May 30, 2010 AM
Studies in Titus Part 3
Dave Marttunen
Audio / Questions / Leaders
What makes leading in a family, a group or a church challenging, and this is true for leaders the world over, is a single word; „resistance‟. It‟s not always a bad word, and it‟s not uniformly an issue of assigning blame or fault to those digging in their heels. The deal when facing resistance is to discern the issue at heart level. Is it a lack of knowledge, or buy in, or timing, or perceived value or…? Or is it in fact defiance, rebellion, or dispute; something akin to bucking authority? Knowing the reason for entrenchment, discerning the cause for the anchor frequently determines the response. The Titus challenge was for him as an effective leader to train others in local churches in Crete so that good works that glorify God could flourish. God loves order; in families, groups and in Churches. God is the author of order, not confusion. God‟s answer to the chaos of culture encroaching on the Church is to bring order through good leaders at all levels of life. Today, Pastor Marttunen continues his series on Titus: “Thriving in the city”.
May 23, 2010 PM
Minor Prophets #3
David Dawson
Audio
Amos had the difficult task of taking an unpopular message to the stubborn people of Israel. Our challenge is to identify both with Amos and the people of Israel. We identify with Amos in that sometimes we are called to stand for an unpopular truth. We Identify with Israel because Amos' message is no more popular today. He confronts us with a call to righteousness and justice that we may find difficult to hear.
May 23, 2010 AM
Part 2 Intro to Titus
Dave MarttunenAudio / Questions / Leaders
Godliness means like God. When we live out our faith, we show that God is working his character into us and his purposes through us. God is on mission. He has always shown, declared, and described himself as the missionary God. He said this to Abraham, (all the nations will be blessed through you). To Moses and the other prophets he said Israel was a hope for the nations. In his own Son he perfectly showcased his nature and purpose. We have learned that as God sent His son, Jesus now sends us. Our God is the missionary God, who is reaching out to this world with hope and reconciliation. Godliness must therefore mean that being like God is to be a missionary in our community. Today, Pastor Marttunen is continuing his series on “Titus: Thriving in the City”. Today‟s message is titled, "Live Like a Missionary".
May 16, 2010 PM
Minor Prophets #2
David DawsonAudio
Joel spoke his prophesy in the midst of national disaster. He saw that the plague of locusts was an act of judgment that called the people back to God. But Joel also looked forward to a day in which his role as prophet would be replaced by the Spirit. Today, we live in the fulfillment of Joel's prophesy. How should we respond to disasters in our world as we live with the Spirit's power and guidance?
May 16, 2010 AM
Part 1 Intro to Titus
Dave Marttunen
Audio / Questions / LeadersHow does God see our city? Is he unhappy, and ready to judge our city? Is God compassionate and reaching out to save, pardon, cleanse and restore our city? Does God want us to withdraw from the city, or serve the city? Does God call us to challenge the city, or in gentleness to offer renewal to our city? How we think about God and how we think about our city, and further, how we think God thinks about our city will determine how we live and serve God in our city. When Paul wrote to Titus his aim was to motivate Titus to help small churches on the island of Crete thrive. The culture of Crete was ungodly, resistant and influential. The cities of Crete were clearly opposed to the lifestyle that Christians were developing, but Paul doesn’t call the Christians to leave, he challenges them and us to stay and be an influence for God. We too can learn to thrive in our city, if we take to heart the mission God sets in front of us. Today Pastor Marttunen starts a new teaching series based on the book of Titus; “Thriving in the City”.
May 9, 2010 PM
Minor Prophets #1
David DawsonAudio
The most striking feature of the book of Hosea is the prophet's marriage to an adulterous woman. The enduring faithful love despite deep betrayal becomes a picture for us of God's great faithfulness.
May 9, 2010 AM
What God wants From All of Us Part 2
Dave Marttunen
Audio / Questions / LeadersWhen God‟s acts of mercy fill our thinking we are changed from the inside out. In the same way that a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, we are transformed from what we were, into what God has designed us to become. The transformation happens inside out. The Bible says that the key to life change happens in our thoughts, our heart, our inner self. There are significant external pressures that work to keep us in the broken cycles that we inherit from our culture, our families, and our social networks. Things are the way they are for a reason. Someone likes the mess as it is. But God has given us the means to break all the dysfunctions of our backgrounds and all the rebellion that exists against him. The mercy action of God is all that He has planned and done in Christ. Thinking through life with God‟s mercy as our foundation brings us to know and do what God approves.
