First Christian Church Champaign

“Treat the source, not the symptom,” is a fairly common phrase in the medical field. It basically means to fix the actual issue, not just the symptoms. What if we applied the same truth to our lives and hearts? Instead of looking at the side effects, we opened up our hearts to see what the source of the problem might be. In week two of Enemies of the Heart, we will have a little open-heart surgery into the four emotional enemies in us all.

Ever have one of those, “where did that come from?!?!,” moments? Maybe you slipped and said a w*®d in front of the kids or found yourself negatively attacking another? Either way we have all been there and have found it can happen fast. Could it be, in those moments, there is something deeper going on inside our hearts? While your physical heart may be fine, all of our spiritual hearts need work. In week one of Enemies of the Heart we discover where and why our hearts get bogged down.

Losing stuff is the worst, isn’t it? Whether it’s your keys, wallet, or glasses, the burden grows with time until they eventually show up. But what if what you lost was something of greater value - and! - you didn’t know if it would ever show up again? Imagine the ecstatic joy of being reunited and reconciled! As we wrap up our series in the Parables, we close the book by discussing Jesus’ short story about The Lost Son.

Who is your neighbor? You might answer this question with the people who live close to you, or you might respond with something more general. Now, what if your life depended on your neighbor? Would you feel confident in your chances of survival? Join us this week as we look deeper into Jesus’ short story of The Good Samaritan.

Getting picked last in the schoolyard for a game of dodgeball is never fun. But, if you think about it, at least you still got to play! Whether you are picked first or last, getting into the game is what matters most. In week two of Parables, we will see how the generosity of one impacted the first and the last equally - all of this in Jesus’ short story of The Laborers In the Vineyard.

Just curious—did you like group projects throughout school? Well, it depends, right?!?! There’s always the one who does most of the work, others who do their fair share...and then the slacker who merely shows up for the grade. But, most of us begrudge the system that allows one to benefit from the work of another. We will see how this (should) unfold in week one of Parables, we will look at Jesus’ story of The Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Take a second to think about how much different life would be without technology. One helpful tool we have today is access to GPS. All you need to do is know where you are headed, plug in the address, and then directions take care of themselves. The same might be said for navigating life as a disciple. Knowing the destination allows us to live with a different purpose. Join us for week 3 of Different as we wrap up this series of how our beliefs and actions display the difference we are called to live for.

Have you ever played Simon Says? Do you know what tends to trip people up the quickest about this game? It’s when the leader’s words don't match their actions. Perhaps many of us agree that someone’s belief and words ought to match their actions—that someone’s truth is best defined in how they act, not just what they say. In week 2 of Different we discuss how the next step to standing out in life is acting on the Truth we’ve been given through Jesus.

What is truth? Well, it depends on who you ask… While truth may look different for some compared to others, most would agree that what we believe in ought to influence how we act and live. As the church, we know we are called to be different from our world so God can work through us. That difference starts with the truth we believe. In week 1 of the series, Different, where we will see the first step to standing out in life begins with clinging to a truth different from the world.

Everyone is looking for something that works for them, fixes their life, or copes their pain. In a world not looking for Jesus, we must be intentional about taking Jesus to them—and it starts by having Jesus with us wherever we go. A “GOing” church extends beyond a building or an event. It must become a movement of people. It is time for the church to covertly infiltrate the fabric of our community and rise up where God is already at work.