The Well

According to one prominent social commentator, our culture finds itself facing a social and relational crisis.  We're disconnected and isolated, and now seeing the fruit of this lifestyle in the form of rising rates of suicide, addiction, depression and the like.  Thankfully God has a different will and design for our lives, one that encourages deep relationships and firm commitments.     

Have you ever considered how the church differs from any other social/civic club?  There are some similarities: community, support and encouragement, personal growth, education, public service to those in need, etc.  The difference is simply Christ Jesus, and the call He makes on our lives to engage in worship.  Let's talk about worship, and in particular, what the Apostle Paul says about the subject in Ephesians 5.

Many of us tend to think of peace as the absence of certain things, such as conflict and discord.  But what about those of us who are in an environment where there is some strife?   Can we still experience peace in the midst of all this?  Let's talk about experiencing "shalom"; the fullness of God's presence in our sometimes chaotic lives.

Let's spend 15 minutes talking about what it means to receive unmerited favor and kindness from God, and...how we are to share that same grace with those around us.

How we perceive God's face has much to do with how we live our lives.  When you close your eyes in prayer and address God, what do you see?  Is God angry? sad? pleased??

In this week's devotional we'll explore the concept of God's face "shining" on us, using the Priestly blessing from Numbers 6.

Sometimes God takes on a journey, maybe a journey that seems like a season of being in the desert.  In these times will we continue to trust Him, or will we take matters into our own hands?  Sometimes by quickly attempting to remedy a situation in our own (ordinary) way, we might miss God's best solution. 

When God adopts us as His own, we receive at least these two blessings. 

God has made some amazing promises to us, yet many of us don't want to receive them.  Content to live in our own strength and intellect, we miss the blessing of allowing God to make us flourish.  In this episode Shawn looks at Galatians 3:1-6 and talks about how we are to allow the same power of the cross that justified us in God's sight - grow and bless us.

Living as children of God means that we're accepted by HIs grace.  This frees us from feeling inferior, yet it also frees us from feeling superior to those around us.  In this podcast you'll look at Galatians 2, and learn two of the key attitudes that can lead to a "superiority complex".  

Many of us go through life doing what the Apostle Paul would refer to as, "seeking the approval of people".  He contrasts that vision for life with the notion that we are approved by God and can live in a way that's pleasing to Him.  in this episode Shawn looks at some of the features of "people pleasers" and "God pleasers".