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Counter-Cultural Love
Gospel Clarity in a Confusing World Brandon Fisher Gospel Clarity in a Confusing World Brandon Fisher

Counter-Cultural Love

Brandon Fisher

It’s hard for us to see how terms like judgment and discipline can go hand in hand with love and grace. Part of that is because we our own understanding of love is so easily shaped by the culture that we are a part of. God calls the church to live with a counter-cultural love that is willing to confront and discipline when needed those within our ranks who are living in unrepentant sin. We find in Corinth that the church was tolerated and even celebrating the sin of one of its members, rather than calling this man to repentance. While we may look at this situation and shake our heads over what was taking place, we should also recognize we still live in a world that is prone to tolerate or celebrate sin. The church is called to live differently by loving one another enough to confront and discipline sin when needed. This may not always feel like the most loving thing to do, but it reflects the love of Jesus who gave his life to save us from sin and make us holy.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

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A Cross-Shaped Life
Gospel Clarity in a Confusing World Kyle Kauffman Gospel Clarity in a Confusing World Kyle Kauffman

A Cross-Shaped Life

Kyle Kauffman

One of the main problems in the church at Corinth seems to be that they were more shaped by the values and priorities of the culture they lived in then they were by the cross that they confessed to believe in. This is an ever-present danger for the individual Christian and the church as a whole. We can so easily adopt the values and priorities of the culture and simply adopt Christianity to those. But following Jesus is meant to radically change our values and priorities. We see this in the case of Paul and what he says to the Corinthians in chapter 4. He shows us what a cross-shaped life looks like and pushes us to think about where our lives may be more in line with the culture than with the cross. We are challenged to see that following Jesus is not just about adding something to our lives, it’s about a complete reorientation of our lives around the cross.

1 Corinthians 4:8-21

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The Problem of Self

The Problem of Self

Kyle Kauffman

One of the most universal problems that people face in every culture and in every age is the problem of self. We may be prone to have to high a view of ourselves or too low a view of ourselves, but either way we are prone to think and focus on ourselves way too much. This was a problem in Corinth, and it remains a problem in our own day. So often we try to solve the problem of self by focusing more on ourselves with self-esteem, self-help, and self-care. This never cuts to the root of the issue and deals with the pride that is the source of all the problems with self. While we long to be free of the problem of self, none of our human solutions end up working. Only the gospel is able to liberate us from ourselves so that we can live a life of self-forgetfulness. This is what then frees us to joyfully live to glorify God and love others rather than being so focused on ourselves. This is what Paul found in Christ and this is what he invites us to find as well.

1 Corinthians 3:18-4:7

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Growing Up in Christ

Growing Up in Christ

Kyle Kauffman

Many of the best gifts we receive in this life also come with responsibilities and challenges. Whether it is friendship, a job, marriage, children, owning a home, or any other gift, we can see how the gifts we are given also bring responsibilities and challenges in our lives. The same is true of ministry in the church. While Paul is mainly referring to himself and Apollos in 1 Corinthians 3:1-17, what he says here applies to every Christian. We are all called to minister to one another in the church. We have been given specific gifts, abilities, and interests that God wants us to use to love and serve one another. This ministry is both a gift and challenge for many reasons. And 1 Corinthians 3 is a great source of encouragement to us as we seek to do the work of ministry God has called us to.

1 Corinthians 3:1-17

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Turn and Fight
Let's Be Honest Joel Wood Let's Be Honest Joel Wood

Turn and Fight

Joel Wood

There is a danger that we would treat confession as an end in and of itself. This is especially true in our time that prizes “authenticity” above all else. We want to be authentic and honest about our sin, but that is not the end goal for us. Rather, our goal and desire is to grow to be more like Christ and to be authentic in who we are as God’s sons and daughters. This means we are meant to fight against sin and pursue holiness. Confession is part of this war, but we must realize it is only one part of it. Confession should never replace fighting sin in our lives. Rather, it should be the starting point from which we continue to fight sin in our lives. This means that when we confess our sins to other people, we are inviting them into the fight with us and seeking allies in our war against sin.

Romans 7; Romans 8:1-13; Matthew 5:27-30

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A Better Life
Hebrews: Jesus is Better Kyle Kauffman Hebrews: Jesus is Better Kyle Kauffman

A Better Life

Kyle Kauffman

What does a life well-lived look like? That’s a question we all ask in some way. We know we only have one life to live and so we don’t want to waste our lives. In the midst of all the challenges, pressures, and temptations it can become easy to coast, drift, or just fail to consider the direction of our lives. Hebrews 13 puts before our eyes a vision of what a life well-lived looks like. The author of Hebrews has spent 12 chapters laying out what make Jesus better than anything or anyone else in this life. Based on all of this he concludes in Hebrews 13 by telling us a life well-lived is a life that seeks to please God by following Jesus. The author shows us in practical detail what this life looks like while reminding us that this life is only possible through God’s grace.

Hebrews 13:1-25

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A Better Race
Hebrews: Jesus is Better Brandon Fisher Hebrews: Jesus is Better Brandon Fisher

A Better Race

Brandon Fisher

Think of a time where you ran a race in your life (or where you set out to do something else that was challenging). Why did you run that race? What did you experience during the race? What kept you going when things got difficulty? What was it like to get to the finish line? The Christian Life can be compared to a race that we run through this life and this world. The race is not easy, but it is worth it. This is what the author of Hebrews is teaching us in Hebrews 12:1-29. He’s like a coach who is on the side cheering us on and yelling, “Keep going!” Endurance in the Christian race can be challenging for all sorts of reasons, but in the end, we will find that if we keep going it will all be worth it.

Hebrews 12:1-29

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What If I Disagree?
Truth Be Told Joel Wood Truth Be Told Joel Wood

What If I Disagree?

Joel Wood

When it comes to knowing the truth, it is inevitable that we will disagree with others and find ourselves in situations where we feel like we need to speak up about what we believe is true. This may be with fellow Christians where we disagree on some truth or it may be in conversations with those who don’t know Christ where we disagree about what is ultimately true. We are not meant to run from disagreements or to avoid those who we disagree with. Rather healthy disagreement and debate is one of the ways that God uses to help us grow in the truth. We live in a world where we tend to avoid those who think differently than us or seek to shame them and yell them down. But we are meant to engage with one another and not avoid disagreements over the truth while doing it all with love and humility.

1 Peter 3:13-1; Ephesians 4:1-2

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What’s Your Diet?
Truth Be Told Kyle Kauffman Truth Be Told Kyle Kauffman

What’s Your Diet?

Kyle Kauffman

Our ability to know and live according to the truth will be greatly affected by the information we take in. Who and what do we listen to the most, watch the most, read the most, etc? We are people who are inevitably shaped by what we give our attention to. Lots of voices (perhaps more than ever before) clamor for our attention. And we should recognize how valuable our attention is more than ever before. We are meant to give our attention to sources that cultivate wisdom in our lives rather than folly. We are meant to spend more time soaking in the truth then sipping on what is trivial. We are meant to see that more information does not necessarily translate to more wisdom and truth. This week is designed to help us evaluate how we are prioritizing our attention and if our habits in life are conducive to forming us into people who are deeply rooted in the truth.

Proverbs 8-9; Psalm 1; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 3:18

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What’s Your Source?
Truth Be Told Kyle Kauffman Truth Be Told Kyle Kauffman

What’s Your Source?

Kyle Kauffman

In a world that is full of voices, how do we determine what is true and what isn’t true? In an age where everyone has their own sources, experts, scientists and theories to back something up how do we discern what’s really true and what’s false? How do we determine what is fake news and what’s real news? How do we live wisely in an age of misinformation and disinformation? Christians hold to the belief that if something contradicts the truth of the Bible then it is not true. But how are we to filter all the different information we take in and the voices we listen to? Discernment is an important skill for living in this life and a vital skill for living as a Christian. It’s a skill we are meant to grow in over time. And it’s a skill that helps us to live wisely as we discern what is true and live in accordance with it. The Bible not only highlights the importance of discernment but also teaches us how we can grow in this vital skill.

Hebrews 5:11-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

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