Synopsis: Ever known or been a religious bully? A religious bully thinks he/she knows how to act or think or dress or behave. And if you don’t follow up to their standards, they will whack you back in line. Let me tell you, Jesus never meant for his kingdom to be portrayed in such a way. In fact some people are so concerned about looking good, they want to have their lives appear all together. In the end they miss the point of grace. Think about what our communities and churches might look like if we could be more concerned about pointing out the heart of God and less about pointing out others mistakes.

Synopsis: Are you doing things for God out a sense of duty? Slaving away, looking at God from a transactional perspective? Someone to be bargained with? Have you lost sight that God is your heavenly Father? Are you board with what seems like a religious game. Hear the last words of the Father. “Just come back in the house, that is where grace is, not out here slaving away thinking you can earn his love.” If it is only duty, a transaction, you need to realize you are more than that, you are my child. All I have is yours so stop striving and come in, rest in my love for you.

Synopsis:

Synopsis:

Synopsis: Once we decide to accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf and profess him as our Lord and Savior, how do we actually live out our discipleship in ways that honor Him? By following His example and thinking, speaking, responding to and serving others the way He does. By making the constant, ongoing, moment by moment choice to love like Jesus and do things The Jesus Way.

Synopsis: The two thieves on the crosses with Jesus. From Passover to Communion, God has commanded his people to remember what He has done for them, so that they will know how much He loves them, turn to Him, trust Him, follow and obey Him. We will take some time to remember the events of Holy Week and consider how this story, especially the story of the two thieves, is OUR story. To realize that yes, we were ALL there as Jesus took OUR sins to the cross and decide whether we will personally accept or reject Him and His sacrifice on our behalf.