Venture Church | Bozeman

Have you ever felt like life is spinning out of control?There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. CS LewisWho might be waiting to hear what you've been through—and how God brought you through it?What “demons” are controlling your life?

Where does Jesus' authority stop in my life?Who/what has the authority in your life?When Jesus speaks, everything changes.Will you fear the storms of life, or will you fear Jesus?Jesus' authority brings freedom.

Why is Jesus Cryptic?“The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins”– Charles SpurgeonWhy is Jesus so cryptic?He's not, He's human.What is the point of the Parable?What is the point of the Parable?To engage us. What kind of soil are you?What are Your Next Steps?

When you see lack of devotion, service, motivation in your life it all comes down to how much you love Jesus.Do you see yourself as someone who's been forgiven much?We're changed by what we love.He felt like he was forgiven little, so he loved little.Forgiven is her identity.Do you see yourself as someone who's been forgiven much?

How does Jesus's life change the way you live your life?Centurions:Commanded 80-100 enlisted soldiersPromoted based on meritUpper ranks very well paidThe Centurion:Born a paganWorked his way to successLeft home to go to a foreign landBefriended foreign people who hated himGave his wealth to build a place of worship for those peopleIs the only one standing between a loved servant and deathWhere do you find this passage taking you so far?Hebrews 4:12: The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.The word “amazed” that Jesus uses is only used in a positive way once in all of the four gospels.Excerpt from Jesus Storybook Bible ch. 1:“So God breathed life into Adam and Eve. When they opened their eyes, the first thing they ever saw was God's face. And when God saw them he was like a new dad. “You look like me,” he said.JesusLeft homeHad all the power, authority, and honor, but made himself nothingGave up heavenly riches to befriend a world that hated himIs the only one who stands between those he loves and certain deathIn what was the Centurion's faith?Romans 1:19-20 (MSG) But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.Steps Toward True Humility:Where have you been blind to your own or others' need for Jesus because of your or their goodness?For recovering achievement-aholics: Meditate on Romans 2:4 - “The kindness of God is intended to lead you to repentance” - and ask yourself where God's goodness illuminates your pride

Fruit: The natural product of specific conditions. How are you recognized? What is your heart full of? What am I connected to? & What is it producing?

Where are you at with the fact that Jesus is alive?GOWhat would it take for you to live like Jesus is alive?How is the fact that Jesus is alive impacting your daily life?

Isaiah 53:3-10 NLTRomans 3:23Romans 6:23ALTARLuke 23:38Philippians 2:8Luke 24:1-8What altar are you kneeling at?Matthew 16:24-26What if, this Easter, we went countercultural and surrendered?What are you holding onto?What is in your suitcase that you aren't willing to live without?Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I ask you to forgive me for all of my sin and for playing god in my own life! You alone are God! I surrender my life to you. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me live my life for you, to the best of my ability. In Jesus name, Amen. Romans 10:9-10Text “Jesus” to 844-596-4503

What is freedom?Mainstream definition of freedom: “To be able to move toward what I want with as few barriers as possible.”As much as God was invested in the literal freedom of his people, it was their spiritual freedom he was after - and this can only happen by addressing sinSin: Patterns of thought, belief, and action which come from a desire for independence from God and to have ultimate control of our own livesTraditionally, the head of the feast would say something like: “This is the bread of our affliction; we do this in remembrance of Egypt.”Jesus says, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”Traditionally, the head of the feast would say something like this: “This is the cup of our freedom by the blood of the lamb.”Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.”Grace is the experience of being shown love and compassion that you have not earned.Jesus is offering an invitation to Peter—because it is only in light of his sin that he will ever understand grace.Where is the lamb?

What is your level of spiritual vigilance?Luke 21:5-38Stay Alert and DiscerningLuke 21:8Ephesians 2:8-9Endure Challenges with FaithLuke 21:9Luke 21:12-15Witness-Martus/MarturoLive Prepared and PrayerfulLuke 21:34-36What is the condition of your soul?Who will you care for the soul of?

Do you understand the weight of your sin? Owner-God Vineyard-Israel and promises made Tenants-Israel's leaders Servants-Prophets Owner's Son-JesusWe want to be OWNERS instead of TENANTSHow do you see yourself?Are we handling everything like it belongs to God?Pride                HumilityAre you living your life humbly, as a tenant of God's stuff, leveraging everything for God's glory? Or pridefully, as an owner, using everything for your glory?Have you acknowledged Jesus as the cornerstone of your faith or are you rejecting Him through your actions?

How much peace do you have right now? Is it sufficient?Jesus wants us to be part of what He's doing.What are you looking to for peace?How do you respond when you're misunderstood?Jesus has made peace by reconciling us to the Father.Peace is both a gift and a choice.Will I accept God's gift of Peace, and will I choose to experience it through trusting in Him?

What things are happening in “your temple” that are distracting you from worshiping Jesus?Have you seen and heard enough to make a decision about Jesus?

What is Your Greatest Illness?Who Is Jesus?

Is following Jesus worth it?He saw me!One of the challenges of the Christian life is to see a man or woman instead of an enemy.I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.Is it worth it? Who do you struggle to extend mercy to most?Who is God asking you to see Levi in? 

Am I Willing?Jesus asks Peter to do something Peter had done a thousand times.But He asks Peter to do it in a way he had never done before.What if they took all the information they had, said thanks for the fish and did nothing?What if we do nothing? What next step is God asking you to take? Are you willing to trust Him enough to take it?

Jesus has the ultimate authority over everythingJesus has authority because He is GodJesus doesn't stay, He Goes.

The Gospel is for only the spiritually poor.2 Ways to Rebel against God:DisobedienceObedienceWhere are you at spiritually? Poor? Middle Class?What level of spiritual poverty am I willing to accept?How am I living as the spiritually middle class?

Where do you find life?In the Gospel of Luke, we meet Jesus who doesn't just claim to have a way to life, but to BE the way to lifeObvious Question #1: Why did Jesus need to be baptized?“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22Jesus comes as the Last AdamObvious Question #2: Why is the Spirit of God leading Jesus into a place where he will be tempted?Does God tempt us? No.God as a good Father leads us through winds to deepen our roots in Him, the source of life“...He was the son, or so it was thought, of Joseph…” Luke 3:23Rockets:Booster: Temporary adjunct engine to move unit off launch pad/atmospherePrimary: Permanent engine taking the unit where it needs to go“You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.” MSGApplication questions:What comes to mind when you consider God as your “true Father?”In what areas do you need to move past the “booster rocket” and surrender to God as the primary relationship which will take you into life?

Are you willing to pursue the people in your life in their darkest places?Has your relationship with God become about you and your comfort?How many lives will be changed because of your willingness to go?Missionaries where we live, work, and play.LegacySummits provide perspective!Where are you at?Who is one person you will commit to share hope with this week?

Movement/Intentionality vs. Stagnant/ComplacentVenture, you are sent.GO be the church!KEEP GO SIMPLELostWe have a line to cross!VENTURE-A risky or daring undertaking involving risk and uncertainty as to the outcome.StruggleStakesSacrificeLearnExplore who God is.LiveInformation + Application = TransformationOn the GO scale from 0-10, where are you?  0-No way!         2-Hesitant         4-Willing          6-Looking          8-Go  10-Making Disciples21 Days of Prayer and Fasting SlideWhat is one small way you can start to move toward God/others? Who is one person you commit to praying for and going to this year?

1. Struggle 2. Stakes3. Sacrifice Which story do you want to be your? Who is a lost person God is sending you to?

Here you can find relevant scripture, a teaching outline, and key points taken from today's New Year Message:  -How have you TRUSTED God enough to FOLLOW Him? -What are some things you want to do differently in 2025?  -What are some of your Victories from 2024?  -77 people surrendered their life to Jesus last year! -Matthew 14:26-29 -11 guys got to see 1 guy (Peter) walk on water. Which one do you want to be?  -Do you want to get to the end of your life and be known as the one who played it safe in the boat?  -Matthew 28:19-20 "Go and make disciples of all nations" -The fruit of God moving in our lives is God moving in the lives around us.  1 Timothy 2:2 -If we aren't growing in our personal relationship with God, we'll never end up going to the people and places he wants us to go.  

What do snowmen eat for breakfast? SnowflakesHow much did Santa's Sleigh cost?  Nothing. It was on the house What do gingerbread men use when they break their leg? A Candy CaneNEED What do I need? Are you willing to trust that a baby shows up in a manger in order to save you from your sin?Why is Christmas Merry? God I need you. I need you to forgive me. I need your help. I can't do this life on my own and by myself any longer. I need your help in every part of my life. God, I need you. I choose today to trust you and I give you my life. Please forgive me of my sin and the pain I've caused. Help me to trust you enough to follow you today and tomorrow and every day you give me. I pray this in the name of my savior, Jesus. Amen  

If I'm not guaranteed tomorrow, how am I going to live today?

Reflection Questions:What areas of your life are you working to make changes on the outside that you need to let God transform from the inside?How will you, in the midst of your ordinary life, commit to being part of God's extraordinary story?Who will you care enough about to invite them into what God is doing this Christmas?

What will your response to God be?Righteous in the sight of God.What prayer have you been praying that you have given up on?Have you surrendered to what God is doing behind the story and beyond what you can see?Will today be the day you speak faith over your doubt? Father in Heaven, I believe that you love me. That in your great mercy, you sent your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for my sin by dying on the cross. I confess that I have sinned against you and I trust Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. I commit to trust you enough to follow you as Lord of my life and speak faith over my doubt. Help me to live for you. In Jesus name, Amen.

2 Gates - 2 Paths2 Kinds of People - 2 Fruits2 FoundationsWhat are the fruits of my Life?What are my reasons for - partially or fully - rejecting Jesus?Will I answer The Call?

Hypokrites: Referred to an actor who wore a mask“Our greatest desire is to be known, but our greatest fear is to not be loved” ~ Timothy KellerGod doesn't want our mask, He wants our heart.What door are you knocking on?What is your “Next Step” in growing in wisdom?

My Kingdom or God's KingdomWhat am I investing in that is going to outlive me?If my budget could speak, what would it say about who I am and what matters to me?

“Pharisees typically fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, refraining from food but not from drink. Jesus apparently did not give this spiritual discipline a high priority, especially during his ministry, but he did anticipate that it would occur later (9:15). The only specific New Testament references to later Christian fasting come in contexts of seeking God's will in choosing church leaders (Acts 13:2–3; 14:23).”- Craig BlombergWhen you give, pray, or fast, what reward do you find yourself hoping for?Is there an area in your life where you feel the need for others to notice you?What small step would you want to take to make it more about God than just people?

Will I trust God enough to Follow Him and do what He asks me to do?  INFORMATIONUNDERSTANDINGCONVICTIONACTIONWhere are you today?Soaking up information?Seeking Understanding?Wrestling with Conviction?Weighing what Action will cost you?What part of your life are you delaying obedience in?   What is keeping you from “going public” with your faith?What part of the process are you struggling with: Information, Understanding, Conviction, Action?

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”ACTS prayer modelAdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplication

No political party or candidate will ever fully reflect the mission of the church and heart of our Heavenly Father.How do I, as a follower of Jesus, engage in politics? Navigating Biblical Issues in PoliticsThere is no perfect candidate.Vote for policy over personality.Vote for principle over passion. How do we make the best decisions we can based on what we are given that most accurately aligns with God's Word and His redemptive heart?Filter: Earthly agendas are driven by fear. Heavenly agendas are driven by love. What does God say about borders? What does He say in regard to people who cross them?What is our response to people who cross the border/foreigners?The role of secure borders should be to protect the nation and not to keep out those fleeing persecution.Filter: Earthly agendas are driven by fear. Heavenly agendas are driven by love. Which border policy more closely aligns with God's design?CI-128 would amend the Montana Constitution to expressly provide a right to make and carry out decisions about one's own pregnancy, including the right to abortion. It would prohibit the government from denying or burdening the right to abortion before fetal viability. It would also prohibit the government from denying or burdening access to an abortion when a treating healthcare professional determines it is medically indicated to protect the pregnant patient's life or health. CI-128 prevents the government from penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or anyone who assists someone in exercising their right to make and carry out voluntary decisions about their pregnancy.1 Timothy 6:13-I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, Which decision more accurately aligns with God's Word and His redemptive heart?How are you loving the people in your life you don't agree with? How can you commit to voting for policy over personality and principle over passion?Research Tools:Freespoke-Web Browser and app. Montanafreepress.orgivoterguide.com

No political party will ever fully reflect the mission of the church and heart of our Heavenly Father.How do I, as a follower of Jesus, engage in politics?What's the point? Vs What's wrong with people, why are they not engaging?Apathy and  Idolatry Biblical issues have become political issues. Original Purpose of Government:Provide national defense and navigate foreign relations.Coordinate national diplomacy and commercial policy.Prevent infringements of individual rights.Biblical issues have become political issues.1802-Letter written to President Thomas JeffersonBelieving with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State.1954-Johnson AmendmentSubmitted by Lyndon B. JohnsonSalt/LightResearch Tools:Freespoke-Web Browser and app. Montanafreepress.orgIvoterguide.comWhich decision more accurately aligns with God's Word and His redemptive heart?Do you tend to be too passive about or too engaged in politics? Why?How is God calling you to be His ambassador in this election season?

How do I, as a follower of Jesus, engage in politics?“In our clearest and most honest moments, we all too often seek security by conforming to the spirit of the times, rather than serving in the world as God's counterculture as we were created to do. Like Israel, we tend to forfeit the lordship of God in order to become like all nations. We become like all the other sheep and we follow our culture off a cliff.” Bill ArnoldHow is your life singing harmony with society's voice, rather than God's?How have your political views influenced your Biblical values?

Reconciliation: The act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement

Ceremonial- This category includes laws about festivals, diet, cleanliness, and the Levitical priesthood.Civil - How to behave in God's societyMoral- How to honor the lord with your life (10 commandments)

How are you being salt and light to the people around you?Who are some of the friends who you are determined to bring to Jesus?Who are your friends who are determined to bring to Jesus?

“The unexamined life is not worth living”. -SocratesBeatitude = BlessingWhat, other than Jesus, am I trying to find hope and joy from?What parts of my life have started to look more like the world than the Kingdom of God?

Depleting Desire: No matter how strong a desire starts, it will fade over time.What do you do when desire runs out?Discipline: Dedication without DesireDelight: Remember who God is and Celebrate what He has don“For the present is the point at which time touches eternity.” ~ C.S. LewisWhere are your disciplines leading you?

Dying and Rising

What do you find difficult about following Jesus?The world“I will follow you, Lord; but first…”“I want to follow the Lord, But first ____________.” Whatever is on the other side of that is the true god that you are worshiping and followingThe Cost“Self-denial, then, is intentional disowning of the self, or stepping away from relationship with the self as primary.”The unknownThe worldThe costThe unknown

How is your soul?What is our response to the mess we are in?How is your soul getting long right now?The Truth is a WHO to follow, not a WHAT to understand.What report would be sent back about you?What does a Follower of Jesus look like?Faithful-Daily walking in The Truth.What does a Follower of Jesus look like?Faithful-Daily walking in The Truth.Generous-Giving to God's Kingdom, not just ours.What does a Follower of Jesus look like?Faithful-Daily walking in The Truth.Generous-Giving to God's Kingdom, not just ours.Hospitable-See our life as managing God's stuff.How do I manage your house, children, finances, time, resources?If 4 John was written today, what would be said about you?How is your soul today?

Is our light calming/captivating in a world of chaos?Is it blinding/repulsive?Or do we find ourselves hiding because the darkness seems so overwhelming?What is truth? Who do we listen to?3 Tenants of our Christian FaithGrace - Mercy - PeaceFollowWhere do you think you'd find God?The TRUTH is a WHO to FOLLOW, not a WHAT to understand.What voices are you listening to that are leading you away from The Truth/Jesus?What is keeping you from walking in love and being obedient to Christ?

Gnosticism - Material things are evil, spiritual is goodNon negotiables of Christian doctrineThere is one (trinitarian) GodWe are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in the finished work of Christ aloneThe canonized Bible is the inerrant word of God (In its original language and form)

1 John 2:15-16. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.Legalism vs leniency1 John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.1 John 1:8-2:2 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 3:20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.1 John 4:13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.1 John 5:3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,