Fallout from the Fall

Scott Risley

Romans 5:19

Adam and Eve had sons named Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel, and with this Cain committed the first murder. God disciplined Cain for his act of murdering Abel. God also gave us notice that he was going to send His son to save humanity.

Life out of Death

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Corinthians 4:15-16

During a Jewish feast, many Greeks seeking spiritual insight come to see Jesus. Jesus gives the illustration of a seed falling into the ground and dying to bear fruit; teaching the principle of life-out-of-death. He applies this principle in 3 ways: 1) out of Jesus' death we receive eternal life; 2) as we die to self and sacrifice our fleshly desires, we gain a deeper spiritual life;3) our ongoing death to self brings life to others.

He Is Risen!

Scott Risley

John 20:1-18

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a hotly debated topic denied by atheist scholars and surprisingly, by many so-called Christian scholars. A common reason for this denial is the belief that the four Gospel accounts are inherently contradictory and cannot be fit together. Fortunately, the four Gospel accounts can be harmonized and the evidence for the resurrection is quite compelling. What do you think is the best explanation of the evidence for the resurrection?

Exploring Eternity (Part 3) - Minds Fixed on Eterntiy

James Rochford

Ephesians 5:15-16

Investing in heaven is the wisest choice we can make. It starts with setting our mind on heaven in this life. Here are five things to consider: 1) people are the only lasting commodity; 2) eternity reminds us why temporal pursuits never satisfy; 3) a mindset on eternity reminds us our suffering has a purpose; 4) eternity reminds us to be faithful with the small stuff; and 5) eternity reminds us that we will all give an account for our lives someday.

A Glimpse into the Afterlife

Scott Risley

Luke 16:14-31

Jesus teaches four lessons about the afterlife through the lives of Lazarus and the rich man--that Hell is a painful place, a conscious place, a just place, and a permanent place. People have a choice to make that will result in heaven or hell. God has a heart for all people and wants all people to choose heaven. His will for His followers is to grow in generosity and share His heart for the poor.

How Greed Makes You Stupid

Scott Risley

Luke 12:13-34

Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool to warn about the problem of greed. When the rich man's crop yielded an abundant harvest, he planned to tear down his barns, build bigger ones to store his abundance of grain, and then take life easy. God tells the man he will die that very night. Jesus explains how life and relationships are more important than money and we should live our lives as stewards, not owners. Jesus says to be generous to God first because it turns our hearts to God and we will store up treasures in heaven.

Joy Rooted in Hope

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 1:18-26

Paul rejoices because of his hope regarding his future because of his trust in God. He prefers to go to the next life, but is willing to stay longer in this life to serve others for Christ's sake.

Jesus' Supremacy Over Nature

Dennis McCallum

Luke 8:22-56

The subject of miracles is a polarizing one, many people are on one end of the spectrum or the other. Jesus performed miracles; in fact, He did many miracles in His lifetime. And the miracles Jesus performed showed that He had power over the natural world. God created the world through Christ, so He had the ability to alter it. See how Jesus exercised that power through the different miracles He performed in this passage.\r\n

I Am the Resurrection

Scott Risley

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Death is inevitable for all of us. We all will experience going through the grieving process of losing a loved one. Death has the ability to derail our faith or draw us closer to God. Through Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus we find God's perspective on death. God too is outraged and in anger over death. We also learn that death on this earth is not the end for those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. He has provided the resurrection of the dead giving us hope in the face of death.