This month, we've been talking about life after healing. So far, we've talked about the joy that comes from knowing we have Jesus, and the certainty we have in his commitment to save us. This Sunday, we're going to talk about the Kingdom that he's called us into.The Colossians letter tells us that Jesus has watched every civilizations rise and fall all through time. He was there for it all. Christ...  Read More

In Philippians 1.6 Paul writes, I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This is just an amazing passage. And for it, it explains Paul’s eager joy of anticipation. It explains God’s work from start to finish. While things for Paul weren’t perfect at the moment, he was moved by deep trust that God would work things out in the end.  Read More

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.(Revelation 7.17)—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.(1 Timothy 6.15b)Jesus came to die for us and save us from sin is not the entire gospel. We trust that Jesus will save us, and we know that...  Read More

On Sunday, we’ll talk about the unwavering and constant joy that filled Paul’s life. Holy Spirit generated joy is never dependent on physical circumstances. It doesn’t come from tranquility, peace, comfort, or personal safety. It is the result of living inside an eternal relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ and the Spirit given to us at salvation.  Read More

 A movement sprang up in America in the early 1800s to beckon people to leave religious division, repent and return to the spirit of the apostolic age. It was a unity movement and a revival movement in Christendom. This Restoration movement led to revival for many people and the planting of many new churches, founded on the principle of returning to the power of God that was present in the Acts ch...  Read More

The Apostle Paul had some deeply held convictions that once drove him to approve of the killings of countless disciples of Jesus. He was  schooled, powerful, well-connected and on the rise as a future leader in his Jewish community. He had been taught that Jesus was a raving heretic leading his brethren off into error. Each executed Christian would have represented a victory over the heretics who ...  Read More

Zacchaeus was the man who had everything the world desires. Power. Wealth. Access. Possessions. But yet, something was missing. So he launched out on a quest to see Jesus … and when his life intersected with the Savior … he was forever changed.  Read More

Friday First - Invitation to the Journey with JesusLast Sunday, Matt led us in a great lesson where he detailed Jesus' methodology for saving the world, and how we are trying to adopt his same mindset, values and strategies here in Dayton, Ohio. Jesus recruited the twelve, invested in them, challenged them, encouraged them, equipped them and sent them. Jesus made disciples who made disciples. They...  Read More

The results of what Jesus accomplished cannot be argued. He is the most influential historical figure who ever lived. What is the methodology behind Jesus’ ministry?  Read More

Friday First - 99 -> 1 (Go After Lost Sheep)So far through this month, we have been discussing "Doing What Jesus Did." We have talked about service, forgiveness and humility. Jesus' life is the pattern we are meant to follow—to do what he did. This means leaving comfort, pleasure and security in order to bend down, serve God, meet a need, and show some mercy.Jesus' life and identity was paradoxica...  Read More

Do you feel it is easier to forgive adults or children? What about grown adults who do us wrong, take advantage of us, or stab us in the back? How do we respond when we are on the wrong end of someone’s irresponsible behavior? How can we do better, in the realm of forgiveness, so we can do what Jesus did?  Read More

On Sunday we’ll examine the opening verses of Matthew 18. It is a chapter that focuses on relationships in the church. Here, Jesus answers the question of how we function together as kingdom citizens. It is important to get this right, because our performance does not always match our profession. If we mess up here, the church will be unable to effectively and credibly do what it needs to do.  Read More