The Perks of a Loving Lifestyle

Mike Sullivan

1 John 3:11-24

Love is the distinguishing mark of the Christian, and this kind of love is exemplified by Jesus' death on the cross. It is supplied to us by God and manifested in concrete actions towards others. As we move towards actively loving people, God's Spirit supernaturally assures us of our new identity, gives us confidence in our prayers, and empowers us to serve more effectively.

School of Prayer

Jim Leffel

Luke 11:1-13

The habit of prayer is a window into our deepest beliefs; prayer reveals what we really think about the nature of God. Under that framework, we explore the who, what, and how of prayer.

Two Indicatives and Five Imperatives

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 10:19-31

After thoroughly explaining how the cross was more than sufficient, the author now moves on in his argument to results of the cross. These results benefit humanity immensely. People can now: 1) come to God in prayer with confidence, 2) have assurance of the future, 3) think of others before themselves, 4) fellowship with one another, and 5) give and receive encouragement. At the end of chapter 10, the author of Hebrews makes claims that at first glance seem contradictory to his previous arguments regarding grace. The end of the teaching addresses this problem passage.

Key Elements of Daily Private Prayer

Gary DeLashmutt

Matthew 6:6-13

It is important for all Christians to develop a personal, private spirituality with God, and Jesus models that kind of spirituality through the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer provides a valuable framework for private prayer while also emphasizing three important truths: 1) God is our loving Father and we are his children; 2) God is our rightful King and we are His servants; and 3) God is our Provider and we are dependent on Him daily. We as Christians can pray along these lines daily and as a result develop a deep personal relationship with God.

Meeting Up With God

Dennis McCallum

Psalms 86:1-17

Any relationship has two persons involved and involves interaction to some extent. Our relationship with God is one that we may be neglecting because we don't see him face to face, but it is by far the most intimate and complex one because He is our creator and we are made in His image. Some questions we can ask during our time spent talking and learning with God are: who are you talking to?; what is He like?; what has He done for you currently or in the past?; and what the answers mean for your life.

Foundations For A Legacy of Service

Jim Leffel

2 Timothy 1:1-7

As we reflect on living our lives for God, there are a few crucial elements that will help us to last the long-haul like the apostle Paul: 1) partnership; 2) restoring zeal; and 3) work of the Spirit. Paul reminds Timothy of their kindred bond serving God together and calls him to continue living zealously for the Lord, elements that will aid our spiritual lives as well.

Fight the Good Fight

Jim Leffel

1 Timothy 1:18-2:7

The Bible describes a "good fight" for followers of Christ to advance God's purposes in a broken world. The goal of this fight is to battle using truth and love. In order to be successful, the church needs to be committed to praying for others.

Laying the Foundations for Spiritual Renewal

Ryan Lowery

Nehemiah 2:1-18

For many Christians, the balance between using their minds to strategize and depending on God is difficult to find. Nehemiah is a great example of someone who was extremely strategic in reaching his goals, while at the same time remaining diligent in prayer. Ultimately, Christian workers need to learn how to take an honest look at spiritual goals and the barriers to their fulfillment, and be ready to take a step of faith.

Discovery Bible Studies

Curt Stearns

Pam Stearns

Luke 10:1-9

To understand how to use the Discovery Bible Study method with cultures and people of faith who don't know the God of the Bible, it is important to understand the principles behind Church Planting Movements. Church Planting Movements consist of these principles: 1) pray abundantly; 2) gain access to a community; 3) search for the person of peace; 4) Discovery Bible Studies; 5) obedience based discipleship; 5) develop leaders. Once you have prayed and found the person of peace you can begin the Discovery Bible Method.