“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13.35).As followers of Jesus, we are certainly to be conscious of the way in which we conduct our relationships. One-half of the greatest commandments pertain to our love for our neighbors, and the phrase one another has been recorded over one-hundred times in the pages of the New Testament. There is n...  Read More

Paul’s life was one of Spirit-produced joy. He found joy in the pleasant memories of his brethren. He experienced joy by praying on their behalf. He found joy in the fellowship he had with them. He also discovered joy by trusting in God to bring everything He had begun to completion. This is such an exciting perspective and one that we must employ as we serve the Lord.   Read More

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