(Re)Shaping the Future

Jim Leffel

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Jeremiah uses a parable that describes a potter working on a piece of clay. When something goes wrong with the clay, he crumbles it up and creates a new vessel. God is the potter, and Israel is the clay. There is something is wrong with Israel: they have continuously disobeyed God. God, as the sovereign creator, will enforce his covenant and judgment upon Israel and the nations. However, if the nation renounces its evil ways and turns back to God, then the Lord will not destroy the nation. This is a picture of God's grace, and its culmination is the cross of Christ. God wants to save people from their fate of destruction and values reconciliation with them. We need to turn back to God and agree with him regarding our standing before him as the perfect God. In this way, Israel mirrors our lives and who we are: broken people. God is offering complete transformation, into a new creation. Someone who has experienced God's transformation is Kelly Kline, and she gives her testimony on ways God has created her new. \r\n

Making Sense of it All

Jim Leffel

Isaiah 19:19-25

This teaching explores the question of how do all of the stories of the Bible relate and connect with each other. It looks specifically at Jeremiah's prophecy and its connection to the exodus, both the literal exodus from Egypt and the theme. Jeremiah references the exodus out of Egypt and its importance as a defining event of Israelites. He also states that in the future, there will be another exodus that will be even more significant, not just for the Israelite but for the entire world. Understanding this prophecy helps us see that God has a great, overall plan of redemption for not just Israel but the entire world. Jeremiah prophesies that there will be a second exodus in which God brings back the scattered and captive Israelite to their homeland; this prophecy has been fulfilled. The universal exodus mentioned in this passage is also stated in Isaiah 19. This exodus is for all people, even the Israelites' enemies, and it is a freedom for all people on earth from their captivity by sin. These prophecies affirm that it has always God's plan to bless all of the nations and redeem everyone from their captivity to sin. God invites us to be part of his exodus plan by sharing this good news of redemption with those around us.\r\n

Resolving Conflict

Scott Risley

Romans 13

Part of Biblical love relationships is resolving conflict in an God-honoring way. While we may naturally be tempted to flee conflict, be overly aggressive, or pursue legal action, a Biblical response to conflict is one of humility that doesn't avoid, but rather seeks to restore the relationship in a way that honors God and is loving toward the other person.

The Good News

Dennis McCallum

Romans 1:1-17

The Good News of the Bible is that we can have a close, personal relationship with the God of the universe. We have to come to Him on His terms though, not on our own. God's terms are just that we have faith in the good news that He sent His son to die as payment for our sins on the cross. Jesus' life and death was predicted by several sources hundreds of years before he walked on the earth. The Gospel is the power of God. It's the only thing that makes us right with God and is accomplished from start to finish by faith.

Total Help For Total Need

Gary DeLashmutt

Ephesians 2:1-10

All of humanity is in total need, but God through Jesus Christ extends total help. Humanity's total need is that we are alienated from God, we are enslaved to Satan, and we are headed for God's condemnation. God's total help reconciles us to Him, gives freedom from Satan's control, and destines us to His kindness for eternity. The total help of God is a gift that cannot be earned by good works, but is given to those through faith.

Being Ambassadors

Jim Leffel

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Knowing God and what He did for us through Christ impacts our interactions with others. Convinced Christians see the importance of effective persuasion to help others see their personal need for Christ. This type of motivation comes from the love God and affects our view of others as we begin to understand the love God has for people. As a result, we see the urgency to play our role as trying to help people become reconciled to God through Jesus Christ as Christ's ambassadors.

Reconciliation

Jim Leffel

2 Corinthians 2:6-11

Paul gives instructions to the Corinthians on how they should approach a brother who has undergone church discipline. The purpose of discipline is redemptive by nature, desiring a change of mind and moving away from damaging habits. Paul calls on them to extend forgiveness and grace toward the offender and affirm their love for him. As people experience reconciliation, they are able to humbly respond to God out of gratitude for His grace, eager to be used by Him.

What Motivates Christians?

Dennis McCallum

1 John 5:15

Paul explained that when someone accepts Christ's reconciliation for themselves they have a new identity. They become a citizen of heaven and a child of God; this new identity is something we can share with others. Christians who understand this are motivated to go out and share God's message of reconciliation as His ambassadors to this world.

Suffering with a Purpose - The Crucifixion

Jim Leffel

1 John 5:15

Though it seems foolish to humanity, Jesus' death on the cross illustrates God's wisdom, justice, power, and authority, as well as His compassion for us. God had been planning this from the beginning. The Messiah was to be our substitute in death in order to redeem us so that we may be saved; Jesus' death is our only hope of reconciliation with God. When we accept God's forgiveness through Jesus, we become God's children and enjoy a personal relationship with Him.\r\n