Having Your Mate’s Back – The God-Based Marriage – 5
If we are smart, we know that we need someone to have our back. Scripture reveals that God knew that Adam was not complete when he created Eve to be a support for him. Adam needed help. We see that Adam recognized this and was happy about what God had done. Later in the NT, we learn that Adam (and all husbands) are also to have their wife’s back as well, each one supporting the other in the specific way that is most helpful. Consider, in this presentation, what that looks like in a God-Based Marriage.
Heirs Together – The God-Based Marriage – 4
While marriage is an everyday relationship, it also looks beyond this life to the goal a husband and wife can both attain in the Kingdom of God. This goal causes a God-Based marriage to become a spiritually beneficial relationship for both parties, as they support each other in spiritual things. For that reason, knowing that a husband and wife are “heirs together of the grace of life,” organizes marriage into a profoundly spiritual endeavor.
Sacrificial Love – The God-Based Marriage – 3
Jesus said that laying down one’s life for one’s friends was the greatest love of all. How does this apply to marriage, when the marriage is God-Based? It’s the most powerful aspect of a healthy marriage. Are you good that this kind of love?
God is a Farmer – Pentecost
Jesus told us his Father is a farmer. Our Father is growing a crop of beings for his kingdom. We are those crops. What’s the import of that? God has a plan and we are a part of it. He is tending to us, cultivating, planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting. In our age, disconnected from the land, this might not mean much to us, but if we want to know what God is doing, we would be wise to learn more about his farming efforts.
The Golden Rule – The God-Based Marriage – 2
Jesus, in his spiritual brilliance, compressed the entire Old Testament into one sentence. We call it the Golden Rule. This rule operates behind the scenes in heaven and on earth. It’s not just universal, but also spiritual, then. How does it function in marriage? Is it vital or irrelevant?
God’s Universal Hierarchy – The God-Based Marriage – 1
Perhaps the most important organizing principle of marriage is the way God and Jesus conduct their own relationship. It’s a model for relationships across the entire creation, both in heaven and on earth.
The organizing Principles – The God-Based Marriage – Introduction
God makes everything according to a plan, with organizing principles underlying each creation. He created marriage this way. If we know the organizing principles and follow them, it stands to reason that being married happily depends on the application of these principles in the relationship. This series aims to lay them out, all in one package for easy review, and to explain each one with examples and scriptures. We hope this can be helpful for premarital and newlyweds, as well as those who have been married for years.
Becoming Unleavened – A Passover Presentation
Every spring in ancient Israel, God instructed the people to hold a harvest festival in which they ate unleavened bread. It was an annual reminder that their predecessors ate unleavened bread the night they fled Egypt, not having time to let their dough rise. Much later, the Apostle Paul, while writing about this festival, compares leavening to sin in the Christian life. He confirms that we also are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread—not only eating unleavened bread but also to become unleavened in our hearts, to strive for a sin-free life, as we strive to follow the example Jesus set for us
Watching the News
Most of us, no matter our religious or political affiliation, find it hard to watch the news. Most Christians know that God tells us to keep up with world events. However, due to the deepening political division in the United States, human bias colors reporting across the media spectrum. It is often hard to discern the truth. Is there a way to parse the news from a godly perspective? We think so.
Making a Difference – Mental Health and the Bible 20
At the recent Winter Family Weekend, the church service included a symposium about depression. It stimulated a number of us there to consider what a person can do to stave off or get past depression. This presentation includes an expansion on one of the strategies for doing just that.
God and Sex – Mental Health and the Bible 19
Many people today think that it’s old fashioned to follow God’s rules about sex. Sexual promiscuity is a way of life for many single people. And many marriages and relationships break up because of infidelity. We would never try to convince anyone against their will that God’s rules are for our own good. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t explain how his rules, when applied, save people a lot of heartache, and even mental illness.
Faith and Love – The Faithful Christian 7
In this series wrap-up, we examine the intricate relationship between faith, hope, love, and obedience to God. If we take the time to understand how that relationship works, it’s good news!
Faith and Hope – The Faithful Christian 6
The Apostle Paul wrote, in I Corinthians, that faith, hope, and love were three abiding Godly attributes. What is the connection between faith and hope? Does hope increase faith? Does faith increase hope? An important topic if we feel hopeless.
Faith and Patience – The Faithful Christian 5
Faith and Patience—both are fruits of the Holy Spirit, we are told in Scripture. God is pleased when we exhibit either or both of these characteristics. It is also true that either of these traits makes it easier to maintain the other. They are somewhat interdependent. Consider the issue further in Faith and Patience.
Growing in Faith – The Faithful Christian 4
Did you know you can participate in your own faith development? In this presentation, we discuss biblically sound ways to grow in faith. We also explain the sublime relationship between faith, obedience to God, and godly love, and how the interconnection helps us grow in all three vital spiritual qualities.
The Fruits of Faith – The Faithful Christian 3
The Apostle Paul said, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” If you are a Christian, that makes faith an important issue. If we have faith and please God by it, what does he do for us in return? What are the fruits of faith? Consider the topic more closely in this presentation.
Faith for the Long Haul – The Faithful Christian 2
In the Book of Revelation, God describes the first round of inductees into his Kingdom as “called, chosen, and faithful.” If God expects us to be faithful, that is, to endure to the end, what guidance does he provide to help us accomplish that goal? Are there things we can do to up our chances of hanging in to the end? This presentation offereds four intentional strategies that will help.
Faith is not Easy – The Faithful Christian 1
God tells us that he is working a plan to draw all of us into eternal life with him. He describes the first round of inductees as “Faithful” in Revelation 17. Since faithfulness is one of the three primary descriptors, we can assume this is important to God. Could you be described that way? This new series details some of the elements of faithfulness and how to intentionally go toward them.
The Purpose of the Feast
What is the Purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles? Is it a vacatioN? Something we do out of duty? Or did God intend it to be something more? Consider some options in The Purpose of the Feast.
Spiritual Growth and Human Development Stage 2
Humans develop in stages. Not exactly big news - everything that develops does it in stages. But did you know that for each stage of human development, there is a corresponding stage of spiritual growth too? And the most important of these comes first! Order the second of the series Spiritual Growth and Human Development and learn about the second stage of human development, from 2-4 years of age, and the corresponging spritual piece.
Spiritual Growth and Human Development Stage 1
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT Spiritual Growth and Human Development 01 Humans develop in stages. Not exactly big news - everything that develops does it in stages. But did you know that for each
God’s Greatest Miracle
Some would say parting the Red Sea is God's greatest miracle. Others might say Joshua's long day, still others might say the 10 plauges of Egypt. But we think there is one greater than all these. Learn more in God's Greatest Miracle.
Zeroing in on Our Calling – FT
As the pace of life speeds up, the more easily it is to become distracted in every aspect of life. That would also include Christian life. Sometimes it is hard to stay focused on what is important. This presentation, given in September of 2018 at the Common Faith Network Feast of Tabernacles, draws attention back to the reason God calls people into his church. Do you know why God called you and what he wants you to do every day?
Overcoming Offenses – Preaching to the Choir 1
Until recently most people would not like to admit to being offended. Lately, some people make a habit of admitting offense. What’s going on with that? What is the effect of it on society? How should a Christian view the issue? Check it out in the first of our new series, Preaching to the Choir.
Ground Rules – Bible Stories for adults 001
Quite often, we think of the accounts in the Bible as stories for children. If we do that entirely, then we are missing out on much of what the Bible has for us as adults. When was the last time you read a story out of the Bible? Learn how to get more out of Bible stories in this presentation.