Let us ask the question of ourselves in regards to our personal walk with Christ, “Who is influencing who?”

The Bible teaches that we have a real enemy that seeks to discourage, distract, and destroy. Most Christians are completely defenseless with no idea how to fight back.

Part of following Jesus means learning to handle conflict with other Christians well. Jesus told us how to handle it, but we tend to suffer by doing our thing instead.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Faith in Jesus Christ is not a blind faith. Every Christian has a reason or reasons they have chosen to trust Christ, and that is the greatest gift we can share with anyone. But the manner in which we share our reasons are critical.

Relationship with God is not a distant and lifeless arrangement. Like any good human relationship it is fueled by intimate, ongoing communication between God and His Child.

This week we examine what it means to sacrifice.

Salvation is a gift from God, through faith in his son Jesus. It is only by grace through faith that we are saved, which was established in Ephesians 2:8-9. This is foundational to the true gospel. We cannot save ourselves, and Christ died so that while we were yet sinners, we can be made right with God. No amount of being good in itself can save us.

Disciples cannot be mass-produced in a class or program. Instead they are painstakingly custom-made by the Holy Spirit, and with the disciple’s participation.

The ascension marked the end of Jesus’ personal ministry and the beginning of the Great Commission. But most Christians are sadly ignorant of this defining moment.