Sermon Series Resources

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): August 16

Study Resource: Biblical Self-Image: A Bible Hub Study - Self-image refers to the perception or mental picture one has of oneself. It encompasses beliefs about one's abilities, appearance, and personality. In a biblical context, self-image is significant because it influences how individuals relate to God, themselves, and others.

Study Resource: Prayer and Fasting: A Plan by Justin White

Study Resource: Fasting: A Surprising Journey into Joy - Desperation led to a new spiritual rhythm. In a season of overwhelming burden, the author turned to fasting and found unexpected peace and clarity through surrender.

Study Resource: Prayer and Fasting: A Free Resource from RENEW - This is a free study that reintroduces the practice of prayer and fasting to find renewal.

Book Resource: Anatomy of the Soul: Spiritual Practices - Recommended Book: Discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): August 9

Study Resource: Radical Pursuit of Rest: The C. S. Lewis Institute - Whether it’s in our careers, our churches, or our spiritual lives, many of us operate on the same basic assumption — that in the Christian life, busier is better. This assumption in turn is based on a supposition that equates devotion with activity. The more we love Christ, the thinking goes, the more we do. Whether individuals or churches, those who love Christ the most will do the most.

Study Resource: Intentional Sabbath: A Brief Article - We all thrive on structure, even those of us who resist it. Certain cadences govern our days for food, drink, hygiene, sleep, productivity, and exercise. These things don’t happen by accident; they happen because we submit to structure.

Video Resource: The Sabbath Practice: A 4-Session Workshop - Sabbath is time set aside to stop, rest, delight, and worship. In our era of chronic exhaustion, emotional unrest, and spiritual stagnation, few things are more necessary than the recovery of this ancient practice.

Study Resource: A Spirit-Softened Heart - This is an article about how our good Father walks us through the tough times when we surrender to His yoke rather than our own.

Book Resource: Anatomy of the Soul: Spiritual Practices - Discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): August 2

Study Resource: Spiritual Disciplines: A Bible Hub Study - Spiritual disciplines are Scripturally grounded practices designed for growth in devotion, character, and faithfulness. They are not intended as mere habits or rituals but as transformative activities that align one’s heart and mind with the will of the Creator.

Video Resource: Becoming Like Jesus: A 6-Session Study - The Christian life is not up and to the right but a lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into people who look like Jesus. In this 6-session series, pastor and author Matt Chandler guides us through Jesus’s beatitudes found in Matthew 5. As we live out our faith, Jesus develops in us a new way of living so we can be people who reflect His kingdom.

Study Resource: The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard - This is a book that presents a way of living that enables men and women to enjoy the fruit of the Christian life. Dallas reveals how self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines. It is relevant to everyone who strives to be a disciple of Jesus in thought, action, and intention.

Study Resource: Family Discipleship Blueprint: A Free Book - As helpful as church programming can be, Christian parents are waking up to the role God has given them to disciple their children. Families are realizing more than ever that they need more than a few ideas to succeed in imparting faith to this generation. We need a plan.

Podcast Resource: Growing in Spiritual Disciplines: A Podcast - Paul commanded Timothy, “Train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7). The spiritual disciplines are essential to our growth into Christlike maturity, so we must learn to invest ourselves in these patterns daily.