F L E X
a sermon and small group series about power
This seven-week series will expose our American preoccupation with power, and explore what the Bible has to say about power, autonomy, wealth, gender roles, race relations, family dynamics, and injustice. Jesus taught about and modeled an upside-down kingdom – where the weak are blessed and the powerful are held accountable for the ways they leverage their power and wealth. How are you flexing your "muscles?"
As followers of Jesus, our power should be used to serve others, not to get them to serve us.
If you would like to participate in a sermon-based group, sign-up below. Some groups are meeting on Zoom. Others that are 12 members or less are meeting socially distanced with masks outside:
RESOURCES
We encourage you to utilize these resources for our current sermon series on power. The content is designed to help you grow in community and individually, and also to share with others who might benefit from them.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES
Discussion Guides for small groups are updated by Saturday morning each week and coincide with the sermon for that week.
WORSHIP
Listen to some of the worship songs that we sing on Sundays from our Spotify playlist. It's a great way to engage in worship while you drive, do chores, exercise, and more, and it's also a way to fill your home with truth and peace and joy. The playlist is updated every week.
If you don't have a Spotify account,
READING GOD'S WORD
SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT*
The following are some great supplemental resources about power.
POWER AND FAMILY RESOURCES
Our Valentine's Day message was about Power and Family. Below are some specific resources that supplement that message. Each family relationship resource is identified with a heart.
MarriageWell is a ministry on our campus that provides support, resources, activities, and learning opportunities for couples to achieve excellence, intimacy, and FUN in their marriages.
Messages on Parenting by Andy Stanley. One includes an interview with Andy's dad, Dr. Charles Stanley.
Articles by Focus on the Family
Video Resources from RightNow Media
The video below is found in RightNow Media, a digital library you have free access to through Ventura Missionary. We encourage you to not only use this library for your own discipleship, but to also share content with anyone in your life who is looking for hope, truth, and help in topics such as marriage, parenting, and other common life situations. There is also great content for kids!
Three video sessions by Jenny Boyett that provide tools to help with the family dynamics and challenges during COVID:
A practical four-part video series by Les and Leslie Parrott:
An enlightening four-part video series by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs:
A 17-minute video by Andy Crouch, the author and Executive Editor of Christianity Today:
Books
Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power
by Andy Crouch
Real Power: Stages of Personal Power in Organizations by Janet O. Hagberg
Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Diane Langberg
Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, Power, and the Only Hope That Matters by Timothy Keller
The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith
by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich
A Theology of Power: Being Beyond Domination by Kyle A. Pasewark
Podcasts
Rebuilders Podcasts
*PLEASE NOTE: Ventura Missionary Church, and our leadership (including Pastor Doug) does not endorse every idea or theological perspective in these resources; however, we have found them to be helpful resources in developing a well-rounded understanding about power.