Week 1- Why is it So Hard to Pray?
Prayer is the most difficult for our flesh to do because it is the most spiritual thing we can do. Don’t you want to be successful in your prayer life? Don’t you want to bask in His presence, know that your burdens are being lifted and hear His voice regularly? Yeah, me too! We start this series with first examining what we are up against and what we must do to make prayer a priority and thus vibrant.WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Aug 19, 2018Week 1- Why is it So Hard to Pray?
Week 1- Why is it So Hard to Pray?Prayer is the most difficult for our flesh to do because it is the most spiritual thing we can do. Don’t you want to be successful in your prayer life? Don’t you want to bask in His presence, know that your burdens are being lifted and hear His voice regularly? Yeah, me too! We start this series with first examining what we are up against and what we must do to make prayer a priority and thus vibrant.
- Aug 12, 2018Week 5- The Influence of the Message (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Week 5- The Influence of the Message (1 Corinthians 1:18)
God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save those who hear and believe. Scripture calls the message that we proclaim both the power of God unto salvation and foolishness to many who hear it. For it isn’t based on human reason, it cannot be understood that way; it is instead Spirit taught. Do we really understand that without proclaiming His message people cannot be saved? Knowing that it is indeed foolishness to some, in a strange way, should assist us in being emboldened to preach Jesus! - Aug 5, 2018Week 4- Our Influence (Matthew 5:13-16)
Week 4- Our Influence (Matthew 5:13-16)
How can each of us be salt and light to our oîkos? How can you make disciples ‘as you go’? We examine different evangelism styles in Scripture and you will be able to see which one you have. The objective isn’t just to identify it, but rather to learn how to flourish in it—especially in your oîkos. Advancing the Kingdom of God on earth is more than a commission; it is a lifestyle.We took an Evangelism Style assessment.The questions are here: Styles QuestionnaireThe blank answer sheet is here: Answer Sheet - Jul 29, 2018Week 3- The Free Man’s Influence (Mark 5:1-20, Acts 16:22-34)
Week 3- The Free Man’s Influence (Mark 5:1-20, Acts 16:22-34)
Only those who are free can lead others to freedom. We look at the demoniac who was set free from demon possession by Jesus. Afterward he was told to return to his oîkos, where he described the great things done for him. Paul and Silas were freed from a different kind of imprisonment and radically affected someone else’s oîkos because of it. - Jul 22, 2018Week 2- Levi’s Influence (Luke 5:27-32)
Week 2- Levi’s Influence (Luke 5:27-32)
Levi gives us an excellent blueprint of how we can come to Jesus, follow Him, and leave our old life behind. All the while, still influencing those that are in our oîkos that desperately need to meet Jesus. What did Levi do? He threw a party! - Jul 8, 2018Week 5- Fellowship and Function
Week 5- Fellowship and Function
Paul identifies himself in this letter not as an apostle (which he is), but as a prisoner; one who is bound to Jesus. In our “koinōnía,”we are in deep relationship, joint-participants, and we are fellow prisoners and fellow workers. Our calling is to be follower of Jesus Christ—this encompasses our connection to Him and our work for Him. This enables us to know Him! - Jul 1, 2018Week 4- Praying for One Another
Week 4- Praying for One Another
Perhaps the most important “one another” command we have in Scripture is to pray for one another. We do so not out of obligation, but out of a deep sense of connection and love. As a family, we genuinely care for each other and their well-being. We deepen our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationship with others as we pray for them. Our calling is to pray for each other! - Jun 24, 2018Week 3- Becoming Partners
Week 3- Becoming Partners
Paul has already used “koinōnía” in his letter. This stresses the relational aspect of fellowship that the family of God enjoys and benefits from. He now appeals to them as a partner, “koinōnós,” which more directly focuses on the participant themselves. A participant who mutually belongs and shares fellowship; a “joint-participant” in the work of Jesus. Our calling is to be partners! - Jun 17, 2018Week 2- Becoming Family
Week 2- Becoming Family
Paul, writing to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and to the church that meets in their home; makes an appeal to them out of love. He does so, not as an order for them to do what they ought to do, but instead out of relationship. Paul is a father in the faith to them. We learn much about what it means to be in the family of God through these short few verses. Our calling is to be a family! - Jun 10, 2018Week 1- Church That Meets in Your Home
Week 1- Church That Meets in Your Home
The only way we have a FULL understanding of what we have in Christ Jesus is to share our faith and lives with the family of God. This begins a five-week study of the very short epistle, Philemon, and of koinōnía, a Greek word meaning “fellowship, sharing, community, participation, partnership, and communion.” We see this way of life displayed throughout the New Testament. Our calling is to share life together! - May 6, 2018Week 6- Power to Do Greater Things
Week 6- Power to Do Greater Things
The Spirit of God not only calls us to “go,” He not only empowers us to do the work, but also is present with us as we do! He is personally involved and directs the work—“the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.” Jesus said that we would be doing even greater things than He did while He walked this earth. These signs will accompany those who believe… (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 14:8-18) - Apr 29, 2018Week 5- Power to Be Repurposed
Week 5- Power to Be Repurposed
God not only called us out of bondage to sin through His Son, Jesus, but also made us new creations through His Spirit. We become new vessels in order to store His power before He pours His ‘new wine’ into us. God repurposes us to serve Him. He is the Potter, we are the clay. He uses our service to bring glory to His name! We also celebrate those who serve within the church.
(Luke 5:33-39) - Apr 22, 2018Week 4- Holiness Power
Week 4- Holiness Power
We have become so used to the prefix "Holy" in front of Spirit that we think of it merely like a first name. In many ways, we have lost sight of its implications in relation to the person of the Spirit. God’s desire as well as our own to be clothed with power, which comes from the Spirit, inescapably is the Spirit of holiness. We can be holy, because He is holy. (Ephesians 5:3-18; 1 Peter 1:13-16) - Apr 15, 2018Week 3- Comforting Power
Week 3- Comforting Power
Jesus told His disciples it was to their advantage that He goes away because He would send the Helper, the Comforter, the Counselor- the Holy Spirit. What could be greater than walking physically, side-by-side, with the Incarnated Son of God?! Walking with the Holy Spirit living inside of us, comforting and helping us in our distress, in our victories, in our calling, and in our mundane. That is what is greater! His peace He leaves with us. (John 16:1-7; John 14:15-21, 25-27) - Apr 1, 2018Week 1- Resurrection Power
Week 1- Resurrection Power
Being in Christ brings death to the body of sin within us as we submit to God. As we die to sin, we live through His Spirit; living for Him and with Him. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead physically lives inside of us as a follower of Christ. That power innately gives life! Without the power of the Holy Spirit we are dead in our sins and do not experience resurrection. (Luke 24:46-49; Romans 8:9-11; John 3:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12-22) - Apr 1, 2018Easter Sunday- Resurrection Power
Easter Sunday- Resurrection Power(FROM OUR SERIES: DUNAMIS- THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) Being in Christ brings death to the body of sin within us as we submit to God. As we die to sin, we live through His Spirit; living for Him and with Him. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead physically lives inside of us as a follower of Christ. That power innately gives life! Without the power of the Holy Spirit we are dead in our sins and do not experience resurrection. (Luke 24:46-49; Romans 8:9-11; John 3:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12-22)
- Mar 25, 2018Week 4- Investing in the Spirit
Week 4- Investing in the Spirit
AUDIO AND VIDEO CUTS OFF IN THE MIDST OF THE TEACHING, UNFORTUNATELY. THE POWER POINT IS COMPLETE THOUGH! :) We invest in the things that we deem as worthwhile and important. Whether it is our finances, our skill, or most importantly our time; we devote those things to what we value most. We would all state that we want to know God more vibrantly and personally. We so desire to see ourselves radically and passionately serving God while being used to transform our relationships, family, community, and world. Of course we do! However, do we want to reap a harvest that we have not sowed? Do not be deceived. (Galatians 6:7-10; Luke 10:38-42) - Mar 18, 2018Week 3- In Step with the Spirit
Week 3- In Step with the SpiritPaul exhorts, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Scripture correlates following the Spirit of God to walking. We usually do not think of something as basic as walking because we have performed this exercise physically since we were toddlers. Lest we forget, walking is putting one foot in front of the other, making progress as we keep our balance. Our brains tell our legs what to do when movement is necessary. We do not think about it and do not even notice it. It is automatic… it is just what we do and how we move. There are great spiritual truths in this biblical metaphor!(Galatians 5:25- 6:6, 2:14)
- Mar 11, 2018Week 2- Fruit of the Spirit
Week 2- Fruit of the Spirit
If our spiritual gifts are truly for others and not intended for us in their purpose (with a blessing for us personally); then the fruit of the Spirit are for us (that have an impact on others). The person who is Spirit-filled will be marked not only by the effectiveness of their work and witness, but also by the quality of their personal life. If we aren’t bearing fruit, we are not allowing the Spirit’s activity in our lives! (Galatians 5:19-24)
- Mar 4, 2018Week 1- Being Led by the Spirit
Week 1- Being Led by the Spirit
The Holy Spirit lives within us. What an amazing reality to contemplate! But do we truly embrace that truth? Scripture says we have an obligation to not live according to our own desires, but to instead live according to the Spirit’s. We seek to discover what it is to be led by the Spirit and how to position ourselves to do so.
(Galatians 5:16-18; Romans 8:5-9, 12-14) - Feb 25, 2018Week 7- Speaking in Tongues
Week 7- Speaking in Tongues
This gift is a bit of an anomaly, being emphasized too much (in incorrect ways) or maligned. In a believer’s life, it can also be underutilized. Surely, it is the most misunderstood of all the spiritual gifts. We will look at this spiritual language that God gives as one of the evidences of the Spirit’s baptism and the two major functions or ‘kinds’ of speaking in tongues. It is the weakest of the manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit given for ministry and yet the most beneficial gift for the individual believer.
(1 Corinthians 12:27-31, 14:1-25) - Feb 24, 2018Better Together
Better Together
- Feb 24, 2018Shared Fellowship
Shared Fellowship
- Feb 24, 2018Shared Expectancy
Shared Expectancy
- Feb 18, 2018Week 6 – Office Gifts
Week 6 – Office Gifts
These gifts are not intended to be the ones who alone are gifted to do the work of God in their given gifting or domain. Instead, individuals operate in these gifts to equip and prepare the church to do the “the work of the ministry” (works of service)! They help to edify and unify others to utilize their gifts to serve God and serve people.
(Ephesians 4:7-16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31) - Feb 11, 2018Week 5 – Manifestation Gifts
Week 5 – Manifestation Gifts
These are the gifts that manifest themselves through the Body of Christ to attest to His gospel through signs and wonders. They bring glory to His name and bring validity to His word. Unbelievers realize that "God is truly here among you." These gifts appear when they are needed the most. They may not always be something that we function in on a day to day basis like motivational gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) - Feb 4, 2018Week 4 – Motivational Gifts
Week 4 – Motivational Gifts
These are the gifts that motivate us. They seem to govern and influence other gifts at other times. These stay with us, compel us, an inform our service to our God as we serve others! Understanding and recognizing these gifts helps to realize how we function and how the Body of Christ works with its many parts. (Romans 12:3-18)
