July 7, 2024 • Dan Hampton • Daniel 3, 1 Kings 19:1–18
GOD WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY | “Why wouldn’t God want me to be happy?” “If God is good, then He wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to me.” While this line of thinking might sound right at first, it is false. We are making an assumption about God that is never expressed to us anywhere in the Scripture. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Many times the prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus himself tell us that we will have “trouble” and “suffering” in this world. The devil uses this lie to create a barrier between us and the truth of God’s love. God is the good, good Father, creator of all things. Like a good parent, he allows us to experience the consequence of our sin through death and suffering. Feelings are emotions that God has given to us. Our feelings are not always right; sometimes, they are, but other times, they lead us down the wrong path. If our feelings define our reality, then hopelessness and despair will eventually ruin all our lives. But, through this pain, He is refining, molding, and shaping us to be closer followers of Jesus, who gives us faith, hope, and life.
Voices: Week 2
July 14, 2024 • Dan Hampton • Judges 2:6–15, Judges 17:6, John 18:38
JUST LIVE YOUR TRUTH | “What is truth?” (John 18:38) Our lives are defined by ‘truth’, and today, that seems harder and harder to identify. Everyone wants their own truth. Paul writes that in these last days people will turn and listen to whatever their itchy ears like to hear. God’s truth is not always popular, and it certainly isn’t the easiest to follow in our sinful world. In this session, we will analyze the “truths” that surround our everyday experiences and explore how we can share God’s ultimate truth with others.
Voices: Week 3
July 21, 2024 • Mike Dobsch • Joshua 9
YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE | Live and Let Die is an awesome song from Paul McCartney that reminds us of this common lie to live your life now. Carpe Diem, the Latin sentiment for “Seize the day,” while inspirational, can lead us to live in such a way that does not display the hope we have of eternal life. If all we are is crude matter, then sure, why not do whatever is going to be best for you in this life? But God calls us to live for a higher purpose to display His power and love to the world. This is why He originally chose the children of Israel so that all people on Earth might be directed to God, but they rebelled and lived life how they wanted to, just as we do today.
Voices: Week 4
July 28, 2024 • Dan Hampton • Matthew 7:24–27
THIS WORLD IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT | Classic inspirational poster material. Rise to the occasion and make a difference. While not wrong on their own, this line of thinking can become our god because we make ourselves to be gods. While it is true God has placed us in this time and place to make a difference, it is not for our glory, for God’s name to be proclaimed and worshiped above all things.
Voices: Week 5
August 4, 2024 • Dan Hampton • Exodus 3, Luke 7:36–50
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES | Poor Richard's Almanac was created by Benjamin Franklin in order for him to make a living. Inside each addition, he would include short ‘proverbs’ like this one. But it is not true. While the sentiment might flow out of the thought from our last study, we must understand that we cannot do anything on our own. It is only through the redemption of Jesus and the power of the Spirit that any of our works, prayers, or very lives mean anything. God is the only one who comes to empower, uplift, and sustain our faith for acts of service in His kingdom.
Voices: Week 6
August 11, 2024 • Dan Hampton • 1 Corinthians 5
THE CROSS IS NOT ABOUT WRATH | Jesus’ death on the cross is about redemption and atonement. But why do we need to be redeemed, what is atonement? Because of wrath! Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the debt that we had to God. Now we are free to live in faith. During this lesson, we will remember that Jesus’ death was because of our sins, not because of anything that Jesus did. The Father killed the son on account of your sin. “The wrath of God was satisfied” and we respond with thanks and praise.
