God’s love is greater than human love.  God’s love liberates, overcomes, always wins, and endures forever. God’s love is personal and set us free to live in harmony with Him. God’s love is never-ending; when we remain in His love, we are less prone seek love from anywhere else. ------- The acrostic that was shared Sunday: Liberating Overcomes Victorious Endures Which of these have you experienced? Be honest… have your efforts to be loved given you heartache? How can we better receive God’s...

Jesus talks about money often and always uses it as a barometer of one’s heart. When we understand our money was given to us by God, we will steward it well.  When our soul craves more than we need, our affection for money increases. Debt leads to many pains and sorrows. Laying up treasury in heaven should be our aim with money. Giving releases our grip on money and transforms our hearts. M – manage O – offer N – needs E – eternal Y – yielded ------- Which letter of the acronym do you do...

Surrender – submit to His will and not your feelings or expectations.   Sympathize – rember that everyone is weak and prone to sin; at the core, they are no different than you. Survey – put yourself on a shelf, make an effort to get to know others. Be more concerned to hear their story rather than to tell yours. Don’t attempt to fix a problem without first validating. Serve – serving others helps to remove selfishness. Serving can help to foster community and unity. Jesus set a great example...

Above all, we are called to love.  In the last days lawlessness will increase, and love will diminish.  We are called to cover sin with love.  Overlooking offenses can help maintain the unity and the bond of peace.  Patience is an expression of love. Bitterness and withholding love are often rooted in resentment.  Remember, every offense is an opportunity for grace. ------- Our nation is divided completely in half; division is running rampant. Have you found yourself caught up in this...

Pride will seriously destroy your ability to love. You may need to repent of pride if: - You are unwilling to reconcile. - You are verbally aggressive. - You are habitually angry. - You are condescending. - You are overly judgmental. - You have been described as arrogant.  Your ability to love others is a great indicator of your spiritual health.  God places His Spirit in us and is yearning for us to become like Him. He laid His life down for us; loving those who are at odds with us will...

Shame is different than guilt: Shame can be debilitating and lead to unnecessary strategies to cope, including isolation and self-harm. Shame can lead to perfectionism, dishonesty, and self-sabotage. Chronic shame can lead to depression, anger, and even physical health maladies including chronic fatigue. Shame can cause obsessive negative self-talk and perpetual feelings of inadequacy. Luke 7:36-50 vividly teaches us what happens when shame encounters a forgiving Savior. Forgiveness from God...

There are generally many healthy (walking on a freeway, standing on a train track, walking to close to a cliff, etc.), but only one fear will lead you to life: fear of God. We face numerous fears that can cause us to shrink back. Some can lead to sleepless nights, unhealthy thoughts, and flesh maintenance. We often predict the worse possible outcome even though we don’t know the outcome. A clever acronym to remember: False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR). A healthy fear of God leads us to...

There is a glass display in the church lobby that reminds us from Colossians 1:18 – JESUS IS PREEMINENT, meaning “the highest place of ascendency, above all, over all, surpassing all, to the point that nothing and no one else can even come close”. Our Statement of Faith states that our number one priority is to “worship GOD in all HIS fullness…” We must prioritize our loves: GOD first, people second. Anything, including people, that replaces GOD as preeminent is idolatry. Honoring our parents...

To be on the receiving side of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, we must learn how costly God’s love is and how it can never be earned. Scripture points to love more than 680 times. “Chesed” (חסד) in the Old Testament and “agape” (ἀγάπη) in the New Testament. Jesus indicated that we would know Him by the testimonies of the written word; not necessarily by experience. What we come to know and believe about His love is acquired by faith. God’s love frees us to be ourselves and removes the...

God’s goodness is better than I could ever imagine! God draws us closer to Jesus! He makes us more like Jesus! He takes us to Jesus! Is there a better “good” than Jesus? --- Why is it so common for our concept of good to differ from God’s idea of good? What do you think about the poster on the wall? “God’s will is exactly what I would chose, if I knew all the details.” Describe a time in which pain brought you back to Jesus. Considering the current circumstances of your life, is it possible...

It’s important to interpret the life of Samson through God’s sovereignty. The Spirit of the Lord was stirring Samson. Samson’s riddle speaks to us today. God saves, heals, and delivers. What Satan meant for evil, God can turn it into good. God lives in a broken and contrite heart. --- What impacted you from the interview with Lynn and Zach? Was there a defining moment in your life when you sensed the world was not safe? In the aftermath of your experience, what lies did you begin to believe...

Chapter 12 starts with “Therefore…” as the conclusion of chapter 11. Chapter 11 chronicles the life of 18 saints that achieved great exploits by faith. We are surrounded by these witnesses. The word “race,” from the Greek, “agon,” means a conflict or struggle. Jesus is at the starting gate of our race and at the finish line. All racers are sinners and share the same entanglements. Look unto Jesus; not your sin, not the witnesses, and not your own strength.  Our race is to His glory, and He is...

God’s eternal plan predestined us to Christlikeness.  Many misplace their aim and ambition on ministry and purpose when God’s will for us is to become Christlike. God’s mercy has been laid into the path of sinners. God’s mercy can often be introduced to us through others. Real life is found in a life founded in Christ. God is more interested in who we are becoming than what we are doing. Scripture reveals to us that we are dead in our sins. Discuss this as a group.  Have you thought more...

Key Points God both warns and offers hope with stories of brother-to-brother relationships. Both Cain & Abel were committing religious acts. Both “believed” but Cain was still “of the evil one”. You can be religious and not know God.  God sees and comes asking questions, knowing our very heart. We can bring a tight-lipped stubborn resolve or a surrendered admittance: “I need help.” “Mastering it” is too much for me without You.  There are other forms of murder as stated by the apostle...

Key Points The priests are given their cities, the two and a half tribes are allowed to return to their previous inherited land on the other side of the Jordon. They set up an altar that was misunderstood by the other tribes. War was averted when they explained its meaning. May we be as sensitive to rebellion as they were. Joshua was about to go to the way of the earth, and he brought a holy message to Israel. Stay the course, don’t return to your past, remember the promises, and fear the...

Key Points God grants mercy for manslayers; He sets up cities of refuge. Manslayers were given refuge from the avenger of blood. The one who flees into the city of refuge must stay until the chief priest dies. When the priest died, this was considered the full atonement for their sin of unintentional murder. The manslayer was free to go home. Our Chief Priest died on our behalf and lives to intercede for us. The Law is our avenger of blood and Jesus sets us free from the second death. The...

Key Points Five scenarios occur with people responding to their land allotments. Those who stood on God’s promise realized their requests. Caleb’s daughter and nephew had the same courage as Caleb. We often see the fruit of our faithfulness fall on our decedents.  Othniel was later called on to be Israel’s deliverer and their first judge.  Joseph’s sons were not satisfied with their allotments but were not willing to apply effort or faith to procure it. The four sisters were much like Caleb;...

Key Points Caleb was told on the west side of the Jordon that he would inherent Hebron because he was fully faithful.  Caleb asked for the upper hills of Hebron 45 years later and proclaimed his whole heartedness.  Moses said Caleb had a different spirit. That same spirit is available to us today.  Caleb’s patient endurance was forged in the wilderness as he and Joshua endured the grumbling and complaints of the unbelieving Israelites. Caleb, at 85 years, old selected the land that was...

Key Points The Lord is my Light. - Light brings order. - Light reveals what's hidden. - Light frees us from darkness. The Lord is my Salvation. - Jesus set us free. - Jesus rescued us. - Jesus saved us. David's desire. - A heart surrendered to the Lord. - To contemplate the beauty of the Lord. - To inquire in Your temple. Discussion What can I do to improve my intimacy with God? Has my life made a difference where I walk (being light)?

Key Points General revelation is the glory of God revealed through nature as described in the first part of Psalm 19, and it is available to all humankind. God’s instructions are good and meant to guide us in the way we should go. It is not easy for us to perceive unintentional sins, but we ought to repent of them when they are brought to our attention rather than get defensive about them. Being acquitted of our wrongdoing is to be found innocent and requires no change in us. Being cleansed...

Key Points Abraham was used by God to bless, to be a blessing, and to be blessed. Jacob asked for blessings. The Portuguese phrase, “benca pai/mai” means “father/mother bless me.” The response is “Deus abencoe,” meaning “God bless you.” God declares a blessing over those who walk in obedience to His voice. Jesus took the curse upon Himself so we who believe can walk in the blessings. The beatitudes relate to our response to the Gospel, the Good News. Discussion How can we as a church stop...

Key Points Israel’s Promised Land was about to be allotted, tribe by tribe. The land was considered an inheritance for the descendants of Abraham. An inheritance is typically realized after the death of the promissory. God gives us an unfading and undefiled inheritance, guarded and kept in heaven for us. This inheritance was given to his children (believers) after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance. God calls...

Key Points A huge alliance is assembled in the north to come against Israel. As we gain ground in our transformational journey there will be increased resistance. Joshua was a successful leader, not because of his military might but because he was obedient to what God had asked him to do. Complacency and distraction are two enemies that can keep us from success in God’s Kingdom. Fathers’ roles are essential to the family. Fathers are called to lead, protect and cover their homes in prayer...

Key Points The camp at Gilgal is a significant location for Israel in the Promised Land. Gilgal is a shadow of Calvary. Gilgal is where the 12-stone monument was set up as a reminder of God’s faithfulness when he brought Israels across the Jordan River and Red Sea on dry land. The cross is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to forgive our sin. Gilgal is where the men of Israel were circumcised and God “rolled away” the shame they carried from Egypt. The cross is where our old self is put to...