Local Church Forsyth

We prioritize things that matter the most to us, because we know if everything is important then nothing is. We have a limited amount of time, energy, emotions, brain space, and at some point, we run out. Jonah has a horrible attitude and short-term perspective. In fact, this last chapter paints Jonah in not a very good light. He cares completely about the wrong things, God calls him out on it, an...

When Jonah showed up in Nineveh with a message from God, the people there didn't hesitate. There was immediate change in their actions and directions.

What do we do when we find ourselves walking through the deep waters of our own choices? Turn our focus on God and not the fish surrounding us. The truth is, we are never too far gone to be used by God.

The main character of Jonah is God. We see God cares for all, God will do what He wants, God disciplines sin, and God is full of compassion. God uses Jonah and the whale to communicate a message to the nation of Israel and to us today. God has the 1st and last word in Jonah. It's a little book with a big message.

We don't get stronger by going TO the gym and sitting on a bench. We have to be an active part of the gym to see changes and grow in strength. Our prayer is for you to not just go to church but fully follow Jesus by being a part of it.

It's no secret that we all have some weaknesses, and there is nothing wrong with asking God to take away those weaknesses. But what do you do when God doesn't remove them?

At some point in your life, you have all felt hurt and alone. You did not know what you should do next. What can you do in the waiting?

It's easy to think the God in the bible is not necessarily the same God that works today.

Moses dies and he is described as "there has never been another prophet like Moses whom the Lord knew face to face" – Moses's life ends, but the purpose of God does not.

When we are making faith-based choices, whether big things or small things, we are trying to find our way to stay connected to Jesus. But there are often people and things that get in the way. No matter what, all our choices must be connected to our faith. Then as we look back over a lifespan of days, we can see how God uses those choices to bless us and our families.

When things are going well, when a little success comes our way, when things become easy…we so often buy into our own press clippings. We think because of our hard work, smart decisions, creativity, talent, education…etc. That's why we are where we are. Moses gives warning to the Israelites. It's about to get good in the promised land, don't forget who got you there, you rescued you, and who has b...

Obedience goes against what WE want to do. It means someone has authority over our lives and we don't like that. Deuteronomy takes place 40 years from where we left off. Moses dies at the end of this book, and gets to see the promised land…but doesn't get to enter.

We treat the word humble as an adjective or use humbly as an adverb. But it is truly a verb. It is a way to be. It is active, not passive. What action in your life do you need to choose to do in humility?

James 4:8 – come close to God and He will come close to you. The idea of being in the presence of God doesn't have to be this ethereal idea but something you can experience in your life.

Human beings are not meant to be alone, they are meant to be in community and to interact with each other. Moses was doing what God told him to do, but he was shouldering it all by himself. His father-in-law shows ups, and God uses him to tell Moses the value of help. Think of it through two lenses…Professional and Personal. You can do what God wants but not always in the way He wants.

I think we have all been confident in public and panicked in private. New job, newlywed, new parent, step parent, new school…etc. Moses finds himself in a similar situation. It's a chaotic situation, everyone is panicked, and Moses turns to God...

You just have no idea how God can use one step of obedience, one step out of your comfort zone, one thing out of the ordinary to completely change your life. God did it for Moses, through a shrub that was on fire. Join us as we look at the posture Moses had and the problems Moses had.

As Christians, we should be the best at putting our beliefs and values into action. When we ask someone how they're doing, we should genuinely be interested. Jesus told us that we would be identified as his followers by the way we love one another.

Jesus loved unconditionally, you should too.

Jesus didn't live for the approval of others, and neither should you

Most of us have lost the art of slowing down and resting. We celebrate busy and burnout. But that's not the best way to fully follow Jesus. He rested. Jesus took time to get away from everyone, stop everything, and rest with God.

We get so focused on where we are going or what we are trying to do, that we fail to notice the needs and people around us unless they can help us get to where we are going.

Are you willing to sacrifice the direction you want to go, the time you want it to take, and the commitment you are willing to give…in order to fully follow Jesus?

Your favorite team, your kid, your house, your hobby…when it's something you believe in, you're passionate about it because it is personal. Don't let the calendar weeks after Easter distract you from making your faith personal.

Shame says, "You're not worthy." Jesus says, "You are."   How do I walk in a way that deals with the reality of who I am, my brokenness and yet not walk around in shame, hiding, secretly frustrated with me? Where can I find a healthy balance walking in the reality of my imperfections but knowing that I have a King who says that I am worthy of the Kingdom? What do you think God thinks about you whe...