Meditating on the Word of God
May 26, 2024 • Brian Offutt
What I need... What you need... What we need is the Word of God. Brian's 2024 List Psalm 119:11 Psalm 119: 105 Joshua 1:8 2 Timothy 3:16—17 Isaiah 40:8 Psalm 1 Psalm 23 Psalm 103:1—14 Isaiah 40:28—31 Psalm 37:4 Proverbs 3:5—6 Genesis 1:1 John 1:1—5 John 1:14;16 John 3:16 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Romans 4:25 Romans 6:23 Romans 10:9—10 Ephesians 2:8—9 Hebrews 10:14 2 Corinthians 5:21 Titus 3:4—7 Romans 8:1—2 1 John 2:1—2 James 5:11 2 Corinthians 5:17 Galatians 2:20 Romans 12:1—2 Romans 12:11 John 14:21 John 15:7 Philippians 4:6—7 1 John 1:3 Hebrews 10:24—25 Matthew 4:19 Romans 1:16—17 Romans 8:28 2 Corinthians 4:16—18 1 Peter 4:14 1 Corinthians 4:20 2 Peter 1:3 Proverbs 4:23 Ephesians 3:14—21 Romans 8:31—39
Growing In Silence & Solitude
April 28, 2024 • Brian Offutt • Luke 5:15–16, Mark 1:35
How would you describe your prayer life? Consistent? Inconsistent? Regular rhythms or a bit sporadic? Non-existent? If our prayer life is anything like mine, it probably has ups and downs. In other words, there are times (seasons) when our prayer life is “better” or “stronger,” and then there are times when it’s a bit more “anemic.” Our relationship with God can be described as “peaks” and “valleys.” Well, regardless of where you are in your current “walk,” we can certainly all grow in this area of developing a better prayer life. we will be talking about the connection between developing emotionally healthy spirituality and our prayer life. Ultimately, prayer is about spending time with God, spending time in His presence in order to be with Him, and being transformed by His presence.
Dealing With Fear and Anxiety
April 21, 2024 • Brian Offutt • Mark 4:35–41, Philippians 4:5–9, John 14:27, John 16:33, John 15:11
Fear, worry, and anxiety. Every one of us deals with it at some point in our lives. It is part of what makes us human. Is your heart troubled? Are you struggling with fear and anxiety? The words of Jesus are so important in dealing with anxiety. Jesus wants so much more for your life. “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41
The Cross As Victory
March 24, 2024 • Brian Offutt • Genesis 6:9, 3 John 4, Colossians 1:9–14, Colossians 2:6–15, Genesis 5:24
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:6-15
Repentance and Renewal
March 3, 2024 • Brian Offutt • Matthew 15:8, 1 John 1:8, Joel 2, Joel 1:1, Luke 15:17–18
The season of Lent is a 40-day period marked by repentance, prayer, fasting, and returning to the Lord. Lent is nothing more than a renewed focus on our discipleship and an invitation to turn away from our sins and toward the grace and mercy of Jesus.
A Wise Investment
February 25, 2024 • Brian Offutt • 1 Timothy 6:17–19
Giving is worship, our response to God. It’s important for us to keep in mind that when we give it is an act of worship on our part. In other words, giving represents our response to God for his boundless grace and generosity towards us and for what He has done for us. Giving glorifies and honors His abundant generosity and reflects it back toward Him as those who have been made in His likeness and image. If you think about it, giving makes a statement and ultimately says: “we aren’t afraid of lacking anything because God is our source of all things and we trust Him.” I love how King David summarizes this idea in 1 Chronicles when he says: “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” 1 Chronicles 29:12-14. I love that! He says… “we have given you only what comes from your hand.” Amen! Church, all that we have and all that we are belongs to God. Let’s give back to Him in such a way that honors and treasures Him above everything else in our lives!
Managing Our Money
February 11, 2024 • Brian Offutt • Matthew 6:19–20, Luke 12:13–19, Luke 12:34, Mark 4:8–9, Psalm 24:1
Unfortunately, we are often guilty of mismanaging God’s money simply because there are principles that we either get wrong or misunderstand. This message is to help us get a grip on important principles related to stewardship and God’s money.