"Us and Them" thinking has been around since the dawn of human civilization. And history bears out the theme over and over again that people tend to think and act tribally. But in Christ, God is doing something new: breaking down the barriers between people and creating a new unified humanity in his Body, the Church. And that changes everything from how we think about our relationships, the church, and ourselves. How might you be actively involved in removing barriers with the love and compassion of Jesus?

Do you feel like God loves you? Like you're completely forgiven through Christ? Do you feel like you're united with God through his Spirit? Do you feel like you're IN CHRIST? In this teaching we dive into the reality that things can be true and influencing us significantly whether or not we feel it. Ephesians teaches us that when we trust in Jesus, we're mystically and actually united with God in Christ and this has profound implications for our lives. Our identity, confidence, and relation to work and rest are upended in this glorious Gospel truth. How will you sit in the reality of who you are and what you have in Christ?

It's so easy for life to become boring -- even for those who believe in God and trust in Jesus! And while this experience is fairly common and natural, it's not God's desire for us. In Ephesians we discover how God longs for our lives and hearts to be filled with a regular awareness of his power and the great hope to which he's calling us. In this teaching we consider this dissonance and ask ourselves, "What is my mission? Where is my community. And Who am I influencing?" How might your misunderstandings surrounding these questions contribute to your spiritual boredom?

Sure you can just drive up to the edge of the Grand Canyon. The view is incredible. But in order to truly experience it, you have to get down into it -- put in the time and effort to get all the way in there. It's a lot like that with God. In this teaching we look at God's desire for us to fully experience and delight in Him. And we consider three main blockages to our delight in God: theology, anxiety, and doubt. What might be blocking your delight in God?

Jesus had a chance to bypass his sufferings and just become king of the world without going through the process set before him by the Father. Why didn't he take Satan up on that offer? In this teaching we dig more deeply into our temptation to take shortcuts and how the great victory of Easter hinged on Jesus' willingness to resist this urge. Thanks be to God for our victory over death and sin through the patient obedience of Christ on the Cross! Where are you tempted to take shortcuts in your life right now? And how might God be calling to you in the midst of that temptation?