To whatever degree our image of God is distorted, so are we also. -Art Katz

Jesus is not a door to get into more lofty "experiences". Knowing Him personally is the highest "experience". -Tim Cone

It is kind of the Lord to use trials to remind us we have no good in ourselves apart from Jesus and no sure hope apart from the resurrection. -Stephen Venable

"The true god of your heart is what your thoughts effortlessly go to when there is nothing else demanding your attention." -Tim Keller

“...for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” (Phil 1:29) / A picture of normal Christianity. -Joshua Hawkins

Meditating anew on the birth of Jesus this week. You can never exhaust the well of the incarnation. Living water ever rises from its depths. -Stephen Venable

“There is no little sin, because there is no little God to sin against.” -Thomas Brooks

Jesus doesn't refuse weak love. He embraces it and causes it to grow strong. Run to Him instead of from Him. -Mike Bickle

How is it that we've made "salvation" a ninety second prayer rather than a ninety year reality? Matthew 24:13. He that ENDURES will be saved. -Jaye Thomas

"When relevance becomes a god, the relevant thing to do is to smash the idol." Peter Kreeft

Leadership lesson from Daniel's life in chapter 1: provoke your peers to righteousness, instead of compromise, and God will honor you. -Mike Bickle

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) / May this be true of us with all of Jesus' life and words. -Joshua Hawkins

The most important appointment of our life is when we stand before Jesus on the last day. -Mike Bickle

The Mighty One who stood before Joshua centuries before (Joshua 5:13) walked through the streets of Jericho on the way to His death. (Luke 19:1) -Joshua Hawkins

Today I am longing for something authentic, aching for Jesus, wanting Him and Him alone, undone by the piercing depths of His life and love. My heart can barely stand the thought of another “unique teaching” or “keen insight” from one more “anointed” vessel. Taste for the eternal fades as we exchange the burning gaze of seraphim for the unyielding boredom of Dr. Phils dressed in preachers’ garb. O God, save us from the insightful sages of our day and give us that which has always mystified the saints and terrorized devils. -Allen Hood

Corporate intercession arising right now for missionaries on the other side of the world who will be waking up in a few hours . A room filled at 9pm with twenty year old Americans praying for people in Africa to love a Man who was born in Israel over 2000 years ago. -Stephen Venable

"They laid hands on Jesus and seized him" (Matt 26:50). They seized God. Our idea of "restraint" doesn't compare to His. -Joshua Hawkins

"His love compelled Him to plunge into our condition and dwell among us." -Stephen Venable

"He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet." -Spurgeon

It is hard to feel thankful for something you are not sure you have. Which is why lack of assurance of salvation is so heavy. -John Piper

If we live in compromise, when we stumble in sin it doesn’t hinder God from embracing us, but it hinders us from enjoying the embrace. The free grace of God is always to lead us to righteous character. -Mike Bickle

The goal in this life is to love God well and as a result you will live this life well. -Zack Hensley

Forgiven, will you despise others? Will Bartimaus, after seeing, take a stick, and beat every blind man he meets? -John Newton

We must meditate often on the fact that the worship, love and sacrifice of the earliest Christians was all for One they had known personally. -Stephen Venable

The great missionary heroes of previous generations were unimpressive men and women who humbly gave the nations an impressive God. Modern media has seduced a generation into a vain imagination: that natural charisma is anointing and that gifting is the key to success. The challenge of modern church leadership: training a generation to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit without drawing attention to self. -David Sliker

The One with "all authority" promises to be with us always. How could we not heed His command and go to all nations for the sake of His name? -Stephen Venable

If trials bring forth the gold of faith, then the Great tribulation will bring forth such a holy bride in love and full of faith. -Corey Russell

To Peoria AC's - Studies in the Life of Christ begin again Sunday September 9th. We begin session 4, The Infancy and Childhood of Jesus. Sign up sheet will be out in the foyer, 25 people max. -david

We do not follow Jesus because it is easy but rather because he is worthy. -Mark Driscoll