You are God's gift!

1. God's GRACE for the Church: Everything flows from grace given through Jesus Christ. (v. 7)
2. God's GIFTS for the Church: Jesus has given the gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds/Pastors and Teachers (APEST) to the church.
3. God's GOAL for the Church: To equip, build up and mature the body of Christ so we can embody the presence of Christ to the world.

We are called to be a people defined by ONE HOPE in Jesus Christ. Our ONE HOPE makes us ONE CHURCH united by ONE SPIRIT.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ephesians 4:3-6

God works through the messiness of our lives to display the beauty of the Gospel.

Reflection Questions:

1. Will you trust in Jesus to make you a new creation in the midst of the messiness of your life?
2. Will you surrender the mess of your story to reveal the beauty of the Gospel?
3. Will you become an intentional ambassador of good news and beauty in a world filled with bad news and ugliness?

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." -2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Guest Speaker & Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr. Tammy Smith, shares a powerful word about what it means to be "a soul with a body," and where Jesus is in the mess of mental health challenges.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

NOTE: We faced technical difficulties this week, and apologize for the audio quality on this recording. We did our best to edit it enough that it can still be listened to and shared. Thank you for your grace as we troubleshoot!

Description: Randy & Lorie Spain share the powerful story of how God restored their marriage after separation and divorce (they are now re-married)! Pastor Blaine follows up with some Biblical reminders about the expectation of forgiveness and the consequences of un-forgiveness in the lives of Christ followers.

"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

Living in the fullness of new life in Christ requires:

1. Crucifying our old sinful selves
2. Refusing to let sin control our lives

3. Taking one step at a time “living under the freedom of God’s grace"

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." -Romans 6:8-12 NIV

When we trust in Jesus, life always eventually triumphs over death...but not always when or how we want it to. The good news is that Jesus is present with us in the pain of grief and loss.

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!' But some of them said, 'Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?'" -John 11:32-37

What are the prayers you have prayed to which God has said "no" or "not yet"? We cannot avoid trials, but we can choose how to respond to them.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -James 1:2-4