Bluffton Community

September 22 | Week Three | Trust Primary Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-19 Cross References: Job 42:5-6 Message Overview: Notice the response in chapter 3 is to pray and worship the Lord! Habakkuk saw what was to come and asked only for mercy in the wrath for His people in Judah. Waiting on the Lord can be one of the hardest disciplines of Christianity. Habakkuk matured in His understanding and found th...

September 15 | Week Two | Wait Primary Scripture: Habakkuk 2:2-2:20 Cross References: Romans 1:16-17; James 4:6; Hebrews 10:37-38; Isaiah 44:9-20 Message Overview: This week will need a quick look back to verses 1:12-2:1. There is an opportunity to discuss God’s timing in our “instant” society. Patience and anticipation in knowing God will carry out His plans to completion. There is a solid foil h...

September 8 | Week One | Listen Primary Scripture: Habakkuk 1:2-2:1 Cross References: Psalm 13:1, 4:1; Isaiah 55:8-9, Isaiah 10:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 44:17 Message Overview: In chapter one, Habakkuk cried out and asked God why he allowed what He hates without justice. The answer that follows is that God is going to use other evil people to thwart Judah. Habakkuk was even more confused and...

Main Passage: Luke 22:14-20 Listen in as we join Lighthouse Community and learn from Senior Pastor Fritz Below as he helps us understand the context and meaning of the Lord's Supper. Fritz helps us to see how the Lord's Supper was Initiated by Jesus, is real food that points to Truth, and for those who follow Jesus!

Primary Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16 Message Overview: When believers are maturing into the character of Christ, they’re no longer drifting aimlessly through life. Instead, they live with purpose: speaking the truth in love and helping others to grow in the truth of Christ. Healthy, living things grow. It’s true of people. It’s true of the church. This is our opportunity to pull back the current f...

Primary Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-13 Cross References: Acts 6:4; 12:25; Romans 12:6-8 Message Overview: Paul said that Jesus gave “gifts” to the church: leaders. Their role is to equip believers for ministry with the end goal being unity and maturity (maturity = the fullness of Christ). Elders at each location will have the opportunity to provide a current, transparent snapshot of where we currentl...

Primary Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6 Cross References: 1 Peter 3:15a; Romans 10:9; Revelation 19:16; Matthew 28:18-20 Message Overview: Twice in this passage, Paul uses the word “Lord” in reference to Jesus. Within that context, he wrote about humility, bearing with one another, and unity. This message will focus on the Lordship of Jesus and what that means practically for every born again believer....

Message Overview: From our last message in the series, The Church with Open Doors, Pastor Ben Thiel looks at Acts 18 where we meet Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos who work along-side Paul, Silas and Timothy as the gospel continues to spread amid continued opposition. We see God remind Paul in a dream that many in the city of Corinth belonged to Him. Paul had a continual desire to re-visit where he...

Primary Scripture : Acts 17:16-32 Cross References : Deuteronomy 10:17; 1 Chronicles 16:26, Psalm 115:1-7; Colossians 1:15-20 Message Overview : While waiting for the others to rejoin him, Paul has a visceral reaction to the overt idolatry he sees in the City of Athens. He feels compelled to engage the philosophers of the day on their own turf. Paul is able to make connection with the intellectual...

Primary Scripture : Acts 16:11-40 Cross References : Luke 24:45; Acts 9:15-16, 26:16-18 Message Overview : Ministry will take us where we have not been before. Philippi was a Gentile place without a synagogue. Paul went down by the river thinking that he may find people praying. There he met Lydia, and God opened her heart to the gospel. Later, Paul casts a demon from a slave girl and a mob quickl...

Primary Scripture : Acts 17:1-15 Cross References : 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Psalm 119:9-11 Message Overview : Paul and Silas spent just 3 weeks in Thessalonica but these were fruitful weeks. Jews, God fearing Greeks, and many prominent women joined Paul and Silas as they believed. Of course, some Jews were jealous as they saw their power challenged, and they created conflict in r...

Primary Scripture : Acts 15:36-16:10 Cross References : 2 Timothy 4:11 Message Overview : God uses people to spread the Gospel. Paul separates from Barnabas in a dispute over John Mark. Paul teams up with Silas, then adds Timothy as an intern. Barnabas partners with his nephew John Mark and goes in another direction. Paul and Silas are prevented twice from going north by God, then Paul sees the vi...

Primary Scripture : Acts 15:1-35 Cross References : Acts 10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 10:23, 15:3-6; Amos 9:11-12, Isaiah 45:21 Message Overview: The true Gospel is available to all through genuine belief as marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. But mixing this new reality with old traditions and religious preference can create conflict among well meaning people. Conflict can tear at the heart of...

Primary Scripture : 2 Peter 3:1-18 Cross References : Psalm 121:1-2, 1 Timothy 4:1 Message Overview : We have hope that Christ is set to return, that is promised! It has been nearly 2000 years since Christ ascended back to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. What’s He waiting for? Peter makes it clear that God is being patient, for our sake, with the hope that in time every knee will wi...

Primary Scripture : 2 Peter 2:1-22 (focused on v19) Cross References : Ephesians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Hebrews 13:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:18, Isaiah 5:19, Malachi 4:1, Psalm 90:4, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Isaiah 30:18, Luke 18:7 Message Overview : False teaching is a guarantee. Satan uses clever, destructive heresies to cause doubt and denial of God. This has been his plan since the beginning (ie....

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-21 Cross References: Philippians 3:1, Colossians 1:5, 1 John 2:21, Jude 1:5, Luke 1:2, 1 Peter 1:10, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Samuel 23:2 Message Overview: In week one, Peter reminds us to stand firm in our faith, making every effort to grow our faith in God and our knowledge of God. In week two, Peter shows us how to stand firm in the Truth of Scripture. Peter acknowledge...

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-11 Cross References: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, John 1:16-17, Acts 15:10-11 Message Overview: Our faith is a gift from Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, because he is just and fair. We supplement and strengthen our faith through character traits that lead to love. This growth makes us more and more useful to the Kingdom of God and less fo...

Primary Scripture : 1 Corinthians 12:11 Cross References : Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Hebrews 2:5 Message Overview : This message will help people to understand that spiritual gifts are not magic tricks, but an inner/outer working of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of sharing the gospel. People will believe that spiritual gifts must be rooted in love. People will take a step to discover w...

Primary Scripture : Acts 2:1-47 Cross References : John 7:2,37-39; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; Galatians 5:22-23 Message Overview : This message will help people see the connection between the Festival of Booths and the giving of the Holy Spirit. People will believe that one of the Holy Spirit's primary ministries is to remind us of God's saving work through Christ...

Primary Scripture : Luke 4:1-2, 14, 18-19 Cross References : Matthew 3:12-17; 12:28; Luke 10:21; John 15:26; Acts 10:38 Message Overview : This message will help people understand that the Holy Spirit was present in Jesus' earthly life and ministry. People will believe that born again living is being filled with, led by, and empowered with the Holy Spirit. People will request resources that wi...

Primary Scripture : Isaiah 61:1-3 Cross References : 1 Samuel 10:6; 2 Samuel 23:1-2; Isaiah 11:2; Luke 1:41; 2 Peter 1:20-21 Message Overview : Through this teaching, people will understand that the Holy Spirit was essential in carrying along the gospel message before the birth of Jesus, through the voices of prophets, and by coming to specific people leading up to that time. They will believe in...

Primary Scripture : Genesis 1 Cross References : Job 26:13 (NLT especially); Isaiah 45:18; John 3:5-8; Titus 3:5 Message Overview : This message will help people understand that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation. People will believe that they need the Holy Spirit for spiritual life. People will ask the Holy Spirit to affirm Himself in them as believers. Prompting Questions : Was it just the...

Primary Scripture : Genesis 1:1-2 Cross References : Job 33:4; Psalm 139: 7-8; Romans 15:13; John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 2:11 Message Overview : This message will help people understand core truths about who the Holy Spirit is: the Holy Spirit is a person; the third person of the Trinity and equal member of the Trinity; was present at creation; active in the world, especially in the life of believer...

Primary Scripture : Romans 3:20-28; Titus 3:3-7 Message Overview : Most people can remember when they had done something bad as a child and wanting relief from guilt. Even as adults, guilt can weigh us down. Fear over our past can steal our joy in the present and cause us to be stuck in our faith. Settled and clear awareness that a Christian stands in the righteousness of Jesus before Holy God has...

Primary Scripture : Mark 1:14-15; Acts 2:36-41 Message Overview : No one believes someone who says that they are sorry for what they said if they continue to say the same things. Even an eight-year-knows the difference between words and actions. Genuine sorrow is always displayed by a change in direction. Jesus began his ministry teaching about repentance and belief. Taking time to define these tw...