Authentic: Psalm 32

About This Study

Now, more than ever, people are feeling a gaping hole where authentic relationships should be. It’s not that we don’t know lots of people. In fact, with school, church, cell phones, and social networking we’ve got more access to each other than any generation has ever had in the history of the world. How many “friends” do you have?

But in the middle of all of this “connection” everybody seems to be deeply lonely. At the heart level, everybody seems to think they are on their own. As much as we really want authentic relationships, we’re not willing to do what it takes to have them... to own up to our personal issues that stand in the way of healthy relationships. We’re too proud, scared and selfish to admit that we need help from God and people. We settle for fake relationships because it’s easier.

Psalm 32 goes there. To have authentic relationships we need to be authentic with God and with each other. This study will challenge you to deal with that simple fact. Take an intentional step toward a life full of authentic relationships.

Author: Joshua Wilhite

Love...: 1 Timothy 1:3-5

About This Study

You feel like you're in over your head.  The challenge feels like it's beyond you.  Or maybe you are in an unfamiliar place.  Or both.  Bottom line... this reality is absolutely not your comfort zone.  Maybe you feel ready to dive in.  Maybe you're a little nervous... or a lot nervous.

Timothy was there.  Paul had given him an enormous responsibility... one that moved him from understudy to the lead role in a fledgling church.  Overwhelmed is probably an understatement.  Guided by the Spirit, Paul wrote Timothy a letter that spoke to him in that moment.  Imagine Timothy opening this letter and hearing both Paul and the Holy Spirit speak calming words and pointed advice that flowed out of a very profound yet simple focal point.

Love.  Pursue it and everything else will fall in line.  It's simple, but not easy.  It depends on the power and grace of the Creator.  It must come from pure and unmixed motives, a conscience focused on good and right things and a genuine faith in a living and active God that has a plan and a purpose for His people. Timothy needed that letter.  This week, so do you.

Author: Dennis Wilhite

Transparent: Psalm 139

About This Study

You have a game face... likely several of them. It’s the part of you that you let others see. It changes some depending on who is around and what the situation is. Everybody plays the game and everybody knows it.

So do you have a game face for God? Are there parts of your heart, soul and mind that are “off-limits” for Him? In one sense it’s ridiculous. In another sense, you know that’s how you play the spiritual game to one extent or another. After all, if God had to wade through your junk it might stain His holiness or something. Your rational mind says He takes a long walk when your path gets messy because somehow He is too pure to deal with your muddy boots. Just like if the people around you saw the messy parts inside you they wouldn’t trust you to lead or minister to them.

Psalm 139 takes that concept of God and turns it on its head. He is intensely personal. He sees it all. He’s there when it happens. He knows you inside out. And He is still walking the path with you regardless. Maybe the real question is whether you are ready to drop the game face with Him and find freedom in being transparent.

Author: Dwight Peterson

Endurance: 2 Tim 4:6-9

About This Study

Anything  worth doing takes work... effort... commitment.  You know that.  But often that point comes where striving becomes strain.  Then that key question moves menacingly into the foreground of your mind.  Is it worth it?  That’s when the battle really begins.  Are you in or are you out?  In  Paul’s second letter to his spiritual protege, he plays the coach, but not the out-of-shape one yelling from the sidelines.  He’s finishing his own race and cheering Timothy on to push through the various obstacles that he will face.  Paul’s seen them all.  And he’s endured.

Even so, the message isn’t one that has dark music playing in the background and a foreboding tone.  It’s more the musical score at the culmination of an intense battle scene or the overtime goal to win the world championship.  It’s sweat and blood dripping down over the lip past a big toothy grin in the close-up shot.  It’s  worth it!  Stick with it.  Do what you’ve been trained to do.  I’ll be in that great cloud of witnesses going nuts when you cross that finish line.  Don’t get distracted or discouraged.  The finish line is there and it’s so good.  That’s also Christ’s message to you this week.  Endure!

Author: Dwight Peterson

Get Lost!: Luke 9:18-27

About This Study

This week will be exciting. You expect big things from God and you expect that He will use you to accomplish them. You hope it will be intense in all the best ways.

The disciples were sitting and praying with Jesus. Intense doesn’t begin to describe their recent experiences. Jesus had sent them out with power to cast out demons and do healing miracles while proclaiming the Kingdom. Then... the feeding of the five thousand. The food divided miraculously in their own hands! People were talking. The buzz was amazing. Then Jesus popped two interesting questions. “Who do PEOPLE say that I am?” Obvious answers. Then the kicker... “Who do YOU say I am?” The point was in the contrast between the questions. Jesus was who He was... not what people wanted to believe He was.

Bottom line... to follow Him and to gain His kingdom would cost everything. But everyone around tried to define Him by what He provided for them. Following Him is intense alright. But is your concept of what that looks like defined by what He does for you or by what you are willing to lay down for Him?

Author: Dwight Peterson