The Town Church / Fort Collins

We have received many freedoms through Christ, but with that comes navigating how to love others more than we love our own rights. This week, our conversation largely focuses around that idea, and we explore questions like: What are some things that we need to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of loving others? How can we discern when it's appropriate to challenge the expectations of others and when we would be sinning against them? How did this passage hit you personally? 

Are we willing to lay aside our own rights and freedoms out of love for other people? Paul challenges the Corinthian church to not let their own knowledge interfere with their ability to love their brothers and sisters well. 

Rather than exploring specific questions, we process our own thoughts and questions from the three main points of the sermon: Marriage is a worldly pursuitMarriage is a divided devotion Marriage is a practical decision

While this passage may seem like a commercial against marriage, it is really a call to be fully devoted to Jesus whether we are single or married. How can we fight to make our pursuit of Jesus our priority, no matter our season of life?

The conversation around marriage and divorce is difficult to navigate. We begin to scratch the surface of this with some questions like:Why is divorce so prevalent today? What is the difference between separation and divorce? When could separation be an option? What are some of the exceptions for marriage? 

Marriage is a God-given gift that serves as a reflection of Christ's unending and sacrificial love for us. However, sin has tainted this gift, creating certain situations that may lead to exceptions to marriage. In all of the highs and lows of human relationship, we can be reminded of one eternal truth: We belong to Christ, no matter where we are in life. 

Marriage is a God-given gift that serves as a reflection of Christ's unending and sacrificial love for us. However, sin has tainted this gift, creating certain situations that may lead to exceptions to marriage. In all of the highs and lows of human relationship, we can be reminded of one eternal truth: We belong to Christ, no matter where we are in life. 

We tackle the beginning of 1 Corinthians 7 with not one, but two married couples (and Betty)! No matter what stage of life you find yourself in, the truths of this passage hold a lot of relevance, and it is vital to have these conversations. Some questions we cover are: How can we view singleness as a gift? If you are single and don't want to be, how do you embrace this season?Why does the church tend to avoid conversations around intimacy and sex?   What is some of the baggage people can bring into marriage that can make physical intimacy challenging?

Paul turns his attention to another topic brought to him by the church in Corinth - essentially, Is it good to abstain from sex?In answering that question, Paul focuses upon the gift and purpose of physical intimacy within a marriage. In doing so, he also touches upon singleness.

Paul provides for us a theology of the body. In this episode we unpack that a little bit and ask questions like:Can this text be used more broadly about how to treat the body, or does it apply more narrowly specifically to sexual immorality?What are some ways God uses to take good theology and head knowledge like this and move it into our hearts and how we then live?What are some ways parents can talk about this topic with their young kids?We want to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to info@thetownchurch.org. 

Paul uses three rhetorical questions to illuminate the relationship between a Christian and sexual immorality.  Rather than focusing on all of the physical and emotional and relational consequences that can occur, Paul offers us a theology of the body.

How should we handle conflict within the church? This week, we unpack this topic with a few questions for discussion: How do we identify "trivial" cases? How do we discern when it is best to suffer wrong? Can we defend ourselves without sinning? We want to hear from you! Please send any questions or comments to info@thetownchurch.org. 

Our time in 1 Corinthians has centered around one theme: we are called to be saints together. This passage speaks into that theme as we consider how to approach conflict within the church as saints. 

This passage covers a very difficult concept, bringing up a lot of questions around how to rightly handle sin. How does Paul's instruction to the church to disassociate with an unrepentant believer apply to one-on-one relationships like friendships and family?How does this fit with Jesus' instruction in Matthew 18 about dealing with someone who sins against you?What are some ways forward to give and receive feedback about our sin well?

How are we to live in light of the sacrifice of Christ? As Paul deals with sin that has impacted the church, we see how he calls them to deal with this sin, knowing Christ has been sacrificed on their behalf. 

We have all received our gifts, skills, and abilities from God. How do we hold these in a way that does not diminish them or puff us up? How can the reality that we are receivers in Christ impact our daily lives? On this special Cinco de Mayo edition of the AfterWord, we discuss a hard-hitting question: Where are the best tacos in town?

Pride is a deeply rooted issue in the Corinthian church—one that distorts their understanding of who they are as Christians. In this passage, Paul reminds them (and us) of true identity in Christ.

We desire for our view of God to become more and more accurate over time. Our hearts respond to God further revealing himself to us with a growing love for God. As a church we have called this spiritual formation rhythm Doctrinal Formation. The primary place our view of God is accurately formed is in the Bible. To this end, we hosted a panel conversation discussing the book of Jonah. We asked several men and women to study the book beforehand and then get together to share the fruit of their study, with a special eye to teasing out what the book of Jonah says God is like.We hope this is the first of many future panel discussions to come. Enjoy!

In the church, we are constantly reminded that our identity is found in Christ alone. What does it look like to live this out practically? Other questions we explore: How have we (or people we know) lived in ways that the world may view as foolish? What difference does it make to us that our commendation comes from God? Additionally, we learn how to properly pronounce "legume."

Our hearts are quick to look for belonging and significance in things of the world. Paul reminds us in this passage that we receive our commendation from God alone because we belong to Christ. 

This Easter, we celebrated Jesus' victory over death by looking at the story of Thomas. Thomas, like so many of us, needed to see proof of God's work to believe. When we sit in our own doubt, where can we look to see proof that God is faithful and will meet us in our doubt? 

This week, we take some time to unpack the big themes that Paul focuses on in 1 Corinthians 3. What does the milk vs. solid food analogy really mean? How can we view the idea of the rewards we receive as Christians? While we don't come to full understanding of these topics, the images Paul provides give us a glimpse of how God is at work. 

Paul uses a variety of pictures to help communicate truth to his readers. All of these pictures point back to the profound truth of the gospel and the unity we are meant to have as those who belong to Christ. 

1 Corinthians 2 reminds us of one vital truth: the gospel is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, because of the grace of God. This profound truth has a lot of implications to us as Christians, and it opens up some questions about sharing the gospel. Some questions that we unpack this week:What are things that motivate us to share our faith?What discourages us from sharing our faith? Verse 16 says "...we have the mind of Christ." How does this hit your heart? 

True wisdom is granted to Christians solely through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not come to understand the gospel on our own—it is only by the grace of God that He reveals Himself to us.How should we respond to this profound truth? 

This week, we discuss the foolishness of the cross, how we desire to experience God, and potatoes. How does being saved by the foolishness of the cross make a difference in our lives? Do we seek out intellect or emotional/miraculous experiences? How can we we seek those things in light of the cross? 

In the final section of 1 Corinthians 1, Paul makes a bold proclamation: To those who belong to God, the word of the cross is power. In a world that views this truth as foolishness, how can we cling to the cross? 

Division in the church can be caused by a number of factors, most of those forming us in some significant way. Today, we explore what some of those may be and how to use discernment when it comes to the things that do influence us. What examples come to mind that cause division in the church? How can we use discernment when we evaluate the teachers we read, listen to, or follow? Who are you influenced by? 

Division is born from a variety of circumstances, disrupting the unity we are meant to have as a church.What causes division in the church? What can we cling to that truly unites us as a Body? 

We are joined by two special guests this week as we unpack a painful yet important topic: pride. Where do we see pride express itself in our lives? What false view of God does pride tend to create? Of the five graces mentioned in the sermon, which is the most challenging for you to accept? The most encouraging?

The underlying issue being addressed in Paul's letter to the Corinthian church is pride. While it may not always manifest in the same ways, pride is just as present in our own hearts as it was in theirs. The question to keep in mind as we explore this passage is this: What true view of God will correct our prideful view of ourselves? 

The conversation this week revolves around how to remain unified as a church, largely focusing in on a a few key questions: What are reasons to leave a church? How can we maintain unity in the midst of disagreement? These questions just scratch the surface of what we will be diving into through our time in 1 Corinthians. 

By of the grace of God, we are called together as saints. This truth helps launch us into a new series through the book of 1 Corinthians. 

This week, we get to wrap up the book of Ruth by hearing from our listener! What did God stir up in our hearts through our time in Ruth? 

Ruth ends with a beautiful picture of redemption. This redemption not only extends to those in the book, but it also extends to us through the work of the True Redeemer. 

In the midst of grief in Ruth, we begin to see clear evidence of God's lovingkindness. How have you seen God's kindness in your own life? What encouragement can we find in seasons where it is difficult to be hopeful? 

God's kindness is often revealed in unlikely ways through unlikely people. In this passage, God's deep love and kindness is evident in the lives of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. 

In this episode, we process through some tough questions relating to God's providence. While we may not arrive at definite answers, these conversations allow us to see a fuller picture of what God's providence really means. What is the difference between sovereignty and providence? Is God providential over sin? How do we reconcile God's providence with the choices and plans we make in our own lives? 

Ruth 2 reminds us of a critical truth: God is over all things all the time. Whether it's in our plans, our kindness toward others, or our provision, we can see God's loving, fatherly hand at work. 

As we press onward in Ruth, we revisit the question: How do we walk well with others in grief? How can we discern when it's best to listen or to direct others to truth? Additionally, we explore some other questions: Are there things that tend to blind us to the big picture of what God is doing? In another passage filled with grief, how can we see what God is like? 

This passage gives us a glimpse into Naomi's grief as she returns to Bethlehem. Through it all, Ruth remains loyal to her mother-in-law, setting the stage for the greater redemption that is to come. 

When facing intense grief and loss, our feelings often lead us to question God and His character. How can we allow our head knowledge to guide us in those seasons? What encouragement can be given to those who may experience this dissonance between the head and heart? How can we walk with others well through these seasons? If you read this, please refer to Eric as "Monster Slayer" from now on. 

Ruth opens with a story of deep grief marked by loss, famine, and separation from God. Although this is a heavy beginning, it sets the scene for restoration that is to come. 

Bible intake, prayer, corporate worship, community, and doctrinal formation are a few rhythms that aid in our spiritual formation. This week, we spend our time discussing how these rhythms have been fruitful and challenging in our own formation. 

Our rhythms shape us. Whether that's who we spend time with, what we eat, or what we watch, we are influenced by the things we regularly partake in. The same is true for our spiritual rhythms. This week, we explore what those are and how they form us to look more like Christ. 

On a very full AfterWord, we discuss what it has looked like to to create space to hear from God. What does space look like for each of us? How have we seen the Spirit work in that? Are there moments we've experienced God in unexpected ways, and how can we discern that those moments are really from the Spirit? 

Now that we know the aim of spiritual formation and how our love for God is able to grow, a question that likely has been developing is this:  What is our own role in spiritual formation? This week, that question is answered by examining how we receive God's revelation of Himself and how we hear the Spirit.

This week, we discuss our response to God's love for us and the ways we are shaped by the objects of our love.  Discussion questions: - What are things we love, and how do they shape us? - Is our own love for God ALWAYS a response to His love for us? - Since God is the one that reveals His glory to us, are there things that we do that keep us from seeing and responding to his glory? 

Last week, we covered the aim of spiritual formation and how our love for God influences how we live. That leads us to a new question: How does our love for God grow? This question is answered by defining what love for God really means and considering how this love shapes us. 

When you think back on your life, what has spiritual formation looked like for you? Has the key emphasis been a growing love for God? What are some pitfalls we can face when we view love for God as the main goal of spiritual formation? We examine these questions and more on this week's Afterword. Please bear with Vince's hosting skills. It gets better. 

The term "spiritual formation" is often defined in different ways by different people. As we enter into a short series on spiritual formation, two pivotal questions are examined: What is the true aim of spiritual formation? How does that connect to the way we live?