For Small Groups to be encouraging, inspiring and disciple-making, we need to learn from Jesus' way of relating to people in different settings. Today's story is from Luke 7:36-50, and in it we find key principles for small groups. A pharisee that challenges everyone in the room, a loving leader, and a broken woman who understood how grace, love and truth work.
Small Groups are intended to be a place to rest, to connect and be part of what God is doing in others. However, we struggle to find small groups inspiring and encouraging because we tend to see them as another program or another thing in our calendar. This message encourages us to think of small groups as a family that is organically learning to love each other beyond the meetings.
This message includes three short messages on Jesus' birth: The role of the angels, the humility of God, and his love.
How is it that we are supposed to have Joy and sing "Joy to the World" when the world and life is painful? We all would want to have that sense of Joy in our hearts and in order to have that Joy we need to understand that JOY IS FOUND IN THE THINGS THAT WE DEPEND UPON. The Christmas story teaches us that Joy is possible!
What we do for work impacts the way how we see and feel about ourselves and others. Our culture says: "WHAT you do for work is what counts." God says: "It is HOW you do your work that counts." We were created to work because our jobs are an extension of God's creativity and plans for his creation. God cares about what you do, but He is more interested in how you do it.
In today's culture we see that money is crucial. For some, it represent happiness and stability. For others, it brings security and a sense of achievement. Jesus encourages us to have the right perspective about money because He knows that it can get in the middle of our relationship with him.
We continue our Teaching Series on Faith & Culture with our discussion on Faith & Divorce. Moses, Jesus, and Paul give us wisdom in how to approach this controversial topic. When is divorce permitted? When isn't permitted? This message is shared with truth, compassion and grace, acknowledging that every situation is unique. God is a God of grace and divorce is not the unforgivable sin. Hearts can be healed and relationships can be restored.