Family, God's Way

Scott Risley

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children need godly parents to show them the way to live. They in turn are called to obey when young, and honor their parents when older. In Greco-Roman times, the father was the ultimate authority, but Peter points out that God is in authority over the father. God calls the father to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Taming the Tongue

Gary DeLashmutt

James 3:1-12

No one can tame the tongue by moral will-power. It takes receiving Christ and cooperating with Him by faith. We cooperate with God's taming process by resisting the temptation of negative speech and replacing with positive speech.

Flexibility in Parenting

Kristen Mayer

James 3:1-12

Kristen Mayer cautions parents to avoid black and white thinking in our parenting. Every child is created unique and will differ from his or her siblings in temperament, learning style and response to discipline. This requires parents to be willing to be flexible in their parenting style depending on the unique differences inherent in each of their children. Fortunately, the Bible gives us direction in raising our children to be respectful of authority, submit to discipline, respect/love others, think critically, have resiliency, to name a few. No one is born knowing how to be a great parent. We need to be willing to receive feedback in our parenting and to give feedback to our friends' in their parenting.

Insights into Church Discipline

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Corinthians 2:4-11

Paul addresses the aftermath of a painful situation in the Corinthian church, in which a man was disciplined by the church for refusing to abandon a destructive sin. It's an example of church discipline, a concept that the Bible teaches is a key part of a loving Christian community, but is unfamiliar and unpopular in our morally relativistic culture. Paul gives some insight into its use, saying it is most effective in a caring community, it should be reserved for people engaged in serious sin, and if the person repents, they should be welcomed back into community.

Why and How to Memorize Scripture

Ryan Weingartner

2 Corinthians 2:4-11

Have you ever thought about memorizing large sections of Scripture but are uncertain how to start? This workshop will address motivational reasons for memorizing scripture and practical tips to help you become an approved worker, accurately handling the Word of Truth.

A Soldier, An Athlete, and a Farmer

James Rochford

2 Timothy 2:3-7

When Paul tells Timothy to suffer hardship with him, he is asking him to make a voluntary choice to suffer for the cause of Christ. The question is whether this suffering is really worth it. Paul argues that it is and gives three metaphors that demonstrate that the sacrifice and suffering indeed are all worth it. He describes the sacrifices a soldier, an athlete and a farmer all make to reap the benefits that come later. The real question is do you believe it?

Portraits of Endurance

Scott Risley

2 Timothy 2:3-7

Paul, writing to Timothy from a Roman prison, calls him to endure hardship with him. He gives three portraits of endurance. He reflects upon the devotion of the soldier, the discipline of the athlete, and the diligence of the farmer. They each willingly suffer and sacrifice in order to attain the goal of their efforts.

Principle of Serving Love

Dennis McCallum

2 Timothy 2:3-7

After you have received the free gift of God's forgiveness, you have the option of learning to follow His way of life, that is, serving love. It is not required, but if you choose not to, you miss out on the best Christianity has to offer, a life full of purpose and meaning. For those who do decide to follow God's way of serving love, expect to be opposed by God's enemy, Satan. We will suffer hardship if we engage in this battle. Paul gives three models of how to deal with this opposition. The first is a soldier in active service, then an Olympic level athlete, and finally a good farmer.

How Does God Help When it Hurts?

James Rochford

1 Peter 4:12-19

The Bible warns us that suffering in this world is inevitable. The question is will you suffer as the world suffers, with surprise and complaining or will you suffer with joy and gratitude that you have received mercy instead of justice? Why is gratitude the right response to suffering? Gratitude gives us a "mental break" and places suffering in the correct context. Gratitude also reminds us we are not imprisoned victims of our circumstances. The real question is do you believe God is trustworthy or not?