HELPFUL RESOURCES
Helpful Resources
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“I’m a Christian, but I don’t feel like I’m any different than I used to be.”
“I want to follow God, but I still do many of the things I don’t want to do.”
Believe it or not, becoming like Jesus is not automatic. Follow the link to hear a helpful message about how we make space for the Spirit of God to change us to become more like Jesus.
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How does the Bible describe the Church? And what does the Bible teach us about what it really means to live in community with one another?
The American experience and western culture in general are rooted in radical individualism. We are trained to look out for our own interest above all others, constantly pushing to get what we want or “deserve” and pursue our own desires over those of others. Yet, the way of Jesus and our experience show us that while looking out for our own interests and living in extreme independence—while it may be easier in the short term—leads to unhappiness in the long term. For better or worse, we need each other.
In Romans 12, Paul paints pictures of the people of God as inextricably intertwined: both as a family of brothers and sisters, as well as a body with many parts, all of which need one another. That said, if you keep reading the New Testament, and honestly if you pursue any relationship beyond the surface level, you will discover depth and community to be challenging. To stick with Community for the long haul, it becomes essential to learn to do three things:
Forgive each other for not being God. We bring high expectations to our Community at times, don’t we? We want our wounds healed, to be bound up, to be pursued, to be seen, known, to be loved unconditionally. And these are not bad things to want! But we are all human, and we all fail each other at times. When that happens—when, not if—we have to make the hard choice to love each other anyway.
Listen in love. Give relational space for each others’ stories, joys, and hurts. Share the deep stuff of your person, not just the facts of your life. Rejoice in one another’s successes, and grieve one another’s sorrows.
Stay. This may sound simple, but anyone who has been in relationship with anyone else long term (whether your Freedom Church Community, a best friend, your children, or your spouse) can tell you that sometimes, simply sticking it out is the hardest part.
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Fasting is one of the least known disciplines in the church, but it is a practice mentioned both in the Old and New Testament of the Bible and by Jesus Himself, and it has incredible power for our lives today.
Fasting disconnects us from the world.
Fasting isn’t about punishing yourself because God wants you to suffer, rather it’s about intentionally disconnecting from worldly things for a season so you can hear from God and experience the full life He has for you.
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If you ever get to a place in your life where you feel like something is missing, it’s probably a connection problem: you are disconnected from God and too connected to the world. Prayer and fasting can have a powerful impact on setting your life back on track.
Prayer Connects us to God
The more time you spend with something or someone, the more confidence you build in it. The same is true for God. The more time you spend with God, the more your faith in Him will grow.
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PRAYER TEAM TRAINING
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What does Scripture say about stress and anxiety? Is there any way out of it? Is there a remedy?
Yes! In fact, Jesus offers us a pathway for life that not only offers less anxiety, but also more joy. When we are experiencing stress and anxiety, Jesus extends us an invitation to live life His way.
This is a 5 part series on how we can experience less stress and more joy:
Part 1: Getting God’s Perspective
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What does Scripture have to say about my work? Does my work or career matter to God?
The Hebrew word kavanah refers to an act done with holy intent. Kavanah is when we bring our full presence and a motivation of love and excellence to our work or any ordinary task in order to reweave the manifest glory of God into the created order.
Whatever our current expression of work may be, we can commit to practicing kavanah in specific ways.
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