Jennie Straight takes us to 1 Peter, where Peter writes encouragement to the early Christians as they experience struggles. In chapter 1:3-9, he gives 6 reasons that we can rejoice in life’s challenges. In chapter 3:14-16, Peter instructs Christians 5 ways to respond to those challenges to set an example for others that will draw them to Christ. Featured excerpt from Charles Stanley’s The Reason for My Hope.

Pastor Cana refers to James 2:8-17, where James writes to the church to explain the connection and distinction between the law teaching us the heart of God and calling us to love our neighbor. For Christians, to believe and to act out belief means living the law of love in our daily lives. How have you fulfilled the law of love today? How have you not?

For this message, Betty Rupp encourages us, with several texts from scripture, to step out of our selfish tendencies to consider what we can give to others and to God. We can give of ourselves with our time, money, and skills for God’s glory and greater blessings.

Pastor Cana turns to Haggai 2:1-9, where the Temple of Jerusalem is in ruins and Israel believes it’s impossible to return to its former glory, but God promises that their work isn’t pointless. The glory to come will be even greater. For God’s kingdom, things are not as they were, and by working with God, we can be a part of the later, greater glory.

Pastor Cana takes us through Psalm 32:1-7, a song whose movements speak of freedom and joy, the writer’s unconfessed and unforgiven sins, the weight of sin, and promises of God’s goodness. God forgives our sin and guilt when we ask for it. This week, our calling is to ask God for forgiveness and to experience God’s blessing

Pastor Cana dives into 2 Samuel 6:12b-19, where King David and the people of Israel celebrate the arrival of God’s sacred seat, the Ark of the Covenant. David’s undignified method of rejoicing reminds us that we can be freed from our social/cultural hesitancies when celebrating God. We are invited to release our inhibitions out of the joy of knowing God.

To conclude Pastor Cana’s Teachings of Jesus series, we go to John 17:1-8. In the text, Jesus shares thoughts, prayers, teachings and desires for His disciples and those who follow. When we work out of love towards knowing Jesus and His teachings, eternal life is granted to us.

In Pastor Cana’s study of Matthew 17:1-12, Jesus takes a few of His disciples onto a mountain to witness His Transfiguration, which reveals Jesus as divine and transforms the disciples into apocalyptic seers. We as Christians can show Jesus’ transformation with our lives.

For part 5 of Pastor Cana’s Teachings of Jesus series, we go to Mark 3:20-21, 31-35. In the text, Jesus is engaging a crowd in a house when His mother and siblings come to restrain Him. For Christians, families are not created by biological bond but by Christ’s blood. We must embrace family in other forms to create welcoming homes.

Steve Tramel makes the case, evidenced by Acts 2:37-42, that Christians who exclusively seek spiritual fulfillment outside of church are not receiving curricular teachings, fellowship with other Christians, the Lord’s supper, or shared prayer. God is in nature, yes, but it is vital to a Christian life to also experience Him “where two or more are gathered” in His name.