Street Level Theology

Bitterness is the poison we take hoping to make someone else sick. Where does bitterness come from? What are the signs of bitterness? What can we do about it?

We are made to commune with God, and prayer is a primary way to do that. Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin and thanksgiving (New City Catechism) and it is "the chief exercise of faith" (Calvin). How do we grow in this area of faith and make it the priority it needs to be?

Is theology important? Theology is understanding who God is (His attributes), what He loves (His commandments), and what He is doing (His story unfolding in our world). Why would we settle for an unclear view of the most amazing being in the universe when we can not only know all about Him, we can actually know Him?!

When it comes to coveting vs. contentment, the issue isn't the things we have or don't have. The issue is the heart. Christian contentment is a change of objects. Instead of desiring smaller, lower things, we find our satisfaction in God Himself. Even though it doesn't come naturally, we like the apostle Paul can learn the secret of contentment, and that "godliness with contentment is great gain."

"The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) "Follow your heart..." "No one should stop you from following your inner desires..." What is wrong with this ideology? Why is it dangerous?

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion (Proverbs 28:13). Confession... What is it? How do we do it? What is the benefit of it?

What is the difference between righteous anger and righteous anger? How can we spot unrighteous anger? What should be our response to our own anger and the anger of others? What does repentance and forgiveness look like when dealing with the sin of anger?

What is the role of each believer in their relationships with the world, with other believers, and with the church as a whole?

Why were we made for community and friendship? How do our relationships reflect that we are made in God's image? How important is it to be in community and how can we fight against the isolation that has become very much a part of our culture?

Once our lives have been changed by the gospel of grace, how do we then start gospel conversations with others who need this good news? Is there a need for us to first preach the gospel to ourselves and other Christians as well as to non believers? If so, what does that look like?