Simple Living and Family Life

Niccole Williamson

Emily Morris

2 Corinthians 4:18

What is simple living? It is practical living in light of eternity, cultivating a heart that belongs to eternal things, and freedom. It involves practicing gratitude, generosity and a skepticism towards worldly conventions. "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Lights in the Midst of a Dark World

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 2:14-16

Being light in a dark world requires both a lifestyle witness and a verbal witness. Our lifestyle witness must not contain grumbling nor disputing. Our verbal witness must focus on God's love and grace rather than other parts of the biblical worldview that can be the source of contention with non-Christians. Instead, focus on inviting people to receive Christ's life rather than winning an argument.

God's Comfort

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

The word translated "comfort" in our Bibles has a stronger meaning than we commonly use. It means to strengthen, fortify, encourage in the midst of adversity. God's comfort is an expression of His character. He is not distant nor aloof, but full of mercy and compassion. God's comfort is available for and fully adequate for all kinds of suffering. Receiving God's comfort enables us to give His comfort to others. We experience God's comfort as we patiently trust Him in our suffering. Suffering can displace self-reliance and lead to deeper confidence in God's future faithfulness.

Humility and Unity

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 2:3-13

The Word of God calls Christians to pursue humility and unity in the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, our fallen natures will always be attracted to to pride and repelled by humility. Therefore, we need divine resources for this heart-transformation. Jesus' example inspires us with gratitude and vision to follow His example. God's Spirit is constantly at work in us to enable us to grow in humility and love.

David and Mephibosheth

Gary DeLashmutt

2 Samuel 19

King Davis'd loyalty to his friend Jonathan can be seen in how graciously he treated Jonathan's crippled son, Mephibosheth. Instead of slaughtering every surviving members of Saul's family, David chose to extend unbounding kindness to Saul's grandson by inviting him to dine at the king's table every night and gave him all of Saul's land and property. God's kindness toward us is far greater than David's. It is a totally unmerited gift. The only condition is that we humbly entrust ourselves to God and Jesus.

Paul's Prayer of Thanks for God's Work in Them

Gary DeLashmutt

Philippians 1:1-8

Paul opens Philippians with prayers of thanksgiving for their faithful financial support of Paul's personal ministry. He calls them full ministry partners, even though they were unable to do anything other than give their money for the work Paul was doing over five hundred miles away. We, too, can be full partners in ministry even if physically we are no longer able to "do the work" of ministry by faithfully giving our money to the cause.

Teaching Our Kids to Be Givers Not Takers

Gloria McCallum

Acts 20:35

Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. As parents, we don't have to teach our kids to be selfish or entitled. They are born knowing how to be self-centered. We are bombarded by the culture with messages of being a good parent means being child-centered. But research confirms what Jesus told us. We really are happier when we give sacrificially to others.

The Hidden Cost of Materialism

James Rochford

1 Timothy 6:3-19

Materialism is deceiving because it promises happiness but delivers depression. It promises fulfillment but leaves you feeling empty. Studies show again and again that attaining the one's highest material goals never satisfies. The Bible has a solution. God instructs those who want to be rich to invest in eternal things. Develop critical thinking skills to combat the lies of this world, practice gratitude for what you do have, think about your end of life and what you want to leave behind, and become a generous giver.

Avoiding Avarice

Chris Hearty

1 Timothy 6:6-19

In this world, we are flooded with the message that material things will bring happiness. The Bible strongly refutes this belief. True happiness is found in pursuing an eternal value system. Without God's perspective on material things, we cannot fully enjoy the things we do obtain. One of the best ways to avoid the trap of materialism is to be a generous giver.