Four Keys to Spiritual Progress

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 5:3

While receiving Christ is an end to works-righteousness and alienation from God, it is the beginning of growth toward spiritual maturity. Four keys to spiritual maturity are allowing suffering to play a role, rejecting all forms of perfectionism, keep moving forward, and observing and imitating more mature Christians.

Spiritual Risiliency

Chris Risley

Romans 5:3

Scripture describes the Christian life as a race and a battle. In order to finish well, we must acquire spiritual toughness and resiliency. This workshop will include practical steps on developing your spiritual fortitude as well as discovering the connection between standing firm (toughness) and humility.

Global Persecution

Clive Calver

Ruth Calver

Romans 5:3

Dr. Calver and his wife Ruth have visited with many Christians who regularly face intense persecution for their faith, and instead of being defeated by it, find these Christians are more passionate about sharing their faith and their churches often flourish. Conversely Dr. Calver says a long-term absence of persecution often demonstrates that a church has sold out. While God never promises a lack of suffering, He does promise His presence in the midst of it, and uses the pain to make us into what we should be, closer to Him and more useful to Him.\r\n

Friendship at the Finish Line

Chris Hearty

2 Timothy 4:6-18

Paul writes to Timothy about those who have deserted him, but then moves on to praise God's faithfulness to him. He requests his friends to come to him and bring some of his belongings, and reflects on his walk with God. \r\n

Famous Last Words

Scott Risley

2 Timothy 4:9-22

As Paul faces his last days on earth, his thoughts are on his friends, both loyal and disloyal, his reading material (Old Testament and his letters), and finally, his cloak to keep him warm in his cold prison cell. In the end, the Word of God and his relationships are what mattered most to Paul. When you face the end of your life, you can have certainty that you will face Jesus as your friend.

Living for an Audience of One

Scott Risley

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Paul calls Timothy to be like the king's herald who is charged with accurately speaking the king's words, not altering the words in any way, even if it is very unpopular. Timothy actually does have the words of the King, and the King has something to say about Jesus is the only way to heaven, about moral right and wrong, about the final judgment, and about sacrificial love and commitment to God.

Guarding Against Deception

Chris Hearty

2 Timothy 3:5-14

Paul warns against false teachers and deceivers that prey on vulnerable members of the community. Paul then calls on the believers to know the Lord's teachings, and to endure through persecution.

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?

More Than Worth the Hardship Involved

Chris Hearty

2 Timothy 2:3-7

Paul writes to Timothy to persevere in suffering and reflects on three metaphors to illustrate this point. The first being a soldier trying to please his commanding officer, the next being an athlete that competes according to the rules, and the last being a hard-working farmer receiving a share of his crops. Paul urges us to call on God for insight into perseverance through suffering.