Moving From a Messy to a Maturing Church

1 Corinthians 3:1-17

1. We must commit to growing up in the faith.

2. We must commit to faithfully fulfilling our role in God's ministry.

3. We must build on the right foundation.

4. We must seek to preserve God's temple.

The Marks of True Wisdom

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

1. True wisdom is found in the cross of Christ.

2. True wisdom is Spirit directed.

3. True wisdom passes the test of deep spiritual reflection.

Flourishing in Both Life and Death

Philippians 1:18b-26

1. Having the perspective of Christ means seeing death as a gain, not a loss

2. Having the purpose of Christ means prioritizing disciple-making now

3. Having the mind of Christ means rejoicing in all circumstances

The Skeptical Believer

John 20:24-31

1. Skepticism demands evidence.

2. Faith demands commitment.
   • Christian faith is trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord.
3. Trust in the unseen Savior.

How will I commit/trust the Savior?

Seeing is Believing...But is It?

John 9

What is faith?

1. Jesus came to give sight to the blind.
2. Seeing is not always believing.
3. Faith is seeing the glory of Jesus and loving Jesus for all He is.

*Faith is a supernatural gift from God. (See also 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 2 Cor. 4:6)

Investigate Your Doubts

John 1:43-51

1. Accept the invitation to investigate your doubts.
2. Decide about Jesus.
3. Recognize faith is more than facts. Faith is also about relationship.

Priorities

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1. Embrace one priority.

2. Live one priority.

The Mystifying Wisdom of the Gospel

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1. The Gospel polarizes.
2. The Gospel destroys our pride.
3. The Gospel glorifies Christ, not men.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

How can we experience biblical unity in the church? 

1. We must first understand the appeal to unity and heed it intentionally. 

2. We must identify the obstacles to unity and lay them aside.

3. We must focus on the solution to unity and cling to it together.

A Church's Path Towards Leading on Racial Reconciliation

Ephesians 2:11-22

1. We must recognize that Jesus came to tear down our dividing walls (vv. 11-15)
2. We must must remember that unity together flows from our peace with God (vv. 16-18)
3. We must celebrate God’s diverse design for His Church (vv. 20-22)

What are unique challenges for African American parents in raising kids today?

Surprising Encouragement for a Messy Church

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1. We can be confident in our calling.
   1. We've been given a new leader.
   2. We've been given a new family.
   3. We've been given a new identity.
   4. We've been equipped with spiritual gifts to be used.
2. We can be confident in God's eternal faithfulness.

Losing Weight to Run Toward Christ in 2018

Hebrews 12:1-3

1. Be prepared to run well
   1. Be encouraged
   2. Be diligent in shedding excess weight
   3. Be ready to run with endurance
2. Be focused on Jesus

A Savior Is Born

Luke 2:8-14

1. No matter what you are going through, He's been there.
2. No matter who you are, what you have, or what you've done, He loves you. (He came to rescue you)

Unwrapping God's Gift of Love

John 3:16

1. God's perfect gift of love is sacrificial.
2. God's perfect gift of love is big, but also personal.
3. God's perfect gift of love meets our specific needs.

Unwrapping God's Gift of Joy

Isaiah 35

Jesus is God's gift of joy because...

1. He brings salvation.
2. He brings healing and restoration.
3. He will bring us to an everlasting home.

Unwrapping God's Gift of Peace

Colossians 1:19-23

1. Jesus brings peace in the midst of our standoff with God.
2. Jesus brings peace through transforming our relationship and standing with God.
3. Jesus alone brings true peace because He is God.

Unwrapping God's Gift of Hope

1 Peter 1:3-9

1. God's gift of hope in Christ is secure.
2. God's gift of hope in Christ stands in the midst of trials.
3. God's gift of hope in Christ changes our posture.

Living Lives of Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1. Be joyful continuously.
2. Be prayerful unceasingly.
3. Be thankful completely.

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

Romans 11:33-36

1. Experiencing God authentically reveals He is perfectly incomprehensible.
2. Experiencing God authentically reveals His complete sufficiency.
3. Experiencing God authentically reveals His centrality.
4. Experiencing God authentically leads us to glorify Him with our lives.

Sola Christo (Christ Alone)

Acts 4:7-14

1. No other name brings salvation.
   1. He alone satisfies our greatest need.
   2. He alone is our sufficient savior.
2. No other name changes lives completely.
   1. He alone transforms our fear into boldness.
   2. He alone transforms our hopelessness into hopefulness.