Closer to God: Grieving Well (Chris)

Following up last week's program on "Lamenting," we will review examples of good grieving and not-so-good grieving from culture and the world.  We then will consider how the ultimate example of both grief and overcoming grief came through Christ and the cross.

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Handout 1
Handout 2

Closer to God: Lamentation (Chris)

We begin a new series called Closer to God: Pathways Through Grief, Gratitude, and Generosity. Each of these experiences is common to every human life. They touch our deepest joys and our deepest sorrows, and always force us to ask big questions of God: Where is he? What is he doing? How should I respond? In this series, we’ll see that in suffering, God meets us in the valley; in gratitude, he teaches us to see his hand in all things; and in generosity, he calls us to reflect his own heart.

This week continues our series (we neglected to record the first lesson). The Bible offers a special process for grieving known as “lamenting.”  We’ll explore what it means to lament and how doing so provides hope as we face suffering and sorrow.

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Handout

Christ in the Old Testament (Bob Daffer)

Bob Daffer led us in a special lesson called "Christ in the Old Testament: A Study of Prophecy, Mysteries Hidden in Scripture, and the Full Gospel of Jesus Christ," beginning with the very first word of Genesis.

We do not have a recording, but you can find his resources below.

Christ in the Old Testament teacher notes
Jewish Feast Day Schedule
Birisheet Prophecy

Following the Way: Resurrection Love (Chris)

This is the final lesson in our "Following the Way" series.  Just before his crucifixion, Jesus told his followers that loving each other as he loved them was his last and main commandment.  Christ then delivered perfect examples of love in seven episodes between his resurrection and ascension.  We will explore each as inspirations for our own discipleship.

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Handout

Following the Way: Resurrection and Life (Randy)

This first Sunday after Easter, we explore how the resurrection of Jesus isn’t just a historical event to believe in — it’s a living reality that transforms how we walk through life today. Through Scripture and discussion, we learn to follow the Risen Christ in faith that trusts, hope that endures, and new life that boldly loves.

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Following the Way: The Path to Easter (Chris)

For Palm Sunday, our "Following the Way" series traces the steps of Jesus over the week that led him to the cross.  What can we learn about Christ, about God, and about our own call to discipleship?

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Handout

Following the Way: Following Love (Randy)

This lesson exploress how following the Way of Jesus means embodying love--sacrificial, active, and transformative. Using 1 Corinthians and Jesus' life and death as guides, the lesson challenges us to reflect on God's love in our lives and community, remembering that true discipleship is shaped by our response to God's love above all else. 

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