Eternal Perspective
Two Things Your Kids Can't Live Without Part 04
2011 June 29 /
This is the Fourth part of Kristen Thornton’s
series “Two Things Your Kids Can’t Live
Without.”
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the handouts for this session here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the handouts for this session here.
eps_Messianic Prophecies 03
2010 December 05 /
This week we hear how Jesus is the fulfillment of
Deuteronomy 18 - The LORD raised up a Prophet like
Moses. Yet as THE Prophet, Jesus has spoken to us
about a new and living way, a New Torah that
instructs us to trust Him.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps_Messianic Prophecies 02
2010 November 23 /
This week we take a look at one of the most
“unique” stories in the Torah: The
Prophet Balaam and his oracles toward Israel. In the
midst of these blessings, Balaam is given the words
and the vision to expand on the words already spoken
by the Lord and Jacob: A Star will arise in Israel, a
King who will come rule even the nations.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps_Messianic Prophecies 01
2010 November 15 /
This week, we begin a series on the way the Hebrew
Scriptures foretell the coming of the Messiah our
Lord Jesus. In Luke 24:44 Jesus Himself said that
Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms wrote things about
Him the He fulfilled. As we had toward the Christmas
season, celebrating the birth of our Savior and King,
we can see how the people of Israel anticipated their
long awaited savior.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
EPS_Hebrews 11
2010 November 08 /
This week we do a little application of the things
that we considered while looking at the Reformation.
Hebrews 11 and 12 emphasize the priority of faith in
our relationship with God. If we want to be
“people of whom the world is not worthy”
we will be people of faith. Jesus Himself is our
greatest example of this faith, and on HIm we keep
our eyes focused.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
EPS_Remembering the Reformation 03
2010 October 17 /
This week we consider the contributions of John
Wycliffe and John Huss in the movement that leads up
to the Reformation. Questioning Papal Authority, the
corruption of the Roman Church and the nature of the
Church’s mission, these two
“pioneers” of the Reformation sparked the
cinder that would become the flame of Martin Luther.
>>Download the audio for this session here.
>>Download the audio for this session here.
EPS_Remembering the Reformation_01
2010 October 04 /
We are excited to have a combined meeting with the
Heritage Builders class for the month of October!
This week we begin a short overview of the
Reformation. October 31st has traditionally been
celebrated as Reformation Day. We will do an overview
of the people, events and trends that fanned the
flames that eventually became the Reformation with a
view to understanding the times of Revolution in
which we live.
*I am sorry but there was a malfunction with the recorder that messed up the audio; you can listen to the lecture, but it is blown out. The other lectures should be fine.
>>Download the Audio here.
>>Download the Handout here.
*I am sorry but there was a malfunction with the recorder that messed up the audio; you can listen to the lecture, but it is blown out. The other lectures should be fine.
>>Download the Audio here.
>>Download the Handout here.
eps / The Kingdom Pt 4
2010 February 16 /
We close out our general discussion of the Kingdom by
exploring the presentation of the Kingdom in the
Apostolic teaching and preaching in Acts.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Kingdom Pt 3
2010 January 23 /
This week we discuss the reality of the Kingdom in
terms Jesus’ and the Apostles’ teaching.
The power of the Kingdom is now present, but the full
reality is yet future. (Sorry, but the first two
sessions of this teaching were not recorded).
>>Download the audio here.
>>Download the audio here.
eps / The Body: Organs and Systems
2009 November 18 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Life Transformation Groups Pt 2
2009 November 08 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Introduction: Life Transformation Groups
2009 November 01 /
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.
>>Download the Handout here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Body: Cells
2009 October 19 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Fivefold Structure in Acts 2
2009 October 08 /
This week we continue by looking at the Fivefold
structure of the Church in Acts 2.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Body of Christ: 5 Fold Structure
2009 September 29 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Body of Christ: Organic Structure
2009 September 24 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Seven Questions of Gospel Transformation 02
2009 September 16 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Seven Questions of Gospel Transformation 01
2009 September 06 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the Dialog on 1John: Confession and forgiveness here.
eps / The Centrality of the Heart
2009 August 04 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Until we all attain oneness...
2009 July 26 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Individual Gifts Pt 2
2009 June 28 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Individual Giftings
2009 June 21 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the handout here.
eps / Shepherds and Teachers
2009 June 07 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Evangelists
2009 May 31 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Imagining the Larger Picture
2009 May 17 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Prophets 09 /
2009 May 10 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Prophets 08 /
2009 May 07 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Prophets 07 /
2009 April 22 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Power of the Resurrection
2009 April 13 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Prophets 06 /
2009 March 31 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Prophets 05 /
2009 March 25 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Spiritual Gifts Overview /
2009 March 09 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Prophets 04 /
2009 January 25 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Prophets 03 /
2009 January 18 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Prophets 02 /
2009 January 13 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Prophets 01 /
2009 January 07 /
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.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Apostles 03 /
2008 December 29 /
As we get back into the flow of things, we finish up
our discussion of the apostles of Ephesians 4. We
take a look at the controversial reference to
“Andronicus and Junia” in Romans 16.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Conundrum of Jesus' Genealogy
2008 December 08 /
This week, we take a break from our discussion of
apostles to focus on the birth of our Lord Jesus. In
Matthew’s genealogy, we find the names that we
would expect to link Jesus to the Abrahamic and
Davidic promises, but we also find names that we
would not expect and one that causes a “mental
train-wreck.” Following in the footsteps of the
Master, Matthew crafts a conundrum that would lead
his largely Jewish audience to the long awaited
glorious fulfillment of the promises for a Savior and
King.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Apostles 02 /
2008 December 01 /
This week we come to some conclusions about the way
Paul uses the term “apostle” in his
writings. An apostle/emissary in the general sense is
someone who is called and empowered by Christ,
recognized and sent by the church to represent Christ
in spreading the Gospel and founding new assemblies
by sacrificing their lives for the welfare of others
as Christ himself did.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Apostles 01 /
2008 November 23 /
This week we deal with the story of the Apostles. By
tracing the development of these “gifts”
in the New Testament we test the idea that only those
who meet the requirements of Acts 1:15ff could be
considered an apostle. We pay close attention to
those who are not part of Jesus’ 12 yet are
still called “apostles” in the New
Testament. This is another critical step in
determining how these gifts function in the present
time.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Gifts Pt 02
2008 November 19 /
This week we return to our discussion of the
Ephesians 4 and the Foundational Gifts - gifted
people who equip us all for the work of service.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / Prayer for our times
2008 October 26 /
This week we take a sideline path to talk about
prayer. With our nation’s political and
economic crises looming over us all, how should we as
the people of God respond. “Of all things, this
must be first: pray!”
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Gifts Pt 01
2008 October 14 /
We begin to look at the four “gifts” that
Christ has given to His Body to equip the saints for
the work of service (Ministry) - the Apostles,
Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor-Teachers. Are these
gifted people still alive and present today? That is
the first issue that we must deal with.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / A Vision for the Body Pt03
2008 October 07 /
We continue our discussion of the Body by asking the
question “HOW do we pursue the purpose and
mission that Jesus has entrusted to us?” The
Way we do what we do is vitally important to pursuing
the way of righteousness. This discussion opens the
door to considering the Spiritual Gifts over the next
several weeks.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / A Vision for the Body Pt02
2008 September 28 /
Because we have been called out of the World, the
Dominion of Darkness, to be part of the Body of
Christ - the Church - we have been called into a
Larger Story with goals that our beyond our ability
to manage. We have been called to Oneness and only
the Father working in the Son through the Holy Spirit
in us makes the pursuit of this high calling
possible.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / A Vision for the Body Pt01
2008 September 23 /
Moving from the individual pursuit of Christ in our
day to day lives, we turn to consider how we fit
together in the Body of Christ - the Church. We begin
to develop a VISION for seeing what the Body is, what
its purpose and goals are, and the means that are
available to pursue the Mission that Christ our
Master has given us.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
eps / The Core Exercises Pt 05
2008 September 14 /
This week, we conclude our discussion of the Core
Exercises and 2 Peter 1 by bringing together all we
have discussed over the past couple of months.
>>Download or listen to the audio here.
>>Download or listen to the audio here.
eps / The Core Exercises Pt 04
2008 September 07 /
We conclude our discussion of the Three Core
Exercises with an overview of service. As we seek our
Father’s desires in prayer, study the Scripture
with the illumination of the Spirit, we are led to
follow the example of our Lord Jesus living a life of
self-sacrificial love. The beauty and glory of Christ
is displayed in a through us as we seek to follow Him
in all that He is doing.
>>Download or listen to the podcast here.
>>Download or listen to the podcast here.
eps / The Core Exercises Pt 03
2008 August 31 /
This is week we consider the second of our core
exercises: study. As we study God’s Word, we
seek to be mastered by His word. We seek to
understand His word in order to meditate on it and in
this way hide His Word in our hearts. The exercise of
study bridges the exercises of prayer and service.
>>Listen to our download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to our download the Podcast here.
eps / The Core Exercises Pt 02
2008 August 17 /
We consider the second of our Core Exercises:
Contemplative Study. As we commune with the Father,
Son and Spirit in our prayers we add build on the
foundation of our knowledge of the Written Word. As
we pursue God in His word, we are seeking the Truth
that will set us free and help us to grow in the
intimate personal knowledge of Jesus.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Core Exercises Pt 01
2008 August 10 /
This week we consider the three core spiritual
exercises that can aid us in both "escaping the
corruption that is in the world produced through evil
desire..." and "growing the grace and knowledge of
Jesus." These three exercises are 1) Constant Prayer,
2) Contemplative Study, 3) Christlike Service.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Growing in the Rich Knowledge of Jesus Pt 4
2008 July 27 /
We continue our discussion of 2 Peter 1 and the seven
virtues that we are to add to our faith. We look at
the issue of "self-control" and think about what this
means as an attitude of submission.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Growing in the Rich Knowledge of Jesus Pt 3
2008 July 20 /
We continue our exploration of 2 Peter 1 by
considering the first two "virtues" that Peter
exhorts us to add to our faith: Moral excellence and
knowledge. Before we can make any progress in growing
in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, we have to
intend to be people of moral excellence and pursue
this in all things. This is the foundation for all
the other virtues that we will consider. As Peter
seems to indicate, these are the first steps in
"escaping that corruption that is produced in the
world by evil desire."
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Growing in the Rich Knowledge of Jesus Pt 2
2008 July 13 /
We continue our discussion of 2 Peter 1 and how we
can "grow in the deep/rich/true knowledge of Jesus."
This week we focus on how God's empowerment through
His grace interfaces with our activity.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Growing in the Rich Knowledge of Jesus Pt 1
2008 July 06 /
This week we begin to hear what Peter tells us in the
first chapter of his second letter. In the midst of
false teachers, those who belong to the faith must be
all the more diligent to "make your calling and
choosing sure." In this chapter, Peter gives us some
practical advice in living effective and productive
lives for the sake of Jesus' kingdom.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Spiritual Formation 5
2008 June 22 /
We conclude our discussion introducing spiritual
formation this week. We consider how the Holy Spirit
works from the inside out to form Christ in us. We
begin to discuss the tools that are available to us
to cooperate with the Spirit.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Spiritual Formation 4
2008 June 15 /
Diagnosing our fallen condition is the first step in
engaging effective spiritual formation. Dallas
Willard diagnoses our key issue as "radical evil in
the ruined soul." Before we can understand the
knowledge, power and wisdom that are available to us
in Christ, we must first own the fact that we are
completely lost without Him.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Spiritual Formation 3
2008 June 08 /
We continue our discussion of discipleship by
focusing on the idea of "oneness." Jesus does not
just desire that we know about Him;
He desires that we know Him. This
type of knowledge is an intimate, personal knowledge
that has as its goal being of "one heart and mind"
with Jesus.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Spiritual Formation 2
2008 June 03 /
We continue our discussion of spiritual formation by
talking about the heart and soul. We will continue
this discussion next week.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Understanding Spiritual Formation 1
2008 May 25 /
This week we get back into our discussion by talking
about spiritual formation. Talk about spiritual
formation is finally making some headway into
evangelical circles. In order to understand this
important aspect of our spiritual growth, we need to
understand the reality of God's work in us from the
inside out.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / To Whom Should We Pray?
2008 May 04 /
This week, we conclude our discussion of prayer by
considering the question "to whom should we pray?" We
know we can address the Father in prayer, but is it
OK to pray to Jesus or to the Holy Spirit.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Priority of Prayer
2008 April 22 /
This week we consider the significant role that
prayer plays both in our spiritual growth and also in
our role in the Great War.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Armor of God Part 3
2008 April 19 /
This week we consider the last pieces of the Armor -
the Helmet of salvation and the Sword of the Spirit
which is the Word of God. In a sideline discussion,
we explore the reality of teachers who seek to steal
the power of both the true Gospel of salvation by
grace through faith and the Word of God - the Written
Word and the Living Word Himself, our Lord Jesus.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Armor of God Part 2
2008 April 06 /
This week we consider the "feet prepared with Gospel
of peace," and the "shield of faith." Remembering
that a major thread in Paul's argument in Ephesians
relates to the unity that should exist within the
body of Christ (particularly between Jew and Gentile)
we can place this passage on spiritual warfare in its
proper context. The Enemy comes to distract and
deceive and divide and in so doing destroy the unity
and peace that the Spirit is seeking to cultivate. We
also discuss the "root problem" in western
Christianity - optional or unrealized discipleship.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Armor of God Part 1
2008 March 30 /
This week we get back into the flow of our
discipleship study by discussing the first two
elements in the Armor of God - the belt of the truth
and the breastplate of righteousness. Knowing how to
"put on" the armor practically that God has provided
is critical to surviving the attacks of the Enemy,
standing firm in the victory that Christ has already
won for us.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Big Picture: Review
2008 March 12 /
This week, since we have been off for several weeks,
we review the larger picture and process of spiritual
formation and discipleship.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Our Adversary, The Devil
2008 January 27 /
We have a restless, relentless and ruthless
Adversary, the Devil. We must wake up to the reality
that he is still doing his worst through his fallen
apprentices on planet earth. Although he has been
defeated and his doom is sure, he does not give up in
trying to destroy the people of God. But greater is
He that is in us than he that is in the World.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / We Have an Enemy
2008 January 20 /
This week we consider the reality of the spiritual
war being fought in our world and in the heavenly
realm. We have an Enemy - an Adversary, Satan, the
Evil One, the Devil - whose main goal is to persuade
people away from the truth. In this session we place
the Spiritual War in its larger context in order to
understand the role we play in this War.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Three Things...Part 2
2008 January 14 /
We finish our discussion of Paul's prayer in
Ephesians 1 by considering the last two things he
wants us to know: the riches of God's inheritance in
us and the incomparable greatness of His power given
to us. God not only loves us and considers us and
appropriate and worthy eternal inheritance for His
one unique Son Jesus, He has also granted us the
power of Jesus' own resurrection to live an entirely
new kind of life.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Three Things We Need to Know
2008 January 06 /
This week, we get back into the swing of things by
doing a little review and summary. In Ephesians 1,
after Paul tells us all the ways that God our Father
is blessed in His blessing us, he prays that we might
know three things: 1) the hope of God's calling, 2)
the wealth of His inheritance in the Saints, and 3)
the incomparable greatness of His power toward us who
believe. As we know these things fully, we become
equipped and encouraged to be the people that God our
Father desires for us to be.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Zechariah and Hope
2007 December 16 /
This week we take a break to consider the birth of
our Savior by reflecting on the experience of
Zechariah. Although Zechariah was a righteous man, he
had lost perspective and also, it seems, hope.
Zechariah regained his perspective on the reality of
God's power to fulfill His promises as he reflected
on the good news that had come to him. Hope is our
confident expectation that God will be who He is and
do what He has promised. Hope is the foundation of
both our faith and our love.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Following Christ in Forgiveness
2007 December 02 /
For a follower of Jesus, living a life of forgiveness
is NOT optional. At the heart of our relationship
with God and our relationship with others is the
transforming truth of forgiveness. God has not
counted our sins against us. He has released us from
the debt, guilt and ultimate consequences of our sin.
If we have received so much from our Heavenly Father,
how can we not extend the same grace to others who
offend us?
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / In Christ we are Redeemed
2007 November 25 /
One of the core benefits of God's work in Christ for
us is that we have been redeemed. God has paid a
great price in handing His One Unique Son over for
all of us who were confirmed as His enemies. Yet
Jesus has poured out His blood for us so that we
could be set free from all keeps us from becoming
complete in Him. As we think about His great
sacrifice for us, we should be mindful that not only
has Jesus provided this redemption freely by His
grace, He also desires that we become people who
express this redemption to others.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Glory of God's Grace
2007 November 12 /
Why did God save us? Why does God do what He does?
Why would He send His one unique Son to be killed for
us? In Ephesians Paul makes it clear that God has
blessed us to the "glory of His grace." When God acts
for the sake of His glory, it results in the greatest
blessing for His people. God's grace toward us is
almost incomprehensible. Nevertheless, as we think on
all that He has done for us in Christ, we are moved
to the only proper response - joy and gratitude.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Roadmap of Discipleship
2007 November 08 /
This week, we take some time to review where we have
come from and where we are heading as we consider the
major spiritual formation "mile markers" on our
journey to our final destination. We consider the
decisions and commitments we are called to make as we
move along, seeking to make our journey worthy of our
destination.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Salvation Past Present and Future
2007 October 17 /
This week we explore the three "tenses" of salvation.
God has saved us, He is saving us, and one day (when
we see Christ face to face) we will be fully and
comletely saved. Even though this process is not yet
experientially complete for us, we know with
certainty that it will be because God our Holy Father
has the responsibility of finishing what He has begun
in us. For this reason, we can be eternaly secure in
His care and have hope.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Sideline | God's Eternal Work and the Cross
2007 October 07 /
Too often, the eternal aspects of God's choosing and
predestination of those who will be saved is
discussed apart from the reality of the Cross of
Christ. Before we can fully grasp the implications of
God's gracious work of choosing in salvation, we must
first see ourselves from the perspective of being the
very people who first despised, mocked, beat, spat
upon and crucified Christ. God chooses to redeem His
enemies; in this lies the scandal of His grace.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Sideline | Foreknown and Chosen
2007 September 30 /
This week, we take a sideline discussion to explore
the meaning of God's "foreknowing" us in relation to
His choosing us for salvation. We look at 1 Peter
1:1-2 and then trace the idea of "foreknowing" and
"knowing" in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Our New Identity in Christ | Part 3
2007 September 16 /
We continue our discussion of our new relationship
with God by exploring "our part" in God's saving work
in our lives. We do have certain responsibilities in
the process of our salvation. Our primary
responsibility is one of responding to God's gracious
work in or by faith. God is transforming us in a way
that only He can. As we develop a VISION for what He
is doing in us, we turn in trust to Him, rejoicing in
the "all things" that have freely been given to us in
Christ.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Our New Identity in Christ | Part 2
2007 September 09 /
We continue our discussion of our new identity and
position in Christ by considering this topic in the
context of spiritual formation and discipleship. In
discipleship, we are simply making a decision to
submit to God the Father working in Christ through
the Holy Spirit to form Christ in us. In this we make
a decision to cooperate with God as He forms us
spiritually.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Our New Identity in Christ | Part 1
2007 September 02 /
We continue our study on spiritual formation and
discipleship by considering the new identity and
position that we have "in Christ." It is important to
understand who we are in Chirst so that we can have a
vision of the type of person that God is shaping us
into, conformed to the likeness of Christ. We do a
"fly over" of Ephesians 1 looking that the big
picture that we will "unpack" over the next several
weeks.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Christ+0 | Part 2
2007 August 19 /
This week we continue our discussion of Philippians 3
by considering the the main goal of keeping our eyes
focused on the main goal - Christ. In this passage
Paul says, "One thing I do: Forgetting what lies
behind and looking to what's ahead I press on..." Our
past, whether good or bad, is behind us and in the
present God wants us to keep looking toward our goal
- being fully transformed and conformed to Christ's
glorious image.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Christ+0 | Part 1
2007 August 12 /
We take a look at Philippians 3 and Paul's "one
thing" that gives him vision and clarity as he
follows Christ. Anything that we might consider
personal "asset" becomes dung when we compare it to
the exceedingly better "asset" of knowing Christ and
discovering the righteousness come to us by means of
faith. Whereas the false gospel of religion says, "I
am accepted and loved by Christ for what I do," the
true gospel of faith says, "I do what I do because I
am loved and accepted in Christ."
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Faith of Christ | Pt 3
2007 August 05 /
Romans 3:21-26 may be one of the most significant
passages in the New Testament. In this passage the
heart of Paul's Christ-centered theology is
explained: God's righteousness is revealed in the
faith (and faithfulness) of Christ for the faith (and
faithfulness) of the believer. When we believe in the
message that Christ has done all that is necessary to
redeem us from our fallen way of life and reconcile
us to God, we are declared righteous. This
declaration is no "legal fiction" - stating something
that is not really true. When God declares that we
are righteous in Christ, this powerful and creative
act changes our identity and our position before God.
Our relationship with God has changed and this is the
beginning of His work in us to transform us and
conform us according to Christ's perfection.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Faith of Christ | Pt 2
2007 July 29 /
We continue our discussion of the faith of Christ as
part of the revelation of God's righteousness. The
Gospel reveals both that God is righteous in both
being (His character) and
doing (His actions). In the Gospel
we see that God reveals a way to be right with Him
that is not according to law - self-righteousness by
good works - but by way of Christ's faith.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Faith of Christ | Pt 1
2007 July 22 /
This week, we begin a two part discussion on the
faith and faithfulness of Christ. God saves us based
on the faithfulness of Christ to do for us what we
cannot do for ourselves. In all that He has endured
as a human, Jesus is qualified to be our faithful and
merciful high priest who saves us by His grace. The
Gospel therefore calls us to focus on Christ as our
one and only savior.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Sideline Discussion | Sin and Judgment
2007 July 16 /
What does Jesus mean when He says, "Do not judge so
that you will not be judged." This week, our
exploration of the 12 Aspects of the Gospel leads to
a lively class discussion about the nature of God
condemning our sin in truth but also displaying His
grace to us in and
through Jesus Christ.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Christ's Work on the Cross
2007 July 09 /
This week, we begin to explore how Jesus' "one act of
righteousness" on the Cross heals our fallen
condition. We begin to look at 12 aspects of Christ's
work as the means to providing eternal redemption. We
will continue this discussion next week.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / In Adam or In Christ?
2007 July 01 /
This week we begin to explore what Christ has
accomplished for us by observing Paul's teaching in
Romans 5:12-21. Here we see that Adam (our first
human father, the father of us all) made choices that
have had disastrous consequences for the rest of us.
In the same sense, Jesus has made choices that have
provided an alternative to Adam's rebellion. We also
take a brief overiew of Jesus' time on the Cross as
His "one act of righteousness."
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Three Types of People, Pt 2
2007 June 24 /
This week, we continue to explore what hinders us
from hearing the One True Gospel by discussing God's
holy love. As we have seen in the previous studies,
God has given us desires (needs) for significance,
security and satisfaction. The only way that these
needs/desires will ever be satisfied is by
experiencing God's holy love expressed in Jesus
Christ.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Three Types of People, Pt 1
2007 June 17 /
Today, we move from the Larger Story of life to the
Central Story of the Gospel. Central to the Gospel is
the revelation of what Jesus has done for us
AND what He desires to do to us. As we begin
to consider this, we begin by thinking about three
types of people and their response to the message of
the Gospel. We will conclude this discussion next
week.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Larger Story
2007 June 10 /
This week we explore The Larger Story that the Bible
reveals about life as the proper context within which
to pursue our core desires. We discuss what it means
to be lost and how God has given us a larger
framework within which to find our bearings in life.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / Redeeming Our Desires
2007 June 03 /
As we continue to explore the power of the Gospel, we
begin to look at what has gone wrong with us in the
corruption of our desires. The human race was created
good and true, so what went wrong? We also discuss
the framework of ORIGIN, DESTINY and PURPOSE for
understanding the meaning of our lives.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Story of the Gospel, Pt 2
2007 May 26 /
In this discussion, we continue to explore the
Biblical teaching on the power of the Gospel by
finishing up Acts 17 and beginning to look at some of
the problems that face Christ's disciples as we
interact with our culture.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / The Story of the Gospel, Pt 1
2007 May 06 /
In this discussion, we begin to develop the Biblical
teaching on the power of the Gospel by dealing with
Acts 17 and Paul's preaching to the Areopagus at Mars
Hill in Athens.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / A Vision for Spiritual Development Pt 2
2007 April 29 /
The second half of a two part dialogue, we conclude
developing a VISION for spiritual formation and
discipleship by discussing the final key "milestones"
in spiritual growth.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
eps / A Vision for Spiritual Development Pt 1
2007 April 22 /
In the first of this two part dialogue, we begin to
develop a VISION for spiritual formation and
discipleship by discussing some key "milestones" in
spiritual growth.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.
>>Listen to or download the Podcast here.