Gateway Church Austin

Conflict is an inevitable part of most any relationship. But often what brings about the conflict or what makes it worse is our tendency to easily see the wrongdoing of others and be blinded to our own. Unhealthy conflict and being overly critical of others can kill a relationship in a hurry. Having created each of us for human connection, does God also offer us a realistic way to save our relationships when we’ve wounded each other?

Relationships can involve a lot of risk. And for some of us, we’re not quite sure the risk is worth the reward. Couple our fear of vulnerability with society’s constant “keep it casual” messaging, and we end up with lots of people avoiding commitment. But could lack of commitment be even more risky than the alternative? What do God and relationship experts say about making our relational risks worthwhile?

Negative occurrences are inevitable in most any relationship. But often what brings about the negativity or what makes it worse is our tendency to easily see the wrongdoing of others and be blinded to our own. Dwelling on the negative and being overly critical of others can kill a relationship in a hurry. But how do we get past the negative habits that seem to come so easily to us?

It’s easy to get lots of mixed messages about love—from the media, pop culture, our families, and the like. But God says the goal of love is to change us to be more like Him. The belief that the purpose of love is self-satisfaction, that it’s about getting your way, can lead to disaster. But how can we avoid the common misstep of inflexibility in our relationships?

Having healthy relationships is a pretty common goal, but achieving that goal can be a real challenge. Why is that? Why is it so tough to have happy relationships and to make those relationships last? One of the most predictive indicators for how a relationship will go relies on communication. Do you listen? Do you feel understood? Is your communication with those around you improving or killing your relationships?

At some point, you will find yourself questioning it’s purpose and meaning. What’s your role in this crazy world? Look to Jesus. He explains our true purpose when He commands us to love God and love others, just as we try to love ourselves. As we experience love on each of those fronts, we discover that our joy and fulfillment skyrocket as we show love life by life with those around us. We find meaning in a boring job, an exhausting day caring for the kids, in difficult relationships, or even in the face of grief and loss. But what can truly loving and being loved look like?

What matters most to you in your life? Is it prestige, money, or something else that could be fleeting? What if we could live for something more? If we lived to love God and love people like He encouraged us to, maybe we’d find something truly worth living for. And maybe, together, we’d even change the world.

Voices - Hope After Sex Trafficking by Gateway Church Austin

Gateway’s own Justin Burke is tackling some of the biggest issues bombarding this social media saturated generation.

Work through the following questions and Scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

Voices - Family Secrets by Gateway Church Austin

Jesus’ radical offer to follow Him and become His disciple was extended to people across every ethnic, social, religious, and economic spectrum, and 2000 years later, that amazing offer still stands for each of us today! But that offer has come at a great cost for many people; for some, the cost seems too high. Is it a price worth paying?

Life often feels heavy or empty as we try to manage all we have with all we want from life, others, and ourselves. Life is frequently referred to as the rat race, as we’re always trying to “get mine” and get ahead. Are you tired of trying to be the ruler of your own kingdom yet, always attempting to force things to go your way? Jesus offers another way, one of rest, peace, and true fulfillment. But first, He asks us, have we counted the cost?

What do you perceive as valuable—God, your family, your friends? The people around us, including our children, spouse, co-workers, friends, and other loved ones all often have a front row seat to see what we truly prioritize and what we’re willing to do in order to keep the things we value. Are God and His will among what you treasure most?

Prayer can be a powerful tool—for healing, for guarding against darkness, and for strengthening our relationships with God. But can just anyone be capable of powerful prayer? How can we experience the advantages of God’s authority by drawing closer to Him through prayer?

Prayer can be a great source of comfort and peace, but for many people—even dedicated Christ-followers—prayer can feel awkward and uncomfortable or become a task we simply look to check off our to-do list. How can we begin to pray in different ways that may reveal varied facets of God’s love for us and His will for our lives? Work through the following questions and Scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

Many people talk about prayer—this idea of talking to God, but for some it can be an elusive practice. What is prayer truly meant to look like? What is its purpose? If we begin to seek answers concerning what prayer is all about and what it can lead to in our lives, what might we find?

The Church isn’t a building or a program; it’s people. And surprisingly enough, it’s primarily run by volunteers. God gives us gifts, and we can use them in great ways, especially to serve others both inside and outside the church. As we serve others with others, we discover how the church is meant to work and how our service reveals deep and meaningful friendships forming as we make a difference in the world around us. How will you get involved?

n a time filled with celebrities and many negative voices affecting the world through their money, opinions, and inventions, it can seem like our sphere of influence is extremely small. But mothers and those that fill mother-like roles are raising the next generation that could have important effects on issues like racism, poverty, education, and the like. Whatever your sphere of influence, are you being intentional in the way you impact the people in your life?

Leadership resources abound and so do leadership clichés. We’ve all been told that, whatever our role or title, we have opportunities to lead (demonstrate influence) where we are. But often our circumstances, including our bosses, co-workers, and family members, convince us that we have little or nothing to offer. What does God say about our leadership potential?