Know Your Enemy

Chris Hearty

1 Peter 5:8-11

Satan's greatest deception is making people believe he does not exist. Peter calls believers to know our enemy, the devil. Being sober and alert, we resist through faith and endure through fellowship. Jesus defeated him and the fear of death at the cross. We know we, who are in Christ Jesus, already have victory over the evil one.

Humility or Anxiety

Chris Hearty

1 Peter 5:5-7

There are some who say the underlying cause of all sin is pride. The opposite of pride is humility. Without humility, we develop anxiety. Peter tells us to clothe ourselves with humility because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. God gives us the choice between keeping our pride (and anxiety) or receiving grace and having God carry the anxious burden for us. Jesus took upon Himself the ultimate burden for us on the cross.

True Freedom

Gary DeLashmutt

John 8:31-36

Babylon the Great

Gary DeLashmutt

Revelation 18

Babylon the Great is the ultimate expression of human empires that defy God's rule. It seduces governments and businesses thorough the allure of material wealth. It seduces individuals by turning good things into idols that corrupt and enslave. As believers, we are not citizens of this world system and so should not get caught up in arguing the relative value of different political systems but instead should make the ongoing decision to resist the seductive influence of Babylon the Great.

Giving Out without Giving Up

James Rochford

Galatians 6:1-9

Giving out sacrificially of yourself without giving up involves carrying your own everyday load but also helping someone carry their extra heavy burden. It also includes sharing in supporting those who teach the word of God. You will share in reaping eternal life for those who hear the teaching and respond to the Gospel. God promises those who do not give up will reap a harvest at the proper time.

Biblical Provisions for Handling Anxiety

Ben Foust

Philippians 4:4-9

The Bible acknowledges that anxiety is a part of the human experience. It also does not condemn all forms of anxiety. It is good to have concern or care for others. Pride and trying to control things that cannot be controlled drives much of our anxiety. The Bible does offer provisions for combatting the undesirable forms of anxiety. We cannot choose our circumstances or our feelings, but we can choose our attitude about them. We can humbly acknowledge God's sovereignty and prayerfully tell God about our fears, give thanks for his promises, and ask for what we need.

The Church at Laodicea

Mike Sullivan

Revelation 3:14-22

The church at Laodicea was not being rebuked for being wealthy, but for having an attitude of not needing anything due to their great wealth. When in fact they were spiritually destitute. Everything they had was from God, but they did not see that. The had become proud and forgot who really provided for them. In the US, we are the wealthiest country that has ever been. Instead of trying to become less wealthy, we should change our beliefs about wealth. The promise of wealth that it can meet our deepest needs is false. Jesus says to change our minds about wealth's false promises and in stead zealously believe Jesus' true promises to meeting our deepest needs beyond what we can imagine.

True Freedom

Gary DeLashmutt

John 8:36

True freedom ? where can we find it? A comparison and contrast of the secular and Biblical views of freedom. Whichever view we embrace will have tremendous consequences for ourselves, our children, and our society.\r\n

The Story of Jacob

Gary DeLashmutt

Genesis 25-33

An insightful overview of the first half of Jacob's life. God promised that He would provide for Jacob's major needs, but he struggled and schemed through his own means rather than trust Him. After resisting God his whole life, Jacob was finally broken of his self-sufficiency when he wrestled with God and surrendered. We all struggle with God ? by deeply mistrusting His goodness and by determining to control our own lives ? will we surrender to Him or not?