Podcasts about discussion questions

Discussion Questions:For Summer 2026 use the Swedish Method of Bible Study:While reading a Bible passage, use the following symbols to mark what stands out to you as you read. Then talk about the marks you made with a friend, or write about them in a journal.• A lightbulb - anything from the passage that stands out or is interesting.• A question mark - did the passage spark any questions?• An arrow - how does this passage help you move forward in faith and walk in better relationship with others and the Lord?Prayer

In this message, Mike explores one of the most striking moments in Jesus' final hours with his disciples -- his deliberate choice to redefine their relationship from servants to friends. Drawing from John 15, the sermon unpacks what it means that Jesus, the Lord of all creation, extended the title of "friend" to his followers. Mike challenges the congregation to move beyond a purely transactional or performance-based faith and into the deep, loyal, and sacrificial friendship that Jesus modeled through his death. Using the biblical definition of love from 1 Corinthians 13 as the foundation, the sermon argues that true friendship with Jesus requires choosing his value system over the world's, holding fast to conviction while remaining relationally engaged with those who do not yet know him.Read John 15:12-17Jesus does not merely tolerate your presence -- he chooses you. In John 15, he draws a striking line between servants and friends, and then deliberately places you on the friend side of that line. A servant follows orders without understanding the master's heart. A friend is brought into confidence, trusted with purpose, and loved with loyalty. This was not a casual invitation. It was spoken on the eve of the cross, which means it cost something. Sit with this today: the God who spoke the universe into existence looked at you and said, you are my friend. Receive that.What would change in your daily walk with God if you approached him as a friend rather than a distant authority? Set aside ten minutes today not to make requests of God, but simply to be present with him. Practice the kind of friendship that does not always need something fixed.Discussion Questions:-Jesus deliberately shifted the relationship with his disciples from servants to friends -- what personal barriers, whether rooted in legalism, past wounds, or a sense of unworthiness, prevent you from truly seeing yourself as a friend of God rather than merely a servant?-The sermon describes friendship as never neutral but always formative, shaping who we become -- in what ways have your closest friendships either drawn you toward or pulled you away from a deeper walk with Jesus?-Jesus warned his disciples that choosing friendship with him would mean the world would hate them, just as it hated him first -- where in your life are you most tempted to compromise your convictions in order to maintain the approval of the world?

This morning, we are reminded of the faithfulness of God, not just in the broader narrative of scripture, but in the very real and tangible growth of our church, Hope Church. Over the past couple of years, we've seen rapid growth, especially since moving into our current building, and with that came the challenge of accommodating more people. We've wrestled with this tension, and last year, we approached the owners of our building with the idea of buying the whole property. Though they weren't ready to sell, they offered us the opportunity to dream and explore expansion. This led us to a surprising turn of events: a man knocked on our door, offering a piece of land across from Daniel Boone High School that we had tried to purchase years ago. As of this weekend, we have this 20-acre property under contract, a testament to God's faithfulness and provision.Today, we delve into Romans 12:1-2, where we are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Rick explores the will of God through four aspects: the permissive, prudential, progressive, and perfect wills. The permissive will allows for human choice, even when it goes against God's desires, while the prudential will involves decisions where God expects wisdom and discernment. The progressive will reveals itself step by step, teaching us to walk with faith, and the perfect will aims for us to conform to the image of Christ, reflecting His love, joy, and peace. God's will is always good, acceptable, and perfect, and He desires for us to align our lives with His purposes. As we navigate the future of our church and our personal lives, we are called to trust God's faithfulness, even when the path ahead is unclear. The Holy Spirit is always faithful, never forcing our will but persistently guiding us towards His perfect will. We are encouraged to take one step at a time, trusting that God has a good plan for our lives. Will you follow where He leads, knowing that He is always faithful?## Sermon Notes — Romans 12:1-2**Big Idea:** The Holy Spirit guides us into God's will through various aspects, teaching us to walk with Him progressively.### 1. Permissive Will of God (Romans 12:1-2)- God allows wide range of choices, even sinful ones.- Israel's disobedience in the wilderness is an example.- **Key principle:** God's permissive will means He allows human choices while setting boundaries and directing history toward His ultimate purpose.### 2. Prudential Will of God (Romans 12:1-2)- Decisions for which Scripture gives no direct command.- Use wisdom, prayer, and discernment.- Examples: Choosing a college, buying a house.- **Key principle:** Use your brain and discernment in making decisions God hasn't explicitly commanded.### 3. Progressive Will of God (Romans 12:1-2)- God reveals His will progressively.- He gives enough light for the next step, not the full picture.- Takes faith to follow each step.- **Key principle:** God teaches us to walk with Him through faith, revealing His will step-by-step.### 4. Perfect Will of God (Romans 12:1-2)- God's complete will for us is to conform into the image of His son.- His will is good, acceptable, and perfect.- **Key principle:** God's perfect will for us is to reflect Jesus' character and be equipped for every good work.### Practical Applications1. **Obey what is already clear** — Identify and follow God's clear commands in Scripture.2. **Take a step of faith** — Move forward with what God has revealed, trusting Him for the next step.3. **Yield to correction** — Be open to God's redirection and correction.4. **Trust God with what is hidden** — Have faith that God knows the full plan even when we don't.5. **Align your life with God's will** — Make choices that reflect God's good, acceptable, and perfect will.### Discussion Questions1. How do you discern between God's permissive will and His perfect will in your life?2. Can you share a time when God revealed His will progressively in your life? How did you respond?3. What steps can you take this week to align more closely with God's will for your life?4. How does God's progressive will require faith and trust in Him?5. What does it mean to you to conform into the image of Jesus, and how can you do this more in your daily life?

In this bonus episode, Sister Catherine is joined by His Excellency, Most Reverend Giles Butler, OFM DD, as they answer the July Family Discussion Question in the Growing in Holiness Newsletter! And we would love to hear from our listeners! Would you rather host Jesus at your house and handle all the cooking and cleaning like Martha, or sit quietly at His feet listening to Him speak like Mary? You can comment on our YouTube Channel or email us at aimhigher.podcast@gmail.com. To listen to our episode about Martha and Mary: https://youtu.be/KGfdZ5Dnvts

Text:  1 Timothy 3:1-13 Big Idea: In God's household trusted leaders are qualified by character  1. Overseeing is a noble task, but overseers must be above reproach (v.1-7) 2. Serving brings a good standing, but servants must prove faithful (v.8-13)   Discussion Questions:  1. Why do churches so easily value charisma, giftedness, or visible success over proven character? What dangers come from confusing giftedness with godliness? 2. Which qualification in 1 Timothy 3:1–13 most challenges you personally, and what would growth in that area look like in your home, church, or relationships? 3. How can our church better recognize and encourage qualified elders and deacons while neither lowering Scripture's standards nor adding our own personal preferences to them?

Most leaders measure meeting effectiveness by how much time is spent. But the real cost of bad meetings has little to do with the clock. Poorly run meetings create unclear decisions, weaken accountability, slow execution, and erode trust across the organization. Over time, these hidden costs reduce an organization's ability to move quickly and achieve results. In this episode, we explore why decision clarity is one of the most important leadership disciplines and how a simple three-question framework can dramatically improve meeting outcomes. Key Takeaways ·         Unclear decisions create future work and repeated conversations ·         Recurring meetings often signal deeper leadership and alignment issues ·         Trust is built when meetings consistently produce clarity and accountability ·         Decision velocity is a critical driver of organizational performance ·         Every meeting should end with clear purpose, decisions, and ownership Discussion Questions 1.                       How often do team members leave your meetings with different interpretations of what was decided? 2.                       What recurring meetings in your organization may exist because of a lack of clarity elsewhere? 3.                       Where is decision velocity being slowed by repeated discussions? 4.                       What would improve if every meeting ended with clear ownership and next steps? 5.                       How much organizational trust is being built or lost through your meeting culture? Leadership Challenge For the next 30 days, end every meeting by answering three questions: 1.                       Why were we here? 2.                       What was decided? 3.                       Who owns the next step? Track how often issues reappear after decisions have been made. You may discover that meeting effectiveness is less about time management and more about leadership discipline. Connect with Extraordinary Team Learn more about building high-performance teams, facilitating effective meetings, and creating stronger organizational accountability at: www.ExtraordinaryTeam.com

Your phone can be an incredible tool, but it can also quietly become one of the biggest distractions in your marriage. In this episode, Derek, Andrew, and Gabrielle talk honestly about screen time, social media, work boundaries, pornography, and practical ways to make your spouse more important than your screen.RESOURCESHarris Creek Sermon Series “Removed”DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1- When do our phones distract us the most from one another?2- Have you ever felt less important than my phone?3- What boundaries around technology would help us connect more?4- What would one phone-free hour every evening look like?5- Is there any app that has more influence over me than it should?6- How can we help each other without becoming controlling?

Big Idea: Sin makes all relationships unhealthy.Romans 12:18If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. I. Show grace to people who are far from Jesus.2 Corinthians 5:20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”II. Seek help when people hurt you.Ephesians 4:31-32Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.III. Separate when people are living a lie.1 Corinthians 5:11-13But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don't you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you.Next Steps:Believe: I need to begin a relationship with Jesus today.Become: I will reflect Jesus' way of life in my relationships this week.Be Sent: I will start a gospel relationship this week.Discussion Questions:How do you know when a relationship has become unhealthy?Which is more dangerous for you right now, emotionally or spiritually unhealthy relationships?Are you more patient with Christians or people outside the faith?  Explain.Why doesn't the Bible give us permission to break off all hurtful relationships?When was the last time you broke off a relationship with someone who was living a lie?  How did it go?Who are you developing a Gospel relationship with?Pray for the wisdom to develop Christlike relationships this week.

Are You Trying to Please God the Wrong Way? Hebrews 11 is an invitation to fix your eyes on Jesus. In this message, Andrew Farley shows how the famous "Hall of Faith" points beyond human heroes to God's finished work in Christ. Discover why it's not really about the size of your faith and how everything God promised is already yours through the finished work of Jesus. Discussion Questions for Hebrews 11: Read verses 1–3. How does faith help us trust the unseen God when our visible circumstances seem to tell a different story? Read verse 4. Why was Abel's sacrifice "better," and how does Jesus give us a far better sacrifice than anything we could offer? Read verses 5–6. What does this passage reveal about pleasing God, and how can we stop trying to impress Him through religious performance? Read verses 8–12. Where might God be inviting you to trust His character even though you cannot yet see the outcome? Read verses13–16. How can remembering our better, heavenly country bring peace when this world feels disappointing, unstable, or unfair? Read verses 32–38. Why can both deliverance and endurance be expressions of faith, and how does this correct outcome-based ideas about trusting God? Read verses 39–40. What "something better" do we possess in the New Covenant that these faithful Old Testament believers never experienced?

Discussion Questions:For Summer 2026 use the Swedish Method of Bible Study:While reading a Bible passage, use the following symbols to mark what stands out to you as you read. Then talk about the marks you made with a friend, or write about them in a journal.• A lightbulb - anything from the passage that stands out or is interesting.• A question mark - did the passage spark any questions?• An arrow - how does this passage help you move forward in faith and walk in better relationship with others and the Lord?Prayer

Zac Price - Student Ministries Pastor Sunday service for July 26th, 2026 Click on the links below for additional Cascade Church resources. Connect Card: https://cascadechurch.org/connect  Give Online: https://cascadechurch.org/give Discussion Questions: https://cascadechurch.org/first-corinthians-discussion-questions  

Emma leads the congregation through John 15:1-11, exploring what it means to truly abide in Jesus as the true vine. Rather than treating spiritual fruit as a personal achievement or to-do list, she emphasizes that genuine, lasting fruit grows naturally from a deep, intentional connection to Christ. Drawing on the imagery of vineyards, root systems, and the gardener's care, she presents abiding not as a passive state but as an active, daily practice of seeking and acknowledging God's presence. She also highlights the essential role of the church community in sustaining and deepening that abiding life, concluding with a guided time of corporate scripture meditation to move the congregation from hearing about abiding to actually practicing it together.Read John 15:1-11Jesus does not invite us to try harder. He invites us to stay closer. In this passage, he makes a striking claim: apart from him, we can produce nothing of lasting value. The branch does not strain to grow fruit. It simply stays connected to the vine and fruit becomes the natural result. The same is true for us. Patience, gentleness, love, and peace are not disciplines we master through sheer willpower. They are the overflow of a life rooted in Jesus. Today, resist the urge to manufacture fruit on your own. Simply remain. Where in your life are you straining to produce fruit through your own effort?What would it look like to release that area to Jesus today? Choose one moment today to pause, put your hands open at your sides, and simply acknowledge that you need Jesus. Let that posture become a prayer.Discussion Questions:-Jesus describes himself as the vine and his Father as the gardener in John 15:1-2, where the gardener both removes unfruitful branches and prunes fruitful ones to produce even more fruit -- what does this tell us about the nature of God's involvement in our lives, and how does it change the way you respond to seasons of loss or pruning?-Emma described abiding as intentionally seeking and acknowledging God's presence in every moment and allowing that presence to change you from the inside out -- in what areas of your daily life do you find it most difficult to maintain that kind of intentional awareness of God?-The sermon draws a distinction between striving to produce the fruits of the Spirit through personal effort versus naturally bearing fruit as a result of remaining in Jesus -- where in your own life have you noticed the difference between manufactured fruit and fruit that grew out of genuine connection with God?

How many of us have started something with great enthusiasm only to lose motivation along the way? This morning, we explore Philippians 1:6, where the Apostle Paul assures us that God is faithful to finish what He starts. Paul's statement, "And I am sure of this that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ," is a powerful reminder that our faith journey is not about our ability to hold on to God, but about God's faithfulness to hold on to us. God is the initiator; He begins the work in us, and He is committed to shaping and molding us more into the image of Jesus. This process, known as sanctification, is not always immediate, and growth can be messy, but God is always faithful. Through blessings and trials, God uses every moment to conform us to His image. The builder in the story of our lives sees the potential in the unfinished areas, just as God sees the potential in us. He doesn't waste a moment to make us more like Jesus. As we reflect on the areas in our hearts and lives that God is trying to transform, we are reminded that our story does not end with our struggles or failures. It ends with Christ finishing His work. Are we holding on to the confession of our hope, knowing that God, who promised, is faithful?## Sermon Notes### 1. God is Faithful to Start the Work (Philippians 1:6)- God initiates salvation- Before we loved Him, He loved us (1 John 4:19)- God brings new life in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5)- God's love is unconditional (illustration: love for children)### 2. God is Faithful to Continue the Work (Philippians 1:6)- God is committed to shaping you into Christ's image- Growth is not immediate, but God is always faithful- God uses blessings, challenges, and trials to conform us to Christ (illustration: new home construction)- God's purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29)- God's faithfulness means every situation is used for His purpose### 3. God is Faithful to Complete the Work (Philippians 1:6)- Focus on future hope, not present circumstances- Jesus is coming back (Revelation 21:1-8)- God promises to sanctify us completely (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)- God's faithfulness is attached to His character- Encouragement: God is working, even if it feels like He's silent### Practical Applications1. **Search me, Lord** — Pray for God to reveal areas in your life that need to be conformed to Christ.2. **Reflect on God's faithfulness** — Spend time each day meditating on how God has been faithful in your life.3. **Confess and repent** — Identify a specific sin and confess it to God, asking for His grace and forgiveness.4. **Surrender to God's will** — Pray for the courage to surrender any areas of your life that are not aligned with God's will.5. **Share your faith** — Invite someone to church or share your testimony with a friend who doesn't know Jesus.### Discussion Questions1. How has God's faithfulness impacted your life in a specific way?2. What are some areas in your life where you feel like God is still working and transforming you?3. How can we better trust in God's faithfulness during difficult times?4. What does it mean to you that God is committed to shaping you into the image of Christ?5. How can we practically support and encourage each other in our journey of sanctification?6. For those who have not yet placed their faith in Christ, what is holding you back from surrendering to God's grace today?

This week we take a quick break from our 25 in the 21st series to chat about Christopher Nolan's newest film: The Odyssey.  Next week's Discussion Question: Who is Odysseus to you?We are putting this list together based on the rankings of our Patrons. You can check out the list, compile your own, and help influence the top 25 over at Doofmovies.com!Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/doofmediaFollow us on Twitter: @doofmediaSee all of our podcasts and more at doofmedia.com!Time Stamps:2:00 - The Odyssey1:26:16 - Discussion Question

Most couples think about selfishness as an individual problem, but what if a marriage itself can become inward-focused? In this episode, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott discuss what it means to steward your marriage for God's glory, leverage your resources for the Kingdom, and move from keeping score to living on mission together.Discussion Questions1- When we honestly evaluate our marriage, are we more inward-focused or Kingdom-focused? If someone observed our marriage for a month, would they conclude we're living on mission?Where do we tend to keep score against each other?2- Which area are we stewarding well? Not well? Time, Money, Resources, Health, Gifts3- Who outside our family is being impacted by our marriage?4- What is one practical step we could take this month to better leverage our marriage for God's Kingdom?

In this episode, we continue our book study on Friendship in the Lord and reflect on the ways God invites us to grow through the relationships He has entrusted to us. We talk about the importance of rightly ordered love, why true friendship always draws our gaze toward Christ, and the beauty of virtuous friendships between men and women. We also talk honestly about the fears, wounds, and misunderstandings that can arise in friendship, and the importance of repair in deepening a friendship. Friendship is not about finding someone to complete us, but about walking together toward holiness while helping one another become who God created us to be.    Other Resources Mentioned: Restore the Glory Podcast on Confession   Announcement: You can buy your copy from Ave Maria Press (or Amazon).   Journal Questions: When have I experienced healthy and holy friendship between men and women? Where is my gaze within my friendships? Do any of my friendships serve a higher purpose than just the friendship itself? When have I experienced enmeshment or avoidance within friendships? Do I prioritize my most important relationships? Who has the Lord especially entrusted to me?   Discussion Questions: How are you pursuing a friendship with the Lord? Do you think that men and women can have virtuous friendships? When have you unhealthily looked to a friendship to satisfy all your needs? Have you ever felt spread too thin in your friendships? Which example of holy friendship from the book resonates with you?   Quote to Ponder: "Just as love for neighbor proceeds from love for God, so does faith concerning creatures proceed from this love, whether it be general faith or special faith. As there's a general faith corresponding to the love which we ought to feel in general to every creature, so there is a special faith belonging to those who love one another more intimately, like the faith which has established a close particular love between us two." (St. Catherine of Siena)   Scripture for Lectio: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9)   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:35 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 05:11 The Friendship of St. Catherine and Bl. Raymond 08:57 The Order of Friendship 11:40 Can Men and Women Have Virtuous Friendships? 16:43 Friendship Ordered Towards Christ 19:24 Why Friendship with God Comes First 23:51 Growing Through Different Stages of Friendship 28:02 Rupture and Repair in Friendship 31:48 Closing Prayer

Send us Fan MailRELENTLESSPart 1 | Running From MercySenior Pastor Keith Stewart July 19, 2026If you look around our culture today, everything seems to be divided into "us" and "them." Every day we're told who to fear, who to blame, who to despise, and who deserves our outrage. The anger comes from the right and from the left, and before long it begins to shape our own hearts. What's surprising is that God's remedy for this isn't found in a New Testament command or a self-help book. It's found in one of the shortest books of the Old Testament—the book of Jonah. Because Jonah isn't really written for irreligious people. It's written for people like us. People who know God, worship God, and yet can still find themselves resisting the very things God loves. Jonah has a great deal to teach us about who God is, how God works, and how He wants to transform our hearts.Discussion Questions 1. Before hearing this message, what did you think the book of Jonah was primarily about? Did anything in this week's teaching challenge or expand your understanding of the story? 2. Pastor Keith said, "The book of Jonah is a mirror." In what ways do you see yourself in Jonah's attitudes or actions? 3. Why do you think Jonah resisted God's call to Nineveh? Was it fear, prejudice, nationalism, hatred, or something else? What does his motivation reveal about the human heart?4. Read Jonah 1:1–3. Jonah ran in the opposite direction of God's command. What are some ways people today can run from God without ever leaving home? 5. The sermon emphasized that all people matter to God. Why is that truth sometimes easy to affirm in theory but difficult to practice with certain people? 6. Pastor Keith asked several searching questions:  Who scares you?  Who offends you?  Who can you not stand?  Who would you rather see judged than forgiven?Without naming individuals if it would be inappropriate, why do you think those questions are so difficult to answer honestly?7. Throughout Jonah 1, the pagan sailors often behaved more compassionately than God's prophet. What do you think God is trying to teach us through that surprising reversal?8. The message suggested that Jonah's deepest problem wasn't simply disobedience but misdirected love—he loved his nation more than God's heart for the nations. What are some good things that can become disordered loves in our own lives?9. Read John 3:16–17 together. How does verse 17 deepen or reshape your understanding of verse 16? 10. Pastor Keith closed by praying, "God, make me into a grace giver, not just a grace receiver." What would that look like in one specific relationship or situation this week?Closing PrayerAsk God to reveal any "Jonah heart" within us—a place where resentment, prejudice, fear, or self-righteousness has replaced compassion. Pray that God would help us see people the way He sees them and become willing participants in His relentless pursuit of those He loves.

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Big Idea: We boldly pray for everyone because Christ's ransom is for anyone. 1. Pray for everyone, anyone can be saved (v.1-4) 2. Pray with confidence, Christ has paid the ransom (v. 5-7) Discussion Questions: 1. Who naturally comes to mind when you pray and who rarely does? Is there someone difficult to love that God may be inviting you to begin praying for? 2. Why do you think Paul connects prayer with “a peaceful and quiet life” (v. 2)? What's the difference between a peaceful life and an easy life? 3. How does Christ being our “one mediator” (vv. 5–6) change the way you approach prayer? 4. Who is one person God is placing on your heart to pray for this week?

What Can't They Take From You? Discussion Questions for 10:32-39: Read verse 32. How does remembering God's past faithfulness strengthen you during present suffering? Read verse 33. How does your identity in Christ help when others shame, reject, or misunderstand you? Read verse 33. Why does knowing Christ shares our suffering help us stand with others who are hurting? Read verse 34. What better, lasting possession(s) do believers already have in Christ here and now? Discuss. Read verse 35. What great reward does confidence in Jesus bring into your life today? Read verses 36–38. How does trusting God's grace help you endure and stay in tune with His will? What is His will for you? Read verses 37–39. Consider your new identity in Christ and how it plays into you never shrinking back in unbelief (rejecting the gospel). Explain.

Discussion Questions:For Summer 2026 use the Swedish Method of Bible Study:While reading a Bible passage, use the following symbols to mark what stands out to you as you read. Then talk about the marks you made with a friend, or write about them in a journal.• A lightbulb - anything from the passage that stands out or is interesting.• A question mark - did the passage spark any questions?• An arrow - how does this passage help you move forward in faith and walk in better relationship with others and the Lord?Prayer

John Reynolds - Adult Ministries Pastor In 1 Corinthians 7:1–16, Paul reminds us that God's design for marriage, singleness, and sexuality is ultimately meant to display the gospel and bring glory to Christ. Whether married or single, every follower of Jesus is called to submit to His authority, trusting that His design leads to our good and his glory Click on the links below for additional Cascade Church resources. Connect Card: https://cascadechurch.org/connect  Give Online: https://cascadechurch.org/give Discussion Questions: https://cascadechurch.org/first-corinthians-discussion-questions  

This sermon explores Jesus's final words to His disciples in the Upper Room, focusing on His promise not to leave them as orphans. The central message addresses how believers often struggle with an "orphan spirit"—a mindset of living as though we are abandoned, unprotected, and forced to survive on our own, rather than as beloved sons and daughters of God. Through the promised Holy Spirit (the Paraclete), believers receive not just God's presence but His power, advocacy, and constant affirmation of their identity in Christ. The sermon challenges the congregation to stop confusing God's silence with His absence and to transition from trying to earn God's love through performance to resting in the security of being permanently adopted into His family. The key is learning to approach God's Word not as a legal obligation or audit of performance, but as a love letter from a Father who speaks life-giving promises over His children.Read John 14:15-18Jesus promised He would not leave us as orphans. In your moments of silence from God, remember that silence does not equal absence. The disciples faced their greatest fear—abandonment by the One who gave them identity and purpose. Yet Jesus assured them of the Holy Spirit's coming. Today, examine where you've confused God's silence with His absence. Are there unanswered prayers causing you to doubt His faithfulness? The Spirit of God stands with His arm around you, silencing every accusation. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. His presence is with you forever—no conditions, no clauses, just unwavering commitment to remain with you always.Discussion Questions:-In what ways have you confused God's silence with God's absence in your own life, and how might understanding the difference transform your relationship with Him?-How does viewing God's Word as a love letter rather than a rulebook change the way you approach Scripture and obedience?-Which of the promises listed in the sermon (forgiven, loved, chosen, blameless, complete, etc.) do you struggle most to believe about yourself, and why?

This sermon explores Jesus's final words to His disciples in the Upper Room, focusing on His promise not to leave them as orphans. The central message addresses how believers often struggle with an "orphan spirit"—a mindset of living as though we are abandoned, unprotected, and forced to survive on our own, rather than as beloved sons and daughters of God. Through the promised Holy Spirit (the Paraclete), believers receive not just God's presence but His power, advocacy, and constant affirmation of their identity in Christ. The sermon challenges the congregation to stop confusing God's silence with His absence and to transition from trying to earn God's love through performance to resting in the security of being permanently adopted into His family. The key is learning to approach God's Word not as a legal obligation or audit of performance, but as a love letter from a Father who speaks life-giving promises over His children.Read John 14:15-18Jesus promised He would not leave us as orphans. In your moments of silence from God, remember that silence does not equal absence. The disciples faced their greatest fear—abandonment by the One who gave them identity and purpose. Yet Jesus assured them of the Holy Spirit's coming. Today, examine where you've confused God's silence with His absence. Are there unanswered prayers causing you to doubt His faithfulness? The Spirit of God stands with His arm around you, silencing every accusation. You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. His presence is with you forever—no conditions, no clauses, just unwavering commitment to remain with you always.Discussion Questions:-In what ways have you confused God's silence with God's absence in your own life, and how might understanding the difference transform your relationship with Him?-How does viewing God's Word as a love letter rather than a rulebook change the way you approach Scripture and obedience?-Which of the promises listed in the sermon (forgiven, loved, chosen, blameless, complete, etc.) do you struggle most to believe about yourself, and why?

In Hope Church's series on the faithfulness of God, this "faithful in failure" message uses the life of Peter—his calling, his threefold denial of Jesus, and his restoration around the charcoal fire—to show that God works through our failures rather than being finished with us. Just as Jesus restored Peter with three commissions and later used him to grow the church from 120 to over 3,000 at Pentecost, the sermon's three points remind us that failure isn't the end when Jesus restores us, restoration always leads back to purpose, and our greatest failure doesn't have to become our identity—because our identity is found in Christ, not our shortcomings.**Detailed Notes**- We are all failures. Romans 3:23 — "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That includes every one of us.- Scripture is a time capsule of humanity's failures that reveals God's faithfulness through them.- Garden: Adam and Eve failed, yet God didn't wipe the slate clean—He covered their nakedness and stayed faithful.- Peter: a simple fisherman Jesus called, renamed (Cephas/Peter), and poured into—yet at the crucial moment he denied Christ three times.- Jesus didn't condemn Peter; He restored him around a charcoal fire (John 21). Three denials, three questions, three commissions: "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep."- Restored Peter preached at Pentecost—the church grew from 120 to over 3,000 in a day. Not Peter's faithfulness, but God's.**Three Points**1. Failure is not the end when Jesus restores you.2. Restoration always leads back to purpose—He restores us to use us.3. Your greatest failure does not have to become your identity. We remember Peter for leading the church, not for his denial. Christ defines us, not our shortcomings.**Practical Applications**- Stop letting your past disqualify you. God isn't done with you when you fail.- Bring your failures to Jesus rather than hiding or "blotting out" your story.- Expect restoration to come with a calling—look for the purpose God is redeeming your failure toward.- Be obedient and share your story. Someone near you has walked what you've walked; your redemption can point them to Christ.- Root your identity in Christ, not in your worst moment.**Discussion Questions**1. Where do you tend to believe your failures have disqualified you from being used by God?2. Peter's denial was left in the Gospels on purpose. Why do we want to erase our failures, and what changes when we don't?3. How does seeing "God's faithfulness in the failure" differ from just trying to fail less?4. Restoration led Peter back to purpose. What might God be restoring you toward right now?5. Whose story has God given you that someone else needs to hear?6. What would it look like this week to root your identity in Christ rather than your past?*"This is not about Peter's failure. It's about God's faithfulness in the failure."*

Conflict is inevitable in marriage, but it doesn't have to be destructive. In this episode, Derek, Andrew, and Gabrielle discuss how to move from unhealthy patterns of defensiveness and scorekeeping toward biblical reconciliation, healthy communication, and deeper intimacy.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- When conflict arises, do you naturally move toward fight, flight, or freeze?- Which unhealthy conflict pattern shows up most often in your marriage?- What family-of-origin experiences influence the way you handle disagreement?- How would your conflicts change if your mindset became "How do we win?" instead of "How do I win?"- Do you have trusted people in your life who can help mediate conflict when needed?- Is there an unresolved conflict that needs a conversation this week? RESOURCES: The Thing Beneath the Thing by Steve CarterHarris Creek sermon series: "Conflicted" 

In this episode, we continue our book study on Friendship in the Lord and reflect on what it means to be truly known, deeply loved, and fully at home with another. We talk about why we must first learn to abide in the love of God, how appreciation helps others become who they were created to be, and what it looks like to grow in friendship over time. Whether friendship feels life-giving or challenging in this season of your life, we invite you to bring every desire, wound, and longing before the Lord, who first calls you His friend.    Announcement: You can buy your copy of Friendship in the Lord from Ave Maria Press (or Amazon).   Journal Questions: How is the Lord inviting me to cultivate deeper community where I live? Where in my life am I trying to love others without being in communion with God? Am I truly allowing the love of Christ to come out within a community? Am I at home with the Lord? How have I been possessive of my relationships within my community? When have I experienced belonging within community? How can I create more reverent space in my relationships to allow others to become?   Discussion Questions: How is the Lord calling you to mission? When you think about a friendship or marriage that you admire, what qualities of that relationship inspire you? Who are the people in my life that I feel at home with? How have you experienced possessiveness negatively impacting your relationships? Where do you long for a deeper sense of belonging? Which friends and relationships have played a role in helping you become who God has created you to be?   Quotes to Ponder: "The mission of joy and friendship within the Christian community is even more fundamental than the Church's mission to the poor and needy, because love and joy are the source from which all ministry to the sorrowing must flow." (Friendship in the Lord, Page 7)   "The wonderful mystery which is you is not complete until you are appreciated." (Friendship in the Lord, Page 19)   Scripture for Lectio: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:12-15)   Sponsor - Ascension: For the first time in more than 50 years, the Church in the United States will begin praying with a new translation of The Liturgy of the Hours starting in 2027. This long-awaited update marks a historic moment in the life of the Church and offers the opportunity for a renewed encounter with her daily prayer. Chosen by the USCCB as one of the official publishers, Ascension has carefully crafted an edition designed to serve the Church's prayer for generations. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered to provide exceptional readability, lasting durability, and beauty worthy of this sacred tradition. Ascension's Edition features: Original commissioned artwork rooted in Catholic Tradition Top-of-the-line typesetting to maximize readability Custom Ascension Serif typeface to support extended prayer Durable Smyth-sewn binding and premium materials crafted for daily use Availability in multiple formats to support individual prayer needs Available in both Standard and Large Print formats, with three cover materials to choose from, The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition may be preordered as individual volumes or as the complete four-volume bundle. Volume II will begin shipping on January 1, 2027, in time for use beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Experience the beauty of the Church's daily prayer in an edition thoughtfully crafted to support prayer for generations. Preorder The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition at www.AscensionPress.com/Abiding.   Timestamps: 00:00 Ascension 01:32 Intro 02:18 Welcome 02:37 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 03:31 Mission Comes from Community 05:26 Abiding in God's Love First 10:42 The Feeling of Belonging 14:18 Appreciation is Necessary in Friendship 17:22 We Help Others Become Themselves 20:09 Intimacy is Being at Home with Someone 25:49 Being Attentive to Fear 26:59 Closing Prayer

Can a Christian Sin Away Their Salvation? Does Hebrews 10 prove you can lose your salvation? Many people think so, but only because they skip the context. Before the warning comes one of Scripture's greatest declarations of confidence: you're perfectly forgiven, forever cleansed, and welcomed into God's presence through Jesus' finished work. Discover why Hebrews isn't threatening believers with judgment but urging undecided people to embrace Christ. You'll leave with ten unshakable reasons to rest confidently in your relationship with Jesus. Discussion Questions for Hebrews 10: Read verses 19-20. What's the "new and living way"? How does it inspire "confidence"? What does verse 20 reveal about when it began? Read verse 21. In what ways is Jesus a greater priest than the priests of the Old Covenant? Read verse 22. What do "sprinkled clean" and "washed with pure water" communicate about what Christ has already done for us? Read verse 23. What does it mean to "hold fast" our confession, and why is God's faithfulness (not ours) the basis of our hope? Read verses 24–25. What is the purpose of gathering together? How is this different from a church-attendance "checklist" mentality? Read verses 26-28. What does "sinning willfully" mean here? How does "set aside" in verse 28 reveal the meaning? Read verse 29. What do the descriptions "trampled under foot," "regarded as unclean," and "insulted the Spirit of grace" reveal about the kind of rejection described here? Read verse 30. In the Old Testament quotation, who are "His people," and how does that context help us understand the warning? Skip to verse 39. Why is this final verse of the chapter such an important conclusion? What assurance does it give believers after the warnings?

He Must IncreaseJohn the Baptist embodied the whole Old Testament only to point away from himself. "He must increase, but I must decrease" wasn't resignation; it was joy. This week we look at what it means to find contentment not in our own increase, but in Christ's, and why that pattern of decrease has always been the path to glory. OutlineThe man: John, the Old Testament embodiedThe text: he must increase, I must decreaseThe calling: decrease, that he may increaseDiscussion QuestionsJohn found joy, not resentment, in decreasing so Christ could increase (v. 29). Where do you struggle most to celebrate someone else's increase over your own? "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven" (v. 27). How would resting in that truth change the way you hold your gifts, role, or position in life? Verse 36 moves from belief to obedience — dead faith stops at belief, but living faith walks. Where is there a gap between what you believe and how you're actually living? The sermon traces self-denial through family, church, and community as the shape of the Christian life. Where is God calling you to decrease this season so someone else can increase?

Jeremiah Porter - Regional Director - The 6:4 Fellowship Your body matters to God. He created it, redeemed it, and dwells in it. So, use it for His glory! Click on the links below for additional Cascade Church resources. Connect Card: https://cascadechurch.org/connect  Give Online: https://cascadechurch.org/give Discussion Questions: https://cascadechurch.org/first-corinthians-discussion-questions

This sermon explores John 14:1-14, examining Jesus's words to His disciples in the Upper Room after announcing His betrayal and departure. Jake addresses how Jesus comforts troubled hearts not by changing circumstances or providing explanations, but by offering Himself as the answer. The message emphasizes that when life falls apart and we don't know which way is up, Jesus doesn't wait for our pain to be resolved before sitting with us in it. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—not just information about God, but the very presence of God with us in our darkest moments. The sermon challenges believers to stop shelving their pain and instead bring their unresolved grief, disappointment, and confusion directly to Jesus, who understands troubled hearts because He Himself was troubled.Read John 14:1-4Jesus speaks His most comforting words in the most painful moments. When the disciples' world was collapsing, He didn't offer explanations—He offered Himself. Notice that Jesus doesn't deny the reality of their circumstances or pretend their fear isn't valid. Instead, He acknowledges their troubled hearts while pointing them toward something greater than their circumstances. The God we serve doesn't comfort us by pretending our suffering isn't real. He enters into it with us. Today, whatever has stolen the air from your room, know that Jesus isn't waiting for you to understand it before He sits with you in it. His presence is the promise.What circumstance are you waiting to understand before you bring it to Jesus?Discussion Questions:-When have you experienced a moment where the air felt like it was sucked out of the room, and how did that affect your faith in God's presence during that time?-The pastor mentioned that we often shelve our pain and keep following God without knowing what to do with our grief or disappointment. What have you placed on the shelf, and what would it look like to bring that before Jesus today?-Philip asks to see the Father while looking directly at Jesus. In what ways might you be asking God to reveal himself while missing his presence that is already with you?-Jesus tells his failing, doubting disciples that they will do greater works, not because of their competency but because of his presence. How does this challenge your belief about needing to have it all together before God can use you?

This sermon explores John 14:1-14, examining Jesus's words to His disciples in the Upper Room after announcing His betrayal and departure. Jake addresses how Jesus comforts troubled hearts not by changing circumstances or providing explanations, but by offering Himself as the answer. The message emphasizes that when life falls apart and we don't know which way is up, Jesus doesn't wait for our pain to be resolved before sitting with us in it. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—not just information about God, but the very presence of God with us in our darkest moments. The sermon challenges believers to stop shelving their pain and instead bring their unresolved grief, disappointment, and confusion directly to Jesus, who understands troubled hearts because He Himself was troubled.Read John 14:1-4Jesus speaks His most comforting words in the most painful moments. When the disciples' world was collapsing, He didn't offer explanations—He offered Himself. Notice that Jesus doesn't deny the reality of their circumstances or pretend their fear isn't valid. Instead, He acknowledges their troubled hearts while pointing them toward something greater than their circumstances. The God we serve doesn't comfort us by pretending our suffering isn't real. He enters into it with us. Today, whatever has stolen the air from your room, know that Jesus isn't waiting for you to understand it before He sits with you in it. His presence is the promise.What circumstance are you waiting to understand before you bring it to Jesus?Discussion Questions:-When have you experienced a moment where the air felt like it was sucked out of the room, and how did that affect your faith in God's presence during that time?-The pastor mentioned that we often shelve our pain and keep following God without knowing what to do with our grief or disappointment. What have you placed on the shelf, and what would it look like to bring that before Jesus today?-Philip asks to see the Father while looking directly at Jesus. In what ways might you be asking God to reveal himself while missing his presence that is already with you?-Jesus tells his failing, doubting disciples that they will do greater works, not because of their competency but because of his presence. How does this challenge your belief about needing to have it all together before God can use you?

This powerful exploration of faith takes us through four remarkable encounters with Jesus, each revealing a different dimension of what it means to trust God when we're at the end of our rope. We journey from a Roman centurion who understood spiritual authority so deeply that he knew Jesus only needed to speak a word, to a desperate father who needed Jesus physically present, to a woman whose faith compelled her to reach out in a crowd, and finally to a Canaanite mother who refused to let go despite apparent rejection. What emerges is a beautiful truth: Jesus doesn't require a specific formula or level of faith—He responds to genuine pursuit. The centurion's faith amazed Jesus because he grasped that authority in the spiritual realm works just like authority in the physical realm: when the One with ultimate power speaks, everything must obey. Meanwhile, the hemorrhaging woman teaches us that sometimes our desperation becomes our greatest asset, driving us to reach for Jesus when religious propriety would keep us away. The Canaanite woman shows us persistence in prayer, refusing to be discouraged even when the answer seems to be 'no.' These stories challenge us to examine our own faith: Are we coming to Jesus with our impossible situations, or are we trying to handle them in our own strength? The message culminates in the healing of the demon-possessed boy, where we learn that some battles can only be won through prayer—not as a ritual or formula, but as a relationship of dependence on God's power rather than our own abilities.**Detailed Notes**- **Text Anchor – James 5:13–16**   - Elders are commanded to pray over the sick, anoint with oil, and expect God to work.   - Prayer of faith saves the sick; sins forgiven; healing linked with confession and community prayer.   - Today's response: elders available to pray and anoint, obeying Scripture, not putting on a “show.”- **Key Idea: Different Expressions of Faith, Same Powerful Jesus**   Jesus doesn't repeat methods so we trust the Miracle Worker, not the method.1. **Faith of the Centurion – Matthew 8:5–13**    - Roman Gentile, man of authority, serving his servant.    - Believes Jesus only has to *say the word*.    - Recognizes Jesus' spiritual authority structure: sickness and demons answer to Him.    - Jesus marvels at his faith; servant healed at a distance.2. **Faith of Jairus & the Bleeding Woman – Luke 8:40–56**    - Jairus: synagogue ruler, needs Jesus *to come and lay hands* on his dying daughter.    - On the way, a woman with 12-year hemorrhage pushes through crowd, touches His garment.    - She's unclean, desperate, believing “if I only touch Him, I'll be healed.”    - Jesus feels power go out, calls her “Daughter,” “your faith has made you well.”    - News arrives: Jairus' daughter dead. Jesus: “Do not fear; only believe.” Raises her from the dead despite mockery.3. **Faith of the Canaanite Woman – Matthew 15:21–28**    - Gentile from Tyre/Sidon, knows Davidic promise: calls Him “Lord, Son of David.”    - Persistent cries for her demon-oppressed daughter; Jesus at first silent, then states His mission to Israel.    - She kneels and worships even when not answered as she hoped.    - Accepts “house pet” analogy, asks for crumbs; Jesus praises her *great faith* and heals at a distance.4. **Faith of the Desperate Father – Mark 9:14–29**    - Demonized, mute son; disciples failed to cast demon out; religious arguments overshadow the boy's need.    - Jesus rebukes faithless generation.    - Pulls father's eyes off the chaos: “How long has this been happening?”    - Father: “If you can do anything…” Jesus: “‘If you can'? All things are possible for one who believes.”    - Honest cry: “I believe; help my unbelief.” Jesus delivers the boy; explains to disciples this kind comes out only by prayer (and fasting): you must walk in dependence, not assumption.**Practical Applications**1. Come to Jesus as you are: strong faith, weak faith, mixed faith—He responds to honest trust.  2. Don't worship methods: word, touch, distance—Jesus is the healer, not the formula.  3. Persist when God seems silent; keep worshiping like the Canaanite woman.  4. Bring long-term struggles to Him (12 years, lifelong, childhood issues). No statute of limitations.  5. Lead with prayer in all ministry; don't rely on past success or your own strength.  6. Use the body: ask elders and mature believers to pray, confess, and walk with you.**Discussion Questions**1. Which of the four faith stories do you identify with most right now, and why?  2. Where have you been tempted to trust a method, routine, or “formula” instead of Jesus Himself?  3. How do you typically respond when God feels silent or slow—more like the Canaanite woman or more like the disciples arguing?  4. What would it look like for you to honestly pray, “I believe; help my unbelief” about a specific situation?  5. In what area of life have you stopped asking because it's been “too long”? What step of renewed faith can you take this week?  6. How can your group practically obey James 5:13–16 together?

Sex is one of the most talked-about topics in culture, but can be one of the least understood topics in the church.This week, Derek and Gabrielle sit down with pastor and author Mick Murray to discuss God's beautiful vision for sexuality, how sin distorts intimacy, why marriage doesn't automatically heal sexual brokenness, and how couples can pursue greater intimacy, healing, and freedom together.RESOURCESBooks- A Beautiful Vision by Mick MurrayPodcasts- Meditations (Mick Murray)- Ideology (Mick Murray)DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- What messages about sex did you learn growing up?- Have we ever treated sex primarily as self-serving rather than self-giving?- Are there unspoken expectations about intimacy that we need to discuss?- What barriers currently keep us from greater emotional intimacy?- How can we invite God more intentionally into this area of our marriage?

In this episode, we begin our summer book study on Friendship in the Lord by Fr. Paul Hinnebusch, OP. We focus on the foreword and prologue and reflect on the difference between prudence and fear, the ways we self-protect in relationships, and our longing for authentic communion. We also talk about what it means to love without possessing, how to receive others as a gift, and why friendship is a foretaste of heaven.    Other Resources Mentioned: Friendship in the Lord Study Webpage Small Group Discussion Guide   Announcement: If you'd like a copy of Friendship in the Lord, you can buy your copy from Ave Maria Press (or Amazon).   Journal Questions: How do I self protect and hide myself in my relationships? When have I felt embarrassed by my own need for friendship? Do I allow people to be free in my relationships? How has a friend failed me and how have I failed a friend?   Discussion Questions: How do you define good friendship? How have your friendships brought you closer to the Lord? How is God inviting you to bring your relationships into closer communion with God? When have you experienced possessiveness in your friendships? What hopes and desires do I have for my friendships?   Quotes to Ponder: "A true friend is a sort of icon of God, an other through whom the Lord's kindness and mercy shine in a manner that binds up and anoints our brokenness." (Forward to Friendship in the Lord, Fr. John Burns, xv)    "As Fr. Hinnebusch says so well, "What a Christian friend wants above all else for the loved one is his or her communion with the Lord. The one I love, my wife, my husband, my friend, belongs first of all to the Lord. And in that sense, I am only the friend of the Bridegroom. He alone is true Spouse of each and every human heart. He must increase, while I must decrease."" (Forward to Friendship in the Lord, xvii)   "A friendship is two lives joined in love and lived as one. But friendship in the Lord is never two people closed in upon themselves. Each of the friends is fully open to the Lord and open to other friends in such a way that the friendship is always part of a larger community. The Christian community is a cluster of many friendships knit together." (Preface to Friendship in the Lord, xix)    Scripture for Lectio: "Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,     and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."  When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,  but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus." (Matthew 1:10-25)   Sponsor - Ascension: For the first time in more than 50 years, the Church in the United States will begin praying with a new translation of The Liturgy of the Hours starting in 2027. This long-awaited update marks a historic moment in the life of the Church and offers the opportunity for a renewed encounter with her daily prayer. Chosen by the USCCB as one of the official publishers, Ascension has carefully crafted an edition designed to serve the Church's prayer for generations. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered to provide exceptional readability, lasting durability, and beauty worthy of this sacred tradition. Ascension's Edition features: Original commissioned artwork rooted in Catholic Tradition Top-of-the-line typesetting to maximize readability Custom Ascension Serif typeface to support extended prayer Durable Smyth-sewn binding and premium materials crafted for daily use Availability in multiple formats to support individual prayer needs Available in both Standard and Large Print formats, with three cover materials to choose from, The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition may be preordered as individual volumes or as the complete four-volume bundle. Volume II will begin shipping on January 1, 2027, in time for use beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Experience the beauty of the Church's daily prayer in an edition thoughtfully crafted to support prayer for generations. Preorder The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition at www.AscensionPress.com/Abiding.   Timestamps: 00:00 Ascension 01:32 Intro 02:19 Welcome 07:06 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 08:32 Becoming an Icon of God 10:21 Self Protection in Relationships 12:40 Adult Friendships Must Be Cultivated 15:11 One Person Cannot Satisfy All Our Desires 19:55 Christian Community is a Cluster of Friendships 23:39 The Temptation to Possess 27:42 Closing Prayer

Send us Fan MailMISIDENTIFIEDDr. Jessica FernandezSunday, July 5, 2026What if the labels you've accepted aren't the labels God has given you? When God met Moses at the burning bush, everyone had an opinion about who Moses was. Egypt, Israel, Pharaoh, and even Moses himself. Yet, God saw something completely different.In this message, we'll discover that God evaluates us differently than the world does. While others focus on our past, God sees our purpose. While others see our limitations, God sees His possibilities. And while others see what we've been, God sees what we can become through Him. Everybody saw a shepherd. God saw a deliverer.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What label have you received from others, your past, or your own thoughts that has been hard to shake? How has that label affected the way you see yourself?2. Moses asked, “Who am I?” when God called him. Where do you currently feel unqualified, disqualified, or unsure of your place in God's purpose?3. What is the difference between something that happened to you and the identity you have formed from it? Can you identify a lie you may have believed because of a painful experience?4. God answered Moses' insecurity with, “I will be with you.” How does God's presence change the way we understand our identity, calling, and limitations?5. Whose voice has had the most authority in shaping how you see yourself: your past, other people, your own thoughts, or God? What would it look like this week to let God's voice become louder?

If Jesus Sat Down, Why Are You Still Trying So Hard? The Old Testament priests never sat down because the work was never done. Jesus sat down because it was. In this message from Hebrews 10, Andrew Farley exposes the exhausting cycle of repeat confession, progressive forgiveness, and guilt-driven religion; and replaces it with the scandalous truth of the New Covenant. Your sins aren't covered. They're removed. You're not partly sanctified. You're fully set apart. Once for all. Sit down and believe it. Discussion Questions for Hebrews 10: Read verses 5–7. What do these verses reveal about the Father's heart and Jesus' willingness? Read verses 8–9. Where do Christians still mix the first covenant with the second, and why is that exhausting? Read verse 10. What changes when holiness (sanctification) is a once-for-all gift, not a lifelong achievement project? Read verses 11-12. What does standing vs. sitting represent here? Which are you doing? Why? Read verse 14. What arises within you when you hear that Jesus made you perfect forever? Objections? Celebration? Why? Read verse 15. How does this shape your view of the Holy Spirit's attitude toward you? Read verses 16–17. How does "sins remembered no more" change how you view yourself with God? Read verse 18. What modern "offerings" do people still bring today when forgiveness is already complete?

Stu H. Adult Education Director How we act toward our own brothers and sisters has eternal value and consequences because we are representatives of Christ.  Click on the links below for additional Cascade Church resources. Connect Card: https://cascadechurch.org/connect  Give Online: https://cascadechurch.org/give Discussion Questions: https://cascadechurch.org/first-corinthians-discussion-questions

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey6th Sunday of Ordinary Time"Hope is what you are chained to. Hope is what confines you. Hope is what keeps you from being free to worry and despair. Hope is the shackle on your ankle and around your wrist. What a beautiful prison…"Discussion Questions:How is what was happening in 1876 similar to what is happening today? Expeditions, the Telephone, Steam engines, wars, Disputed presidential elections, the MLB…How is the Jewish experience of promise and fulfillment similar to ours?How are we like Lady Liberty? (Chains and Torch)Do you agree with Vaclav Havel's quote - "Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out."In Romans 5, Paul makes the case for how we are to view our lives based on what God has done… “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”How have you experienced this to be true?What is one way you can live as a “prisoner of Hope”?“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” For hope to exist, there has to be darkness. For hope to be real, there has to be a prison. And we, in the prison.”-Desmond Tutu

This sermon explores the final night of Jesus' life, focusing on the Last Supper and the moments surrounding Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial. Jen emphasizes that Jesus, being fully God and fully man, experienced the deep pain of betrayal while knowing exactly what would happen. Despite this knowledge, Jesus chose all twelve disciples, including Judas, from the beginning of time. The sermon challenges believers to move beyond intellectual knowledge of the biblical narrative and truly enter into the emotional and spiritual reality of that night. Central to the message is Jesus' new commandment to love one another with sacrificial, unconditional love—given even in the midst of His own heartbreak. Jen emphasizes that this kind of love among believers is how the world will recognize Jesus' disciples. The sermon calls listeners to examine their own hearts for areas of betrayal, denial, pride, and fear, while remembering that Jesus continues to look at each person with the same deep love He had for His disciples.Read John 13:18-30; 1 John 4:19Jesus sat at that table knowing exactly who would betray Him, yet He served Judas anyway. He washed his feet. He broke bread with him. He looked at him with love. This is the scandalous nature of God's love—it doesn't wait for us to get it right. We love because He first loved us, even when we were still sinners, still betrayers, still deniers. The call to love one another isn't a suggestion for when people deserve it; it's a command for when it's hardest. Who in your life feels impossible to love right now? That person sitting across from you at work, that family member who hurt you, that fellow believer you disagree with—Jesus calls you to agape love. Not because they've earned it, but because He first loved you when you hadn't earned it either.Discussion Questions:-Jesus spent the entire night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples, including Judas whom He knew would betray Him. What does this reveal about God's sovereignty and His willingness to work through human free will, even when it leads to painful outcomes?-The sermon describes how we can become so familiar with Bible stories that we read them like novels rather than experiencing them. How might we cultivate a practice of truly entering into Scripture rather than just reading it as information?-Jesus spoke about betrayal while sitting at the table with His betrayer, yet still looked at Judas with love. How does this challenge our understanding of loving those who hurt us or disagree with us deeply?-Peter was so convinced he would never deny Jesus that he could not hear Jesus's loving warning. How does pride in our own faithfulness or spiritual strength make us vulnerable to falling away in moments of testing?

This sermon explores the final night of Jesus' life, focusing on the Last Supper and the moments surrounding Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial. Jen emphasizes that Jesus, being fully God and fully man, experienced the deep pain of betrayal while knowing exactly what would happen. Despite this knowledge, Jesus chose all twelve disciples, including Judas, from the beginning of time. The sermon challenges believers to move beyond intellectual knowledge of the biblical narrative and truly enter into the emotional and spiritual reality of that night. Central to the message is Jesus' new commandment to love one another with sacrificial, unconditional love—given even in the midst of His own heartbreak. Jen emphasizes that this kind of love among believers is how the world will recognize Jesus' disciples. The sermon calls listeners to examine their own hearts for areas of betrayal, denial, pride, and fear, while remembering that Jesus continues to look at each person with the same deep love He had for His disciples.Read John 13:18-30; 1 John 4:19Jesus sat at that table knowing exactly who would betray Him, yet He served Judas anyway. He washed his feet. He broke bread with him. He looked at him with love. This is the scandalous nature of God's love—it doesn't wait for us to get it right. We love because He first loved us, even when we were still sinners, still betrayers, still deniers. The call to love one another isn't a suggestion for when people deserve it; it's a command for when it's hardest. Who in your life feels impossible to love right now? That person sitting across from you at work, that family member who hurt you, that fellow believer you disagree with—Jesus calls you to agape love. Not because they've earned it, but because He first loved you when you hadn't earned it either.Discussion Questions:-Jesus spent the entire night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples, including Judas whom He knew would betray Him. What does this reveal about God's sovereignty and His willingness to work through human free will, even when it leads to painful outcomes?-The sermon describes how we can become so familiar with Bible stories that we read them like novels rather than experiencing them. How might we cultivate a practice of truly entering into Scripture rather than just reading it as information?-Jesus spoke about betrayal while sitting at the table with His betrayer, yet still looked at Judas with love. How does this challenge our understanding of loving those who hurt us or disagree with us deeply?-Peter was so convinced he would never deny Jesus that he could not hear Jesus's loving warning. How does pride in our own faithfulness or spiritual strength make us vulnerable to falling away in moments of testing?

This powerful message takes us deep into the heart of what it means to trust God when we cannot see the full picture. Drawing from the story of Abraham in Genesis 12 and the profound words of Lamentations 3, we are reminded that God's faithfulness is not dependent on our circumstances or our ability to understand His plan. Abraham was called to leave everything familiar—his home, his family, his security—and journey to an unknown destination. He lived in tents, waiting for promises that seemed impossible, yet he looked forward to a city with foundations that he would never see with his earthly eyes. This is the tension we all live in: the space between God's promise and its fulfillment. We learn that our faithfulness is simply a response to God's faithfulness, not the source of it. Even when the disciples watched Jesus die on the cross, believing all hope was lost, God was orchestrating the greatest redemption story in history. Sunday was coming, though Friday felt final. The legacy we are building today may not be for us at all—it is for those who follow after us. God is always working, always moving, even when we feel stuck in our circumstances and cannot perceive His hand at work.**SERMON NOTES – God's Faithfulness & Our Response (Abraham / Lamentations 3)**---### 1. God's Faithfulness When We Can't See It  - We *know* God is faithful, but our fallen nature doubts when we don't see results.  - Seasons of unanswered prayer, confusion, or silence feel lonely and isolating.  - Scripture shows a pattern: people question, but God is always working behind the scenes; the story is not over.  - Lamentations 3:22–24 written in devastation (Jerusalem destroyed), not comfort:   - “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases…”   - “Great is your faithfulness.”   - “The LORD is my portion… therefore I will hope in him.”---### 2. Our Faithfulness Flows from His  - Key idea: **Our faithfulness is a response to God's faithfulness, not the source of it.**  - God is faithful whether or not we see it or feel it.  - We don't earn or trigger His faithfulness; we reflect it.---### 3. Abraham: Called to Move Without Details (Genesis 12:1–4; Heb. 11:8–10)  - God calls Abram to leave country, family, security—no map, just “go.”  - **When God calls, move.**   - Movement ≠ having all the answers; it's taking the *next* step.   - Opposite of movement is stagnation—like a pond with no outflow: stale and toxic.  - Hebrews 11:   - He went out “not knowing where he was going.”   - Lived in tents; not luxury, but promise.   - “He was looking forward to the city… whose designer and builder is God.”  - Lesson: **God's faithfulness is seen in His promises, not our circumstances.**---### 4. Faith in the Tension (Genesis 15:1–6)  - Promised a great nation, but still childless; Abraham questions God.  - God reaffirms: your own son will be your heir.  - “Look toward heaven and number the stars… so shall your offspring be.”  - **Faith lives in the tension between promise and fulfillment.**  - Abraham and Sarah tried to “help God out” and made a mess—our control often does the same.  - Much of what God does *through* us is for others after us (legacy, children, those we lead).---### 5. God's Story Is Bigger Than Our Lifetime  - Abraham never saw: David, Bethlehem, the cross, the empty tomb, the church—yet all were contained in God's promise to him.  - Disciples thought the story ended on Friday; God knew Sunday was coming.  - Just because you can't see God moving doesn't mean He stopped moving.---## PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS  1. **Identify a “next step.”**    - Where is God nudging you (obedience, forgiveness, serving, giving, sharing the gospel)? Take one concrete step this week.2. **Shift your focus from circumstances to promises.**    - Write down 3–5 promises of God (e.g., Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:28; Phil. 1:6) and pray them over your situation daily.3. **Release control projects.**    - Name one area where you're “Ishmael-building” (forcing outcomes). Confess, surrender it to the Lord, and ask for patience.4. **Think legacy, not just comfort.**    - Ask: “How can my obedience today bless those who come after me?”---## DISCUSSION QUESTIONS  1. Where have you recently struggled to see God's faithfulness? What emotions surface in that tension?  2. In what ways do you tend to tie your view of God's faithfulness to your circumstances?  3. What is one “westward” step God might be calling you to take without full details?  4. How have you seen God use previous seasons of confusion or waiting for future good in your life or others'?  5. What specific promise of God do you need to cling to in this season? How will you remind yourself of it this week?

Send us Fan MailTHE CHURCH AS A FORCE FOR TRANSFORMATIONDesert, Community, Project | Part 5Senior Pastor Keith StewartJune 28, 2026What if the church was known less for what it opposed and more for who it loved? In the final message of our series, Desert, Community, Project, we'll explore God's vision for the church as a force for transformation in the world. Jesus called His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world—not spectators, but difference-makers. We'll look at how ordinary people can become the soul of their community, why discipleship matters more than religious consumption, and what it means to join God in His work of healing, restoring, and renewing the world around us. If you've ever wondered what the church is supposed to be—or what your part in God's mission might look like—this message is for you. Join us this Sunday as we discover what happens when a church becomes deeply rooted in its community and impossible to explain apart from Jesus.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. The message opened with the story of a woman who turned her canceled wedding banquet into a celebration for the homeless. What stood out to you most about that story? How does it reflect God's heart for people? 2. Keith said, "We often become grace consumers rather than grace dispensers." What is the difference? In what ways are Christians tempted to focus on what the church can do for them rather than what God wants to do through them? 3. Discuss the phrase: "Christians are to the world what the soul is to the body." What do you think it means for believers to be "the soul of the community"? 4. Read John 17:15. Why is it often easier to withdraw from the world than engage it? What are some practical ways Christians can be "in the world but not of the world"? 5.  Read Matthew 5:13-16. What does it mean to be salt and light in today's culture? Which image speaks more powerfully to you personally—salt or light? Why?6. The message emphasized that the gospel is not only a proclamation but also a demonstration. How have you seen acts of compassion open doors for spiritual conversations? 7. Keith suggested that people often need several "positive bumps" with Christians before becoming open to faith. Who has provided those positive bumps in your life? How might you become one for someone else? 8. Discuss this statement: "The good stuff leads people to the God stuff." Do you agree? Why or why not? 9. Keith summarized the series this way:Be with JesusBecome like JesusDo what Jesus didWhich of those three resonates most strongly with you right now? Why? 10. What would it look like for Springcreek to become known as "the soul of the community"? What are some practical ways we can live out that vision together? 11. The message challenged us to ask, "What can I do to help?" Who might God be bringing into your life right now that needs encouragement, compassion, practical assistance, or friendship? Closing Challenge This week, look for one opportunity to be salt and light in a practical way. It may be a conversation, an act of service, a gift of generosity, or simply paying attention to someone who feels unseen. Come prepared next week to share what happened.

This week, we continue our series chatting about the best 25 films of the 21st century (so far). Up today is film #18: Rian Johnson's wonderful 2019 murder mystery story Knives Out.Next Week's Discussion Question: What is the best murder mystery story of all time?We are putting this list together based on the rankings of our Patrons. You can check out the list, compile your own, and help influence the top 25 over at Doofmovies.com!Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/doofmediaFollow us on Twitter: @doofmediaSee all of our podcasts and more at doofmedia.com!Time Stamps:2:03 - Knives Out1:03:33 - Discussion Question

Welcome to Day 2896 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – Released from Sheol, Reembodied in Glory: A Revolutionary Promise in the Ancient Near East. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2896 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2896 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled Released from Sheol, Reembodied in Glory: A Revolutionary Promise in the Ancient Near East. The promise of resurrection and glorified embodiment is so central to Judaism and Christianity that it's easy to overlook how unprecedented the concept was in the world of the Ancient Near East (ANE). In a cultural landscape dominated by bleak afterlife expectations, the biblical vision of a redeemed, reembodied existence shattered prevailing norms. The idea that humans might not only escape the grip of death but rise again in everlasting glory was nothing short of revolutionary. The first segment is: Death in the Ancient Near East: A Realm of Shadows. In the cosmologies of Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt, the afterlife was not a place of joy or fulfillment. It was a necessary descent into Sheol, Irkalla, or the Egyptian Duat, a dim and dusty realm where all the dead, good or evil, shared the same fate. This was a land of no return, where the dead were stripped of vitality, feasted on dust, and faded into obscurity. In Mesopotamian myth, even kings and gods wept over this fate, and no one, not even the mighty, escaped. These views were not born out of nihilism but reflected a spiritual realism shared across the ancient world. Sheol and its counterparts like Irkalla and Duat were not metaphors. They were real destinations in the cosmology of the time, dreaded places where the dead existed as weakened, diminished shades. Life was fragile. Disease, war, and disaster struck without warning. The best a person could hope for was to retain a name among the living. Immortality was not life eternal, but legacy. The gods might live forever, but humans were destined for the shadowlands. The second segment is: Sheol in the Hebrew Bible: A Shared Inheritance. Early Hebrew thought shared many features with this ANE worldview. Sheol, as depicted in much of the Old Testament, was not a place of torment or reward but of silence and forgetfulness. Job lamented that the grave was a place where both the righteous and the wicked went. Psalmists cried out to God, not wanting to descend to Sheol where praise was no longer heard. What made Sheol especially terrifying was the possibility of not just existing in a diminished state, but being utterly destroyed. In the worldview of Israel and its neighbors, some spirits in Sheol could be devoured, consumed by greater powers such as the Rephaim or forgotten entirely. To be erased from memory was to lose all identity and hope. The dead could descend further into oblivion, where no legacy or relationship with the living or with God remained. In this view, Sheol was not a passive waiting area. It was a realm where final annihilation remained a threat. The third segment is: The Bosom of Abraham: Covenant Protection in the Realm of the Dead. Amid this grim expectation, later Jewish tradition introduced a dramatic contrast. The righteous were not abandoned to dissolution. Instead, they were gathered into what became known as the Bosom of Abraham. Far from being a metaphor, this designation marked out a region of Sheol reserved for those who belonged to the covenant. As seen in Luke 16, the faithful were carried by angels to a place of comfort and remembrance, not terror and erasure. This was not yet heaven, but it was a protected state. While others faded into silence or were at risk of destruction, those in the Bosom of Abraham were remembered, preserved, and awaited resurrection. It was a place of being known by God, a key distinction from the rest of the underworld. Even in Sheol, Yahweh made a distinction between those who were His and those who were not. This growing expectation set the stage for a greater hope, one not just of preservation, but of reversal. The fourth segment is: The Breakthrough: Resurrection and Embodied Hope. The first major crack in the prevailing view comes in Isaiah and Daniel, where we find explicit references to bodily resurrection: “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.” These declarations were not metaphors. They were bold theological claims, ones that challenged the despair of the ancient world. No longer was Sheol the final destination. A day was coming when the faithful would be raised, not as disembodied spirits, but as reembodied beings, fully restored and transformed. The language hints at glory, justice, and joy, completely alien to the sorrowful tones of ANE afterlife texts. This was a radical theological move. The idea that the righteous would be bodily raised by Yahweh set Israel apart. The divine council rebelled, humanity fell, but God promised not just deliverance, but a glorified future beyond death. The concept did not develop in isolation. It was forged in contrast to the hopeless tomb-worlds of Israel's neighbors. The fifth segment is: Christianity: From Seed to Splendor. Christianity, rooted in Judaism, took this concept and revealed its full flowering. The Jewish hope of resurrection was never mere metaphor. It was a literal expectation of bodily restoration, rooted in prophetic texts like Daniel and Isaiah and affirmed in Second Temple writings, including the martyrdom accounts in 2 Maccabees. Christ's resurrection was not symbolic. It was the historic and physical defeat of death itself. For Paul, this event was not only proof of life after death, but the firstfruits of what all the faithful would experience. Christ's glorified body was a tangible preview of the embodied glory awaiting those who belong to Him. Whereas pagan religions occasionally flirted with ideas of apotheosis or immortality for heroes or emperors, the Christian claim was far more subversive. Every faithful believer, slave or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile, was destined to rise again in glorified embodiment. This was not mythic metaphor. It was cosmic revolution. The sixth segment is: Resurrection vs. Reincarnation or Spirit Survival Importantly, this vision differed from reincarnation, where the self dissolves or returns in new form, and from spirit survival, where a ghost or shade lingers. The biblical model insists on the restoration of the person, not merely their essence. The soul is not freed from the body. It is reunited with a perfected one. This was revolutionary not just in theology, but in anthropology. The human body mattered. The material world was not evil or illusory, as many surrounding philosophies taught. It was made good and would be remade. In Conclusion. In a world where death was final, where the grave was silent, and where the gods offered no escape, the biblical vision of resurrection was not merely hopeful. It was defiant. It redefined justice, identity, and destiny. No longer would the dead sleep forever. No longer would dust be the final word. From the ashes of Sheol, the faithful would rise, not as ghosts, but as glorified, embodied, eternal beings in communion with their Creator. To explore this subject further, please consider these Discussion Questions. How did Ancient Near Eastern views of the afterlife shape the early Israelite understanding of Sheol, and in what ways did Israel's theology begin to diverge? What does Yahweh's power over Sheol, as depicted in the Hebrew Bible, reveal about His nature compared to the gods of neighboring cultures? Why was the concept of bodily resurrection considered radical in the context of ANE beliefs about death and the afterlife? How does the promise of reembodiment challenge modern views that separate spiritual salvation from the physical world? In what ways does the Christian claim of universal resurrection and glorified embodiment subvert ancient notions of divine privilege and human limitation? Join us next Theology Thursday to learn Released from Sheol, Reembodied in Glory:...

When one spouse travels regularly for work, it puts unique pressure on a marriage. From loneliness and temptation to resentment and drift, there are lots of potential issues it can create. In this episode, Derek, Gabrielle, and Scott Kedersha get honest about what it really takes to keep a marriage thriving when work keeps pulling you apart.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- If one of you travels regularly for work, how well have you built communication rhythms that actually work for both of you — not just the one traveling?- Scott talked about picking up the phone even when he'd rather not. Where in your marriage right now are you letting your own preference win over what your spouse needs?- What temptations are most likely to come up for you specifically when you're isolated — and have you named those out loud to anyone?- Scott said distance will exasperate any existing unhealth in a marriage, not heal it. Before taking or keeping a job that requires heavy travel, how honest are you being about the current state of your marriage?- If you are the spouse who stays home: does your traveling spouse know specifically what would help you feel most supported before they leave and while they're gone?- When your spouse returns from a trip, what does re-entry look like in your home — and is there anything you could do to make that transition healthier?- Scott gave a shout-out to Kristen for holding things down at home. When did you last genuinely thank your spouse for their specific role in your marriage — whether they travel or stay home?

What If Jesus Already Took It All Away? What if forgiveness isn't a payment plan? Religion thrives on repeat performances, but the Gospel announces, "Paid in full." Discover why Christ's better blood, better sacrifice, and better covenant mean your sins aren't merely covered… they're taken away once and for all! Discussion Questions for Hebrews 9-10: What does Hebrews mean when it says Jesus offered a "better sacrifice"? Better than what, and why does that matter? Why is it important that Jesus did not offer Himself repeatedly, but "once for all"? What is the difference between sin being temporarily covered and sin being completely taken away? How does this change the way we relate to God? Why could the blood of bulls and goats remind people of sin but never remove sin? Hebrews 10:2 says OT worshipers, if "once cleansed," would have no longer had consciousness of sins. What does this tell us about what we DO have in Christ today? Use Hebrews 10:2 to react to this lie: Christians are forgiven eternally but still need daily cleansing. What does it mean that Jesus "takes away the first in order to establish the second"? Why couldn't the old covenant remain alongside the new? Hebrews 10:10 says, "we have been sanctified…once for all." How does this contradict a lot of teaching on "progressive sanctification" today? React to this statement: Jesus will return without reference to our sins and we can eagerly await Him!

Aaron Day, Speaking Pastor - Crosswater Church GOD calls HIS people to holiness in every area—including our sexual expression—because HIS love refuses to leave us in patterns that dishonor HIS design and glory. HE does so through loving discipline; for HIS glory and our good. Click on the links below for additional Cascade Church resources. Connect Card: https://cascadechurch.org/connect  Give Online: https://cascadechurch.org/give Discussion Questions: https://cascadechurch.org/first-corinthians-discussion-questions

From GLP-1s to Botox to testosterone therapy, body-altering decisions are more normalized than ever, but what does it actually look like to process those decisions as a married couple through a Biblical lens? In this episode, Derek, Gabrielle, and Andrew tackle the theology behind how we think about our bodies and why those decisions are never just about you.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS- When it comes to decisions about your body — diet, supplements, cosmetic procedures, medical interventions — do you tend to make those decisions together or independently? Why?- Andrew mentioned that working out became an idol for him at one point. Are there any areas of health or appearance where you sense you might be seeking something beyond physical wellbeing?- Gabrielle shared that she had gotten into careless patterns with her appearance without thinking about why. Are there any habits you have around your body or appearance that you've never really examined?- Derek mentioned that influences around us constantly try to make us discontent with how we look. Who or what are you allowing to shape how you feel about your body — and is it trustworthy?- Is there any area of your body or health that feels like an "off-limits" topic in your marriage — something you wouldn't want your spouse to weigh in on? What might that be telling you?- Cooper wrote scriptures in the shower for Gabrielle during a season of body insecurity. How are you actively speaking truth over your spouse in the way they feel about themselves?

Did You Put the Veil Back Up? Discussion Questions for Hebrews 9: Hebrews 9 says the old covenant had barriers, veils, priests, repeated sacrifices, and limited access. Where do you still tend to live as though there is a barrier between you and God? What would change if you believed Christ has brought you all the way in? The priests entered the outer room continually, but the Holy of Holies was entered only once a year by the high priest. How does this contrast help you appreciate your daily, personal access to God through Jesus? Do you relate to God freely, or do you still feel like you need to "wait outside"? Verse 12 says Jesus entered the holy place "once for all" and obtained "eternal redemption." What does "once for all" do to the idea that you need to keep proving yourself, re-earning forgiveness, or getting spiritually "re-cleansed"? Verse 14 says the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. What are some "dead works" believers today might still rely on to feel okay with God? How is serving God different when it comes from a cleansed conscience instead of a guilty one? Jesus is called the mediator of a new covenant. What does it mean to you that your relationship with God is not determined ("mediated") by your performance, your consistency, or your spiritual résumé but by Jesus Himself? Hebrews 9 connects forgiveness with blood, sacrifice, and covenant. Why is it important that forgiveness is not God "looking the other way," but God fully dealing with sin through Christ? How does that make forgiveness feel more secure? Where do you need to stop standing outside the veil and start living like someone who is always inside the Holy of Holies?

Summer brings more snacks, more messes, and more opportunities to teach our kids valuable life skills! Today Karen and Emily are talking about why building a strong work ethic starts at home and why moms should avoid overfunctioning for their children, plus Karen gives practical ideas to teach age-appropriate responsibility. We hope this conversation will encourage you to play the long game this summer as you prepare your kids for real life!Episode Recap:You don't have to be the one cleaning all the messes this summer (1:50)Helping around the house instills confidence in kids (3:15)We want to raise contributors, not consumers (5:00)Teach your children to go the extra mile (8:10)What are good kids' chores at each stage of development? (12:00)How do you handle kids who push back on doing chores? (18:50)Scripture:Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."Discussion Questions: How were chores and household responsibilities handled in your home growing up? Are you mimicking that environment or handling the workload differently in your own home? Are there areas where you might be "over-functioning" for your children? What is one responsibility you could begin transferring to them this summer?Which age-appropriate chore or life skill would be most beneficial for your child to learn right now? What would the training phase look like?Resources:Register for the SOAR Conference today. Become a WT+ Insider today! boaw.mom/insiderWant More of This Conversation?During Wire Talk+, Karen and Emily get real about how chores work in Emily's houses and Karen demonstrates how to fold a fitted sheet! Don't sleep on becoming an Insider - learn today! Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.