Sermon Series Resources

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): October 11

Video Resource: You and Me Forever: A Video Series on Marriage - This 7-session Bible study series, based on the book You and Me Forever from best-selling author Francis Chan and Lisa Chan, will challenge you to view your marriage like never before. These seven inspiring videos will help you dive deeper into the content of the book as you explore themes like: “It's until death do us part” and “ Love, laughter, and intimacy…” among other themes.

Video Resource: The Meaning of Marriage: Tim & Kathy Keller - Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that marriage does not mean 'til death do us part, but merely for as long as my needs are being met. According to the Bible, these assumptions miss what marriage is all about. In this 6-session bible study, Tim Keller and his wife Kathy draw a profound portrait of marriage. Note: the Study Guide is not a requirement to benefit from the video series.

Study Resource: Learning How to Love Well - This is a Q&A with marriage expert Dr. Joe Beam, bestselling author and founder of Marriage Helper, gives practical advice on how to learn how to love well. There is also a Free E-book for download.

Study Resource: Christian Marriage Resources: RENEW.org - When marriages are loving and faithful, they point people to Jesus’ unending love for us (see Ephesians 5:25-33). When marriages fall, they propel debris and destruction. We want to point you to RENEW.org content that can encourage you and those you lead toward strong, faithful marriages that well-represent the love relationship between Christ and the Church

Podcast Resource: ONE Extraordinary Marriage Show/Podcast - Harrison, our Senior Minister, recommended this resource. Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo have helped couples around the world rebuild closeness and connection, communicate with more clarity, and create extraordinary marriages through The 6 Pillars of Intimacy® framework. For more than a decade, they have taught couples that sex, love, and commitment are not just nice ideas… They are the glue that helps a marriage thrive.

Study Resource: Jesus and His Bride, the Church: A Poem - This is a love poem written by Malcom Guite. The poem is about the love between Jesus and his church and the recording has both a male and female voice.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): October 4

Study Resource: God, Sexuality, and You - God and sexuality are two words most people are uncomfortable putting together, but many Christians have ongoing struggles and questions. This series an intentional journey of personal surrender to the heart of God. It is an invitation for you to grapple with real questions—the sin struggles that won’t go away, the shame that still haunts you—and let them draw you closer to God instead of farther away.

Book Resource: Every Man's Battle: Book Recommendation - We live in a world awash with sensual images 24/7. The exponential growth of pornography and internet infidelity has men locked in a battle of spiritual warfare against these temptations, often drowning in addiction, defeat, and shame. But you can be victorious in the battle for sexual integrity. Every Man’s Battle reveals a detailed strategy that has helped millions of men win the war against temptation.

Study Resource: Deconstructing the god of Sexual Identity - I’ve been asked to preach on sexual identity—a god that I don’t believe in. It’s not that I don’t believe in sex. I do. It’s not that I don’t believe in sexual attraction or even sexual orientation. I do. What I don’t believe in is the centering of identity—a sense of the self—in sex or sexuality. Because whatever we center ourselves upon, whatever we use to define our identity is a god, and in this case is a false god.

Book Resource: Kill the Spider: Book Recommendation - In Kill the Spider, Carlos Whittaker shares everything from hilarious, self-deprecating stories to passion-filled wisdom to teach us that we can't just clear away the pesky cobwebs. Instead, we need to find the spider--the source of the issue--and take it out entirely. Carlos offers a breath of fresh air to any believer looking to finally step into the freedom in Christ. Take a seat, open up your book, and grab a shoe. We're going on a spider hunt.

Study Resource: The Sex Dilemma: A Series for Parents - Overwhelmed by the bombardment of messages to your kids pushing them towards sex? Unsure of how to begin talking, or if you're even the best person for the job? In this five-part series, you'll get a clear understanding of why it's so important for you (yes, you!) to engage your kids in these conversations, what to talk about and how to get started.

Study Resource: Sex & Dating: 4-Session Study - God gives clear guidance on how we should treat our bodies and how we should treat others … including the opposite sex. In these four youth Bible study sessions, Hayley and Michael DiMarco use practical and Biblical guidelines to help teens figure out how to build healthy relationships with the opposite sex.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 27

Study Resource: Single but in a Relationship with God - It can be tempting to take things into our own hands and settle for relationships that are less than God's best. Learn how to embrace your singleness without fear, let go of relationships that are not meant for you, and have a real relationship with Jesus. Discover God’s purpose for your single season and a relationship with God that will fulfill and transform your life.

Study Resource: Singleness: What Does God Think? - This is an audio recording of a message delivered by Jenny Salt, the Dean of Students at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Australia.

Study Resource: Single but Not Lonely: An Article - In a world full of distraction, singleness enables us to focus on Jesus “without distraction.” This isn’t to say that we cannot honor Christ if we’re married — God desires married couples to love and serve each other for his glory (Ephesians 5:22–33). But singles can devote themselves to him with fewer disruptions from good but competing desires.

Study Resource: Singleness with Purpose: An Article - If marriage was designed to show off Christ’s love and devotion to the church, then singleness was designed to show off the church’s love and devotion to Christ.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 20

Video Resource: Love Like Jesus: A 10-min Video - Take 10-minutes to view this inspirational video on living a life of love, loving like Jesus loved.

Study Resource: Love’s Persuasive Power - Loving people where they are: A person without love is like a tire without air or a car without fuel. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV). Love should be a distinguishing characteristic of Jesus’ followers.

Study Resource: Agape: Love the Lord, Love Others, Love Yourself - The word “love” is one of the most misused words in our language, as it primarily refers to a feeling that happens to a person. But in the New Testament, “love,” or “agape,” refers to a way of treating people that was defined and exemplified by Jesus himself.

Study Resource:  God’s Love: 1 John 4:7–12 Scripture & Commentary

Study Resource: Relationships, Love, & Discipleship: A Blog - Check out this blog from Bobby Harrington and Discipleship.org – Why are relationships and love so important in discipleship? God was, and continues to be, in relationship with the Son and the Spirit. God is love. God’s commands are grounded and summarized relationally: loving God and loving people.

Video Resource: Crazy Love by Francis Chan - It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts—it's falling in love with God.