Jacob: Broken by God

James Rochford

Genesis 27:41-33:4

Jacob was manipulative and self-reliant, rather than dependent on God. After 20 years of failing to meet his own needs, Jacob finally decides to surrender to God's love and care. Through this clinging to God, Jacob is blessed and reconciled to his brother.

Jacob's Life: From Defiance to Dependence

Conrad Hilario

Genesis 27:41-33:11

Jacob was a stubborn man who often outwitted others. He meets his match with his uncle Laban. Jacob ends up being humbled and he changes from being defiant to being dependent on God.

God's Calling

Joke Van Opstal

2 Timothy 1:9

Understanding and following God's calling for our lives can be a difficult experience. Scripture teaches that we are called by God and that each of our individual callings were all foreknown and predestined by our sovereign God. God has predestined each of us to be conformed to the likeness of Christ and called us to bring his presence into every aspect of our lives. As we focus on our own intimacy with Christ and address hindrances to our calling, we will begin finding ourselves in the center of God's will.

Enlarging your Heart through God's Word

Bev DeLashmutt

Psalms 119:32

Through the Psalmist we learn that while his condition is full of suffering, pain, and persecution he draws near to God through God's word. God wants to enlarge our hearts with His word. The outcome is determined by what we affirm, ask for, hope in, and obey. Pain, suffering, sin, and failure can shrink our hearts. A growing heart acknowledges circumstances but affirms God's truth. Live in the reality of pain and suffering but land on the reality of what God's word says about it.\r\n

Christian Confidence

James Rochford

Acts 3:1-4:31

In these chapters, we see a case study on Christian confidence through Peter and John's interactions with the governing officials about healing a lame man. Five keys to confidence we learn from their example are: 1) don't take credit; 2) defend your faith; 3) be filled with the Holy Spirit; 4) commit to do good; 5) pray.

Sacrifice - Die First!

Clive Calver

Genesis 22

Christians are called to a life of sacrifice and dying to self. Examples abound in the persecuted church all around the world - people who have learned to die to themselves and, as a result, have seen God move through them and work in miraculous ways. It is through our willingness to hand over our lives wholly to God that He is able to work His plans through us.

The "Me" Syndrome

Clive Calver

Genesis 22

It is common for Christians today to have a "me" focus. What is my role in my church? What do I get out of doing this? The appropriate view, however, is how God chooses to use us in His church. The Bible calls us to a life of obedience to Christ, not a life of self-focus.

Loving Real People - Lessons from 1 & 2 Corinthians

Kelsey Shannan

2 Corinthians 1-13

We need God's wisdom when it comes to loving other people. Paul instructs the Corinthians to open wide their hearts to one another and shows that he is willing to sacrifice for them and be completely vulnerable with them. He is also unafraid to bring up real issues in their lives, being realistic about the power of sin but confident in the power of God to change them. This kind of patient endurance with people requires prayerful discernment and dependence on God.

God's Sovereignty & Joy

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 1:12-18

God is sovereign over our adverse circumstances ? namely, He is able to advance His purpose and our good through them. Even while imprisoned, Paul experienced joy as he trusted in God's sovereignty in two areas: 1) the progress of the Gospel; 2) his personal welfare.