Jesus canceled our debt at the cross and freed us from rule-keeping and spiritual add-ons. We've been handed a bill stamped "Paid in Full"—we don't have to work for our salvation. We simply need to accept the receipt and live in the true freedom only Jesus provides. In this message from Colossians 2, we'll learn from the apostle how to anchor ourselves in Christ.
One of the most emotional debates raging in our day centers on the subject of abortion. Some see it as simply the choice of a woman over what happens to her body; some see it as far more sinister. Today, we look at the ancient practice of child sacrifice to see if there is any parallel to the modern practice. This conversation is vital because it involves the doctrines of both God and man.I. The Ancient Practice (Leviticus 20:1-5)II. The Modern Parallel (Psalm 106)III. The Divine Prescription (John 3:16; Romans 12:1-2)Talk with God: Meditate on Lamentations 3:22-24, thanking the Lord that His mercies “are new every morning,” and ask Him to renew your hope in Him this week.Talk with others: Encourage your Connect Group in refusing to conform to the world and focus on “being transformed” through the Word.Talk with kids: What does it mean to repent?
Paul showed Jesus as the Maker and Maintainer of all things, the Head of the church who reconciles us by His cross and continues His work in us until completion. Like a building, your life needs both a cornerstone and a blueprint—Christ is both. He will align every room of your life to His design. This teaching from Colossians 1 will help you build on what lasts.
John Calvin noted, “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” Idolatry was a constant issue in the Old Testament, and Paul saw that Athens was filled with idols. But have you ever considered how false worship systems of the past have made their way into the present, but under other names? Today we’ll see how, over time, societies move away from God, His authority, and His truth.I. Corruption in the Nation (vv. 1-6)II. Confusion in the Home (vv. 2-5)III. Chaos in the Heart (v. 6)Talk with God: Take time to prayerfully assess your priorities this week and ask the Lord to reveal anything—or anyone—that’s pulling your focus away from Him.Talk with others: Encourage your Connect Group or believing friends and family members to keep Jesus at the center of their lives.Talk with kids: Why is it right and good for God to punish sin?
In Colossians 1, Paul reminded the church that Jesus holds all things together—He’s the center of creation and the anchor of our faith. When Christ is at the center, everything else in life will fall into place. As believers, we find true direction only when our focus is on Christ, who reconciles us to God and gives purpose to all we do.
Jesus turned the world’s idea of blessing upside down when He shared the Beatitudes. When life feels like it’s spiraling—when we’re poor in spirit, grieving, or desperate for righteousness—He reminds us that we're positioned closest to God’s grace in these very moments. True blessing isn’t found in comfort or control but in surrender, dependence, and the promise that God will meet us at our lowest.I. Stick to the PlanII. Peel Away the ExtraIII. Interpret Your Struggle AccuratelyIV. Retool for the Current/Coming SeasonV. Attack the Problem from All AnglesVI. Look for Beauty
Are you ready for revival—and what comes next? When Jesus came to the country of the Gadarenes, He encountered a man who was tormented by a legion of demons and had been given up as lost by his community. With just a word, Jesus delivered him and restored him to peace, dignity, and purpose. This passage reminds us that when Jesus comes to town, no life is too broken, no situation too dark, and no one too far gone for His transforming power.
The Bible often speaks about courage, reminding us again and again to be strong and not give in to fear. True courage is not the absence of fear—it's facing it and choosing to do what is right, no matter the cost. In this message from Pastor Robert Furrow, we examine five biblical examples that show us what real courage looks like.
In John 12:20–26, Jesus explains that revival begins not with hype, but with surrender. Like a seed that must fall into the ground and die before it can multiply, we must lay down our own desires so God can bring forth lasting fruit in our lives and new life that spreads beyond us. Revival begins not with what we keep, but with what we’re willing to give up to follow Christ.
We have spent seventeen weeks covering the book of Nehemiah and have considered the many life-application lessons that these chapters provide. But today, for our eighteenth and final study, we’ll zoom out to get the bigger picture. There are five “mega-themes” from this book that we can benefit from. These great themes provide both encouragement and warning to us today.I. Great Cities Can FallII. Ordinary People Can HelpIII. Real Prayer Can WorkIV. Spiritual Revival Can HappenV. Good Movements Can FalterTalk with God: Meditate on Isaiah 6:8 this week and ask the Lord to give you His heart for your city and the people He’s placed in your life.Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to pray for and support you as you seek revival in your walk with the Lord.Talk with kids: How did God rescue His people through Samson?
When a crack appears in the foundation, you can’t just paint over it, you have to repair it, or the whole structure is at risk. In Ezra 9–10, God’s people realized they had compromised their foundation by drifting into sin. Through confession, repentance, and renewal, they were reminded that lasting strength comes only from building on God’s truth. No matter how far we’ve wandered, God is always ready to restore us when we return to Him.
No Christian ever plans on backsliding, that is, moving away from Christ. Yet it happens. The prophet Jeremiah even admitted, “Our backslidings are many” (Jeremiah 14:7). Sometimes, a city can be in shambles because the lives of its people are in shambles. Nehemiah left Jerusalem for a short time and returned to find the people had gone back to practicing their old ways. Let’s consider four mistakes they made and how to prevent them from happening to us.I. Misplace Your Bible (vv. 1-3)II. Misalign Your Companions (vv. 4-9)III. Misarrange Your Priorities (vv. 10-22)IV. Mismanage Your Family (vv. 23-24)Talk with God: Prayerfully consider the people you turn to for encouragement and advice. Are you surrounding yourself with strong, healthy believers who will sharpen you (see Proverbs 27:17) and urge you to grow in your faith?Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to hold you accountable to pray and spend time in the Word daily as you recommit to a habit or create a new one.Talk with kids: How did Gideon test God’s words?
Ezra’s story reminds us that one life surrendered to God can influence an entire nation. After years in Babylon, Ezra returned to Jerusalem—not with an army but armed with the Word of God. Ezra led his people faithfully, trusting God to protect them on the dangerous journey. When you set your heart on His Word and rely on His hand for guidance and protection, He can use you to bring revival, no matter how dark or evil the culture seems.
Last week we eavesdropped on the worship service of ancient Israel as they gathered to dedicate their city and their future to God. We noticed four characteristics of their worship: It was biblical, it was vocal, it was musical, and it was joyful. Today we continue with four more.V. Their Worship Was Thankful (vv. 27, 31, 38, 46)VI. Their Worship Was Communal (v. 43)VII. Their Worship Was Powerful (vv. 42b, 43b)VIII. Their Worship Was Physical (v. 43)Talk with God: Meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and thank the Lord for His provision and direction in your life.Talk with others: Encourage a friend or family member who’s recently been struggling to continue faithfully in their walk through a difficult season.Talk with kids: Who received the praise and glory for Israel’s victory over their enemies? Why?
When opposition arose once again, God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage His people to continue rebuilding the temple. Despite threats and challenges, they pressed on in obedience, and God even moved pagan kings to support the work. This is a vivid illustration of the way He refines us through the furnace and brings us forth as pure gold.
“The whole you needs worship—and the part of you that will live forever needs it most,” wrote Robert McIntyre. Nehemiah chapter 12 describes the worship of God’s people who had gathered to dedicate the newly rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. This week and next week we will eavesdrop on their worship service and discover how we should worship when we assemble together.I. Their Worship Was Biblical (v. 24)II. Their Worship Was Vocal (vv. 27-30, 43)III. Their Worship Was Musical (vv. 27b, 35-36, 41)IV. Their Worship Was Joyful (vv. 27, 43)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your heart that’s holding you back from authentic worship and a deeper relationship with Him.Talk with others: Share your favorite worship album or playlist with your Connect Group or a believing friend or family member this week.Talk with kids: How is Jesus better than the judges in the story?
Ezra 3–4 reminds us that whenever God is rebuilding, His people will experience both great joy and fierce opposition. The exiles restored worship and laid the temple’s foundation, celebrating God’s faithfulness, but opposition rose quickly. Together, these chapters show us that true faith rejoices in God’s work, perseveres through resistance, and trusts that His purposes cannot be stopped.
Jerusalem was not the most popular place to live. Most people preferred to live elsewhere—in outlying towns and villages. It was more expensive to be in the city, and safety was a big concern. In this section there are some vital but often-forgotten principles about God’s city, God’s people, and God’s work. Let’s glean some of these important lessons from the city planners.I. All Places Are Significant; This Place Is Sacred (v. 1)II. Projects Are Important; People Are More Important (vv. 3-36)III. Ability Is Good; Availability Is Better (v. 2)IV. Work Is Practical; Worship Is Vital (vv. 22-24)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to provide opportunities for you to pour into His people this week.Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer if they’ve noticed anything in your life that might hinder the Lord’s desire to work through you.Talk with kids: How has Jesus defeated our enemies: sin and death?
In Ezra 1, we see God’s faithfulness on display as He orchestrated the Israelites' return to Jerusalem by stirring the heart of King Cyrus. What looked like the end of God’s promises in Babylonian captivity was actually just a pause—because His Word never fails. God moved kings and common people to fulfill His plan, reminding us of His sovereignty and faithfulness.
When your values are clear, making decisions becomes easy. After generations of failure, God’s people finally realized what was most important in life, so they made a list of things they were committed to changing. Their heartfelt prayer in chapter nine led to heartfelt priorities in chapter ten. Let’s explore how they committed to change in these four areas of life.I. Scriptural Authority (vv. 28-29)II. Relational Purity (v. 30)III. Spiritual Regularity (v. 31)IV. Financial Responsibility (vv. 32-39)Talk with God: Spend time in prayer as you consider each of these areas in your own life and ask the Lord to reveal areas you need to re-prioritize.Talk with others: Ask your mentor or a trusted fellow believer to provide accountability as you refresh your priorities.Talk with kids: How does Jesus save us from the punishment our sin deserves?
Cyndi Morrison
An amazing amazing message! Our bodies are a temple.