Simple Living

Joe Botti

Simple living is the family unit serving God, while combating the disconnected family, with each member going in different directions. Simple living is also helping our kids to find their own relationship with God, not their parents' relationship with God. And finally, simple living sets the stage to help our kids live out a lifestyle of ministry.

Who Should Be in Charge?

Conrad Hilario
Luke 19:45-20:26

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were cheating people out of their money under the pretense of ?proper worship.? Jesus tells a parable against the Pharisees, portraying God's ultimate authority over us and our things.

Portraits of Love - Scriptural Stories of Hospitality

Rich Mendola
2 Kings 4:8-17

Hospitality is a major way of showing love to outsiders or strangers, something that God calls us to do. Not only is hospitality commanded but it is also illustrated throughout Scripture, especially through two passages examined in this workshop. Abraham offered hospitality to the messengers who were sent by God as did the Shunammite woman toward the prophet Elisha. Through these examples, we see practical ways of showing hospitality which can be applied to our hospitable efforts in our own cities.

Stewardship and Accountability

Dennis McCallum
Matthew 25:14-30

In these parallel passages, Jesus tells parables to illustrate the fact that we're accountable to God as stewards. The master leaves three servants in charge of a portion of his wealth. When the master returns from his journey, he finds that two of the servants have been faithful with what was given to them and rewards them with more. However, the last servant has done nothing with his portion, which the master angrily takes from him. Similarly, God has given each of us a stewardship that we can use to serve Him (lasting in reward) or self (ending in loss).

Two Rich Guys

Dennis McCallum
Luke 18:18-19:10

Jesus says that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus exposes a rich young ruler's idolatry of wealth because he's unwilling to give it away to follow Jesus. By contrast, a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus, receives salvation and responds with joyful generosity.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Dennis McCallum
Luke 16:13-31

The Pharisees believed that wealth was a sign of God's blessing, so Jesus confronts their belief by telling a parable about a poor beggar named Lazarus and a rich man living in luxury. When both men die, Lazarus goes to heaven and the rich man ends up in hell, begging for the mercy he was unwilling to show to Lazarus during his life. Jesus shows us that God has great concern for the poor, and as His followers we should fight to serve the poor with our wealth.

The Crafty Steward

Dennis McCallum
Luke 16:1-13

Jesus tells an interesting parable about a recently fired manager who cheats his former master out of money to provide for his future. Like the manager, we too have only a short time left on this earth; yet too many Christians live to serve this world and forget that they are stewards of their wealth and possessions. Jesus declares that it is impossible to serve both God and wealth; therefore, we should exchange our temporary wealth for heavenly, eternal wealth.

A Glimpse into the Afterlife

Scott Risley
Luke 16:14-31

Jesus teaches four lessons about the afterlife through the lives of Lazarus and the rich man--that Hell is a painful place, a conscious place, a just place, and a permanent place. People have a choice to make that will result in heaven or hell. God has a heart for all people and wants all people to choose heaven. His will for His followers is to grow in generosity and share His heart for the poor.

Becoming a Shrewd Spiritual Investor

Scott Risley
Luke 16:1-13

Jesus uses the parable of a shrewd investor to illustrate that our time is short and we need to be planning and acting now. To be shrewd means having understanding associated with insight and wisdom; to be sensible, thoughtful, prudent, and wise. Four keys are given for becoming a shrewd spiritual investor: 1) understanding that things have little value vs. big value (God, people, basic needs); 2) now vs. later (waiting and planning); 3) stewardship vs. ownership (my time and money vs. God's money); and 4) serving God vs. serving money.