Central Lutheran

We weren't meant to do life alone. Most of us know that, but it's hard to choose friends with intentionality. This week we take a look at how Jesus chose His closest companions and what we can learn from it. CLOSEST (in the center of a circle with a bunch of other bigger circles…I’ll explain) Matthew 5:1-2 (MSG translation) Romans 12:9-10

The prevailing desire of God is to be with you. Exodus 3:2 Exodus 19:11-12 Summit, Inner circle, Leaders, Nation (I want these four words to be in a pyramid) Exodus 24:15-17 Romans 12:1-2

Luke 15:11-16 There is no SIN that is OUT OF REACH. Luke 15:17-20 Luke 15:20-24 There is no GONE that is TOO FAR GONE. Luke 15:25-32 Luke 15:29 There is no BETTER PLACE than near TO THE FATHER.

The more you value something, the more INTENSELY you search. Matthew 22:15-17 Luke 15:1-2 Luke 15:8-10

For something to be lost, it must be VALUED. Luke 15:1-2 Luke 15:3-7 The more we value something the LONGER the search. Hebrews 12:2 The more we value something the GREATER the celebration. Psalm 23

“The church has been sleeping, but she is awake and putting on her armor now, and marching triumphantly. But do not make a mistake: God cannot do a great work through you without doing a great work in you first.” Evan Roberts Luke 15:1-2 “We can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” Anne Lamott Confess any known sin Re...

Luke 2:52 Finding favor with humankind is more about a posture than a position. Acts 16:25-31 Acts 16:32-34 Open your MIND. Open your CIRCLE. Open your HEART. Favor with humankind is less about how people treat YOU and more about how you treat PEOPLE.

Luke 2:52 MADE BY GOD MADE FOR GOD OFF THE GRID we find our WORTH. Luke 3:21-23 2. OFF THE GRID we find our CHARACTER. “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden - Coach UCLA 3. OFF THE GRID we find our PRIMARY AUDIENCE.

“In our society, we’re inclined to avoid hiddenness. We want to be seen and acknowledged. We want to be useful to others and influence the course of events. But as we become visible and popular, we quickly grow dependent on people and their responses and easily lose touch with God, the true source of our being. Hiddenness is a place of refining. Hiddenness is where we find our true selves.” ~ Henr...

Proverbs 13:12 Isaiah 9:2,6-7 Romans 5:1-8 I have hope because I am absolved of my past. I have hope because I am assured of my future. I have hope because God is working in the present.

On episode 001 we interview Melissa Olson! The Principal of Parkview Elementary. A podcast created specifically with YOU in mind, where we engage in real conversations about the issues of everyday life and faith with people who are making an impact on Chippewa. Basically, if it's happening at Central or around our city and county, we want you to know about it because we believe everyone has a stor...

“Waiting is our destiny as creatures who cannot by themselves bring about what they hope for. We wait in the darkness for a flame we cannot light. We wait in fear for a happy ending that we cannot write. We wait for a ‘not yet’ that feels like a ‘not ever’.” Lewis Smedes Matthew 1:16 “That is the spiral Galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our milk way. It is on of 100 million galaxies. It is 75...

A podcast created specifically with YOU in mind, where we engage in real conversations about the issues of everyday life and faith with people who are making an impact on Chippewa. Basically, if it's happening at Central or around our city and county, we want you to know about it because we believe everyone has a story to tell, a step to take and that, Everyone’s Welcome!

It’s easier to keep track of something than to catch up with it. That’s especially true of our money. If our money could talk, it would say, “I’m easy to track, but lose track of me and you will lose your peace of mind." Regardless of our income, we should pay close attention to where our money goes. Not because we have to, but because it’s in our best interests to. If we don’t—to borrow a phrase...

Are you mastering your money or being mastered by it? Maybe it’s time to flip the script. Instead of striving to have enough money to satisfy a me-first appetite, Jesus encouraged his listeners to have an others-first approach. Just like an appetite that will not be permanently satisfied, having a me-first mentality about money will always be a temptation. But when we have an others-first approach...

If our money could talk, what would it tell us? You might be shocked to find out that what our money would say is pretty close to what Jesus did say—and what we should still consider today. Does our money add meaning to our lives or is it the meaning of our lives? If you choose to live for yourself, you’ll only have yourself to show for it. Spend some time wrestling with one thing that breaks your...

2 Corinthians 5:21 1 John 1:9 Philippians 3:13-14