In Hebrews 11, Abraham's faith is discussed and given as an example for what our faith should be like. He displayed faith from the moment God called him! He was faithful as he left his home to find the home God was providing him. He lived his life as a wanderer, separated from those that did not share in the promises and continued to follow the Lord by faith in hopes of the promised land. We are to have this same faith.

Continuing our theme of the year, Shine as Lights in the World, we continue to look at an aspect of the text in Philippians 2. Shinning in this world requires we are devoid of grumbling and disputing, according to Paul. What does this mean? In what context does Paul mean we are to remove disputing? Finally, what will the world see when Christians do this?

In Acts 11, the believers in Antioch are called Christians. This is the first time that followers of Christ are called this. It's likely that this name was given them by the the people in Antioch and not by the believers themselves. Why did they receive this name? What were they doing and what did their lives look like to garner this title?

Whatever was true of them should be true of us today if we want to wear the name Christian.

Jesus speaks to His disciples in John 14-16 about leaving them and what will happen after He leaves. He is sending a Helper, the Spirit of truth, and He cannot come unless Jesus leaves. In this lesson, we take a look at what Jesus has to say about the Spirit, the nature of his work, how His disciples will benefit from the Spirit and how this played out in Acts. Seeing what this looks like in Acts lets us understand the Spirit's work even more and helps us see the Holy Spirit as we should.

When you go to apply for a job, there are titles, job descriptions, guidelines and so forth. When we look at the Church in the Bible, we notice that God has established roles, types of people that fill these roles, work that needs to be done and how those things should be done. In this lesson, we take a similar approach to someone applying for a job to see what role do we fill and what is a needed "job" in the Church.

What is the picture that comes to your mind when you think of "church"? Some think of the building they go to on Sundays or the things they do while there. Some think of dressing up and going to be with other Christians. The Bible presents many different images of what God's church is and this help us see the church the way God sees her. Seeing the Church how God does is critical in seeing ourselves the way we should and fulfilling His purpose for us.

Continuing our theme for the year of "Shine as Lights in the World" from Philippians 2, in this lesson we discuss James 4:1-10. There are things that get in the way of God's light shining through us and James 4 mentions some of those things. Will you allow disputes, jealousies, envies or selfishness to dim God's light in your life?

Paul writes to Titus in chapter 2 about encouragement and teaching for the churches he would visit and the men and women he would teach. He speaks about older men, older women, young women, younger men, children, slaves and so on. A common instruction or characteristic he wanted them to grow in was sensibility.

Your Bible might read self-control, but what does it mean to be sensible? How can we be sensible or improve in sensibility? And what will this lead to in our lives?

Saturday May 18, we had a series of studies on the unity we can have with God and others. There is so much separation and division in the world. We see division in a variety of ways, but separation from God is the most concerning. Our sin separates us. Thanks to God, we have the blood of Jesus that unites. It unites us with God and with all that are in Christ.

God has sought to unite us with Him and this changes us. Our relationship with God is changed, but in what ways does this change how we see each other? What about those that are not in Christ?

Saturday May 18, we had a series of studies on the unity we can have with God and others. There is so much separation and division in the world. We see division in a variety of ways, but separation from God is the most concerning. Our sin separates us. Thanks to God, we have the blood of Jesus that unites. It unites us with God and with all that are in Christ.

God has sought to unite us with Him and this changes us. Our relationship with God is changed, but in what ways does this change how we see each other? What about those that are not in Christ?