Gateway Church Austin

One of the best things about the weirdness of Austin is that it gives us permission to not be perfect. This Christmas, forget about your quest to take the perfect family photo, buy the perfect gift, or act like a perfect person. Instead, feel welcomed to come as you are, as we remember the weirdest Christmas in history and learn how an unlikely King promises peace for us all.

When some people think of God, they conjure up images of an iron-fisted man who binds us with rules and punishes us when we don’t follow them. But God actually desires a life full of joy for all of us. How can we discover and maintain joy in our lives, and how can God use that joy to change the world around us for the better?

We live in a world that often makes us believe taking is best and giving will leave you coming up short. But God demonstrated to us that His economy is one of abundance, where we never have to worry that we won’t have all that we need and more. But believing that you can give instead of take requires trust. Do you trust in God’s example of giving?

Jesus was born into poverty and scandal. He came into the world amidst the stench of animals and their manure. He died as a common criminal on a Roman cross. He taught about the love of God, did miracles that some believed, and others doubted. Forty days after his death, he only had 120 followers left. His life should have done nothing to alter the course of human history, and yet no one has had a greater impact. What impact will you have with your life? Are you willing to impact the world around you like Jesus? We explore these questions as we look at How Jesus Changed the World. http://www.gatewaychurch.com/Challenge/

Although we may all have a great many individual differences, coming from diverse walks of life and having unique life experiences, there are also commonalities that tie us all together. One of those is a desire for connection and the need to feel known and accepted. God offers these amazing gifts, and He invites us to take advantage of them. How will you respond to His invitation?

Encounters with Jesus usually lead to distinct responses, whether positive reactions or negative reactions on our part. But with the knowledge that Jesus is a God that fully sees us and still offers love and grace, even through the difficulties of vulnerability, it is hard to ignore an encounter with Him. How will you respond to God, knowing that He sees you and has compassion for who you are and all you go through?

In our highly divided political climate, many of us have heard that we must vote red, or we must go blue, to be Christian. We tend to attack those who do not think like us and support our values, and thus have reduced God to a set of behaviors and policies. In contrast, what does it really mean to not only know God, but to experience Him on a deep, relational level?

Our stories create a picture for others to see how God enters our lives and brings healing, meaning, and connection, rather than the rules and condemnation we sometimes associate with Him. But how do we face down our fears of others’ reactions and explain how God has freed and empowered us?

To love others well means to serve them. But oftentimes, our own agendas and skewed priorities can get in the way of our putting others first and serving them with a happy and humble heart. What will it take for us to serve others like Jesus did?

God’s greatest commandments were to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That kind of selfless love for others is a love that engages—one that meets others where they are and is intentional. But what might loving our neighbors, co-workers, and friends in this way really look like day-to-day?

It is often much easier to talk than to listen. Listening actively and engaging in other-centered communication can be a real challenge. However, Jesus showed us that listening is a key aspect to making people feel truly valued and loving them well. How could listening help you better love and care for the people around you?

There are people we encounter everyday, at work, in our neighborhoods, or even in our own home, that may seem happy or content. But many of the people around us suffer with a deep feeling of loneliness—a lack of connection that isn’t always readily detectable from the outside. God demonstrated a love that cared about such connections, and He wants us to continue to intentionally demonstrate that love. How can you show you truly care about those around you?

Conflict is an inevitable part of most any relationship. But often what brings about the conflict or what makes it worse is our tendency to easily see the wrongdoing of others and be blinded to our own. Unhealthy conflict and being overly critical of others can kill a relationship in a hurry. Having created each of us for human connection, does God also offer us a realistic way to save our relationships when we’ve wounded each other?

Relationships can involve a lot of risk. And for some of us, we’re not quite sure the risk is worth the reward. Couple our fear of vulnerability with society’s constant “keep it casual” messaging, and we end up with lots of people avoiding commitment. But could lack of commitment be even more risky than the alternative? What do God and relationship experts say about making our relational risks worthwhile?

Negative occurrences are inevitable in most any relationship. But often what brings about the negativity or what makes it worse is our tendency to easily see the wrongdoing of others and be blinded to our own. Dwelling on the negative and being overly critical of others can kill a relationship in a hurry. But how do we get past the negative habits that seem to come so easily to us?

It’s easy to get lots of mixed messages about love—from the media, pop culture, our families, and the like. But God says the goal of love is to change us to be more like Him. The belief that the purpose of love is self-satisfaction, that it’s about getting your way, can lead to disaster. But how can we avoid the common misstep of inflexibility in our relationships?

Having healthy relationships is a pretty common goal, but achieving that goal can be a real challenge. Why is that? Why is it so tough to have happy relationships and to make those relationships last? One of the most predictive indicators for how a relationship will go relies on communication. Do you listen? Do you feel understood? Is your communication with those around you improving or killing your relationships?

At some point, you will find yourself questioning it’s purpose and meaning. What’s your role in this crazy world? Look to Jesus. He explains our true purpose when He commands us to love God and love others, just as we try to love ourselves. As we experience love on each of those fronts, we discover that our joy and fulfillment skyrocket as we show love life by life with those around us. We find meaning in a boring job, an exhausting day caring for the kids, in difficult relationships, or even in the face of grief and loss. But what can truly loving and being loved look like?

What matters most to you in your life? Is it prestige, money, or something else that could be fleeting? What if we could live for something more? If we lived to love God and love people like He encouraged us to, maybe we’d find something truly worth living for. And maybe, together, we’d even change the world.

Voices - Hope After Sex Trafficking by Gateway Church Austin