Search Results for: relationship

Posted: 18 Nov, 2018 | Author: Troy Roberts

We accept Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our own sins we enter into an amazing relationship with our Father. Then what? What happens when we blow it, struggle, and doubt? This message looks at the examples of the prodigal son, David, and Peter to show the depth of God’s ongoing commitment and […]

Posted: 30 Sep, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

Genesis 3:8-9  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Jesus invites us […]

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: 22 Jul, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

At times, it seems like the solution to the pain of life and the path to find happiness is to change our circumstances, our bodies, our habits, our relationships, our jobs, our pastimes, or at least change something.  This message shows the potential to thrive wherever we are at in life—enjoying thankfulness for the little […]

Posted: 17 Jun, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Relational conflict is normal, and God gives lots of helpful instruction on how to develop deeper and closer relationships as we work through conflict. Download Handout: With blanks/Without blanks

Posted: 10 Jun, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

Our world is full of beautiful, good things.  It is also full of dark, broken, hurtful things.  Instead of leaving us to our own misery or destroying us, Jesus came and entered into our dark world, taking the brokenness upon himself.  In this message on listening we are taught to listen to the comfort of […]

Posted: 03 Jun, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

In our nature it is extremely easy to make assumption and accusations about others.  However, when we withhold judgment and believe the best about others, we are able to truly get to know them and develop a deep relationship.  This message looks at how to stay out of judgment and respect others even when they […]

Posted: 03 Jun, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV Is that the kind of love you desire? Sometimes instead of being “protected,” we get hurt by those we love. “Trust” is something that we value, but once that trust gets violated, it is hard to get it back. As long as […]

Posted: 20 May, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Having healthy relationships with every coworker, friend, and neighbor is nearly impossible. There is no way. It’s too hard. And that is why we need supernatural help. Thankfully, with God’s help, he can transform us (not them) into lovers of people. Download Handout: With blanks / Without blanks

Posted: 20 May, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

The nature of relationships is that to keep moving forward we have to overcome the past.  In this message Dove explains how all regret from the past can be overcome by forgiveness.  God is a gracious God of forgiveness.  When we feel God’s voice (not the voice of condemnation) kindly leading us into a place […]

Posted: 01 Apr, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

Jesus came into this world to restore our connection to God: A connection one day in a restored world and a connection now through His life in us.  Christ died and was resurrected, to overcome death that we might live forever, and that we might experience his life now.  There is more beyond just this […]

Posted: 18 Mar, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

God loves me.  He loves me deeply.  He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  He loves me because He is Love (1 John 4:8).  He loves me with a love that accepts me as I am (Romans 15:7).  Jesus loves me enough to give of Himself for me (1 John 3:16).  He loves […]

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: 04 Mar, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

We each have false beliefs (small beliefs) in our lives.  These are places of little faith that keep us from experiencing God’s fullness.  This message explains how we can use our experiences and emotions as a way to honestly discover our beliefs; then allow our little beliefs to be replaced with the truth of God.  […]

Posted: 25 Feb, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ESV In human relationships, when we assess someone’s love, we don’t just take their word for it. It is not enough. We consider a wide variety of factors. How have they treated us? How have […]

Posted: 18 Feb, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

After a short introduction reviewing our goals, Dove talks about a part of what makes us human, emotions.  The conclusions he comes to are that emotions are an important part of being human, made in the image of God.  We can learn to use our emotions in healthy ways, not be used by them.  One […]

Posted: 07 Jan, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson

The foundation of our relationship with God is His grace, not our merit.  Therefore, we can learn to be honest with what is going on in our lives.  As we are honest we find more love and acceptance and God changes us from the inside. Download Handout

Posted: 17 Dec, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson

Many times Jesus gave the invitation to “come, follow me.” What would that mean for our own lives?  Can we follow Him?  Would Jesus love me if he really knew me? What would it cost us to follow Him?  What would we gain?  If we decide it is worth it, how can we truly follow […]

Posted: 07 Oct, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson

Wouldn’t it be sad to have something really good and never share it with others?  Having a relationship with God through Jesus is something worth sharing!  Yet those conversations about our faith, although exciting, can at times be intimidating to initiate. This message shares a couple simple tools that can be used to begin conversations […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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: 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 […]

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 […]

Posted: 22 Jan, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson

As we near the end of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul reminds his audience what is of first importance: the gospel.  The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins, taking our place, and providing a way for us to have a relationship with God and to be with […]

Posted: 25 Dec, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

When a child turns his back on his parents, what gift should he give his father for Christmas? A tie? A shirt? Many of us will relate to this story from Steve’s childhood and may even see some of the same tendencies in our relationships with God. May this message help bring restoration with our […]

Posted: 27 Nov, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

With a healthy understanding of grace, we can appreciate it for what it really is, and stand firm in the security of our committed relationship with Jesus. This allows us to stop being distracted with trying to measure up or trying to discern exactly what is permissible behavior and what isn’t. Instead, we can focus […]

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: 06 Nov, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson

Each of us lives in a situation that is not always easy.  In fact life is often extremely challenging, and it is easy to think that if we were only in a different situation then we would be happy and fulfilled.  If only I had a spouse, or if I didn’t have one but could […]