Responding to God

Conrad Hilario

Luke 1:1-38

Mary is presented as an example of faith as God reveals his plan to bring Jesus into the world through her. Three ways to respond to God's will are discussed: 1) resisting, 2) performing, and 3) being available to God. Mary recognizes her part and God's part and makes herself available to God while depending on Him to carry out His plan.

The Prologue

Dennis McCallum

Luke 1:1-38

An introduction to the Book of Luke, including its historical reliability and the case for Luke's authorship. When the angel Gabriel visits the virgin Mary to tell her she will bear the Messiah, Mary chooses to respond in faith and gratitude, despite the risk of legal prosecution and her husband's rejection of her testimony. Mary decides to present herself to God as a willing participant in his plan. This passage illustrates humans' ability and decision to willingly participate in God's Will for their lives or reject God's Will through refusal, failure to decide, or passivity.

Confronting Half-Heartedness

Conrad Hilario

Malachi 1:6-13

The priests were accepting sacrifices of blind, crippled, and diseased animals to place on God's altar. They didn't see that they were going through their priestly motions instead of worshipping God with all of their heart. They were self-deceived and did not see their sin until confronted with God's just anger.

Live with the End in View

Jim Leffel

Luke 12:35-40

Looking at three short parables in Luke 12, three main practices stand out as being critical to living in faith and hope in the time until Christ's return: 1.) Living in readiness to meet the King, taking part in the work of the Kingdom today; 2.) waiting patiently, but not idly; and 3.) being alert to the opportunities God brings for us, fighting distractions.

Eternity in the Thinking of Ancient Believers

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 11:39-40

Through examining Old Testament characters of faith, we get insight into their perspective on eternity. Through the life of Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses it is clear that they lived for a future with God in heaven. This hope propelled their faith through the circumstances in which they lived and God's commands for their life.

Three Perspectives on Eternity

Pat Reeder

John 13:1-37

Judas, Peter, and Jesus all show very different views on eternity, demonstrated in the conversation that takes place between them shortly before Jesus was to be betrayed. Judas held the perspective that this life is all there is, which both affected how he lived in this life and the next. Peter, zealous for Jesus, focused on the coming of the Messianic Kingdom and experienced spiritual breaking in this life, but reward and rest in the next. Finally, Jesus himself anticipated his future glory and thus lived his life in obedience to the Father, serving others sacrificially. As we examine our own perspectives on eternity, we should evaluate the lifestyle and results to which those views ultimately lead.

School of Prayer

Jim Leffel

Luke 11:1-13

The habit of prayer is a window into our deepest beliefs; prayer reveals what we really think about the nature of God. Under that framework, we explore the who, what, and how of prayer.

Run the Race

Scott Risley

Hebrews 12:1-13

The Old Testament men and women of faith were able to run the race set before them because their confidence in better things to come. Running the race means living a life of faith centered on God. When running the race we need to realize: this is a marathon?not a sprint; we are running alongside others with the same purpose; and each of our races are individualized. We are to: throw off every hindrance that slows us down; we are not to focus on our sin, circumstances, trials, etc.; and we are not to compare ourselves with those around us.

Moses' Faith

Conrad Hilario

Psalms 77:16-20

Moses was an Old Testament figure who demonstrated Biblical faith [Hebrews 11.1] throughout his whole life. Moses' parents valued God's approval rather than the approval of others, and Moses demonstrated the same faith by fearing God rather than Pharaoh during his time as leader of the Israelites. Moses also placed his trust in God when he led the Israelites through the Red Sea, an impossible situation to overcome if it were not for God's power.