Life Together

Chris Hearty
Galatians 6:1-9

To live life together with love in spiritual community with God's people, we must be willing to know and be known by other people. Real Christian community involves being honest about our battles over sin and temptation and gently helping others with their struggles with the same. Imagine what life would be like in a community where people were not boastful but humble, not competitive but willing to help restore people, not bearing just their burdens but each other's burdens and never giving up?

Joys and Pains in Paul's Relationships

Brian Runk
2 Timothy 4:9-22

As Paul is facing the end of his life in prison, he recounts those who have faithfully stuck by him in ministry and those who regretfully, have abandoned or rejected him and the ministry. In spite of the betrayals, Paul remains committed to being invested in people despite the risks and personal costs. He was able to do so because, "The Lord stood with (him) and strengthened (him)..." The love of Jesus sustained him in his effort to love people who sometimes grievously let him down. \r\n\r\nSome keys to his ability to keep loving others were his commitment to live without bitterness, his understanding of the fallenness of human nature, and his staying close to Jesus.

Arguing for Truth (Part 2)

Chris Hearty
Galatians 3:27-4:31

Galatians 3 and 4 form one of the Apostle Paul's greatest arguments for grace by faith in Christ. In Part 2 of this study, we round out the final three arguments Paul makes to show that legalism is incompatible with following Christ.

Arguing for Truth (Part 1)

Chris Hearty
Galatians 3:1-26

Galatians 3 and 4 form one of the Apostle Paul's greatest arguments for grace by faith in Christ. In Part 1 we will look at his first 3 of 6 arguments that he uses to defend the truth.

Galatians: Freedom Manifesto

Dennis McCallum
Galatians 1:1-12

The book of Galatians was Paul's counterattack against the legalists who were trying to ruin new groups in the region of Galatia. It explains the freedom Christians can enjoy if they seek to understand it.

Keeping Deep Connections

Jim Leffel
Romans 12:9-21

With hope and confidence, Romans 12 addresses a very similar situation that our world is confronted with today. The world is isolated and fragmented for different reasons today than it was in Paul's day but the solution is the same; build social bonds with genuine love and without hypocrisy. The Body of Christ is uniquely equipped to offer a powerful solution to the craziness of the present times.

The Deeper Problem

Mike Sullivan
James 4:1-10

The danger all Christians are susceptible to is being driven primarily by our sin nature. Although we were given a new spiritual nature, our sin nature did not go away at conversion. When we fall in love with the 'kosmos' we are operating in Satan's domain. His value system is designed to lure us away from God. When hearts are more in love with the world than we are in love with Jesus, we are giving in to our sin nature. James, in Chapter Four, explains the greater grace God has given us to combat the pleasures that wars within us. It begins with humbling our hearts and drawing near to a gracious God.

What's Wrong with Religion?

Dennis McCallum
Mark 12:38-44

Jesus' final confrontation with the religious leaders was the most furious one. What is Jesus so upset about that he resorts to name-calling?

Do Good People Go to Heaven?

James Rochford
Mark 10:13-31

What does it take to get to heaven? Jesus gives a surprising answer to a young man who asks him this very question, indicating that it's not what you do, but instead who you trust.