In our final session we consider Jesus as the focus of God’s plan and human History. He will return to establish an eternal Kingdom where righteousness truly dwells in beauty we cannot even imagine now.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week take a look at Paul’s time in Ephesus as an example of how the Prophetic and Evangelical Word works in the context of the larger units of Body life. As the Gospel spreads, its prophetic passion and direction always exposes and confronts the idols rooted in the cultures of the world.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In this session we consider the reality of the end of our time here on Earth. Our present lives will end. After that comes the judgment. For those “in Christ” we are soberly aware that God the Father working in Christ through the Spirit will make us blameless on that day. In the meantime, we persuade others to trust Christ in order to be prepared for the reality of that day.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We conclude our introduction to Life Transformation Groups by discussing the centrality of Christ, the power of the Scriptures and practical issues of implementation.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We have looked at the “what” and “why” of the smaller “cell” and “tissue” structures of the Body of Christ. In this session, we consider part of the “how” question: How do we connect at a deeper level with two or three others with the intentional purpose of pursuing growth and mission? Life Transformation Groups (LTGs) are a simple way to engage this process as we 1] share true life together, 2] hear from the Lord in the Word, and 2] motivate one another to mission.
>>Download the Handout here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we take a look at another of the days in which the world changed - the Day of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell, empower and guide the followers of Jesus. We also consider the significance of the Lord’s Supper as means by which we are to remember our Lord Jesus as having central significance in our lives.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week, we return to the beginning of Jesus’ earthly life and scan to the end of His earthly ministry to see how He is the fulfillment of all that was promised beforehand. Part of the fulfillment was the extending of the blessings of the Promises to the Gentile Nations in the book of Acts which we will cover next week.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we think about our relationship with Christ in the context of 2 or 3 other believers. At this “cellular” level, life in the Body of Christ begins and is sustained.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We continue looking at the life and ministry of Jesus, particularly His greatest desires for His people - that they should know He and the Father, experience their love and thus enter into eternal life. We also consider Jesus’ instruction on the preaching and response to the Gospel: Hear, Repent, Believe and Follow.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we continue by looking at the Fivefold structure of the Church in Acts 2.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we think about the larger structure of the Body in terms of the 5 areas of ministry from Ephesians 4. The Body is birthed out of the Apostolic Mission and Vision, Guided by Prophetic Passion, Prepared by Evangelical cultivation, guarded by Pastoral compassion and rooted in faith-full and true instruction.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We take a look at the opening of the New Testament, the Greek Scriptures, by considering the fact that Jesus is THE Truth. Truth is not just an abstract, philosophical or theological idea; the Truth is Jesus. To find the Truth we must know Him.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week, we think about the Body of Christ, the Church and its organic structure and nature. From cells to tissues to organs to systems to the whole Body, we think about the larger relationships and possibilities for the Body to grow and reproduce.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We resume our study of God’s plans and purposes revealed in the Bible by giving an overview and summary of our study of the Hebrew Scriptures from the previous semester. As we move toward the entrance of Jesus the Messiah into history based on the Promises given to Israel, we see that everything that has been lost, twisted and broken by human rebellion will be redeemed, cleansed and restored by God’s gracious and powerful work.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the chart for this session here.

This week we continue on from last week, doing some review and big picture overview by thinking about the Seven Questions of Gospel Transformation. How does the Gospel transform our view of the World? and How does the Gospel transform our view of spiritual growth?
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

These week, we get back on course by reviewing where we have come from in order to see where we are heading. We begin looking a seven questions that define how the Gospel transforms our view of God and ourselves. We take one of our usual side-roads to discuss the meaning of 1 john 1:9 and confession of sin.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

>>Download the Dialog on 1John: Confession and forgiveness here.

This is the Renewal in the Rockies retreat that Stacy taught at Ravencrest chalet in August. Our thanks goes to Ravencrest for giving us permission to make these available on our site. Ravencrest is one of the Torchbearer schools (founded by Major Ian Thomas) and serves as the international headquarters as well. To find out more about Ravencrest and Torchbearers click on the links below.
Ravencrest
Torchbearers

An introduction to the study and reading through the letter.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We look at Paul’s thanksgiving which focuses on the hope, faith and love which come from the fruitfulness of the Gospel.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Paul prays for the church - that they may grow in their knowledge, wisdom and power in order to be fully pleasing to God.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

The center of the letter, Paul gives us a hymn about Christ - the center and circumference of all life.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

A discussion of the true peace that Jesus brings through the blood of his Cross.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

A discussion of leadership and affliction in the life of the Body of Christ.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Paul identifies some key elements of false teaching which is man-made and demonically inspired.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We look at the difficult passage dealing with the “circumcision performed by Christ without human hands...”
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

A discussion of the practical expression of a Christ centered and focused life.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

A discussion of the necessity of having our imaginations captivated by the reality in which Christ is central.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

A discussion of the expression of a Christ-captivated life.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

The Director of Ravencrest gives a talk about the four sets of rivers mentioned in the Scripture. This talk is a real encouragement.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Drew Holmes discusses some of the historical background for Colossians.
>>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

At the core of all that we do as human beings is the heart. As we think about who we are and what we are to be doing as the Body of Christ pursuing oneness, we must remember that everything depends on the transformation of the heart. From the larger issues of the Kingdom that is surely coming, to the day to day advance of the Gospel, the human heart is central.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In Ephesians 4, we hear that the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds and Teachers have been given train us all for ministry until we all attain to the oneness of the faith. This is the first goal. We explore what pursuing this goal means for us in our cultural context.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In our final class, we consider Peter’s admonition to follow the example of Jesus in suffering in hope. Special attention is given to the elders - those who have walked with Christ long enough to be respected as shepherds and overseers of Christ’s people - and the “young” - those who are still growing to maturity in the faith.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the notes here.
>>Download the presentation here.

On Thursday, July 16th we hosted a student and supporter “thank you” dinner and First Evangelical here in Memphis. We were over joyed to see so many of you there and want to provide links to some of the resources mentioned that night. If you were unable to attend, we are posting the recording of the evening in the following link:
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We also circulated some brochures about a new resource that we are going to test out called Life Transformation Groups. We need more than just “classroom” time to cultivate the transformation that comes about by focusing on Christ. These small groups meet to 1) hear the Word, 2) share life - celebration and confession - and, 3) motivate one another to mission. If you would like to read more about these, you can download the brochure here:
>>Download the Life Transformation Group brochure here.

We are also working on several new MilktoMeat resources and tools. We will let you know more about them as we get closer to the Fall. If you would like to receive an email newsletter update about current events and new resources and opportunities, please let us know by contacting us here.

Thanks to all of you who support this ministry with your time, financial sacrifice, prayers and participation. We are excited about the days ahead, looking forward to the opportunities that our Father will surely give us all to proclaim the excellence of His unique Son Jesus!

We begin our study with looking at the larger story of 1 Peter. Exiled and uprooted, Peter calls dispersed communities of Jewish Christians in Asia Minor to hope. Hope is the confident expectation that our lives will turn out well because of who God is and what He has promised. This hope allows us to live with purpose in the present.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the Notes for this class here.
>>Download the Presentation for this class here.

“There is no greater power on the planet than self-sacrificial love.” (Greg Boyd, The Myth of a Christian Nation) In this session, we explore the “heart” of Peter’s first letter, in which he admonishes us follow the example of Christ in coming “under” others to serve them, even to the point of self-sacrificial love. As we think about living hopefully with Vision and Mission in our times, we realize the high standard that is set by our Savior who is also our Master and Example.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the notes here.
>>Download the presentation here.

Our hope is birthed from the power of the Gospel. When the Gospel is planted and turned loose, it can transform both us and our world. Defending our Hope depends on recovering the simplicity and the power of the Gospel and turning it loose to multiply through our lives.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the notes here.

We continue our discussion of the individual giftings by looking at their relationship to the 5 gifted people of Ephesians 4.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week, we explore Peter’s starting point for hope: the new birth brought about by God’s grace. Hope looks to the past, to what God has done. Yet hope is future-focused, looking forward to what God will do. These two reference points allow us to remember our new, realize true holiness and recover the Gospel as the powerful message that truly transforms.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the Notes for this class here.
>>Download the Presentation for this class here.

We begin to bring our study of the spiritual gifts to a close by looking at the other individual giftings that are mentioned in Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12. The gifts function as the “vitamins” of the Body, equipping us to do what is necessary for supernatural spiritual work.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the handout here.

We explore the final two groups of people that the Lord has given to His Body to build it up: the shepherds and teachers. These two groups are related in Paul’s discussion because these two work together to lead, guide, feed, water and protect the community. A Shepherd must be able to teach and a Teacher should instruct with a Shepherd’s heart.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: the gifts

The Evangelists are one of the five called and gifted people groups that Christ has given to His Body, the Church, to build it up. We take a look at the couple of passages that help us understand who the evangelists are and what they do.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: the gifts

We focus on the VISION of the practical outworking of the Five “Calling” gifts of Ephesians 4 by reviewing how they work together to build up the Body of Christ. Foundational to the growth of the Body is the “Apostolic Vision” which helps us orient all of our life around the Alternative Story of Christ as Creator, Savior and King.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We continue on in 1 Corinthians 14 discussing the gift of prophecy along with several other “rabbit trails” like the relationship of God’s sovereignty over our growth and the way the church has been enticed to follow patterns that are not necessarily biblical or Christ centered.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: prophets

We continue in our discussion of 1 Corinthians 14 focusing on the issue of “evaluating” and “testing” the words of the prophets.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: prophets

On April 21st, Kristen Thornton (Tom and Jeannie’s daughter) gave a talk for the women’s ministry at First Evangelical here in Memphis. She shared much of the wisdom that her father Tom cultivated in her life about raising kids and shaping the heart. Kristen did an awesome job and we wanted to share this with you.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We resume our discussion of the gifts of prophecy and languages (“tongues”) in 1 Corinthians 14. In the assembly of Christians, God has set up some checks and balances so that all things can be done with decency and order so that all may be built up, encouraged and comforted.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: prophets

This week, in our final class for this term, we look at the way Jesus is recognized as the Messiah, the fulfillment of the hope given in the promises to the Fathers. We focus on Luke and John’s presentation of Jesus in the early days of His earthly life. We will finish this study in the Fall.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Today is Easter Sunday, one of the great days of remembrance for the people of Christ. Christ Jesus has been raised from the dead, He is never to die again! But what difference does this make for us in our day to day lives? We explore the power that is made available to us because of the resurrection of Jesus.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: resurrection

This week we take a look at God’s plans in the Post-exilic prophets that lead to the coming of Jesus The Messiah. As the Son of David and the Son of the Moses, Jesus comes as the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Hebrew Scriptures.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we explore the events leading up to the promise of the New Covenant in the Exilic Prophets. Just when it seemed that all hope had been lost for Israel, God once again intervenes in grace to give hope to His people. The New Covenant promises restoration for the people, the land and the rule of David.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We conclude our discussion of the power of sin that dwells in our flesh by exploring the means that we have to overcome it’s power. The first step is realizing that our old way of life (dominated by sin) has been killed with Christ on the Cross. The second step involves putting on our new life, created in Christ’s image, characterized by love.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We continue our exploration of the Prophets by working through the first twelve verses of 1 Corinthians 14. Prophecy is a higher gift that languages because it brings immediate edification, exhortation and consolation to the church. In the Corinthian church, where the lesser of gift of languages was being elevated, Paul’s teaching serves as an important correction.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We continue on through the Story of the Bible focusing on the Promises of the Davidic Covenant. The promises to David set the blueprint and roadmap for God’s purposes in our history. One of David’s sons would inherit his kingdom and rule on his throne over all the nations forever. Yet the sons of David prove to be failures. The classical Prophets arise to warn the people of the coming judgment and also to extend hope based in the Lord’s mercy and grace.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We explore Paul’s concept of the “sin that dwells in our flesh.” This Internal Enemy is the most difficult of our enemies. We need to understand how it operates and what it feeds on so that we do not get enslaved again to its treachery.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: indwelling sin | flesh

We resume our discussion of the Prophets by considering 1 Corinthians 13 and 14. It is clear that the Prophets and the gift of prophecy were alive and well in the early church, but how does this help us understand how things work today?
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

Tags: prophets | spiritual gifts

This week we look at God’s plans and purposes in the history of Israel from Mount Sinai to the end of the Period of the Judges. Even though Israel proves to be a stubborn, stick necked and hard hearted people, this does not negate God’s purposes being worked out through His unique chosen people.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We finish our discussion of the Spiritual Armor of Ephesians 6 and begin a discussion of our Internal Enemy: The Sin that Lives in our Flesh. Whereas we faced the “external” attacks of the powers of Darkness in the World, our most intense battles often take place with the Sin that dwells within us. We need to know how to put this enemy to death by the work of the Spirit.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We consider the promises given to Abraham as a foundational and pivotal part of God’s plan for history and humanity. We also consider the birth of Israel - God’s first born nation, His treasured possession - through whom He would bless the world.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week, we get back into the Spiritual Gifts with on overview of the basic concepts. Each person in the Body of Christ has been gifted. We are to use our gifts as good stewards realizing that our gifts do not belong to us but to God. God, the Father, Son and Spirit all work in the distribution and oversight of the gifts. When the gifts are used properly, God is glorified in Christ.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We cover Genesis 3-11 as the foundation for understanding both the unraveling of our present world and the everpresent grace of God. In Genesis 1-11 we have all of the foundational questions asked that the rest of the Bible and God’s glorious plans for our history will answer.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

A review of Christ’s victorious work and the beginning of the discussion and explanation of the spiritual armor that we have available to us by God’s empowerment in Christ through His Spirit.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

God has a plan that He is working out in our history. It begins with Creation and moves toward New Creation. This week we begin to explore this glorious Plan by discovering what the Bible tells us about our Origins - Why did God create us? We also take a look at what went wrong in the beginning that has lead to all the chaos and corruption that we see in our times.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we consider the victory that Christ has won by His Cross. In His death and resurrection, Jesus has defeated, stripped and shamed the dark powers that are “behind the scenes” of our world. Knowing this allows us to put all things in perspective.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we conclude the book of Daniel by seeing how the content of the 12th chapter correlates to passages in the New Testament, particularly the Resurrection.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we turn to look at the resources we have available to us to fight our external battles. The first thing that we are to realize is that we are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of HIs power. The power that we have access to is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This is important to realize because the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms are scheming against us.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In this final session of our historical overview, we take a brief look at the reality to come in the New Heavens and New Earth. Our present universe will be dissolved with fire in the end, but we are waiting for the New Creation where righteousness truly dwells.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we conclude chapter 11 and the vision of the “king who will do as he pleases.” It become clear in the end of this chapter that what seems to be a continuation of the description of Antiochus IV Epiphanes is ultimately referring to someone else. In the last verses of this chapter, we get a glimpse of the pride, tryanny and military campaigns of the king of the last days who will stand opposed to God himself.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we look into the dark subject of the judgment of the unrighteous. As we see the terrible eternal destiny for those who reject Christ and His truth, goodness and beauty, we are motivated to persuade all people to be reconciled to Christ.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we explore chapter 11 of Daniel which is the explanation of the vision of the Great War that Daniel had received earlier. The vision reveals the long warfare between the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt and the Seleucid dynasty of Syria as they fought for control of the Holy Land during the Intertestamental Period.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We cover the final verses in Acts that refer to the Prophets. It is very clear that in the early days of the Church, the Prophets were alive and well. We will continue our discussion in March.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we take a look at Daniel 9 and his vision of the glorious one hovering above the Tigris River. With this vision comes the final message of the Book, a foretelling of a great war that will affect the future of the Jewish people.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we see what the Scriptures tell us about the judgment of those who are in Christ. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Yet He will still evaluate our lives in order to find reason to praise us for what He has done in and through us.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we continue to explore the role of the Prophet in the New Testament after the coming of Jesus - THE Prophet. We begin in the book of Acts to see how this ministry functioned in the early church. We also explore some correlating passages in 1 Timothy.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We conclude our discussion of Chapter 9 by seeing how the threads of the “coming prince” and the “abomination of desolation” are carried forward into the New Testament and developed into the teaching on the Man of Lawlessness, the Son of Destruction, the Beast - the Antichrist.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We conclude our discussion of the Resurrection by exploring what the Bible reveals about our glorified bodies. Now our bodies are corrupted and mortal; resurrected they will be glorious and immortal - patterned on the resurrected body of our Lord Jesus.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we continue our discussion of Prophets by moving things toward the New Testament. The life and ministry of Jesus is a major turning point in history. It is not an exaggeration to say that everything changes with Christ. The ministry of the Prophets continues forward, but what has changed? This is the question that we begin to explore this week and will continue next week.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week explore the amazing prophecy of the Seventy Sevens given to Daniel by Gabriel. In this broad prophetic message, Gabriel gives a summary of the basic timeline for the completion of God’s work in history.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we continue our study of the Last Things by exploring the reality of Resurrection. Every human will exist forever. Some will be resurrected to eternal life, others to eternal shame and contempt. When and how will these things take place?
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we move on to the next category of Gifted People that Christ has given to His Body for growth: the Prophets. We explore the role of the Prophets in the life of Israel revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures. This lays the foundation for discussing the controversial question: “Are the Prophets still speaking today?”
>>Listen to or download the audio here.