Playing Games with God

Dennis McCallum

Mark 7:1-23

Jesus and the Pharisees held two competing views of spirituality which caused immense disputing among them. The Pharisees focused on man-made religion and outward observance, while neglecting the inward heart attitudes that God desires from people. While the Pharisees avoided acknowledging their sin and claimed to be close to God, Jesus stressed the importance of grace, freely receiving a relationship with God without any man-made works. Outward observance and inward heart change are in stark contrast to each other.

When You Hear God's Voice

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 3:1-19

Due to persecution, many Jewish Christians are considering reverting back to living under the Law, instead of following Christ. The author of Hebrews reminds the recipients of Moses, warning them of history repeating itself: God is making a promise, and His people are rejecting it. Christ is greater than Moses, and the promise is greater now than in Moses' example. Two application points can be drawn from this lesson: 1) real faith in Jesus lasts, and 2) listen to God's ongoing instruction (considering symptoms of a hardened heart and how to prevent one).

Building Commitment Rather Than Compliance

John Rue

Hebrews 3:1-19

When there is a focus on getting results in growing a church, there is often a pressure to shift towards building compliance rather than commitment. In order to have healthy, long-term growth and transformation, however, leaders must continue to move away from compliance thinking. God does not operate this way, and the negative effects are serious. There are various indicators of compliance that can be identified and things leaders can do to help build commitment in their groups. One key aspect of this is ensuring that the leaders are growing themselves, modeling their own personal commitment.

The Art of Leadership (Part 2)

Jill Briscoe

Philippians 3:12-14

Through Paul's letter to the Philippians, we see Paul not let his circumstances dictate his mood. He allows God to put courage into him and accept the unacceptable. Paul demonstrates servant leadership, modeling Christ. He presses on and is obedient, leading to liberty. He shows us that if you want to be big, learn to be small. And that when we minister we must remember that we are dead to sin and to let God give us our throne.

God's Heart For People

Dennis McCallum

Jonah 1-4

Jonah was a prophet who initially ran from what God called him to do. After some discipline and repentance, God uses Jonah to show characteristics of His heart: 1) His love goes out to needy and confused people, and 2) God has a lot more compassion than we do. This book can lead the readers to consider if they have answered the call to reconcile the world to Him that God has given all believers.

David & Goliath

Dennis McCallum

Numbers 13:25-14:9

After God rejected Saul as king, He led Samuel to David, an unlikely choice by human standards but a man after God's own heart. David had a rich devotional life, meditating on the Word day and night. Because he was deeply rooted in Scripture, he had a strong willingness to act knowing God would come through for him. When the Philistine army put forth Goliath to fight one of the Israelites, no one would volunteer. David, knowing the battle was God's and trusting that He would rescue him from the hands of Goliath, stepped up and defeated the Philistine champion.

Saul

Dennis McCallum

Genesis 15:16

When the Israelites asked God for a king, he appointed Saul as their ruler. Though Saul started out strong, he consistently relied on his own strength and power rather than God's. People followed him, but he didn't follow God and proved time and time again that he didn't trust Him. Because of his rebellion against God, God rejected him as king. Saul's life went into a tailspin, ending badly and becoming an example to us of what happens when you harden your heart toward God.

Fear

Gary DeLashmutt

Genesis 15:16

Fear is a universal and inevitable part of the human condition. Letting God teach you how to fight through your fears will lead to freedom from enslavement to fear, increasing confidence that God will be with you no matter what befalls you, and increasing ability to help others trust God with their own fears.

Two Crucial Decisions

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 10:9

In Jesus' ministry he calls on His disciples to make two crucial decisions. He calls on us to make these same two crucial decisions. The first is who do you say that Jesus is? Have you accepted Him as your personal Lord and savior? The second decision is the choice to follow Christ daily. This includes choosing to reject the right to run your own life in order to follow Jesus and choosing to endure hostility from others because of your loyalty to Jesus. Each decision we make holds great consequences when it comes to the outcome of our life now and in eternity.