Would we live differently if we understand that Christ has already achieved victory? In this passage from 1 Peter, Pastor Josue reminds us of our purpose for being witnesses to the eternal hope we have in Jesus. That mentality keeps us focused on the things that truly matter: loving God and loving others.

 

1 Peter 1:22-25

We sat down with members of The Moody Church to discuss how they have found victory in living on mission in their Chicagoland workplaces. Check out the discussion!

 

Panel members: Dr. Michael Thate, Pastor Bill Van Tuinen, Simone Halpin, Lindsay Anderson, Ron Ingram, and Toby Eng

The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes our hope for the future.

 

In this passage, we look at three results of the resurrection for our present perspective.

 

Transformative Change: In heaven, we will experience an instantaneous change, from the perishable to the imperishable. Only Jesus can give us the resurrection change that we need.

Ultimate Victory: At the time of the resurrection we will experience victory over death, both physical and spiritual.

Faithful Living: Jesus' victory over death through the cross should motivate us towards faithful and steadfast living over the long-term.

 

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

What will heaven be like? Because we sense that what we are now is not fit for heaven, it can be hard to imagine what is to come. There are particularly prevalent misconceptions about what our future experience in heaven will be like.

 

In this passage, we explore three characteristics of our resurrection bodies:

Our resurrection bodies will be fit for heaven

Our resurrection bodies will be distinct from our earthly bodies

Our resurrection bodies will be like Jesus'

 

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

The resurrection of Jesus is critical to the theology of the Christian faith. If the resurrection isn't true, we lose so much.

 

In this passage, Paul plays theological dominoes by asking: What do we lose if there is no resurrection?

We have no hope

We have no future

We have no purpose

 

May our faith in the resurrection not just reorient our future destiny, but our current reality.

 

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Why is the Resurrection so pivotal to our Christian faith? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul makes it crystal clear that there is no good news if there is no Resurrection. The gospel loses all its power if Jesus did not rise from the dead, for then our faith would be in vain. What we believe about the Resurrection changes everything.

 

Why is the resurrection essential for the gospel?

The necessity of the resurrection

The witnesses to the resurrection

The results of the resurrection

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

When life gets hard, it's easy to wonder: does God REALLY care about me? Our perspective on God during difficult times is vital for how we respond when these internal thoughts enter our minds.

 

Three responses for a Christian when we are faced with this question:

Be healed

Throw a party

Grow down

 

Matthew 9:9–13

We live in a time of overwhelming communication, and yet a lot of what is being said or written has little edifying value to our lives. As the messages flow through our devices, truth is often replaced with personal opinion or speculation. The gospel is also being communicated, but many times it is changed into a different gospel, one that steers us away from the freedom that Jesus offers us by faith.

 

Could you be living under a different gospel? Here's five symptoms that you may experience if you are:

You've lost your freedom in Christ (2:4)

You live in fear of what others may say (2:12)

You find yourself acting hypocritically (2:13)

You try to build your spiritual life on works (2:18; 3:3-5)

Your spiritual life is a losing battle (2:16; 3;10)

 

There are four blessings for those living under the one and only gospel of Christ:

Freedom to live (4:3-5; 5:1)

Heirs with Christ (4:6)

Intimacy with God (4:9)

A life founded in love (5:6)

 

Galatians 1:6–7

What happens when we don't see the results of obedience? Following God does not guarantee immediate results, so if we focus on the present we can become discouraged and lose motivation to continue pursuing obedience.

 

As we wrap up our series in Malachi, we explore three motivations to continue in obedience.

 

God sees all and remembers all. The temptation to compromise our integrity is very real today. We see what’s going on in our wold today and make assumptions about God; but God sees our deeds.

Life is short, and eternity is long. Our world is obsessed with pursuing temporary pleasures no matter the cost. Scripture tells us that keeping our eyes on eternity helps us prioritize how we live in the present.

Obedience isn't optional. Obedience and faithfulness is a necessary part of salvation. While we are not saved by works, we are saved to do good works. Transformed hearts should lead to transformed living.

 

Malachi 3:13-4:6

Has your life ever been changed by an act of generosity? These events can often create astounding impact on our lives. Generosity can change the giver and the receiver.

 

In this passage from Malachi 3, we find the people of God robbing God with their money. Scripture has a lot to teach us about generosity and our finances. We serve a generous God. Followers of Jesus should be moving towards greater generosity in all areas of their lives, including their finances. So how can we grow a generous mentality?

 

Three motivations to generosity:

The generosity of God is the grounds for His people to be generous. When we see the heart of God, we see an outpouring of generosity.

It's all His anyways. Stop viewing your money as yours, and start viewing it as something God has given you.

Generosity reveals our hearts. We may say we worship Jesus, but we are prone to practice the religion of materialism. The happiness your money may bring pales in comparison to the joy of obedience.

 

Malachi 3:6-12