Excellent Behavior:Suffering Unjustly Part 2

Ben Foust
1 Peter 2:18-25

Peter urged his listeners to show Christ to the world by what they do. When they suffered unjustly, they responded with good and not evil. They exchanged the favor of men for the favor of God and deferred justice to the One true Judge.

Serving Love in Community

Dennis McCallum
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

As we learn to love one another as Jesus loved us, we become a self-giving community of people who love each other under God's leadership.

Excellent Behavior Part 1

Ben Foust
1 Peter 2:11-17

What does the way you live your life communicate to the "watching world?" Do your actions refute negative misconceptions about Christians or do they confirm them? Peter gives concrete examples of how to show the world the truth by what you do. By honoring all people, loving the brotherhood, fearing God and honoring the king, we can show Christ to the world.

A Model Church

Scott Risley
1 Thessalonians 1:1-8

The church described in 1 Thessalonians is a model church that we would do well to imitate because they were young and suffering but were happy. They were trusting God more every day and loving each other and those nearby in spite of their trials. They were clinging to their hope of eternity which gave them the ability to endure difficulties with joy.

Power Through Weakness

Mike Sullivan
2 Corinthians 11:21-12:10

God says His power works best in weakness. When we depend on our own strength, we are rejecting God's superior strength. Sometimes God sends a "thorn in the flesh" to bring us to a point where we will accept His strength over our own. If we can see our weakness, we can receive salvation.

Walking According to the Spirit

Ben Foust
Romans 8:16-39

In this section of Romans, Paul instructs us to walk in accordance to the Spirit in the context of suffering. He describes different lenses to view our suffering through, which will let God near to us and allow the Spirit to help us through our trials.

Living Hope

Ben Foust
1 Peter 1:1-12

The Apostle Peter teaches us that we can live well as resident aliens in a fallen world, full of trials, where we can have hope because we are citizens of heaven.

Responding to Opposition

Patrice McCormac
Nehemiah 4

As Nehemiah rallied the people to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem, he encountered fierce opposition from local rulers. Though the people were afraid, Nehemiah brought God into the situation. He prayed by himself and with others. Then he got back to work. He did not focus on the problems but on the work before them, trusting God was with them.

The Tenth Plague

Conrad Hilario
Exodus 11:12

The powerful way God foreshadowed the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross by the tenth plague of the deaths of the first-born sons in Egypt is a prophetic reminder through the ages of God's desire to save us. God gave the Passover message to strengthen our faith in Jesus and to give faith to those who are not yet Christians.