Guest Speaker Dr. Barry Banther

"There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden."

Proverbs 30:18-19

"EMBRACE: How to Accept GOD's Discipline"

Embracing God’s Discipline

11My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. 12 For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT)

People Have 2 Extreme Views of GOD:

How To Embrace GOD’s Discipline:

1. Don’t ____________ it. v.11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,

ISAIAH 59:

"How to Honor God"

How to Honor God 

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT)

Deuteronomy 14:22 (NLT) 22 “You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.

Matthew 6:21 (NLT) 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

3 Ways to Honor God with Your Tithe:

"TRUST: Letting Go & Letting God"

“TRUST: Let Go & Let God”

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

PROVERBS 3:5-8 (NLT) 

Question: How Hard is it for YOU to… TRUST?”

Proverbs 3:5 (

"Don't Fumble the Ball on Discipleship"

"Don't Fumble the Ball on Discipleship"

 1My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. 2 If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

PROVERBS 3:1-4 (NLT)

1 Kings 4:33-34 (NLT) 33 He (King Solomon) 

"Community Counts"

“Community Counts”

Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble. 

1 Peter 3:8 (CSB) 

Why Community Counts:

1 Peter 3:8 (CSB) Finally, all of you be like-minded….

Romans 14:1 (Msg) “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but wea

"When GOD Seems Unfair"

"What To Do When GOD Seems Unfair"

1 Samuel 25 

1. Realize your ____________________.

1 Samuel 25:21-22 (NLT) 21 David had just been saying, “A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good. 22 May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!” 

Proverbs 29:11 (NLT) Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it

"When GOD Seems Distant"

“When God Seems Distant” 

 1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? 2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Psalm 22:1-2 (NLT)

3 Trade-Offs to Get Closer to GOD:

1. Experiences can lead you closer to God, but they can’t keep you close to God.

Psalm 119:1 (NLT) Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instruction

"When GOD Seems Silent"

“When GOD Seems Silent”

Matthew 11:2-6 (NLT)

2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being pre

'How to Be Spiritually Alive in 2025"

How To Stay Spiritually Alive in 2025

“Grow in grace, love like Jesus and go share Him with the world."

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT) 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Ways to Grow in Grace:

1. Grow in our UNDERSTANDING.

Philippians 2:13 (NLT) 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

2. Grow in our APPRECIATION.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) 18 Be thankful in all circumst

"The Wonder of Love"

How GOD Expresses His LOVE

5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

HOW GOD EXPRESSES HIS LOVE TO US:

1. Through the gift of SALVATION.

John 3:16 (NKJ) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:23-25 (NLT) 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely ma

"The Wonder of Joy"

“The Wonder of Joy”

Luke 2:8-11 (NLT) 

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of Dav

"The Wonder of Peace"

“The Wonder of PEACE” 

LUKE 2:13-15 (NLT)

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The PATH to PEACE

1. It can only be found in JESUS.

LUKE 2:14 (NL

"The Wonder of Hope"

The Wonder of HOPE

Luke 2:25-35 (NLT) 

25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the chi

"Being Thankful vs. Living Thankful"

“Being Thankful vs. Living Thankful”

Psalm 105:1 (NLT) 

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.   

2 Ways to Live Thankful

1. When we SHARE.

Psalm 105:1 (NLT) Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.

Psalm 113:4-5 (NLT) 4 For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. 5 Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?

Psalm 100:4 (NLT) Enter his gat