Flagstone Church of Christ

Pet names, nicknames, "handles" - there are a lot of different labels we wear and a variety of names people call us by. Often those names are based on character traits or at least the way other people see or feel about us. There's a man in scripture named John who had a very unique nickname - one that described his character and had come to define him as a person. But then John exper...

We love “before and after” stories, especially stories of people who experience some kind of significant change in their lives. It’s fascinating to see the distinct differences in what a person used to look like or act like before that transformation took place and what that person’s life looks like now. The Bible is full of “before and after” stories, and we’re going to dive into some of them and...

We may believe there is a Holy Spirit. We may believe that the Holy Spirit is still active in our world and in our lives. But even if we have an understanding of what the Holy Spirit does, how do we know He’s actually doing it? How do I grow in my awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and action?

Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, and that the Holy Spirit is living in all of us who have put our faith in Jesus and become children of God. But what does the Holy Spirit actually do? Is He just an idle presence, or does He take a more active role in my life? If I want to stay in connection with the Spirit, it's important for me to understand and acknowledge what...

What is the Holy Spirit? Is it a force? Is it a ghost? Is it my conscience? Is it some kind of nebulous, supernatural energy? The Holy Spirit is talked about throughout scripture, and yet the Holy Spirit is something (or someone) many Christians know very little about. For the next few weeks at Flagstone, we're going to dive into the mystery of Holy Spirit and discover the amazing blessings th...

We often think of worship as something we do in private devotional times or when we're together with other Christians. It's the singing and praying and scripture-reading that we do to remind ourselves of God's goodness and to give Him honor and praise for His blessings. But what if worship is something that stretches beyond what I do in a church building? What if worship actually has m...

Some churches take communion every Sunday; some take communion once a month; some on certain special occasions. Some churches use one cup; some use several. Some churches only have certain church leaders distribute communion elements; some let anyone function as a communion server. So which way is the right way to participate in communion? And maybe more importantly, why do we even observe communi...

We praise athletes for their performance on the field, and we praise actors for their performance on the big screen. When someone does something that we are amazed by or thankful for, we express that emotion through words and actions of praise. But what about praise for God? Do we allow His actions to move us to praise Him for what He's done? And is there a right way and a wrong way to give Go...

Search through scripture, and you’ll find a variety of methods people used to engage in worshipping God. Over the last few centuries churches have united and divided themselves over various worship practices, trying to determine what is the “right way” to worship. For the next several weeks at Flagstone we are going to rediscover worship. We are going to remind ourselves, or maybe learn for the fi...

Throughout the Bible we see God being worshipped in a variety of ways - sacrificing animals, presenting crops, singing songs, and more. Some methods of worship were very ritualistic; some were less formal. But as we look through the history of God's people worshipping Him, we find some core principles that those worship methods have in common and some challenging questions that all of God'...

Search through scripture, and you’ll find a variety of methods people used to engage in worshipping God. Over the last few centuries churches have united and divided themselves over various worship practices, trying to determine what is the “right way” to worship. For the next several weeks at Flagstone we are going to rediscover worship. We are going to remind ourselves, or maybe learn for the fi...

There was a moment 2000 years ago that changed everything – a moment when fear was defeated, when guilt was crushed, when death was conquered. But when the stone was rolled away and Jesus walked out of the tomb that used to hold His lifeless body, in that moment we received forgiveness and peace and hope. And we invite you to come discover and celebrate that with us at Flagstone this Easter.

Sometimes the things that we feel called by God to do seem relatively easy, or at least they don't make us very uncomfortable. But sometimes God challenges us through His Word or through His Spirit or even through certain circumstances to take actions and make decisions that stretch us and push us beyond our comfort zones. But what if that's not what I really want to experience? What if I...

Prayer can be a powerful thing. But it can also be a very frustrating thing, especially when my prayers aren't being answered...or at least not the way I want them to be. Unanswered prayers can push me to the limit of my relationship with God and my trust in Him. What do I do when it seems like God isn't listening? What do I do when it seems like, even if God is paying attention, His answe...

I act right. I'm helpful when I can be. I'm a good citizen. I go to church. I take care of my family. I donate to charity. I may have a lot of actions that I take that I hope are not only helping me be a good person but are also making a difference in this world. But if I don't see any impact? What if it feels like trying to do the right thing or trying to help is just a waste of time?...

Most of us find ourselves being tempted on multiple occasions to do something we shouldn't. But many of us have that certain temptation, that certain habit or struggle, that is consistently a problem. We try not to give in; we try to stay strong. But we often find ourselves being pushed to the limit of our ability to say "no." What do I do when my temptations push me to my breaking p...

We may attribute distance from God to busyness or lack of focus. Sometimes we may even accuse God of distancing Himself from us (even though that's probably not the case). But there are also times when the source of disconnection is us - it's our own decisions and our own actions and the regret and guilt of our mistakes that can push us to a breaking point in our faith. What do I do when m...

We all have our breaking points - the limits of what we feel like we can handle. Sometimes we find ourselves at an emotional or even spiritual breaking point because of consequences to our own choices. But sometimes we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and pushed to our limit, and we have done nothing to deserve it. What do I do when I'm overwhelmed by circumstances beyond my control...especi...

When there are conflicts or when there is distance in a certain relationship, I may try to blame the other person and hold them at fault. Or I may be able to take an honest look at my own actions and see how I may be contributing to the problem. But what if the source of the issue is rooted, not just in my actions, but in my self-esteem? What if the way I view myself is having a negative impact on...

So many feuds between families and friends, so many conflicts between nations, so many squabbles between couples could possibly be prevented if one or both parties would choose to forgive the other. And yet the core issue that causes distance and disconnection in many relationships is an inability, or maybe just an unwillingness, to forgive. How do I truly forgive someone who has caused me pain? A...

There is a significant truth revealed throughout scripture - our words have power. God calls us to use our words wisely because they have the power to give life or to destroy. If I'm experiencing difficulty in a certain relationship, I need to recognize how my words might be impacting that connection. But how can I tell if my words are helping or hindering the growth of this relationship? And...

There may be a conflict between the two of us, maybe some resentment, maybe some frustration. And my initial response may be to blame you as the source of the problem. But what if the main reason for our conflict has less to do with your words and your actions (or lack of them) and more to do with my own assumptions about you and about our connection with each other? What do I if my unhealthy expe...

We all want to have some sense of control over certain events in our lives. We want to feel like we can dictate certain circumstances to our benefit if possible. But what happens when my desire to maintain control ends up infringing on someone else's well-being? I can consciously, or often subconsciously, make a habit of trying to dictate other people's actions and attitudes...and that&#39...

Over the last few years, there has been a steady decline in the U.S., not just in church attendance, but in church involvement as well. There are so many other things that people devote their time and energy to that getting connected with or volunteering at a church has taken a back seat to other priorities. But is it really important whether I go to church or not? What if I go to church fairly re...

Throughout the centuries of God's relationship with His people, one of the things He consistently challenged them with was their generosity...or their lack of it! God has always wanted His people to have a heart for giving, not just their time and attention, but also their finances and possessions. Why does it matter to the God (who doesn't need my money) whether or not I'm generous wi...