Refill

Have you ever wondered why church worship services, including yours, are they way they are? Are we really suppose to craft our worship services that appeal to unbelievers? Does God even care? What does the bible say about it all? Are you confused yet? Smash that play button to get in the thick of it and let's find out if some churches actually miss the mark entirely. Also, DON'T FORGET to rate, follow, and share this episode with your friends and family!! And, don't forget to send in your questions to TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com Discussion questions: 1) Does my Pastor preach the word in a way that gives me a better understanding of Christ? Additionally, do I hear the gospel every week? 2) Who is the church worship service for and who are we worshipping? 3) What do I do if I find out that my church is seeker sensitive? __________________ SHOW NOTES AND LINKS: "The Bride of Christ" - The Refill - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/refill/id1530444143?i=1000523279029 Book recommendations: "Ashamed of The Gospel" by John MacArthur https://a.co/d/4ncSqW1 "The Prodigal Church" by Jared C. Wilson https://a.co/d/8mEixtI "Does God Care How We Worship" by Ligon Duncan https://a.co/d/cqQ18GJ The Downgrade Controversy: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/blog-entries/what-was-the-downgrade-controversy-actually-all-about/

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of life is? Throughout the centuries of human existence, this question has pondered the highly esteemed of thought and the most humblest of minds alike. What is our purpose? How do we define it...or how does it define us? This week, we discuss a few different ways to discover your purpose and compare that with the Biblical response of our purpose in life and our existence as humans in general. Also, DON'T FORGET to rate, follow, and share this episode with your friends and family!! And, don't forget to send in your questions to TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why do you think our purpose is such a highly pondered concept? 2. Are some people 'born' to do or achieve something? How does that play in to finding one's purpose? 3. Can purpose be as simple as praising God and serving the Kingdom, or must there be more to it?

You may have heard this question before, but it's still worth getting into it. Essentially, are there limitations to God? If He has limitations, doesn't that prevent Him from being omnipotent? and if He doesn't have limitations then doesn't that allow for logical impossibilities like making a boulder too big for even the all powerful God to lift? Well, heres a small spoiler...God does in fact have limitations, but they're not what you think! Listen and find out how the answer to this question will not only help you appreciate the character and perfect nature of God but also shine some light in our darkest moments. ALSO, DON'T FORGET to Rate, follow, and share this episode with your friends and family!! And, don't forget to send in your question to TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com -- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Does it bother you to know that God has limitations? 2. Why does God allow us to experience pain and hardships? 3. If God is pouring hydrogen peroxide on your life right now, what is one truth about God's character you can hold on to?

There are many religions out there that believe God was created in some way or by some other powerful being. There are, however, fundamental issues with a God being created. In actuality, God must be uncreated else He would cease to exist. This is why I believe in an uncreated Creator. He is the uncaused-cause and is before all things. The God I believe in, the God of the Bible, is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. However, since using the Bible is an appeal to authority (an authority that some critics would not accept) I tried to answer using minimal Bible verses and appeal to logic and reason. DON'T FORGET TO... Rate, follow, and share this episode with your friends and family!! And also, don't forget to send in your question to TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com -- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. We talked about another "being" creating God, but what about the universe? How does your response to this question change if God was created by the universe? 2. Read Exodus 3:7-14. Why do you think God choose to reveal His name as "I AM" in response to Moses? 3. Jesus says in John 8:58, "Before Abraham was, I am." How does this verse help us see Jesus more clearly?

In this episode, let's talk about heaven. What is it? Who gets to go to heaven? What are we going to do when we get there? To be honest, there aren't a ton of verses to answer these questions, but there are some generalities we can use to gain some assurance and confidence. But I think, more importantly, the question is...is heaven worth it? Find out when you get your refill. Got a question you want answered? Email us at TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com and put in the subject line “Questionalbles.” DISCUSSION QUESTIONS - 1. How often do you think about heaven and the afterlife? Do you think it should be more or less frequent? 2. Is it ‘fair' that, according to the Bible, not everybody will go to heaven? 3. How does (or should) the reality of heaven impact how you live your life?

Send in your questions to TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com and be a part of the new series "Questionables." Season two starts October 6th!

Brenton and James team up to share highlights from Season 1 and discuss what the future of The Refill is going to be. We hope you join us for a fun time. Email us: TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @TheRefillPodcast

Do you think it's weird that we as Christians follow a book? I mean, the Bible was written thousands of years ago, covering a period of over a thousand years span, written by over 40 different authors, from different backgrounds, ages, and cultures so isn't it a little out dated? Well, there's a lot of reasons why Christians hold to biblical authority. In this episode, I want to not only give you confidence in the Word of God but also give you some answers to share with people who question you. And guess where I got that idea from... DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What is your favorite book of the Bible and why? 2. Do you believe the Bible to be inerrant? To what degree? 3. How have you explained your view of biblical authority in the past? What would you change after listening to this episode?

Baptism is a phrase we've often heard and maybe even witness or experienced in the church. There are differing views on how and what baptism really is and what it is not. As one of the two sacraments of the protestant church, it is imperative that we understand this part of Christ's command to his people. Today, we will dive in and look at the two different modes of baptism, who the subject should be of that baptism, and if baptism saves you. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Were you raised credobaptist or paedobaptist? What is your biggest concern with the other view of baptism? What was the most helpful point in understanding the other view of baptism? Does baptism save you? LINKS AND RESOURCES Living For God by Mark Jones: https://www.amazon.com/Living-God-Short-Introduction-Christian/dp/1433566257 Systematic Theology by John Frame: https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/frame_hs.pdf The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith: https://founders.org/library/1689-confession/ The Westminster Confession of Faith: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/westminster-confession-faith/ Ligon Duncan (Presbyterian) discussing the differences between Credo/Paedobaptism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkqeQUFsBpg What other errors does baptismal regeneration promote? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmkqS325eFw

Welcome to church...now we want you to sing! How weird is it that we as a church sing out loud with hands raised and eyes closed? It's not that weird if you understand what music does to the heart of a worshiper. Our God is good, worthy of praise, and music is a beautiful way to learn theology, and attach heart to head. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What song is your favorite to worship to right now? 2. What style of worship do you prefer (principled or normative)? 3. Why is it that sometimes you hear a great sermon and walk away normally but yet completely be wrecked emotionally and spiritually by a song?

Let's talk about talking to the "Big Guy in the Sky." On the outside, it seems like prayer is just some mumbo jumbo, talking to yourself, wishful thinking to thin air. But to the Christian, prayer is essential. It is life giving and it is a continual practice that is done, both individually and corporately. And sometimes the best way to explain things is to do the grade school thing and ask who, what, why, where, when, and how. So, let's dive in and fall in love with the practice of prayer. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Where would you say prayer is on your spiritual priority list? 2. What is the weirdest way God has answered your prayers? 3. What is the hardest part of the Lord's Prayer for you to pray? Why?

Eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Jesus might seem weird to the unaffiliated but there's a great purpose to it all. It's one of the simple, yet complex, and completely beautiful traditions of the Christian church. This episode I'll dive into some of the biblical contexts for communion, who it's for, and even some of the different traditional views that are held across the broader range of the church. Explanation of the four views: https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/transubstantiation-consubstantiation-catholic-protestant DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you think the church should observe the Lord's Supper weekly, monthly, or on another schedule? 2. Which of the four views of communion does your church hold and teach? 3. Does the church need to use unleavened bread and wine or can other elements be used instead?

Let's be honest...some of the things that we do in church and as a church might seem weird to other people, especially to those who were not raised in the church. So, let's make church not weird. Let's give some context and purpose to being the church, attending church, and living life as a part of the universal body of Christ. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. How do you define a 'good' church? 2. Do you think the "5 Solas" is a good basic metric in identifying the Bride of Christ? Why or why not? 3. Do you think the church should be primarily focused on those in the body or those outside the body of Christ?

"Women, submit to your husbands and husbands love your wives." This verse is uncomfortable because there is a real issue of misinterpretations of this verse being taught. If you read this wrong you see men as bearing the incredible burden of complete responsibility to lead the family well and it teaches wives to just sit back and stay in their lane. But this isn't how marriage is supposed to be. So let's learn the truth of what a biblical marriage should look like and why marriage is such a huge blessing! DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. If marriage is so profound and bears so much symbolism, why is it so difficult? 2. What would your marriage look like if you perfectly responded the way Paul is commanding you to? 3. What would living out Christ-like submission look like in your day to day life?

Sharing the gospel is the call of God on every believer, and when people are born again they join the Body of Christ. However, when they actually step foot in church for the first time they might be weirded out. That's because some of the things the Christian church does regularly is kinda weird. (You just don't think so because you've been doing it for a while!) So, this series is meant to unweird the weirdness of Christianity and make going to church make sense.

We have all heard that Christianity is just a list of "Do's and Don'ts," right? But is that true? This week's episode will talk about Christian Liberty and if it's okay for a Christian to enjoy a fine cigar, sip of bourbon, some new ink, or that new album that's topping the charts. It's not just a yes or no situation; in fact, it's a lot more than you think. Join us while we get a bit uncomfortable talking about things you've most likely been told were sin. Discussion Questions: Think of something you do that might fall into the category of Christian Liberty. Now ask yourself the following questions: Is this something that's at odds with scripture? What does my Pastor or Church Elder say about it? Do the Historic Confessions speak to it? Is this something I can do to the glory of God? Is this something that will make a brother or sister in Christ "stumble"? Is this hindering my witness to an unbeliever? Is this becoming an addiction, or is it replacing my joy found in God? Has it become an idol that is now taken Lordship of heart and mind over God himself? Links: London Baptist Confession of Faith - https://founders.org/library/1689-confession/chapter-21-christian-liberty-and-liberty-of-conscience/ Matt Slick (Legalism) - https://carm.org/about-the-church/what-is-legalism/ Michael Horton (Antinomianism) - https://www.monergism.com/holiness-wars-what-antinomianism Ra McLaughlin (Leviticus Context) - http://reformedanswers.org/answer.asp/file/40113 Books on Christian Liberty: Law and Liberty: A Biblical Look at Legalism - The Northampton Press On Christian Liberty by Martin Luther Quotes: "Thus the essence of legalism is rooted not merely in our view of law as such but in a distorted view of God as the giver of his law." - Sinclair B. Ferguson

One of my favorite questions to ask people is, "if Hitler ever gave his life to Jesus, would he be saved?" This is uncomfortable for a lot of reasons, but mainly because it makes us question our own salvation. If Hitler cannot be forgiven, then when did he cross the line? What is that line? Essentially, it comes down to the topic of the unpardonable sin found in Mark 3 or Matthew 12. What does Jesus mean when he says that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven? So, just how deep and wide and long is the grace of God? (EDIT — I say Pharisees a lot, but I meant Scribes. Sorry about that!) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Does it make you uncomfortable to think of Jesus giving grace and mercy to someone like Hitler? 2. How does knowing that Paul was forgiven make you feel towards God's justice? His grace? 3. How can we have peace about the security of salvation when the enemy makes us question our salvation?

Tithing is a sensitive topic. Some churches believe that all believers and members must give 10% of their paycheck in order to be in good standing with God. This comes from a reading of Malachi 3:10...but is this a correct interpretation? What about the other times tithes were given in the OT. Are we supposed to obey the tithing commands from the Mosaic Covenant. Do we need to tithe? What is a tithe anyway? More on that later. Finally, how does God command His believers on this side of the cross to treat their money? How can we be, as Paul says, "cheerful givers." DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Do you believe, either consciously or subconsciously, that a person should give a certain percentage? 2. Read Mark 12:41-44. In your giving, do you think you resemble the poor widow or the wealthy givers? 3. Do you give to a church or an organization? Why or why not?

Slavery is in the Bible. There, I said it. Many people though misinterpret the term and equate it with our modern view of slavery. Meaning we make the hermeneutical sin of importing our own culture and understanding of terms into the biblical narrative. So what does the Old Testament and New Testament actually mean when it says 'slave'? Is it this oppressive, inhumane interpretation that we have or is it something else? More importantly, does God condone slavery - since His people often participated in it? Do the NT writers approve of slavery as well? These are all great questions, but in reality there is a question behind the question, isn't there? So, lets really get down to it. If we're being honest, when we ask what the Bible says about slavery, what we're really asking is if God is racist, if His people are racist...if Christianity promotes racism. Well, does it? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. How difficult is it for you to see 'slave' as a neutral term rather than a negative one? 2. What does Paul's words, "see him more than a bond-servant but as a beloved brother" mean for us today? How can it be applied to our everyday life? 3. What does it mean to truly be a 'slave' to Christ?

This week continuing in the series titled "Uncomfortable" guest host James O'Rear talks about how a sinful man who offered his innocent daughters to an angry mob for sex and then later becomes a victim of incestuous rape with those same daughters is viewed as righteous before God. It's weird, it's crazy, and it makes perfect sense, but not how you'd expect. How's that for click-bate? Join us as we journey through the bible to explore how we might find our own righteousness. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What was the most uncomfortable part of Lot's story in Genesis and why? 2. How do you see the parallels of Lot's story to you own faith journey? 3. How does Lot's story drive you to a deeper appreciation of God's grace and how will you respond to that regularly?

This week we talk about how Intelligent Design helps us understand incest. I know...it's weird. But this is our series and we're sticking to it. I think understanding Genesis unlocks a lot of truth to scripture and helps us see the world as it should be and helps us build a firm foundation in scripture. Not only that...it helps us understand the weird factor of Abraham marrying his own sister. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What do you feel about the following statement: "If the Bible is true, then science will catch up." 2. What is your stance on the Genesis 1 and 2? 3. How does your understanding of the origins of mankind shape your identity?

Have you ever noticed in the Exodus story, pharaoh has a hard heart? Sure, of course you did. But did you also notice that in some places he hardens his own heart or God hardens his heart? So which is it? Is God an evil puppeteer, punishing a person for doing the thing that He's making Him do in the first place? Because if so....that's reeeaaaalllly uncomfortable. So, what does it all mean? How can a loving God force people to disobey Him? Does he do that? What's going on? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What is your favorite move rendition of the exodus story? 2. What does Pharaoh show us is the result of a hardened heart? 3. How does the Exodus story point to Christ and the gospel?

This episode makes us uncomfortable because it stops us in our tracks. How do you respond to, "he Bible says don't judge!" Easy...you keep reading. Does Jesus really want us not to judge...anything? And if we can't judge, what does that even mean? Are we not allowed to be a judge in court, or judge whether or not we should wear pants or shorts, or judge whether sin is sin? The world sees Christians as harsh judgmental people. So can properly exegeting this passage really change all that? Got a request or idea for this series? Email me at TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever had someone tell you "the Bible says don't judge!"? What did you do? 2. Do you think it is our place to point out sin in our neighbor's life? 3. Of the things we need to be when living out Matthew 7 (humble, loving, gracious, honest) which do you struggle the most with?

Pride is a dangerous thing, because it prevents us from seeing truth. Our pride blinds us from the beauty of the gospel...especially when it comes to politics. Yes. One of the ultimate uncomfortable topics in America, especially in 2021, post election...politics. So what does the Bible say to those who belong to Christ on how to respond, react, and do when faced with a government that is less than ideal? Now, there isn't just one passage that talks about this stuff...but several. So...let's get uncomfortable. Have a passage that makes you uncomfortable? Email us: TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Are politics important in your life? Why? 2. If someone were to look at your life, would they say that you are identifying more with your political affiliation or your religious convictions? 3. How does knowing what the Bible says about government and politics give you the freedom to evangelize to anyone?

The Bible can make us uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. Like when it challenges our worldview, or when people do things that are super inappropriate, or when Jesus says things like, "If you want to be my disciple, you have to hate everyone in your family." Wait...what?! Yeah. He said that. But, again, does it mean what we think it means? What is Jesus calling for all of those who follow Him to do? Have a verse that you want us to discuss? Email: TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Do you prefer a friend that speaks love or truth? How did Jesus do both? 2. Does knowing what it costs to be a disciple of Jesus scare you? 3. What is one thing you need to give up (to hate) in order to be His disciple?

You know what a difficult passage is, especially in today's culture? 1 Tim 2:11-15. Some people read this passage and think, "See! The Bible (and thus God)think that women are better seen than heard!" Very uncomfortable indeed. But, of course, this isn't true. Our God is so good, he loves men and women alike, and so maybe we can trust that God is who he says he is and clear up this whole issue. Right?! Have a verse that you want us to discuss? Email: TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Who is a strong woman of faith that you admire in your own life? 2. Has this passage been a road block for you in your faith? 3. How can the gospel be taught through this verse?

What is the deal between faith and works? Are we saved by faith alone (sola fide) as Paul would say, or do we agree with James (the brother of Jesus) and say that salvation is completely dependent on faith? In actuality, Paul and James are not at odds. They actually AGREE with one another and their theologies line up oh so perfectly. This episode tackles the misinterpretations of James 2 and explains the biblical relationship between faith and works. Got a verse or passage you'd like me to study next? Send me an email: TheRefillPodcast@gmail.com DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What other things in life need to have fruitful 'deeds' in order to be vindicated? 2. What are some things that you do currently that accurately demonstrates your faith? 3. How does knowing James and Paul agree on faith and works strengthen your trust in the Bible as God's word?

New series where we take a deep dive in some difficult passages and get UNCOMFORTABLE!

(Part 5 of 5) - Discipleship could have been its own series, but I decided to tag it to the end of this series on evangelism because too often we stop at making believers that we neglect the call to make disciples. Discipleship (maturing in your faith in Christ) is essential for the believer. The Apostle Peter said that we need to build upon our faith by adding holy characteristics, and the Apostle Paul said that in our maturity we will be able to withstand the tactics of the enemy. This is what is needed for both new and old believers. So, this episode defines and discusses discipleship and also how to disciple (or mentor) others.

(Part 4 of 5) - One of the most damaging thing Christians can do when sharing the gospel is negating it with a poor response to a person rejecting the gospel message. Sharing the gospel is all about showing people Jesus, His grace and forgiveness, and if when people reject that message we lash out in arrogance, pride, or just continue to argue to win it actually hurts more than helps. I recount a time I did just that and share a few lessons I've learned along the way in my walk with Christ.

(Part 3 of 5) - Now that you know the gospel and your responsibility to share it, it's time to give it legs and follow in obedience. First, let's dispel a few myths surrounding evangelism and then lets work through the gospel message and how to share it with others. Ultimately, every extension of the gospel needs to have three parts, (1) the reality of sin, (2) Jesus's payment of sin on the cross, and (3) salvation by faith. I also will give you a handful of verses that you can use to help share that message with others. But don't worry...evangelism isn't about saying the right thing, but rather it's about obedience. God can use even the worst explanation of the gospel to bring about life change (just look at Jonah's sermon!). In the end, we obey and God moves. That's how you share the gospel!

(Part 2 of 5) - Now that you know the gospel - and you've put it into your own words and written it down - do you need to share that message with others? Should you evangelize? And the short answer is...yes, because the Bible says so. Open your bible and go to Matthew 28:18-20 and lets read the Great Commission together and see what Jesus has to say on the subject. My hope is that as we walk through this passage you will not only be challenged to go out and share the gospel, but you will feel empowered and motivated to do it. Remember, one of the coolest ways we can bring worship to God is to bring along other people to worship Him with us.

(Part 1 of 5) - What is the gospel and what is its message? Can you answer this question with complete confidence? This episode will help you understand the gospel and hopefully help you construct this message for yourself (meaning in your own words). The gospel is truly good news and it's the perfect response to our bad news: our current condition is that we are hopelessly and helplessly stuck in our sin, resulting in separation from our Creator, and also trapped as citizens of this fallen, broken world. Praise God for the gospel, indeed because His response - Jesus on a cross and the empty grave - is the best news anyone could hear.

Last episode in the series! God's faithfulness can be understood by looking at it through 5 different lenses. Namely, God is reliable, loyal, secure, constant, and trustworthy. We explore how all of these are similar but help us understand the fullness and awesomeness of God's faithfulness. What does all of this mean for us in the modern age? How does knowing God is faithful provide us with aide to keep walking the Christian life?

For me, this is what it's all been for. This episode! What is God's grace? Can we earn favor with God or is it truly given as a free gift? And if it is a free gift, can't I just go around and do whatever I want since I'm covered in grace? (The answer is no, obviously, but we'll get into it). How does a believer work against God's grace and nullify the gift of God? Finally, is grace to simple a concept to be true?

"Have mercy on us!" Do a quick search on the word mercy in the Bible and you will find a lot of people crying out to God for mercy! But is it a trait that we can look at and be in awe of? What is the difference between mercy, forgiveness, and grace? Aren't they all kind of the same thing? How does knowing God's mercy help us worship Him better? Finally, let's look to the minor prophet Micah and see how we can find joy and peace as we rest in His ocean of mercy.

EDITED — Is there anything that God cannot do? Actually...yes. But don't worry, that's a good thing. So, what is the biblical definition of God's power? Can anything stop the will of God? What about the purpose of God? How does knowing God is truly Omnipotent give us hope and joy moving on in our lives? Finally, if you want to have the definitive example of God's power, look to the empty tomb! ***IMPORTANT CORRECTION***: Adam and Eve sinned 3 CHAPTERS in...not 3 days later, like I said. Brain fart.).

God is described in the Bible as the giver of peace, or even more accurately, Peace itself. Since God's being encompasses peace, then it is something we can be in awe of. What is God's peace? Why is it so much better than the world's definition of peace? What does it mean that Jesus is our peace? Finally, we discuss what the Apostle John means when he recounts that Jesus gives us His peace.

God is good. All the time. And all the time...yeah, you get it! What is good, and how can we say that God is good? What do we mean by that and how can we be assured of His goodness. The short answer? Jesus. Jesus is how we can see God's goodness interacting with our brokenness. Lastly, we read Psalm 73 together and get wisdom, strength, and perspective in moving forward in this broken world and cling to the hope and faithfulness of God's goodness.

Anyone else think that 'sovereignty' is one of the most difficult words to spell? It has nothing to do with the podcast but...yeah, anyways... As Christians, we often say that God is in control, but do we believe it. Spoiler alert, the Bible confirms He is indeed Sovereign, that He is the supreme ruler and King. Then why do we forget this? If it is clear from scripture, why do we flounder at this truth? Why do we try and take control of things and trust in our own power on not His? Why do we blame God for the evil we experience? Finally, how does knowing God is in control, that He is over all help us as we wade through the trials of this life?

This week we look at one of God's incommunicable attributes, His eternal nature. Is God eternal or just really old? What does the Bible say about it? How does knowing God is, "from everlasting to everlasting" help us worship Him more fully?

Continuing in our discussion of God's "negative" attributes, we discuss God's jealousy. God's word says He is a jealous God...and isn't that a bad thing? Jealousy is wrong and is indicative of weakness and insecurity. Is God insecure and needy? How can God have a righteous jealousy? And how can His righteous jealousy transform our lives?

Wait...isn't wrath a bad thing? If wrath is evil, how can we worship God's wrath? Let's look through the Bible and see five hope-giving realities that we can learn about God's wrath. In truth, his wrath is an extension of His goodness, grace, justice, and even mercy. Knowing about God's wrath brings sinners to repentance and the justified to their knees in worship.

This episode we talk about how God is higher than all of us. He is above us all, set apart, distinct from creation in all ways. How can we worship God's Holiness? How does knowing God is holy dictate how we see our relationship with Him? How does knowing we are made holy by the blood of Christ effect how we live out the gospel?

Week two of our series "Be In Awe" talks about how God is just. He is the perfect judge who executes justice perfectly as our holy Judge. His laws are perfect, his justice is righteous. God's justice is retributive and restorative. As we all (as in mankind) are made in God's image, we all understand injustice. We know morality and right and wrong because that is God's image being made known through us. Lastly, God's justice coupled with His love display the gospel message, that Christ died in our place, fulfilling justice and we are offered the gift of eternal life, fulfilling God's love and grace.

The first in series that examines the many beautiful and marvelous characteristics of our amazing God! Yes, God's love is so amazing that we can and should be be in awe of Him because of it. Why is it important to know God loves us? Why do we say God's love is great? Is there a purpose to God's love?

We don't fill up because it's what we're supposed to do as Christians. We fill up because it is a response to God's drawing us closer to Himself. Our desire is to be in relationship with Him. His grace saves us, we surrender our lives over to Him, the Holy Spirit Transforms, we become transformed and seek Him more, He then reveals more of Himself, and we worship and love Him more deeply. Challenge: Change your perspective. See things from God's point of view.

Isaiah 64:8 says that we are clay and God is the Great Potter. We can take that to mean that He has molded us into "containers". Our containers, our jars, our lives are meant to be filled up with His love and grace for the sole purpose of pouring all of that out onto our world so that they will see how great God is, come to know Him as Lord, and join us in glorifying and worshiping Him! What are the ways we can fill up? What are the ways we can pour out? We're all filling up with something, and in essence, we're all pouring out that something. What are you filling up with?