John 15:1-17 "Nurturing the Life We Crave"

John 15:1-17 "Nurturing the Life We Crave

The relationship with God we crave can’t be manufactured, it must be nurtured.  Growing fruit is the job of the Holy Spirit (not me); we need only to stay connected to the source of life and allow the fruit to grow.  The fruit of the Spirit is not evidenced by what I DO, it is evidenced by who I AM.  There is a mutuality of God in me and me in God - an intertwining of life -  which yields a sweetness that fills a craving that can’t be satisfied by any other source.

1 Corinthians 2:7-12 "Secret Wisdom"

1 Corinthians 2:7-12 "Secret Wisdom"

Through the Holy Spirit, God invites us to share the secrets of intimacy with him.  These secrets are relational, a deep knowing of another.  God wants to know us, as much as he wants us to know him.  Our connection to this deeper wisdom, this intimacy, is the Holy Spirit. 

 

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 “Creating Communion”

 Message: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 “Creating Communion”

 Many of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem rejected the inclusion of gentile believers who were uncircumcised and didn’t observe Jewish Law and traditions. Paul leads the gentile churches in a response of love, taking up a gentile collection for the poor in the Jerusalem Church. This demonstration of love revealed the gentile Christian’s acceptance of Jewish believers and sincere desire to be in unity with them. Yet, it also maintained the conviction that gentiles were indeed God’s children without having to become Jewish. As followers of Christ, we too can practice tangibly loving those who reject us and seek genuine unity without compromising our convictions.

2 Samuel 24:1-17 “In God We Trust”

Message: 2 Samuel 24:1-17 “In God We Trust”

Why does God punish Israel for taking a census to determine how large and strong their military could be? It is because Israel’s future depended on their placing trust in God not men. In the same way, those who live by faith must continually choose live by faith and not schemes of men. We often place our trust in convention rather than Covenant Relationship with God. We must continually return God as our center and hope. The future depends on it.