Bristow Hood invites Jacquie Bond and Josh Kalsbeek to discuss their life-changing experiences with small groups. As a country, we have lots of stuff. Yet for all we have, we lack connection. Sunday mornings at church are great, but it is a hard place to create and develop relationships. Instead, we can connect and grow with people in a small group. Though they can be difficult, they can transform our lives.
Guest speaker Jodi Green, Area Director for Northern Colorado Young Life, talks to us about the roots of our calling. God does not just call us to tasks and work, he calls us to himself and to people he loves. When our calling is rooted in God and God's word, we no longer find ourselves bound to a set of tasks and expectations. Instead, we find a ridiculous freedom that can only come from him.
Jeff visits with Mayor Wade Troxell and City Manager Darin Atteberry as they share their love for Fort Collins. Our city leaders have a desire for a city that excels and whose people make it a great place to live. We are invited to pray for our city leaders and to join in growing our city.
Dave Runyon, coauthor of The Art of Neighboring, challenges us to follow Jesus' teaching to love our neighbors. Today, Christians aren't considered the best neighbors, yet people around us are dying to have deep relationships. We start doing so simply by learning our neighbor's names and then asking God what is next. The biggest thing we need to become a good neighbor is the willingness to have awkward conversations.
Jeff kicks off the new year and our new series by calling us to prayer and action for our city. He reminds us that we are called to live, work and play with people who do not share or beliefs. Also, we have the ability to be friends and family to those who may have none. So, pray for your city in 2020. Imagine the impact if we all did! What if we all worked for our city's good? Through prayer and action, we can transform and grow our city.
As we move towards the new year, Bristow Hood asks about the state of our union with Christ. Christ is in us, and we are in Christ. He is working in us and for us. He is your fierce defender! We are adopted into his family and belong to him.
Jeff talks to us on Christmas Eve about gifts. We give gifts to each other. The wise men gave gifts to Jesus. God gave us Jesus. He came to serve. He will return to rule. As we prepare for his return, Jesus wants the gift of our hearts and lives looking like his.
Jeff takes us back 730 years before Jesus' birth when God first promised not just a savior, but also his protection for us. And because Jesus came down to us, he is our protection. Even when we stop believing in God's promises, Jesus is there, loving us and waiting for us to call on him.
