Encounter at Illinois State University / ISU

Winter Retreat Men’s Session

Winter Retreat Women’s Session

A successful marriage has a whole lot less to do with who you are married to and a whole lot more to do with how you treat the person you are married to.

Having a successful season of singleness might be the most important way to have a successful life-long relationship.

Our sin has a cost, in our own lives and others.  All sin leads toward death, and our great God is the source of life.  He wants us to leave behind the things that harm us. (Ex 27, Ex 38, Lev 1-7, Heb 8:5a, Rev 21:22, Heb 9:22, Acts 17:25, John 1:4, John 14:6, James 1:14-15, Eph 2:1, Eph 2:4-6, Heb 9:26, Heb 9:28, Heb 7:27, Eph 5:2, Is 1:18, Rom 12:1, 2 Cor 5:17)

God spends 25% of the book of Exodus explaining how to build the Tabernacle. Why was it so important then, and why is it important to us now? (Exodus 25:8-9, Exodus 13:21-22, Exodus 40:36-37, Matthew 27:50-51, John 16:7, John 14:16-18, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:38-39, John 14:2-3, Revelations 21:2-4)

Nathan risks everything to confront David with his sin, and the result is deep confession and repentance.  David is no longer hiding and manipulating.  How are we similarly called to speak truth into the lives around us? (2 Sam 12:1-13, Eph 4:32, I Peter 3:8-9, Jn 17:11, I Sam 13:4, Acts 13:22, Luke 5:31-32, 2 Sam 7:16, Prov 27:6, Matt 7:1, Matt 7:3-5, Matt 5:9, Matt 18:15, James 4:25-26, Prov 18:...

Now that the Hebrew people are free from slavery, they find themselves at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where God gives them the 10 commandments, and the law.  What purpose do these old rules have for Jesus followers? (Ex 20:19, Eph 2:6-10, I Jn 1:5, James 1:17, Matt 9:12, Matt 5:21-22, Matt 5:27-28, Gal 3:23-25, Rom 8:3, Matt 22:34-40, Jn 13:34-35, 2 Cor 5:17)

As Moses leads his people into the desert, God provides manna and quail for His people.  He insists that they take one rule very seriously.  Rest. (Ex 16:13-26, Matt 5:17-18, Gal 3:24-27, Matt 6:25-34, Ex 20:8-11, Gen 2:2-3, Is 40:28, Matt 12:8, Heb 4:9-11)

Moses’ incredible story reaches an impossible moment.  As they leave Egypt, God leads them into the dead end of the Red Sea and we glean some beautiful lessons along the way. (Ex 12:31-33, Ex 12:37-38, Ex 13:17-18a, Ex 13:20-22, Ex 14:5-7, Ex 14:10-14, Ex 14:19-31, Ex 15, Mark 14:12, Mark 14:22-26, I Cor 5:7b, Psalm 77:11-12, 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 4, Acts 2:23, Is 43:15-29, Ps 33:3, Ps 40:3, Ps 96:1, P...

Pharaoh repeatedly tells Moses he won’t let God’s people go, and in turn, his heart is hardened. Where are we repeatedly saying no to God in our own lives?   (Exodus 5-13)

Moses looks at his own resources and knows they don’t equal the task at hand.  If Moses would dare to lift his eyes up, he’d realize that God’s power is made perfect not through our strengths but our weaknesses.   (Ex 3-4, Acts 7:22, Matt 14:14-21, Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28, 1 Cor 1:27, Acts 4:13, 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 21:42, Phil 3:7-8, Is 64:6, Gal 2:20, 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:1, Rom 8:14-15, Jn 15:15, Mat...

Moses has an Encounter with a holy God through the burning bush.  How do we make ourselves more aware of God’s movement in our own lives?   (Ex 3:1-10, I Kings 19:11-13, Job 33:14, Rom 1:20, Heb 4:12, Jn 16:13, Col 3:16, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:15-16, Matt 14:13, Luke 6:12-13, Matt 14:23, Matt 26:36-39, Matt 4:1, Zeph 3:17, Is 30:21)

When we try to force God’s hand, bad things happen.  If we have the faith to wait on His timing, we’ll get to see His power at work instead of our own.   (Ex 2:11-25, Ex 1:1, Num 32:33, James 1:14-15, Col 3:5, Rom 8:13, Gal 5:24, Rom 6:6, I Peter 2:24, Ex 14:14, Ps 130:5-6, Ps 37:34, Is 30:18, Is 40:31, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Peter 3:13, Jn 14:3, Rom 12:2, Prov 3:5-6, Ps 130:5-6)

It may feel like God is distant in the MICRO-transactions of our lives.  But we know through the Word that He is constantly using everything to further His incredible META story.   (Gen 15:13-14, 2 Peter 3:8, Josh 21:45, 2 Cor 1:20, Deut 7:9, Matt 5:17, Heb 8:1-2, I Cor 5:7, Heb 9:20, Matt 27:51, Gen 12:1-3, Gen 22:8, Gen 21:12, Gen 49:10, Jer 23:5, Matt 1:1-17, Rom 8:28, Matt 5:45, I Peter 5...

Because we have been saved by grace, we are called to live a life of loving others even when it’s hard.   (Luke 10:25-37)

God calls us not only to meaningful connection with Him, but also to each other.   (Gen 1-2, I Cor 12:12-20, Col 3:12-13, John 17:11, Eph 3:6, Ecc 4:9-12, Acts 2:42-47, John 13:35, Heb 10:24-25, Ps 133:1)

Our life in Christ takes us into spaces of deep intimacy.  It is far more than knowing about Him.  It is knowing Him.   (Is 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 23:4, Matt 28:20, Gen 28:15, Jn 10:14, Matt 7:22-23, Ps 139:1-2, Ex 33:17, Gen 4:1, Is 40:26, Prov 4:20-21, Ps 141:1, I Jn 1:1, Prov 34:8, Jn 15:5)

Fall Retreat Session 4 – Sunday AM   (John 20:24-25; Jeremiah 29:13-14; Matthew 7:7; Proverbs 27:17; John 6:67-69)

Fall Retreat Session 3 – Saturday PM   (Daniel 3:19; Daniel 3:22; Daniel 3:24-25; Daniel 3:28-29)

Fall Retreat Session 2 – Saturday AM   (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Esther 4:13-14; Esther 1:16; Esther 1:19; Esther 2:7; Proverbs 16:4; Psalm 139:13-16; Esther 2:20; Esther 4:15-17)

Fall Retreat Session 1 – Friday PM   (2 Kings 5:1-14; Luke 7:11-19; Matthew 14:22-33; Luke 5:12-13)

In our Jesus-following life, we must recognize that He is the ultimate source for truth in this world. (Matt 16:24-25, Gen 1:27, Jn 18:37-38, Prov 14:12, Is 46:9-10, Is 55:9, Ps 86:11, John 14:6, John 17:17, John 3:30)  

While there are many false motives that may lead us to faith, there is only one that sustains our faith. (2 Cor 5:14-15, I Cor 2:2, I Jn 4:10, Matt 18:21-33, Ps 136, Jer 31:3, I Jn 3:1, Rom 5:8, Eph 3:17-19)

1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that followers of Jesus are God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His treasured possession. This sermon explores what it means to live out that identity, moving from passive consumers to active representatives of Christ in the world. (1 Peter 2:9)