God's Intrusion into Human History

Dennis McCallum

Philippians 2:4-8

Jesus' birth was a miraculous event that God orchestrated by having him conceived through the virgin Mary. Mary's attitude towards God's plan is one of willingness and personal trust. Jesus' birth was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus' entrance into the world as God incarnate begins with him in a manger, essentially a feeding trough where he is rejected and excluded. This would be the first instance of many as Jesus' life was a portrayal of humanity's rejection of God. Despite all the suffering, rejection and pain, Jesus' birth signifies God's desire to have people come to know Him personally through the cross.

Life and Death

Scott Risley

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Paul explores life and death and how our view of death influences how we live our lives. Jesus has conquered death and provided us a sure afterlife. Video testimony by Wayne Talarzyk included.

Paul on Trial

Dennis McCallum

Acts 23:1-26:32

Over the course of nearly two years, Paul undergoes different trials while in Rome. He encounters the Sanhedrin, the Governor Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. In each trial, Paul takes the opportunity to share the gospel in his defense. Ultimately, he is set free from jail after two years of frustration and little to no visible fruit borne. However, it looks different today as it stands as a reminder to endure for the sake of the Gospel. The responses from the Sanhedrin, Felix, and Agrippa are very common still today: not considering the truth claims of the gospel, waiting to make a decision until later, or nearly being persuaded but never making a decision.

Speaking About Jesus

Gary DeLashmutt

Colossians 4:2-6

Paul instructs the Colossians on how to effectively tell others about Jesus. His three imperatives include: 1) be prayerful; 2) be wise; and 3) be gracious. When Christians are prayerful, they realize that sharing ones faith begins by talking with God and that He opens up opportunities to speak with others about Jesus. Being wise entails learning to listen and effectively witness in various situations. Lastly, being gracious involves loving speech and communicating respect and acceptance in light of different beliefs and behaviors. Keeping these three things in mind will allow us to effectively communicate about Jesus in an attractive and genuine way with those who don't know God.

How the Gospel Spreads to Others

Tom Dixon

Colossians 4:2-6

Paul gives instructions to the Colossians about how to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. The focus of Paul's instruction is that God is the one who opens up opportunities to share the gospel, as evidenced through the New Testament writings. The other focus of Paul is proclaiming the gospel clearly. We can give greater clarity through using God's Word, sharing our personal experience of coming to know Jesus Christ, and practicing with fellow Christians.

The Fiery Furnace

Jeff Gordon

Daniel 3:1-30

King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue and demanded that all bow down in worship to it or be thrown into a fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down. The Lord met them in the furnace and rescued them. This story teaches us to act now when presented with God's truth and to be unapologetic for our faith in God. As we are faithful to Him, the Lord meets us where we are and rescues us.\r\n

Destructive Desires

Tom Dixon

Colossians 3:5-11

Paul continues to teach about the path to spiritual maturity to the Colossian church. The key in this process is to "put off" the old desires that don't align with our new identity in Christ and pursue or "put on" the new self that we have in Christ. These old desires inhibit our ability to live in accordance with who we are in Christ, and include self-centeredness in areas including our sexuality, speech, and general relationships with one another. This teaching includes an extensive excerpt from C.S. Lewis' book "The Great Divorce".

The Key to Spiritual Transformation

Gary DeLashmutt

Colossians 3:1-4

Paul instructs the Colossians about what it means to grow mature in their relationship with Christ. The key to spiritual transformation for Christians is to make their identity in Christ the mental focus and greatest treasure. There are many ways to help foster this, through building gospel-centered friendships, sitting under God's Word and reminding ourselves of the truths that come from the gospel. Focusing on our new identity in Christ motivates us to freely and joyfully love others.

Three Pseudo-Spiritualities

Tom Dixon

Colossians 2:16-23

Paul warns the Colossians against three false spiritualities that will move them away from the hope of the gospel. The first is ritualism, where Christians do external acts of service to God without dealing with the internal heart attitude towards Him in order to gain closeness with God. The second is mysticism, a type of of focus on intuition and feelings that become more trustworthy than God's Word. Lastly, there is moralism, the sense of focusing on strict obedience to morals, while neglecting what God desires, like love or compassion towards others. Each of these false ways of relating to God can hinder our ability to stand firm in the gospel.