Making Disciples

Dennis McCallum
2 Timothy 2:1-2

Making disciples is about making community where good relationships are formed, people know the Word and people are meeting the needs of others. It is where each person is growing in all respects into Him who is the head, that is Jesus Christ. It is sharing truth in the context of a close personal relationship where you model, help, teach and mentor a younger believer.\r\n

Guarding and Sharing the Treasure

Dennis McCallum
2 Timothy 1:8-14

Paul exhorts Timothy to the treasure which had been entrusted to him. The treasure is the biblical truths Paul has been teaching him. Paul wants him to teach what the Bible teaches and emphasize what it emphasizes. Every believer has also been entrusted with these treasures. Truths like grace need to be guarded. The best way to guard the truth is to entrust it to many others. This is why discipleship is serious business.

Leadership in the Organic Paradigm Part 2

Dennis McCallum
1 Timothy 3:2-13

The qualities required of a spiritual leader in the church are good character and spiritual maturity. These are qualities all Christians should be growing in. The Body of Christ is always in need of believers who are willing to serve the Body in leadership whether as an official deacon or elder or as a servant looking for needs to meet.

Leadership in the Church Part 1

Chris Hearty
1 Timothy 3:1-2

Paul makes it clear that it is worthy aspiration if someone desires to be a leader in the church. It is the Holy Spirit who selects leaders to watch over the church and help it grow. God also desires leaders to have good character, not to be sinless, but to be growing in grace and maturity. The good character of a good leader is built little by little over time. The church needs people of good character to step up to leadership.

Loving Outrageous People

Ben Foust
Luke 19:1-10

When Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus' house, the crowd was aghast that Jesus would dine with the most hated man in their community. But Jesus saw Zacchaeus not as he was but as a lost person in need of being saved. He looked at him as an image-bearer of God, with empathy and humility. We need to see all people the way God sees them, with love.

Cultivating a Reflective Heart

Chris Hearty
1 Timothy 1:12-19

As Paul encourages Timothy in how to lead the church at Ephesus, he reflects back on his former life as a persecutor of the church before Jesus apprehended him on the road to Damascus. He breaks out in praise as he remembers how merciful God was to forgive him, the worst of sinners, and put him into His service. In light of God's incredible mercy and patience, Paul charges Timothy to fight the good fight by holding firmly to faith and a good conscience.

Teachers of "The Law"

Dennis McCallum
1 Timothy 1:5-16

Paul calls out people who want to be teachers of the Law yet they miss the whole point of the Law. It is for the lawless, not for the righteous. Once one becomes a believer in Jesus, they are no longer under the Law. The Law is to teach us of our sinfulness and need for God's forgiveness. It is not rules to live under. The Law is neither focused on love, nor is it life-giving.

Humility or Anxiety

Chris Hearty
1 Peter 5:5-7

There are some who say the underlying cause of all sin is pride. The opposite of pride is humility. Without humility, we develop anxiety. Peter tells us to clothe ourselves with humility because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. God gives us the choice between keeping our pride (and anxiety) or receiving grace and having God carry the anxious burden for us. Jesus took upon Himself the ultimate burden for us on the cross.

What Is Important in the End?

James Rochford
1 Peter 4:7-11

Peter warns that the end of all things is near. The unbelieving world lives without hope because they think this world is all there is. Death results in a terrifying oblivion. But believers can live a fruitful, meaningful life her and now because we know that there is a reward waiting for us when we die to this world. We can invest in that which is most important, God and other people, while we are here on earth because we know the glories awaiting us in heaven. We know that what we do here on earth has profound effect for eternity.