Encounter at Illinois State University / ISU: Recent Episodes
Ben Miller
Our great God, beyond comprehension, became human. The infinite God subjected himself to a finite world. In doing so, he taught us what real ministry is.
(Jn 1:1-14, Gen 1:3, Phil 2:5-8, Heb 4:15-16, John 10:14-15, John 13:34-35, Luke 9:54)
Moses and Jesus seem to agree on what needs to be our greatest priority.
(Deut 6:4-6, Ex 14:14, Deut 11:18-21, Mk 12:28-34, Deut 8:6, Jn 13:34-35, Heb 12:1)
The closer we get to Jesus, the less we need to the World to define us
(1 John 2:15-17, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 12:1-2, Romans 8:1-2, Matthew 6:21)
Balaam the sorcerer is hired to curse the Hebrew people, but his encounter with Jehovah God will take him down an entirely different path.
(Num 22-24, Eph 6:12, I Peter 5:8-9, Matt 6:13, Romans 8:11
2 Tim 1:7, I Jn 1:5, James 1:13, 2 Peter 3:9, Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28)
Community is powerful – will we let it be a force for good or for evil?
(Exodus 32:1-20)
The ark of the covenant sits at the heart of the tabernacle. And the message it speaks is that an imperfect people need a pathway to a perfect God. And God in His wisdom has provided that pathway.
(Matt 5:17-18, Ex 25:1-22, Deut 10:1–5, Heb 10:1, Gal 3:23-27, Jn 14:6, John 1:29, I Cor 6:11, Jn 8:12, Jn 6:35, Jn 14:14, Matt 27:51, Heb 9:11-14, Heb 4:14-16, I Cor 2:2, Acts 17:27)
The altar of incense reveals that the prayers of God’s people intermingle with his tangible presence. What does it mean to believe that prayer changes things?
(Ex 30:1-10, Ex 30:34-37, Ex 40:5,26-27, Ps 141:2, Rev 5:8, Lk 11:9-13, James 5:13-18, Matt 11:24, Rom 8:26-27, I Thess 5:16-18, Lk 3:21, Matt 14:23, Mk 6:46, Lk 6:12, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:16, Lk 9:18, Matt 26:36, Jn 14:13-14, Mark 9, Matt 8)
As we push deeper into the tabernacle, we find the table of showbread. This easily overlooked piece of furniture reveals a generous God who is constantly giving an invitation to His table.
(Ex 25:23-30, Ex 37, Lev 24:5-9, Heb 8:5a, Rev 21:22, Rev 3:20, Matt 9:10, Lk 7:36, Lk 10:38, Lk 19:1-10, Lk 22, Jn 21, Rev 19:9, Matt 6:9-13, 31-34, Deut 8:2-4, Matt 4:4, Ezekiel 3:1-3, Acts 2:42-47, Jn 6:30-35, Lk 22:17-20)
The Bible sustains us in the in between moments in our lives.
(Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:23-24)
Emotions we hold on to and don’t unpack are like vampires with all the power in the dark. How do we unpack our box of emotions to live a more healthy emotional life?
A successful marriage has a whole lot less to do with who you are married to and a whole lot more to do with how you treat the person you are married to.
Having a successful season of singleness might be the most important way to have a successful life-long relationship.
Our sin has a cost, in our own lives and others. All sin leads toward death, and our great God is the source of life. He wants us to leave behind the things that harm us.
(Ex 27, Ex 38, Lev 1-7, Heb 8:5a, Rev 21:22, Heb 9:22, Acts 17:25, John 1:4, John 14:6, James 1:14-15, Eph 2:1, Eph 2:4-6, Heb 9:26, Heb 9:28, Heb 7:27, Eph 5:2, Is 1:18, Rom 12:1, 2 Cor 5:17)
God spends 25% of the book of Exodus explaining how to build the Tabernacle. Why was it so important then, and why is it important to us now?
(Exodus 25:8-9, Exodus 13:21-22, Exodus 40:36-37, Matthew 27:50-51, John 16:7, John 14:16-18, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:38-39, John 14:2-3, Revelations 21:2-4)
Nathan risks everything to confront David with his sin, and the result is deep confession and repentance. David is no longer hiding and manipulating. How are we similarly called to speak truth into the lives around us?
(2 Sam 12:1-13, Eph 4:32, I Peter 3:8-9, Jn 17:11, I Sam 13:4, Acts 13:22, Luke 5:31-32, 2 Sam 7:16, Prov 27:6, Matt 7:1, Matt 7:3-5, Matt 5:9, Matt 18:15, James 4:25-26, Prov 18:2, Jn 16:8, Gal 6:1, Matt 5:23-24, Rom 12:18, Heb 12:14)
Now that the Hebrew people are free from slavery, they find themselves at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God gives them the 10 commandments, and the law. What purpose do these old rules have for Jesus followers?
(Ex 20:19, Eph 2:6-10, I Jn 1:5, James 1:17, Matt 9:12, Matt 5:21-22, Matt 5:27-28, Gal 3:23-25, Rom 8:3, Matt 22:34-40, Jn 13:34-35, 2 Cor 5:17)
As Moses leads his people into the desert, God provides manna and quail for His people. He insists that they take one rule very seriously. Rest.
(Ex 16:13-26, Matt 5:17-18, Gal 3:24-27, Matt 6:25-34, Ex 20:8-11, Gen 2:2-3, Is 40:28, Matt 12:8, Heb 4:9-11)
Moses’ incredible story reaches an impossible moment. As they leave Egypt, God leads them into the dead end of the Red Sea and we glean some beautiful lessons along the way.(Ex 12:31-33, Ex 12:37-38, Ex 13:17-18a, Ex 13:20-22, Ex 14:5-7, Ex 14:10-14, Ex 14:19-31, Ex 15, Mark 14:12, Mark 14:22-26, I Cor 5:7b, Psalm 77:11-12, 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 4, Acts 2:23, Is 43:15-29, Ps 33:3, Ps 40:3, Ps 96:1, Ps 144:1, Ps 149:1, Is 42:10)
Pharaoh repeatedly tells Moses he won’t let God’s people go, and in turn, his heart is hardened. Where are we repeatedly saying no to God in our own lives?
(Exodus 5-13)
Moses looks at his own resources and knows they don’t equal the task at hand. If Moses would dare to lift his eyes up, he’d realize that God’s power is made perfect not through our strengths but our weaknesses.
(Ex 3-4, Acts 7:22, Matt 14:14-21, Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28, 1 Cor 1:27, Acts 4:13, 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 21:42, Phil 3:7-8, Is 64:6, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:1, Rom 8:14-15, Jn 15:15, Matt 28:20, Jn 14:16, Jn 14:7, Rom 8:9, Eph 1:3, I Cor 12:7, Jn 16:13, Rom 8:11, Jn 14:12, Rom 8:31, Matt 16:18)
Moses has an Encounter with a holy God through the burning bush. How do we make ourselves more aware of God’s movement in our own lives?
(Ex 3:1-10, I Kings 19:11-13, Job 33:14, Rom 1:20, Heb 4:12, Jn 16:13, Col 3:16, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:15-16, Matt 14:13, Luke 6:12-13, Matt 14:23, Matt 26:36-39, Matt 4:1, Zeph 3:17, Is 30:21)
When we try to force God’s hand, bad things happen. If we have the faith to wait on His timing, we’ll get to see His power at work instead of our own.
(Ex 2:11-25, Ex 1:1, Num 32:33, James 1:14-15, Col 3:5, Rom 8:13, Gal 5:24, Rom 6:6, I Peter 2:24, Ex 14:14, Ps 130:5-6, Ps 37:34, Is 30:18, Is 40:31, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Peter 3:13, Jn 14:3, Rom 12:2, Prov 3:5-6, Ps 130:5-6)
It may feel like God is distant in the MICRO-transactions of our lives. But we know through the Word that He is constantly using everything to further His incredible META story.
(Gen 15:13-14, 2 Peter 3:8, Josh 21:45, 2 Cor 1:20, Deut 7:9, Matt 5:17, Heb 8:1-2, I Cor 5:7, Heb 9:20, Matt 27:51, Gen 12:1-3, Gen 22:8, Gen 21:12, Gen 49:10, Jer 23:5, Matt 1:1-17, Rom 8:28, Matt 5:45, I Peter 5:10, Jn 16:33, Hab 1:5, Ex 14:14, Job 9:4-10)
Because we have been saved by grace, we are called to live a life of loving others even when it’s hard.
(Luke 10:25-37)
God calls us not only to meaningful connection with Him, but also to each other.
(Gen 1-2, I Cor 12:12-20, Col 3:12-13, John 17:11, Eph 3:6, Ecc 4:9-12, Acts 2:42-47, John 13:35, Heb 10:24-25, Ps 133:1)
Our life in Christ takes us into spaces of deep intimacy. It is far more than knowing about Him. It is knowing Him.
(Is 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 23:4, Matt 28:20, Gen 28:15, Jn 10:14, Matt 7:22-23, Ps 139:1-2, Ex 33:17, Gen 4:1, Is 40:26, Prov 4:20-21, Ps 141:1, I Jn 1:1, Prov 34:8, Jn 15:5)
Fall Retreat Session 4 – Sunday AM
(John 20:24-25; Jeremiah 29:13-14; Matthew 7:7; Proverbs 27:17; John 6:67-69)
Fall Retreat Session 3 – Saturday PM
(Daniel 3:19; Daniel 3:22; Daniel 3:24-25; Daniel 3:28-29)
Fall Retreat Session 2 – Saturday AM
(Ecclesiastes 3:1; Esther 4:13-14; Esther 1:16; Esther 1:19; Esther 2:7; Proverbs 16:4; Psalm 139:13-16; Esther 2:20; Esther 4:15-17)
Fall Retreat Session 1 – Friday PM
(2 Kings 5:1-14; Luke 7:11-19; Matthew 14:22-33; Luke 5:12-13)
In our Jesus-following life, we must recognize that He is the ultimate source for truth in this world.(Matt 16:24-25, Gen 1:27, Jn 18:37-38, Prov 14:12, Is 46:9-10, Is 55:9, Ps 86:11, John 14:6, John 17:17, John 3:30)
While there are many false motives that may lead us to faith, there is only one that sustains our faith.
(2 Cor 5:14-15, I Cor 2:2, I Jn 4:10, Matt 18:21-33, Ps 136, Jer 31:3, I Jn 3:1, Rom 5:8, Eph 3:17-19)
1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that followers of Jesus are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His treasured possession. This sermon explores what it means to live out that identity, moving from passive consumers to active representatives of Christ in the world.
(1 Peter 2:9)
Peter gives us a reminder that our true home is heaven. If that’s true, how do we go about living in a place that isn’t our home?
(I Peter 2:11-12, I Peter 2:4, Eph 2:19-22, Gen 15:13, Ex 2:22, Matt 8:20, Rev 21:3, Jn 1:1-5, Jn 1:14, Jn 13:15, Jn 17:13-18, Matt 5:13, Matt 5:14)
We come to God as living stones of a house, built on the cornerstone of Christ. You’re building a life this year. Pay attention to where you build it, what you’re building with, and the foundation you’re building on. And why.
(I Peter 2:4)
Paul’s “defense” in Acts 22 provides a beautiful glimpse into how we can share Christ with others. One of the most powerful ways to share the Gospel involves knowing our own story and speaking it.
(Acts 22:1-16, I Peter 3:15-16, I Jn 4:10, Rom 8:5-6, Pr 14:12, Is 53:6, Matt 16:24, John 9, Acts 1:8)
In the end of Acts 18, we see Apollos teaching in a way that doesn’t fully represent the Gospel, and Priscilla and Aquila take him aside to help sharpen his gifts and help him become exactly who he needs to be. Proverbs tells us that “wounds from a friend can be trusted.” What does the Bible say about confrontation? How do we handle speaking difficult and tender truth?
(Acts 18:24-28, Prov 27:6)
When Paul arrives in Athens, he is invited to share the story of God with a very different group of people. What lessons can we glean from Paul on what it means to interact with people who are completely unfamiliar with Jesus?
(Acts 17:16-34, John 17:14-18, I Peter 2:9-12, Phil 3:20, Matt 26:53, Luke 19:10, Matt 5:14-16, John 1:14, Rev 21:3)
Do we know the scriptures well enough to know when things are said that aren’t true? Do we examine the Scriptures to see if what we hear is true? What is our source of Truth? How do we understand it?
(Acts 17:1-15)
Paul and Silas, beaten and thrown into prison, sing their songs to the Lord. What does this teach us about the difference between pleasure, happiness, and joy?
(James 1:17, Acts 16:16-40, James 1:17, Rom 15:13, John 15:9-11, Gal 5:22)
We think of idols as remnants of ancient civilizations, and yet each of us has a heart that is quick to produce them. How can we recognize this worthless form of worship for what it is?
(Isaiah 44:9-20, Acts 14, Ex 32:19-20, Ps 144:2, Ps 139:1, Ps 56:8, Jer 31:3, Col 3:1-5, I Cor 11:1, Ps 121)
The people of God earnestly pray for Peter and he is miraculously rescued from prison. But how do we live in a world where we do not always see an immediate healing or resolution when we pray? Dr. Cedric Williams joins us for a conversation where we explore how this overlaps the world of mental health.
(Acts 12:1-17, Matt 7:7-8a, James 5:16, Matt 17:20, 2 Cor 12:7-10, John 16:33)
Barnabas might not be a flashy superstar in the New Testament, but his strong influence in Paul’s life is a great reminder of how we help others become who God has called them to be.
(Acts 11:19-30, Acts 4:36, Acts 9:27, Acts 12:25, Prov 27:9, Gal 5:22ff, Matt 7:1-5, Acts 15:36-40, Gal 2:11-15, 2 Tim 4:11)
When God invited the Gentiles into His Kingdom, He taught Peter about loving those who are different than him. What is He teaching US through the Scriptures that record Peter’s interaction with Cornelius?
(Acts 10:34 – 48)
When Saul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus, it challenges everything about his life and requires a 180 degree change. Do I believe that the same Jesus who transformed Saul can transform me?
(Acts 9:1-30, Acts 22:3, Phil 3:4-9, 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:28, Rev 2:17)
In Acts 8, the Church is spreading like a true wildfire. As the religious rulers try to slow the fire’s spread, God is breathing life into it. When God tells Ananias to go find Saul in Acts 9, we gain insight into obedience, suffering, and the mystery of God’s holy work in our world.
(Acts 9:1-22, Acts 5:34-39, Acts 1:8, Acts 8, Jn 5:30, Prov 15:22, Phil 3:5-11, 2 Cor 11:24-27, 2 Cor 12:9, Mk 4:26-29)
In Acts 8, Philip the evangelist helps us understand how to join God in His work of others hearing the Good News of Jesus.
(Is 9:2, Is 53, Acts 26-39, Luke 4:16-21, Rom 1:16, I Cor 3:4-7, Eph 2:10)
Persecution often shows faith for what it really is, as the light is always brighter in the darkness. Those who were scattered preach the Gospel as they go, and people like Simon the Sorcerer come to know Christ.
(Acts 8:1-25)
The new Church is growing, and is experiencing fracturing/complaints. The wisdom from the apostles becomes delegation. Why is this important to the life of the church and the empowerment of its members? How can we lead in our own contexts knowing that Jesus has given us permission and empowerment to do so?
(Acts 6:1-7)
An abrupt and devastating moment happens in the early Church when sin enters the community and death quickly follows behind it. Why does God deal so harshly with this particular act of dishonesty?
(Acts 4:32-5:11, Jer 32:7, Ps 92:15, Ps 143:10, Ps 33:5, Ps 100:4-5, I Jn 1:5, 2 Tim 2:13, Titus 1:2, I Jn 3:20, James 1:13, Rom 6:23, James 1:15, Is 9:18, Is 55:8, Rom 6:11-14, Jn 16:8, James 5:16, Prov 24:16, Matt 6:12)
Peter and John were confronted by the counsel. What does it mean that we must obey God rather than men? How do we know when we are supposed to listen to governing authorities vs when we need to intentionally disobey?
(Acts 4:1-22, Acts 5:17-41, 1 Peter 2:13-15)
A crippled beggar is healed by Peter at the temple. Of the people present, some are ecstatic, others are indifferent, and some are even angry. Do we have the faith for ask God to miraculously move, and the eyes to see it when He does?
(Acts 3:1-4:4, Matt 13:13-15, Mk 8:17-18, Matt 13:22-33, Jn 14:12-14, Mk 10:13-16, Lk 5:18-26, Mk 9:22-24, Jn 17:1, Jn 3:30)
How can we step into life with God, rather than letting Him be on the outside?
(Colossians 4:2-6, Acts 2:31-33, Acts 2:42-47)
As the New Testament Church gets rolling, incredible public revival becomes the natural result of deep personal surrender.
(Acts 2:42-47, Rev 21:2-4, Eph 5:25-27, Acts 2:31-38, I Peter 3:21-22, 2 Cor 9:7-8, Mark 12:41-44, Jn 17:20-23, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Isaiah 29:13, Matt 6:21)
The Holy Spirit is alive and working. How can we practice reverence in hearing His voice and where it leads us to in our everyday lives?
(Acts 2:1-41, Rom 8:11)
Throughout Scripture, waiting on God is spoken of in a very positive way. If waiting is such a good thing, why do we hate it so much?
(Acts 1:4-5, 12-14, Luke 24:46-49, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Ps 130:5-6, Ps 27:14, Ps 37:34, Is 30:18, Is 40:31, Gen 15:1, Gen 16:3, Gen 21:5, Ex 2:11, Ex 3:1, I Sam 16:12)
The Christian life is one of transformation. But if we’re being transformed, what’s the final version of us supposed to look like?
(Rom 12:2, 2 Cor 3:18, Gal 4:19, 2 Cor 5:14, Eph 3:14-19, Matt 7:21-23, Rom 8:15, Gen 1:27, Is 43:6, Rev 19:6-9, Jn 15:15, Heb 10:24-25, Matt 28:18-20)
Fall Retreat-Session 4- Sunday AM
Living the Story of the Kingdom on Behalf of Others and the reality of the Kingdom Advancing
(1 Sam 17, Lk 4:18-19, Mt 20:25-28)
Fall Retreat-Session 3-Saturday PM
The Story of the Kingdom and the Realities of Heaven
(Rm 12:2, Mk 1:15, Lk 4:18-19, Mt 20:25-28, Gal 5:22-23)
Fall Retreat-Session 2- Saturday AM
The Story of Sin and the Realities of Hell
(Col 2:13-15, Ps 8:5, Gen 2:7)
Fall Retreat-Session 1- Friday PM
The Stories we Believe and the Realities they Create
(Rm 10:10-13; 1 Jn 2:28, Philip 4:6-7, Eph 4:31-32)
Before Jesus ascends, he promises his closest disciples that they will become his witnesses. What does it mean to be a witness for Christ?
(Acts 1:4-11, Luke 12:32, Jn 12:46, Jn 10:10, Matt 20:28, Lk 19:10, Rom 10:9-10, Acts 2:38-39, Jn 13:34-35, Matt 5:14-16, Gal 5:22+, I Peter 2:9)
Going back further into the teachings of Jesus we find a lesson on trust. “Your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom” is a little phrase that the disciples don’t understand in real time, but will be played out throughout the book of Acts.
What happens in our lives when resurrection goes from being an idea to a lived reality?
(Luke 24:13-50, Lk 11:1-4, Acts 1:1-3, Jn 20:19, I Cor 15:6, Jn 11:17-26, I Cor 15:4, Rom 6:5, Rom 6:8, 2 Tim 2:11-12, Col 2:12, Rom 6:4, Gal 2:20, Col 3:3, I Jn 5:12, Eph 2:1-7, Rom 8:11a)
God is writing a beautiful story in our lives, but sometimes our desire to be the author of our own story cuts God out of the equation. Nicodemus points us toward the importance of having a hunger and curiosity to seek out that better Author.
(John 3:1-17, 2 Cor 5:17, Jn 7:51, Matt 16:24-25, Matt 7:7-8)
Practice 3: Wonder – What does it mean for us to regularly be taken aback by God’s glory? How can we continue to be held in wonder at the sheer scope and size of who He is?
(Psalm 33)
God makes it very clear that He cares deeply about lost people. This was Jesus’ mission statement, and should certainly shape our own.
(Lk 15:4-7, Jn 10:10-15, Lk 19:10, Lk 7:34, Psalm 23, 2 Peter 3:9, John 10:11, John 21, I Peter 5:1-4, Ezekiel 34, Gen 4:1-16)
We are the receivers of God’s deep blessing and grace, and yet feel slighted when we sense that others get more than their fair share of the very same thing.
(Matt 20:1-16, Gen 1-3, Rom 7:18-22, Matt 19:29-30, Ps 103:10-13, Rom 8:1, Luke 15:11-32, Heb 12:2)
Practicing Celebration – In our lives, joyfulness, prayer, and thankfulness should be a part of the language we speak to those around us. In fact, this is literally “God’s will” for our lives. How do we do this on a daily basis?
(I Thess 5:16-18)
Jesus wants us to understand how His Kingdom works, and gives us 2 small parables that help us understand the incredible value of His good news and the high cost of accepting it.
(Matt 13:44-46, Matt 23:13, Matt 13:33, Matt 16:25, Matt 20:16, 2 Cor 12:9, I Peter 5:6, Eph 2:1-2, 4-7, I Jn 1:9, Eph 1:13-14, Rom 8:11, Eph 2:19-21, I Cor 3:9a, Rev 21:3-5, Matt 16:24-25, Rom 12:1, Rom 6:4)
We all desire a deep sense of peace, but the path to shalom requires us following Christ into some very hard places.
(Matt 7:1-6, Isaiah 26:3, Jn 14:27, I Jn 4:1, Gal 6:1, Eph 5:11, 2 Tim 4:1-8, Is 33:22, Ps 75:7, Rom 2:16, Matt 18:5+, Prov 18:2)
Jesus shatters our expectations on who “deserves” our love. Who is our neighbor? Connect this to our prayer discipline for the month. Who are we praying for? Who have you decided it is “ok” to hate?
(Luke 10:30-36)
Prayer is the conduit by which we experience God in relationship. Let’s experience what prayer is and what it does in and through every follower of Jesus.
(Luke 3:21, Matt 14:23, Mk 6:46, Lk 6:12, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:16, Lk 9:18, Matt 26:36, Matt 17:20, Jn 14:26, Jn 16:13, Jn 16:8, Acts 1:8, Matt 5:23-24, Is 1:8, Lam 3:22-23, Jn 10:27, I Thess 5:17)
In Jesus’ short parable about light, we learn a great deal about how our faith, connected to our behaviors, is a powerful beacon in a very dark world.
(Matt 5:14-16, Matt 5:3-12, I Jn 1:5, Ps 4:6, Ps 27:1, Ps 28:28, Ps 89:15, Jn 1:9-10, Col 1:11-14, Jn 15:19, I Cor 6:11, Eph 5:3-8, Jn 12:47, Jn 13:35, Jn 8:12, Ps 36:9, Ps 119:105, Jn 3:20, Is 9:2)
In this parable, we see people who are entrusted with differing resposibilities by the master. The only worker reprimanded was the one who did nothing out of fear. Jesus doesn’t require success. He does require you to offer what has been given to you back to Him. What has been given to you that He may desire to multiply?
(Matt 25:14-30)
We desire God to move and work in our lives. Yet when He uses a particular tool to do just that, we begin to obsess about that tool and forget the One who gave it.
(Mk 2:18-3:6, Heb 13:8, Mal 3:6, Rev 1:8, James 1:17, Ps 90:2, Jn 8:58, Is 43:19, Matt 23:4, Gal 3:24-25, Heb 7:19, I Kings 19:9-18, Ex 3, Luke 5)
In our current age, we see through a glass, darkly. But God has promised that there is a time coming where he will remake and restore our world. And He’s a God who keeps His promises.
(Rev 21:1-5, I Cor 13:12, Gen 2:17, Gen 3, Jn 16:33, I Peter 5:8, Eph 6:12, Rom 5:17-18, I Cor 15:22, Gen 15:13, Ex 14:29-30, Isaiah 7,9,11,53, Micah 5:2, Num 23:19, Josh 21:45, Josh 23:14, Jn 14:1-3, Jn 6:40, Heb 9:28)
Joseph seems to attract favor and trouble everywhere he goes. God gives him a unique gift that becomes a turning point in one of his darkest moments. What gifts has God given us? How do we discover and use those gifts?
(Gen 36-46, Prov 3:35, I Cor 12:14-21, Eph 4:11-14, Jn 3:8)
Abraham and Sarah decide they have waited long enough, and have a child with their maidservant Hagar. They twist God’s promise to the point of justifying sin to make it happen. Our desire to bypass God’s timing will never produce the result he intended. (Sarah’s plan quickly results in her own jealousy and hatred)
This week we hear how 3 people’s stories of rushing God’s timing.
Moses looks at his own resources and knows they don’t equal the task at hand. If Moses would dare to lift his eyes up, he’d realize his human limitations are not God’s limitations.
(Ex 3-4, Acts 7:22, Matt 14:14-21, Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28, 1 Cor 1:27, Acts 4:13, 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 21:42, Phil 3:7-8, Is 64:6, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:1, Rom 8:14-15, Jn 15:15, Matt 28:20, Jn 14:16, Jn 14:7, Rom 8:9, Eph 1:3, I Cor 12:7, Jn 16:13, Rom 8:11, Jn 14:12, Rom 8:31, Matt 16:18)
In a desperate moment, Moses lets his anger get the better of him and murders a man. This turning point may teach us some things about sin that we allow in our own lives.
(Ex 2:11-15, I Jn 1:5, Eph 5:18, Rom 6:12, James 1:14-15, Numbers 32:23, 2 Cor 5:23, Is 1:18, Lam 3:22-23, Jn 16:8, I Jn 1:9, 2 Cor 7:10, James 5:16-17, Matt 5:23-24, Ps 34:14, Eph 6, Ps 119:11, Heb 12:1-2, I Peter 5:8-9, Matt 5:29, Prov 4:14-15, Gen 39:7)
Good stories have sad chapters, good stories change you, good stories challenge you. And we know God is a good author of your story.
(John 9)
We see a picture of a perfect Garden in Genesis and in Revelation, but in between those gardens is another garden, one of suffering. What does it mean to live a life of faith in a world where we can expect trouble and suffering?
(Mark 14:32-42, Heb 4:15, Jn 16:33, Neh 8:10, Luke 4:13, Matt 26:52-53, I Cor 10:13, Jn 17:14, Matt 5:4, Ps 34:18, Ps 147:3, James 1:3, Rom 8:28)
Jesus loves to provide invitations that beckon us beyond our barriers. But when we ignore too many of his invitations, the opportunities God provides may start to look more like obstacles.
(Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:3, Phil 3:5, James 4:6, 2 Chron 16:9, Psalm 23)
We are all holding tight. Jesus challenges us to let go of what we are holding onto and follow Him.
{Mark 10:17-27}
In the life of Peter, we watch the power of a submitted, struggling-toward-the-Lord, kind of life. And through Peter’s journey, we hear whispers of what Jesus desires to accomplish in each of us.
(John 21:2-19, Lk 5:1-10, Mk 5:41, Matt 14:22-33, Matt 26:31-35, Mk 14:66-72, Rom 12:1, Prov 24:16, I Cor 12:4-6, 2 Cor 12:8-10, Rom 8:28, Acts 3:12-13, I Peter 5:1-4)
In one of their first interactions, Jesus decides to give Simon an entirely new name. Jesus doesn’t just see the man in front of him; he sees what that man...
Jesus’ Temptation – In Luke 4, we see Jesus “led” into the wilderness where he’ll be tempted. What do we learn about the nature of temptation in this passage, and how do we overcome temptation in our own lives?
{Luke 4:1-13}
A bizarre moment with Jesus at a dinner party with Simon the Pharisee rewrites our understanding of love and grace. Knowing we are loved and forgiven allows us to respond...
What do the prophet Isaiah and Mary, mother of Jesus, have in common? They both respond to a huge interruption with a resounding yes. How do we respond when God...
At the end of the Lord’s prayer, we find a short section that comes from I Chronicles. We are reminded that focusing on God’s kingdom and character puts our prayer requests in their proper context.(Matt 6:5-13, I Chron 29:11, Luke 11:1-2, Ps 24:1, James 5:15, I Jn 5:14, 2 Peter 1:3-5)
Satan plays a large role in our temptation, so what can we do about it? God gives us all we need to stand under grace when facing temptation.
(Matthew 6:13, 1 Corinthians 10:12-14)
As we understand how much we are forgiven, it compels us to forgive others.
(Mat 18:21-35, Matt 6:12, 1 Jn 1:8-9, Eph 4:32, Mrk 11:25, Col 3:13, 1 Cor 11:27-32)
God’s provision often looks different than what we expect, but it changes us and draws us closer in relationship to Him.
Acknowledging the holiness of God comes early in Jesus’ pattern of prayer. How can it be that our God is both holy and familiar?
(Matt 6:9, Jn 8:12, Jn 12:35, James 1:17, I Jn 1:5, Ex 3:13, Is 6:1-8, Heb 4:16, Rom 8:3-4, Phil 3:9, Matt 5:48, Eph 5:8-9, Ex 34:35)
God as family – Jesus teaches us to pray intimately. We pray to one who knows us, loves us, and calls us family.
(Matt 6:9)
For millenia, Jesus’ followers have followed his example of prayer in Matthew 6. What are the promises and boundaries that Jesus gives us for the prayer-filled life?
(Matt 6:5-13, Ex 30:7-8, Ps 141:2, Luke 1:8-10, Rev 5:8, I Chron 29:11, James 1:5, Ps 116:1-2, Ps 145:18, Ps 22:1, Matt 27:46, James 5:15, I Jn 5:14, Daniel 3:15-18, I Thess 5:16-18, Luke 11:5-13, Luke 18:1-8, Luke 18:9-15, I Sam 1:15, I Thess 5:16-18, 2 Cor 12:7, Rom 8:26, Rom 8:34)
Jesus knew what His mission was on this earth and invites us into that same work. Our God is painting a beautiful picture of redemption and has handed us the paintbrush to paint with Him.
(Rev 21:2-5a, Luke 19:10, Jn 10:10, Jn 8:31-32, Mk 10:45, Jn 18:37, Jn 6:38, Jn 12:46, Mk 2:17, Rom 12:1, 2 Cor 5:17, I Cor 13:12, James 1:17, Matt 6:10, Ps 107:2-3, Rom 12:1, Rom 8:28, Eph 4:1)
Grace leads us into authentic community with others who follow Jesus. When struggling, our tendency to avoid vulnerability with others is often the very thing that keeps us from finding healing.
(Acts 2:42-47, Gal 3:28, Heb 10:24-25, Matt 16:18, I Peter 2:9, Col 3:12-13, Gal 6:2, James 5:16a)
God calls us sons and daughters. He calls us His spouse and friend. Our God desires to intimately know us, and grace urges us to seek that out. The Christian life is much larger than just knowing more about God. It is a journey to knowing Him.
(Jn 19:14-15, Jn 17:3, Matt 7:22, Rom 8:15, Matt 23:37, Rev 19:19, Jn 15:15, Phil 3:10, I Cor 13:12, Deut 31:6, Matt 28:20, Jn 14:26, Is 41:10, Ps 23:4, I Kings 19, Matt 7:7-8)
Grace, our great motive in the Christian life, will always lead us toward God’s truth. Because God created us and knows us, He also knows what’s best for us. A growing follower of Jesus begins to accept and practice the truth God reveals.
(Gen 1:27, Rom 7:18-25, 2 Cor 5:17, Isaiah 55:8-9, Psalm 119, Proverbs 14:12, 2 Tim 3:16, Heb 4:12, Prov 24:16)
God is not trying to hide the path that leads us closer to Him. In fact, He has left many great landmarks for us to follow, and we therefore must learn to recognize them. The first landmark in the Christian life is grace, the beautiful love of Christ poured out on His children.
(2 Cor 5:14-15, Heb 12:1, I Jn 3:1, I Jn 4:10, I Jn 4:7, Jn 3:16, Eph 3:17-19, Matt 18:21–33, Jn 21:15-17)
In the Christian life, our growth in Christ is beautifully mysterious. Despite that mystery, we’re given many markers along that path to lead us toward growth and maturity. What does that growth look like?
(Jer 17:7-8, Mark 4:26-29)
God becoming human and living among us is arguably the greatest miracle of human history. As Jesus came to love us closely and personally, so we are to imitate that incarnation in our world as well.
(John 1:1-16, Gen 3:8, Ex 3:7-8a, Is 7:14, Luke 2:6-7, Rev 21:3-4, Jer 29:14, Matt 5:14-16)
A life worshiping our own pleasure is like chasing the wind. A life spent loving God and others creates a legacy that is hard for us to imagine. Join us as we talk to Barb Skaggs about the legacy left by Neil, her husband.(Ecc 2:1-3, Ecc 2:8-11, Matt 22:36-40, Matt 20:28, Lk 19:10, Ps 39:4-5)
We all live stories punctuated by miracles. Through the miracles in Moses’ life, we can learn how perspective helps shape us and helps us find our calling. (Ex 4:13,...
In our Jesus following journey, it’s helpful to have examples that go before us. Join us as we dissect the Jesus-following life with Dr. Cedric Williams.
God has a sense of humor. Through the miracles in Peter’s life, we learn that following Jesus is a winding journey and growth in Him isn’t always linear. (Luke...
When Jesus heals 10 lepers and sends them on their way, only one returns to give thanks. This miracle prods us to remember our own rhythms of gratitude. (Luke...
In the middle of an incredible story of resurrection, we find a tender moment where Jesus refuses to let a suffering woman remain anonymous. (Luke 8:40-56, I Cor 15:14,...
In the feeding of the 5000, we see God miraculously fulfill the promise Jesus told us in Matthew 6:25-34. God knows what we need and provides it. And one step...
The Centurion trusted that Jesus’ words were true even when circumstances had yet to say otherwise. Can we exercise the same kind of faith when we haven’t yet received our...
In his interaction with a paralyzed man, Jesus shows his ability to bring both spiritual and physical healing. As we experience healing in Christ, our scars allow us to point...
Jesus lived in the reality that His Father divinely interrupts and intervenes in the natural world. Do we believe this? (Jn 2:1-11, Mk 4:35-41, Jn 8:58, Jn 1:1, Jn...
When God recalibrates your commission. Jonah is obedient, but upset that God showed mercy. We see clearly the heart of God to love and chase His people – this connects...
Real love involves the head, the heart, and the hands. Jesus’ parable challenges us to love others in a deeply personal and costly way. Matt 22:35-40, Luke 10:25,37, Gen 4:9,...
Our greatest commandment preaches not only love for God, but also for others. When we begin to see people as our Father sees them, we trade our hate and unforgiveness...
Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with our entire selves. That sounds great, but what does loving God actually look like? (Matt 22:34-40, Deut 6:5,...
The Kingdom of heaven runs by different rules. Those who humble themselves, God will exalt. When we look at the extreme way Christ humbled himself, we begin to understand why...
Sometimes Scripture can feel like a great jumble of stories, history, and rules. In the last week of Jesus’ life, he gives us 2 simple instructions that will become the...
The disciples each want to be “the greatest,” but Jesus turns the idea of greatest on its head. And in doing so, helps us understand just how backwards the Kingdom...
David refuses to take Saul’s life, even when he has every political reason to do so. As followers of Jesus, how do we deal with evil people in authority? (I...
David and Jonathan develop a deep, meaningful friendship together. Their friendship reveals Christ’s love for us and shows us how to develop intentional friendships ourselves. We were not created to...
Psalm 96 “Sing to the Lord a new song,” the psalm begins, most likely written by David. Why a new one? Everything we do is an act of worship. New...
God uses David’s meager giftings to defeat a giant. What do we have to offer the Lord? I Sam 17:20-49 –
God reveals to David that he will be King of Israel, a calling that won’t be fully realized for another 22 years. What do we do in seasons of waiting?...
David became a larger than life hero in Scripture and cultural icon, but that wasn’t always the case. His story begins in small spaces with an anointing from the Lord,...
God knew that we would be unable to save ourselves, and gave us a new path back to Him. When we embrace Christ, we are freed from managing our own...
How do we know when we are abiding in Christ? John 15 beckons us to look at our fruit to understand if we are truly dependent on our creator. John...
Our future glory gives us hope, but does not erase our current pain. How, as followers of Jesus, do we live with grief and joy at the same time? (Jn...
When we see others as sheep that are entrusted to us by the Great Shepherd, we align ourselves with the heart of God. When we see people only as resources,...
Jesus has come as light into the world so that people will not live in darkness. We, then, reflect that light to others. John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46
This “I AM” statement follows after the miraculous feeding of the 5000 in early John 6. Jesus knows that stomachs are driving the crowds more than their hearts. We can...
John the Baptist gives us a great primer on the Christian life. To learn who we are, we must learn who we’re not. We aren’t the Messiah, even though we’re...
All authority belongs to Jesus, who then turns around and gives authority to us. What are we supposed to do with this calling on our lives? What does it mean...
And behold, there was a paralyzed man brought by his friends to Jesus. This “interruption” in Jesus’ teaching reveals a powerful lesson on community. When Jesus saw “their” faith (the...
Sunday AM – Rev 21:2-6 – God is painting a picture for our future where everything leads back to perfection. What’s more, He’s letting you paint with him.
Behold, the veil was torn. Many supernatural events happened when Jesus died. Why all the fuss about a torn curtain? (Matt 27:45-54, Gen 2:17, Gen 9:11, Gen 17:4, Ex 19:5-6,...
In Luke 7, a tender interaction with Jesus invites us deeper into worship. (Luke 7:36-50, Rom 3:23, I Jn 1:8, Is 64:6, Matt 22:26-40, Heb 4:16, Ez 36:26, I Jn...
Behold, Our GiftsZacchaeus’ meeting with Jesus creates a desire to right the wrongs of his life, to become a giver instead of a taker. Proximity to Christ results in us...
Lambs and baptisms apparently have something in common. God knew we needed familiar landmarks to help us see, understand, and participate in the spiritual world. But when we remove God...
Elisha’s servant gets a rude awakening when his eyes are opened by God, revealing a reality unknown to him before. If we accept that God is real and Jesus is...
When we boast about ourselves, we broadcast our own foolishness. But there is a kind of boasting that is Scripturally approved. (2 Cor 10:17-18, James 4:16, Ps 10:3, Prov 25:27,...
When we understand that our earthly bodies, or “tents” aren’t meant to be permanent homes, it changes the way we view both the beauty and the brokenness present in our...
When we accept the love and forgiveness of Christ, He transforms us. If we are being changed by Christ, what does the end product look like? (2 Cor 5:14-17, 2...
The word religious has become synonymous with judgement. People see Christians and the Church as morality police, chasing people around and slapping sinners’ hands. This misconception of sin, grace, and...
The people of the southern kingdom have been beaten, captured, and relocated. In that new setting, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, gives surprising instructions on how to live in a place...
We are prone to worship things and people, but God alone deserves our devotion. When we remove the veils in our lives and set our gaze on Him, we...
Throughout the Bible, offerings have a particular “aroma” to God. Our lives, likewise, when given to God become a fragrant offering. As our lives become a pleasing aroma to the...
We are called to a life of abundance and overflow, not scarcity. Cheerful giving springs from our understanding of a generous God and His gifts. 2 Cor 9:6-10
As followers of Jesus, we are not exempt from pain. God may not promise its automatic removal, but he does promise to make much of it. Dealing with the pain...
When followers of Jesus disagree on how to live, chaos and pain can be the result. In I Corinthians 8, Paul helps us navigate these difficult waters. (I Cor 8,...
The people of Corinth were not just stuck in sin; they were celebrating it. Repentance is a key part of the beginning of our walk with God, and it continues...
Jesus’ claim to be “The Resurrection” is the hinge-point of our faith. If his claim is fake, Christianity implodes. If his claim is true, all eternity hangs in the balance....
In our relationships with each other, we are commanded to bring peace and healing, to be diligent about not allowing division, the tearing away of our relationships. How do we...
The body of Corinth was broken and bleeding, and Paul reveals the only tool that can possibly surgically repair the damage that has been done. The teaching he gives is...
When we are rescued by the grace of Jesus, we are brought in and connected to the greater body of Christ. We are given community with God Himself and with...
Jesus shows us that as the Bread of Life, he alone sustains and fulfills us. John 6:25 Last Encounter of the semester – We love you, Seniors!
Unpacking what God means when he says: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Matt 9:9-13, Matt 12:7 Matt 15:8-9 Hos 6:6, Is 29:13
Dr. Cedric Williams from Illinois State explores two questions that come up in Matthew 27 that are especially relevant during these unprecedented times – Where is God during suffering? What role does the community of God have during suffering?
Jesus came to change everything. When we are faced with change in our own lives, what do we put our trust in?
John 2:13-16
Shortly after Jesus feeds the 4,000, his disciples start complaining. Their complaints of hunger aren’t received well by Jesus, who has already told them that He is the bread of life and has already shown multiple times how he is capable of miraculously feeding those who ask. Our ability to trust God depends on us remembering the miracles He has already performed.
(Mk 8:1-10, 14-21, Jer 5:21, Eze 12:2, John 6, Exodus 16, Matt 6, John 14, John 16)
Using three quick mini-parables, Jesus helps us understand that God cannot easily be contained in our preconceived expectations or structures. When we get too comfortable, he has a habit of breaking through and moving in a way we didn’t see coming. Perhaps our current season needs this lesson.
(Luke 5:33-38, Isaiah 43:9)
Jesus tells us that the Christian Life is as simple as loving God and loving people. But what does that mean in our daily lives? Let’s paint a portrait of a fully-formed follower of Jesus. (Matt 22:34-40, Deut 6:5, Lev 19:18, 2 Cor 5:14-15, Eph 2:8-9, Matt 28:20, I Peter 2:9, Matt 28:19, Eph 2:10, I Jn 4:19, Heb 4:12, Matt 6:6, Gal 6:2, I Ptr 3:15, Eph 3:14-19)
Jesus pulls from Deut 19 when he helps his followers understand how to handle conflict with others. The promise of 2 or 3 believers comes into sharper focus in this passage. How do we live out the practice of handling conflict with each other?