Jesus walked away from toxic people and let them walk away from Him. We can learn to follow His example. INTRODUCTION For the first fifteen years of their marriage they served the church in two dramatically different ways. Both David and Ginny had gifts for ministry, loved people, and felt honored to serve the same…
The Books of the New Testament
Anyone who picks up the New Testament will find, if they give it a chance, that it is one of the most explosive books ever written. ~ N. T. Wright INTRODUCTION There is a massive difference between being familiar with something and understanding it. Having an acquaintance and building a deep friendship are radically different…
You Are the Girl for the Job: Let’s Quit
GROUP STUDY WELCOME NOTE FROM JESS (2 MINUTES) Leader, read Note from Jess aloud to the group. Friends! I am so excited to be with you, to grow with you, over the next six weeks. There’s no getting around it. I believe God is going to change each of us, change our lives, and change…
Truth Plus Joy
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible…
What Is Surrender Anyway?
I don’t know what you are facing today, but I know what it’s like to face circumstances that are out of your control. Life can be swirling around us, it can be overwhelming and hard. We long for peace over a situation, but we try to hold on tightly for control because we feel we…
Are You A Christian Atheist?
Watch the Trailer for The Christian Atheist “If you were to be put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Many believers have been challenged by this question. Do we know Christ well enough to walk in His footsteps? Perhaps the problem is that we believe in Him,…
How Happiness Happens: Accept One Another
It’s hard to know the best way to respond to people who represent your “opposite you.” Do you ignore them? Leave the room when they enter so you don’t say something you later will regret? Share a meal and discuss your differences? Dismiss your differences? How do you find and show acceptance toward someone when…
Guardrails: Direct and Protect
We’re all aware of the destructive consequences associated with poor decisions or lapses in judgment. We don’t plan to mess up. But it can easily happen if we try to navigate life without guardrails. It’s not enough to hope God will protect us. He doesn’t usually keep us from the consequences of decisions we make…
Some Things Are Worth The Fight
If you were to write a list of things worth fighting for, what would that list include? We fight for our job. The fight may be to keep our job, or to advance to the next level. We fight for our wife and children. We are sensitive to criticism and insults, but if someone tries…
The Birthplace of Disappointment
Welcome! Welcome to Session 1 of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. Opening Discussion How would you define disappointment? Watch Session One: The Birthplace of Disappointment The Birthplace of Disappointment (28 minutes) This Week’s Statement to Hold Onto: What would happen in our lives if we really lived in the absolute assurance of God’s love…