Chuck Swindoll famously said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” I don’t know about you, but when people are nice to me, it’s pretty easy to respond in kind. But when people are unkind towards me... well, that’s a different story. Still, how we respond to those who hurt us is our high and holy calling from God’s Word. That’s what we get to discuss together as we continue our march through Romans 12.

As we celebrate another senior class, I am reminded of Moses. What Moses did during his life mattered. Whether you have a senior or not, you have a chance to influence generations after you and point them to Jesus. Join us, not only to honor our seniors and pray over them, but also to see how Moses made his "dash" matter, and how you can make your "dash" matter too.

This Mother’s Day, we will study a very fitting verse found in Romans 12:13. We hope you will join us and many others in memorizing it this coming week: 

Romans 12:13, "…contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." 

We’ll look at this verse and a somewhat unfamiliar woman mentioned in the Bible who embodied it. Despite being lesser known, the Scripture calls her “worthy” and we can all learn what practicing radical hospitality looks like from her example.

One of the best books I’ve read in years is Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken – the biographical account of Louis Zamperini. It was made into a movie, and the image that I’ll keep with me for the rest of my life is when he holds a plank above his head for a miraculously long time. That, beloved, is “persevering in tribulation”, and that’s what we get to discuss in our new series, RADICAL. Check out Romans 12:11-12 and see if you can commit it to memory.

Who’s up for a challenge? I bet you are. As part of our upcoming teaching series, Radical, we are going to challenge ourselves each week to memorize verses, or like the Old Testament says “treasure” them in our hearts. Our first memorization challenge is Romans 12:9-10.

Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.

If what Americans watch on TV is any indication of our collective interests, then it stands to reason that we are interested in criminal investigation. NCIS, Law and Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, etc. are some of the most popular drama series of our time. What all of those shows have in common is the pursuit of facts – verifiable truth that can help them close the case. We get to look at a fact that turned the world upside down and “closed the case” on life after death.

My sons and I recently went to a college baseball game. We had a super time together, and as we watched the game, I explained to them the “walk-up” song. It’s a song a player from the home team chooses to play over the stadium speakers as he walks into the batter’s box. Well, Jesus had a couple of walk-up songs. One on Palm Sunday as He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, and one at the end of Revelation that is sung before His return. Our hope is that this song will stir in us a “confident expectation” in God that despite our past or our current circumstances He will fulfill what He has promised.

If you were able to choose your ideal surroundings, where would you go? The mountains, the lake, the beach? Who would you be with? Family, loved ones, friends? Well, God being God, He gets to do just that – for all eternity. And His surroundings teach us a few things about the fullness of His character and the fulfillment of His plan.

It seems we live in a world driven by headlines. Unfortunately, the headlines on the state of the Church and Christians are neither glowing nor encouraging. However, there’s a headline in Revelation 7 that tells another story – a story of redemption. We are going to look together at this headline and be encouraged to stand up and sing out as followers of Jesus who are part of this redemption story. 

Have you ever written a song – or thought much about what goes into the process? As a general rule, new events, new moments, or new occasions often provide the inspiration for new songs. Such is the case in Revelation 5. The Apostle John is given a glimpse into a “new occasion” in heaven, and as a result, a new song bursts forth.