Encounter at Illinois State University / ISU

Our great God, beyond comprehension, became human.  The infinite God subjected himself to a finite world.  In doing so, he taught us what real ministry is. (Jn 1:1-14, Gen 1:3, Phil 2:5-8, Heb 4:15-16, John 10:14-15, John 13:34-35, Luke 9:54)

Moses and Jesus seem to agree on what needs to be our greatest priority. (Deut 6:4-6, Ex 14:14, Deut 11:18-21, Mk 12:28-34, Deut 8:6, Jn 13:34-35, Heb 12:1)

The closer we get to Jesus, the less we need to the World to define us (1 John 2:15-17, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 12:1-2, Romans 8:1-2, Matthew 6:21)

Balaam the sorcerer is hired to curse the Hebrew people, but his encounter with Jehovah God will take him down an entirely different path. (Num 22-24, Eph 6:12, I Peter 5:8-9, Matt 6:13, Romans 8:11 2 Tim 1:7, I Jn 1:5, James 1:13, 2 Peter 3:9, Gen 50:20, Rom 8:28)

Community is powerful – will we let it be a force for good or for evil? (Exodus 32:1-20)

The ark of the covenant sits at the heart of the tabernacle.  And the message it speaks is that an imperfect people need a pathway to a perfect God.  And God in His wisdom has provided that pathway. (Matt 5:17-18, Ex 25:1-22, Deut 10:1–5, Heb 10:1, Gal 3:23-27, Jn 14:6, John 1:29, I Cor 6:11, Jn 8:12, Jn 6:35, Jn 14:14, Matt 27:51, Heb 9:11-14, Heb 4:14-16, I Cor 2:2, Acts 17:27)

The altar of incense reveals that the prayers of God’s people intermingle with his tangible presence.  What does it mean to believe that prayer changes things? (Ex 30:1-10, Ex 30:34-37, Ex 40:5,26-27, Ps 141:2, Rev 5:8, Lk 11:9-13, James 5:13-18, Matt 11:24, Rom 8:26-27, I Thess 5:16-18, Lk 3:21, Matt 14:23, Mk 6:46, Lk 6:12, Mk 1:35, Lk 5:16, Lk 9:18, Matt 26:36, Jn 14:13-14, Mark 9, Matt 8)

The golden lampstand reminds us of our dependence on God to be the light of World

As we push deeper into the tabernacle, we find the table of showbread. This easily overlooked piece of furniture reveals a generous God who is constantly giving an invitation to His table. (Ex 25:23-30, Ex 37, Lev 24:5-9, Heb 8:5a, Rev 21:22, Rev 3:20, Matt 9:10, Lk 7:36, Lk 10:38, Lk 19:1-10, Lk 22, Jn 21, Rev 19:9, Matt 6:9-13, 31-34, Deut 8:2-4, Matt 4:4, Ezekiel 3:1-3, Acts 2:42-47, Jn 6:30-35...

The Bible sustains us in the in between moments in our lives.   (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Matthew 4:4, Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:23-24)

How does a true walk with the Lord impact our dating relationships?

Emotions we hold on to and don’t unpack are like vampires with all the power in the dark. How do we unpack our box of emotions to live a more healthy emotional life?

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...