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When God's Commands Seem Burdensome

Gary DeLashmutt

1 John 5:1-5

Our relationship with God can be hindered when we try and earn His acceptance through our performance or obedience to His commands. Often, we try and follow His commands by our resources, leaving us alienated and forgetful of His love for us. We should cultivate focus towards His promises and ask for Jesus' help to guide us and empower us. As a result, we can have renewed awareness of God's love and an ability to rest in His grace and lean on our brothers and sisters for help in our weakness.

Keywords

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Give us a king

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 20:25-28

Because Samuel was aging and his sons were not genuinely pursuing God, the Israelites demanded a king be appointed to govern and judge them just as the nations around them had. God had predicted this many years before, and Samuel warned the Israelites of the negative ways a king would treat them. They persisted in their demand, ignoring his warnings, so God chose Saul to be king over them.

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{"passage": "1 Samuel 8:1-10:24","passageabreviated": "1 Sam 8:1-10:24","passagetiny": "1Sam 8:1-10:24","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","tea...

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Putting on Christ

Dennis McCallum

Colossians 3:9-17

Putting on Christ is living out the new identity God has given us. This involves a transformation powered by God as we cooperate with Him. God produces selfless qualities in us that make us more like Christ. This results in lasting love relationships that are unifying and produce peace which are in contrast to relationships that do not follow God's way.

Keywords

{"passage": "Colossians 3:9-17","passageabreviated": "Col 3:9-17","passagetiny": "Col 3:9-17","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDate"...

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The Elemental Principles

Dennis McCallum

Colossians 2:14-23

Paul explains "the elemental principles" and their implications. The elemental principles of the world are ways humans invent to relate with God. To live according to these elemental principles is to have a religious mentality resulting in a negative and untrue view of God. Paul warns against this heresy and reminds the church that God wants a love relationship rather than formalistic rule living. That is why Jesus went to the cross. By dying on the cross and canceling our debt, he took away the suspicion Satan spreads about the goodness of God.\r\n

Keywords

{"passage": "Colossians 2:14-23","passageabreviated": "Col 2:14-23","passagetiny": "Col 2:14-23","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDa...

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The Unpredictable Jesus

Jeff Gordon

Luke 18:9-34

Jesus confronts conventional wisdom in three situations: 1) Pharisee and tax collector; 2) faith of children; 3) rich and the poor. The contrasts in each of these draws out that a life of self-sufficiency and following external rules isn't what makes people acceptable to God. It is through humility and faith in what Jesus did for humanity that makes people right with God.\r\n

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 18:9-34","passageabreviated": "Luke 18:9-34","passagetiny": "Luke 18:9-34","teacher": "Jeff Gordon","teachingDate": "02...

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Conflict with Religious Leaders

Gary DeLashmutt

Mark 2:13-28

Comparing the mentality of Jesus versus the mentality of the Pharisees highlights three conflicts: 1) conflict over Jesus' associates; 2) conflict over fasting; and 3) conflict over the Sabbath. The Pharisees emphasize separation from sinners, impersonal ritualism, and keeping minor external rules. Jesus emphasizes initiation with sinners, having a personal relationship with God, and loving people. Jesus' way of living can be motivated and empowered by his love in our lives.\r\n

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 2:13-28","passageabreviated": "Mark 2:13-28","passagetiny": "Mark 2:13-28","teacher": "Gary DeLashmutt","teachingDate":...

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Back to Square one

Jim Leffel

Romans 7:21-25

Our new identity in Christ makes us dead to the law. However, many encounter problems in their Christian life when they attempt to grow by focusing on the law instead of grace. While the law exposes our sin and highlights God's moral character, it is insufficient to cause real change as it stimulates us to rebel against God more. Instead of legalism, we are able to grow as we deepen our appreciation for God's grace in our lives and depend on Him in faith for real character change by the Holy Spirit's power.

Keywords

{"passage": "Romans 7:1-11","passageabreviated": "Rom 7:1-11","passagetiny": "Rom 7:1-11","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "11/21/...

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Focus of Faith (Part 3)

Jim Leffel

Hebrews 13:10-16

The author of Hebrews stresses the fact that God was at work in the Old Testament through instituting a system of sacrifices that describe the human condition and prepare humanity for Christ. The author urges his audience not to fall into old ways of relating to God, but instead to see the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in Christ. Instead of offering literal sacrifices to God, Christians are instead called to follow God by choosing to give their whole lives for his purpose.

Keywords

{"passage": "Hebrews 13:10-16","passageabreviated": "Heb 13:10-16","passagetiny": "Heb 13:10-16","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": ...

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Healing a Man Born Blind

Gary DeLashmutt

John 9:1-41

John describes the sixth miracle in a series of miracles that Jesus performed. Jesus heals a man that was born blind, but the Pharisees refuse to believe in Jesus and instead grow more stubborn against him. After Jesus claims he is the light of the world and reveals his identity, the healed man comes to recognize his healer as the Messiah, therefore receiving spiritual sight as well. Also includes an interview on spiritual bias from existentialist Jean Paul Sartre in 1974.

Keywords

{"passage": "John 9:1-41","passageabreviated": "John 9:1-41","passagetiny": "John 9:1-41","teacher": "Gary DeLashmutt","teachingDate": "0...

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