Respond to Worship

Hate Your Neighbor

July 14, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ There are always consequences for sin. It may seem like evil goes unpunished, but we know that God’s judgment will surely come. Until then “the sun rises on the evil and the good, and the Lord “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Jesus told us to “love our enemies” and to “pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:45-46). Who is the Lord asking you to pray for today? Pray for God’s mercy and justice to fall on the whole earth. ╬ Even if we know that the blood of the Lamb has washed our sins, daily we need to be washed in Christ’s righteousness again and again. Give thanks that Jesus forgives us. Ask God the Spirit to refresh your understanding of your need for his grace and mercy.

The Choices We Make

July 7, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ During times of trial and suffering it can be a great challenge to “wait on the Lord.” Ask the Lord to show you what is behind your propensity to run away from the trial and to rush forward into a solution of your own making. How does living by faith help you to wait on the Lord? ╬ Recall a time when you waited on the Lord well, when you trusted Him alone. Did service to others make its way into waiting well? Remember and give thanks. “Lord, I will trust you for today and for every tomorrow.”

The Promise of God's Great Love

June 30, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ In the Ten Commandments God declares that “You will have no other God’s before me.” Idolatry is a life and death choice that God’s people must still take seriously. Temptations to serve lesser loves assault us from every corner. What do you love and serve above the Living God—Father, Son and Spirit? Confess and be forgiven because of Jesus!

Why don't you act, God?

June 23, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ God is a faithful God. When have you been able to see God’s care for you in the rear view mirror? How has that helped you trust Him when other troubling times come your way? Tell another the story so that faith and trust can grow among us. ╬ It is easy to believe that some sins are insignificant while others are unforgivable. But we are reminded that “all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.” It is good to keep short accounts with the Lord. Daily, we are invited to come in humility, to confess our sins, and to find mercy and to receive forgiveness. What do you want to confess today?

In God's Due Time

June 16, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ Do you ever find yourself basing your security on being more righteous than someone else (like God’s people found security in being more righteous than the Babylonians)? Ask God to show you where you might be tempted in this way, and ask Him to help you to find your security instead in the salvation and righteousness that Jesus offers us. ╬ Habakkuk was burdened for God’s people and cried out to God. Is there a burden that God has placed on your heart? Consider sharing that burden with a brother or sister or small group, and commit to pray regularly for it. As we have seen in our text today, God can give us His eyes to see what is going on, and God hears all of our prayers.

Where are you, God?

June 9, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ When you are frustrated and afraid, who do you tell? When you are grieving injustice and have a deep sense that “it’s not supposed to be this way,” who do you tell? If you tell the “wrong person,” how satisfied do you feel? Do peace and trust come as a result? ╬ Spend some time in the Lament Psalms: Read through Psalm 5, 13, 64, 102. Also, read through Psalms of Declarative Praise: Psalm 8, 9, 32, 47, 48, 62, 103, 108. Both types of Psalms give voice to the heart and mind of God’s people. Cry out to God with your lament and with your praise. Both are to lead us into worship of the Living God.

10 Reasons: #10 Fulfilled Prophesies

June 2, 2024 • Phil Bremerman

╬ In what ways does the evidence of Fulfilled Prophecies bring you assurance and confidence in your faith? ╬ This summer, read again the Gospel accounts. Enter in with your imagination as Jesus invites you to walk with him. “Lord, show me your ways.”

10 Reasons: #9 Science

May 26, 2024 • Brad Strait

World Missions Sunday

May 19, 2024

╬ People today are still confused. Those gathered in Jerusalem were “Amazed and perplexed” and they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’” Honestly, we too are sometimes amazed and perplexed and wonder what God is doing in us and around us. However, when you have heard and seen and known God’s mercy and grace, you have a story to tell about the “wonders of God.” Ask God the Spirit to give you courage and to enable you to tell your story as he directs your path. Are you willing to tell your story? Who can you tell today? ╬ “Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine’” (Acts 2:13). Being mocked is no fun for any of us. But we have to ask ourselves if we are more attached to being loved by the world or whether our lives belong to Jesus. Paul wrote, “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). Ask God the Spirit to help you surrender increasingly more so that you also can complete the task the Lord has given you.

The Maternal Side of God the Father

May 12, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ Jesus’ longing to shelter his people “like a hen gathers her chicks” was a cry of disappointment. He goes on to say, “and you were not willing.” Who do you know who has been unwilling to be sheltered under the Lord’s love and care? Pray for them now. How are you yourself resisting God’s care and comfort? ╬ We thank God for the mothers who gave us life. They set us onto the path that we now walk. Each of our mothers has her own story to tell of joys and sorrows, of success and failure, of life and death. Ask God the Spirit to help you thank God for her, to forgive her, and to bless her journey with understanding and compassion. Can you lift her to the Father and pray, “She did the best she could”? Tell someone your own story.

10 Reasons: #7 Changed Lives, #8 Holy Spirit Encounters

May 5, 2024 • Wade Pursell

Conversation Starters ╬ How do you read the Bible? Is it like a novel with a gripping story or like non-fiction that gives good information to know? “Eating” the Bible involves a meditative, slow, submissive process with interest in both knowing more and, more importantly, becoming more. In the companionship of the Spirit, will you seek to increase your “becoming-more” reading of the Word? ╬ Who do you know who “walks in the counsel of the world, stands with sinners, or sits with scoffers”? Pray for them! May God the Spirit create in them a great hunger for God’s Word who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

10 Reasons: #6 Jesus Claims it is True, and Lives It

April 28, 2024 • Kirk Roberts

Conversation Starters ╬ Jesus is the Word that became flesh. How does Jesus’ incarnation, his life, death and resurrection give you reason to trust the Bible? ╬ Jesus is our teacher who gave us an example of a true servant leader. How did Jesus choose to be known as a leader? Consider Jesus’ leadership example from John 13-14 as you ask yourself, “What Would Jesus Do?”

10 Reasons: #4 Unified Message and #5 Archeology

Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ Do you think of the Bible as one great, cohesive message of salvation? Ask the Holy Spirit to draw you into this message, guiding you into all the truth. ╬ How does this unified message of salvation bring you encouragement and comfort?

10 Reasons: #3 Real People Accounts (Eyewitnesses & Women)

April 14, 2024 • Brad Strait

Conversation Starters ╬ Have you ever been called upon to testify to what you have seen, heard, or known to be true? What was that like? Did you wrestle with telling “the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”? ╬ When has your life been changed by an encounter with the Living Word, Jesus Christ? Tell someone these stories and celebrate God’s redemptive life in us.

10 Reasons Why Christians Trust the Bible

April 7, 2024

Conversation Starters ╬ God promised the Israelites, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Deut. 31:5, 8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). When have you wondered if God had abandoned you? What story can you tell of how God brought you back to Himself? Today, do you feel abandoned or forsaken or in need of clarity and hope? Tell God the Spirit that you are stuck. Ask Him to lead you into God’s truth. ╬ Do not despise God’s correcting Spirit. A radical openness to receive His Word will lead to life abundant and reconciliation with God and others. What scripture has the Lord used to teach, rebuke, correct or train you? When has your youth been renewed like the eagle’s by His steadfast love, faithfulness, and compassion? Tell stories of your encounter with the God of the Word.