Agents of Grace in Marriage - Applying God's Truth at Home

Mary Beth Gladwell

We are called to show others mercy because of what God has done for us, and this is especially true in the context of marriage. We can sympathize, advocate, help, and stay truth-centered in our marriages and other relationships because of how God has done all of that for us. \r\n\r\n

Heart of Compassion

Jim Leffel

2 Samuel 9:1-13

David wants to know if there is anyone alive from Saul's family who he can show kindness to, for Jonathan's sake. Saul's servant Ziba tells David about Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth who is alive but crippled. David sends for Mephibosheth and tells him not to be afraid, that his Grandfather Saul's property belongs to him and that he will now sit at the Kings table. David shows compassion, generosity, and kindness to Mephibosheth.

David: The Heart of a Shepherd

Jim Leffel

1 Samuel 22:1-2

David is on the run from Saul and finds refuge in a cave. Many people joined him there. We'll look at similarities of how hurting people were drawn to David in the same way that hurting people are drawn to Jesus as well as the Church.

David: The Heart of a Leader

Jim Leffel

1 Samuel 16:1-21

God calls David "a man after His own heart" & selects him as King. David's heart is for God. Despite circumstances of life, David is transformed by the Spirit of God and his response is compassionate, gracious and humble. All character qualities necessary for leadership.

God's Truth About the World's Oldest Oppression

Paul Herbert

Luke 7:36-50

When Jesus interacted with prostitutes, he showed mercy and compassion instead of contempt and judgement. This practice of prostitution still enslaves many women today, and in this workshop Judge Paul M. Herbert provides a different perspective on this practice. We must shift our perspective from drawing a hard line between human trafficking and prostitution, something we are able to do once we examine the stories and statistics behind women who fall into prostitution. This workshop ends with a testimony from one of the very women who found redemption from this lifestyle.

How to Keep Loving in Difficult Relationships

Bev DeLashmutt

2 Timothy 2:24-26

Christ's call for us to love another as he has loved us is not exclusive. He calls us to love even very difficult people, and to do that effectively, we need to bear several things in mind. First we need to gain insight into the lies and sins of difficult people to avoid getting hooked into their relational patterns. We must ensure our motive in responding to people is in line with Christ's love. And finally, we must implement strategies to effectively give both compassion and discipline simultaneously. With these things and the abundant help of the Spirit, we can love in a way that, even if it does not change the other person, it will change us.

The 6:8 Assignment

Derek Sanford

Micah 6:8

The Micah 6:8 assignment is to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. As a church, the 6:8 assignment means to redemptively engage the culture and to step into the mess. As an individual Christian, the 6:8 assignment means to overcome apathy, increase awareness, and take action.

Developing Compassionate Communities

Amy Moreno

Proverbs 27:5-6

Having compassion is a Biblical imperative for believers, but there are many things that get in the way of us carrying out this command. Through the Holy Spirit, however, God has provided us with the resources to have a dynamic spiritual community. Learning to develop this kind of compassionate community requires having the humility to face the truth about ourselves first in order to rightly see the areas in which we need growth.

Who is the Real Jesus?

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Timothy 1:14

Who is the real Jesus? Introduction to series on "The Essential Jesus". Shows differences between the canonical portrait of Jesus and portraits of him from other religions, current fiction writers, and gnostic gospels.