Loving Real People - Lessons from 1 & 2 Corinthians

Kelsey Shannan

2 Corinthians 1-13

We need God's wisdom when it comes to loving other people. Paul instructs the Corinthians to open wide their hearts to one another and shows that he is willing to sacrifice for them and be completely vulnerable with them. He is also unafraid to bring up real issues in their lives, being realistic about the power of sin but confident in the power of God to change them. This kind of patient endurance with people requires prayerful discernment and dependence on God.

Ishmael and Isaac

Jim Leffel

Genesis 16:1-21:7

God helps those who help themselves. Is there truth to this common saying? What happens when we take matters into our own hands instead of relying on God? Will God change the plan He has for our lives if we make poor decisions? God promised Abraham He would make a great nation through him but Abraham and Sarah had to wait for a long time. What happens when we do not wait on God? Find answers to these questions through the births and lives of Abraham's sons, Ishmael and Isaac.\r\n

Becoming a Shrewd Spiritual Investor

Scott Risley

Luke 16:1-13

Jesus uses the parable of a shrewd investor to illustrate that our time is short and we need to be planning and acting now. To be shrewd means having understanding associated with insight and wisdom; to be sensible, thoughtful, prudent, and wise. Four keys are given for becoming a shrewd spiritual investor: 1) understanding that things have little value vs. big value (God, people, basic needs); 2) now vs. later (waiting and planning); 3) stewardship vs. ownership (my time and money vs. God's money); and 4) serving God vs. serving money.

The Law of Love

Ryan Lowery

Matthew 12:1-13

The fulfillment of God's Law can be seen through the Law of Love in a Christians life. In other words, the highest virtue to pursue is love and that should motivate and inform the decisions we make and how we interact with others.

Sermon on the Plain (Part 2)

Conrad Hilario

Luke 6:37-49

Jesus continues teaching the sermon on the plains. He warns his audience to be careful whom they follow, indirectly addressing the problems of the leaders of his day. The religious leaders were wrongly emphasizing religious observance over Jesus' words and a life of sacrificial love. A contrast is drawn between discernment, which seeks to help others, and unrighteous judgment, which seeks to condemn others in a spirit of pride.\r\n

Honing Your Spiritual Discernment

Conrad Hilario

Proverbs 11:14

Solomon was called the wisest man who ever lived and for good reason. He displayed an understanding of humans and an ability to judge truth from falsehood. This attribute of discernment is vital for our spiritual growth and effectiveness. In order to grow in our discernment, we must learn how to correctly interpret Scripture and begin learning how human nature works. In order to gain wisdom here, we must lean against the imbalances of seeing people in either an overly positive or overly negative light. This workshop then discusses several practical ways in which we can hone our own discernment.

Help for the Hurting - Lessons from Job

Lee Campbell

Galatians 6:2

Jobs friends often get a reputation for being bad comforters, but when we look carefully, we see that they did many things right. We can learn a lot about how to help the broken-hearted through the book of Job, both things we should do and things we should not. We see that we should draw near with compassion to those who are hurting. This includes many components such as being inclusive, sensitive patient, and available. Alongside practicing these things, we should nudge our hurting brother or sister toward hope, because in the end, it is only God who can offer genuine hope.

Discerning the Validity of Spirituality-Claims

Gary DeLashmutt

1 John 2:3-11

John, the last living disciple of Jesus, writes to the church in Ephesus to combat Gnosticism. Throughout his letter, John subjects the Gnostics' claims to three spiritual tests: the doctrinal test, the ethical test (based on Jesus' teachings on sex, money, and power), and the social test (based on Jesus' teachings on love). The latter two tests are the focus of these verses. These same tests can and should be applied to ourselves, spiritual leaders, and spiritual groups in order to discern hypocrisy and false spirituality. In Biblical Christianity, Jesus' ethical instruction and his command to love should coexist.

Parenting in the New Identity

Ryan Lowery

Colossians 3:20-21

Paul gives instruction to the church regarding parenting. Both this passage and Colossians 3 indicate the importance of a balance between discipline, healthy boundaries, and love. Biblical parenting is counter cultural and might be met with criticism, but the instructions from the Bible help establish healthy families based on the loving intentions of God rather than the trends of culture.