Becoming Who We Are (Part 2)

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 3:18-19

Paul adds inheritance and guaranteed to the profile of attributes for having an identity in Christ and discusses how these aspects give significance and security. He then prays that the Ephesian church will gain wisdom and understanding that is given through both objective and subjective revelation as we understand the attributes of our identity in Christ. The teaching concludes with examples of what it looks like to live out your identity in Christ verses when you don't.

Welcome One Another

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 15:7

All Christians are called to welcome one another. This includes welcoming people who have significant sociological differences. Welcoming does not mean passive acceptance or tolerance; and it does not mean snobbery or prejudice. To welcome means to actively and personally invite someone into your life. Welcoming one another is compelling evidence that Jesus is the living Lord. Christians can learn to welcome others by thanking God regularly for His undeserved welcome through Christ.\r\n

The Resurrection

Scott Risley

Matthew 28:1-15

The historical resurrection of Jesus after His Crucifixion is an exciting story that is non-negotiable. After two thousand years, no one has been able to discredit its authenticity. If, after all these years, no one can give a natural explanation of the recorded event, then the logical conclusion is a supernatural event occurred. The New Testament accounts of His resurrection were written so that people would believe Jesus is the Christ and by believing, have eternal life in His name.

Encourage One Another

Gary DeLashmutt

John 13:34-35

All Christians are commanded to regularly give and receive biblical encouragement. This "one another" command is foundational for three reasons: 1) it is the most used of the "one another" commands; 2) all of the other ?one another? commands work best within an encouraging relationship; and 3) experiencing Jesus' encouragement is central to biblical Christianity. To become an effective encourager you must commit to have regular face to face meetings with the other person and also think carefully and prayerfully about that person. Four practical ways to communicate God's encouragement to others are explained: 1) affirm others' value and potential in Christ; 2) recognize and praise others' steps of faith to follow Christ; 3) remind others of God's comfort and faithfulness to those who are suffering; and 4) exhort others to take scary steps of faith to follow Christ.\r\n

The Cross

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 26:36-27:54

The most important event in human history occurred when Jesus Christ went to the cross. Jesus' crucifixion was the epitome of physical torment, and included being stripped naked and flogging. Not only that, but Jesus endured spiritual torment by taking on God's wrath to pay for humanity's sin. Jesus paid the certificate of death for all humanity in the greatest demonstration of sacrificial love. As Christians, the cross is a constant reminder of God's love for us and something we should thank God for regularly. For those who aren't Christians, making a decision about Jesus' work on the cross is the most important decision to make.

Admonish One Another

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 15:14

Christ calls Christians to live counter-culturally by giving and receiving admonition as needed. Three convictions all Christians need to understand about admonition are: 1) wise counsel for major decisions is necessary for a God-honoring life because none of us has the knowledge or wisdom to make complex life decisions on our own. Also, we are members of God's family and therefore our decisions impact others; 2) sin has the power to deceive us and we all have blind spots in our lives that others can help us see; and 3) God's grace enables us to view admonition as loving discipline versus condemnation.

Jesus vs. the Religious

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 22:1-46

Jesus continues to speak in parables, comparing the Kingdom of God to an incredible wedding banquet that the host is ecstatic to invite everyone to. Those who don't want to partake in the banquet because of "busyness" or trivial matters hits at the self-righteous Pharisees Jesus was totally opposed to. The Pharisees, threatened by Jesus, try and trap him through different lines of questioning, but Jesus refuses to submit and continues to distinguish God's servant love versus their man-made self-righteous religion. God's real heart is to get as many people into His great banquet as possible, made possible through Jesus Christ.

Good Deeds

Jim Leffel

1 Peter 3:9

Do we believe in the truth of the statement from Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive? Good deeds are a way to communicate in a way that, where our words may cause offense, what we do cultivates understanding and a desire to learn more. When we are able to sacrificially serve and help those around us we are putting the Gospel on display to a witnessing world.

A Trustworthy Statement

Jim Leffel

Romans 9:31

Paul leads us through his statement on why we can be confident in God's promises to us. God has not chosen us to improve us, He wants to make us entirely new and the be heirs to His promises. God has provided for us in every way so that we can live for God and go out and represent Him to the world and share Christ without fear.