Spiritual Maturity and Modeling

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 2:19-30

Timothy and Epaphroditus are godly models, whom Paul urges the Philippians (and us) to observe and follow, and to model to others in four specific features of godly character: 1) genuine concern for other Christians' spiritual welfare; 2) service in furthering the gospel; 3) serving with other teammates; 4) sacrifice to help other Christian workers and ministries.

Two Insights into Christian Unity

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 1:27-2:2

Paul urges his followers to devote themselves to community based on their shared basis of Christ. Paul identifies three key elements of Christian unity: 1) a common source of truth; 2) common outward focus; 3) common understanding of love.

A Life Lived with God

Ryan Lowery

John 17:14-21

True worship of God is not about ritual, but sacrificing our whole lives for God in response for what He did for at the cross. As we live our lives more in line with what God's will is, our thinking is able to be transformed and we are able to become more distinct amidst a culture that doesn't care about God's values. This teaching also uses an Ohio State University example to describe what people in our culture worship.

The Disciples Try to Do Some Ministry

Scott Risley

Luke 9:1-17

Jesus and the disciples feed 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. In the process, the disciples learn three important ministry lessons: 1) bring to Jesus what you have; 2) God works through weak people; 3) the feeders get extra food.

God's Empowerment

Conrad Hilario

John 6:26-27

Jesus gathers the twelve disciples and sends them to preach about the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Afterwards, Jesus and the disciples retreat to Bethsiada to talk about their experiences. However, a crowd of five thousand people follow Jesus, and instead of sending away the people, Jesus heals and teaches them. The disciples give Jesus the small meal they have to offer, and Jesus prays and multiples the food, enough for both the crowd and the twelve. The disciples learn how God can use them and how to have a horizontal perspective (focus on God) versus a vertical perspective (eyes on circumstance and situation).

What Is That to You?

Gary DeLashmutt

John 21:18-22

It is the natural tendency of man to measure himself by some standard, and when left to his own devices, that standard is usually other men. Jesus corrects Peter's comparison - Peter was comparing himself to the apostle John - by asking Peter "What is that to you?" Our ego-centrism leads us to move in a self-serving direction and to compare ourselves to the people around us. It is only when we take the focus off of ourselves and other people and place it on God that it will be possible for us to live in a manner that will glorify God.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Gary DeLashmutt

Matthew 16:13-19

The identity of Jesus is something that was called into question during the years of his ministry on this Earth as well as in our present day. Our response to Jesus' question "Who do you say that I am?," affects the trajectory of our life on this Earth and the next, in the same way that the apostles' responses affected their own lives. When we decide in faith to recognize Jesus as the son of God, we obtain four key privileges: membership in Christ's church, victory over death, helping others to faith in Jesus, and an unchanging basis of spiritual truth and ethics.

Who Should You Follow?

Scott Risley

Luke 6:36-49

In the Sermon on the Plain Jesus explains five differences between bad teachers and good teachers. Bad teachers: condemn rather than forgive, take rather than give, are blind rather than reliable, bear bad fruit rather than good, and ignore Jesus rather than obey him.

Do You Want to Go Away Also?

Gary DeLashmutt

John 6:51-59

Jesus speaks to a large following of people that formed in response to miracles that He had performed during His time in on this Earth, explaining to them the hardships that come with following Him. After a large group of people leave, Jesus calls the disciples attention to the fact that they too have the free will to leave or stay and follow Him despite the suffering that comes with that choice. As we follow Christ with our lives, we learn that in order to persevere we must: expect suffering, value quality over quantity (with respect to spiritual life and ministry), and encourage one another to develop our own freely chosen convictions.