What do we do when life feels like we're the underdog verses God? There are times in which we feel like no matter how hard we work, or how faithful we try to be, God either doesn't answer our prayers or moves against us. Job is a perfect example of someone who followed God yet despite his earnest commitment, God allowed unbearable pain, loss, and turmoil to befall him. So what is Job's response to this seeming inaction from God? Trust. We, like Job, need to recognize that perspective is everything. Only God knows fully the story of our life. In times where we can't make sense of anything, we need to trust God.

Sometimes following God can cost you your life. That may not sound like it makes sense, but we have a tendency of taking credit for life when it's going well. Over and over again in the pages of Scripture we see God using circumstances that seem dire to show His power and character. It seems that for many of us, only when life is crumbling downward do we finally stop and turn to God for help. Our darkest times are opportunities for God to show himself most gloriously in our lives.

Everybody loves an underdog, but no one wants to be one. We all have times in our lives in which we feel like life is working against us. Trusting God in these difficult times can be challenging for the most devoted of followers. Thankfully, Scripture is filled with stories of men and women who experienced God's deliverance.

One of the biggest obstacles to trusting and following God is money. There's no way around it. Our financial position can cause a great deal of anxiety or provide for significant assurance. However, whether one is rich or poor, giving to God tends to be a struggle for most people. One of the best ways to honor God with our finances is to handle them the way He instructed us. When we begin seeing our finances from God's point of view we will experience a deeper level of trust and intimacy with Him. We'll also begin to see how financial freedom allows for greater and more frequent ministry opportunity.

Time involved is no longer why people feel like they belong to a group. Engagement is the true measuring stick between people who simply show up and those who make up an organization. This week we discuss two of the most important factors to experiencing deep long lasting relationship in church; Community and Service. At GCC we believe that life is better connected, and that circles are better than rows. Every person needs a circle, and every circle needs a leader.

Every organization has a culture. Churches are not exempt. In fact, the culture of a church is the second most defining factor toward success or decline. The first being of course, God's prerogative in the growth of a church. Culture is created both naturally and intentionally. In this series we look at some of the defining features and unique calling we believe God has placed on our local family of faith.

How could Jesus consider persecution a blessing? Here at the end of the Beatitudes, Jesus says that those who suffer for righteousness' sake are blessed. Most westerners are insulated from the persecution of Christians that is very present in our world today. In fact, many feel that martyrdom is something from the past. It is believed that the Twentieth Century was the most costly century in history for Christians. We need to pray that God would give us opportunity and strength to use our lives in bringing him glory.

In verse six Jesus turns our attention away from our sinful condition to the idea of having right standing with God. God created us to be in community with him. Our sin separates us from that idea. True followers of Christ long for the day when we are no longer corrupted by sin and shame. However, we fail to hunger or thirst for righteousness because we are too easily satisfied by the things of this world. We need to learn what it means to feast on the goodness of God.

Understanding exactly what Jesus meant in the Beatitudes has a massive impact on how we live our lives. The English translation of Scripture does a poor job at times helping us know what Jesus was teaching. Why does Jesus mention people who mourn? What is meant by the word meek? If these are the characteristics of the kind of follower Christ desires, we should take time to understand and become this kind of person.

What exactly would it take for you to consider yourself truly blessed? The word blessed is used many, many times a day, and is defined in just as many different ways. Jesus had a clear definition of what it means to be blessed. He even told us the benefits of blessing. The first step in living a blessed life is recognizing just how little we have to offer life in the first place.