Today’s sermon and discussion guide will tie together to conclude all of the multiple layers of themes that we have seen in the short book of Ruth. Take time in your group to review some of the things that we have learned so far. Today we will focus on the many ways that God provides for his people. He has …
Love is Patient
In the first two chapters of Ruth we have seen the loving characters of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. The love they exhibit is not tied strictly to feeling or emotion, but to faith in knowing the character of God. In Ruth 3 we begin to see some action taken out of the preexisting character of love that is already seen …
New Trustee Appointment
We’re blessed at Venture to have Trustees who have the spiritual maturity and special skills and experience to help plan, execute, and monitor our finances rigorously. As a group, they work diligently throughout the year to help us ensure we’re being God-honoring and wise in our finances. The Pastors of Venture enthusiastically recommend Eric Plemmons to the church to serve …
Defining Love
We live in a culture where people claim very much to adhere to the concept of love. Love is still the number one subject of popular songs. People still watch movies and TV shows that are love stories. Despite all the professed “love for love” that is in the world, we have a great lack of understanding for what love …
How Are You Living?
This week is the last week in which Venture is learning from 1 Peter in our sermon series. The context of 1 Peter has been to churches living in community with one another as they are being cancelled by the outside world. Remarkably, most of what Peter has to say to the believers under pressure has very little to do …
Pastors in 1 Peter
Many people have commented over recent years that in the western world there is a crisis of understanding the nature of the church. It could also be said that wherever there is a crisis understanding the nature of the church that there is usually also a crisis in the understanding of the role of a pastor. While there are stories …
Dying to Old Habits
1 Peter 4:1-7 Last week’s sermon primarily concerned the atonement that is found in the death of Jesus. We found out that Jesus suffered and died for the purpose of taking away our sins in order to make us right with God. A life lived by faith in Christ has nothing to fear because we are reconciled to God and …
Responding to Atonement
1 Peter 3:18-22 Jonathan’s sermon for this week put the focus on the atonement of Christ. Atonement simply refers to how it is that Jesus brings peace between man and God. While the Bible has much to say about different aspects of the atonement of Christ, we cannot emaphasize other aspects at the expense of 1 Peter 3:18- that Christ …
Keys to Suffering Well
Suffering has been and will continue to be the major theme of 1 Peter. This fact alone should tell us that suffering should be expected in life in this world. The only variables to the suffering with which we are faced are the causes of suffering and the ways that we respond to it. Most suffering in the world is …
Paid Ministry Opportunities at Venture
Venture is expanding its Children and Student Ministry staffing to meet the growing needs of our church. We are looking for qualified people to join our team and provide leadership in these two areas. Both of these opportunities are currently part-time but could develop into more in the future. Lincolnton Campus Director of Children and Preschool Job Summary – The Lincolnton …