Temptation

Dennis McCallum
James 1:13-15

James warns on the temptations of the world and how we view them over God. Legitimate desires become lust when we look to them for meaning and happiness rather than God. When we view desires as solutions to our problems they become lusts and displace God. We have the option to admit our problems without blame-shifting, and to cling to God's Truth.

Gospel of Radical Grace

Jim Leffel
Mark 2:13-17

In Rome, tax collectors represented a system of extortion and betrayal, and were seen as sinners and outcasts. The Pharisees were correct in their moral assessment of tax extortion, but drew the wrong conclusion about Jesus spending time with them. Jesus demonstrates that the gospel of radical grace is both mercy to the undeserving and healing for the sick. Malia Bauer's testimony about her experience of God's healing and grace was included.

1 Kings: Coming Down from Mt. Carmel

Scott Risley
1 Kings 19

King Ahab's wife, Jezebel, is furious that Elijah executed Baal's prophets. She sends Elijah a death threat, so he flees, begging God to end his life of suffering and fear. Instead, God sends a raven with food and Elijah travels to Mount Sinai. The Lord pulls Elijah out of his spiritual depression by offering him rest, listening to his complaints, renewing his perspective, and continuing his mission.

Spiritual Breakdown

Dennis McCallum
Isaiah 28:21

Elijah faces hostilities from Jezebel after the victory over the followers of Baal. He retreats into the wilderness where God sustains him and leads him to a mountain where He reveals His plan for Elijah and the remaining followers of Baal. Even in the end, God extends His grace for those who never worshiped Baal and promises to save them from what is coming.

The New Heart

Jim Leffel
Luke 22:20

This passage takes a close-up look into the human heart and God's redemptive plan. These verses are vital for understanding God's Gospel plan; they are referenced in the New Testament 16 times. In Jeremiah, God introduces a new covenant that is different from the original covenant that he made with Moses and the Israelites. These two covenants are compared and contrasted. The old covenant had the external rules, a legal code that could be seen by all; the new covenant is an internal, a personal relationship with God. The old covenant was diagnostic; the new covenant is transformative. God desires regeneration, redemption, and reconciliation for the human condition.

(Re)Shaping the Future

Jim Leffel
1 Timothy 2:1-3

Jeremiah uses a parable that describes a potter working on a piece of clay. When something goes wrong with the clay, he crumbles it up and creates a new vessel. God is the potter, and Israel is the clay. There is something is wrong with Israel: they have continuously disobeyed God. God, as the sovereign creator, will enforce his covenant and judgment upon Israel and the nations. However, if the nation renounces its evil ways and turns back to God, then the Lord will not destroy the nation. This is a picture of God's grace, and its culmination is the cross of Christ. God wants to save people from their fate of destruction and values reconciliation with them. We need to turn back to God and agree with him regarding our standing before him as the perfect God. In this way, Israel mirrors our lives and who we are: broken people. God is offering complete transformation, into a new creation. Someone who has experienced God's transformation is Kelly Kline, and she gives her testimony on ways God has created her new. \r\n

The Good News

Gary DeLashmutt
Acts 3:12-26

Acts three demonstrates a continued pattern for spiritual renewal, or times where God works powerfully through His people to demonstrate the goodness of Jesus. The pattern is that Jesus' followers pray, Jesus acts, people question, the followers answer with the gospel of Christ, and people come to believe. So, what is this message Jesus' followers were sharing? We break down Peter's explanation of the Gospel as well as the proper and improper responses to this message.

Disputing with God

Jim Leffel
1 Corinthians 10:13

Jeremiah complains and accuses God because he is suffering. God responds to Jeremiah with assurance that He will restore him and protect him if Jeremiah simply chooses to return to God. God assures Jeremiah that God is his fortress; this is reminder for Jeremiah from earlier that He will make Jeremiah strong like walls. Walls are useless until tested; Jeremiah is now being tested through suffering. Jeremiah does end up choosing to return to the Lord in grace and he was restored to God's work

Return to the Lord

Jim Leffel
Jeremiah 3:11-4:2

The Israelites were living their own way and following idols. God offered a better solution. Four lessons were taught: 1) agree with God that you have turned away from Him and He will bless you with grace; 2) agree about who God is (He is the Lord and He is good) and He will give you clarity and wisdom; 3) name and critique your idols and He will give you healing; and 4) proclaim God's goodness and you will become a blessing.\r\n