Keyword | Dwell Community Church

A Profile of Christian Conversion

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church in 48 A.D. after having spent a few weeks with them. In the beginning of this letter, Paul focuses on five key elements of a person becoming a genuine believer in Jesus Christ: 1) God initiates with them; 2) God pursues people through His Holy Spirit, the gospel message of forgiveness and by human messengers; 3) a person makes a heart decision to turn from idols and serve God and acknowledge the need for His forgiveness; 4) when a person asks for Jesus' forgiveness, they are no longer under God's judgment; and 5) their lives are freed up to love other Christians, share Christ with others and have real hope for the next life.

Keywords

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The Logic of Grace

Dennis McCallum

Deuteronomy 30:3-5

God's grace has three components: faith, hope, and love. This faith is dependent upon God's self-authentication through fulfilled prophecies like the regathering of Israel, and it is also personal in the sense that people choose individually to start a relationship with God. God also extends hope to people through the promise of eternal life in heaven, and this hope provides Christians with joy in this life. Finally, love is the motivation for sharing God's grace with people who do not know Him and serving others in the church. These three components provide a firm foundation for the Christian life and reasons to learn more about Christ for those who are investigating the Christian faith.

Keywords

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Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ

Scott Risley

Ephesians 1:1-10

Paul the apostle describes the blessings God gives to those who begin a personal relationship with Him through Christ. These blessings of: complete forgiveness, adoption into God's family, and insight into God's plan for humanity are not always experienced in daily life. Christians often forget about these blessings, or do not consider them true, or fail to act, and therefore continue to live as orphans apart from God's family. An understanding and belief in the receipt of these blessings is vital for believers in Christ to live out this new identity as God's child and to experience a transformed life.

Keywords

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Now What?

Scott Risley

Matthew 28:16-20

After Jesus resurrected from the dead, He met with the disciple and commissioned them to send them out into the whole world to continue the mission He started. He came to seek and save those who are lost. As the Father sent Him, He likewise sends the disciples to go and make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them everything Jesus had taught them. Just as the disciples were commissioned, so is every Christian called to follow their example.

Keywords

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Partnership of Faith and Works

Jim Leffel

Hebrews 11:19

James points out that faith without works is dead. We don't work to save ourselves through the law, but rather what we do reflects what we believe.

Keywords

{"passage": "James 2:14-26","passageabreviated": "Jas 2:14-26","passagetiny": "Jas 2:14-26","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "06/0...

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Jesus vs. the Religious

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 22:1-46

Jesus continues to speak in parables, comparing the Kingdom of God to an incredible wedding banquet that the host is ecstatic to invite everyone to. Those who don't want to partake in the banquet because of "busyness" or trivial matters hits at the self-righteous Pharisees Jesus was totally opposed to. The Pharisees, threatened by Jesus, try and trap him through different lines of questioning, but Jesus refuses to submit and continues to distinguish God's servant love versus their man-made self-righteous religion. God's real heart is to get as many people into His great banquet as possible, made possible through Jesus Christ.

Keywords

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God's Sovereignty, Man's Revolt

Dennis McCallum

Luke 20:1-7

Jesus enters the temple and drives out those who are insulting the name of God. He then discusses parables with his disciples, which show the attitude and hearts of the Pharisees and religious people that were trying to kill him. The Pharisees were pseudo-spiritual, but were met with silence from Jesus because he understood their hearts were far from God. God's forbearance towards evil people is incredible, but not infinite, and eventually there will be judgment for those who are evil. All people are ultimately accountable to God for their lives, possessions, and use of their gifts; and yet God is willing to allow people to get involved in His work.

Keywords

{"passage": "Matthew 21:12-43","passageabreviated": "Matt 21:12-43","passagetiny": "Matt 21:12-43","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teaching...

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Jesus' Triumphal Entry

Dennis McCallum

Daniel 9:24-25

Jesus finally enters Jerusalem, days before he will go to the cross to pay for humanity's sin. The people of Jesus' time were expecting a conquering King Messiah to rule with authority, but Jesus' entrance was marked by humility by riding in on a donkey and weeping for the city that was about to take him to his death. Jesus' predicted death was foretold through a prophecy in Daniel 9. This teaching focuses intently on the prophecy from Daniel 9 concerning the time of Jesus' death. Jesus' life was the culmination of many fulfilled prophecies told in the Old Testament, and gives unique claims to who he is and why people should listen and ask for forgiveness through him.

Keywords

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The Last Shall Be First

Scott Risley

Matthew 20:1-16

This parable where the late workers get paid as much as the early workers often bother people when they first hear it. It offends our self-righteous sense of justice. Our flesh cries out, "That's not fair!" God's grace is very different from what we expect. The more self-righteous we are, the more offensive grace is to us. God's undeserved grace is central to Scripture which clearly depicts the cross as the only way to salvation. The gracious soul discovers "...that blessing has been received from God while we were yet unworthy and undevoted."

Keywords

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