Encouragement is more than our words. It’s about our actions and taking risks. Listen and learn 3 ways we can be known as encouragers like Barnabas.

(Acts 4:32-37)

“Our mission is to build a Christ-centered community by preaching, teaching, and reaching our community through Christ-centered ministries.”

It is nearly impossible to do the first two things we have talked about in preaching and teaching if are failing to accomplish the third – reaching. To build an authentic Christ-centered community, we must be connecting with people. Paul knew this which is why he encouraged Timothy to use his gifts in the ministry to reach others.

Background: in 2 Timothy, Paul was going to die soon in prison and wanted to make sure Timothy knew what things were most important in life and ministry. He wanted to Timothy to reach others and shared with him some steps to overcoming any hesitation to expand his reach.

Big Idea: 2 Steps to expanding our reach (2 Timothy 1:6-12)

“Our mission is to build a Christ-centered community by preaching, teaching, and reaching our community through Christ-centered ministries.”

Jesus wants us to build a Christ centered community through making disciples. The word disciple in the GK means, “learner, pupil”. But Jesus wants us to know that becoming a disciple is not just a conversion experience and learning some bible. It is a process that must be taught and modeled by other believers.

Background: A short time after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples go to meet him in Galilee as they were instructed by him. It is here on a mountain that he gives them his final instructions before later, ascending into heaven. He gives them 3 directives to obey if they are going to fulfill his mission of making disciples.

Big Idea: 3 directives given in the commission to make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20)

“Our mission is to build a Christ-centered community by preaching, teaching, and reaching our community through Christ-centered ministries.”

Last year, was…last year. We began it by looking at our mission as a church and why we are here. God sustained us through 2020 and clearly has something for us to do. He has the same mission for us this year that involves building this community. A Christ-centered community.

Background: Paul’s mission was to build a Christ-centered community through the church where Timothy was left to pastor. One of the tasks used to do that was preaching the word. We, like Timothy have a task to preach the word. We are going to see what preparations we must make to accomplish this task.

3 Preparations we must make to fulfill our task to preach (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

When it comes to giving, love is the strongest motivator of all. More than obligation, more than guilt, more than even blood, love moves mountains to make sure the beloved gets the perfect gift. How much more so when God wants to give something! When God gives something, it is sure to be delivered, right on time. Nothing and no one can truly delay it, stop it, or take it away.

We are going to see what some call the “John 3:16” of the book of Romans. Paul wants the Roman Christians to fully understand the implications of His love for not only them, but for all people, godly and ungodly alike. He wants them to know that no matter what they go through, no matter what they face, and no matter how they feel no one can truly delay, stop, or take away the love of God.

Big Idea: 2 reasons that love cannot be taken from us this Christmas (Romans 5:1-11)

To say that there are many people hoping for a vaccine for the Coronavirus would be the understatement of 2020. Even though the first use was authorized last weekend, it will be some time before the positives and negatives associated with this potentially life-changing injection will be revealed. In the meantime, many vulnerable individuals and their loved ones wait, holding on to the promise from the government that one day they may be immunized against this deadly threat. God has too made us promises that we can hope in. Unlike the human government, we can count on the promises of God because He is completely trustworthy.

In Romans 8 Paul begins by telling the Roman Christians what it means to live in the Spirit and be an heir with Christ. Then, he calls their attention to what they can hope in because of their relationship with the Lord and His promises. As we look at the text, we too will see a few things that we can hope in that God has promised that cannot be taken from us.

Big Idea: 3 things we can hope for that cannot be taken this Christmas (Romans 8:18-25)

Learn about “O Holy Night” and then sing along!

Do you have contagious joy? Do you share your joy from knowing Jesus with others?

This year is a Christmas like none in modern memory. If we try to compare it to holidays past it can be easy to become discouraged by what it seems has been taken from us. We can let these things that seemed at one time so important distract us from what Christmas is truly about as well as the things that can never be stolen from us. Scripture tells that no matter what, there are things that abide. Over the next few weeks, we are going to consider 3 things that can never be taken from us this Christmas, beginning with our faith.

Background: After calling the Roman believers to become “living sacrifices” at the beginning of the chapter, the apostle Paul then moves on to challenge them regarding how they are supposed to live that out. He exhorts them to consider the use of the “gifts” that they have received, as well as their “source”. Tonight, we will be looking at one of the greatest gifts we can receive, as well as 3 reasons that gift can never be stolen from us.

Big Idea: 3 reasons our faith cannot be taken this Christmas (Romans 12:3-8)

Have you heard the Christmas song “I Wonder as I Wander”? Listen to Kendra explain the history and theology of the song, then give it a listen!