Resources to help you understand Scripture, grow in faithful habits, and discover more favorite passages.
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Corruption
Judges 21:24-25 – The people of God progressively pushed against the ways of God and pursued the ways of the world. The further they drifted, the more apparent their need for a Savior was.
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Sending Isn’t Safe
When Paul described the Macedonian believers’ radical generosity, he revealed that obedience to Christ often comes with a cost. The gospel advances not through comfort but through churches willing to risk, release, and recommission for the sake of others.
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The Ministry of Attention
In a world where everyone’s looking down, the most radical thing you can do is look up. Giving someone your full attention is one of the rarest spiritual gifts in our distracted age. Nothing reflects Jesus more than your undivided attention.
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How to Stop Babbling in Prayer
Prayer doesn’t have to sound impressive to be effective. When we stop babbling empty words and start speaking honestly to our Father, our prayers become what He always intended.
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Technology & Temptation
Technology is a powerful tool that can advance God’s purposes or distract us from them. When used wisely, it serves as a gift; when left unchecked, it becomes a trap that dulls our minds, isolates our hearts, and endangers our children.
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The Story of the Bible
While many know isolated events described within the pages of the Bible, few understand the grand narrative of God’s overarching plan. Discover that truth has a unifying story centered upon Jesus Christ.
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The Story of the Bible (Series Overview)
The Bible isn’t a random collection of stories; it’s one unified story pointing to Jesus Christ. Join us for The Story of the Bible, a four-week journey through creation, corruption, crucifixion, and commission to see how God’s plan of redemption weaves through every page of Scripture.
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Turning Off Notifications
We live in an always-on world where every vibration feels like a summons and every alert feels urgent. But constant urgency doesn’t lead to greater faithfulness; it leads to exhaustion. If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.
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The Lesson They’ll Never Forget
Your children may listen to what you say, but they will live what you show. The greatest lesson you’ll ever teach them about faith won’t come from your words but from your example.
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Are You Committing the Unforgivable Sin?
The unpardonable sin is defiantly and ultimately refusing to accept the Holy Spirit’s declaration that Jesus is Lord. That’s why it is the only sin that can’t be forgiven; you declare His forgiveness unnecessary and undesired.
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He Will Be With Us
God is with you no matter where you are. That is the promise we need at this time of year and every other day in between.
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He Will Save His People
Jesus’ resolve to save His people started by becoming one of them. While we deserved condemnation for our sins, Jesus desired to invade human history at a pivotal time to save those who could not save themselves.
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The Home & Church Conference
The Home & Church Conference is a weekend that will transform our priorities. It is a unique opportunity for leaders within both environments to learn, grow, and consider how to give our best efforts to reach and disciple the young lives around us.
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You Don’t Have to Prove What You Love
Love God and love others, and you don’t have to make sacrifices to prove it. Your life is proving it every single day.
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A Child Will Be Born
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Through these names, we realize that He provides us with wisdom, power, care, and stability.
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Entrust 2025
The Entrust Institute is where you can get seminary-level training in a ministry setting. We are hosting two courses in 2025: Ministry Matters and Divine Design.
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God Is With Us
For many, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. In the busyness of all the celebrations, we are in danger of missing the most crucial part—Jesus.
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Don’t Get on the Enemy’s Payroll
Some people are so defiant about accepting Jesus’ power that they seek to frame His good works as evil deeds. You can say you are against the devil, but if you attempt to thwart the one who came to defeat him, you might have mistakenly changed sides.
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2025 Sermon Series
As we prayerfully considered our church’s spiritual needs, we decided to focus on these sermon series for the upcoming year. We anticipate the Word of God doing a mighty work among the people of God.
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Implementing Discipleship
Even though you haven’t implemented the entire Distinctive Discipleship process yet, hopefully, you are already beginning to see some growth. In this last session, you will put all the pieces together and initiate your plan. While you have experienced progress, now it is time to define your distinctive strategy which you will use for the months to…
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Establishing Dependence
Paul described discipleship in a complex way when he wrote, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within us” (Col. 1:29). God’s work and our efforts are both expected for our growth. In the last session, we studied the need for discipline as we toil for progress, but any…
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Clarifying Development
In what ways do you need development? It all depends upon what you have been given and where you have been placed. As particularly gifted and positioned disciples, we each should pursue the needed maturity to do what God has called us to accomplish. CONSIDER There’s a difference in working on something because you are…
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Confronting Disobedience
There is a sin or a few sins that easily entangle you. While we all can struggle with every possible sin imaginable, there are certain sins with which we regularly drift. In Session 3 of Distinctive Discipleship, we are going to narrow down a list of sins to the 1-3 areas which are critical for you…
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How to Work as Worship
While jobs can bring stress, weariness, and drama, it can also provide Kingdom opportunities. Learn how to reinstate your work as a platform for worship and mission. Relearn Work isn’t a consequence of sin – frustration with work is (Gen. 3:17-19). God is a Creator, and He desires us to cultivate that Creation for good…
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How to Protect Your Home from Technology
While technology has incredible benefits, it also brings dangerous possibilities. Learn how you can protect yourself and your family from unwise technological usage. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything (1 Cor. 6:12). Incredible Benefits Relationship…
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How to Find Your Spiritual Gifts
Every Christian has been endowed by the Spirit with gifts to edify the church. Learn how you can discover and deploy the spiritual gifts which you have been given. A spiritual gift is given by the Holy Spirit in order to serve the church. No one gift is better than the others. Your best type…
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How to Have an Effective Group
A Gospel Group connects disciples together who are committed to growing in the gospel and going with the gospel. Psalm 1 Acts 17:10-12 If we aren’t careful, certain practices or allowances can take place to run the dynamics of a group. Here are 6 group killers: Subjective Content If the Bible isn’t your textbook, you…
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Return
After the Israelites spent decades in exile, they finally were able to return home. Due to comfort and convenience, some Israelites never returned. A remnant came back to the land to reestablish the nation and await the Messiah. Life In Exile Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther conclude the historical section of the Old Testament, and they…
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Exile
After the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah, the nation continued to spiral out of control. As sin increased, God sent prophets to warn the nations about impending punishment. Their disregard led to their exile. 16 – Exile The Purpose of the Prophets Prophecy does not simply mean foretelling the future. The primary job was…
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The Patriarchs
As God works through a family to usher in redemption to the world, the opening pages of the Bible portray a grouping of fragile people prone to multiple failures. Despite their missteps, God proves His unwavering faithfulness time and time again.
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The Beginning
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. With that opening line, the Bible begins and God’s grand narrative for redemption never looks back. Beyond those opening lines, do you know what God is trying to communicate?
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Bible Reading Challenge
For all the failed attempts at reading God’s Word, you still have this nagging desire to know it better. Instead of wallowing in regret or focusing on failures, make a plan to go forward. You can read the Bible. You can know God better.
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Bible Reading Basics
We all know the discouragement that comes when we attempt to read the Bible with great eagerness only to quit once a personal streak is broken. If we are going to be committed to knowing the God of the Bible, we must maintain our time in it.
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Finally Reading Your Bible
While much of the world is busy making resolutions that may not last the month, I want to encourage you instead to make a plan for the most life-changing habit you can have in this life – reading your Bible. It’s time to put down the excuses.
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Reestablishing Your Plan
It’s that glorious time of year as you are considering making new year resolutions that will most likely not last the week. Instead of making promises, what about making a plan?
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Regathering Your Voices
I’m about to encourage you to do something that you may think is odd or reserved for a particular elite. I want to encourage you to gather your family together and sing. Make it a priority to declare God’s goodness alongside each other and do it outloud.
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Reclaiming Your Contentment
We all know the dangers of using social media too much, but a subtle yet significant threat is how the usage attacks our contentment as we are barraged with seeing the glamorous looks and expensive items of our friends and advertisements. It’s time to go the second mile in reclaiming your contentment.
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Inspecting Your Approvals
Whether or not we realize it, we are addicted to affirmation. So much of what we do is attempting to draw the attention of others. Social media gives us an unhealthy opportunity to be fulfilled simply by the number of interactions we receive. It’s time to go the second mile in inspecting your approvals.
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Reorganizing Your Device
Our phones are often like a junk drawer in your house. You consistently put more in there and rarely take anything out. If you are serious about setting healthy limits regarding technology, you will have to make some intentional changes. It’s time to go the second mile in reorganizing your device.
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Be Ready When It’s Time to Go
Matthew 25:1-13 – In The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus warned disciples to prepare for His return. While we know neither the day nor the hour, we can guarantee that He will come again to gather those who belong to Him.
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The Danger of Entitlement
Luke 17:7-10 – Jesus taught that those who serve God should not become entitled. Even if we do all God commands of us, we are still unworthy servants who should still be amazed to belong to Him.
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The Irony of Religious Resentment
Luke 15:11-32 – In The Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus showed the grave mishandling of the religious community to those whose lives were being changed. We cannot confuse our relationship with the Father as something we deserve.
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Rejecting God’s Son
Matthew 21:33-46 – In The Parable of the Tenants, Jesus foreshadowed how the world would reject Him rather than receive Him. As we look at His sacrifice, how will we respond to the cross?
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When Religious People Make Horrible Neighbors
Luke 10:25-37 – In The Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus challenged the stereotypes of religious people. Those who are people of the Kingdom show compassion to others.
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Dull Spirituality
Matthew 13:1-23 – As Jesus often spoke in parables, it divided those who understood the truth and those who rejected it. When people’s hearts become dull, they cannot receive the blessings of God’s truth.
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How to Be a Great Church Member
1 Thessalonians 5:25-28 – To be a part of a local church means that we give and we receive for the mutual benefit of all members. Discover what differentiates between a stagnate and supportive disciple within this church.
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God Hasn’t Given Up on You
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – While we haven’t arrived at God’s destination for our lives, we should watch for signs to determine if we are getting there. God hasn’t given up on us, and He will continue to work on us until He finishes what He started.
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Practicing Spiritual Discernment
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 – We live in a time where we have plentiful access to spiritual direction, but not all of it is from God. A disciple of Jesus needs to practice spiritual discernment in confusing religious times.
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Distinctive Discipleship [Tennessee Conference]
Jesus called us to make disciples, but many of us don’t have a strategy to see that happen. Learn a pathway to help you start growing again and help another to do the same.