We live in a very tribalistic society that has created an “Us vs. Them” approach to life.  If someone doesn’t agree with you - they are them.  When we choose gentleness, we create room for reconciliation and restoration in our relationships.  Maybe we can break the cycle of “Us vs. Them”.  

Text: 2 Timothy 2:14-15, 22-26

Speaker: Tim Sullivan

Jesus embodied Gentleness over and over, including with people who opposed Him.  We have the opportunity to follow His example and reflect this gentleness in our own lives, especially as we face contentious situations.  

Text: John 8:1-11; Luke 23:32-36; Mathew 26:50-54; Matthew 5:38-39

Speaker: Dallas Seamens

Gentleness is not weakness.  In fact, gentleness is a powerful, Christ-like response that disarms hostility and helps to build better relationships.  What if we didn’t have to respond to opposition with aggression and defensiveness?  

Text: Proverbs 15:1, 4; 19:11, 18; 29:11; 14:1, 3

Speaker: Tim Sullivan

God actively calls his people to holy living - no matter where or when they live. When we only obey partially, it results in full disobedience. However, if we will obey the Lord and follow Him, he promises to bring blessings.

Text: Haggai 2:10-24

Speaker: Joel Garrison

Have you ever been discouraged? Ever felt like everything you’re doing isn’t amounting to anything compared to others? When we give God the priority in our lives, he demonstrates that we can resist discouragement and trust that His work is bigger, greater, and more long-term than we can currently see.

Text: Haggai 2:1-9

Speaker: Aaron Patton

The Israelite people had been through a lot!  Years of captivity under the Babylonian and Media/Persian empires had cost them dearly.  When they were finally released to return home and restore things, the daily challenges that they faced surely caused them to reorient their priorities.   Sadly, the new priorities led to some major problems.  What happens when God’s people shift their priorities from God’s instructions to their own comforts?  Haggai 1 shows us and calls us to examine our priorities and act promptly on what God has commanded.

Text: Haggai 1

Speaker: Tim Sullivan

In the chaos of our urban, digital age, it’s easier than ever to “gain the whole world and yet lose your soul.” But how can we have a relationship with a God we cannot see? The answer lies in intentionally setting aside time to be alone with God. Silence and solitude allow us to break free from the noise and distractions of everyday life, enabling us to be fully present in the presence of God.

Text: Luke 5:15-16

Speaker: Jeff Schrecengost

Fasting is often misunderstood and underutilized in today's indulgent culture, despite being a vital practice in the teachings of Jesus. If we desire a genuine relationship with God, we must engage in fasting. In a society characterized by excess and indulgence, many have become enslaved to their bodily desires. Fasting provides a path to regain control over those desires and achieve mastery over ourselves.

Text: Matthew 6:16-18

Speaker: Tim Sullivan

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Jesus says, come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. If you want to have a relationship with a God you can’t see, you will have to slow down and sabbath. If you don’t take the Sabbath, the Sabbath will take you. 

Text: Matthew 11:28-12:1; Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11

Speaker: Tim Sullivan

Following Jesus involves more than just attending church or believing the right things; it requires practicing a Way of life. To build a relationship with a God we cannot see, we need to invest time in following Jesus and reading Scripture. Our posture while engaging with the Bible is more important than just the technique we use. It’s less about information and more about transformation. When read with the right heart posture, that of openness and yieldedness to God, Scripture becomes one of the primary means by which the Spirit of Jesus forms us into the people we were always meant to be.

Passage: Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19; 8:34-37; Matthew 5:17-19

Speaker: Tim Sullivan