The Chapel Buffalo: Recent Episodes
The Chapel
"One in Prayer" is the first message in the series, "One". Our church heard from multiple speakers about prayer, and took time to pray together.
Pastor Jerry sits down with local church leaders to discuss unity in the Body.
thechapel.com/kingdomcome
God wants people to see Jesus through His children. This is one of the significant ways He brings people to Himself. But, sometimes, we don’t always give a clear picture of Jesus in our lives. We need to figure out how to get out of the way and reflect the light of Jesus into our world.
We all have ideas of who belongs and who doesn't, who should be at the table and who shouldn't be. We can benefit from seeing Jesus answer those concerns in a real story.
When Jesus matters to us more than anything, our spouses matter to us like they matter to Him.
During our annual congregational meeting, we shared financials, annual audit results and celebrated what God did through our church this past year.
Our spiritual gifts must be used in the right way – out of love for Christ and for others.
The Holy Spirit is the active presence of God in the world who calls attention to Jesus.
Jesus was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many. His blood provides eternal and unlimited access to God.
Our lives should be a “trumpet” that is a compelling influence in the lives of others to follow Jesus.
A special night of worship at our CrossPoint Campus where 21 people shared their story and walked through the waters of baptism.
We don't need to try to earn God's acceptance. To be in Christ means we are accepted as Jesus is.
It could be said that many of us are just sleepwalking through life. We are dead people walking. But the resurrection of Jesus will wake us up – not just someday, but even right now. You can wake before you die.
Like Abraham, God calls us to go on a journey of faith. We need to wait for His promises, and we need to obey even when tested.
There is a kind of faith which passes as real faith but offers no freedom and produces nothing life-giving. One faces the challenge to break free from this false form of faith and step into the life of freedom Jesus has won for us.
Why does the Church exist? Why does our church exist? And where do you fit in to the mission that God is on in reaching the world?
In Luke’s gospel, we encounter Jesus on several occasions gathering for a meal with a variety of different people. These stories around the table are designed to lead us somewhere and teach us something about who Jesus is and what He came to do.
We all have ideas of what we want 2017 to be, including the changes we want to make. But perhaps the first question we should be asking is, “What does God want to do in my life this year?”
God has the power to use anything and anyone for good, for His purposes, and for His glory.
An original song written by our worship team about leaving a legacy. We need Jesus to be our legacy.
This Sunday is designated globally as Orphan Sunday and is an opportunity to raise awareness in the church of the need to care for the defenseless, both locally and globally.
God hates pride because it stands in opposition to His nature. God will honor humility.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
On this weekend, we had a unique opportunity to hear from live communicators in each of our venues at all of our campuses.
Our hearts were not created to be leaders; they were created to be followers of our Lord and Savior.
We should hold tightly to Jesus and loosely to money, not tightly to money and loosely to Jesus.
Faith shows us that God Himself is the only satisfaction for our souls; that is why we turn, serve and wait.
The hope that we have in the Gospel of Jesus leads us to be dispensers of hope wherever we go.
If Jesus is who He says He is, then we should be people who let the supernatural Jesus reveal Himself through our lives.
We defend the value and dignity of every human life because every human being was created by God and bears the image of God.
There are good ways to grieve and there are bad ways to grieve. As disciples of Jesus, we want to know what good grief looks like, because how we grieve says more about our hope in Christ than we may think.
Your life-path can be known and joy can be found when God is at the center of your life.
The Christian's world view should be shaped by the self-revelation of God in Jesus through Scripture.
Perhaps the best way for you to understand your place in the world is to see it as Jesus does.
On May 15, 2016, our three campuses came together as one church to sing in worship and see people within our context go through the waters of baptism.
Our God has designed us to love and be loved in return. He created us to live with nothing to prove, nothing to hide and nothing to lose. Sadly something broke, but God in His mercy had a plan to make it right.
As our heavenly father, God has designed us to mature. He doesn’t want His children to be frozen in time, stuck in spiritual immaturity. He wants us to progress in relationship with Him through time.
When Christ's people have an extraordinary response to suffering, God uses it to accomplish extraordinary purposes for the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit has been given to those who believe so they can tell those who do not believe in Jesus.
How does Israel fit into the plans of God for the world and for redemption? As we look back at one of the covenants God made with Israel, we will see how it fits in to the whole story of Scripture, but also how it impacts our lives today.
Jesus has a plan to keep shaking the earth, and that plan is people. You are the aftershock.
Although the story of the resurrection is a very old one, we encourage you to take a second look. You may be surprised by what you find.
On Friday, March 25, 2016, all three campuses met at our CrossPoint Campus for a special Good Friday service.
We can't fully comprehend the depth of Christ's love because we can't fully comprehend the depth of our sin.
Nick Kish lead us in the song written by our worship team called "The Prayers We Sing".
Christ's love is so wide that it cannot be measured or comprehended. We must ask ourselves the question: "Why is my love so narrow when Christ's love is so wide?"
The song "Wake Up The Sun", performed by Brian Yak, Nick Kish and Jeremiah Halstead. This music video was part of our Waking Up The Sun series.
We can have joy in the midst of our suffering because God is sovereign, purposeful and good.
True joy is only found in God's presence. It is the only way to wake up the sun in your heart.
Radical relationship to Jesus is the only way to rightly prioritize our relationships to everything and everyone else.
In our culture today, we can be connected with people literally from around the world. The Gospel can, and should, go to every person everywhere – but what does that look like in real life? And what is our responsibility in the process as disciples of Jesus?
God's Word is planted in our hearts each and every time we gather together as a congregation. Looking back on this year, we realize just how faithful He has been in teaching us. We want to remember what God has shown us so that we can obey Him going forward.
If we want to keep Christ in Christmas, then we have to become like the Christ of Christmas, who called us to serve.
It's almost impossible to go anywhere today without seeing something superhero related. It's everywhere. People love the idea of someone that has super-strength, the ability to fly, or can build enough really cool gadgets to make up for the lack of the first two. The idea that one person can make the world a better place gives people a sense of hope and excitement. But, what if we looked at those super-heroes and asked ourselves, "What happens when they aren't enough for themselves?" We wanted to take that theme for this year's Christmas presentation and run with it. "Wonder" features all original music written and performed by our worship team.
We tend to exclusively think of Thanksgiving as an event on the fourth Thursday of November. But the Bible speaks of thanksgiving as a habit of our souls.
We tend to exclusively think of Thanksgiving as an event on the fourth Thursday of November. But the Bible speaks of thanksgiving as a habit of our souls.
We are to worship and be faithful witnesses while we await for the appearing of our Savior.
You were made for marriage to the Lamb. That marriage doesn't work when you have other lovers.
In order for us to participate with God on His mission, partnerships will be necessary. No person and no local church can do it alone. But these partnerships are to be Gospel-based so that we bring glory to God and bring the Gospel to people.
God intends to use your witness in the world for the sake of calling the world to repentance - not just in the future, but right now.
The only way we will ever see what God wants us to see is when we clearly see Jesus for who He is.
The mountains of life are the things that are daunting, intimidating, and may cause us to respond in fear. But Jesus shows us that God’s promises are bigger and stronger than any mountain we may face, therefore we don’t need to fear.
For all the times we didn’t measure up, for all the times we didn’t do enough, and for all the times we’ve felt insufficient, Jesus has an answer. He is sufficient.
Our happiness is far too often rooted in our circumstances. When you have Christ's joy, your joy will be complete.
Paul tells us in Philippians that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. What does that mean to us as Christians?
We are all creations of God, but we become children of God when we put our faith in Christ.
Redeemed people know how to live because they live for their Redeemer and their Redeemer lives in them.
What does it mean to be a friend of God, and how does that impact your relationship with Him?
If you have been transformed by the gospel, you are not "just a sinner", you are a saint.
As sons and daughters of God, we have special privileges, serious responsibilities and a secure hope.
When the longing of our hearts is for Jesus' reappearing, we don't have time or desire to sin.
There is a specific giant that seeks to undermine the foundations of our faith. We need to learn how to identify the giant, why it attacks and how to defeat it in our life.
Jesus will place you in your purpose when you purpose to place Him above everything else.
Many people have misconceptions regarding the Church. What does the Bible teach us about the Church?
The Scripture is a true revelation of God that carries His authority. What authority do you live under?
Times of darkness can cause you to question a lot of things. It makes it hard to see past the struggle that you're facing. But, there is hope. There is a light that shatters the darkness. A light that gives life to all mankind: Jesus. He rolled the stone away from an empty tomb, conquering death and the grave.
On Friday, April 3, 2015, all three campuses met at our CrossPoint Campus for a special Good Friday service.
We mocked Jesus as a prophet, Priest and King. Though we mocked Jesus, Jesus mocked sin by defeating it at the cross.
Some people are in the ocean of God’s activity but have sealed off their hearts to receiving the outpouring of His love and grace.
If your life is not marked by obedience, it is likely because it is marked by prayerlessness. If you want to pray like King Jesus, pray to obey.
The King was prepared to fulfill His mission because not even a betrayal could stop Him.
Jesus is both lion and lamb, harbor and storm, peace and chaos, all power and all humility, completely just and full of grace.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
The word “church” means many things to different people. But what does God say about it? In this series we’ll discover who we are, why the Church exists, and why that matters in our lives today.
God is not far off and distant. Instead, He has a message for the world that He loves, and we - His Church - are the letter He is writing to the world.
God is so faithful to teach us wonderful truths as we gather together as a congregation every week. We don’t want to forget them. We do well to have reminders.
In his gospel account, Luke records some ancient Christmas songs designed to announce the coming of Jesus to earth. Mary, Zechariah, the Angels, and Simeon all contribute timeless truths to the story of Christmas - and each song has value to our lives today.
In his gospel account, Luke records some ancient Christmas songs designed to announce the coming of Jesus to earth. Mary, Zechariah, the Angels, and Simeon all contribute timeless truths to the story of Christmas - and each song has value to our lives today.
In his gospel account, Luke records some ancient Christmas songs designed to announce the coming of Jesus to earth. Mary, Zechariah, the Angels, and Simeon all contribute timeless truths to the story of Christmas - and each song has value to our lives today.
In his gospel account, Luke records some ancient Christmas songs designed to announce the coming of Jesus to earth. Mary, Zechariah, the Angels, and Simeon all contribute timeless truths to the story of Christmas - and each song has value to our lives today.
What happens after this life is over - and who can we trust to tell us? The Bible is not silent on these things; in fact, it’s the best source for our comfort and encouragement. Join us in this sermon series as we explore what God says about the AfterLife, an why it matters.
What happens after this life is over - and who can we trust to tell us? The Bible is not silent on these things; in fact, it’s the best source for our comfort and encouragement. Join us in this sermon series as we explore what God says about the AfterLife, an why it matters.
What happens after this life is over - and who can we trust to tell us? The Bible is not silent on these things; in fact, it’s the best source for our comfort and encouragement. Join us in this sermon series as we explore what God says about the AfterLife, an why it matters.
What happens after this life is over - and who can we trust to tell us? The Bible is not silent on these things; in fact, it’s the best source for our comfort and encouragement. Join us in this sermon series as we explore what God says about the AfterLife, an why it matters.
Our friends, freedom, lives, relationships, and money can leave us. But God has said "Never will I leave you."
God is the manufacturer of love, we are just the distributors. There is no definition of love outside of God since He is the source.
God listens to us not so that He can give us everything we want, but so that He can give us everything He wants.
God speaks to us to communicate His love to the world and to us. We need to learn to hear His voice.
The Gospel gives all of us hope because regardless of our background or circumstances, Jesus can transform us and shower us with His grace.
When our soul is distant from the presence of God, there is a tension because it just simply isn’t at home anywhere else. As Augustine said, "We are restless until we find our rest in You, God."
When we walk through difficulty, it's natural to ask questions. Faith isn't the absence of questions; it's knowing Who to ask. And Jesus is the answer to our every question.
One of the best ways we can nourish our souls is through worship. When we remember God's past faithfulness, it brings us to a place of worship – and that reignites our present faith.
When we walk through the low moments of life, we want to hide from the world. But when spiritual depression sinks in, we need to hide in God instead. That's where He will teach us things that we couldn't learn otherwise.
How you treat what you have now will impact what you have in eternity. We need to lead our hearts toward generosity as we look ahead to the coming age.
We have to decide if we are going to be rich towards ourselves or if we are going to be rich towards God. Whichever method we choose will have an enormous impact on the decisions we make with our stuff.
The way of the wise teaches us some important things: no one is too far from God's reach, and for those who want to walk in wisdom, the only way to do that is to walk in the will of God.
We all must choose which message we will believe. The Doctrine of the Deserving says that we should consume all we have on ourselves, while the Gospel of Grace says that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing. The message we choose to embrace will determine the kind of life we live.
The Bible has some direct teaching for those who are rich, but what we may not realize is that this teaching is for all of us. On a global scale, we are among the wealthiest people on the planet, which means that we need to hear and apply what the Scripture says. And that begins with today's message: choose the god you will serve.
Being a disciple of Jesus is not only about being a good student of the Scripture, or about being involved in a lot of religious activity. A disciple is someone who daily follows Jesus Christ and compels others to do the same.
"Witness" is less about an activity and more about an identity. It's who we are, and who God is making us to be. We are all witnesses to what God has done in our lives through Jesus, and we can't help but tell the world of His Good News.
Spiritual gifts are not from you or for you; they are from God and for others. Our gifts are to be used for His glory and the good of others.
The question is not if you are being shaped by someone or something; the question is: who or what is shaping you? Who is making you? For the one who is a Christian, the God who made you is also making you.
Easter Sunday gives us more than just a reason to get dressed up or attend a church service. When we look at the story of Easter, we see that the Resurrection of Jesus gives us something far better. Because of Jesus, we can dare to hope.
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday wasn't only about Him coming to take Caesar's place; He entered Jerusalem that day to take humanity's place.
What the Gospel teaches us is that God does count our sins, but He doesn't count them against us because of Jesus. We need to stop counting our sins and start counting the opportunities to be an ambassador for Christ.
The flesh wants you to believe that you can manufacture the life of God on your own. But the flesh doesn't count in our salvation, nor in our spiritual growth and maturity. The only thing that counts is living as new creations that are led by God's Spirit.
If my obedience counts to God, then it must also count to me. Living as a believer means keeping God's commands, which means we walk as Jesus walked.
Sin isn't just a mistake or an error in judgment; it is saying, "No," to God. And as we learn from the example of Lot's wife, disobedience can only lead to death; obedience to God, on the other hand, brings life.
Just like the Israelites discovered in the wilderness, we are far more sinful than we ever dared to realize. But in Christ, we are more loved than we ever dared to imagine.
As we look at the instructions God gave to construct the Tabernacle, we see that God was communicating several things about Himself. Not only that, but in Jesus, we see the fullness of what God revealed in the Tabernacle – and what that means for us today.
When we look at the story of the Exodus and the Passover, we see Israel being covered by the blood of a lamb so that they could be freed from slavery in Egypt. But we also see Jesus in the story. His blood has covered us so that we could be freed from slavery in sin. We are free because of the Passover Lamb.
What we see in the story of Abraham and Isaac is that God is our Provider. And through this story, we can look forward and see that God provides everything we need in Jesus.
The story of Noah doesn't point backward, it points forward. We see Noah's faith looking ahead to what is to come – the new creation that Jesus will bring with Him when He returns.
The story of Cain shows us that sin must be dealt with and God's justice must be satisfied. But it also teaches us that we, like Cain, are guilty before God and cannot save ourselves. We need Grace, and that's exactly what God provided in Jesus' sacrifice.
Sin isn't simply a mistake or a lapse in judgment; sin offends God. We can't run from it, we can't cover it up, and dig ourselves out of the whole we've made. But God, in His grace, has provided a way.
In the life of a Christian, there is only progress and regress; there is no standing still. And if we want to mature spiritually, we will have to combat spiritual laziness.
Immaturity can lead us to idolize teachers and spiritual leaders, ultimately causing division within the Body of Christ. Maturity calls all of us to a better response.
Christianity isn't about doing good works or earning God's favor. True Christianity is about a heart-transformation that can only come from Jesus because of his sacrifice.
Sometimes it's good for us to undergo self-examination to ensure that we are healthy in our walk with Jesus.
There is hope for the seeking because God always responds to the person who seeks Him. But, as it turns out, it was actually God who has been seeking them all along.
There is hope for the outcasts because Jesus is the Outcast Savior. This means that the Gospel of Jesus is available to everyone: all are welcome, and all are invited.
The television broadcast of our 2013 Christmas production titled "The Story of Christmas" featuring Sara Groves.
In the "Under Burning Stars" Christmas show you will experience the story of Christmas through the lens of a young girl's imagination. It is a concept derived from the songwriting of Brian Yak, a member of our worship team at The Chapel. He wanted to set our focus on the big picture of God's glory - a story that didn't start in Bethlehem, but at Creation. Many of the stars in our night sky have existed through all of time; through creation, the flood, Jesus' life on earth, and up to present day. And if the stars could talk, they would tell of God's amazing story!
Pride isn't just something we can get over; we have to get under pride by humbling ourselves under God's hand. This humility is the path to true life.
Herod was disturbed by Jesus' birth, because he perceived Jesus as a threat to his throne. For many, the birth of Jesus is also a threat to the thrones of our lives, and we are also disturbed. There's hope for all of us.
The cross is the sign of God's ownership of our lives. God doesn't just own our time or our stuff; he owns us.
Jesus doesn't want to be first in our lives; He wants to be all. But He can't be all until He at least is first.
There is perhaps nothing as tangible as trusting God with our resources. Everything that we have, including what we give, is God's.
Are we owners, or are we owned? What does the Bible say about the Sabbath and how it relates to the ownership of our time?
What promises did Jesus make when he referred to himself as the "Good Shepherd"? What did Jesus do for us that is not unlike a shepherd?
Love is the grown up language of the kingdom citizen. Because love never ends, what does it help us to do?
Why do we need to learn how to love? How do we deal with injustice in the government of God?
How could our money and resources actually be used more wisely to expand God’s Kingdom, instead of us trying to keep building our own kingdom?
Where are you polluting the pure love of God intended to flow to you and through you? Why should we be so concerned about how our demonstration of love impacts people who are far from God?
Love is patient and love is kind. How do you show patience and kindness to the people in your life – friends, enemies, even strangers?
What happens when you don't have love? Where does love come from? How does God define love?
What should we do when we find ourselves waiting for God to change our situation? How do we deal with sorrow?
The God of the Universe wants to do a good work in you, and He is going to complete the work.
Whose voice do you listen to when you come to a crossroads? How can you hear Jesus' voice in the midst of the noise around you?
How does a resolve to kill off the residuals of sin help you in following Jesus? Why is it necessary to take things seriously and not brush off the severity of sin?
What shows up in your life most, God or something else? What happens when you choose an idol over God?
A lifetime of walking with God can be overshadowed by one “except.” For David, he walked with God – except in the story of Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. While God forgives our eternal penalty of sin, does that mean that we won’t have any consequences in this lifetime?
Jesus Christ is the intersection of Heaven and Earth. What does that mean for us now and what will that look like when Jesus returns?
How do we develop maturity as followers of Jesus? How do we break the tendency to treat the Word of God carelessly?
Is there a difference between knowing a lot of wise things and actually being a wise person? What does a wise person look like?
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. How do we walk in righteousness?
When God disciplines us, he may use hardship, Scripture, other people, or consequences to do so. In this process, we may feel the sting of his “pruning shears” but how can we not focus solely on the pain and instead start asking,“God, what are you trying to teach me here?”
Trusting the Lord with our money will provide us a blessing and make us a blessing. How do we trust him to make that happen?
The path you walk will either be a blessing or a curse to those who follow you. Because of Jesus we can now be children who never walk in curse, but walk in blessing.
Our trust in God is half-hearted as we rely on ourselves. We do this because we really don't know God. If we did, we'd trust Him with all we have. Trust in God is never blind trust.
Everybody's got something written on their hearts. What's written on yours? What do you think would happen if we made sure that people could see Jesus clearly written on our hearts and lives?
Our natural tendency as human beings is to act like we know it all and we have it all together. But we can only gain true wisdom by fearing the Lord.
In spite of God's flawless track record, we question and we doubt. Why is it so easy for us to forget about his faithfulness?
Why should we pray the same prayer that Jesus prayed: "Father forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing?"
Do we believe the Father's cup is better, even when it is bitter? In other words, are you willing to view your suffering as an opportunity for the glory of God?
As awesome as it is that we get to intercede for each other, there’s something even more incredible: Jesus is praying and interceding for us.
Until we understand that we are a sent people, we will not fulfill the mission of God. We will glorify God when we act as a sent people.
The Father revealed himself to the world as the God who brings life from death. The glorification of the son is not just about his death, but that from his death will come life.
Jesus' sacrifice was absolutely satisfactory and He proved it by raising from the dead.
The love of God is unconditional. Does this demonstration of God’s love for us provoke us to live differently?
Through the story of Christmas, we discover that God is personal, loving, approachable, and dependable.
Your generosity says a lot about you and tells the world how serious you are about the gospel.
People with a love problem don’t have a love problem; they have a relational problem with Jesus.
You must posture your life to be changed by God. That posture includes intimacy with God, developing Christlike relationships, using your spiritual gifts, and sharing your story of grace.
In and of ourselves, we are broken and the image of God is tarnished (at best) in our lives. How does this image get restored?
Your identity will be shaped by the story you believe. If you believe the story of grace, everything changes for you.
In the midst of his fear, Peter got out of the boat to meet Jesus on the water. What can we learn from Peter's example of faith?
How does our faith in God provoke us to live in light of eternity – as opposed to being tossed around every time something doesn’t go our way?
We have all of these longings and desires that we try to satisfy with money, stuff, sex, and anything else we can find; but all of these desires are symptomatic of a greater and deeper desire that only God can fill.
Sometimes it seems like we live in a world that is full of people just stumbling around in the dark. Should we curse the darkness, or listen to the music of the Gospel?
Is America a Christian nation? What does God want the world to know about himself through us – his representatives on the earth?
If Christ’s love is motivating us, can we love others in a way that glorifies God? How can be avoid showing favoritism to people?
If we turn our backs to those in distress, can we say that our faith is authentic? Are we really living out the Gospel?
There is a great need that exists in the world – and the Church of Jesus could actually do something about it.
What happens to people who have never heard of Jesus? If you have never heard the Gospel, is it fair to be judged by God?
How can science and scripture get along? Do Christians have to ignore science to believe the Bible?
We need to stop trying to manage our sin, and start learning what it means to walk in the spirit.
The point of our freedom is to be slaves to Jesus so that we can love as He loves and do as He does.
Sometimes, we may be on the receiving end of some persecution – even though it pales in comparison to what other believers experience throughout the world.
If we abuse or misuse the freedom that we have in Jesus, it may be an indication that we don’t really understand the Gospel.
Since Jesus has reconciled us back to the Father by undoing the curse brought about through Adam, we are no longer under sin’s control or penalty.
We tend to sterilize the importance of Christmas, but it reminds us that Jesus came to be the King of a new kingdom.
We may feel safer around the Christmas version of Jesus, because he's a baby and he doesn't threaten us. But what do we stand to gain as a follower of Jesus?
Even when we do the right thing by God’s standards, we feel the heat from other people.
We sometimes confuse religious symbols – church attendance, giving money, praying special prayers – with the reality of Jesus.
Nearness to God is a dangerous thing, but what is more dangerous is being distant from God.
It is God’s desire that we would live in the present world like we are going to live in the world to come.
The ownership principle teaches us that all we have is from God; it’s his, and we are only managers or trustees.
What is God’s message of forgiveness and reconciliation and how do we need to respond in our relationships?
You cannot separate the Living Word (Jesus) from the Written Word (the Bible), because God never leaves His Word alone.
Since Jesus has provided a way for us to come into God’s presence, we ought to pursue that relationship.
God desires intimacy with us and to know us closely. Jesus often spoke of God the Father "drawing" us to Himself.
People who belong to the Kingdom of God are people who serve. How does service drive us toward Christlikeness?
Instead of asking what our spiritual gifts are, we should be asking ourselves this question: What does love require of me in this situation?
Our story isn't the story, it's just a story in God's story of grace. The story is God glorifying Himself through the grace He has shown in and through Jesus.
Only God can truly satisfy us. We cannot listen to the lie of lust that says "I can say satisfy you with lesser things".
When we decide that we can control our lives and not God, we become alienated from Him.
When we replace God with someone or something else, essentially, we are worshipping that person or that thing.
What do we as Christians believe about creation? How do we handle the theory of evolution?