Two Kinds of Failure

Jim Leffel

John 21:15-19

Both Judas and Peter fail in following Christ. Judas betrays Jesus for financial gain. He regrets his decision and takes his own life. Peter denies he knows Jesus but then acknowledges his failure and repents. After receiving forgiveness, Peter is commanded by Christ to lead His church. Peter understood that Christ's forgiveness extended to his failure and knew God could heal him. God's forgiveness and healing are also available to us when we experience failure.

Reaching the Rejects

Scott Risley

Luke 5:12-32

Jesus heals a leper and a paralyzed man. Then he calls Matthew, the tax collector, to follow him. \r\nThese miracles reveal Jesus has the ability to forgive sin and heal sickness.

Jesus Reaches Rejects

Conrad Hilario

Luke 5:12-32

Jesus shows mercy and love to the rejects of society including the leper, the paralyzed man, and the tax collector. The Pharisees, by contrast, tried to protect themselves from evil. Jesus was able to transform the rejects of society because they were humble rather than self-righteous and recognized their need for forgiveness. If we want to be Christ-like, we need to be prepared to go beyond what is comfortable in order to share our faith and love all people as Jesus did.

John the Baptist

Dennis McCallum

John 1:19-23

An analysis of the biblical and prophetic case for both John the Baptist and Jesus' mission. John the Baptist came ?in the spirit and power of Elijah? and prepared the way for the Lord, preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins. The scriptural case for John the Baptist being the Old Testament Elijah himself is analyzed and compared to the expectations of the time surrounding the second comings of Jesus and Elijah. The complex case for why the fulfillment of these prophecies was not clear until they occurred in history demonstrates the intricacy and brilliance of God's plan.

Answering the Call to Reformation

Josh Benadum

Haggai 1

Before true repentance and obedience to God's Word can come about, we have to hear God's Word, have our sin and unbelief exposed, and take time for honest and sincere reflection. Then we can continue to build our spiritual homes.

Acting on God's Will

Dennis McCallum

Haggai 1:1-2:23

The Jews were given permission by King Cyrus to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, but as they encountered opposition from the current governors, they became fearful and stopped their efforts. Haggai brought God's Word to them, they repented, God forgave them immediately. They were led by Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple in four years.

The Sojourner's Attitude Towards Sin

Bev DeLashmutt

Romans 8:23-24

The Christian's relationship with sin in this life can be confusing. This workshop seeks to clarify the biblical understanding of sin in order to have a biblical response. Scripture teaches that we are free from sin's power to condemn, define, blind, or enslave us. Still, we are not free from the battle of indwelling sin, something that God allows for several purposes. As we form a biblical perspective in this area, we can form habits of confessing and repenting of our own sin, as well as showing compassion to other sinners.

The Danger of Saying "No" to God

Chris Hearty

Exodus 17:1-7

Jesus is superior to Moses because of His deity and position as God's son, and the author of Hebrews exhorts his audience to hold firmly to the grace that Jesus offers instead of Old Testament rituals. He also warns believers of the dangers of a hardened heart through the example of the Israelites' refusal to enter the Promised Land. It is never too late to return to God and experience His grace.

Turning Toward God

Chris Hearty

Psalms 32:1-11

David's agonizing psalm portrays a godly picture of repentance. The stories of David's adultery with Bathsheba, his murder of Uriah, and confrontation with the prophet Nathan demonstrate his change of heart back to the Lord. David's failure and change of mind offer insights into what it looks like to truly agree with God about one's sin.