communion is a common union of broken people, who are made whole by the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We are united by our differences, and there is a seat for everyone at the table.
#9 Imitators of God
series: Love Incorruptible
title: #9 Imitators of God
date: June 25, 2017
teacher: Jacob Bender
scriptures: Ephesians 5:1-14, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 1-3, Genesis 4:6-7,
One thing Drew always says, and he says it about the most simple things, (it's hilarious) is he says: “This changes everything.” He said it on Thursday, I told him at Kids Club “we have a slip and slide today” and he said: “This changes everything.”
That is exactly the way that we should look at the gospel. This truly is the one thing, that changes everything.
and the thing that it should produce in you, probably more than anything else: is Thanksgiving. It is the word “eucharisteō” (you-har-estay-o) - bundled into this Greek word are the Greek words charis and chara which means “grace” and “joy” - when you understand how every finite detail of your life all the way down to your salvation is grace, it produces unspeakable joy, which equates to thankfulness.
and when that Thanksgiving is genuine, the behavior side of things begins to happen automatically.
Not because you aren’t trying to do the right thing… part of growing up in Christ means learning how to live your life with INTENTION… but the difference between the old and the new self is: the old self WANTS to give way to the flesh… the new self WANTS to resist it.
a Thanksgiving meal, on a normal day
title: a Thanksgiving meal, on a normal day
date: November 27, 2016
teacher: Jacob Bender
scriptures: Acts 16:20-34
#3 Joy
Date: July 19, 2015
Series: The Fruit of the Spirit
Title: Joy
Teacher: Jacob Bender
scriptures: John 16:20-22, John 16:16, James 1:2-4, Nehemiah 8:10, John 8:58, Philippians 4:11, Galatians 5, Philippians 1:21, Proverbs 10:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Luke 22:14-20, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
What is Joy?
It is the Greek word Chara (har-a) and at the surface it means to be exceedingly glad. But it is not just happiness on steroids… Happiness is external and fleeting, Joy is internal and constant. It can’t be taken from you. Joy is not circumstantial. Just like the mother having a baby… it cant be stopped if you have the Spirit. There is no way it will not come if you are in Jesus.
What brings Joy?
Proverbs 10:28 says “The Hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.”
HOPE. Hope brings joy. The hope of the righteous. The hope that there really is so much more out there than this dying earthly kingdom that we are in but not of.