Here is the video today that Ryan shared about – “Indescribable” by Louie Giglio – the part owner of the record label that Chris Tomlin and Matt Redmond are on. There are 5 videos, each 10 minutes long and I recommend you take about an hour to sit down and go through each video because they are all one movie, just broken up into 5 videos. This is truly, indescribable.

Hey Guys!

As we approach the weekend I wanted to talk about something from 1 Corinthians that stood out to me. It’s about love. Jesus tells us in John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” How has God loved us? This question yields dozens of answers, many of which have a deeper correlation with other areas of scripture, but I want to focus on what the Holy Spirit directs Paul to write about love in 1 Corinthians.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
- 1 Corinthians 13: 1 – 8

In the first section of this scripture, Paul is painting the picture of all the things of God that he possesses or could possess. Yet without having love, the love that Christ showed to us, he has nothing. He could give away everything to the poor, give up his life as a martyr or prophesy the Word of God, yet all these things without love is nothing. This love that Paul is talking about and that Jesus commands us to portray is from the Greek word agape.

Agape love, different from a love that contains passion and fire (Greek word eros) or brotherly love (Greek word philos), describes a love that is based  on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind of love goes against our human nature. It is a giving, selfless, expect nothing in return kind of love . Which is how Jesus loves us.

Think about the descriptions of love – patient, kind, doesn’t envy, doesn’t parade itself, isn’t puffed up, doesn’t behave rudely, doesn’t seek its own, isn’t provoked, thinks no evil, doesn’t rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Think about how you interact with people – your family, friends, teachers and strangers. Is Jesus’ love pouring through you as you are with others? Or do you find yourself resenting certain people or being impatient with them?

I challenge you to really consider this picture of love and how you can become more conscious in acting like Christ daily. Until then, read up on 1 Corinthians and for those of you who have already read the whole thing, awesome! For those who haven’t, here are some key verses that I would like to encourage you to go over that go with the four themes that we’ll go over on Sunday:

1) Idolatry: 1 Corinthians 10:6-4
2) Division: 1 Corinthians 3:4-5
3) Gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
4) The Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Peace out homies!

Yo dudes!

So, we started studying the first of Paul’s 13 letters yesterday. I am so excited for this study. I wanted to encourage you guys with a few things to think about and do this week. 

1. Read Romans.

2. Think back on the  discussion questions everyday and I think that as the week goes on and you become more familiar with the book of Romans that your individual answers to the questions will begin taking shape.

3. Keep the attitude of wanting to glorify God in everything that you are doing.

Guys, I am really excited for this group and the things that God is doing in every one of us. Please remember what we talked about Sunday and the importance of being in the Word everyday. Let me know if you guys have questions about anything at all. 

Have a great Monday and a great week. Encourage each other!

-Ryan

Recapping our short review of the life and conversion of Paul, we see that Saul was orchestrating great persecution on those who believed in Christ. Acts 9:14 tell us that Saul had authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on the Lord’s name. Saul was there when Stephen was giving his final address to the chief priests (Acts 7) and was consenting Stephen’s death. Saul was so deep with hate and contempt towards Christians that I believe it’s appropriate to compare him to a modern day terrorist. Saul imprisoned and killed people for no other reason than the fact that they held different beliefs than he did. Sound familiar? But the power of our Lord Jesus Christ is so great that He took this man Saul, blinded him, brought him to his knees and humbled him before Himself. Transforming Saul’s life and gave him a new name, Paul. And used a man who once was doing everything in his power to eliminate all of those who were followers of Christ to be a man who did everything in his power to bring new believers to Christ.  God told Annanias in Acts 9:16 that Paul will suffer many things for His name sake and Paul faced many challenges, adversities, tragedies, afflictions, imprisonments and persecution in his ministry.

The 13 letters written by Paul – Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galations, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon – are letters written for encouragement and support. As we delve into these 13 letters, we encourage you to delve deeper into your reading.

Romans 1:16 says that I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.We are not ashamed for our belief in Christ and our belief in our salvation.

Here is a preview of our Sunday morning series. Get ready. View it here.

All the guys of the youth group will attend the church’s Men’s Last Friday instead of Youth Group. Always held at Calvary Chapel Palm Harbor.

The brand new site is now up! We have many new things and old things on the site. It has been updated to be more user friendly and will include frequent updates with new content.

We are on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. It’s time to get connected with one another, and most importantly our Lord Jesus Christ. Word!

Get ready for fresh things to come for you guys. Let’s get ready.