2024-2025: Rooted & Grounded - Ephesians 3:14-19

Key Verse:
“For  this  reason I bow  my knees  before  the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant  you,  according to  the riches  of His glory,  to be  strengthened  with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through  faith;  and that  you, being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love, may  be  able  to comprehend  with all  the saints  what is  the  breadth and length and  height  and depth, and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

Purpose of the Theme: Our theme this year is a personal call for all of us to...

• Challenge the depth of our love and commitment to God and one another.
• Increase our maturity and strengthen our faith, love  and knowledge of God.
• Renew our devotion to and involvement with the body at Embry Hills.

• Petition and trust God for an even greater blessing than we anticipate.

Monthly Lessons:
 
God’s Desire
Sept:    God’s Vision for Thriving Disciples, Eph. 3, Psalms 1
Oct:       God’s Plan for Equipping Disciples, Panel Discussion
 
Rooted In Faith & Love
Nov:      To Comprehend the Love of Christ, Eph. 3:18-19
Dec:      To Love Others as He Loved, Eph 3:15, 18
 
Grounded In Knowledge
Jan:        To Uphold Sound Doctrine, Eph. 4:14-15
Feb:       To Edify the Body, Eph. 4:1-3, 16
 
Growing Together
Mar:      To Foster Stronger Fellowship, Eph. 2:14-16, 3:6
April:    To Overcome Life’s Challenges, Jer. 17:7-8
 
Conclusion
May:      Overflowing with Gratitude, Col. 2:7

2023-2024: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus - Hebrews 12:1-2

Key Verse: Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Purpose of the Theme:

• To focus on Jesus so that we can become more like Him.
• To learn from Jesus how to run our race well.
• To recognize what made Jesus so unique, and therefore makes His disciples different from the rest of the world.
• To move our attention away from the distractions of life and onto the perfect example of Jesus.

Sermons on the Theme:

   1.    Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus

   Focusing On Jesus:
   2.    His Identity: The Author and Finisher of our Faith
   3.    His Motivation: The Joy Set Before Him
   4.    His Life: Enduring the Cross, Despising the Shame
   5.    His Exaltation: Sitting at the Right Hand of God’s Throne
   6.    His Reliability: The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

   Living Like Jesus:
   7.   Laying Aside Every Weight & Sin (12:1)
   8.   Sharing In His Holiness (12:3-17)
   9.   Seeking The City That Is To Come (12:18-29, 13:14)
   10. Loving Sacrificially (13:1-6, 15-19)
   11. Rejecting Strange Teaching (13:7-14)
   12. Jesus Working In Us (13:20-25)
 

2022-2023: Vessels for Honor - 2 Timothy 2:21

Purpose of the Theme:
Paul writes his second letter to Timothy to help the next generation become “vessels for honor.” This phrase beautifully compares Christians to a precious container that has been chosen by a great King for a noble purpose. Satan’s snares are everywhere, working to disqualify us from this high calling. But this book exposes these threats, and guides us toward fulfilling the honorable work the Lord wants to do through us. Our theme lessons this year will draw from God’s wisdom and grace in 2 Timothy and motivate us to...

• Be sanctified from entanglements, influences, and impurities that lead to dishonor.
• Let the Master make our speech and example useful for His noble purposes.
• Strengthen our connection to Scripture so that we can be fully prepared for service.
• Learn how we can better refresh and encourage one another in our common calling.

Monthly Lessons:

2021-2022: Love One Another - John 13:34-35

Key Verses: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Purpose of the Theme:
Like every family, we need time together for our bonds of fellowship and friendship to thrive. This year our theme will help us reconnect with one another by emphasizing the genuine acts of love that Jesus desires for His disciples. Secondly, it will help us show our neighbors the love and support that can be found in Christ-centered relationships. We will...

• Study the unique Biblical ways our love for one another can be practiced that surpasses the limits of worldly relationships.
• Rekindle, repair, and renew our love for one another after the isolation and social challenges of the last year.
• Plan and encourage additional opportunities to spend time together.
• Develop a Christ-centered love for one another that neighbors and friends seeking God will notice and want to join.

Monthly Lessons:
Our hope is these lessons will draw all of us closer together, and will stir us as a church, and indiviudally, to abound in love for one another.

2020-2021: Be Steadfast, Immovable, Always Abounding in the work of the Lord

Key Verses: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Purpose of the Theme:
This year we will focus on 1 Cor. 15:58 as more than a summary of faithfulness. This verse is Paul's conclusion to a chapter that is overflowing with lessons that help us during the times we feel unstable or exhausted. This series of lessons will emphasize...

• A Call to Action: 1 Cor. 15 is helping us to become steadfast.
• A Goal We Pursue Together: We are "beloved brethren" acting in love to help one another stand against the storms of life.
• A Picture of Stability: Our lives and our hopes are grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus.

Monthly Lessons:
Our hope is these lessons will draw all of us closer together, and will stir us as a church, and indiviudally, to abound in the Lord's good works.

2019-2020: To God Be The Glory

Key Verses: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:3)

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

Purpose of the Theme:

This theme will strengthen members by calling attention to the glory God possesses, the glory God demonstrates, and the glory God deserves. This will help us give Him the glory He is due in every aspect of our lives. We want each member to see Him as the source of every good thing, and to respond with grateful and humble hearts. (James 1:17). The theme lessons will help us…

• Increase our comprehension of the unique glory characteristic of God’s nature (1 Timothy 6:16).
• Understand the reason for creation and redemption (Rev. 4:11).
• Encourage awareness of God as the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).
• Be motivated to glorify God and to explore ways of doing so (1 Corinthians 10:3).
• Identify the blessings we receive from glorifying God (2 Corinthians 4:18).
• Anticipate the glorious day when Jesus returns. (Philippians 2:9-11)

This theme is also a guard against distractions. As we experience growth in numbers and the expansion of facilities, we must avoid any pride in these perceived achievements and remain focused on what truly matters: our commitment to glorify God in everything we do. “Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:20)

Sermons on the Theme:

Each month we will have a sermon focused on a topic suggested by our theme verse.  These are excellent opportunities to invite guests who will learn of God’s wisdom and plan.  Please mark the dates and plan to ask someone to join you.

2018-2019: Free In Christ

Key Verse: Galatians 5:1, 13-14
 1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. ¹³ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  ¹⁴ For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Purpose of the Theme:

Freedom is one of the most celebrated concepts in both the Bible and modern culture.  God grants us freedom from everything that hurts us, to everything that is good for us.  However, freedom is also one of the most misunderstood concepts.

Christians, who actually possess the greatest freedom in Christ, sometimes don't feel free as they seek to obey God's many commandments. Yet, the lost often boast about their sense of personal freedoms while being completely blind to the slavery to sin they are suffering from and trapped in.  God's word teaches us about the incredible freedom He grants to us in Christ, and this year's study will focus on these passages...

• To help saints treasure their freedom in Christ.
• To teach saints to maximize their freedoms with love.
• To grow in the qualities Galatians describes as hallmarks of Christian Freedom.
• To help saints break free from Satan's traps of enslavement.
• To joyfully declare freedom in Christ to our community.

Please look over the monthly theme lesson topics and make your plans to be a part of these special studies.

Sermons on the Theme:

Each month we will have a sermon focused on a topic suggested by our theme verse.  These are excellent opportunities to invite guests who will learn of God’s wisdom and plan.  Please mark the dates and plan to ask someone to join you.

2017-2018: Building On The Rock

Key Verse: Ephesians 2:19-22

Purpose of the Theme:

Building our lives on Jesus Christ is the only way to stand strong against the storms of life.  This year we will focus on the evidence and the actions that characterize a life well built on the Rock of Jesus Christ.

2016-2017: Walk As Children of Light

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:8-14
 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
     “Awake, O sleeper,
      and arise from the dead,
      and Christ will shine on you.”

Purpose of the Theme:

This year’s theme is set apart from previous years because there is a strong emphasis on our personal moral choices. The theme is a challenge to all of us to ask: Where do I need to make changes in my life to be a greater Light in the world? It is our desire that the them will help us... 

• To be more aware of and committed to our identity as God’s children and therefore share in the holiness of Christ.
• To work more diligently in finding out what is pleasing to the Lord in all things, particularly in moral choices.
• To understand and acknowledge the unfruitfulness of sin so that we will not be attracted to it but will grow in our hatred of it.
• To strengthen our resolve, wisdom, and ability to resist temptation to sin.
• To live and speak in ways that expose darkness so that sinners can be saved.

Please look over the monthly theme lesson topics and make your plans to be a part of this special study.

Sermons on the Theme:

Each month we will have a sermon focused on a topic suggested by our theme verse.  These are excellent opportunities to invite guests who will learn of God’s wisdom and plan.  Please mark the dates and plan to ask someone to join you.

2015: Sharing the Hope That Is In Us

Key Verse:

I Peter 3:14-15 - 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Cross references:

Luke 6:40 : See Matt. 10:24
Luke 6:40 : 2 Cor. 13:11; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 5:10; [1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Tim. 3:17]

Purpose of the Theme:

To help us as a congregation and as individuals to be more aware of what we believe and how to teach others.  Primary focus will be on the hope that we have in Christ.  Lessons and activities will be designed to explain that hope and to further confirm what we believe and why.  Additional emphasis will be placed on effectively teaching others through the right spirit (gentleness and respect), accordingly the theme will focus internally (understanding our hope) and externally (explaining our faith to anyone who asks).

Sermons on the Theme:

Each month we will have a sermon focused on a topic suggested by our theme verse.  The initial two lessons will focus on the passage followed by three lessons that explore the foundation of the faith we are to defend.  Subsequent lessons will deal with helping us prepare to share our hope or explain aspects of what we believe and why.  These are excellent opportunities to invite guests who will learn of God’s wisdom and plan.  Please mark the dates and plan to ask someone to join you.