Growing Together

Jeff Gordon
Ephesians 4:1-16

As individual believers, we are God's masterpiece and are called to live a life worthy of the new calling we have received. This calling includes equipping other believers around us and speaking the truth in love. Speaking the truth in love is difficult today, because our culture disregards the reality of truth and the call for people to speak into our lives. But as God's witness and His messengers, we must work to develop churches and communities that do speak the truth in love, for which there are several practical steps.

The Need for Authentic Spiritual Growth and Christian Community

Jim Leffel
Ephesians 4:1-16

Christian community is essential to grow spiritually. The mark of a growing Christian involves deep love relationships. American individualism hinders this way of life as it prioritizes self above God and others. God's will for His church is to love Him and others by speaking into each others lives, being there to support one another and sharing His good news of forgiveness with those who don't know Him. Being involved in Christian community is necessary to grow spiritually.\r\n

Two Essential Convictions

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 11:7-29

Paul demonstrates to the Corinthians the importance of living to serve others and having a mind to suffer for Christ. As we live our Christian lives looking to meet others need, we can experience great peace and seeing God work through us in others lives. Christians who develop Paul's attitude toward the suffering in their lives are capable of experiencing deep spiritual transformation as their faith is increased as God works. As we suffer, we are able to see who God really is at a more profound level.

Timidity or Bold Love

Dennis McCallum
2 Timothy 1:6-10

Using your spiritual gifts or building a ministry is God's will for us but fear can get in the way of this goal. Fear holds us back from doing what God wants. It makes it very hard to take risks and ultimately leads to self-protection. God's will is that Christians overcome fear. Through faith and reliance on the Holy Spirit, a life of timidity can be transformed into a life of bold love. A life of power, love, and sound judgment can meet the needs of a dying world.

The Cross

Dennis McCallum
Mark 14:32-15:34

The most important event in human history occurred when Jesus Christ went to the cross. Jesus' crucifixion was the epitome of physical torment, and included being stripped naked and flogging. Not only that, but Jesus endured spiritual torment by taking on God's wrath to pay for humanity's sin. Jesus paid the certificate of death for all humanity in the greatest demonstration of sacrificial love. As Christians, the cross is a constant reminder of God's love for us and something we should thank God for regularly. For those who aren't Christians, making a decision about Jesus' work on the cross is the most important decision to make.

Difficult Conversations

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 7:2-11

Paul's message to the Corinthians highlights the important elements of having difficult conversations. The basis for these types of conversations is a committed, Christ-centered relationship that seeks the good of the other person. The content of the conversation is one of correction over condemnation, while valuing the personal identity of a person in Christ. With God at the center of people's lives, we can express confidence in people's ability to move towards Him. These types of conversations are outcome oriented, seeking to see people restored to God while remaining direct and without apology, standing on His truth.

Identification & Separation

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 6:1-18

Paul highlights the tension of Christians being engaged in the culture around them while remaining distinct. Christians that are committed to God's Will for their lives will stand out against the values and priorities of the culture. However, as they view how God sees other people, they are able to love those around them and show Christ's love authentically to all types of people. Radically identifying with people's interests while remaining distinct in our moral and spiritual priorities can help God shine through our lives into others who need Him.

Being Ambassadors

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Knowing God and what He did for us through Christ impacts our interactions with others. Convinced Christians see the importance of effective persuasion to help others see their personal need for Christ. This type of motivation comes from the love God and affects our view of others as we begin to understand the love God has for people. As a result, we see the urgency to play our role as trying to help people become reconciled to God through Jesus Christ as Christ's ambassadors.

Failure

Mike Woods
Matthew 26:14-75

When we encounter failure as we follow God, our response to failure is vital. Judas Iscariot and Peter are two examples of two radically different responses to failure. If we choose to despair after failure, we will encounter a loss of hope that God is committed to us. However, real repentance allows for closer fellowship with God, a deeper appreciation of His love, and an active pursuit to love others and learn from failure. God is committed to using failure in our lives for good.