Gateway Church Austin

Poverty, injustice, corruption, violence, racism, and sexism are just some of the ways that evil manifests in our world. At the root of all evil perpetrated by humans is people’s personal decision to follow a lie rather than the truth. The solution to the problem of evil isn’t in changing all those people out there, it starts within us. The line between good and evil runs through every human heart. With God’s help, we can live in the light of truth and fight against the evil within and the evil in our world.

What is an angel? Are they real? Are they chubby babies with harps sitting on clouds? So much of what we believe about the spiritual realm and the afterlife comes from Renaissance paintings and myths that swirl around in our culture. Instead, we will go back to the ancient text where stories of angels in the Bible are very different than what we might expect. And knowing the truth about the unseen world makes a difference in our lives.

Our world is intrigued and sometimes even embraces evil. Horror movies make a ton of money at the box office. Shows about the occult, the paranormal, and true crime are all big business. Why are we so drawn towards evil? And where does evil originate? Discover how evil can be found in the world’s systems, in the human heart, and because of unseen spiritual forces.

God speaks to us in many ways, but often the problem is we are not listening. One of the ways He speaks to us is through the Scriptures. The Bible is not a rule book or an encyclopedia, but instead “the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus” (BibleProject.com). When we connect with God personally, the Scriptures become one of our weapons to fight evil in our world and in our lives. The Bible can become a portal into God’s presence.

God created us for a relationship. His love letter, his truth, is available to us through the Scriptures. There will be questions and there will be moments of pause, but the Bible can be the foundation on which we build our lives. The Bible is relevant by helping us understand who God is and how to live a new life under His leadership and with His guidance. Transformation comes when we engage God through the Scriptures.

When we need clarity, wisdom, peace, comfort, or rest, we have ancient wisdom which can guide us towards what we want. Unfortunately, many of us have given up on the Bible or consider it irrelevant to life. It is true, the Bible has been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and even used for the agenda of people who did not have the heart of God or were a product of their times. When we come to the Scriptures with an open heart and open mind, we will discover God waiting to speak to us and ready to meet even our deepest needs.

Growth always requires change. When we take advantage of the discomforts and tests we face, we can make significant progress in our lives. This requires intentionality. As we take personal responsibility for our spiritual growth, we will be more engaged with God personally and more connected with others relationally.

In spite of such a challenging season, we also experienced some really positive moments. Neighbors helped each other when we lost power and water. We shared with others when there were food shortages. We helped others, and we got help. We caught a glimpse of the kind of community God has in mind for all of us. We can make BLESSing our neighbors an ongoing part of our lives.

During these last 18 months, we experienced an epidemic of loneliness and isolation which negatively affected our mental health. God created us to Belong. Community and connection are essential to thrive. God’s family allows us to experience His love and kindness through other people.

For many of us, during these last 18 months, our childhood wounds surfaced and addictions or struggles returned. In this new season, we can put good habits and patterns in our lives to support healing and growth. We can relaunch our lives by looking honestly at things revealed that God wants to heal.

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.

Remember that sense of fun, adventure, and creativity? A time in life when the possibilities were endless? God wants kids to grow up fiercely alive. We can rediscover that sense of excitement in life by discovering our uniqueness, sense of worth, and value.

We are all created good in the image of God, but we all face a world filled with violence, animosity, and brokenness. Inevitably like losing baby teeth, at some point we lose our sense of innocence and wonder due to the evil around us and the darkness within us. We will explore how innocence can be restored so that we can live out the new life God intends for us.

We all have a family of origin that affected how we grew up. Understanding what God intends for kids to grow up to discover helps us evaluate the experiences that shaped us. Even as we grow into adulthood, we can enjoy the joys of being children in God’s Kingdom.

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.

You matter. Your story matters. Others’ stories matter. God works in the hearts and lives of people. As you hear from a well-known tech executive and some of our young leaders during the Voices series, you will be inspired towards a deeper faith, a greater love, and more hope.

You matter. Your story matters. Others’ stories matter. God works in the hearts and lives of people. As you hear from a well-known tech executive and some of our young leaders during the Voices series, you will be inspired towards a deeper faith, a greater love, and more hope.

You matter. Your story matters. Others’ stories matter. God works in the hearts and lives of people. As you hear from a well-known tech executive and some of our young leaders during the Voices series, you will be inspired towards a deeper faith, a greater love, and more hope.

Too often, the Church has been a stumbling block for people coming to know the real Jesus. We don’t have to allow hypocrites or cultural Christians to keep us from the life God has for us. Followers of Jesus can develop a genuine faith that transforms us and enables us to create the community He desires.

On Father’s Day, some of us celebrate, and for some of us, talking about family triggers us. Dysfunction and toxicity are far too common, but they don’t have to be inevitable as we learn to navigate conflict, forgive, and chart a new path.