Counter Cultural Community in the Age of Rage

Ed Stetzer

Colossians 3:12-17

In an increasingly angry and hostile world, Christians can have the opportunity to shine brightly in contrast. Maturity of faith is evidenced by how you love others. Colossians 3 gives a road map to loving others well: Look like Christ, forebear and forgive, lead with love and be thankful.

Dynamics of Renewal in Christ

Jim Leffel

Colossians 3:5-11

When we become believers in Jesus, God embarks on a renewal process that involves us putting on Christ and setting aside the old self, the old way of life. We can know intellectually that we are a new creation, but we must go deeper and really consider our bodies to be dead to the old immoral ways. As we are clothed in the newness of Christ, all the differences between people falls away. We are one in Christ. This is real hope for a broken world. It cannot be lived out individualistically. It is lived out corporately, united with one another.

The Human Condition

Jim Leffel

Romans 1

This is a study of the human dilemma and the tragedy of the human condition. Because humanity has refused God's loving leadership, God has let us go to walk in our own devices. As a result, we are broken people and have shattered our intimacy, identity, and dignity. The good news of the Bible is that Jesus Christ came to rescue us from our rebellion against God and our shattered selves.

Receiving the Word

Dennis McCallum

James 1:19-27

A believer must be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to anger. One must learn to come before God quietly in order to become a good listener. A good listener is not too full of himself to listen, nor is a wool-gatherer who is thinking of other things while supposedly listening, and is able to enter into the feelings of others as they share.

Fresh Tips on Tough Talks

John Ross

James 1:19-27

Anyone called to Christian leadership will be faced with many difficult conversations as they love those entrusted to their care. As we move in to bring biblical truth to people (which is often in opposition to the mainstream cultural view) we may find ourselves in a tricky situation. It's helpful to understand what's really going on in difficult conversations, how to recognize when things get off track, and how to move the discussion back to a constructive course.

Cain and Abel

Mike Sullivan

Genesis 4:1-16

Genesis recounts the first murder of Abel by his brother Cain, motivated by God's acceptance of Abel's sacrifice and rejection of Cain's. We see that God, as always, was not concerned with the sacrifices themselves, but with the hearts of the two men. Like Cain, when we sin, God moves toward us redemptively and we must choose whether to repent or to harden our hearts.

Dealing with Anger, Developing Patience

Bev DeLashmutt

Genesis 4:1-16

Anger is often the result of someone or something blocking our goals. Any goal that can be blocked by forces beyond your control is not a healthy goal. A godly goal is one that is only dependent upon you and God to achieve. A better plan is to change your incorrect beliefs as our beliefs dictate our behaviors. Correct beliefs will enable achievable goals. Achievable, godly goals significantly reduce the occurrence of anger and increases the peace in our homes and relationships.

Setting the Stage

Jim Leffel

1 Kings 16:29-33

Elijah and Elisha are prophets of God. During their time of service to God, there are many critical issues that surface. This teaching is an introduction to the story of these prophets and answers some questions about God.

The Person of Jesus (Part 3) - Loving Anger

See Jesus Ministries

Mark 3:3-6

We find in the Bible that Jesus loves through his anger. Jesus embodies love and views people as they are meant to be seen. When Jesus gets angry it is because of injustice. Through the story of the man with the crippled hand we can follow Jesus' anger and learn how to love in anger.