Many in our world are convinced that a fair God grades on the curve. If we are highly moral, God will gladly reward our efforts and our good intentions and open heaven for us. Our understanding of good and evil, combined with the direction we receive from our conscience, is all we need. Paul addresses this thinking with some surprising answers in Romans 2:1-16.
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Paul makes the transition here from looking at a life that is lived by faith to a life that is not, basically a life that leads to sin and destruction. Join us as Paul begins to address sin, the cause, the effects and the consequences.
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Most of us consider opportunities carefully. We don’t want to waste our time and energy. We want to invest in things that are important and meaningful. In Romans 1:8-17, Paul tells us why after 20 years of following Christ he is excited about investing in the church in Rome. God calls us to invest in the kingdom of Christ in our day. You will discover why that is a great choice to make.
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As a follower of Christ, what is essential? Paul identifies three things that are essential in his introduction to Romans. These three things will help lead us to obedience that comes from faith (v. 5). 
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As we begin a new year, we sometimes think about steps we’d like to take to improve ourselves over the next 12 months. We can focus on things like exercise, eating, and building skills. But there is a part of our lives that we often don’t consider that is more crucial than all of these. Join us as we look into James 1:13-15 and look at what may be your biggest challenge for 2012.
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God loves engaging very ordinary people in the unfolding work of his kingdom. Simeon was promised a glimpse of Jesus, and given words to say to Mary and Joseph. Like him, Christ followers are given the opportunity to await and declare the savior who will return a second time. Simeon provides us with picture of how to fulfill that role.
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There is much pressure in our culture to minimize the role of Christ in Christmas. Some don’t object to Jesus portrayed as a baby, but they recoil at the idea that he came as our King. People have been resistant to the idea of a God-given king since the foundation of Israel. We’re going to look at God’s response in Psalm 2, in which he celebrates his support of an earthly kind (David) and anticipates the king born on Christmas (Jesus).
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1 Corinthians 10:6 tells us that the people in the Old Testament are to be used as examples for us today. As we conclude the Joseph story, we see an example of someone finishing well. Join us as we look at how Joseph can help us to finish well.
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One of the challenges for Christians is to maintain the simplicity and purity of our faith in a world where consumerism, hedonism, and a host of secular values constantly seek to reshape it into something else. What can we do to keep it intact? Jacob and his extended family faced the same challenge when they moved to the great culture of Egypt. What could they do to avoid being swallowed up by this massive culture? We learn some lessons about preserving Christian truth in an alien culture in Genesis 46:28-47:12.
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Transitions are difficult for us at times. And the bigger the change, the more formidable the decision. From time to time God may call us to leave much of what is familiar behind. But he offers confidence and courage through his promises. Join us as we look at a surprising declaration God makes to Jacob as he invites him to trust him in the last great adventure of his life.
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When you’re in the middle of a story, it’s easy to become discouraged because you don’t see how issues will get resolved. Both Joseph and his family were in the middle of a big story when he disclosed himself to his brothers. He was living proof that God brings hope when you think the future will be grim and impossible. In today’s teaching we discover how we can act in hope even though we don’t know how our stories will play out on earth.
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Sometimes God seems to complicate simple tasks. He sometimes puts barriers in your way that don’t seem to make sense. He allows difficulties that test your trust and your patience. We see this unfold in the relationship between Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 42-44. And if we look closely, we’ll discover that God has wise purposes behind his sometimes confusing plan.
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We can learn a lot by looking at the life of Joseph as told in Genesis. One of the main lessons we can learn is how to go through problems or challenges. These lessons are priceless as we all have difficult circumstances we have to deal with. Join us as we look how Joseph uses faith in God to make it through his challenging circumstances.
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In some places truth is now regarded as relative or as something that does not even exist. When Harvest Ev. Free Church started, ministry was built around the value of ‘The Bible as God’s Truth.’ Is that practical today? Should Harvest and other churches go in a different direction? Pastor Dane Schaudt answers those questions as he explores Paul’s directives about truth and preaching from 1 Timothy 3:14-15 and 2 Timothy 4:1-4.
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Sometimes it seems as though life is random. Things just happen. Joseph must have felt that way after 13 years in obscurity as a slave. But God has a way of preparing us for an important role in his plan. In this study we’ll learn how God worked out his plan to make Pharaoh need a man he never knew existed 48 hours earlier.
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Sometimes it seems like God is detached from our lives or relatively inactive. We can wonder if he’s bypassed us for other things. We can even regard him as indifferent. But God is at work even when we’re not surrounded by miracles. That’s what we see in the life of Joseph in Genesis chapter 40, where nothing seems to happen for a number of years. But God is on the move.
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We all know people who have become bitter or cynical as a result of a real or perceived injustice. But God doesn’t want the evil realities of a fallen world to disfigure the character or outlook of his people. In this study, we’ll look in Genesis 39 at how to experience such things without becoming distorted by them.
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Everyone grew up in a family with some level of dysfunction. Some were mild, some were severely dysfunctional. What is amazing is that no matter the dysfunction, God can and will work in and through the situation. Join us as we begin looking at the life of Joseph and his dysfunctional family!
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For some people, friendship is a great idea, but it reminds them of lots of work. Friendships are not easy. They complicate life. They can be perplexing and confusing. This raises the question, “Are they worth it?” Today we look at the last long scene of the friendship between David and Jonathan. It reminds us of some of the rewards God gave them through their personal and spiritual bond. The cost of friendship is indeed worth it.
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Even the best of relationships involve moments when friends don’t see eye-to-eye. How do we respond to the barriers that sometimes emerge between us and others we care about? You’ll discover how the Spirit directed David and Jonathan in that task in 1 Samuel 20:1-17.
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Relationships get complicated when more than one person is involved, especially when some friends don’t value other friends the way you do. It creates a need to balance and adjust how we manage our friendships. Discover how Jonathan did that courageously in 1 Samuel 19.
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We’d all like a magic formula to make friendships go well—some kind of glue to bond us to one another. David and Jonathan’s relationship reveals three keys for Christ-followers who want to make deep and meaningful relationships with each other. We’ll look at some of the dynamics reflected in their encounter in 1 Samuel 18:1-4.
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Stressful times can be tough to navigate alone. The book of Ruth shows us how two amazing women were able to chart a course through incredible personal difficulty as they encouraged one another in their common faith. Their relationship helps us understand how our faith friendships can help us when the road of life becomes difficult.
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A changed life because of an encounter with Jesus is something that all Christians should rejoice about, but there is a cost. As we look at the interaction between Jesus and a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus (yes, he was a wee little man) in Luke 19:1-10, we see what happens when Jesus comes into our lives, saves us and changes us.
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It doesn’t take much work to find your life filled with busyness. Christ followers can often run breathlessly through life involved in all kinds of good things, and yet wonder if any of it makes a difference. How do we invest ourselves without being caught in the whirlwind of activity? We’ll begin to answer that question as we listen to Jesus in Luke 10:38-42.
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We each have an inbred desire to achieve, to be great. But when we look around we notice that many who pursue greatness do damage to themselves or others. The answer is not to embrace mediocrity, but to pursue greatness in a radically different way. Jesus tells us what that is in Matthew 18:1-4.
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We’re sometimes irritated when others call our behavior predictable. We like to be creative, innovative, and flexible. We’re more than a formula. Yet sometimes we treat Jesus that way. We put him in a safe little box. Matthew 14:21-28 presents a challenging, even disturbing account of Jesus. It reminds us that he’s not as predictable as we sometimes make him out to be. Learn how that’s a good thing for us.
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In Luke 7:36-50, we see a story of two understandings about sin and forgiveness. As we see Jesus interact with a Pharisee named Simon, and woman who was known to be sinful, we see that when we understand sin and forgiveness properly, everything changes.
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Sometimes Jesus works in surprising ways. Did you know that in the Gospels there are seven instances of Jesus healing someone who was blind - and that each time it was a little different? Join us as we look into the surprising way Jesus healed the blind man who came to him in Bethsaida from Mark 8:22-26.
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An encounter with Jesus can radically change people. It can change you, me and even someone possessed by 'Legions' of demons. Join us as we look into the transforming power of Jesus and the reaction of the people to this transforming power.
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In Luke 5:17-26 there is a story of men who bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. His response to the faith of these men is to forgive the sins of the paralyzed men. Regardless of the suffering we might be going through, what we really need is forgiveness. What Jesus does and says teaches us that we need roof wrecking faith to receive what we really need from the only one who can give it to us.
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Faith is both a simple and a complex topic. Jesus teaches about faith. He also uses people as examples of faith. The Centurion in Luke 7 is an example of faith. Join us as we look into the amazing faith this Centurion possessed.
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Sometimes we unwittingly live in a cave of our small expectations. We are safe, but life gets dull and routine. Jesus calls us to something different. Watch how he invites us to a more exciting life as we eavesdrop on a conversation between Jesus and Peter in Luke 5:1-11. Learn how Jesus invites you into a wider world!
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It’s easy to put Jesus in a ‘Sunday Box’ and assume he’s not interested in the normal parts of our lives when we’re not praying, singing hymns, or doing spiritual things. But Jesus has an agenda that may surprise you. Join us as we watch him interrupt a very ordinary day in the life of a woman in John 4:4-18.
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We are starting a series entitled "Life Changing Conversations". Join us as we look at a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus from John 3. Jesus addresses the difference between religion and true salvation.
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Each of us is created to bring God glory. Our gifts, talents and passions are all different, and we are all placed in different jobs, but Colossians 3:17 tells us that "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." This message is a charge to our graduating seniors, but speaks to all of us as well.
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God has uniquely designed each one of us. We are given spiritual gifts, passions, abilities and different experiences that mold us into who we are as individuals. God wants each one of us to use our unique make-up to minister for the Kingdom. Join us for another coffee table discussion as Matt and Rodney examine these topics.
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One thing that each one of us is given that is the same for all is time. We each have 24 hours a day. The questions are: How do you use your time? What does God expect of your time? Are you honoring God in how you use your time? Are you being intentional with your time? Join us for a coffee table discussion as we delve into these topics.
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Easter reminds us of the resurrection of Christ. But how does that reality shape our lives all year long? Paul demonstrates three characteristics of a life that lives in the ongoing power of the resurrection. Join us as we examine Acts 17:16-18 and see the difference an active awareness of the resurrection can make in our lives week in and week out.
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Much of life happens through conversations, daily interactions between people. Listen in to a conversation that lays out the Easter message in dialog format.
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It’s easy to drift away from important issues. Bureaucrats forget the purpose of their offices and shuffle paper. Mates stop investing in each other and try to impress their neighbors. Christians get wrapped up in ‘doing church’ and lose touch with Jesus. As Paul ends the letter to the Galatians, he summarizes the two key choices we all must make about the framework of our faith. They will take us in very different directions.
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We’re drawn to simple phrases that describe how life generally works. You’ll hear people say, ‘What goes around—comes around.’ The Bible reminds us that instead of inventing 10,000 laws and guidelines, we can learn from some simple basic principles. Galatians 6:6-10 presents one such principle. Join us as we look at the ‘Laws of the Harvest’.
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When we walk in the Spirit of God, our partnership not only impacts our relationship with God, but the way we respond to others. It takes the Spirit’s wisdom to respond to failure within the body of Christ. We often simply feel uncomfortable or overreact. Galatians 6:1-5 teaches us how the Spirit would lead us to healthier responses when those who claim to know Christ stumble.
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Living in spiritual victory is a tremendous challenge in our day. Sometimes it seems like the harder we try, the more difficult the task becomes. It’s so easy to be drawn into those things that we know we should not do. The Bible addresses this conflict and points to a way we can improve our performance. It’s linked to the work of the Spirit. Join us as we look at what the Spirit offers us in Galatians 5:16-25.
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Freedom is something we love to celebrate. What does God speak of when he offers us freedom in Christ? How can we use this freedom without slipping into anarchy where we simply do whatever we want because we’ve been rescued by God. Paul addresses how to enjoy this freedom without being destructive in Galatians 5:13-15.
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When we’re pressured by people who love rules and want us to live by them, it’s very tempting to yield. Though we may have freedom, the forcefulness of someone’s personality or their persistence can persuade us to embrace some artificial standard. We may conform because we don’t want to argue or don’t want conflict. Paul speaks to this retreat into legalism and gives us courage to draw lines where necessary in Galatians 5:1-12.
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Sometimes we sign up for one experience or product and wind up with something very different. The Christians in Galatia thought that their legalism was getting them authentic Christianity, but it would lead them to something very different. Join us as we explore the unexpected consequences of legalism Paul describes in Galatians 4:21-31.
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When we think of religious legalism, we often think of people who scrutinize every word in the Bible and come to inflexible positions on everything they find there. But legalism is much more than a discussion about the Bible. It can do great damage to relationships. Paul experienced this with the Galatians, and describes the corrosive impact of legalism on relationships in the church in Galatians 4:12-20.
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The way we look at ourselves and our world shapes our future. Paul reminds us of the power of the world to convince us to think like slaves to its ideas and the impersonal forces around us. How do we break free? What can we do to think like the free people we are in Jesus? Join us as we look for answers to these questions from Galatians 4:1-11.
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You often hear people speculate that they probably do enough good deeds for God to eagerly welcome them to heaven when they die. That sounds like a good idea and a reachable goal for most people. The question is, “Does God affirm this idea in scripture?” Join us as we look at the Bible’s assessment of our attempts to merit heaven by our efforts.
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What do you think will happen to you after you die? Why do you think that? Are your views based on society, or your wishes or on the Bible. This is a very important topic as what you believe happens at the “end” should direct how you live. Join us as we look at what the Bible says about this topic.
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Time, we are all given the same allotment of time in each day. How we use it varies drastically from person to person. How are you using your time? Do you focus on what is most important? Join us as we look at “how to number our days.”
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Sometimes things from our past make us feel we aren’t able to be used by God. God not only wants us to overcome our past, he wants to use our past to help people now and in the future. Join us as we talk about overcoming loss and offering forgiveness.
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The principle of the path is obvious when we travel (that the road you are on will take you to your destination). It isn’t always so obvious in how we live our lives. Is the path you are on taking you to the destination God wants for your life? Join us as we talk about how to get on – and stay on – the right path!
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When a new year begins, we sometimes set new goals, often reflected in what we call resolutions. Did you know that there are certain kinds of resolutions God not only encourages you to make, but also will help you keep if you trust him? Well look at three of those in our text from Hebrews 10:19-25.
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