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Love and Smiles Forever
Posted: 20 Aug, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
Not only does God love you, but he likes you. He enjoys you. He is glad that you are His. In this study of Ephesians 1, we find many reasons to find joy and peace in our relationship with God, even though relationships are complicated, and we are fully aware of our shortcomings. Download Handout: Blanks / No […]
Read More...Thanks
Posted: 13 Aug, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
This message continues on the theme from two weeks ago that life, perfection, righteousness is found in Christ’s life in us. A full life, perfection, and righteousness are not achieved from our own power to change ourselves, or even from good circumstances, but from the gift of God. Today we look at how giving thanks […]
Read More...Following God in a Broken World
Posted: 13 Aug, 2017 | Author: Tom Schwieger
In a broken world full of sin, strife, and suffering, we need to continually trust that God is good, is in control and cares for us. Download Handout
Read More...Animation 15: Summary – Life in Jesus
Posted: 30 Jul, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The good life that really counts for something is not just found in a brief interaction with Jesus, but in a journey of trusting Him and following His lead! Download Handout: No blanks/Blanks
Read More...Animation 14: Simon Peter
Posted: 23 Jul, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
As we saw with the Pharisees (message 2 weeks ago), we cannot be made righteous by cleaning ourselves up but instead by humbly receiving Christ and His life in us. With Christ in our lives we are new, we are no longer sinners but blameless, pure children of God. This change is what Jesus did […]
Read More...Animation 13: Good Samaritan – Life of Love
Posted: 16 Jul, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We are all busy people. We want our lives to count and so we fill them up with all sorts of activities. One of the most fulfilling things we can dedicate ourselves to is loving others, but we need to be careful that the busyness of life doesn’t choke out the things we really want […]
Read More...Animation 12: Pharisees – Mr. Nice Guy?
Posted: 09 Jul, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
When Jesus walked this Earth he consistently showed love and grace and acceptance. Yet His love is much deeper than just trying to make people feel good. In fact, He spoke surprisingly harsh words to a certain group of people, the Pharisees. Why? At least in part it was because the Pharisees thought they could […]
Read More...Animation 11: Levi – Jesus Eats with Sinners
Posted: 02 Jul, 2017 | Author: Bruce Bradford
Do you ever feel like you’ve made too many mistakes for Jesus to accept you? In Jesus’ interaction with Levi (Matthew), we see that there is love, forgiveness, and acceptance in Jesus, even for the really broken people. You past doesn’t matter to Jesus. You don’t have to fix your life before you follow. He […]
Read More...Animation 10 – Woman Who Anointed Jesus – Accepted
Posted: 25 Jun, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
In today’s episode we see that when a broken Sinner comes to Jesus, she is accepted and forgiven; and her heart of stone is changed into a heart of love. Could we ourselves dare to be so vulnerable with God? And could we be people who accept other people? Download
Read More...Animation 9 – Zacchaeus – Life in Response
Posted: 18 Jun, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The Christian life is not one of duty, obligation, and drudgery. Instead, it is a response to Him and what He has done for us. In the life of Zacchaeus we see that it’s a choice to live for the One we love! Download Handout: Blanks / No Blanks
Read More...Animation 8 – Rich Young Man – Missed Reward
Posted: 11 Jun, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
A rich young man came to Jesus asking how to find eternal life. He came confident in himself and in his own goodness. The answer Jesus gave him left him walking away sad. Despite his own accomplishments, possessions, and reputation he was lacking. But he couldn’t bring himself to give up control and follow the […]
Read More...Animation 7 – The Crumbs Lady – Faith Rewarded
Posted: 04 Jun, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The faith of the crumbs lady (Syrophoenician woman) teaches us some critical lessons on how to respond when it seems that God is completely ignoring our prayers. Download Handout (Blanks,No blanks)
Read More...Animation 6 – Woman at the Well – Sharing Life
Posted: 28 May, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
There is something in us that makes us want to share with others the good things we have found. Whether it is a great movie, a sunset, a revolutionary product, a new love, or something else we find exciting, we have a desire to pass it on. How much more, despite hesitation or cultural opposition, […]
Read More...Animation 5 – Sinful Religionists – Life in Life Received
Posted: 21 May, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We think of the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery as a beautiful story of grace and forgiveness. And it is. At least for one person. But not everyone received life from Jesus. The religionists (the Pharisees and teachers of the law) walked away from life. They were more concerned about […]
Read More...Animation 4 – Mary and Martha – With Jesus
Posted: 14 May, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
What would it be like to host Jesus and some of his friends for dinner? What preparations would you make? During dinner would you be busy doing things or would you just sit there and listen to Jesus? This is the situation of Martha and Mary who hosted Jesus many years ago. Mary “sat at […]
Read More...Animation 3: The Adulterous Woman – Life in the New Life
Posted: 07 May, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by bringing before him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. Would he withhold mercy and have her put to death, or would he show mercy and ignore the law? One response would put Jesus in a horrible light with the people, and the […]
Read More...Asking
Posted: 30 Apr, 2017 | Author: John Houser
Do you ever wonder how to ask God for things? Is there a certain way to ask? Should we always expect to get what we ask for? Is God bothered when we ask a lot? This message addresses those questions and helps us understand prayer and our relationship with God. Download Handout
Read More...Animation 2 – The Forgiven Paralytic
Posted: 23 Apr, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
In the account of the paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus, we learn that Jesus wants us to come to Him for forgiveness—spiritual healing! This is one of the amazing ways we experience life from God. When we ask for and receive forgiveness, we are no longer defined by our loserness! We are freed […]
Read More...Animation 1 – Nicodemus – Looking to Jesus
Posted: 16 Apr, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus in the secret of night only to get far more than he bargained for. As we look at this interaction with the Life Giver we find how to be born again into a new life. We do not get life by trying to be a better person, but […]
Read More...Seeing the Unseen III – Judgment
Posted: 09 Apr, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
Have you ever thought about the Day of Judgement—when Jesus addresses the masses of people who have lived since the beginning of the world? Will He be angry and condemning? Loving and compassionate? In this imagined account of Judgment Day, Jesus pours out his heart to those he loves—a jilted lover to those who rejected […]
Read More...Praying for their Faith – Seeing God at Work in China
Posted: 02 Apr, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
This message is from a morning dedicated to the upcoming mission trip to China. Jason, who is leading the trip, explains his passion for China, his family’s experience there, and the upcoming trip. Using the book of 2 Thessalonians as a model, Dove then leads the group in prayer as we ask God for help […]
Read More...Seeing the Unseen II – With Us
Posted: 26 Mar, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
A fundamental way to fix our eyes on the unseen is to be continually aware that God is with us. It is a great comfort to us in times of grief and loss when we are aware of God’s loving presence. It also gives us confidence to do things that are greater than ourselves when […]
Read More...Not Just Robots
Posted: 26 Mar, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
Dove shares his conviction that the greatest aspiration in all of life is to know God. God has sent his Son into the world to pay a price for us so that we can be with God. Anyone who desires to come to God is welcomed into His family, through Christ. In this relationship with […]
Read More...Seeing the Unseen
Posted: 12 Mar, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
There are two realms: the seen and the unseen. The natural and the supernatural. Belief in the unseen world corrects our overemphasis on the seen world. To experience true and lasting life, our faith must be anchored in the unseen. 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on […]
Read More...God Loves Bad People
Posted: 05 Mar, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
In this message Dove attempts to help us love bad people. This is not so that we would embrace the bad things that bring pain, suffering, and destruction into this world, but that we would love bad people even as God does. Dove explains five reasons we can love bad people, from those far away […]
Read More...Encourage
Posted: 26 Feb, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We should never be surprised when we find ourselves discouraged or even despondent. After all, we live in terrible times. Yet God offers hope in the midst of our trials. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” We can find life from God even […]
Read More...Our Secret Lives
Posted: 19 Feb, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
Dove shares about the opportunity to develop an ongoing, growing relationship with the living God. He unpacks Jesus’ call in the beginning of Matthew chapter 6, to pray, give, and fast in secret—not for the approval of others but for God only. When done with a desire to discover the heart of God, not just […]
Read More...Does God Speak at Church?
Posted: 12 Feb, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
If those who speak are supposed to speak as if speaking the very words of God, how are those who listen supposed to listen? In faith, can we believe that God will speak to us through His Word, through worship, through others, and even through the sermons we hear? 1 Peter 4:11a If anyone speaks, […]
Read More...Expecting Good from God
Posted: 05 Feb, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
From Super Bowl losses, to the loss of loved ones, we will all have disappointments in our lives. In this message Dove wrestles through some of the disappointments in his own life, explaining some of the anchors he has found and continues to cling to along the way. It is the journey to find God […]
Read More...Soldier, Cupcake, Christian – A Higher Calling 17
Posted: 29 Jan, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The church in Corinth had serious issues that Paul addressed throughout 1 Corinthians. He spoke so strongly on at times that you might think his letter to them would have ended their relationship. Yet as he concluded his letter in chapter 16, instead of writing an it-was-nice-knowing-you ending to their relationship, he penned a very ordinary […]
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