Love in Community: Setting Limits

Dennis McCallum

2 Corinthians 2:5-8

The cultural view of love and God's view of love are quite different. Our culture views love as an emotional connection while God views love as a choice to act for the benefit of someone else. God's love includes discipline which we do in order for the good of a brother or sister in Christ.

Spiritual Radicalism vs. Mediocrity

Dennis McCallum

Galatians 3:28

Paul gave up a comfortable lifestyle in order to serve God with his whole life and share God's love with other people. When we approach our relationship with God in an attitude of self interest we will often become lukewarm. God's love and truth is meant to be shared and when we go out and share this message, as Paul did, we can experience God powerfully working through us.

Applying the Wisdom of God: Egocentrism

Dennis McCallum

1 Corinthians 4:5

God's love is sacrificial and serving rather than a selfish emotional fulfillment. The things of this world are less important when we take on God's perspective and see that what truly matters is our eternal identity. When we view this world from God's perspective we are able to appraise things as they really are.

The Secret Wisdom of God

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 3:8-10

God encountered rebellion from Satan before the beginning of this world, and He set in place a plan to show His loving and gracious nature. In the Old Testament God predicted the coming of both a suffering servant and a messiah king. These two personas were pictures of Jesus sent as both a sacrifice for mankind and a conquering savior.

Two Elements of Spiritual Parenting

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

Paul explains two aspects of spiritual parenting: 1) prioritizing face to face relating; and 2) a willingness to be affected by another person's spiritual health. Technology is not a replacement for face-to-face relating. It actually can be a hindrance. We should prioritize face-to-face relating with our own children, in our own spiritual development, and in our efforts to impact others for Christ. Being affected by others' spiritual health is different than codependent relationships. Our identity is secure in Christ, not in another person.\r\n

Profile of a Spiritual Catalyst

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Thessalonians 2:1-13

Paul describes the profile of a spiritual catalyst: 1) they focus on God's grace; 2) they live to please God, not people; 3) they get personally involved being accessible, affectionate, empathetic, and vulnerable; and 4) they combine their example with challenges to others.\r\n

Profile of a Healthy Church

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul commends the Thessalonians for being a model church. This church exhibits 3 characteristics of a healthy church: 1) a work of faith (they believe in God and humbly receive His gift of grace); 2) steadfastness of hope (they have spiritual confidence even in life's storms); 3) labor of love (they actively share their faith with others). God wants each of us to have these traits individually and as a group.\r\n

Living in Real Spiritual Community

Dennis McCallum

Titus 3:10-11

The Corinthian church was plagued with many moral issues, but God was able to speak powerfully in Corinth. Paul called them to unity and to focus on the Gospel.

Impact on the World

Gary DeLashmutt

Matthew 5:13-16

Continuing the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus instructs his followers the kind of impact he wants them, and us, to have in the world. Using the analogies of salt and light, Jesus urges them to be involved but distinct, and have their lives reflect the love that they have found in Christ. Do our communities impact others in this way?