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

The Servanthood Perspective

Dennis McCallum

Colossians 1-2

Like so many of us, the Colossians were tempted to drift away from the simple message of God's grace. Paul points out that God has appointed everyone in the church to service for God, which includes suffering on behalf of other people for the gospel. Christians have been given the responsibility of telling the lost world about Christ's free gift of salvation and leading them into following Christ with their whole life. This work is empowered by God and has the goal of encouraging, unifying people, and building understanding of Christ and what He has done for us.

Patriarchy or Serving Love

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 5

Throughout various religions and church history, there have been misrepresentations of marriage roles between men and women. Instead, God's design for roles within relationships is servant love, a commitment to the betterment of the other person. Growing Christians realize that trying to have control and power within relationships, in particular within marriage, isn't the key. Instead, developing love and humility to radically serve the other partner is the key. Biblical submissiveness for wives is a willingness to be served and led towards God by their husband as they ultimately submit to Christ's leadership.

Reasons to Change Your Life

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 5

The forgiveness we've received through Christ motivates us to lives of sacrificial love. Understanding God's grace compels us to live our lives free from damaging patterns including sexual immorality, poor use of speech, and greed. Instead, we can understand how to live as God designed us and demonstrate His truth in our lives and in our relationships. This allows for gradual movement from self-centered living to others-centered living.

Focus of Faith (Part 3)

Jim Leffel

Hebrews 13:10-16

The author of Hebrews stresses the fact that God was at work in the Old Testament through instituting a system of sacrifices that describe the human condition and prepare humanity for Christ. The author urges his audience not to fall into old ways of relating to God, but instead to see the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in Christ. Instead of offering literal sacrifices to God, Christians are instead called to follow God by choosing to give their whole lives for his purpose.

Effective Youth Evangelism

Joe Botti

Tom Dixon

Matthew 28:19-20

Fostering effective youth evangelism is important for many reasons. It produces spiritual growth, it helps young students with their own faith, and it is biblical. Some practical steps that leaders can take to foster evangelism amongst youth include: encouraging every and any attempt of faith being shared; becoming an example; teaching biblical principles of evangelism; giving personal advice; teaching how to build friendships; making sure that you have a meeting people want to come to; raising the tension levels when necessary; and creating prayer lists and prayer groups.

Hope for the Inner City, The Lawndale Story

Wayne Gordon

Matthew 22:36-40

The amazing story of what God is and has been doing in the inner city of Lawndale is nothing short of miraculous. We can learn many things from the story of this church and how to serve the inner city communities around us. Keys to starting a ministry in the inner city include: focusing on the positive things going on in the community; lifting up burdens in prayer; start by teaching what the church actually is; love your neighbor individually but love the neighborhood as the body of Christ.

Materialism and Indifference

John Perkins

Isaiah 61

John Perkins teaches on materialism in the context of trying to grow spiritually with too individualistic of a mindset. He expounds on what it means to participate in the love of Christ and how to be transformed into Christ's likeness within the context of fellowship. Citing Isaiah 61, he also imparts wisdom on the importance of intentionally serving the poor in order to reflect the kingdom of God.

Serving Love in the Body of Christ (Part 1)

Dennis McCallum

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

Just like other organizations, a body of Christ/church must have leadership. Though unlike worldly leaders, godly leaders are long-term servants of God who have been recognized as such (not ?made?). Leaders are called by God to serve, provide for the church's needs, protect the members, and supply direction/vision for the church. Leaders are to be involved deeply in peoples' lives; prayerful; and accountable to Scripture and to their co-leaders. The members of the body of Christ are called to live in peace with one another; this entails respecting the church's leaders, who work hard to serve the church.\r\n\r\n