Knowing God With Heart and Mind

Christian Believer - 22 "Sacrements"

Lesson 22 - What are sacraments? How much does my faith matter when I participate? Does God do something spooky when we pray over sacraments? 

Next week: Lesson 23 - Worship

Next week's readings: Exodus 19:9-25; 2 Chronicles 6; Psalm 24; Psalm 148; 150; Isaiah 1:8-20; 6; Matthew 6:5-18; John 4:1-26;; Luke 18:1-8; Revelation 5

The Nicene Creed

Good News?

Presently, our society is being fed a steady diet of doomsday stories. We seem to really enjoy being scared out of our wits and then rescued by super-saviors. Why are we so obsessed with impending doom? Why is it easier to believe in comic book heroes than in Jesus Christ? What if such stories give us a glimpse of things to come?

[Sorry for the one-track audio]

Christian Believer Week 21 - The Church

Lesson 21 - The Body of Christ in the World. The Church is a radically gifted and radically flawed emodiment of Christ even while it is a human institution. It is a means of God's grace though it members are not always grace-filled. It is a work of the Holy Spirit though some members are not born again by the Spirit. 

Next week: Lesson 22 - Sacrements

 

Next week's readings: Genesis 8:20-22; 12:1-9; Exodus 12:1-28; 43-51; Matthew 3; 28:16-20; Mark 14:12-26; John 6:25-59; Acts 8:26-40; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 11:17-34 

The Nicene Creed

Getting Ready for the End

Advent is a season of preparation that serves as a reminder of Christ’s first coming and the certainty of the same progression of prophecies, signs, and wonders for His return. Ironically, the Western-secular Christmas experience starts around the end of October and ends on Christmas day. The entire season is shaped around material and spiritual matter that has little to do with Christ’s Second Coming. In fact, such talk, especially of the signs, is thought to be depressing and generally negative. Could this be the kind of deception Jesus was speaking of?

Christian Believer Week 20 - Belonging

Lesson 20 - God has designed us for community, just as God is a trinitarian community. It is not good for us to be alone. Furthermore, we have been set apart for God's purposes. The Church is the Body of Christ and we are its members.

Next week: Lesson 21 - The Body of Christ in the World

Next week's readings: Psalm 122; Isaiah 52:1-12; Matthew 13:24-30; 18:15-22; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Ephesians 1:2-23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Colossians 1:15-29; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Revelation 2; 

The Nicene Creed

Christian Believer Week 19 - Trinity

Lesson 19 - Can you explain the Trinity? Today's lesson discusses the doctrine of the Trinity. The Mystery and Message of the Trinity. (I will come back to this topic at a later date, since I don't feel like I did a very good job this time around ~ Dan)

Next week: Lesson 20 - God's Called Out People. 

Next week's readings: Numbers 2:1-17; Deuteronomy 32:1-47; Psalms 84; 105; Psalm 106; Isaiah 5:1-7; 24-30; Matthew 16:13-20; Acts 15:1-31; Revelation 21:1-14

The Nicene Creed

"Don't Judge Me!"

Do you know anyone who dislikes Christians because they’re too judgmental? When people do and say things that seem questionable, even to themselves, there is often a sheepish expression and then a declaration, “Don’t judge me!” How should disciples respond to an impulse to judge others? Can anyone really excuse his / her behavior just by saying, “don’t judge me”? The final message in our Sermon on the Mount series will seek answers to these and other questions.

God or Mammon?

Matthew 6:19-24

Who is your master? Who, or what, really owns you? 

Christian Believer Week 18 - Power

Lesson 18 - After receiving new life in Christ and being born again by the Spirit there is more than ever to do and be. The Spirit gives power to live and to serve. What does that look like in you?

Next week: The Mystery and Message of the Trinity - Trinity

Next week's readings: Genesis 1:26-31; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Isaiah 63:1-14; Mark 1:1-14; John 14; 15:26 - 16:15; Acts 2:22-39; Romans 1:1-7; 1 John 5:1-12; Revelation 22:8-21. 

The Nicene Creed

Christian Believer Week 17 - Holy Spirit

Lesson 17 - What or who is the Holy Spirit? Do you believe that God the Father and the Son are equal? Then, what about the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit act in your life? Next week: Power to Live and to Serve - Empowering. 

Next week's readings: John 3:1-8; 16:1-15; Acts 1:1-11; 3; Acts 10; 19:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12; 14; Ephesians 4:1-6; 1 John 4:1-6 

The Nicene Creed