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Author: capital-admin

“Generous Judgement”

There is a time for correction, and there is a place for confrontation, but there is no room for the graceless criticism that characterizes so much of our conversation behind closed doors. If we can’t say anything nice, what does that say about our souls? Instead of picking people apart with your carping and complaining, lift them up with your life-giving encouraging words. The Holy Spirit, who is our comforter & encourager, instills courage, hope, and cheer. That same spirit works through us so we might share in his work of encouraging.

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“Jesus: The Light I Don’t Always Like”

Throughout scripture, we see God bringing light. In the beginning of Genesis, when the universe was void, God created light. In the end of Revelation, God promises there will be no more night. And in the middle, in the Gospel of John, Jesus declares that he is the light of the world. Jesus has the power to bring light to the shadows and chaos of our lives, exposing the darkness and making way for his radiant light. Whether or not we invite him into our lives, his love pursues us, and his creativity has the power to bring light to the world in the most unexpected ways. In response to Jesus...

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“Caught in the Act!”

If we were to sneak up on you when no one’s looking, what might we catch you doing? In John chapter 8, we read a scandalous story about a woman caught in a shameful situation; however, the woman’s story is not the most interesting part. What’s truly controversial about the situation is the radical and scandalous grace Jesus extends to the woman. No matter what you’ve done, no matter how thick your shame, how deep your despair, God’s grace is bigger. His forgiveness is constant and humbling, and it has the power to transform your life.

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“Rethinking Jesus”

When we recall Jesus’s life as told in the gospels, what does this tell us about how we are to lives we are to live on earth? In John 7:37-38, Jesus says, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jesus came to us as God in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit is God in our flesh. It is our job to flesh out the love of Jesus here on earth. May the Holy Spirit use you exactly who you are and exactly where you are to cause others to rethink what they think about Jesus.

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“Give God Everything”

In Romans 12, we are called to respond to the good news of the gospel by offering our whole selves as a living sacrifice. What does this mean? It means that every decision you make; every situation you have to handle; every problem you cannot solve; every hurt you cannot forgive; every temptation that knows exactly how to hit the right pressure points; every high and every low must be turned over to God. In light of God’s grace, his heart of compassion for humanity, and everything he’s done for us, we are urged to respond in surrender and worship. Because God gave everything, give God...

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“Learning a Different Lesson”

The bible tells us that if we seek out the will of God, we will find it. Sometimes we miss finding it because what we want to learn from Him isn’t what he wants to teach us. You may want to learn how to succeed in life so you can find joy & peace, yet God may want to teach you that you don’t need to succeed in order to find joy & peace. You may want to learn how to make people love you, while God wants to teach you that His love for you is more than enough. In order to see God, you have to want to see God—even when what he has to teach you isn’t what you expected.

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“Good & Beautiful Friendship”

Psalm 133, one of the shortest psalms in the Psalter, offers one of the most important yet overlooked truths about life. It describes the beautiful luxury, extravagance, and abundance that can be found in spiritual community. If you experience what is described in Psalm 133, it can transform your life! The pain and hurt from broken marriages, broken friendships, and broken families can be healed and restored. If you’re living your life alone, you’re not really living.

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“The Good and the Bad”

Sometimes, when things are bad, we are called to step in and be the light in the darkness or encourage someone who can. What if God has allowed you to face the most painful struggles of life, to heal from the most brutal pain, what if God has allowed you to go through hell and back so that you can find an Esther and tell them “I’ve got your back!” And when your back is against the wall, be reminded that when bad things happen to you, God can still do good things through you. Due to copyright restrictions from the movies we use in this series, messages from the God and the Movies series...

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“Instant Family”

The Bible is filled with the imagery of God as our Father — And specifically of God adopting us. Galatians 4:5-7 says “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” The creator of the universe wants you and me to be part of his family. It’s almost too good to be true, but the good news IS true: You are accepted. You are secure. You are family. Due to copyright restrictions from the movies we use in this series, messages from the God and the Movies series are not...

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“Good & Loved”

What if all the songs of the world’s greatest rock band simply disappeared from the memory of the world? There was a song sung at the beginning of all things – music with a message for our world and all creation: God is good, and you are loved. Life in the Garden of Eden was signified by wellbeing, satisfaction, fulfillment, completion – a state of wholeness. All was right in the garden until the serpent calls that into question and from that point forward the world forgot the message. If you think God has given up, God doesn’t care, or you may be in a season of suffering – the song won’t...

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“Exile: Life in a Second Choice World”

Do you ever feel that your life is not turning out the way that it was supposed to? Perhaps the version of your life that is panning out is not your first choice of how you’d like your life to be. In a way, we as Christians are all living in exile – sin separates us from life as it was intended at creation in the Garden of Eden, and this world is not our ultimate home. Yet through God’s grace, we can still thrive in his love and abundance. When God doesn’t give you your first choice, may you trust that his second choice may be better than your first.

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“Nothing is Something”

Are you a slave to doing? Do you feel the pressure of responsibility to all the people and projects that depend on you? Are you stressing about all the things you want to achieve within your work or in your personal life? We so often feel that our days are not long enough to accomplish all the good work we wish to do – we feel trapped in a life of being overworked and burdened with responsibility. Well, the bible’s teaching on Sabbath and rest provides freedom from this trap. With permission to rest and rejuvenate our souls, we might learn that doing nothing often leads to the very best...

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“When We Come Together, We Overcome Together.”

In Batkid Begins, we hear about the story of Miles – a child whose entire family was thrust into the world of cancer after a terrifying and confusing diagnosis. Miles’ story is picked up by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and literally thousands of people came together to pull off one of the largest and most elaborate wishes ever fulfilled by the organization. This movie, much like the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, shows us how we can step into a person’s pain and invite healing. It shows us how we can reach out a hand and help others in need. It shows us that when we come...

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“Never Fail Alone”

Friendship – even at its best – is never perfect, because people aren’t perfect. Friends disappoint us; friends exasperate us; friends wound us. But we believe that friendship is worth fighting for. Friends encourage; friends heal; friends lift each other’s burdens. By partnering with others in Jesus, by sharing our troubles and our triumphs with fellow followers of Christ, we can experience something great. If your grief, failure, shame, or struggle is walling you off from spiritual friendship; our prayer is that you open yourself up to community in this season. Due to copyright...

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“Watch it!”

Reading scripture, you won’t find a detailed description of what the devil looks like, but you will find warnings of what the devil does. According to the bible, the devil is a spiritual entity whose mission is to thwart the mission of Jesus. As we trust Jesus with our whole lives, we must invite him into our lives daily in order to resist the power of the devil. If your selfish ambition is leading you to crush the careers of your colleagues, watch it! If your pursuit of power or fame is robbing your spouse & children of quality time with you, watch it! Whatever it is that you’re...

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“When God Has a ‘Bad’ Idea”

Have you ever had an idea in your mind about what God is supposed to do in your life? Perhaps along your journey, you’ve experienced pain, confusion, or detours that don’t align with the idea you had. Perhaps these detours make you wonder if God cares about your life and your circumstances. As the disciples experience in John chapter 7, even when your life doesn’t go as planned, you can trust God’s what & when & where. Seemingly, God’s worst idea—sacrificing his one and only perfect son—turned out to be the best thing to happen to our broken world.

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“Jesus Walks on Your Problems”

Some messages are timeless. They can be shared any time and anywhere, and can always be applicable. Some messages are timely. They resonate particularly strongly in your soul because of the circumstances of your current life situation. If you are facing a season of expectancy, fear, worry, or doubt, waiting on a miracle, perhaps the story from John 6 is a message you need to hear. Whatever storm you may be going through, invite Jesus to be with you.

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“You Won’t Trust Him If You Don’t Know Him”

In John chapter 6, we read accounts of some of the most well-known miracles of Jesus, including Jesus walking on water and feeding the 5000. Perhaps we’ve been missing something from these well-known stories… Perhaps even the disciples in Jesus’ time, who experienced his miracles first-hand, missed the deeper message. When Jesus provided the crowd with food to eat, he was not only offering a temporary provision of food; he was revealing himself as the eternal provider. May you trust this identity even when Jesus doesn’t provide the miracle you’ve been asking for or answer the prayer you’re...

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“You Have to Be There”

Do you ever feel that God doesn’t hear your desperate cries? Worse yet, do you ever feel that he is intentionally ignoring you? Perhaps it feels as if you’ve been totally abandoned by God. When your pain has put God out of reach or your depression has drowned out God’s voice, there may not seem to be any set of encouraging words to bring you up from the pit. In those moments, may the words of Psalm 88 be your personal prayer that keeps you talking to God. No matter what you face, no matter what you go through, just keep talking to him.

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“Near Yet Far”

If you saw someone you knew couldn’t walk for 38 years all of a sudden begin walking, would that get your attention? Would that lend credibility to the one who performed the miracle? In The Gospel of John, Jesus performs that exact miracle. But because he was not doing it the way pharisees thought he should, because he is overturning their interpretations of faith, they tune him out. Worse still, they attack him. The signs point to God and they’re right in front of their faces. They were so convinced they already knew God, they stopped looking for him. In the wisdom of Jeremiah 29:13 – “You...

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“I Like The Personal God, I Don’t Like His Personal Accountability”

Many followers of Christ have a favorite verse they cling to and it becomes their go-to in times of adversity or struggle. But do you have verses you find you would rather avoid? Maybe you want the God from Philippians 4:19 to ‘supply all your needs’ but don’t want the Only Begotten Son from Mark 12:31 who commands you to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Or do you want a God who intervenes to solve your problems but you don’t want a Jesus who has something to say about your promiscuity. Is there a part of your life where you’re trying to keep God at arm’s length because you know you won’t...

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