People are often either like thermostats or thermometers. Thermometers are constantly changing with whatever the temperature of the room is. People who consistently change their opinions based on whom they are currently listening to are "thermometers." But thermostats stay consistent; they actually affect the temperature of the room. People who know what they believe and are able to influence others are "thermostats." In this first section of Galatians, we find Paul airing his frustrations toward a bunch of "thermometers" in Galatia.

It seems that our society as a whole has become convinced there is nothing in our culture that is absolutely true. There's no black and white - only gray. There's no absolute right and wrong - there's just "my truth" and "your truth." There's nothing that's actually real - everything is fake or "staged." It makes it difficult to believe that there are some things in this world that are true, that there are some things that are real and that I can put my trust in. The reality is that scripture reveals what's real in this world - it shows me what I can rely on and where to place my trust. But how can building a better connection to God's Word enable me to see truth and to know what things I can actually count on?

When the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, there were many former slaves who didn't know what to do with their newly-granted freedom. Some even returned to enslavement because they were so uncomfortable being "free." A similar spiritual struggle was taking place centuries ago with new Christians in Galatia - they had been set free through Christ but had no idea how to live in that newly found freedom. Join as we begin a journey through this amazing letter and discover together what it really means to be "set free."

Maybe I've never actually read the Bible before. Maybe I've read bits and pieces but never really let the words sink in. Maybe I used to read it often, but now it's a book I rarely pick up. No matter what your past experience with God's Word has been, we invite you to join us on a journey to revisit scripture (or maybe dive in for the first time) as we discover why the words of this ancient book are still so relevant for us today.

We all have past mistakes and failures, words we wish we wouldn't have said, and choices we wish we wouldn't have made. We deal with enough guilt and regret on our own, but that burden can be made even heavier when someone we're connected to continues to bring it up. Whether it's a friend or a family member, when that person consistently reminds me of my shortcomings, that's a warning sign that something is unhealthy in our relationship. So what are some of the dangers of having my past mistakes revisited again and again? And what do I do when this other person can't seem to let the past go?

God's people followed 70 years of captivity with 20 years of half-hearted devotion and effort. God had allowed His people to suffer the consequences of centuries of sin and injustice, and almost immediately they were returning to old habits. So God used Zechariah to let His people know how He felt about their attitudes and actions.

Almost every relationship has its share of disagreements, conflicts, and misunderstandings. However, when it seems like every time I try to have a conversation with this particular friend or co-worker or family member the end result is an argument, or when one of us seems to never really listen to the other, those are red flags. Those are warning signs that something in this relationship needs to be addressed. How do I recognize communication red flags in my relationships? And what can I do to improve how I listen to this other person and improve how clearly I communicate my perspective with them?

How I feel about myself is vitally important to my well-being. When someone else's words or actions consistently cause me to feel bad about myself, that can have a devastating effect on my self-esteem...especially if that person is a friend or even a family member. How can hits to my emotional health serve as warning signs in my relationships? And what can I do when someone I'm connected to continually hurts my self-esteem?

What do grasshoppers, farm tools, and the Holy Spirit have in common? A prophet named Joel. We don't know a lot of about the man himself, but Joel has some powerful truths to share in his short book of prophecy.

"Red flags" serve as warning signs. A burger restaurant that serves "bargain sushi"? That's a red flag. A used car dealer that says, "This vehicle has only been in two previous accidents"? That's a red flag. But what about red flags in relationships? Whether it's in a friendship, a dating relationship, or a marriage, we need to pay attention to red flags that may be warning us that there is something unhealthy in our connection with that other person. What are some of the more common relationship red flags? And what are spiritually and emotionally healthy ways of dealing with those warning signs?