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Perhaps your default perception of God lives in the “Ruler” category. And rightly so. But do we sometimes miss out on the compassionate care that our God has for us? We'll look at that attribute in our study today.John 10:11

You've likely heard the talk about “the good old days” when no one worried about locking their doors. Such a sense of security feels further away on a daily basis. But our passage today introduces a solution to the need for a sense of safety.John 10:9

Hindsight is 20/20. From our modern perspective, some of the ideas about Jesus during his day are hard to fathom. How could they miss it? But is it possible that parallels to this blindness are all around us today? Our study looks directly at this question.John 8:12

The assignment, watch 30 minutes of news and find a single example of unity. Mission impossible? Feels like it at times, right? And yet, all things are possible with God. Do we subconsciously exclude unity from “all things?” We'll explore unity in our study today.Phil 2:2

There are a lot of reasons folks find to celebrate during the Christmas season. Believers know that the incarnation is at the heart of the celebration. But is there even more that we can lean into to fuel this celebration? We'll go for further understanding of the roots of the season in this study.John 6:35

The Bible is the textbook of theology. Yes. But… the Bible also speaks to the single person who has desires, or the married person who has desires. Very practical discussions included in this study from the book of Hosea.Hosea 1

If you grew up with the “flannel-graph in Sunday School” generation, it's likely that the story of Hosea didn't make the rotation. Nevertheless, there are lessons to be learned, and we'll go in pursuit in this study.Hosea 1

Maybe you've heard the challenge to “preach the gospel, and use words only as a last resort?” What is the gospel impact of our personal finances? What do we tell the world around us with our wallet? This topic in the focus today.2 Cor. 9:6-15

Stereotypic impressions of the church from the outside? “They want money.” What's the flipside of this negative take? What is a cheerful giver? We'll explore this topic today.2 Cor. 9:6-15

Perhaps you've heard of fleeting joy, a temporary breeze of positivity that is cherished for the brief moment that it lands on you. Our study today tackles the idea of complete joy. Complete sounds better than fleeting. Let's explore these types of joy in this study.Phil 2:2

If there's a grizzly bear in your house, you'll know it. But we have to install detectors to tell us about invisible things like radon gas. So, what are the lurking but invisible threats that are around us and possibly in us every day? We'll explore that question in this study.Acts 8:26-40

Here's a paradigm shift—when you're being persecuted, what would it take to love the one persecuting you? We have a powerful example of this in our study today, as we continue to look at the book of Daniel.Daniel 1

Daniel of the Old Testament has some dramatic challenges that he faces as he lives in a pagan culture. And while it can be intriguing to look into that story, we must ask about parallels between his world and ours. How are we being influenced by a pagan culture in our daily existence? We'll look at that question in this study.Daniel 1

Staying in the fight…. This is a lauded characteristic today. Perseverance is honored and rightly so in many cases. But is there a danger in losing track of whose fight we're involved in? Our study today will visit this perspective in the exploration of why Bible reading is vital.Joshua 1:1-9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“You should read the Bible.” “Well, yes, I know that!” But when was the last time you wrestled with the “why?” We'll dive into that quest in this study. Joshua 1:1-9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heading into December, we'll soon be hearing the music tones of “Joy to the World.” We sing it, we enjoy it, but have we ever really wrestled with that phrase? Is joy something that can be found anywhere in our world today? And if so, what is its source? All these questions are explored in this study. Phil 2:2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've been looking at the external influences of buildings, traditions, worship styles, and other elements. Can we miss the internal priorities while sorting out the externals? This study moves to the heart of the matter, literally. Mark 7:14-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may have heard the rhyme, “Here's the church, here's the steeple….” Have you ever thought about the role of a building as a part of a dynamic gospel church? We'll look into the influence a building can have in this study. Mark 7:1-13 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How important is tradition in authentic Christianity? “That's how we've always done it.” Does that statement carry weight? We'll explore the value of tradition in this study. Mark 7:1-13 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do church attendance numbers matter? Is the success of a church related to how many people show up? Or is showing up important for other reasons? We'll look at the essence of worship in this study. Mark 7:5-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's the core of your worship? Given that core, is someone else's preference of worship better or worse? Does it matter? We'll explore the foundation of worship in this study. Mark 7:5-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What image does the word “hero” bring to mind for you? Perhaps you've heard the meme that “not all heroes wear capes.” In this study we'll be looking at a quiet hero, one who presents a challenge for all of us. Ruth 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're in the middle of defining what it means to be a Pharisee. At the same time, we're learning about what it means to be an authentic Christian. Our study explores human tendencies both in and out of the church. Mark 7:1-8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pharisees, those are the bad guys, right? Easy to spot, easy to boo at. But is it possible there are some in our church? Might there be one who shows up every now and then in our mirror? We're going Pharisee hunting in this study. Mark 7:1-8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While it's not always easy, loving those within the church certainly makes sense and is a worthy goal. In our study today, we're being reminded that loving those outside the church is also on our agenda. Hebrews 13:1-6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Love one another.” No problem, let's jump in and get that done. Or, if we're even the least bit honest, we will confess that love is hard to do. We'll look at the Biblical support for the how and why of love in this study. Hebrews 13:1-6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“That's not the kind of worship I like.” Can you make that statement honestly if you really understand the purpose of worship? We'll try to untangle this quandary in our study today. Hebrews 12:18-29 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“What's your story?” Perhaps you've been asked that question. But have you ever done a “story inventory”? Is your story in need of a context check? We'll look at an example of someone who needed to adjust their story in our study today. Ruth 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Perhaps you know someone who will quickly “jump ship” should a challenge show up. Relationships get bumpy, and away they go. Pursuit of a career bogs down, and off they go in a different direction. What happens when that mindset shows up in the church? We'll explore that question today. Hebrews 12:18-29 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grace is a gift. We know this. So, why does this passage talk about the need to “obtain” grace? We'll explore this question today. Hebrews 12:12-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The experienced runner who knows the distance ahead and how to win at knows the required pace. There's a spiritual parallel that we'll explore in this study today. Hebrews 12:12-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How many photos would you guess are taken each day that fall into the category of “selfie?” It's potentially a very big number. Is the selfie mindset found in how we do church? We'll dissect this question today. Hebrews 12:3-11 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're handed a map which leads to an incredible home that's waiting for you. You hop in the car, toss the map in the back seat without looking at it, and start driving aimlessly. Seems a bit of a waste. Do we do the same with plans God has for us? We'll explore His plan in this study. Hebrews 12:3-11 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It can seem like racial division continues to simmer just below the point of eruption. This may feel like a recent challenge. But our study today will be based on ancient racial division and will show us much about grace, hope, and an outstanding figure in God's texture of unlikely heroes. Ruth 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's very convenient to “attend” church online. We learned all about how to do web church during the pandemic. Can this type of church serve the same purpose as attending together in person? We'll explore that question today. Hebrews 10:25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There seems to be no end to discouraging news. Why can it be so hard to find positive news? Why is encouragement less of a default mode? And why, given all we have as believers, is that same concern applicable within the church? We'll explore this vital question today. Hebrews 10:25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our history defines us. This is a common idea with a great deal of truth to it. But as a believer living this way, are we overlooking a far more powerful defining force, found when we look the other direction, toward the future? We'll explore this question today. Hebrews 10:23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We like options. Traveling to a new destination by car introduces the chance for the GPS to offer alternate routes. Has that mindset slid into the idea of salvation? Do we pursue holiness via various routes? We'll look at these questions today. Hebrews 10:22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever done a vocabulary check? If you were to compare the dialog you use when attending church versus your language outside the church, would there be a disparity? This study will look at the possibilities of being mired in “Christianeze.” Hebrews 10:22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show me a single believer who hasn't been told that the best place to meet that special someone is church! Go ahead. I'll wait… Very common advice, and not without a great deal of merit! But what happens if that's as far as we go with church? What happens when we stop short of supporting a Biblical definition of the church? We'll explore that question in this study. Judges 20:12 - 21:25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keeping the main thing the main thing is sometimes not that easy. Distractions abound. Is that possible in the church as well? Are believers at risk of losing track of the core reason we gather? We'll wrestle with that question in this study. Hebrews 10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So many options as to how to spend our time on a Sunday morning. Yes, we should go to church. That's what many of us have heard over and over again. But do we have a strong handle on the “why” of church participation? We'll explore that question in this study. Hebrews 10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is one of the unifying conditions amongst us all in this hyper-speed world. Burnout. Yes, our stressors may not be the same as Elijah's on Mt. Carmel, but they are still very real. What can we learn about renewal and provision from the exhausted prophet under a broom tree? We'll look at this question in our study. 1 Kings 19:1-8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I love tests!” said no one ever. Tests can be stressful, but as we'll see in our study today, they can also be pivotal points in our faith journey. Daniel 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unity shines out in a divided community. This is true. But is the horizontal the only plane on which unity is important? An important question is asked in this study. Philippians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Faith is an individual walk. Salvation is an interaction between one person and the Holy God. That being the case, what is the role of church? How important is the process of gathering together? We'll explore that question in this study. Judges 20:12 - 21:25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It makes sense that a unified church will make an impact on those looking in from the outside. The theoretical power of unity is easy to see. The practical application of this idea though, that's a completely different story. After being told to be unified, we need to look for the power to do so, and we'll do that in this study. Philippians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes, you just get tired of people telling you to “be happy.” Often times, not matter how hard you try, joy can seem so elusive. So, when the Bible tells us to be joyful, what's the formula that makes that possible? We'll look at this question today. Philippians 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I work hard!” Fantastic! Have you ever stopped long enough to ask if your schedule is perhaps a bit too important to you? Another honest look inward in this study. Nehemiah 13 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We love a good hero story—just at the right time a sacrificial act saves the day. The problem is, even our greatest heroes can also have really bad days. Our study today reminds us that even our greatest heroes need to be looked at honestly, so that we remember the ultimate source of good in our lives. Nehemiah 13 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If a carpenter knows all the best practices for construction, but never actually builds anything, is he still a carpenter? If we possess all kinds of knowledge about being a Christian, but there is no change in our lives, what does that say about the reality of our faith? We'll pursue the practical application of God's Word in today's study. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices