Loving Our Cities

Randy Chestnut

Jeremiah 29:7

God makes, grows, and uses cities, and He has a purpose for them. The more we understand this purpose and begin to see His heart for the city, the more we will have a heart for our city. We can make the choice to love where God has placed us, and there are many ways we can build relationships with the people of our community and be a blessing to them. We have to show that we are a church with the community, not only in it and for it.

Overloaded - Prioritizing Love in a Fast-Paced Culture

Brian Adams

Luke 10:38-42

Like Martha, we can oftentimes allow our busyness to short-circuit our love but it doesn't have to be that way. We can overcome this by: 1) spending regular time with God, 2) managing our time well, and 3) dealing with pressures and anxiety. As we do, we will be refreshed and will become more effective, even if we have less time.

Speaking the Truth in Love

Ben Foust

Acts 20:17-38

The love of Christ should have a transformative effect in every area of our life, including how we speak. We are called to speak the truth in love to one another. Most people don't realize the power they have in their words, but when we speak truth in love it can give grace, inspire vision, and change lives!

Three Directions of God's Love - Up, In and Out

Rod Dempsey

Ephesians 1:23

The three directions of God's love include the great commandment, the new commandment, and the great commission. That is to love God, to love others as yourself, and to create disciples. It is with these three directions that the church best functions as a body. If a high percentage of the body of Christ is doing these three things, it will be healthy.

The Paradox of Love in Justice

Pat Reeder

Ephesians 1:23

In our culture today, there is a paradox of God's love and justice. ?How could a loving God send people to hell?? is a familiar question we are confronted with. It leads one to question God's love and the true nature of hell. The key to unlocking this paradox is not to change the definition of God's love or the nature of hell, but to understand that our culture has: 1) completely given up on the concept of sin, and 2) has a clumsy concept of justice.

Portraits of Love - Scriptural Stories of Hospitality

Rich Mendola

2 Kings 4:8-17

Hospitality is a major way of showing love to outsiders or strangers, something that God calls us to do. Not only is hospitality commanded but it is also illustrated throughout Scripture, especially through two passages examined in this workshop. Abraham offered hospitality to the messengers who were sent by God as did the Shunammite woman toward the prophet Elisha. Through these examples, we see practical ways of showing hospitality which can be applied to our hospitable efforts in our own cities.

How to Keep Loving in Difficult Relationships

Bev DeLashmutt

2 Timothy 2:24-26

Christ's call for us to love another as he has loved us is not exclusive. He calls us to love even very difficult people, and to do that effectively, we need to bear several things in mind. First we need to gain insight into the lies and sins of difficult people to avoid getting hooked into their relational patterns. We must ensure our motive in responding to people is in line with Christ's love. And finally, we must implement strategies to effectively give both compassion and discipline simultaneously. With these things and the abundant help of the Spirit, we can love in a way that, even if it does not change the other person, it will change us.

Taking the Measure of New Testament Love

Dennis McCallum

Acts 2:42-47

The New Testament teaches believers to love one another, but how much love should we give is sometimes confusing. By looking at insights that are emphasized in the New Testament, we can see how much love one should give. These sources show that one should love in a way that is: 1) visible to non-Christian observers, 2) growing a sense of belonging in community, 3) building significant trust, and 4) committed to each other's character development.

Ministry Houses - Building Loving Communties

Kate Mizelle

1 Corinthians 9:26

Many college-aged and young single people in Xenos choose to live in community with one another in ministry houses. These houses hold high standards and prioritize fellowship, discipleship, and spiritual growth. They also help facilitate an environment in which committed followers of Christ can prioritize a lifestyle of love as is described in the New Testament.