Transformed - Marked by Mercy

I love a good transformation. I can type “home transformation” into Pinterest’s search bar and whittle away hours of my life, mesmerized by before and after photos. By just knocking down a few walls and making some simple design changes, the home is suddenly brighter, warmer, more welcoming—all together new. As we step into this study of Romans 12, I believe we will see that in many ways this chapter of the Bible is a beautiful “after picture” of a life changed by Christ. And the Apostle Paul tells us right up front that the transformation we long for is possible because of one thing and one thing only: God’s mercy.

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Check out Dig Deep’s newest feature, a fantastic weekly column written by blogger Ashley Tieperman, at ashleytieperman.com.

   

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Hard to Believe - Fear

Our fears are a lot like stories. Like all good stories, our fears have a characters, a plot, vivid imagery and they focus all of our attention on one question: what will happen next? These storylines make us lose sleep, leave us emotionally strained and gradually begin to shape our behavior, our decisions and even our faith. What if instead of trying to shove our fears into the corners of our minds we had the courage, in Christ, to face them head on?

Foundational Scripture: John 21:1-19

   

Hard to Believe - Doubt

Is God really there? Does God really care? Is he paying attention to what’s going on around me? And if he is good and he does care then why doesn’t he do something? Is he even able to do anything? We all live with some degree of doubt in our lives; what matters is what we do with it. Whatever your doubts are, we are going to see today that Jesus isn’t afraid of them.

Foundational Scripture: John 20:24-29

   

Hard to Believe - Grief

If your faith has ever felt strained under the weight of grief, doubt, or fear, you are in good company. Jesus’ own disciples struggled to understand his resurrection and accept the hope that it offered them. In this series we will take a closer look at the conversations Jesus had with three of his followers and see that he didn’t reject them because of their struggles but drew them closer to himself.

Foundational Scripture: John 20:11-18

   

No Greater Love - Relentless Love

Jesus once told the painful story of a broken relationship between a father and son. In that story, Jesus makes it perfectly clear that God's love is not like human love. God is like a father who stands, unmoved, scanning the horizon, waiting for His lost child to come home. There is no greater love. His love is relentless. 

Foundational scripture: Luke 15; Jeremiah 31:3: John 13:34

   

No Greater Love - Forgiving Love

On the cross we see God's heart split open. And what we find there, at the very core of God's love for us, is forgiveness. 

Foundational Scripture: Luke 23

   

No Greater Love - Courageous Love

Courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear. While we may feel a wave of courage on occasion, most of the time courage is a decision that we make that is in direct conflict with our emotions. The same is true of love. While we're prone to view love primarily as an emotion that we feel, Jesus shows us that love is much more often a decision - and sometimes a decision that is in direct conflict with our emotions. 

Foundational Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46, John 13:34, Hebrews 12:1-3 

   

No Greater Love - Humble Love

Jesus' command seems pretty straight forward: to love one another as he has loved us. But in a culture where we love our families and we love our favorite tv shows, we need to take a moment to ask, what kind of love is Jesus talking about? 

Foundational Scripture: John 13; Luke 9

   

No Greater Love - Protective Love

In a surprising outburst of anger, Jesus shows us what it really means that love always protects. 

Foundational Scripture: Mark 11:15-17; Isaiah 56; John 13:34

   

No Greater Love - Vulnerable Love

Jesus left his disciples with this command: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” In this series we will take a closer look at several major events from the life and ministry of Jesus and ask, “how has he loved us?” What does it say about God’s love that he would choose to send his Son to earth as a vulnerable newborn baby?

Foundational Scripture: John 13:34, Luke 2

   

Enough - Am I Enough?

As we conclude this series we turn the issue of “enoughness” toward ourselves and consider the question, “Am I enough?” What are the questions behind that question, and how does God respond when we bring those questions to Him?

Exodus 3-4, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Isaiah 54:10

   

Enough - Stuff

We live in bigger houses than ever. We fill our closets and basements and attics. We fill our garages and then offsite storage units to capacity. When it comes to stuff, when is enough enough?

Foundational Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

   

Enough - Money

When it comes to our finances it is so easy to buy into the mindset that if we just had a little bit more we would have enough. The type of relationship we have with money will determine whether or not we ever experience the peace of mind and satisfaction of having "enough." 

Foundational Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:10; Proverbs 3:9-10

   

Enough - Time

Jess begins a new series exploring our constant quest for "enough." Whether it's time, money, the latest upgrade or even ourselves we are so prone to believing that if we just had a little bit more then we'd have enough. In this first episode we'll examine how we think about and use our time and consider some practical ways that we can reframe our thinking to gain a heart of contentment and make the most of the time we've been given. 

Foundational Scripture: Philippians 4:12-13; Ecclesiastes 7:2; Psalm 90:12

   

Wounded Healer - Shame

As we conclude this series, Wounded Healer, Jess interviews author and speaker Aubrey Sampson on the topic of shame. In her book, Overcomer, Aubrey helps readers dismantle the lies of shame and rebuild their identities in Christ. Through both her personal experiences and her profound insights, Aubrey offers hope both to listeners who have long suffered under the weight of shame and to those who are just discovering shame’s influence on their lives.

Foundational Scripture: Psalm 34:5

   

Wounded Healer - Miscarriage and Infertility

Jess interview Kara Watson on the painful subjects of miscarriages and infertility. Kara shares from her personal experience with both types of suffering as the two discuss the uniqueness of this type of grief, the dangers of isolation and comparison, and the insidious lies that creep in amidst the pain and the powerful truths that lead to healing.

Foundational Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, John 21:15-23, Galatians 6:2

   

Wounded Healer - Chronic Pain

Jess interviews Nicole Hahn on the topic of chronic pain. As someone who suffers from chronic Lyme Disease, Nicole shares about finding joy in the midst of her pain, and how she's seen God use her suffering for His glory.

Foundational Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Isaiah 6:8, Job 13:15

   

A Legacy of Faith

In this special mini episode, Jess shares a personal update about the recent loss of Grandmother, Sybil, and reflects on the beautiful legacy of faith she has left for her family, friends and all who knew her. 

   

The Wounded Healer - Anxiety and Depression

Join Jess as she interviews Amy Smith on the topic of Anxiety and Depression. In this episode the two discuss the stigma around the topic, treatment, and they offer words of encouragement both to listeners who are experiencing suffering in the area of mental health as well as to listeners who do not suffer in this way but are surely connected to people who do.

Foundational Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.