From an Elder's Heart
The Walk and Talk of Christ
January 29, 2023 • Tim Safley • Luke 18:35–43, Luke 19:1–10
In the book of Luke, we see an account of two men who live vastly different lives and how Jesus intersects with them during an important time. We will discover the one thing that He wants us to know and how that one thing can change everything about how we live today. What should we know in order to live a life of purpose and meaning, to make an impact, and to leverage our influence with the gifts that God has given us to draw people toward him? We will find all of this reflected in the walk and talk of Christ.
Do You Not Know? God Is In Our Midst
January 22, 2023 • Rick Hove • Ezekiel 36:22–28, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Ten times in 1st Corinthians the apostle Paul resorts to the expression "Do you not know? ..." In other words, the Corinthians should have known better. We will look at two of these instances. The Corinthians had forgotten that God was in their midst, and we are no different: we tend to forget that, too, God's plan, however, has always been to be in the midst of his people, powerfully making things new.
Jesus: Humility Defined
January 15, 2023 • Jeff McArthur • Philippians 2:1–11
In his letter to the church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul reminds them that despite suffering and persecution they are to be encouraged through the power of the Spirit. Why? To humbly love one another through service and to be unified in one accord as they worship Jesus. It’s also here that we see one of the most vivid accounts of Jesus’ character as He defines humility while obeying the will of God the Father. Believing in Jesus changes everything - for us and the early church - and this week we’ll see how following Jesus may not be easy, but that the life spent worshiping Him in community is the chief way to bring glory to God.
Insights from Ezra & Nehemiah
January 8, 2023 • Doug Shackelford • Ezra, Nehemiah
Ezra and Nehemiah led God’s people when the problems were similar to ours—difficulty in trusting and obeying God, strife and division, and challenges from the prevailing culture. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah show how a Godly community arose following exile. We see God’s hand leading to miraculous reconstruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem. We watch an impoverished Jewish remnant grow in their faith as they face internal and external enemies. We gain a sense of the importance of Scriptures as God’s Word enables them to be holy and different.