Glendale Christian Ky

How did the story of Jesus ever make it out of the first century? What did it take for the church to grow? In Acts 4, we see that the first church prayed for boldness to speak, believing God would do great things through them. Are we a church that prays for boldness to speak about Jesus, believing God will do great things?

When the church first started in the book of Acts, it started as a movement of people, and it started BIG. In the centuries since, the church has shifted to being centered on a building- a shift never intended by the early church. If the church is going to succeed, we need to become a movement of people again.

Being intentional families means raising kids that understand how to handle responsibility as they get older. That said, it's also important that we don't forget to teach our kids how to have fun and be full of joy! So how do we teach them both responsibility and fun in a way that honors God?

As you move through the different phases of life, you are constantly given opportunities to grow and learn- whether you're a parent raising your family, a teenager leaving for college, or a retiree looking forward to time off. This week, we ask the question: how do you make the most of the next phase in your life, and use it to grow closer to God?

It's no secret that children desire and need affection. Even as they get older, affection becomes no less important. Children also long for acceptance, which is best found in a peaceful home. What does it look like then to create a peaceful and affectionate home? It starts with you becoming a peaceful person.

What does it look like to be a Biblical role model for others? How do we encourage our kids in ways that build them up, but also teach them right and wrong? Join us as we take a look at what the Bible has to say about being encouraging role models!

From the time a child is born until they turn 18, there are 940 weeks. Although that may seem like a lot, they pass very quickly. That means that parents have 940 weeks to invest in their children's growth, and set them on a path towards success. So how do parents make the most of those weeks? And how do you help your children grow in and own their faith?

It's not hard for us to look at our schedules and our lives and think, "I just don't have enough time." We're always busy, always distracted, always moving - our lives seem so full. But Jesus taught that in order to have a meaningful relationship with God, we have to be emptied- emptied of ourselves, to be filled with His Spirit.

In John 5, Jesus encounters a man who's been crippled for 38 years, and Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed. The man longs to be healed, but isn't sure that there is anyone who can help him. Jesus heals the man, and shows that God empowers those who cannot help themselves.

Jesus says in Matthew 5, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." As we continue to study phrases from Jesus that seem backwards, mourning being a blessing definitely seems strange. How can our mourning, our sadness and pain, be a blessing? How does our mourning lead us to happiness?

During his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." What did Jesus mean by this? In a world where the rich are called blessed, being poor AND blessed seems backwards. Jesus meant to challenge our expectations, and to teach us that our brokenness allows God to make us whole.

Life is humanity's most valuable commodity. While this may not come as a surprise, it should come as a wake up call- do we value the lives of others enough to tell them about Jesus? The potential of the church lies in those people we haven't reached yet, and God is calling us to reach out, even if it means only reaching ONE MORE person.

Not every story in the book of Judges has a happy ending, but we can still learn from them. Gideon followed God's calling to lead Israel, but when he strayed from God's plan, he had to face the consequences. Gideon's story teaches us that any success apart from God's plan will ultimately lead to failure.

Have you ever struggled to trust God in your time of need, or when facing challenges? As we continue to study the book of Judges, we take a look at the story of Gideon. Gideon struggled with doubt, but God continued to call Gideon to trust Him, in spite of his fears and doubts.

The book of Judges gives us not only a look into Israel's history, but also a look into how the church can be effective today. As we dive into this series, we take a look at Joshua and Ehud, to learn who the Judges were, and how God used them. Each of these figures gave us great examples of how to follow God, and how to build up the next generation of believers!

The church was designed to be the mobilization of the hands and feet of Christ. We have a calling as the church to go out into the world and make disciples. That's not the job of just one person - it takes a church to BE the church.

What impact should faith ultimately have on our lives? Is it enough for us to "just believe" in Jesus, but never change the way we live? Or is faith rather a call to action, and not something to be left "gently used"? Let's talk about that.

The last and biggest part of loving our church is wanting to see the church grow through the good news of Jesus! We all have a part to play in Jesus' calling for the church to go into the world and make disciples. Loving the church means being willing to reach those outside the church through Jesus, and to invite them in.

The first church in the book of Acts stood out from the culture around them in one huge way: their generosity. The early church loved one another generously, and knew each other well enough to meet one another's needs. In the church today, are we prepared to love and know each other with that same intensity and generosity?

Loving the church isn't just about showing up for services- it's about serving. The Bible teaches that we've all been given gifts that God uses to benefit His Kingdom at work in our community. When we use those gifts to serve the church, we help empower the church to love others.