One Single Story

General Theme for the Week: Practical Principles For Dealing With Fear, Hurt, And Betrayal

Today's Lesson: Rest in the Middle of the Wilderness

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions:

Have you ever found yourself glad that you had come through a particularly troubled time, but longing for the closeness you felt with God during that season?

How might it change our perspective during trouble times when we focus on how close God's presence is during those seasons of life?

The reading for the day is Psalm 55:1-8.

General Theme for the Week: Freedom From Performance-Based Living

Today's Lesson: The New People of God

The cross is a Roman instrument of execution, much like the electric chair is in America. How would it change your perspective if you were to read the phrase: "May I never boast about anything except in the electric chair of Jesus"?

How difficult do you think it was to for the people back then to understand such a radical concept as "boasting in the cross"?

How do we boast in the cross of Jesus today?

The reading for the day is Galatians 6.

General Theme for the Week: Freedom From Performance-Based Living

Today's Lesson: The Flesh and the Spirit

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

Christians often struggle with perfectionism, performance, and rule-keeping, thinking these works of the flesh make them a Christian. How do you think it changes this perspective when we recognize what sort of works the flesh actually produces?

Do you see any similarities between the sins of the flesh that Paul listed and performance-based living in the life of a Christian?

The reading for the day is Galatians 5.

General Theme for the Week: Freedom From Performance-Based Living.

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

Why do you think trying to be a Christian by performance is like slavery?

How does this principle set us free from perfectionism and condemnation?

The reading for the day is Galatians 4.

General Theme for the Week: Freedom From Performance-Based Living

Today's Lesson: Access to the Covenant Promises

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

How does it change a Christians daily life once they realize that trusting Jesus is the access into God's promises rather than thinking their performance is the access into God's promises?

Are there bad Christians? Are they in or out?

The reading for the day is Galatians 3.

General Theme for the Week: Freedom From Performance-Based Living.

Today's Lesson: Freedom from the Old Self.

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Alyssa Bream discuss the following questions:

Why do Christians think that the thing that makes them a "Christian" is whether they keep the morals and obey the rules?

How does it free us when we no longer depend on our own performance?

Does not depending on our own performance lead people to assume they can keep on sinning? Why or why not?

The reading for the day is Galatians 2.

General Theme for the Week: Insights from the story of a righteous man.

Today's Lesson: God chooses the man.

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Sheryl Daughety discuss the following questions:

We live in a world that believes in fairness. How does it make you feel to know that God chooses people based on His mercy, His grace, and His freedom to choose?

Discuss this: If God chooses a person for a particular role or task, their success will be determined by God's choice and not by their own perfection, skill, or ability.

The reading for the day is Genesis 48.

General Theme for the Week: Insights from the story of a righteous man.

Today's Lesson: God chooses and uses the unwanted.

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Sheryl Daughety discuss the following questions:

Does it bother you that Joseph created a system of economics and government very different from our American society?

Why do you think that people are so quick to trust in a human leader rather than depending on God?

The reading for the day is Genesis 47.

General Theme for the Week: Insights from the story of a righteous man.

Today's Lesson: God chooses and uses the unwanted.

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Sheryl Daughety discuss the following questions:

Why does God consistently choose and use the unwanted and despised?

What does it say about God's ego but he does not have to choose the rich, the wise, or the successful to do his work?

The reading for the day is Genesis 46.

General Theme for the Week: Insights from the story of a righteous man.

Today's Lesson: The incredible perspective of a righteous man.

On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Sheryl Daughety discuss the following questions:

None of us are Joseph. He was a key player in God's plan for the world, specifically for the survival of the nation of Israel. How can we adopt his perspective on past hurts even though we may not consider ourselves to be such a key player in God's plan?

The offenses that Joseph experienced are not light offenses. He was harmed. He was rejected. He was enslaved. He was sent to prison unjustly for 13 to 17 years. Why do we assume we cannot take the perspective that Joseph took concerning our past "big" hurts?

The reading for the day is Genesis 45.