Genuine Faith

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 13:5-8

Paul challenges the Corinthians to examine the genuineness of their faith. Biblical faith is rooted in objective reality based on God's revealed truth and is also deeply personal. Faith is also a position of held belief to what is actually true, based on evidence and reason. As people invite God into their lives through Jesus Christ and begin to walk by faith, they can experience a deep sense of connection and a transformed view of others. Biblical faith is the catalyst for real character transformation and for vibrant Christian community.

Living Generously

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 8:7-21

God's grace revealed through Jesus Christ provides a basis for being generous. Some keys to be living generously include: 1) being intentional about giving generously; 2) being faithful to what you've decided to give; 3) be proportional with your giving to a sacrificial degree; and 4) be zealous. Since we are accountable to God with His resources, we should be excited to be a part of God's eternal purposes and should aim to be above reproach in our handling of His money.

God's Spiritual "Pattern"

Gary DeLashmutt
1 Kings 17:1-16

As God trains and prepares Elijah to fulfill a crucial role, He works through a specific, four-part pattern: 1) command, 2) promise, 3) faith, and 4) fulfillment. As we see this pattern play out in Elijah's life, we will learn that God uses the same pattern when relating to us in the modern era. We can look to God's Word to see His commands and promises, and as we act in faith on the things He says to be true, we come to see that He is worthy of our trust. By this pattern, God pursues His purpose for us, just as He did with Elijah, and by this pattern, we will recognize God's unique involvement in each of our lives.

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.

Adequacy

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6

Paul shows that the basis of Christian's adequacy comes solely from God. Christians are competent and adequate through God to serve in the new ministry of grace by the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit. This sense of God-given adequacy allows others to sense God's presence in our lives and provides us with assurance to serve Him and others based on God's stamp of approval through His Son. As we live this way, the sincerity of what God has done in our lives is made more evident.

Spiritual Confidence

Jim Leffel
2 Corinthians 1:12-16

Paul speaks to the Corinthians about spiritual confidence. Spiritual confidence is based out of God's love, His power, and His grace. When we develop spiritual confidence based on who God says we are, we can experience freedom in serving Him firstly and develop outward focus in our other key relationships. As we are faithful to God's message, our consciences can strengthen and reflect the confidence we have through our relationship with God.

Walking on Water

Dennis McCallum
Mark 6:45-52

Jesus' walking on water demonstrates the impact of where our focus is. Peter and the disciples were so terrified of the storms and waves that they took their focus off Jesus, something that is common for Christians today. Turning back to focus our attention on Jesus allows us to acknowledge our problems, but not make them the focus of our lives. Developing a vertical perspective will prevent us from concentrating on the problems and things we don't have in this life.

Jesus' Response to Faith

Dennis McCallum
Mark 5:21-6:6

Throughout multiple encounters, Jesus gives insight into how people respond to faith. Biblical faith is not about the amount, but where the object of the faith is placed. Jesus specifically responded to people who understood their helplessness before him. At the same time, Jesus holds people accountable to respond to him in faith and is eager to demonstrate grace and God's power as people act out of their faith.

The New Worship & Our Money

Gary DeLashmutt
Hebrews 13:5-6

The new worship involves having a new perspective on money. Believers need to reject materialism's empty promises that lead to disastrous decisions. Believers also need to embrace and pursue God's purpose for life and cultivate enjoyment of the good things God gives, whether physical, intellectual, aesthetic, or relational. Finally, believers need to practice consistent and spontaneous generosity, which protects us and gives us excitement for eternity.