Whenever we head into a new normal, there is usually an old normal we have to contend with first. We transition into a new normal when an old normal no longer works or the new normal is significantly better. This week, we'll discuss a new command Jesus gives his...
Adoption brings up mixed emotions. The term “adopted” can be used to show affection or insult. Our understanding of adoption comes from our picture of family. Many times we have a picture of family that limits our understanding of the truth of adoption. In this...
Last words are important words. Books have been written and lists compiled about the last things that famous and influential people have said. This week in our study of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul will write his last and most important words to Timothy, his protégé....
Approval is something we all long for, especially from the people who matter most to us. There is something deep inside of us that craves knowing that others are pleased with what we do and who we are. Approval gives us a sense of meaning and significance in the...
One eager to please God is determined to get out of the bleachers and into the game. But our involvement in serving doesn’t have to be random or chaotic. God has given each believer a spiritual gift—a specific, supernatural ability for building up the body of Christ....
Chances are good you are the person you are because of someone else who showed up in your life: a teacher, a coach, a small group leader. Chances are also good that you are the person you are because of someone you expected to show up but didn’t. Jesus is our model...
One of the most powerful choices we can make in our relationships with others is the choice to encourage them. Encouragement builds courage into others. But it’s rare. Maybe we’re reluctant to encourage because we don’t know how. Or maybe we’re afraid. Will...
It seems innocent enough. What harm is there comparing ourselves to others? From social media to friendly competition, our culture is a breeding ground for comparison. Maybe you’ve fallen victim without even realizing it. But comparison kills. The fruit of comparison...
One life. That’s all you get. So, it makes sense to pay careful attention how you’re living that life. The most important change in life occurs when we believe in Jesus for eternal life. We’re freely given a new nature and are guaranteed life after death. But until...
There is no shortage of resources claiming to help us live full lives. Yet, despite the easy access of self-help information, how many of us would honestly describe our lives as full? Why doesn’t information automatically translate into transformation? This weekend,...
One way to gauge your progress as a person who wants to follow Jesus is to ask whether or not you engage with God every day. Do you instinctively turn to God as a habit and include Him as a normal part of your life? When we understand God makes movement toward us...
Week 3: Women This week, we learn that: Sometimes, God's favor doesn't look like we think it will. Our unworthiness doesn't change our worth. With the resurrection, Jesus reversed the curse. SermonsStudiesGuidesArticlesStoriesFilmsDonateAboutLifePoint ChurchSubscribe...
Week 1: Tax Collectors and Sinners This week, we learn that: Jesus sought out sinners and tax collectors. The people saw sin, but Jesus saw Zaccheus. Because Jesus saw him, Zaccheus saw himself and others differently. ...
The cost of achieving great things usually requires sacrifice and focus. When the Jewish people were called upon to occupy Jerusalem, they found themselves at a crossroads. This next step of faith would require giving up their comfort. In fact, it would require they...
If you think about it, we make a lot of choices and decisions based on assumptions. We assume we know what someone meant; that we have all the information; that we know the outcome. The problem is that our assumptions often turn out to be completely wrong and this can...
It’s not unusual to find people paralyzed by doubt. But with God’s help we can go beyond where we are to where we could be. And that means our doubt can get replaced with confidence and faith. Nehemiah led the people of Jerusalem in a rebuilding project that was met...
This week we’ll begin our study by looking at Jesus very first miracle at the Wedding at Cana. We’ll look at what He did – a miracle of creation – and think about why He did it and what it meant to those he was serving. We’ll also discuss what that means for us as we...
Each morning, we wake up believing a story about the lives we lead. Hope is essential to our lives. Many people struggle through life trying to manufacture hope. For believers, hope is a gift that is received. The gospel is a story that brings hope to everyone and...
God loves us all. And He has made forgiveness and eternal life available to anyone who believes in Jesus! No one is excluded from this opportunity. But many people in the world don’t know this. And God has given His Church the privilege of taking part in sharing this...
We’re told “God helps those who help themselves.” And we know that if we give things away, we’ll have less. In addition, many believe what we have is ours, to be used for our own pleasure. When these false narratives are combined, they form a powerful argument against...
If you follow Jesus you’re weird. You’re supposed to be weird. You don’t have to read much of the life of Jesus or his teachings to realize that there was something wonderfully weird about him or that he called his followers to live out that same weirdness together....