilling whatever duty Jesus has placed before us.  Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit, the Bible, Pastors, and fellow believers to help us watch our own lives and doctrines closely, pursuing contentment, righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

The hero of this story is God, who miraculously protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the king’s wrath and punishment of death by fiery furnace. God had been with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, giving them wisdom and courage as they navigated life in Babylon’s culture and false religion. 

It is challenging to trust God and worship Him only when we are surrounded by a culture who neither acknowledges God nor honors our commitment to Him. We may never face such brutal consequences for our loyalty to God, but like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's we need Jesus to help us cultivate wisdom in navigating our current culture and to grow our trust in and love for Him. Jesus is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy! To Him be all glory! (Jude 24-25)

The hero of this story is God who cared about a pagan, violent people enough to send one of His prophets to call them to repentance. God also cared for Jonah personally, pursuing him when he ran away, providing rescue in his disobedience and softening to his hardened heart. God forgave the wicked Ninevites when they repented and met with Jonah in his anger about it to inform his perspective.

We too struggle with anger over God's mercy on others and justice towards us. We need God's pursuit of our hearts and perspective in our attitudes. Jesus helps us obey especially when what He's asking of us seems unreasonable and unjust. He gives us His salvation and His Holy Spirit when we repent and turn to Him. He softens our hearts towards others as we grow in knowledge of His character and priorities.

The hero of this story is God who gives both sight and blindness, protection and power and answers the prayers of His servant Elisha. The reality of God's work in this world exists whether we can see it or not! Like Elisha's servant, we often can see the danger or trouble surrounding us, but are unaware of God's protection, deliverance, and presence surrounding us too. We need God to open our eyes so that we can have our perspectives aligned with what is real beyond what we can physically see. Jesus helps us recognize God's power and presence in our lives, enabling us to trust Him with the challenges we face.

The hero of this story is God who was faithful and kind to Gideon and merciful to the people who had turned away from Him.  God's instructions, plan, and action proved that it was God who gained the victory and God alone who deserved the glory. God relates to Gideon personally, assuring him that they are not abandoned and that God is still in fact with them. God gives Gideon confidence to obey these hard tasks through many reassurances of His power and presence.

We can wonder if God is really with us, especially when we just aren’t seeing evidence of His presence. Standing for Jesus can be difficult as we face rejection from those who would rather worship other gods. God is so kind to reassure us of His presence and power with us, giving us confidence to follow Him and to help others to do the same.

It can be hard to use the gifts God has given us to honor God, and it can be hard to love God above all things – especially when He gives us so many good things! God is gracious to help us with our own divided hearts. He helps us to seek Him first and to grow to love Him more.

It can be hard to do what God wants when others don’t understand. God is faithful to defend us and equip us to face rejection. God always shows up and we can trust Him.   

The Hero of this story is God who protected His special promise to Abraham and Sarah when their fear got them into trouble. There is no perfectly faithful human, only a perfectly faithful God. God has the power to do the impossible, nothing is beyond His ability to accomplish and He always keeps His promises! This is the foundation and source of our hope!

It can be hard to trust God when we are waiting on a promise. God is faithful to keep all His promises and to intervene when we are going the wrong way. He helps us to trust, enables us to wait, and meets us in our fears and doubts. 

Join us this week as we uncover truths about our Amazing God through these varied stories.

Be encouraged with us by Jesus’ personal, specific, and restorative action and conversation with His closest friends. Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 21:1-25 with Luke 5:1-11 & John 18:15-27.

Grow in your own understanding of the resurrection of Christ and prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 20.

The manner and certainty of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection are essential components to the Christian faith. John’s motive for writing is so that we will believe and the details he includes in this chapter lead us there. Oh what a Savior!

“Many a crown has been secured by blood, and so is this, but it is his own blood; many a throne has been established by suffering, and so is this, but he himself bears the pain.” – Spurgeon

Prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 19.

Prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 18.

Prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 17.

Marvel with us at Jesus’ words as you prepare for this week’s message by reading John chapter 16.

As you prepare for this week’s teaching by reading John 15:1-27, bring these questions into your study and join us on Sunday as we seek to understand the answers.

Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 14:15-31 

Prepare for this week’s message by reflecting on the events in John 13 and how Jesus is loving people well.

We see this playing out in John 12 – Even after all the evidence Jesus has given regarding who He is and why He came, many do not believe and many who do believe are afraid to confess their faith.  And yet, Jesus doesn’t walk away, but continues to respond with the truth that no one need stay in darkness because Light has come!

Join us Sunday as we study these words in John 12:37-50

Grow in understanding Jesus’ identity and what it means to follow him with us on Sunday as we study John 12:12-36  

In Luke 10:39, we see Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet to learn from Him. In John 11:32, we witness Mary falling at Jesus’ feet in grief and being led to surrender. Here we see Mary anointing Jesus’ feet to exalt Him. 

Join us Sunday as we study this section of John that marks the beginning of Jesus’ last days before the cross. Prepare for this week’s message by reading John 12:1-10.

Jesus’ response to both sisters and to Lazarus reveals a God who both weeps with compassion and is angry about death and the suffering it brings. He is a God who responds individually and personally. He is the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Jesus will live, even though he dies.

  Do you believe this?

 Take your why to Jesus – He comforts like no other.

To prepare for this week’s message read and reflect upon John chapter 11

This begins another conversation with Jesus explaining that He has told them plainly and that those who are ‘His sheep’ listen, follow, and cannot ever be snatched away from His hand. 

The Jews understand Jesus’ direct claim to be God and determine to execute judgement upon Him for blasphemy. If Jesus wasn’t who He claimed to be, their judgement would be just. But Jesus is who He claims to be.

To prepare for this week’s message read and reflect upon John 10:22-42

Let us open our hearts to the Light of the World this Sunday through our study of John’s gospel. Prepare for the message by reading John chapter 9.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

The pharisees could not see Who was standing before them, not because the Light of Jesus had failed to shine but because they were blind. We too must determine how we will respond to who Jesus actually is rather than who we assume Him to be. 

Join us this week as we study Jesus’ testimony recorded for us John 8:12-59.

Join us Sunday as we pick back up in our study of the Gospel of John. We will hear Jesus’ teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the most popular festivals of the Jewish year. At this feast, the priests would pour out water in memory of the water that God brought out of the rock when the people were wandering through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. It is here at this feast that Jesus invites anyone who is thirsty to come to Him and drink. He is helping the people understand who He is as their promised Messiah so that they will believe in Him and receive from Him life and satisfaction!

Jesus sees the crowds, He knows what they are after, and because of His great love and mercy intentionally leads them beyond the temporal and into the eternal. The feeding of the 5,000 with a small boys lunch is only a small portion of the bigger picture John is walking us through. Just as we’ve seen in the previous passages, step by step, with actions and then with words, Jesus leads the people to see who He is – God in the flesh, the promised Messiah, here to do His Father’s will. As He speaks to the heart of things, many find His teachings to be too hard and walk away. 

It is true, Jesus teachings are hard, and we too face the choice to follow or turn away. Let us believe and confidently trust Him as who He really is – the Holy One of God, our Savior, our Lord. He alone has the words of eternal life. He is our only hope. He is worthy of our allegiance.

The problem was, Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath-a day set apart for worship and rest, a day to refrain from work, so the Jews were angry with him for breaking God’s law. Here we see God in the flesh revealing a lot to us about who He is with both His actions and His words. Let’s seek to rightly handle God’s word, the Bible and take to heart the warnings and the encouragements given so that we experience life as God intended. 

 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” - Jesus- John 5:39

 Prepare for this week’s message by taking in the whole scene of the event recorded in John 5:1-46

The next thing John records for us is Jesus' open demonstration

of His just anger at those who were corrupting God's house of worship with

their greed and oppression. Jesus reveals a love and concern for God's people

in their worship of Him.

As He travels throughout the region, Jesus begins to call men to follow him. These men will become Jesus’ disciples, they will know Him intimately and join Him in His ministry and mission.

Out of the super-abundance of God’s grace and truth, we have received grace upon grace, favor upon favor, gift heaped upon gift in the person and work of Jesus Christ!

Prepare for this week’s message by reading through and meditating on John 1:1-18.

Prepare for this week’s message by reading Luke 2:8-14 with Psalm 16:11, John 15:9-17, 1 Peter 3-9

Join us this advent season as we learn what it means to have ourselves a “Merry Little Christmas” We'll begin our Advent Series this Sunday November, 26th, focusing on The Reason for the Season!

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Abraham’s life?

Read Genesis 12. What promise did God make to Abram? How old was Abram? What kind of faith would it take to do what Abram did?

Why did Abram lie to Pharoah about his relationship with Sarai? What does this show us about Abram?

Read Genesis 15. In this chapter, God made a covenant with Abram, and promised him a male heir. What do we read about faith in Genesis 15:6? Why is this significant? What is symbolic about the ceremony that takes place in this chapter? What does this reveal about the Covenant God makes with Abram?

Read Genesis 16. Abram and Sarai grew impatient and took matters into their own hands. What happened? What were the consequences of Abram having son with Hagar?

Read Genesis 18:1-15. God fulfilled his promise to Abram and sent messengers to let him know. What did the messengers say? How did Abram and Sarai respond?

Read Genesis 21:1-20. What happened when Isaac is born? How were Hagar and Ishmael treated? How did God respond to their situation?

Read Genesis 22:1-19. What did God command Abraham to do? Why do you think God asked Abraham to do this? Read the story carefully. How would you have felt?

What level of faith would it require for Abraham to do what God called him to do? What did Abraham think God was going to do? (See Hebrews 11:17-19.) How did God respond to Abraham’s faith? How did this incident change Abraham?

What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged

you? What did you learn about the God’s character through the study of Jacob’s life.

2. Read Genesis 25:19-34. What were the circumstances surrounding Jacob and Esau’s birth?

What is the significance of their names?

3. What did Jacob get his brother to do? Why was was the birthright so important?

4. Read Genesis 27. This is a tragic account of deception, favoritism, and broken relationships.

What did Rebekah do to help Jacob? How did Esau react when he discovered he had lost his

birthright?

5. How would you describe Jacob’s character at this point in the narrative?

6. Read Genesis 29:1-30:22. Who deceived Jacob in this section of the story? Under what

circumstances did Jacob marry Rachel and Leah?

7. What was the relationship like between Jacob, Rachel, and Leah? Why were children so

important? How did the names Leah gave her children change as she had more children?

8. Read Genesis 32:1-21. Why is Esau chasing Jacob? What is Jacob preparing to do?

9. Read Genesis 32:22-32. With whom was Jacob wrestling with? What is the outcome of the

struggle? How was Jacob marked by this encounter?

10. What is the significance of Jacob’s name being changed to Israel? What does Israel mean?

11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Joseph’s life.

Read Genesis 37. What do you notice about Israel’s family dynamics in this chapter? What did Joseph dream about? Why did his family resent his dreams? 

What did his brothers do to him? What do you think Joseph might be feeling during this time?

Read Genesis 39-41. Why did Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household? What temptation did he face? What did he say when he was tempted? (See Gen 39:8-10)

How did Joseph display integrity in the face of adversity in chapter 39?

What happened to Joseph in prison? How does his ability to interpret dreams get him out of prison? How old was Joseph when he was put in charge of Egypt? How did he respond to the impending drought?

Read Genesis 42-47. How did Joseph get his brothers to bring whole family down to Egypt? Why was it so hard to get all of his brothers and father to come?

What happened when Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. How did they respond? How did Joseph respond? (See Gen 45:1-15)

Read Genesis 50:15-21. After Israel died, why were Joseph’s brothers afraid of him? What did Joseph say to reassure them? What do Joseph’s words reveal about his understanding of God’s sovereignty even in difficulty?

What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message? 

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Moses’ life?

2. Read Exodus 1. How did the dynamics shift between the time of Joseph to the time of the current Pharoah in this passage? What was Pharoah’s wicked plan for getting rid of the Hebrews?

3. Read Exodus 2. What were the circumstances that Moses was born into? What huge risk did his mother and sister take? How can you see God’s orchestration of events in this chapter?

4. How did Moses respond to the mistreatment of the Hebrew by the Egyptian? Why did he flee?

5. Read Exodus 3. Describe Moses’ encounter with God through the burning bush. How would you have reacted if you were in Moses’ place? What did God say to Moses? What was Moses’ response to God?

6. Read Exodus 7-11. In these chapters, God used Moses to confront Pharoah and demand that Pharoah let the Israelites go. How did Pharoah respond throughout the 10 plagues God sent?

7. What was the significance of the night of Passover? What is the connection with Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross?

8. Read Exodus 32. God made Covenant with the Israelites and gave them His law. He provided the law through Moses and gave him the instructions for the Tabernacle. What were the people doing while Moses was gone? How did Moses intercede with God for the Israelites? What happened when Moses came down the mountain?

9. Read Numbers 21:4-8. What happened in this passage? This is one of several places where the Israelites grumbled against God and Moses. How did God respond to their grumbling in this passage?

10. Read Deuteronomy 34. Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of his actions in Numbers 20:1-13. What happened in this chapter? How was Moses described in these verses?

11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Deborah’s life?

2. Read Judges 4:1-3. What is the situation at the beginning of this chapter? How does this reflect the larger state of the nation of Israel in the book of Judges?

3. What people are introduced in these verses? Why did the people cry out to God?

4. Read Judges 4:4-12. How did God use Deborah in these verses? What was unique about Deborah? What was Barak’s response to God’s command spoken through Deborah?

5. Both sides gathered their forces for battle. Where does the battle take place?

6. Read Judges 4:14-24. What happened in the battle between Barak and Sisera? Where did Sisera run to escape Barak’s army? How does Jael greet him?

7. How did Jael take care of Sisera? How did this fulfill what Deborah said? Why was Jael an unlikely hero?

8. Read Judges 4:14-24. Judges chapter 5 is a poem about the events of chapter 4. What details does this chapter provide about Deborah? What details does this chapter provide about the battle? What details does this chapter provide about God?

9. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Ruth?

Read Ruth Chapter 1. What was the situation at the beginning of the book of Ruth? Who were the main characters? What happened to the main character?

How do you see God working in Naomi and Ruth’s friendship? How did Ruth express her commitment to Naomi and Naomi’s God? (See Ruth 1:16-18)

Read Ruth Chapter 2. What does the writer of Ruth tell us about Boaz in this chapter? What examples of his character does the reader get from this text?

How did God move in this chapter? What examples of God’s providential care are in this chapter?

Read Ruth Chapter 3. What did Naomi tell Ruth to do in this chapter? Why was this a dangerous plan? How did Boaz respond to Ruth?

What did Boaz commit to doing for Ruth? What did it mean to redeem Ruth? What stood in Boaz’s way?

Read Ruth Chapter 4. What happened in the chapter? What was the result of Boaz redeeming Ruth.

What do we learn about the child of Boaz and Ruth? Why is the genealogy in Ruth 4:16-22 important?

What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

forgiveness.

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged

you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of David?

2. Read 1 Samuel 16. What happened to Saul that caused Samuel to anoint a new king? What

does verse seven reveal about how God chose David? Why is the heart more important than

the appearance?

3. What is David’s role in Saul’s palace? How is David described in verse 18?

4. Read 1 Samuel 17. What is happened in this chapter? Why wouldn’t anyone fight Goliath?

What was at stake for the Israelite and Philistine armies? What was the reward for the solider

that defeated Goliath?

5. What was David’s motivation in fighting Goliath? What was David’s confidence?

6. Read 2 Samuel 5. After many years of running from Saul, David eventually becomes King of a

united Israel. What did David do shortly after becoming King?

7. Read 2 Samuel 6. Why is moving the Ark of the Covenant important? How did this show

David’s heart for God? How did David celebrate as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into

Jerusalem?

8. Read 2 Samuel 11-12. Describe the events in chapter 11. What choices did David make?

What choices did Uriah make? What did God tell David through Nathan? What consequences

did David’s actions have for his family?

9. Read Psalm 51. This Psalm is about David’s experiences related to Bathsheba. Describe

David’s prayer in this Psalm. What did he ask for? What did he want from God?

10. Read Psalm 63. This Psalm shows David’s desire to know God intimately and personally. How

did he describe his longing for God? How did he describe God’s love? (See verse 3.)

11. David is described as a man after God’s own heart. After hearing about his life, how can such

a description be true? What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart? What would it

look like for you to be person after God’s own heart?

12. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged

you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Elijah?

2. Read 1 Kings 17. Who was King Ahab? (See 1 Kings 16:29-33.) What does the author reveal

about Elijah in this chapter? What is revealed about God and His character?

3. How did Elijah interact with the widow and her son? How did God take care of His prophet and

His people?

4. Read 1 Kings 18. Describe the confrontations in this chapter. Look at verse 21. What was the

issue that Elijah raised to the people of Israel? Is this an issue that still exists for followers of

God?

5. How did the conflict between Elijah and the prophets of Baal go? What did God do to show

Himself as greater than Baal? What happened to the people of Israel and the prophets of

Baal?

6. Read 1 Kings 19. What is surprising about Elijah’s behavior after his confrontation with the

prophets of Baal? What did Elijah ask God to do? What was God’s response? How did God

care for Elijah until he is rested?

7. Describe the conversation between God and Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9-18. What would it have

been like to be Elijah? How did God reassure Elijah?

8. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Esther?

2. Read Esther Chapters 1-2. Who are the main people in these chapters? What happened between King Xerxes and Queen Vashti? What do we learn about Esther and Mordecai?

3. How do you see God working in these chapters?

4. Read Esther Chapters 3-5. How did Haman respond to Mordecai’s refusal to bow? How did this lead to the threat against all the Israelites?

5. Read Esther 4:12-16. What does Mordecai’s statement reveal about the character of God? What did Mordecai say about God orchestration of Esther’s position as queen? What did Esther say in response?

6. Read Esther 6-7. What happened in these chapters? What unexpected twists did Esther, Mordecai, and Haman experience? Did these things happen by coincidence?

7. How do you see God’s orchestration in these chapters?

8. Read Esther 8-10. How does the book of Esther conclude? Was this the way you thought it would turn out?

9. On a scale of 1-10, how much to you believe that God is working in the details of your life? Explain your answer.

10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Mary?

2. What details do you know about Mary’s life? Which details seem the most important to you?

3. Read Luke 1:26-38. What details did Luke include about Mary in these verses? What do you notice most about Mary in her encounter with Gabriel? What does the angel say about God?

4. What did the angel Gabriel say about Jesus and the role that Mary would play in His birth? How did Mary respond to the angel? What did this reveal about her faith?

5. Read Luke 1:39-45. Why did it make sense for Mary to visit Elizabeth? How did Elizabeth’s baby (John the Baptist) respond to Mary? How did the Holy Spirit work in these verses?

6. Why did Elizabeth call Mary blessed? How did Elizabeth refer to Mary’s baby?

7. Read Luke 1:46-56. What can we learn about Mary’s faith from her prayer? What do we learn about the character of God in this prayer?

8. Mary described God’s faithfulness and His provision for His people. How can an understanding of the unchanging character and faithfulness of God anchor a person’s trust in Him?

9. What would it look like for you to trust God the way Mary did? How is her faith and example to us?

10. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Main Point: God uses our failures to grow us when we respond in love and trust.

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of Peter?

What details do you know about Peter’s life? Which details seem the most important to you?

Read John 1:40-42. What happened in these verses? What is significant about Jesus giving Simon the new name Peter?

Read Luke 5:1-11. What do you learn about Jesus and Peter from these verses? What was Jesus doing when he told Simon to let down his nets? Why was Simon reluctant to let down his nets?

How did Jesus get Simon’s attention through this miracle? What was Simon’s reaction? What did Jesus call Simon to do?

Read Matthew 14:22-33. Describe the setting of this section of scripture? How did the men feel when they saw a man walking towards them on the water? What did Jesus say, and how did Peter respond?

What was Jesus’ response to Peter’s lack of faith? How did the people aboard the boat respond to Jesus? What does this account show us about Jesus and faith?

Read Matthew 16:13-27. How did the people describe Jesus? How did Peter describe Jesus? What is the significance of this moment?

Why did Peter try to rebuke Jesus? What was Jesus’ response? What does this tell us about Peter’s understanding of Jesus’ plan at that time?

Read Luke 22:31-34. What is the context of these verses? What did Jesus tell Simon about his future? Why was this both difficult and hopeful?

Read Luke 22:54-62. What happened in these verses? Why would Peter deny Jesus? What happened when Peter saw Jesus?

Read John 21:1-19. How is this account similar to Peter’s first call to be a disciple in Luke 5:1-11? How did Peter respond to seeing Jesus? What did Jesus ask Peter?

How can you see God’s grace at work in this passage? Think of a time when you have sinned and felt like God could never forgive you. How does this account give you hope in God’s amazing grace and forgiveness?

Read Acts 2:1-47. What role did Peter play in the early church and at the day of Pentecost? How did God use him on that day?

What things did you learn about Jesus through the life of Peter? Jesus called Peter and calls each one of us to follow Him. How can you answer that call in your life today?

What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of John?

What details do you know about John’s life? Which details seem the most important to you?

Read Mark 3:13-19. What name did Jesus give to James and John? What does it reveal about their personalities when they started following Jesus?

Read Mark 10:35-45. What did James and John ask Jesus for? What was his response? What did the cup and baptism represent? How would James and John share in these things?

Why were the other disciples angry with James and John? How did Jesus use this conflict to teach His disciples about the nature of servant leadership?

Read Luke 9:51-56. How did the Jews and the Samaritans get along? How was this relationship reflected in James and John’s words? Why did Jesus rebuke them?

Read Acts 8:14-17. How did things come full circle for John and the Samaritans? How is this a demonstration of the power of the Gospel?

Read 1 John 3:16-18 and 4:7-12. What did John say about love in these passages? What connections did John make between being loved by God and loving others? How should the love of God shape our love for others?

What similarities do you see in Jesus’ teaching and the writings of John? (See John 13:34-35 and John 15:9-17)

What things did you learn about God through the life of John? How has God challenged you to love Him and the people around you more through this message?

What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Main Point: God is mighty to save and graceful to pursue.

Questions:

1. What impacted you from this message? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of Paul?

2. What details do you know about Paul’s life? Which details seem the most important to you?

3. Read Philippians 3:5-6. How did Paul describe his religious background? Which things was he born into, and which things did he pursue? How could have Paul’s background created a barrier to following Jesus?

4. Read Acts 7:54-8:3. What was Saul’s role at the Stephen’s stoning. What happened after Stephen was martyred? Describe Saul’s persecution of the early church?

5. Read Acts 9:1-22. What was Saul doing at the beginning of this passage? How did the Lord get his attention? What did Jesus say to Saul? What would you have felt if you were in Saul’s place?

6. What was Ananias’ response to being told to pray for Saul? What did the Lord tell Ananias about Saul? After his conversion, what did Paul do? What did the people say about him?

7. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul was called to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul would suffer for the Jesus. Describe the sufferings Paul listed in these verses?

8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. In these verses Paul described the Gospel message and how it impacted him. How would you describe the Gospel from these verses? What impact did it have on Paul?

9. Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17. How did Paul describe himself in these verses? How did God’s grace change him? How do these verses give us hope that anyone can trust in Jesus and experience his grace?

10. Read Philippians 3:7-10. This is the continuation of the verses you read above. What did Paul desire above all else? Why is knowing God so important?

11. What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of spiritual growth?

What does it mean that Christians are a missional community? Have you experienced church that way? What are some of the barriers to living life together in community?

Read John 17:20-23. What is the context of these verses? Who is Jesus praying for? What is his prayer?

Why does Jesus stress the importance of unity in his prayer? How is Christian unity a witness to the world?

Read Acts 2:42-47. What do you notice about the community in these verses? What did they focus on when they gathered? Why were these elements central to Christian gatherings?

In addition to meeting for worship, how often did these Christians meet? What does this suggest about the importance of being together for a Christian community?

Read Hebrews 10:23-25. What words stick out to you in this passage? What are Christians commanded to do in these verses?

Why is Christian regular fellowship so important? What role does encouragement play in Christian gatherings? What do Christians miss by not doing life together?

What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of spiritual growth?

2. What do you remember from last week? What does it mean, “What we behold we become”?

3. How are love and trust related? Can you have one without the other? How is believing that God loves you related to your ability to trust God’s transforming work in your life?

4. Read Colossians 3:1-11. What words and ideas stick out to you in these verses? How do these verses relate to spiritual growth and transformation?

5. Read Colossians 3:1-4. What does Paul mean that Christians have been “raised with Christ”? What does he mean that Christians have “died”? How does being saved change the heart and mind’s orientation?

6. How does a Christian progressively change the orientation of the heart and the mind from earthly things to things above?

7. Read Colossians 3:5-11. What practices does Paul list as being part of the earthly nature? What reason does he give for putting these things to death?

8. What differences are there between the new self and the old self? What is the defining quality of the new self?

9. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What role does Scripture play in spiritual transformation? How important is meditating on Scripture to spiritual transformation?

10. Read Psalm 1:1-3. How does the Psalmist describe the person who meditates on God’s word. What impact does it have on that person? How do you meditate on the Scripture?

11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Questions:

What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? How did the message impact your understanding of spiritual growth?

What things have helped you grow in Christlikeness during different seasons of your life? What things are helping you become more like Jesus now?

Read Romans 8:28-30. What words and ideas stick out to you in these verses? What is the purpose of God saving people? What does it mean to be “conformed to the image of his Son”?

The Apostle Paul is describing a process of becoming like Jesus. This is often called the process of sanctification. What does it look like to become more like Jesus? What is necessary for that transformation to happen?

Read 2 Corinthians 3:18. Take this verse word-by-word. What words do you have questions about? What is Paul communicating?

The word “transformed” is important to this verse. What does it mean? What does “being transformed into his image” mean in the life of a follower of Christ?

Read Romans 12:1-2. What does this verse tell us about living for God? How does what a person worships (what is most important to us) affect what that person becomes?

What do these verses tell us about being transformed? According to verse 2, how are we transformed? What does this process look like?

What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 

3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 

7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 

8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And him we cry, “Abba,Father.” 

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 

20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 

21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 

24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 

25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 

34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.