Encounter at Illinois State University / ISU

We desire God to move and work in our lives.  Yet when He uses a particular tool to do just that, we begin to obsess about that tool and forget the One who gave it. (Mk 2:18-3:6, Heb 13:8, Mal 3:6, Rev 1:8, James 1:17, Ps 90:2, Jn 8:58, Is 43:19, Matt 23:4, Gal 3:24-25, Heb 7:19, I Kings 19:9-18, Ex 3, Luke 5)

In our current age, we see through a glass, darkly.  But God has promised that there is a time coming where he will remake and restore our world.  And He’s a God who keeps His promises. (Rev 21:1-5, I Cor 13:12, Gen 2:17, Gen 3, Jn 16:33, I Peter 5:8, Eph 6:12, Rom 5:17-18, I Cor 15:22, Gen 15:13, Ex 14:29-30, Isaiah 7,9,11,53, Micah 5:2, Num 23:19, Josh 21:45, Josh 23:14, Jn 14:1-3, Jn 6:40, Heb...

Joseph seems to attract favor and trouble everywhere he goes.  God gives him a unique gift that becomes a turning point in one of his darkest moments.  What gifts has God given us?  How do we discover and use those gifts? (Gen 36-46, Prov 3:35, I Cor 12:14-21, Eph 4:11-14, Jn 3:8)

Abraham and Sarah decide they have waited long enough, and have a child with their maidservant Hagar. They twist God’s promise to the point of justifying sin to make it happen. Our desire to bypass God’s timing will never produce the result he intended. (Sarah’s plan quickly results in her own jealousy and hatred) This week we hear how 3 people’s stories of rushing God&#821...

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 his human limitations are not God’s limitations. (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, Matt 28:20, Jn 14:16, Jn 14:7, Rom 8:9,...

In a desperate moment, Moses lets his anger get the better of him and murders a man.  This turning point may teach us some things about sin that we allow in our own lives.   (Ex 2:11-15, I Jn 1:5, Eph 5:18, Rom 6:12, James 1:14-15, Numbers 32:23, 2 Cor 5:23, Is 1:18, Lam 3:22-23, Jn 16:8, I Jn 1:9, 2 Cor 7:10, James 5:16-17, Matt 5:23-24, Ps 34:14, Eph 6, Ps 119:11, Heb 12:1-2, I Peter 5:8-9,...

Good stories have sad chapters, good stories change you, good stories challenge you. And we know God is a good author of your story. (John 9)

We see a picture of a perfect Garden in Genesis and in Revelation, but in between those gardens is another garden, one of suffering.  What does it mean to live a life of faith in a world where we can expect trouble and suffering? (Mark 14:32-42, Heb 4:15, Jn 16:33, Neh 8:10, Luke 4:13, Matt 26:52-53, I Cor 10:13, Jn 17:14, Matt 5:4, Ps 34:18, Ps 147:3, James 1:3, Rom 8:28)

Jesus loves to provide invitations that beckon us beyond our barriers.  But when we ignore too many of his invitations, the opportunities God provides may start to look more like obstacles. (Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:3, Phil 3:5, James 4:6, 2 Chron 16:9, Psalm 23)

We are all holding tight. Jesus challenges us to let go of what we are holding onto and follow Him. {Mark 10:17-27}

In the life of Peter, we watch the power of a submitted, struggling-toward-the-Lord, kind of life. And through Peter’s journey, we hear whispers of what Jesus desires to accomplish in each of us. (John 21:2-19, Lk 5:1-10, Mk 5:41, Matt 14:22-33, Matt 26:31-35, Mk 14:66-72, Rom 12:1, Prov 24:16, I Cor 12:4-6, 2 Cor 12:8-10, Rom 8:28, Acts 3:12-13, I Peter 5:1-4)

Fall Retreat – Session 4 – Sunday AM

Fall Retreat – Session 3 – Saturday PM

Fall Retreat – Session 2 – Saturday AM

Fall Retreat – Session 1 – Friday PM

In one of their first interactions, Jesus decides to give Simon an entirely new name.  Jesus doesn’t just see the man in front of him; he sees what that man has yet to become.  What future version of us might Jesus see when he looks at us? (Jn 1:35-42, Matt 17:1-6, Matt 16:13-18, Rev 2:17b, Matt 16:18, Matt 16:24-25, Jn 3:30)

Jesus’ Temptation – In Luke 4, we see Jesus “led” into the wilderness where he’ll be tempted. What do we learn about the nature of temptation in this passage, and how do we overcome temptation in our own lives?   { Luke 4:1-13}

A bizarre moment with Jesus at a dinner party with Simon the Pharisee rewrites our understanding of love and grace.  Knowing we are loved and forgiven allows us to respond in real worship.   (Luke 7:35-50, Lk 5:12, Lk 7:6, Matt 22:35-40, Deut 6:4-9, I Jn 4:19, Luke 15:1-30, Jer 31:3)

What do the prophet Isaiah and Mary, mother of Jesus, have in common? They both respond to a huge interruption with a resounding yes. How do we respond when God invites us into a life of purpose and partnership but comes with a cost?   (Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 1:26-38)

At the end of the Lord’s prayer, we find a short section that comes from I Chronicles.  We are reminded that focusing on God’s kingdom and character puts our prayer requests in their proper context. (Matt 6:5-13, I Chron 29:11, Luke 11:1-2, Ps 24:1, James 5:15, I Jn 5:14, 2 Peter 1:3-5)

Satan plays a large role in our temptation, so what can we do about it? God gives us all we need to stand under grace when facing temptation.   (Matthew 6:13, 1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

Every day offers us new invitations from the Lord.  Will we take them?   (Acts 2:36-47)

As we understand how much we are forgiven, it compels us to forgive others.   (Mat 18:21-35, Matt 6:12, 1 Jn 1:8-9, Eph 4:32, Mrk 11:25, Col 3:13, 1 Cor 11:27-32)

God’s provision often looks different than what we expect, but it changes us and draws us closer in relationship to Him.

Acknowledging the holiness of God comes early in Jesus’ pattern of prayer.  How can it be that our God is both holy and familiar?   (Matt 6:9, Jn 8:12, Jn 12:35, James 1:17, I Jn 1:5, Ex 3:13, Is 6:1-8, Heb 4:16, Rom 8:3-4, Phil 3:9, Matt 5:48, Eph 5:8-9, Ex 34:35)