Back to Basics: The Series

In "Back to Basics", Carl Palmer talked his "holy discontent" for church as usual. He and the elders wanted to get back to the root of God's desire for his people. That root is the Great Commandment:

Now⁵⁸ one of the experts in the law⁵⁹ came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus⁶⁰ answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love⁶¹ the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’⁶² The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’⁶³ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Our pastors and elders developed this vision statement for our church:

We want to see God transform our lives and our world as we grow in a daily, practical experience of loving God and loving people.

We need transformation. This is not about knowing more; but about being changed from the inside out from an experience of becoming lovers.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "We Love Because", Carl explained that we must love like this because "God IS Love" and "God loved us first" - we are greatly loved.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "The Power to Love" we saw that the power to we love the unlovable; our neighbors as ourselves; and God with all of our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all of our strength came from the power of the Holy Spirit (Christ, God) in us. Rules, religion, church and the Bible all have no power to make us love – unless the Holy Spirit is involved.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "How to be Filled With the Holy Spirit", Carl taught that: 1) you must believe you can be filled; 2) you must desire to be filled; and 3) you must submit to the leading of the spirit.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In " 'Filled' - Overcome and Become", Carl talked about the struggle with our "sinful nature" that the entry of the Holy Spirit into ourselves sets off. God’s main purpose is for us is: To overcome the power of “the sinful nature”; and to become people who live in “the fruit of the Spirit.” It is two words: overcome and become.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "How to Hear God Speak", Carl examines three questions: 1) Does God speak today, and to us?; 2) how can I hear God’s voice in my life; and 3) how does God speak today?.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "Why Love Is the Great Command", Carl gives four reasons (among many) about why love is central to Jesus's central command to us: 1) Love accomplishes what God requires; 2) love lifts us above earning our way; 3) love is the most effective motivation; and 4) love is the most excellent way to live

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "How To Love God With All Your Heart", Carl says we must love God first; and to relate to all things through our "first love" for God.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "Loving God with All Your Soul", Carl says to “love God with all my soul” is to love God with a real and passionate love - a whole-life love.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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In "Loving God with All Your Mind", Carl says to “love God with all my mind” is to give ourselves to a determined pursuit of truth; bring our mind under the lordship of Christ; and to pursue having a mind that is "on fire" with the truth about God.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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"Loving God with All Our Strength", Carl says loving God with all our strength is to see every ability as a means to express love for God; and to live as a dependent “receiver” and a consistent “giver” of what God gives to me.

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets

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"Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves"

Go read at Brain Cramps for God or Street Prophets