God never rebuked anyone in the Scriptures for having wealth. But he did have a problem when our stuff had us. We believe God provides and blesses each of us, and we are blessed to be a blessing. But knowing God's heart for us and how we use the resources he's given us...and actually following His ways are often two different things. Let's learn and trust that God's ways are better than ours and see how we can grow in the gift of giving.

A Test of Obedience

When we are obedient to God’s call to generosity, it’s not so much that we are giving TO the church, but THROUGH the church. This kind of giving allows it to be in the name of Jesus, displays God’s power, and points people to the hope we have in Him.

Romans 12 raises the bar for followers of Jesus. After 11 chapters of God's heart for his Creation and the invitation to experience a life-changing relationship through Jesus... "In view of God's Mercy...", we get real about following the way of Jesus. Quickly we discover, we were made for more than we often settle for. Romans 12:9-10

Romans 12:14-21 Christians are called to live a radically different life—blessing those who persecute them, living in harmony, avoiding arrogance, and refusing to repay evil with evil. Instead, we are called to do everything possible to live in peace and conquer evil by doing good. How do we embrace the counter-cultural way of Jesus and overcome the darkness around us? With His light.

Check out Week Five of Lean In here!

Romans 12 raises the bar for followers of Jesus. After 11 chapters of God's heart for his Creation and the invitation to experience a life-changing relationship through Jesus... "In view of God's Mercy...", we get real about following the way of Jesus. Quickly we discover, we were made for more than we often settle for. Romans 12:9-10

Romans 12:11-13 If we really love, we will move from selfish to selfless lives in which we really help others, especially those in need. In Romans 12:11-13, Paul instructs us to “never be lazy” but instead to “work hard and serve ... enthusiastically,” to “practice hospitality” and that “when God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.” What might that look like for us today? How would it change the reputation Christians have if we practiced it? How might loving our neighbors in this way change their lives?

Check out Week Four of Lean In here!

Romans 12 raises the bar for followers of Jesus. After 11 chapters of God's heart for his Creation and the invitation to experience a life-changing relationship through Jesus... "In view of God's Mercy...", we get real about following the way of Jesus. Quickly we discover, we were made for more than we often settle for.

Romans 12:9-10 How will the full force of the church be unleashed? Love. In a world full of dissension, conflict, and anger, the church will stand out and be an attractive city on a hill if it lives out the love of God. That’s why Paul writes, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them” (Romans 12:9). How can we really love, and what impact could it make if we did?

Check out Week Three of Lean In here!

Romans 12 raises the bar for followers of Jesus. After 11 chapters of God's heart for his Creation and the invitation to experience a life-changing relationship through Jesus... "In view of God's Mercy...", we get real about following the way of Jesus. Quickly we discover, we were made for more than we often settle for.

Romans 12:3-8 There are three questions everyone, regardless of culture, economic status, or even religious conviction will ask themselves. Who am I? Where do I belong? And what am I supposed to do?

Check out Week Two of Lean In here!

Romans 12 raises the bar for followers of Jesus. After 11 chapters of God's heart for his Creation and the invitation to experience a life-changing relationship through Jesus... "In view of God's Mercy...", we get real about following the way of Jesus. Quickly we discover, we were made for more than we often settle for.

Romans 12:1-2 So many think of worship simply as singing songs to God on Sunday mornings, but Paul describes worship as offering our entire lives to God as living, holy sacrifices. What would it look like for us to actually live that way?

Check out Week One of Lean In here!

Each year we imagine new and improved lives, but for most of us our strategy is: "I Hope..." Hope without truth and action rarely amounts to anything more than wishful thinking. This is why our year often ends up different than we hoped for. What if this year, we did more than hope? What if this year we made some declarations to live by and put action to our hopes? James 2:17

Godly Grit:

We have a tendency to give up when things get hard. What if something miraculous is just a committed next step away? James 1:2-3, Acts 20

Check out Week Seven of Domino Effect here!

Each year we imagine new and improved lives, but for most of us our strategy is: "I Hope..." Hope without truth and action rarely amounts to anything more than wishful thinking. This is why our year often ends up different than we hoped for. What if this year, we did more than hope? What if this year we made some declarations to live by and put action to our hopes? James 2:17

Wisdom: James 1:5

I will seek wisdom. Independence, Isolation, and the wrong friends are the enemy of my growth.

Check out Week Five of Domino Effect here!