In creating our videos about leaving and finding a new congregation, Jed came accross a post outlining the writer's personal desires in their search for a new congregation. He ran them by Dan to see what his thoughts were on the list. What would be on your list of congregational necessities?

Scripture References: Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:14, Romans 1:24-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Lots of questions and comments have come in after the past several videos. This will be the first of several created as a follow-up; so, please go back and watch the original conversations to get the full context.
Today's video goes deeper into what it means to ask for God's guidance vs. following your own heart's desires. 
We also discuss what "Rhema" means in the Bible and contrast that with what some denominational groups may teach about that word and its meaning in your life.
As always, if you have further comments or questions on this or any other conversation - send them to [email protected] or comment wherever you are watching our program.

Scripture References: Psalm 1, Philippians 2:3-4, Jeremiah 17:9, Isaiah 55:8-9, Ephesians 4:16, Proverbs 14:12, James 4:3, James 1:3-5, Romans 10:17, Acts 2:14, Acts 5:20, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:29-31

Are we nudged/led/called by the Spirit? Is that even a concept presented in the Bible? Let's explore what John and Paul have to say about the Holy Spirit and his role in our lives.

Scripture References: John 3:1-15, Ephesians 3:3-5, Galatians 5:16-26, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 3:14-21, Ephesians 2:10

If you were able to choose a congregation from the New Testament, which one would you join? For a variety of reasons, you may be looking for a new church home. How do you find a new congregation? What are some criteria you can use to make sure you will grow spiritually wherever you land? Let's face it, a lot of the things we look for and notice aren't always based on Bible but on personal preferences and personalities. So, if there aren't a lot of specific verses to guide us are there general principles we can follow? We hope to encourage the heart of the seeker away from a consumer's approach. Hopefully, this conversation helps if you are in this situation, but if you have scenarios you'd like us to discuss please send them our way and we will try to address them in a third video on this subject.

Scripture References: Romans 16:3-16, Ephesians 4:1-3

We're starting a two-part (possibly three) discussion about leaving a congregation and searching for a new one. We can't cover every possible situation and we know there are lots of them. This video hopes to lay the groundwork and look at scriptures that address some common things related to congregations and their health. We also discuss personal relationships within a congregation and how that affects your spiritual growth. If you haven't ever had to leave a congregation or consider doing so - know that it isn't an easy choice for anyone. We don't want to oversimplify or downplay the impact this has on individuals, families, and the congregations involved. We do hope this helps us all become better congregations who care for each individual and seek to be the Church as Christ calls it to be. Several times you will hear us mention a desire to hear your stories. We really mean it. Please send us your thoughts and comments to help us better address this important subject. It may lead to us putting together a third video in this series to dig deeper on some specific situations.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians, Acts 14:23, Acts 9:26-29, Revelation 2:2-5, Acts 20:28-31, Revelation 3:3-5, Acts 15:36-41, 2 Timothy 4:11, Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:4-6

What is a Christian's responsibility to serve? Is it on the individual to find a role to play? Should the local congregation create spaces to serve and be active in filling those service needs? It is vitally important to the Church that people know their gifts and use them in service to God. Congregational leaders should closely consider how they are building up those in their care and encouraging them to use their gifts. But what does it look like? How does this work happen? Dan and Jed discuss this topic in today's conversation. It's a little longer than usual, but it lays the biblical foundations and goes through some practical examples of implementation. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject as well as any questions you may have.

Scripture References: Luke 10:1-12, John 4:28-35, Acts 2:43-47, Acts 6:1-7, Galatians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Luke 3:10-14, Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-18, Ephesians 4:16

"This was done to fulfill what was said" is a phrase we read in the New Testament in relation to prophecies made in the Old Testament. Does that phrase apply to all prophecies from the Hebrew Bible? Let's walk through the concept of what a prophecy is as a way to better understand the Bible as a whole. Jed learned something new in this conversation - maybe this will be new to you as well. Comment with any questions on this topic or passages you would like us to explore related to prophecy.

Scripture References: Matthew 2:4-6, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:14-15, Hosea 11:1, John 19:32-36, Exodus 12:45-46, Luke 24:44, Hebrews 8:7-13, Isaih 7:10-8:4, Matthew 1:22, 2 Corinthians 3

A great question came in asking, "what should change in a person's life when they make their commitment to Christ?" They mentioned the joy that comes from being a disciple of Christ and yet many seem to accept that a Christian's duty is just to attend church services and be a nice person. Is there more to our life change than that? Let's dive into this discussion together, and share with us your thoughts on this subject as well. What would you share with someone who asked this question of you?

Scripture References: John 1:12-13, Romans 6, John 3:6-8, 1 John 3:9, 1 Peter 1:23, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 7:51, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 4:22-24, James 4:7-8, Romans 8:16

There is a lot to discuss around words like judge, judgment, or judging. For this conversation, let's look at each word in context and what is being taught in the particular passages. Hopefully, by better understanding what is meant, we can be more Christlike in our applications.

Scripture References: John 7:24, Matthew 7:1-5, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 1 Corinthians 6:5, Romans 14:1-2, Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 4:3-6, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Lent is a religious observance of fasting and preparation leading up to Easter. In the churches of Christ, this has not been something we typically make a part of our yearly activities. Why is that the case? Is there something wrong with the concept of or practice of Lent? Dan and Jed will discuss Lent as a season, but also the act of fasting and what the Bible has to say about self-control. Let's consider how we can work to grow spiritually in our focus on Christ not just in the weeks before Easter but throughout the year.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 11:22, Matthew 6:16-18, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, Colossians 2:18-19, 1 Corinthians 7:5