The Power of Putting Others First

Ryan Lowery

Ephesians 3:13-21

While he is in the midst of his own difficult circumstances, Paul encourages the believers to endure hardship and give glory to God.

Why Keep Praying?

Patrice McCormac

Luke 11:5-13

We should we be persistent in prayer because being aware of the needs of others, and our inability to meet those needs, drives us to go to God with our urgent and sincere prayers. God has the resources we don't, and as our Father, He is eager to respond to our requests.

The Race

Jim Leffel

Hebrews 12:1-3

The author of Hebrews compares the journey of lifelong faithfulness to a race that we must be perseverant in. We can look to Jesus as our role model, but also to followers of God who came before us.

Follow Up: Growth, Persecution, and Judgment

Dennis McCallum

2 Thessalonians 1:1-10

God, in all His amazing wisdom, is able to use the suffering and persecution Christians receive, to grow us spiritually. He promises that those who persecute us will come under eternal judgment, if they refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.

Inside Out

Jim Leffel

Jeremiah 37:1-38:20

As Jeremiah remains faithful to God in the face danger from those pursuing him, King Zedekiah struggles to make a decision to obey God or not. Contrasting the inner lives of Zedekiah and Jeremiah, we get a hint at why there is such a difference in their outer actions.

Keep On Praying

Patrice McCormac

Luke 18:1-8

Praying at all times and not losing heart is the refusal to accept a situation "as is." Persistent prayer is the acknowledgement that God is powerful enough to change things and is loving enough to be willing to intervene. He went to great lengths to open a way for us to have a relationship with Him, proving His desire to hear from us.

Halftime

Jim Leffel

Jeremiah 25:1-11

Jeremiah was able to persevere through a difficult life because he kept his eyes fixed on God's plan for him. Today, we can persevere through our own lives by placing our faith in God and seeking His vision for us.

Responding to Opposition

Patrice McCormac

Nehemiah 4

As Nehemiah rallied the people to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem, he encountered fierce opposition from local rulers. Though the people were afraid, Nehemiah brought God into the situation. He prayed by himself and with others. Then he got back to work. He did not focus on the problems but on the work before them, trusting God was with them.

Who Built the Wall?

Patrice McCormac

Nehemiah 3

Nehemiah, who led the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, took pains to list the names of ordinary people who worked side by side each other to repair the ruined walls in a record 52 days. This illustrates three spiritual principles. One, God often works through ordinary people doing ordinary tasks, two, they are dependent upon each other, and three, together they can accomplish something extraordinary.