Four Insights Into the Gospel

Gary DeLashmutt
Colossians 1:1-8

Paul gives four insights into the Gospel. The Gospel is a definitive announcement. It declares that Jesus is the Christ. It offers the grace of God. Finally, God spreads the Gospel through people who have ben changed by it.

I Want to be Different

James Rochford
1 Peter 1:13-22

Change begins in the mind but does not end there. Many people desire to be different but allow mental lethargy and fleeting thoughts to derail them. Peter says to prepare your minds for action, be holy or unique, like God is holy. To be holy is to love one another fervently from the heart.

Girding Our Minds for Action

Dennis McCallum
1 Peter 1:10-22

Because of the multiple gifts God has given believers and the secret plan of God now revealed, gird your minds for action! We have a mission! Do you go for a self-serving lifestyle or do you go a different way where you refuse to conform to the world system? Learn about true, self-giving love by beginning with God's love.

A Different Way to Live

Scott Risley
1 Peter 1:10-22

Sometimes Christians try to stand out and be different from the world but they end up being weird. Since one becomes a new creation upon salvation, Christians should be different in a good way. because we live during a unique era, we are headed for a unique destination, our God is totally unique and we have been given a unique identifier: love. God is love. What impression will we leave?

What's So Great about Christianity?

James Rochford
1 Peter 1:1-12

Everything in this life is perishable, defiled, and fading away. But we rejoice because we have obtained an inheritance that is eternal, imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away. We can endure trials and suffering in this life because we have a salvation that results in us having praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Christ. We never have to doubt God's love for us. Our slate has been wiped clean and our place in eternity is secure. God will heap such rewards on us that we can't fathom the magnitude of what we are going to experience in that day.

Walking with Christ

Jim Leffel
Colossians 2:1-7

The continuity of grace is a process that God has us on as we walk with Jesus. This process involves us responding to what God has done for us, by receiving from him and being rooted in him, being strengthened by interwoven lives, and having complete confidence through understanding of his mysterious plan in Christ.

The Secret of Contentment

James Rochford
Philippians 4:10-13

Most people assume good circumstances equals contentment, bad circumstances equals discontent, but Paul tells us we can learn the secret of being content in all circumstances, whether good or bad. The way to contentment involves giving voluntarily to others, receiving from others, making love an ongoing lifestyle, and finding confidence in and from Christ. Paul really, truly believed that Jesus would always love him, never leave him, and will continue to empower him.

Judging Others

Ryan Lowery
Matthew 7:1-29

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells people not to judge, or else they will be judged. Since the word "judge" has different meanings, we need to understand he's referring to a condemning judgement that should be left to God. In the rest of the passage, Jesus addresses the importance of putting our efforts toward that which is effective and toward those who are responsive, and that our motivation should always be love.

The Good News of Christ

Jim Leffel
Colossians 1:1-8

Paul was grateful for the Colossian church for the way they were bearing fruit after hearing and understanding the gospel. They embraced a living hope that was at that time unimaginable to the Greek culture. Their faith, hope and love resonated with spiritual seekers. This living hope changed them and knit them together in community that was attractive to their neighbors.