This Father’s Day we covered the rest of Malachi 1, where God challenged His people and priests to treat Him like an honored Father and respected Master. Unfortunately, the people had grown lazy and halfhearted in their worship. Drawing from New Testament passages, we explored how believers still lapse into passionless and indifferent worship of the Lord of Hosts.

This week began our summer series through Malachi immediately reconfirms God’s love for His people before anything else takes place. When asked to prove His love, God reminds His people that He chose them above all others before they had the chance to earn or deserve His love.

This week we examine heartwood, which lies at the center of a tree trunk. Most of the wood in a tree trunk is heartwood, and surprisingly this layer of wood is completely dead. Despite this, heartwood provides tremendous strength to the tree. Likewise, death plays a very central and active role in our life of faith. Connect: Relational questions to get conversation started.

This week we examine the inner portion of a tree trunk that provides growth and creates the rings which tell the unique life story of the tree. Likewise, as our faith in the Lord grows we develop a unique and beautiful story of God’s faithfulness.

In the Tree of Life imagery, the trunk represents the faith of believers. We are saved by faith alone and it is faith that defines us as spiritual trees of life. This week we study the “armor of God” passage found in Ephesians 6, where Paul likens our faith to a shield which protects us from the attacks of the enemy. Similarly, tree bark serves as the first and most critical line of defense for trees.

This week began the Trunk portion of the Tree of Life study. The trunk is the most critical element of a tree’s identity. Without trunks plants are not trees. This corresponds with our faith: it is the non-negotiable element in the life of every believer.

This week we look at the second external element that is critical to the life of a tree - soil. There is obviously a very close relationship between trees and the soil in which they grow. Their quality of life is directly related to the richness and volume of soil in which they rest. In the Tree of Life study, soil illustrates God’s love. For any spiritual growth to occur, one must place themselves in and rest upon the substance of God’s love.

This week we look at three crucial roles that tree roots play: as anchors, as cellars, and as subterranean connection points with other trees. Likewise, our spiritual roots hold us fast during the storms of life, sustain us during times of spiritual drought, and provide us with mutually beneficial connections with other believers.

Root systems absorb life-giving water and nutrients. In the Tree of Life model, the disciplines serve as the spiritual roots of our soul. This week we explore the disciplines of serving and giving.

Root systems absorb life-giving water and nutrients. In the Tree of Life model, the disciplines serve as the spiritual roots of our soul. This week we explore the contrasting biblical disciplines of celebration and fasting. Celebration is an intentional recognition of and engagement with the good things God has given us to focus ourselves on Him, while fasting is the intentional abstention of them in order to focus on Him. Though completely different, each practice is intended to draw us nearer to our God.