Expanding the Threshold of Faith

Dennis McCallum

John 4:46-53

As we begin to follow God, He desires to deepen our faith and trust in Him. As we choose to believe His Word, we also receive inner revelation and ultimately an experience that allows us to deepen our trust as we live out of His Word. An active faith that is based on God's Word and backed up by action produces a more tested faith, enabling us to live more Christ-centered lives as we pursue Jesus.

2 Indicatives, 5 Imperatives

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 10:19-25

Since we have bold confidence and access to God and have Jesus as our high priest, we are freed to approach God sincerely, freed from a guilty conscience. We can also experience stability from God's grace as we anticipate our future inheritance with Christ. In the meantime, God calls us to play an active and loving role in others' lives, compromised of close fellowship and encouragement. These are commands that God has for our lives, which we should seriously consider.

Freedom in the Spirit

Jim Leffel

Galatians 5:1-15

God's design for spiritual growth begins with understanding the freedom Christians have in Christ. As we are led by the Holy Spirit, God allows us to see how to meet others needs through sacrificial love. This kind of living produces real joy and relational closeness with others, rooted out of God's grace. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to experience real moral change and go against our natural selfish tendencies that are shallow and empty.

Overcoming Spiritual Sloth

Gary DeLashmutt

Revelation 3:1-6

In Jesus' letter to the church in Sardis, he rebukes them for being spiritually asleep. They have relied on their reputation and stopped seeking to spread the message of Christ to people in need. Like this church, becoming spiritually complacent in our own life can be dangerous towards our effectiveness for Christ and personal growth. Luckily, Jesus gives a treatment plan for this struggle. He calls the church to wake up, repent, and embrace a life of faith expressing itself through love.

Home Church Multiplication and Spiritual Gifts

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Timothy 1:6-7

Spiritual gifts are given to members of the church to help build up and cultivate church growth. The primary context in which scripture emphasizes gifts is within a home church setting. Embracing a lifestyle of serving love will reveal personal gifting and should be the reason for using spiritual gifts. Scripture lays out principles we can follow when encouraging and spurring one another on to use their spiritual gifts.

Supporting Those Who Serve Others

Joel Comiskey

2 Timothy 1:6-7

Coaching home group leaders is one of the most important factors in establishing successful home groups. Quality coaching involves six principles: 1) helping people receive from God; 2) helping people be willing to make mistakes; 3) listening to people; 4) serving through encouragement; 5) serving by being a good friend; 6) serving by challenging. We're all works in progress and need coached to keep following God. Coaching is essential and makes a difference in the long haul of ministry.\r\n

All Christians Competent to Counsel

Amy Moreno

Exodus 34:6

There is a common myth that the problems people face are too much for God's community to counsel. As we look in the Bible we see many examples of how God works with people as the great counselor and we can follow His lead. There are four areas all members of God's community can grow in becoming affective counselors: listening, compassion, speaking the truth, and wisdom. It is also important to navigate when a person should seek professional help.

Community & Commitment

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 12:1

Radical commitment to Christ is the substance that attracts people to Him and grows people into maturity. To cultivate commitment in a group it takes creating environments for people to spiritually thrive. The most important element to cultivate commitment is maintaining passionate commitment to Christ in your own life. This is a process that at times calls for challenging conversations and radical dedication to the simplicity of devotion to Christ.

Be a Good Worker

Jeff Gordon

2 Timothy 2:15-26

God's grace empowers us to be good workers for the Lord. Those who work hard under God's grace take a stand on truth. Paul's audience does not live a life like this. They have instead drifted away from the truth and have shame-filled lives. Paul reminds them of the foundation of God's truth -- we were designed by God to know Him personally and are motivated by His love and commitment to us. With this core truth in mind, we can run away from sin and run toward righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.