James 3:1-18

One of the ongoing debates in our culture today is should individuals be allowed to possess and carry deadly weapons. But did you realize that every one of us carries a deadly weapon on our person at all times. That weapon is our tongue, and God's word tells us it has the power to do massive destruction or incredible good depending on how we wield it. Now we continue our series on "Seasoned Speech" and look at what God says about the power and purpose of our words.

Text: Matthew 12:33-37; Luke 6:43-45

Just as the fruit that a tree produces reveals the nature of that tree, both in its identity and its health, so the fruit of our lips in our words and communication reveal the very nature of our own heart's allegiances. Listen as Jesus reminds us that the words of our mouth reveal the condition of our hearts and warns us against "idol" speech.

Matthew 9:35-10:4

When Jesus looked at the growing crowds coming to him with great physical, material, and spiritual needs, his heart went out to them in deep compassion. When we look at the crowds coming to the growing, prosperous communities of the Triangle, it's easy to think that they don't have any needs, and our hearts can be filled with competitiveness and even envy rather than compassion. Jesus wants us to see people with true gospel-vision and compassion that recognizes and acts upon the deeper need we all have to know him as Savior. Join us as we hear Jesus' call to compassion-driven prayer for those in our community.

Luke 7:11-17

The death of a child brings a depth of grief and sorrow that is almost unimaginable. When that loss leaves a widowed mother alone and without hope for the future, that sorrow is even deeper. It's into this deep grief that Jesus comes with deeper compassion and power to bring life and hope. Join us as we continue to look at the compassion of Jesus and his promise and power to wipe away every tear.

John 5:1-15

It's very easy to feel stuck in life. Life can be full of painful struggles and difficult trials that leave us feeling weak and powerless either physically, emotionally, relationally, or spiritually, such that we long for some help. Too often, however, we are just resigned to live on in a helpless state. Such was the scene Jesus encountered by a pool in Jerusalem, where his encounter with a lame man gives us a vivid picture of our own desperate need for the healing power of the gospel that Jesus brings. Join us Sunday as we face the question that Jesus asks: Do you want to be healed?

Proverbs 9:1-18

As we come to the end of our brief series through some early passages in the Book of Proverbs, we find Lady Wisdom, now a party planner, preparing a lavish banquet for those who will choose to live according to God’s Word and God’s ways. But hers is not the only banquet in town. For another lady is also planning a banquet, but hers is in honor of all those who choose to live according to the words and ways of the world. Here we consider these two banquets and how each of us stand at their intersection, daily faced with the vital choice of which banquet we will attend.

Proverbs 8:1-36

Go to any bookstore and you are bound to find an entire section of books devoted to helping the world become a better place – starting of course, with you! Turn on the TV, surf the internet, or even browse the latest magazines, and you’ll likely find the exact same thing. Our world is fascinated with self-help, pop-psychological, and (seemingly) reality-altering techniques to improve personal, organizational, and community well-being. But what are we at risk of losing if we buy into these techniques without first weighing them against God’s Word and God’s ways? We once again hear from Wisdom and learn from her how to live within a God-centered worldview that makes us - and the world - a truly better place.

Proverbs 3:13-20; 4:5-9

The world constantly beckons you to invest in your financial security, urgently appealing for you to take steps now to ensure the restful and happy life that you want in the future today. While financial security is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, there is another appeal that many often ignore or fail to hear altogether – the appeal of wisdom to consider such security in light of God’s Word and God’s ways. We continue in our series through some early portions of the Book of Proverbs and hear Wisdom offer her counter-appeal to the appeal of the world and challenge us to make a vital choice between a foolish and a wise investment strategy.

Proverbs 1:20-33

The world around us moves at an incredibly rapid pace, mostly determined to continue its march toward greater productivity, advancement, prosperity, and enlightenment. But at what cost? And how do the ways of the world align with the Word and ways of God as it moves on to fulfill its self-conceived destiny? Join us as we see wisdom, personified as a woman, step into the middle of the world’s hustle and bustle and cry out to those who will listen to consider a completely different way of life – a way of life that leads to restful security in the arms of its Creator, and peaceful dwelling on the firm foundation of God’s Word.

Acts 28:30-31

After a the long adventurous journey to Rome, the book of Acts ends rather abruptly, leaving us with a bit of a cliffhanger in terms of what happened with the apostle Paul appearing before Ceasar. But the truth is the real story of Acts has not ended at all, but continues today with the gospel and God's kingdom advancing through Jesus' witnesses. Here we conclude our study in Acts and see our ongoing role in living sent with the gospel.