Power Through Weakness

Mike Sullivan

2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10

God says His power works best in weakness. When we depend on our own strength, we are rejecting God's superior strength. Sometimes God sends a "thorn in the flesh" to bring us to a point where we will accept His strength over our own. If we can see our weakness, we can receive salvation.

The Enduring Word

Ben Foust

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

God speaks into the world through His Word. We can be saved by hearing the Word of truth. Once saved, we can grow in spiritual maturity by the Word. God wants to gradually transform all areas of our lives. We grow by allowing the Word to renew our minds. It builds our faith, convicts our hearts, nourishes our souls, rouses our passions, makes us wise, and empowers our ministry

The Role of the Law

Conrad Hilario

Exodus 20:12-17

Because God demands absolute moral perfection, no one can ever be made right with God by following the Law. Even in the Old Testament, people were saved by faith and not by following the Law. Christians are not under the Law because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, but the Law is useful for giving us a moral orientation.

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.

The Full Armor of God

Conrad Hilario

Ephesians 6:10-24

Paul warns his audience that their struggle is not against other humans but evil spiritual forces, namely Satan. We need to be prepared to fight with the Word of God's truth, relying not on our own righteousness but on Christ's righteousness. The full armor of God consists of truth, righteousness (Christ's), gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God and finally, prayer.

The Armor of God

Scott Risley

Ephesians 6:10-24

A spiritual battle rages around us that is a battle for truth with eternal consequences. We are called to stand firm not by our own strength but in the Lord's. We are to take up the full armor of God to withstand the schemes of the devil. We are to rely on God's truth, His righteousness, the peace that comes from the Gospel, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer.

Spiritual Warfare

James Rochford

Ephesians 6:10-20

Satan's strategies include manipulation, exaggerating offenses and hurt feelings, fueling temptation, and nurturing suspicion. The Christian's strategy to stand against his schemes is to put on the full armor of God. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit make up the full armor of God.

Understanding Satan's Tactics

Conrad Hilario

Ephesians 6:10-12

God's enemy is real and relentless. You are the target. Jesus never reasons or argues with Satan but declares God's truth. You are in a battle. Are you going to be a combatant or collateral damage? You need to arm yourself with truth. If you are a Christian, you do not need to fear death or Satan.

The Call to Transformtion

Jim Leffel

Titus 2:1-10

For a Christian, truth should lead to a transformed life that a watching, lost world deeply longs for. Every stage of life of a Christian, whether you are young or old, male or female, is an opportunity to allow God to bring about transformation that honors the Gospel, silences critics, and adorns the message of grace.