Six friends have formed a home-repair club in Minneapolis , Minnesota . They meet one Saturday each month at one of their homes to work on projects that cannot be tackled alone. Having helped one another for 20 years, they say they’re now bonded together like one big family. A similar group has formed in Snohomish , Washington . Their motto is: “Will Work For Friends.”

The concern of these groups for their friends was like the early church. As there were many needy people among the early believers, they especially needed the support of one another. Some people voluntarily sold their possessions and goods to give to “anyone as he had need” (Acts 2:45). They were of “together” and “had everything in common” (Acts 2:44).

As followers of Christ today, we too need the spiritual support and encouragement of one another in the Body of Christ; we cannot live our spiritual lives alone. As we embark on our new series on spiritual disciplines – GOD’S AIM, it is a good opportunity to learn together about what God wants us to know about the value of genuine Christian fellowship in the first sermon “Gathering For Fellowship”.

The story of Jonathan and David is perhaps one of the best illustrations for the value of friendship. Though David was hunted by King Saul, he drew encouragement from his friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan (1 Sam 20). Their friendship was characterized by trust, understanding, and encouragement. How difficult it would have been for David to endure this unjust persecution without the nourishment of this friendship that was based in the Lord.

Friends in our lives listen to our heartaches without blaming us for having problems. They defend us when we’re under attack. They are happy when we succeed and sad when we fail. They give us wise counsel to keep us from making foolish choices. They even risk making us angry for the sake of making us right. In fact, the very best friends are those who are friends with God and who strengthen our relationship with Him (1 Sam. 23:16)

How can we nurture the friendships that God has given us, especially with those in the family of believers? Find out more as we explore the “4 Ways To Build Lasting Friendships”.

Despite what we’ve heard in countless fairy tales, there’s no guarantee that people who get married will live happily ever after. Things do go wrong – sometimes terribly wrong. Even with the best of intentions, we may find ourselves in a house full of resentment, hostility, unrest, and misery. There is no heartache quite like the heartache of an unhappy marriage.

Yet, a difficult marriage can be the setting in which God trains us to exercise biblical qualities – qualities we thought we had until we relate with someone more intimately. Marriage teaches us new dimensions about these qualities. For example, we will come to see how much we ourselves need the Savior’s forgiveness and the Spirit’s help to do what is right and loving, even when at times we have been wronged.

How can we relate better with people in general and especially with our spouses? What qualities do we need to develop as we relate with others more deeply? Find out more as we learn together from “Love, Grace, Forgiveness”.

When I was a young boy, I knew that my father was extremely fond of black walnuts. We didn’t often get them, so the day I found one on the ground I was delighted! My first thought was to have my mother crack it so I could eat it myself, but then my love for my father took over. I saved it for him.

When he came home that evening, I gave him the walnut and said, “Here, Papa, I’ve been saving it all day just for you!” I thought it strange that he didn’t want to crack it and eat it right away. It was not until 30 years later, after he had died, that I found it again. It was in a special place in his desk. Mother told me he considered it such a sincere token of my deep affection for him that he kept it as a memento.

Little acts of love can make a big difference. They are often appreciated far more than we realize. As perform even the smallest act of love, it will be appreciated and richly rewarded by the Lord. How then can we exchange our naturally self-centered attitude for heartfelt words and deeds that show our love? Let’s learn together from “Building Better Relationships”.

In her book “Who Calls Me Beautiful?” Regina Franklin observes that in 1951 Miss Sweden was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 151 pounds. But Miss Sweden of 1983 was 2 inches taller and 45 pounds lighter. What qualifies as physical beauty for one generation does not seem to apply to the next.

In Genesis 24:16, we are told that Rebekah was “very beautiful to behold.” But physical beauty was not the crucial point for the servant of Abraham, who was sent to find a wife for Isaac. The servant’s prayer gives us an important clue about the kind of beauty he sought for his master’s son: “May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I'll water your camels too’-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.” (v.14). Common courtesy could have prompted Rebekah to provide drinking water for a stranger, but to water camels was a different matter entirely. Ten thirsty camels could drink up to 210 gallons. Rebekah clearly had a servant’s heart.

Physical beauty may be a desirable quality we look for in a life partner, but what are other important qualities to look out for? And how should we look for a life partner in a way that pleases God? Find out more as we learn from “God’s Guide To Finding A Life Partner”.

Not only was the Son of God born in an unlikely location and of unlikely parents, He chose His first followers from unlikely places. He didn’t search the religious schools for the most learned scholars. He didn’t look among the ranks of brilliant military leaders. He stayed away from skilled statesmen and famous orators. Rather, Jesus collected a few rough fishermen, a despised tax collector and a dangerous rebel, to name a few kinds of people in His motley bunch.

“Bad choice,” some might say. “Uneducated. Tough characters. What would they know about starting a worldwide movement and fulfilling the Great Commission? They couldn’t work a crowd if they had to.” That was not their only weakness; some had doubts about Jesus’ resurrection even after seeing Him alive before their very eyes (Matthew 28:17). Yet Jesus still chose to use them because He wanted to demonstrate how God in His grace can use ordinary people in spite of their limitations.

Are you an ordinary person? Do you have limitations? God can still use you! Find out how from “Why Fulfilling The Great Commission Is Possible”.

The Hubble Space Telescope has taken photos of the Helix Nebula. Some astronomers describe it as “a trillion-mile-long tunnel of glowing gases.” At its center is a dying star that has ejected dust and gas stretching toward its outer rim. Remarkable photos of it look like the blue iris of a human eye complete with eyelids. Because of this, some have called it the “Eye of God.”

Although this nebula is not literally the eye of God, the Scriptures do talk about God’s gaze on our lives. The prophet Hanani said, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Hanani proclaimed this truth in response to King Asa’s reliance upon the King of Aram for military security. Asa seemed to have forgotten that it was God, not mere soldiers, who had given him past victories over his enemies (14:11-12). This spiritual disloyalty did not escape the notice of God, who seeks to strengthen those who rely on Him.

How can we avoid King Asa's mistake of relying on man rather than on God? How can we be victorious in this life? Let's find out God's promises to us from “Victorious Living”.

On June 22, 2002, a 33-year-old pitching star for the St. Louis Cardinals was found dead in his Chicago hotel room. He was young, physically active, and appeared to be in good health. However, the autopsy revealed that he had a 90-percent blockage in two of three coronary arteries, an enlarged heart, and a blood clot in one of the arteries. His appearance misled many to think that he was physically healthy. In the same way, Jesus pointed out that outward appearances can paint a deceptive picture of spiritual health (Matthew 15:8).

As our church embarks on the Year of Intentional Discipleship, we need to be aware that being a disciple of Jesus and making disciples for Jesus is not business as usual. Quality of discipleship is not determined by mechanically doing the outward actions, such as practicing the spiritual habits or meeting with the people whom God has placed under our care. It is instead determined by things that take great and intentional effort. As a church, how do we practice intentional discipleship? Let us learn together from Intentional Discipleship.

In 1869, John Roebling dreamed of building a massive bridge over the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Unfortunately, at the outset of the project, his foot was crushed in an accident. In the recovery process, Roebling insisted he knew best and took charge of his own medical care. After refusing help, he began to show signs of tetanus. Before long, Roebling’s jaw had locked into a permanent smile. Seizures and dementia plagued him until his death weeks later. He was the main obstacle to his own healing.

Naaman could have suffered the same fate as John Roebling. This great general of Aram suffered from leprosy and he almost became the obstacle to his own healing. But he also displayed certain admirable qualities that helped him overcome the obstacles and have a powerful encounter with God in the form of healing.

What are some of the things that keep us from having a powerful encounter with God, and what are some important qualities we need to develop? Let us find out together from the example of Naaman in “Encountering God”.

During one particular church’s annual New Year’s Eve Communion service, they said this prayer together: “Father, we surrender this past year and give it up to You. We give You our failures, our regrets, and our disappointments, for we have no more use for them. Make us now a new people, forgetting what lies behind and pressing on toward that which lies ahead of us.

“We give You all our hopes and dreams for the future. Purify them by Your Spirit so that our wills shall truly reflect Your will for us.”

“As we stand on the threshold of another year, encourage us by our successes of the past, challenge us by the power of Your Word, and guide us by the presence of Your Holy Spirit.”

Whether the past year had been good or bad, we should not allow it to hinder us from moving on towards greater things ahead. This was the message the prophet Isaiah had for Israel. The nation had experienced good things (crossing the Red Sea) as well as bad things (sin and the subsequent judgment of exile). But God promised greater things ahead for them and He wanted them to be prepared to receive them. God has also prepared greater things ahead for us. How should we prepare ourselves to receive them? Let’s learn some important principles from “New Things For The New Year”.

Her eyes saw the leafless trees in winter, but because her mind was clouded by Alzheimer’s disease she thought the trees were dead. “Someone should cut down those trees”, she would repeat day after day. “They aren’t coming back.”

How often we see our “leafless” circumstances with a mind clouded by past experience and disappointment. We may look at a friendship, a marriage, a family feud, and say to ourselves, “Cut it down. Sever the tie. Make the break. It’s hopeless!” But God wants us to see with hope because of His presence and power. We can’t bring life to these seemingly impossible situations, but He can.

The two blind men in Matthew 20:29-34 would have been resigned to a sense of hopelessness because of their physical condition. Having been blind for such a long time, they would have had no reason to think that they could regain their sight. But the mention of Jesus brought firstly hope and secondly healing to them. What was so unique about the hope that these two men possessed? Let’s find out together as we learn from “The Hope Of Christmas”.

A sportswriter described former major league baseball player and manager Don Baylor as a person who always remembered how it felt to be “sent down” to the minor leagues. When one of his players had to be demoted, he would always meet with him to explain the decision. A team owner said of Baylor, “He has been through a lot of life lessons he can share with the players.” It makes a big difference when the manager knows how a player feels.

It’s always humbling to be reduced in rank, privilege, or responsibility. The apostle Paul described Jesus as our example of humble submission to God. He was sent down from heaven to become a man—a “bondservant” who was obedient to the point of dying on the cross for our sins (Philippians 2:6-8).

As we enter into the festive season, let us ponder about the significance of Jesus being “sent down” by God to earth as we learn from “What's So Special About Christmas”.

Our family had just arrived at the lake cottage we had rented for a week of much-anticipated vacation when my wife discovered the unmistakable evidence of spiders and mice in the house. It wasn’t that we had never encountered such things, but that we had expected the cottage to be cleaned and prepared for our stay there. Instead, the counters, cabinets, and beds were littered with the residue of infestation, requiring much cleaning before we settled in. It wasn’t a bad house; it had just been left untended.

We might be guilty of dealing with our hearts the way that cottage was managed. Our “untended places” can become breeding grounds for infestations of wrong thinking, poor attitudes, or sinful behaviour - creating problems that require significant attention to correct. The wise path is to recognize our need to tend our hearts by staying in God’s Word and embracing its truths.

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem after a long absence, he saw that the people were “untended” and had been involved in practices that were detrimental to their personal relationship with God as well as to the national security. How did he remind them of the covenant he had led them to make years earlier? Find out as we learn from “Keeping True To The Covenant”.

When my son Steve left home in the summer of 2006 to join the US Navy, he knew the gravity of his decision. He understood that once he walked onto that naval base for boot camp, he was giving up everything a teenager lives for. He was leaving behind his freedom, his guitars, his music, and his girlfriend. He surrendered the right to make his own choices and to do what he wanted to do. He said, in effect, “I am making myself a living sacrifice. I no longer do things for me; I do them for the service of my country.”

The sacrifice Steve and thousands of others make when they enter the military service reminds me of what the apostle Paul taught in Romans 12:1. In that passage, he urged us “to present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” This means we are to give up our selfish ways and surrender ourselves completely to God. We are to seek to be “holy” in all we do—to have a godly character (1 Peter 1:16), which is acceptable to God.

After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, Nehemiah led the people of Judah in dedicating to God the city, its walls and themselves. They were taking the first step of worship by giving ourselves completely to God. Let’s be inspired by their example as we learn from “The Worshipping Community”.

Bill Hybels believes that there is nothing like the local church when the local church is working right. I believe this to be true. There is nothing like God’s community when the community is working right.

Though we can’t be sure if the Israelites community in Nehemiah’s time was truly a strong community, it was clear that Nehemiah’s intention was to build a strong one. More importantly, weaved in the intricate details of Nehemiah 11 are some ingredients to build a strong community.

These ingredients are timeless principles to strengthen our community. This community can be a natural or spiritual community. This community can be a local or global community.

What are some ingredients needed to strengthen our community? What are some pillars of a strong community? Join us as we explore “Pillars Of A Strong Community”.

In 1722, Jonathan Edwards drew up a list of 70 resolutions, dedicating himself to live in harmony with God and others. The following resolutions give a picture of the serious purpose with which Edwards approached his relationship with God. He resolved:
• To do whatever is most to God’s glory.
• To do my duty, for the good of mankind in general.
• Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
• To study the Scriptures steadily, constantly, and frequently.
• To ask myself at the end of every day, week, month, and year if I could possibly have done better.
• Until I die, not to act as if I were my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.

The resolutions we make to God are not casual promises but serious declarations. Why and how should we make them? Let’s learn some important principles as we journey with God’s people who vowed to follow all the commands, laws, and regulations of the Lord in “Renewing Our Covenant With God”.

The woman chuckled as she told me about the time she woke her husband to tell him she was in labor and needed to go to the hospital. He jumped out of bed, dropped to his knees, and said, “Honey, let’s pray.” She told him that it was not the time to kneel and pray. It was time to get dressed and head for the hospital. It was time for action!

This was the message God gave Moses when He said of the Israelites, “Why do you cry to Me?” (Exodus 14:15). Not long before that, Pharaoh had permitted the Israelites to leave Egypt, but then he changed his mind (v.5-6). Wanting to bring them back, he and his army chased after them (v.7-9). The Israelites were terrified when they saw the Egyptians approaching. They were trapped at the shore of the Red Sea, with nowhere to go! But Moses assured Israel that God would deliver them. Now was a time for action – not crying to Him. It was time to move on, to “go on dry ground through the midst of the sea” (v.16).

Whether we embark on our church building fund project or wrestle with impossible situations in life, we need to trust God and move on instead of responding negatively. We can learn many precious lessons from “Drowning Impossibilities With Red Sea Faith”.

During a Sunday worship service, a congregation said this prayer of confession in unison: “Gracious God, like many believers before us, we complain when things do not go our way. We want abundance of everything rather than what is sufficient to sustain us. We would rather be elsewhere than where we are at the moment. We would rather have the gifts You give to others than what You provide for us. We would rather have You serve us than serve You. Forgive our lack of gratitude for what You give.”

Abundance is no guarantee of gratefulness or thanksgiving. Prosperity may even turn our hearts away from the Lord. We need to develop a heart of thanksgiving to counter the tendency to be ungrateful, and confession opens the door to thanksgiving.

We have much to learn about prayer and confession from a group of Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Nehemiah, especially when they gathered to confess their sins and those of their fathers. What lessons can they teach us? Let’s learn together from “The Community In Prayer”.

Years ago, Walter A. Maier, an eloquent radio preacher, told about an African tribal chief who was presented with a mirror by a visitor. He peered curiously into the glass and commented on the ugliness of the person he saw. When he realized he was looking at himself, he became enraged and smashed the mirror on a rock.

The apostle James describes God’s Word as a mirror in which we can see ourselves reflected. What attitude do you come with as you look into the mirror of Scripture? Do you hesitate to read the Bible because it shows you the ugly appearance of your unbelief? Or do you read it with the desire to be transformed?

The Israelites responded admirably by personal application after Ezra and the Levites explained Scripture to them. How can we learn from their example? Join us in this exciting journey of discovery as we explore “Spiritual Renewal Through The Word”.

Acknowledgement:
Many stories in our sermon write-ups are taken from Our Daily Bread
(http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/our-daily-bread/2009/11/26/devotion.aspx)

Life looks rosy to many people. Their work is fulfilling. The house or apartment doesn’t need repair. Their bank account shows a surplus. Family members are enjoying good health. Friends are loyal. Good times, however, can be dangerous. The comforts and pleasures of this world can become so important that we give God little or no place in our thoughts. Prosperity can quickly lead to complacency.

The Israelites in Nehemiah’s time rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in fifty-two days. This tremendous accomplishment brought great fear to the hostile nations surrounding Israel. It was a time of great victory for Israel, but it was also a time of great danger should complacency set in.

What did Nehemiah and the Israelites do in order to avoid complacency and to consolidate this victory? What should we do when we conquer new heights but want to avoid the snare of resting on our laurels? Join us as we journey with Nehemiah and his team in “Sustaining Success In God's Community”.

The newspaper has often been viewed as a trusted friend. It arrives with regularity and gives us a summary about the government, people, business, sports, and international affairs of the day. We feel out of touch and handicapped in conversation when we do not read it for a few days. Yet there are times when this “trusted friend” reports news of certain matters that differs greatly from our firsthand knowledge. This reminds us that we need to live by something more reliable than the daily newspaper.

Nehemiah also read information that he knew was wrong (Nehemiah 6:6-8). He knew that the letter from an enemy leader contained lies designed to scare him and his countrymen off the job of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. But Nehemiah was wise. He responded by continuing to do what he knew was right. He was sure his motives were correct. So he asked the Lord to strengthen his hands for the work that remained (v.9).

How do we deal with false accusations and opposition from the powerful forces of evil? How do we listen to God and keep doing what He has called us to do? Join us as we search for the answers in “Dealing with opposition to God’s work”.

A Christian writer, Mart De Haan, made this comment: “There is a fine line between the healthy and unhealthy use of power. At any time, even the best of leaders can begin making decisions that increasingly put their own interests before the needs of others.

The misuse of authority, however, is not always subtle. History tells the stories of countless leaders who boldly acted as if their position placed them above real accountability.”

How do we safeguard ourselves against the temptations that authority, power and wealth bring? How can we be workers who successfully build our community according to God's vision? Join us as we search for the answers in Staying True To The Vision.

When Supreme Court Justice Byron White was in Salt Lake City to give a speech, he was attacked by an angry man. The suspect said he assaulted the respected judge because of his High Court decisions. He said, “Justice White is causing four-letter words to come into my living room through the TV set.” Rationalizing his attack, he continued, “The only way I know how to stop it is to go to the source.”

Conflicts are inevitable; they are part of our life even for the Christian community. However, how should we respond when we are in a conflict? Should Christians ever become angry? Join us to find the answers to some of these questions in Resolving Conflicts Within The Community.

The religious leaders were wrong about Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:15-16). They couldn’t have been more off-base if they had tried. True, they knew a lot of theology, but they were dead wrong about who Jesus was.

The children, however, were right. They were the ones in the temple who shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (v.15). They believed that the Person riding that unbroken colt was the promised Son of David. They fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 8:2 by giving praise to the Lamb who was about to die for the sins of the world. It was the children who responded with wholehearted joy, even though they may not have fully understood Jesus’ mission to redeem mankind.

Join us as we learn to see children through Jesus’ eyes. Find out the importance of kids in Reaching The Next Generation.

While Saul was still ruling Israel, God sent Samuel to anoint a new king. Samuel’s journey led him to the small town of Bethlehem. He had not come to find the tallest, nor the strongest, nor the oldest of the boys of Bethlehem. He came to find God’s choice: David the shepherd boy; an insignificant individual who eventually became Israel’s greatest king.

Christ-followers have also been anointed by God - ordinary people transformed and anointed by Him to serve as part of His royal priesthood. But what does it mean to be anointed by God? For what purpose does God anoint His people. Discover the answers in Anointed To Transform.