In the Bible there is a different kind of joy that is referenced multiple times. It is called "joy in the Lord." How is joy in the Lord different from other kinds of joy? How can we cultivate this joy on a daily basis and it all situations? In this teaching, Christian offers 10 passages of Scripture that shed light on how each of us can live in the joy of the Lord!

God cares deeply for those who are living with lack, struggling in life, or suffering from difficult circumstances. Throughout the Bible the poor, the mistreated, the lonely, have been His priority. Jesus came not just to give people the hope of salvation, but also hope today, in this life. He chooses to give them that hope through the church! How can we use what God has given us to bless, care for and encourage those around us who are suffering and struggling?

The amazing truth hidden in Psalm 16, is that no matter how low we get or how hard life gets, God has got us. Because Jesus raised from the dead He offers us a new life! With this new life in Jesus we can have full confidence of knowing God in a very intimate way. When we do, that confidence provides us with security, sustenance for our souls and the benefits of salvation. 

In the story of Moses we see an incredible picture of the lengths at which Jesus will go to free us from our bondage to sin and death. The beauty of this story is that God is the main character. He is the one who brings freedom, deliverance and healing. It is a free gift of His grace, just like the work He does in our lives today. We can find peace in knowing that the work is fully done. We learn to simply receive from His love and peace in our lives.

When we read the Old Testament story of Joseph, we see a picture of the whole life and ministry of Jesus. One key theme that is evident within whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, God will lift us up! Let's listen as we study together how God lifted up Joseph. We will see how this reflects how Jesus, will in turn, lift you up.

We all face the same test, don't we? The test of whether we will choose to follow God's way for our lives or choose to go our own way. Abraham was faced with this test, Jesus was faced with this test, and we are faced (almost daily!) with this test. In the passages about Abraham and his son, Isaac, we see the powerful foreshadowing of Jesus. In this incredible story, we see how Jesus will ultimately pass this test once and for all to free us from the power of sin and death. He will invite each and every one of us into a loving relationship with Him. A Father who held nothing back in his effort to redeem us. We are both encouraged by His act of sacrificial love and challenged to do the same for others!

We could also use more power for living, couldn't we? Power to live for God? Power to live full of peace? Power to live full of love for others? Guest speaker, Pastor Ray Longwood, exhorts us to live lives set apart for Jesus. In doing so, God will fill us with His power for living!

Living in this world will drain you! Life will wear you out if you aren't careful. But God has given us a way to be refreshed, replenished, and renewed—His presence! God invites all of us to the oasis of His presence. The hard part is making time to cultivate that in our lives. Will you?

As we continue our series on how we can engage with politics in this election season, we look at the Biblical principles of justice, humility and hope. These can guide us as we engage with politics and civic engagement.

In this election season, does Jesus offer us any guidance on how we show up as Christians? In this teaching we explore the politically divisive climate of Jesus' day. We see how He and His followers chose to engage in a new way. Jesus challenges us to rise above the fray to  bring peace and love to even those we disagree with most vehemently.