The Feeding of the 5000

Scott Risley
Matthew 14:1-21

When Jesus fed the five thousand with just a few scraps of bread and fish He was teaching a bigger lesson. He was demonstrating that He is willing to provide for our deepest needs even beyond food. He is offering eternal life. Another lesson is that He loves to use other people as His agents of provision. When we allow God to use us to meet the needs of others, their needs are met, it gives significance to our lives and it spiritually feeds us too.

The Why of the Church

Jim Leffel
1 Peter 4:10-11

Paul continues to explain the nature of the church, namely the church's purpose. The ?why? and ?how? of the church's purpose is clarified, and some challenges are given for the community of people choosing to follow Christ.

Hearing God's Message

Dennis McCallum
Matthew 13:1-23

Jesus tells his disciples a parable of the soils, which focuses on hearing God's message and the varying responses people have toward His message. The four responses in this parable are: 1) to hear the message but not understand it because of distractions and deception from Satan; 2) to hear God's message superficially but then fall away when persecution comes; 3) to hear the word but get distracted from worry and the deceit of money; and 4) to hear and respond humbly to God's message, bearing fruit for Him. All people must respond to God's message concerning Jesus Christ and his forgiveness.

Spiritual Goals, Discipline and Reward

Jim Leffel
2 Timothy 4:5-16

All people make goals, whether they realize it or not. Christians can participate in God's ultimate goal of reconciling people to Himself by setting spiritual goals within God's Will by using the gifts and talents He's given us. God also rewards Christians who participate in His plan: they hear from God; live a full, purposed life; and will experience the joy of sharing in God's family of believers in heaven.

The Disciples' First Mission

Scott Risley
Matthew 9:35-38

When Jesus sent out the disciples on their first mission journey, he was teaching them important ministry principles that apply to us today as well. First, we go in the authority of Jesus. it is not under our own power that we are able to serve supernaturally. Jesus calls us to work together in teams not autonomously. We focus our effort where there is responsiveness. We must learn to trust God for our provision. And finally, our mission is very important.

The Parable of the 3 Managers

Gary DeLashmutt
Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus tells a parable of a master who goes away on a long journey and gives three managers the responsibility of taking care of his assets before he returns. The first two managers invested the assets wisely, while the third didn't invest. When the manager comes back, he rewards the faithful investment of the first two managers and exposes the wicked and lazy attitude of the third servant and casts him away from his presence. Through this parable, three lessons are communicated: 1) God is the owner and we are all managers; 2) God gives us both freedom and responsibility in our management; and 3) the key to a favorable verdict is faith in God. As Christians, we should handle God's resources not only faithfully, but in light of His return.

Freedom, Rights and Calling

Jim Leffel
1 Corinthians 9:1-23

Believers have the supernatural, God-given freedom from being controlled by self-interest, and can instead use their freedom to serve other people. Indeed, the Gospel requires setting aside some of our rights. By doing so, Christians fulfill God's purpose to share and show God's grace to all people, as well as personally experience joyous freedom.

Freedom And Conscience

Jim Leffel
1 Corinthians 6:12

One aspect of God's purpose in reconciling people to Himself is to create a community to show the world what He is like. One way believers in Christ can show God's love to others is to gain biblical knowledge tempered with discerning love when interacting with other people. Under grace, believers have God-given freedom with a clear conscience, but in this passage are encouraged to use this freedom to love and serve others instead of self.

Sex and Marriage

Jim Leffel
1 Corinthians 7:1-5

Following an overview of how sexuality and spirituality intersect, this teaching covers the dynamics of a sexual relationship in marriage. The proper place of sex in marriage avoids the extremes that the people in the Corinthian church were drawn to: namely seeking sexual gratification outside the marriage on the one hand, and denying sexual desire altogether on the other. The Bible advocates sexuality as both an expression of marital oneness and an act of self-giving love.