Emerging Conservative

Many have stepped out of church over the years for a variety of reasons. For some, it was a life change like a move or a new job. For others, it came from a season of being hurt in church or by other Christians before. Still others may have grown up in a formal environment rich with tradition and heritage but not community.

All of these are understandable and compelling reasons but is there value in asking yourself if it’s time to give church another chance?

We live in a day where many feel they can be a Christian and not have to go to church. However, as Christ followers, we see over and over in the life of Christ and the teachings of the Bible that Christian life should be a big part of our lives! We see that there is great benefit to our lives, our families lives, and the world around us through Christian community. The question is, “Is it worth it?”

In this study, we take an honest and raw look at the reasons why we step out of church, what the Bible share with us, and what it takes to get the Christian community Jesus desires in your life.

(For those who were here, Joshua’s testimony is available in it’s own video podcast. For those who were not, it’s powerful! Make sure you check it out too!)

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As we finish up a period of 21 days of prayer and fasting at the church, many have testimonies of God moving in their lives. For some, it’s an answer to something they were seeking. For others, it’s a sense of peace in a time of challenge. Whatever the circumstances, we are thankful to God for being on the move!

In this study, we will be focusing in on a testimony in the life of Philip that teaches us what we should do next after giving God the glory for what He’s doing in our lives.

If you feel blessed by God, there’s a message to pass on to others. If you feel overwhelmed, then there’s a message to hear from someone else who’s been down that road.

Have you had a time where you pray and pray but it just doesn’t seem like God is hearing you? A time you’re looking for some break through but things just seem to stay silent or might be blocked somehow?

While it could be that you’re simply waiting on God’s timing, there are also many reasons that our prayers are being hindered. The Bible gives us several things that can keep God from hearing and responding to our prayer. It might be time to stop, listen, and see if you might be unaware that you are your own road block.

Come dig into the testimony of a man who accepted Jesus in His life but found that his desires and his requests were causing concern in his life and what the answer was that changed everything!

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There are many things we pray for; provision, direction, thanksgiving, and more. We are blessed to have an open line of communication with God. More than that, we are blessed that He desires for us to do so.

That said, do we truly understand the power of praying…… together?

In this study, we will be learning from a testimony from Peter’s life where everything was falling apart but prayers … from the church together…. changed everything. We will find many things in this powerful (and often times somewhat comical) situation that we can lean into for real life change!

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As we go into our 21 days of prayer and fasting together, one of the most common questions is “What should I be seeking during the fast?”

This week’s study will focus on the attitudes and thoughts we should be exploring by looking at the things Jesus sought after in his prayer in the garden the night of His arrest. In these final moments of freedom while focusing on the challenges that laid before Him, what did Jesus pray about? What did He find most important to seek His Father on? What do these things mean to us during a time of seeking today?

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For the last seven weeks, we have been studying the letters Jesus dictated to seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. In these letters, we have found words of encouragement and concern on issues we still deal with in the church and in our lives as Christians today.

This week, we will be looking at Revelation 5 which shows what the next step is in any of our lives that want more than the passive Christianity that seems to be so popular today. Even if you have not been through our other studies, there is much to find life in as we move from everyday Christianity to opening the door to Jesus the way He wishes we would.

(With the VBS decorations, we had to reposition the camera. Please excuse us when people pass back and forth during the video. Thanks!)

As we come to the last letter that Jesus dictated to the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3, we come to one of the most important ones; the church of Laodicea.

Laodicea was a rich and beautiful city filled with people who were loving life. It was also a city where the Christians who made up the church had become lukewarm in their lives. This is a situation that is easy to slip into but is dangerous for not only ourselves but for the outreach to those around us.

In this study, we will see what Jesus’ view of a lukewarm walk is, how to change the course, and the beauty of what He promises if we do. For many of us, it’s time to rekindle the fires of yesterday in our lives.

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