Biblically Based, Christ Centered, Caring Community in Annapolis, MD
As with other entrenched injustices in this fallen world, the New Testament does not directly abolish slavery, but calls Christians to live in a way that honors and submits to God, focuses on Christ, promotes the Gospel, and looks to our eternal reward.
Philemon 1:15-21; Ephesians 6:5-9
The Gospel of God’s grace restores our relationship with God, and it calls us to act as Christ would to see relationships restored with others as well.
Philemon 1:17-25
When we come to Christ, all of our relationships are changed, and we are called and empowered to serve others and to further God’s kingdom.
Philemon 1:8-16
When people become Christians, they are united not only with Christ but with other believers in a vital communion and partnership, which carries both benefits and responsibilities.
Philemon 1:4-7
The Gospel of God’s grace releases us from our chains of sin and sets us free to live in the peace of God – no matter our circumstances.
Philemon 1:1-7
The consummation of our salvation will happen at the return of Christ, when our bodies will be raised from the grave and transformed to be like Jesus’ body, and all of creation will be renewed. At that point, we and all of the renewed creation will experience the glorious freedom of full redemption and will radiate the glory of God.
Romans 8:18-25
Christ came to give us true freedom, the ability to be who we were created to be – the image of God, serving others in love.
Galatians 5:13-15
This looks at persecution in the early church. It will look up through the first couple of hundred years ending in the early to mid 200s.
Christians should expect to be ostracized and persecuted by the world for our faith.
2 Timothy 3:10-13
The Trinity, One God in three distinct Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is the foundation of the Christian faith and life.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Christian behavior must be grounded in the basic truth of the Gospel.
Titus 3:1-8
As we have been blessed with God’s grace through Jesus Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit allows us to respond with grace to others in our relationships. God’s command to us for others is clear: Love others as He loves us.
1 John 4:7-11; 19-21
This brief series takes a look at the slippery spots in relationships where they can be damaged if not navigated correctly. It helps people to identify and avoid these potential slips, and then regain a foothold when the relationship has slipped.
Relationships die from neglect if we do not realize their importance and work through relationslips to keep them healthy.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Relationships are ruptured when we sin against one another, but as those forgiven all of our sins through Christ, we must forgive one another so that the relationship can be restored.
Colossians 3:13
Longing for acceptance we have fallen captive to shame and fear – which condemns us to relationships of isolation and apathy. Now our rescue can only be found in perfect integrity.
Genesis 3:11
Relationships can be strengthened or damaged by words – which are the overflow of the heart – and repairing them requires confession and repentance in word and deed.
Proverbs 12:18
Relationships are damaged when we act out of the improper motivation to manipulate others to meet our needs but are repaired when we follow Christ and let our actions be driven by the motivation to minister to the deepest needs of the other person.
Philippians 2:3-11
This multi-part series looks at the kings of Israel. In this first part, we focus on the rule of the judges prior to the rise of King Saul. We learn in this series that the Game of Thrones exists in our own heart as we try to rule over our own lives.
Israel rejected the LORD as their King, preferring to led by a human king to be like the nations around them.
1 Samuel 8
Our God reigns over all things, and this calls for a response of repentance, worship, and remembrance of God’s work in our behalf.
1 Samuel 5-7
People often superstitiously believe that they can guarantee God’s favor and protection through external rituals, but His favor is only received through genuine faith.
1 Samuel 4
An absence of God’s Word is a great curse, but God is faithful to raise up true prophets to speak forth His word.
1 Samuel 3
The church, strengthened by the grace of God, must make sure to pass the faith on from generation to generation.
2 Timothy 2:1-2
The fundamental problem for all humans is our rejection of the reign of God, preferring to do what is right in our own eyes, which leads to chaos and curse rather than God’s blessing.
1 Samuel 2 (1 Samuel 2:11-18)