121 Community Church

There are a dizzying amount of ideas about sexuality and gender today, and there is a way to think about these things that brings real life to all involved.

With all the negative possibilities that go with social media and entertainment, there is still plenty of excellence and beauty to be enjoyed in those same realms.

There appears to be a smattering of definitions of love and how feelings play out in our lives, and there is also a way to have clarity on what love is!

There are consequences to the  cultural lens that says it is my truth or your truth, or the Scriptural lens that says that God Himself is truth.

Imagine if we would acknowledge the kind of purity that God is what impact that would have on all of our lives for the good. 

In a crazy, unstable and constantly changing world (often not for the good), there is an unchanging God who helps live with confidence and stability.

Sometimes people believe they are in control, yet the reality is God is the One who is in control of all things.

The Bible has been attacked for centuries and is often dismissed as “myth.” But as we follow Peter’s lead and look at evidence we see that there is something unique and incredible about this book. In fact, the most reasonable conclusion is that it actually is the very words of God.

When feeling fragile and down in life, there is a real strength and stability that comes from being in and under God’s Word!

Let's think about why it even matters that we trust the Bible for the way we see reality.

The culture around us continues to move full speed ahead in the opposite direction of God, and there is a way to live confidently graciously and fully in the midst of the opposition.

With the New year ahead of us, it has become easy to look ahead with some fear of what might come because of the past few years. Many people have lost so much joy and excitement and are now just trying to survive the day. If we aren’t careful we will give way to cynicism and shrink back from using our biggest witness to others, our unshakable JOY. Jesus wants to shift our focus and give us a new perspective for the year ahead. A perspective that allows us to move into any unknown fixing our eyes on who He is and how He will always provide!

Imagine if wonder was recaptured in the depths of a person for what is true and the wholehearted worship that would follow!

The Possibilities of Peace

It would seem that a life of joy is not always possible because of life circumstance, yet it really is possible to live a life of joy in spite of our circumstances.

The love of God is unique, great, and once you have received it, you cannot help but sing about it.

Sometimes life and life’s circumstances are such that fear and despair are overwhelming, yet we find again and again that in Christ we have a hope that overcomes fear and despair.

When confronted with the hardness of our broken reality, we should look up, pour ourselves out, tether to the truth, and ultimately trust amid the Tension.

Sometimes we walk in a slumber in the mundane, yet there is an awe and wonder to which we can be awakened and invigorated.

Setbacks in life can either deter or serve as catalysts for moving forward well.

Setbacks in life can either deter or serve as catalysts for moving forward well.

The good news of Jesus does not always travel fast, but when it does it is just pure fun to watch it rapidly change lives!

People will not often agree with the people we associate with, but God will give us what we need in the moment to thoughtfully respond.

Salvation Offered to Everyone who Believes

Free From Prejudice

Breaking the Barriers of Unbelief

One meaningful way God helps us maintain an ongoing rest in Him is through varied friendships.

While rest is possible in an ongoing way, there are a number of enemies to rest with which to contend.

Some would say it is not possible to live life in a state of rest, but if we walk in the right rhythms rest is possible at all times.

In the midst of a crazy, busy and constantly connected world, it is possible to stay in a steady state of rest.

So many people initially come to Jesus to follow Him, but what comes next?

God often interrupts our plans and brings us a guide to give us a bigger purpose.

Some people try to manipulate God for personal gain, while others are simply grateful for God Himself.

Unstoppable Power Of the Gospel

Forgiving The Most Difficult People

See The Glory of God The Father

No matter how gracious and wise someone in Christ is, opposition can still be expected.

Responding To Serve And Reach More

Pro Abundant Life

God has an awesome design for how to do a life of pleasure and purity!

For our graduates and all those supporting them, it takes a resolved heart to follow after God’s Heart!

There are varying thoughts and definitions of love, and God graciously gives us a true working definition of love by which to live.

You have a gift, don’t waste it – we are to be good stewards of God’s grace, using our gifts to serve each other and glorify God.You have a gift, don’t waste it – we are to be good stewards of God’s grace, using our gifts to serve each other and glorify God.

God utilizes the metaphor of the body to give a clear picture of how He intends the church to function in a healthy way.

Calm In The Chaos

No matter the efforts of people to stamp out Christianity, the good news of Christ and the work of God are unstoppable.

When it gets difficult to walk in our Christian faith, we turn to the early followers of Jesus for encouragement to stay the course and be even bolder in our faith.

Sometimes God is doing things at such an explosive pace that the only thing left for someone to do is to express wonder and awe at God Himself!

Bold Faith | Holiness Over Everything

Radical Grace Leads To Radical Generosity

While everyone searches for freedom in different places, we find how to really live free in the leaders of the early church.

While a large number of people in current culture would prefer we stop speaking about and living for Jesus, there are compelling reasons why we cannot stop speaking about Him.

What do we do with the idea that is so unsettling to many that Jesus is the only way to salvation?

Sometimes we languish through our days with a parched soul not knowing that there is a path to a refreshed life.

Sometimes we may wonder why is it that we would praise and thank God, yet we find in the psalms the incredible joy that comes from this kind of praise.

We are not always sure if our prayers are life-giving or not, yet there is a way to know that our prayers are life-giving.

Sometimes when we ask why pray we are not recognizing that the real battle is not between people but the unseen battle in the spiritual realm.Sometimes when we ask why pray we are not recognizing that the real battle is not between people but the unseen battle in the spiritual realm.

Sometimes we struggle in knowing why or how to pray, and we find that the struggle diminishes the more we are inside the Word of God.

God tells us that we should pray with open eyes, for open doors, intentionally investing in outsiders. “Prayer is the only entryway into genuine self-knowledge. It is also the main way we experience deep change—the reordering of our loves. Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things he has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life.” – Tim Keller

In the midst of all the unhealth in our cultural moment, there is real health available in God’s design for the church.

How did we get here? THIS MOMENT. It is because the Disciples of Jesus had a Clear Mission to be a witness, and they: 1. started with keeping the main thing, the main thing 2. They remained Dependent upon the Holy Spirit 3. Knew Exactly who they were 4. Trusted in the promises of God

In order to live well as the church today, it is important to understand how we began.

It is good to periodically check our hearts on whether or not we are generous givers in the way that God expressed His generosity to us.

We often find ourselves in pain, difficulty, or crisis and are not sure where to turn, but we have ways to be a help whatever the situation might be.

So many in the world are curious and desperate for good news, and we have the best news of all for those who desire it!

While there are many motivations to serve one another, there is a motivation that Jesus gives that is totally unique to the Christian.

The motivations and desires of our hearts lead to what we live for. What are yours?

Hosea is an incredible story of restoration in the midst of marital unfaithfulness. God uses this picture to show us His radical love for us as He restores us from our wandering and unfaithfulness to Him.

God challenges us to give Him our best. What we give God reflects our attitude toward Him. The Bible says our lives should be a living sacrifice to Him (Romans 12:1-2). What areas of your life (family, job, money, praise and worship, good works, witnessing to unbelievers) are you not giving your full heart to God?

God is just and must judge all sin, but he is also merciful and sent his Son so that we could avoid his divine wrath.

God’s compassion towards certain kinds of people can make us uncomfortable, and even more uncomfortable when He tells us to move towards people we dislike with His same compassion.

For anyone who has strayed away from God, the prophet Joel describes the way back to Him!

God is all about His justice and righteousness flowing from genuine and true worship.

True joy is found in worshipping Jesus. We worship him by giving of our entire lives to Him. We live our lives for Christ by living lives of sacrificial service. You cannot and will not give your body as a living sacrifice unless you know what it took for Jesus to pay the price for sin When you worship Jesus, you then see there is no greater joy than sacrificial service.

There is often a mystery as to why life unfolds the way it does, and there is a meaningful and joyful way to embrace what comes in the time it comes.

We sometimes think we cannot bring our questions of unbelief to God, yet we see again and again that we can and that is actually the way forward in a great relationship with God. List of Books: Messy Grace - Caleb Kaltenbach Out of a far Country - Christopher Yuan The secret Thoughts of an unlikely convert ) - Rosaria Butterfield A Transgender‘s Faith - Walt Heyer The Third Option - Miles McPherson Under our skin - Ben Watson Live not by lies - Rod Dreher A practical guide to culture - John Stonestreet Evidence that demands a verdict - Josh McDowell

Once there has been betrayal, is it possible to restore the relationship? Jim Newheiser, Professor of CounselingCharacteristics of worldly sorrow:Self-focused; self-protective.Doesn’t primarily hate the sin; hates the consequences of sin. Blame-shifting.Resents accountability. Impatient – demanding to be trusted and restored immediately. Focuses on the sins of others. Criticizes the disciplinary process. Unchanged (hard) heart. No fruit. Characteristics of godly sorrow: Focused on God and other person; well-being of others is first priority Hates the sin itself; accepts the consequences of the sin. Fully accepts responsibility. Seeks accountability. Patient.Focuses upon their own sin. Submits to the disciplinary process. Changed heart. Fruit.

Sometimes it is hard to put the pieces together in understanding the Christian message, but there are some ways to help people put those pieces together.