Encounter Community Church

Holding on to past hurts is like choosing to purposely squeeze a cactus. As we kick off a brand new series, we want to help you to let that cactus go. Life is too short to allow it to be dictated by pain. This week, we do a dive into keeping an offense from becoming a grudge to in the first place.

When it comes to politics, we do have a choice. It's bigger than which candidate to vote on. It's far more important than what political party to join. The decision that we make will play a major role in our political perspective and values. This week, we wrap our politics and religion series discussing that choice.

Voting Guide Links:
votersedge.org
Calmatters.org/election-2020-guide

Over the course of this series, we have emphasized how important it is for us to build a bridge and close the political gap. What do we do if the person does not want to close the gap? What do we do with the person who refuses to admit that they support a view that is rooted in hatred?

The scarcity mentality is prevalent in our world today. It impacts the way we look at others and causes us to see them as the enemy. However, the solution to the scarcity mentality is not more stuff but changing the way we think about the stuff that we do have.

Today, we continue talking about unity and why we need to do politicking differently. What is it the hinders the unity of the “Church” from happening? Have we lost our ability to positively influence this world and if so, how do we get it back?

On the night that Jesus was arrested, He prayed a final powerful prayer. However, the subject of that prayer might surprise you. Did Jesus foresee the political divide coming in America? Why and how did He want us to bridge that gap?

Fear is a powerful motivator and the cause for furthering the political divide in America. Many of us take our political stances due to fear. We just want to protect what we have and our way of life. But, is there something more?

The beauty of social media is that it opens the door for connection and relationships. The dark side of it is that it can drive a wedge between people of varying backgrounds. Right now, it seems that social media is the center of the cultural divide. Can we do it better?

What does a relationship with God look like? Why does the Bible use Baptism to symbolize our relationship with God? When you dive into the Bible, you find water either symbolized our relationship with God or preceded something significant done by God. Maybe if we can understand that better, we can understand Him better.

What does it mean to love God with all your soul? If your soul is some immaterial part of yourself then how do you love Him with it? Is it possible that Jesus may have grown up with a different idea of what is the human soul?

Link for the Food Drive List: www.encountercommunity.church/events

Opening Credits:
Music By: "KaizanBlu"
Track Name: "CLOSER