Finding yourself in the doldrums spiritually is a challenge.  This lesson focuses on strategies to motivate us out of listlessness and onward to spiritual growth.  Based on Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21, the plan of action includes who to pray for, what to pray for, the proper attitudes to have in prayer, and encouragement to pray big.  The lesson ends with an invitation to trust that God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.

In this continuing series on bridges as components of public worship, preaching is the third bridge we explore. This important bridge is defined as a method God has chosen to communicate with us. Essentially, preaching the Word is where heaven touches earth as God talks directly to us through His Word.  2 Timothy 4:1-5, Hebrews 4:12 and other scriptures are examined to help us develop understanding of the reasons for preaching, the effects of preaching, ineffectual preaching, and the relevance of preaching in every Christian life. This lesson concludes with an invitation to cross the most important bridge by submitting to scriptural baptism, and beginning the journey as a child of God.

Singing is a universal language among human cultures, and as one component of public worship, this bridge connects us vertically to God and horizontally with one another.  In this continuing series on bridges, Psalm 146 and other scriptures are probed to develop more deeply our understanding of this powerful tool of song. The two main concepts we explore are the purpose of singing and how we can get the most benefit from our singing in worship.  The lesson concludes with the encouragement to connect with God and one another in song, and also to make the first, most important bridge crossing by submitting to scriptural baptism, taking the bridge of the cross back into a right relationship with God.