The Big Idea: Prayer is simply about being with God. Psalm 46 Practicing the Way of Jesus Pray in adoration to God and in defiance to your circumstances Pray for fidelity, boldness, and obedience, rather than deliverance. Pray the Rosary The Hallow App Pray Hail Mary’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray the Our Father The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) Get your Why right - Don’t be like the hypocrites Get your Mind right - your Father sees, knows, and rewards Get your Heart right - If you forgive, He ...
Jan 15, 2023•47 min
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 20-25 The Big Idea: Intentional structures free us to experience the presence of God within our everyday life. 2 Peter 1:3-11 Faith -> Goodness -> Knowledge -> Self-Control -> Perseverance -> Godliness -> Mutual Affection -> Love Intentional focused structures will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your faith. Ideas For Getting Started: • Living in the River - Items on the walls - Sticky Notes - Daily Times of Prayer ritual - Pocket Token...
Jan 08, 2023•44 min
John 7:37-39 The Big Idea: Your personal mission is to be a source of God’s life-giving water in the middle of a desert. Ezekiel 47:1-12 Psalm 1:1-3 2023: One Objective and Three Strategies One Objective: Live in the River! Three Strategies: • Learn to Think Biblically Colossians 2:6-12 The Issachar Collective • Build Incredible Marriages Ephesians 5:21-33 Merge Foundations re|engage • Develop communities of resilience and fidelity Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 Response: Commit to learning how to think Bi...
Jan 01, 2023•50 min
Hebrews 1:1-4 Many of us perceive that God speaks very rarely and when He does, it’s hellfire and brimstone. God Spoke - often. Consistently. Clearly. Often almost begging - through the prophets Deuteronomy 30:19-20 2 Chronicles 16:9 God is speaking - Through Jesus • Appointed Heir of all things • Through whom He made the universe • The radiance of God’s glory • Exact representation of His being • Sustaining all things by His powerful Word • Superior to every name and to angels In Jesus, faith g...
Dec 25, 2022•17 min
Matthew 2:1-12 The Big Idea: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:1) The Magi: who they are, how they responded, and what they brought Who They Are A Kingdom’s most valued advisors (Daniel 2 and 5) Magi would explain and interpret the coexistence of the spiritual and the physical to align kings with the work of the gods among men. How they responded Overjoyed - Rejoiced on a scale or extent equivalent to violence Bowed Down - Fell down, pro...
Dec 24, 2022•29 min
Luke 2:22-35 The Big Idea: The radical measure God takes to redeem creation is the dividing line of all things. The Humility of Jesus Exodus 13:2 Leviticus 12:8 Mark 1:4 The Praise of Simeon God doesn’t want A people - He wants ALL people Everything and everyone was made for the glory of God - and He wants it all back! The Prophecy of Simeon Jesus brings division to clarify the pathway to peace Luke 12:49-53 Response: • Give your life for the glory of God • Enjoy the certainty of His love and ...
Dec 18, 2022•42 min
The Big Idea: Jesus has joined the least of us, to save the least of us, and give us all God’s favor - forever! Luke 2:1-20 The Coming of the Christ • His historical certainty • The Father’s Choice for Point-of-Entry • The Emptying of Jesus The Significance of the Shepherds • A career of all guts, no glory • Legally defined as unreliable • Jesus joins the team John 10:11-13 The Announcement of the Angels • Warriors, not cupids • God’s Glory, Great news, and Mega Joy • The Sign The Message: Jesus...
Dec 11, 2022•41 min
Matthew 1:17-25 The Big Idea: Wake up and answer God's call, for it is worth everything that it costs. Law and Grace: v19 Law is a Teacher, Love is The Guide Galatians 3:24-25 Matthew 22:37-40 Your Role in God’s Work: v17; 20 The Angel’s Pitch: •Do not allow fear to make you miss God •You are participating in God’s Master Plan of redemption The Biggest Enemy You Face: v20, 24-25 Joseph, like you and me, is essential to God’s plan and completely dispensable. Proverbs 3:34 Ever since Genesis 3, T...
Dec 04, 2022•41 min
Luke 1:26-56 The Big Idea: You are eligible to receive God’s favor and blessing the same way Mary did - the impossible made possible entirely by God’s goodness and power. God’s WHY for everything He does is HIMSELF: In other words, God is gracious to us because He is faithful and true to Himself God’s WHAT: Favor and Blessings made available to all who fear Him; the humble and the hungry Mary is Favored - “the recipient of manifest unmerited grace” •The Holy Spirit comes to her •The Power of the...
Nov 27, 2022•41 min
The Big Idea: While God is doing His global work, He attends to your cries, too. Luke 1:5-25 The Testimony of Zechariah and Elizabeth: • There is a long, sovereign, specifically planned and never random redeeming work of God among men. He is faithful, relentless, and deeply in love with us • All people, including the faithful, must reconcile deep disappointments • God responds to the cries of the world and your personal cries at the same time Luke 1:67-79 Response: • Give up the Global Operation...
Nov 20, 2022•46 min
Matthew 25:31-46 Matthew 16:24-27 The Big Idea: Jesus hates fake religion even more than people do. James 1:27 The Truth About Sheep and Goats: •Goats don’t hurt you or help you - they just consume •Jesus knows the sheep Matthew 7:22 - I never knew you - “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name…” •Those on the left hand are not just unwelcomed, they are banished What Jesus is Actually Judging Jesus is discerning the root by the fruit that it produces •The presence of the Spirit - Luke 4:18 ...
Nov 13, 2022•39 min
Mark 1:40-45 Prayer: I bow my knees to declare that I am a servant of the Most High God. I lift my hands and pray, Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me this day that I might glorify Jesus. “The Spirit filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It’s part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.” - A.W. Tozer (How to be filled with the Holy Spirit) Mark 1:9-11 Mark 1:12-13 Matthew 4:1 Greek - Anagó: to lead up, bring up John 14:26 Galatians 5:22-23 Big Idea: The Spirit Lead...
Nov 06, 2022•35 min
The Big Idea: God invites us to have lives, families, and communities that are unexplainable apart from the Presence of God. Galatians 4:6-11 Galatians 5:16-25 Wrestle with this question: Does your worship more resemble the prophets of BAAL or the prophet of God? 1 Kings 18:16-39 We Must Learn the Jesus Two-Step: Galatians 5:24-25 Step 1: Crucify the Flesh Step 2: Keep in step with the Spirit: Life in this world does not define you, this does: Galatians 3:13-14 Four Guiding Principles: 1. Jesus ...
Oct 30, 2022•42 min
The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit will put His breath in you, and you will come to life. Pentecostal: “Depending upon God to do something that I cannot do” A Framework for Spiritual Gifts and their Function: Purpose of the Gifts = LOVE Power of the Gifts = LOVE Practice of the Gifts = LOVE Product of the Gifts = LOVE Ezekiel 37:1-10 God’s redemptive and powerful plan: (v5-6) • I will put breath in you • You will come to life • You will know that I am the Lord We desire healing in our body, but do no...
Oct 23, 2022•42 min
The Big Idea: Spiritual gifts help Christians grow and love others. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Spiritual gifts are a real-world expression of God’s grace to you. Charismata List of Gifts: Prophesy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, mercy, message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, discernment, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, apostles, teachers, helping, guidance, evangelists, pastors, and hospitality. The Holy Spirit gives different ...
Oct 16, 2022•40 min
Matthew 11:28-30 The Big Idea: God speaks, and we can learn to listen and follow. John 10:27-30 God Speaks We can learn to listen Intimacy with God is the secret of life. God Speaks: (and always has!) Exodus 33:11-17 John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-8, 13-14 We Can Learn to Listen: Hebrews 3:7-12 Hebrews 4:7-13 Should I stay or should I go? Is God speaking, Yes or No?: •Does it move me closer to full dependence upon Jesus? •Will this help me love my neighbors more? •Go first to the verse. Go next ...
Oct 09, 2022•44 min
The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit Connects us to one another as much as He connects us to Himself Acts 2:42-47 1 Peter 2:4-5; 9-10 Devoted: “Connected closely and continuously.” The People of God are Devoted to Four Things: 1. The Word of God There are lots of perspectives, and we appreciate them all. AND we concern ourselves with submitting to only this one. 2. Fellowship with other disciples of Jesus “The same close connection with one another that we have with Jesus “ 3. Communion 4. Prayer We ar...
Oct 02, 2022•38 min
The Big Idea :God does not want a bunch of burned-out, stressed-out, overloaded, worn-out, children representing Him in the world. He wants us to flourish day by day, hour by hour for ourselves and for our Oikos. John 14:16-17, 26 John 15:26 John 16:7-8, 13-14 Acts 1:8 The Spirit Gives us Power Ephesians 3:14-21 Power to be: • Anchored in Christ at the soul level • Rooted in the jaw-dropping love of Christ • Completely and confidently fearless “Mark it down. The Holy Spirit comes with power. Pow...
Sep 25, 2022•42 min
The Big Idea: One of the great secrets of life is to simply get in on what God is already doing. Acts 2:1-21 WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? 1. The continuation of GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN. 2. The GLOBAL CALL TO UNITY. 3. The INAUGURATION OF A NEW KINGDOM. RESPONSE: ● Get in on what God is already doing! ● Notice the Spirit at work in you! ● Join the mission forward! Discovery Bible Study: • Connection Questions: 1. What are you thankful for? 2. What is a challenge you are facing? 3. How did you do with last...
Sep 18, 2022•37 min
9am Gathering Romans 8:1-8 10:45 Gathering Galatians 5:16-25 Response: ● What is God saying to you? ● What will happen if you obey? ● Will you consider a DBS for the 5 weeks of October? --------------------------------------------------------- The Components That Make a DBS: • Connection Questions: 1. What are you thankful for? 2. What is a challenge you are facing? 3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement? • Read together a short passage of Scripture (4-10 vss) that addresses the t...
Sep 04, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit wants to empower you every day to be a Jesus person. Acts 1:1-11 The Problem The Solution The Game Plan The Problem: We keep asking the wrong question. (V6) The Solution: You will receive power through the Holy Spirit. (v8) The Game Plan: You will be my witnesses. (v8) The most effective work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is the power of MARTYRDOM. The Holy Spirit wants to EMPOWER you every day to be a Jesus person. RESPONSE: • What is God asking you to do? • What...
Sep 04, 2022•43 min
The Big Idea: The presence of God brings peace to our troubled lives. John 14:15-27 Key Ideas: 1. Presence of the Trinity 2. Power to Love and Obey 3. Peace Within Our Hearts Response: ● I will trust the Holy Spirit to give me peace in ___________. ● Who do you need to extend or offer peace to this week?
Aug 28, 2022•33 min
The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s promise to DWELL in and among His people. God’s PRESENCE is the bookends of the Bible and the answer to how we live in the middle. John 14:15-27 John 16:6-15 RUWACH /roo’-akh/ - wind; breath, a violent exhalation; blast of breath. PNEUMA /pnyoo’-mah/- a current of air, blast of breath, a strong breeze; or spirit. John 14:16-17 COUNSELOR: parakletos /par-ak’-lay-tos/; an intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter, helper. WHY ARE MANY LIVI...
Aug 21, 2022•45 min
Big idea: Baptism is a call to act in faith & obedience for ALL believers. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ Romans 6:1-11 baptizō (77 times in NT) - to immerse, to submerge Children of God Galatians 3:23-29 So why baptism? Great commission Mathew 28:19 Model the life and example of Jesus Matthew 3:14-15 Question: Why was Jesus baptized? •He wanted to identify Himself with humanity: Fully God & fully man. •He was worthy to be treated differently, but humbled himself. Philippians 2:5-11 •To fu...
Aug 14, 2022•29 min
The Big Idea: Disciples of Jesus can serve only one Master. Matthew 6:24 Luke 10:25-37 A Kingdom Concepts review: ● The Messenger is the Message Philippians 2:3-11 ● Paradoxical Power: Jesus accomplishes things in His own time and His own way: power of suffering love vs command and control. ● No Condemnation John 3:17 ● Every natural idea you have about dealing with enemies is wrong. ● The King grows His Kingdom. ● God’s Kingdom is like a secret treasure worth more than the sum of everything you...
Aug 07, 2022•46 min
Matthew 13:44-46; 51-52 The Big Idea: God’s Kingdom is like a secret treasure worth more than the sum of everything you own. Three Parables: 1. The treasure in the field 2. The pearl of great price 3. The storeroom of treasures The Treasure in the Field: Two Powerful Secrets of Joyful Disciples: buying the farm and hiding the treasure. Colossians 3:2-4 Colossians 2:12-15 You must DIE to buy the farm with the treasure, BUT what you are killing is a life that is already DEAD IN SIN. The Pearl of G...
Jul 31, 2022•57 min
Matthew 13:31-35 Big Idea: There is nothing that can stop the eternal power of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom’s COMING and GROWING has almost nothing to do with us. “Therefore, for every second of the time the world has been a world, it has also been the kingdom. Its progress through history is not a transition from non-kingdom to kingdom; rather, it is a progress from kingdom-in-a-mystery to kingdom-made-manifest.” - Robert Farrar Capon The Kingdom didn’t just appear with Jesus. Jesus REVEALED...
Jul 24, 2022•34 min
The Big Idea: Every natural idea you have about dealing with enemies is wrong. Matthew 13:24-30 Matthew 13:36-43 The Problem of Weeds: The world contains good and evil - good seed and bad. Often it takes an expert to tell the difference. Both sowers are counting on us to do our thing. The Wisdom of Doing Nothing: Judgment hurts the wheat. Judgment declares an unreliable verdict on the weeds. Judgment reveals a lack of trust in the Sovereignty of God. The way of Jesus is also the way of wheat. Th...
Jul 17, 2022•37 min
The Big Idea: God is both hidden in Jesus and revealed in Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is the guiding light in every existential question. Mark 4:21-25 John 1:9-13 1 John 1:5-10 God wants me to LIVE IN THE LIGHT. Amos 3:7 My three enemies PREFER DARKNESS. Mark 4:24-25 God wants me to CARRY THE LIGHT TO OTHERS. With the measure that you use in your relationship with God and others, God will use that measurement to apportion to you – and even more! What jar or bowl are we hiding the light of the Word u...
Jul 10, 2022•41 min
The Big Idea: Your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for. Mark 4:1-20 Two Difficult Realities One Powerful Truth Three Constant Enemies One Simple Job Two Difficult Realities 1. Some people get it and some people don’t 2. To them that have, even more will be given but to them that have not, even what they do have will be taken away. One Powerful Truth: The forgiveness of God is extended to EVERYONE. Isaiah 6:6-7 Ephesians 3:2-6 Three Constant Enemies: 1. The DEVIL 2. The FLESH 3. The WO...
Jul 03, 2022•43 min
