Avenue Church

We are more than just lost without Christ. We are spiritually dead. Apart from Him, we are depraved and deserving of His wrath. BUT GOD - in His goodness and grace — has brought us to life through Christ. Understanding our original condition and our new position in Him is more than encouraging because this is not something we can do ourselves. We are saved by faith through grace.

Paul was a persecutor of Christians who became an apostle, church planter, and author of much of the New Testament. His letter to the church in Ephesus is a highlight in helping us understand the new life we have in Christ and how we should live as a result. 

When life becomes difficult, we can overlook the goodness of God or doubt His presence in our lives. We can even see our situations as unfair or undeserved. There is more to life than we see know, but it can only be experienced in Christ. 

What comes to mind when you think about certain people in your life? Your spouse, ex-spouse, co-workers, anyone that you would consider not "for us, with us, or like us?" What comes to mind when we think about others reveals how much of Christ is in us." This one cuts so get ready!

When you look at yourself in the mirror, what thoughts come to mind? What are those thoughts based on? We are often our harshest critics, and the lie we believe the most about ourselves is "I'm NOT good enough." This lie is mass-produced by a couple of more subtle lies. Find out how to take back the power this has over you.

Have you ever been disappointed in God? Feeling like you have to act right to earn His love? Do your prayers feel unanswered, like He's holding out on you? Do you find it hard to trust God? If you said yes, you are believing the lie "that God is not good. " The truth is God is always good! Even when things don't feel good!

The devil is a liar!! Since the beginning of creation, our enemy has been deceiving and accusing us. But we get to choose who we believe.  What we CHOOSE to believe directs our gaze, perception, desire, behavior, and influence. We are always to choose God's word over anything else because everything contradictory to God's word is a lie. 

The Psalms end with PRAISE. For a Christian, at the end of lament, at the end of doubt, at the end of confession, at the end of fear, at the end of anger...there can only be praise. Praise is a posture and attitude, not just an event. It's what we were created to do for all of eternity. 

Do you ever forget that God knows everything and is everywhere... all at the same time? Psalm 139 reminds us to be aware of God's knowledge of us, His presence with us, and His power within us. When we recognize these truths, living with God's purpose in our lives becomes more meaningful. 

We can't fool God. He knows how we feel and what we want to say to Him. Hiding our feelings and holding our words doesn't help anything. Psalm 42 and 43 challenge us to feel what we need to feel and say what we need to say. We don't stop there! We can praise Him again. 

Psalm 23 can be familiar and we can sometimes take it for granted, but we can never forget that Jesus is our "Good Shepherd."

It's hard to see those who aren't living for God prosper. This Psalm of Aseph calls us to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when earthly circumstances seem unfair. It emphasizes the value of seeking God's guidance and presence for comfort and understanding during times of doubt. 

The Psalms are an incredibly vivid collection of praises and prayers in poem format that touch every emotion. You can't rush through them. This week, we provide an overview of the Psalms and examine Psalm 1, which offers a description of life rooted in God. 

As Christians, some of our spiritual habits can be practiced alone. However, that doesn't mean we can live out our faith in isolation. Engagement with the local church is essential for our transformation. This involves not only showing up on Sundays but also on Mondays. What step can you take to engage with the community this week?

Bible reading and prayer are not just things that we do as Christians; they are the primary ways we engage with God relationally. Before we seek knowledge, wisdom, revelation, or answers, let's focus on strengthening our relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

Before adding anything else to our schedules and lists, let's create space to hear from God. We live in a culture filled with notifications and busy schedules that makes it difficult to hear from God. This week, we discuss simplicity, fasting, sabbath, silence, and solitude. 

Habits are hard but helpful. They require discipline. If self-discipline is the greatest form of self-love, spiritual disciplines are how we respond to Christ's love. What if we chose to see spiritual disciplines as an opportunity to build our relationship with Christ instead of an obligation to a religious duty or ritual? Do you see spiritual disciplines as an obligation to fulfil or an invitation to connect?

The anchor of our faith is not just in the death of Jesus on the cross, but in His resurrection. We also experience grief, fear, and disappointment in death. Jesus does more than bring comfort, peace, and hope; He gives us new life.