Strengthening Our Core

WORSHIP AT HOME  |  JANUARY 31

• “You Are Strong” |  Ephesians 6:10-13
• Dr. Jim Everette

When the song of the angels is stilled and the shepherds are back with their flock, the star in the sky is gone and the kings have returned home, the hard work of Christmas begins, and so does the dubious work of our adversary. With what aspect of life do you wrestle as you seek to live in the day-to-day reality of following Jesus? What evidence do you see of the battle in your life? Our church? Our nation? The world? What would it mean for you to “stand strong” on these battlefields? What is at stake if you don’t? As you consider your armor, what parts are solid? Are there any rusty parts? Missing parts? What are you going to do about it?

WORSHIP AT HOME  |  JANUARY 24

• “Can You See Tomorrow”  |  Genesis 12:1-8
• Dr. Randy Ashcraft

When you look into the future what do you see for yourself, your family, or your community? What about your church as well? 

Abram and Sarah set out on a journey not knowing where they were going. We all want more assurances from God than we receive. We want to know the game plan! But what if the game plan is simply not hiding in fear but to travel in “followship”. 

WORSHIP AT HOME | JANUARY 17

• “You Are a Part of God’s Family”  |  Ephesians 2:11-22
• Rev. Jayne Davis

In our physical bodies, it takes a strong core to be steady and to find balance. The same is true in our spiritual life. When we focus on our center – when we focus on Jesus who IS our Center – our spirits are steadied and our lives are strong. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul’s description of the Church, of the family of God, sounds to me like the ultimate “fixer-upper” – an open concept renovation where walls of hostility come down, where peace is built into the very walls of the house and unity is found in the strong header beam that holds everything together.

• What walls of hostility need to come down in your life to make room for God’s Spirit?
• Where do you have opportunity to be a peace-maker?

WORSHIP AT HOME | JANUARY 10

• “You Are Alive”  |  Ephesians 2:1-10
• Dr. Jim Baldwin

“You were dead…” That is a pretty severe diagnosis. Is it possible that we are dead and don’t realize it? Our scripture for today helps us recognize our spiritual condition and offers good news.

WORSHIP AT HOME | JANUARY 3

• “You Are Chosen”  |  Ephesians 1:1-14
• Dr. Jim Everette

Have you ever experienced the childhood embarrassment and pain of being the last one chosen? Or, the adult-sized hurt, and agony of being rejected and not being chosen at all? To be chosen, wanted, loved, is a core desire, a longing of the heart. God loves you and chose you before God spoke the universe into existence, and has chosen and purposed you to be the light of hope in the darkness of the despair that so many people are living in right now. True love is a choice and our love of God is the only true gift we can offer to God.