Series: ASK IT (May 25th - June 14th)

Every day brings new questions. 

Should I stay? Should I go? Buy it? Sell it? Start it? Stop it?
Did you know there's a question that makes it easy to determine the answer to all the other questions?

It's true.  

All you have to do is ask it!

Session 1: Question Everything (5/24/16)

What if there was a question that would clarify your best option for ninety percent of the decisions you make in life—a question that answers just about everything? It would have the potential to foolproof your relationships, marriage, finances, calendar, pace, and health. It would reduce the complexity of your life. It would save you time, money and tears. You would carry around less regret. And best of all, you wouldn’t have to apologize nearly as much. Of every invitation, opportunity, relationship, or decision, ask “What’s the wise thing to do?” If you were going to do the wise thing, what would it be? By asking that question, even if you don’t follow through, you will discover something about you. You owe it to yourself to know the answer to that question.

Session 2: Musical Chairs (5/31/16)

Solomon, the third king of Israel, wrote more about wisdom than any other biblical writer. He was considered by some to be the wisest man who ever lived. In his writing, he laid out three kinds of people who lack wisdom: the simple lack experience; fools know the difference between right and wrong, but don’t care; and mockers not only know the difference between right and wrong but are critical of those who choose to do right. Eventually, people in each of these categories need wisdom . . . but they may not find it. The path of wisdom offers a way to live in safety, peace, and without fear of harm. But to leverage all that wisdom offers, you have to ask it: In light of my past experience, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for me to do?

Session 3: Time Over Time (6/7/16)

Scripture says God has determined the number of your days. You can make more money and you can make more friends, but you can’t make more time. You can count your money and your friends, but you can’t count your time. In light of that truth, knowing what to do with your time matters. It’s vital that you use your time wisely. Look ahead to your desired future. In light of your past experience, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, where do you need to begin making consistent deposits of time? Reallotting your time can set you up for healthy relationships with the most important people in your life, and create a future without regret

Session 4: The Beginning (6/14/16)
You are painting a picture entitled Your Life. It’s made up of a series of decisions. And you don’t get to hide your early endeavors in the attic. You get only one canvas. Will you do it yourself or will you let someone guide your hand? There’s one important question that we hope you will ask the rest of your life: In light of my past experience, current circumstances, and future hopes and dreams, what’s the wise thing for me to do? But asking that question will clarify what you should do . . . not what you will do. Whether or not you have surrendered yourself to the Author of wisdom will determine what you actually do.

Series: WHEN GOD (May 2nd - May 9th)

 

What do you do...

When God feels distant?
When God doesn't cooperate?
When God seems late?

We all face times when it feels like God is far away. Our prayers seem unanswered and our circumstances go from bad to worse. During these times, God doesn't just seem distant; he seems distracted. These are many of the reasons why people stop praying, stop believing prayer works, or even stop believing that God exists.

In these times people tell us to pray more but it seems useless. So how do we keep our connection to God through prayer while not becoming discouraged? In this series, we will the lives of three men from the New Testament, each loved by God, but whose circumstances seemed to tell a different story.

When God is Inattentive

Is God's silence a sign of his absence? Or does it mean something else? In this message, we recount the story of a man Jesus said was the greatest who ever lived. And yet, even this man struggled with God's inattentiveness. How do we handle it when we ask God for something but it seems he is being inattentive? How do we keep praying when it seems that God has lost sight of our struggles and circumstances? The message Jesus sends him in the middle of his doubt contains a secret reassurance for us 2,000 years later.

Has there been a time when God seemed inattentive when you prayed to him? Did it rattle your faith?

Is God actually inattentive to our prayer or is there something else going on?

When God is Uncooperative
We've all seen athletes point to heaven after touchdowns or home runs. And we've heard actors thank God during their acceptance speeches. How come other people seem to have so much success while we pray and seem to never get what we want? How do we keep going when God seems to be saying, "No"? Does a “no” from God mean that he doesn’t love us or that we have done something wrong? What is the point of praying if God always seemingly says “No?”

Imagine a God you could control. What would you like or dislike about him?
Is there value to prayer even if you don’t get the results you are asking for? What is the value?

When God is Late

Why didn't God do something? Sometimes, despite our most fervent prayers, God doesn't show up the way we want him to. The cancer isn't cured. The company fails. The foreclosure goes through. In this message, we will discover what to look for when it feels like God forgot to show up.

How might the idea that God leverages your pain for his glory give you hope during a difficult

circumstance?