It's Just A Phase: Part 4 - Family HacksFamily life comes with decisions and challenges every day. How we see and approach our families is important, but there’s also some everyday practical stuff. How do you tackle screen time, bedtime, dating, when do they get a phone, how do you manage their behavior - this list could go on! We’ve got a panel of experts to answer the tough questions and have a conversation about the everyday challenges, opportunities, and rhythms of family.

study guide

It's Just A Phase: Part 3 - Bigger Families Are Better 

Statistics say that the three biggest factors in building a faith that lasts in the life of a child are the spiritual investment of a parent, the outside voices of other adults, and the opportunity for that child to find a personal mission. That’s why having a family rhythm of faith and having outside voices speaking into your family are so important. That’s why a partnership with a church is so important for every family. This week, we’re looking at exactly what that could look like for you.

study guide

family circle handout

It's Just A Phase: Part 2 - Every Week Counts

Parents have approximately 936 weeks from the time their child is born until he or she graduates from high school. It goes by fast. The responsibility to shape a child’s faith and character can seem overwhelming. If you’re a parent, you have probably realized by now that you can’t make a toddler share. Can’t force a child to have faith. Can’t compel a teenager to make smart decisions. But there is something parents can do. They can make this week count. And then do it again, and again, and again, and again…study guide

It's Just A Phase: Part 1 - It's Just A Phase

A phase is a timeframe in kids' lives when you can leverage distinctive opportunities to influence their future. That means the whining infant, the dramatic fifth grader, and the stressed-out tenth grader are not just going through a phase that should be wished away. Instead, they’re transitioning through a critical phase that you are called to discover, celebrate, and navigate strategically with them.

study guide

I Love My Ecclesia: Part 6 - Does It Matter?

Does the Church matter? Has the Church’s message made a difference in individuals, communities, nations, or history at all? Is the Church’s message for eternal life also a message for a better life? Christianity, unlike any other religion or civilization, offers not just a different way of living, but a better way of living. Which means the church matters more than we often realize.study guide

I Love My Ecclesia: Part 5 - The Virus

Controversies arise in churches for many reasons. Some important. Some seemingly trivial. One tension that arose in the early days of the Church and that continues to surface over and over is the issue of grace and truth. Namely, how good does a person have to be in order to be part of the church?

study guide

I Love My Ecclesia: Part 4 - Our Message

The message of Christianity comes in all shapes and sizes. Some people emphasize our brokenness. Others emphasize God’s goodness... the need for repentance or forgiveness... having faith... walking in obedience. While all of these aspects are part of the Gospel, what was the essential message that ignited a movement that continues today?study guide

I Love My Ecclesia: Part 3 - Undercover ChristiansAre we guilty of practicing safe Christianity? What does bold Christianity even look like in America? Rather than being a group of safe believers, the early Christians looked for opportunities to be bold. In part three, we’ll be challenged to create our own opportunities to be bold.

study guide

I Love My Ecclesia: Part 2 - Community 101 

“You’ll never believe what happened next…” Ever heard someone say that while telling you a story? What happens next in our story is kind of hard to believe but it happened. It’s a beautiful moment where the concept of community is lived out and the power of God is demonstrated in miraculous ways. The best part? The same is possible for us today.

study guide

I Love My Ecclesia: Part 1 - Opening DayIn the beginning, the church was simply a gathering of people who came together around one belief: that Jesus was the risen Christ, the son of the living God. That was all they had and that was enough. On day one the church started as a movement and it’s still moving today.