Search Results for: passion

Posted: 16 Dec, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

Life is hard.  It is not what it was intended to be.  Because of the brokenness in this world, we all experience pain, loss, and suffering.  Grief is a path we must all walk through in this broken life.  It is a product of the broken world we live in.  When we are aware of […]

Posted: 22 Nov, 2018 | Author: John Houser

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV Hebrews 11:6 offers a two-part solution to help us take steps toward faith and growth. Faith is rooted in our belief that God exists […]

Posted: 21 Oct, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19 ESV In our early 20s, a friend and I explored Spring Cave in northwestern Colorado. Within a […]

Posted: 09 Sep, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be […]

Posted: 08 Aug, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Our relationship with God is more than a list of dos and don’ts. God wants a deep, authentic, and committed relationship! He doesn’t want anything to get in the way of that. We’ll take a look at how that relates to this passage of Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 It is God’s will that you should […]

Posted: 01 Jul, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Love is complicated. Sometimes people can be so rude, mean, or insensitive! Yet understanding people’s back stories, helps make sense of why they do what they do. When grasp our own shortcomings, it helps us be sympathetic, because our struggles are not really all that different. Download Handout: With blanks / Without blanks Video from message: Chick-fil-A: Every […]

Posted: 11 Mar, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! NIV Romans 5 talks about how we used to be and how we are, and it addresses the kind of treatment we can expect from God. We used to be ungodly. We […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Posted: 20 Nov, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson

As we continue to look at the Higher Calling we have in Jesus, we see the example of Paul to work with extreme effort to bring the good news of Jesus to others, breaking down barriers and enduring difficulties in the process.  What is the source of his dedication and sacrifice?  Is he trying to […]

Posted: 16 Oct, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

How can the church be a hospital for broken and sinful people and also hope to have a standard of behavior that reflects our higher calling? Is it possible to be loving and compassionate and yet draw a line in the sand and say that certain behaviors are not acceptable among God’s people? In this […]

Posted: 24 Jul, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson

God loves us passionately and wants a special place in our lives. He wants your heart given to Him and not to anyone or anything else. In this message Dove shares a powerful illustration that will help you understand the place God wants in your heart. Download Handout

Posted: 17 Jul, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

To have a meaningful relationship with God, we must not see Him as an emotionless robot—always the same: passionless, uncaring, and unaffected by what He sees and experiences. We must see Him as a being who experiences joy and grief, pleasure and displeasure, intense love and extreme jealousy. Download Handout

Posted: 07 Apr, 2019 | Author: Dove Cranson

Our culture is saying all kinds of things about gender and sexuality.  This brings up lots of questions.  Is gender just an arbitrary designation in our lives?  Is it something that God intended?  Does God want men and women to be different?  Does God have different roles for us each to play?  If we are […]

Posted: 05 May, 2019 | Author: Dove Cranson

How do we contend for our faith in the light of opposition against us?

Posted: 02 Feb, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

In in times of struggle, it helps us to take heart when we remember the power, sovereignty, and compassion of God.

Posted: 02 Aug, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

God forgave some of the nastiest people in the Bible. The compassion, mercy, and grace of God reach far even to the depths of our own sin.

Posted: 09 Aug, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

The story of the Woman at the Well gives great insights as to how to winsomely connect people to our life-giving God.

Posted: 23 Aug, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

Matthew 11:19 [Jesus said,] “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Parallel: Luke 7:34)

Posted: 29 Nov, 2020 | Author: Dove Cranson

The good news of Jesus is a joyful gift to receive.  It is also a joy filled gift to share. 

Posted: 06 Dec, 2020 | Author: Steve Nelson

Two prophets. Two Commissions. Two responses. The lessons of Amos and Jonah give us insight into a dual response of love and duty that will help us overcome the reluctance we have with our own commission. 

Posted: 07 Feb, 2021 | Author: Dove Cranson

The imperfect acts of compassion connected to the love of God and flowing out of His love, have a profound impact on this world.

Posted: 04 Jul, 2021 | Author: Steve Nelson

Who is God? What is he like? How does he relate to us?

Posted: 31 Jul, 2022 | Author: Dove Cranson

It might seem like the cause of anger is something outside of us, but really the cause of anger is inside of us. We need to address the inner root of anger with compassion and honesty.

Posted: 02 Oct, 2022 | Author: Steve Nelson

The greatest command is to love God, but how can we do that? How do you love someone more?

Posted: 22 Jan, 2023 | Author: Steve Nelson

What is sin? Is it okay to view some actions as sinful as long as we still treat people with love and compassion?

Posted: 17 Sep, 2023 | Author: Steve Nelson

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. NIV