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May 22
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May 23, 2021: Who Do You Think You Are? | Ephesians 1.1-14

By In Christ - Ephesians, Uncategorized

Click HERE for the Ephesians handout used during the Sunday, May 23 gatherings.

Read Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. As you read, note the primary reasons for Paul’s writing and the direct implications for your life. 

In your own words, define what it means to be “in Christ.” 

Read and reflect on the comments of John Stott: “What distinguishes the true followers of Jesus is neither their creed, nor their code of ethics, nor their ceremonies, nor their culture, but Christ. What is often mistakenly called “Christianity” is, in essence, neither a religion nor a system, but a person, Jesus of Nazareth.”

To whom is Paul writing this letter? 

Read Colossians 1.15-20. How does Paul’s description encourage you? How does it move you to a posture of worship? 

In the text, note where you see the following: God in Christ. Humanity in Christ. Creation in Christ. New Creation in Christ

Read Ephesians 1.3. What are the “spiritual blessings” Paul refers to here? In the message on Sunday, it was said that this verse means that those who are “in Christ” are perfectly perfect. Do you believe you are perfectly perfect in Christ? How does this truth influence the way you live and love? 

Read and reflect on the words of Larry Crabb speaking from the perspective of Jesus: “First, I have blessed you with blessings far superior to all the blessings you naturally want to enjoy. Until you regard earthly blessings as second things and see spiritual blessings as first things, you’ll remain immature, self-centered, and powerless to resist temptation. You’ll continue living in a chilly dawn.”

Read Colossians 3.1-4. How does this text speak to you? What does it practically mean to “set your mind on things above”? What happens in your life when you “set your minds on things above”?

Read Ephesians 1.4-14 in your Bible. Then read it a second time personalizing the text (see below).

 For He chose me in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. 

In love He predestined me for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given me in Christ, the One He loves.

In Christ I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on me. 

With all wisdom and understanding, He made known to me the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In Christ I am chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. 

And I also was included in Christ when I heard the message of truth, the gospel of my salvation. When I believed, I was marked in Christ with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing my inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

Which of these truths do you most easily embrace? Which of these truths are most difficult for you to believe? Why? 

Paul talks frequently about being in Christ. Read the following verses and note the promises of being “In Christ.” 

  • Romans 6:23
  • Romans 8:1
  • Romans 8:30
  • 2 Corinthians. 3:18
  • I Corinthians 1:2
  • I Corinthians 1:9
  • 2 Corinthians. 3:18
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17
  • Galatians 3:26
  • Colossians 2:12, 3:1

In light of the Scripture, answer the following questions: 

  • What would it mean if all of this stuff is true?
  • What belief about God would begin to change?
  • What belief about others would change?
  • What belief about yourself would change? 
Jan 03
Love0

January 3, 2021 – Imageo Dei

By Uncategorized

Read the Creation Narrative in Genesis 1. Allow God’s Word to speak to you. What does this beginning tell you about God’s character? What does it tell you about His nature? What does it tell you about His love? 

Note the days of forming, and the days of filling.

Read Genesis 1.26-28 again and answer the following questions. What’s the primary difference between human beings and all other created beings? What difference does it make to you to know you were created in the image of God? How do you envision the Trinitarian nature of God in humankind? What does it mean that you, humankind, are “blessed”? What does it mean to “rule over”? 

Reflect and respond to the following quote from A.W. Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  The Knowledge of the Holy. 

When you think about God, what do you think about? 

Read Jeremiah 1.1-10. What stands out to you in this text? 

Read Psalm 139. What speaks to you most personally in this Psalm? How does being “fearfully and wonderfully made” speak to you? 

When God thinks about you, what does He think about? When you think about you, what do you think about? 

Read Colossians 1.15-20. What encouragement do you find in the theology of these words? What is the practical implication of these words for you today? 

Read Matthew 21.12-17 and answer the following questions.

  • What caused Jesus to be so indignant?
  • How did He display righteous anger?
  • Why were the blind and lame so drawn to Jesus?
  • Why did little children praise Him?

How have you seen the Church, and Church people try to fashion God into their own image? How do you resist the temptation of doing the same? 

What does God think about when He thinks about people different than you, and what do you think about when you think about people who are different than you?

How have you experienced the “we can live without you” mentality? Who can you not live without? 

Read 2 Corinthians 3.18. In these last few months, how do you sense you are being transformed? Where do you desire God’s transforming work to continue in your life? 

Give Him praise for His love for you, and for His world.

Mar 13
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Sanctuary COVID-19/Corona Virus Update

By Uncategorized No Comments

Hello Faith Family,

It has been a crazy week with all that is going on in our world, and your inbox has likely been flooded by countless emails about COVID-19/Corona virus. In the midst of all the questions and concerns, we would like to remind each other of two truths we find in Scripture that should guide our response to questions and concerns being raised.

1) We will not be motivated by fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” We can feel afraid, but God has commanded us not to live in fear. We can trust our God who is greater than any fear we can ever face.

2) We will love others first. Living without fear cannot be used as a license to be reckless. Philippians 2:4 challenges us to “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The reality is that the Coronavirus is resulting in our lives being disrupted, but choosing to make sacrifices to help limit the spread of the virus is a practical way that we can love others. May we be found faithful in “loving our neighbor as ourselves” by how we respond to precautions that are encouraged.

In order to protect our Faith Family, and with a desire to honor our leaders who are working hard to limit the spread of COVID-19, we are taking the following steps as a church:

  • For the next two Sundays, we invite you to join us online for a special time of worship and teaching.  A video will be posted Sunday morning that you can watch at any time as we gather remotely to worship and learn together. You will be able to access these videos here each Sunday. 
  • Sanctuary’s campus will be closed next week and we will not be holding any of our regularly scheduled activities.
  • As we learn more, we will evaluate week-to-week on what the plan will be for the following week.
  • We invite our Faith Family to pray for protection for those who have been exposed to COVID-19/Coronavirus, and that ultimately God would be glorified through these times.

In the midst of this uncertainty, God is still sovereign and our trust rests on him. We desire to make wise decisions in how best to honor those in authority over us, and be a beacon of hope in the midst of fear and worry.

Trusting,

Matt Morgan

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26:3

Dec 24
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More & More: Advent Day 24

By Uncategorized

Our Advent Series comes from a plan provided by Church of the Valley on The YouVersion Bible App. For more information, please visit: https://ccv.church.

Day Twenty-Four: Christmas Dinner

Feasts and meals are a common theme throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, God designed annual festivals and feasts for His people to remember His faithfulness, and in the New Testament we see countless times where Jesus arranged or invited himself to meals. Sharing a meal with others brings people closer together. Maybe that’s why one of Jesus’ last acts before He died was breaking bread with those closest to Him. At our church, we take the opportunity each week to get closer to God by taking communion, which reminds us of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins.

Read John 6:32-40.

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

When we sit at the table for Christmas dinner, it’s another opportunity to thank God for sending his Son, Jesus, knowing that through Him, we could have a right relationship with God.

Takeaway: How do you plan to put Jesus at the center of your Christmas day?

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