What is the Church?

Jim Leffel
1 Corinthians 12:18

What is the church? There are many different answers to this question, but what does the Bible say? Jesus says the church is the body of believers, i.e., people who believe in God. The Bible says God created the church to be intensely relational and interdependent, and God has a place for you in it! Find out how you can be a part of the church that God created. A testimony by Julie is included.\r\n

Transformation

Jim Leffel
1 Corinthians 5:9-10

God calls His followers to be different than than the rest of the world. What does this look like? Paul says the first step is to worship God with our whole lives, then let Him change us from the inside out. God wants to change our minds and the way we think. This will result in changes in the way we act. However, he warns us that we have to make a choice: either we can live for the world system or we can live for God.\r\n

The Heart of Christian Community

Jim Leffel
Matthew 22:37-38

What does it mean to worship God? Is it a worship service or service of worship? There are radically differing answers to this question. What does the Bible say about it? Paul explains we should present our bodies as living and holy sacrifices. This is the way we should worship God. Find out what this looks like and how we can take steps toward this in our own lives.\r\n

Jesus Calls Disciples

Gary DeLashmutt
John 1:35-42

Jesus calls four men to follow him and be his disciples. Four principles of discipleship are discussed: 1) discipleship begins by making an informed decision to receive Jesus as Messiah; 2) discipleship involves living in community with other disciples; 3) discipleship involves embracing Jesus' call to influence others for him; and 4) discipleship means allowing Jesus to continually change our lives. It is important for disciples of Jesus to be continual learners. He can use anyone to impact the world as long as they are willing. Living this way brings much joy and satisfaction.\r\n

What is the Church?

Jim Leffel
Romans 12:3-10

God's church is not an institution but an organic community forged by real spiritual unity given by the Holy Spirit. Described as a body, the church is an interdependent community where each member is needed for the church to flourish and grow in love. As we step out in faith and look to meet the needs of others, God is able to be glorified in His church as the church reflects God's love within the church and outside it.

Christian Euphoria

Dennis McCallum
Ephesians 5

Within Christian community, we should enjoy fellowship through the Holy Spirit and refrain from drunkenness. We should also cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving, which allows us to appreciate God and what He's doing in our lives or the lives of others. Real living comes from Christ-centered relationships, seeing God move in people's lives, and refreshing times of fellowship.

Exchanging the Old Self For the New (Part 1)

Dennis McCallum
Ephesians 4

Once we place our faith in Christ, we have a completely new identity as God sees us as He sees Jesus. Our role is to believe and live in line with who God says we are. As God transforms our thinking, we can develop a great appreciation to be others-centered in Christian community and have the basis for radical forgiveness based on what Christ forgave us. God is capable of creating deep character transformation as we conform our lives to align with our new identity.

Life in the Body of Christ

Dennis McCallum
Ephesians 4

The purpose for the Body of Christ is to have individual members working together to grow in love in order to bring glory to God. When this happens, Christians are able to see spiritual growth in their lives, allowing them to discern truth versus false doctrine. As a result of the growing maturity and depth within the Body of Christ, sharing Christ's love becomes more and more crucial and new people are able to experience God's love.

Summing Up All Things in Christ (Part 1)

Dennis McCallum
Ephesians 2

Jesus Christ's death on the cross abolished the division between Jew and Gentile, who now were able to be equals in Christ. This "mystical union" was made possible through the Holy Spirit permanently indwelling all believers in Christ. As a result, Christians are able to have a deep unity with one another, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other cultural barriers because of Christ's work on the cross.