Romans 8:17-23

What's it feel like to be pregnant? We are in the time of pain, the time of pregnancy, waiting for the birth of our ultimate life in with God.

When we have sinned, fallen short of God's plans for us, and have disappointed our heavenly Father, we assume he puts us into his “club for the unwanteds.” James Nored and Phil Ware continue their messages on God's plan of redemption and how God longs to restore us to himself.

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:19-21 NIV -- For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed ... the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the childr

How do you grab ahold of something this illusive? Rubel Shelly reminds us that while perfection is an ideal, we must not set it as our only goal or we will never attain what we reach to achieve and never be satisfied with our blessings.

What a great disappointment to have to wait! To have to put off your wedding would be a great disappointment, but life is filled with disappointments -- that's why we need the hope we have in Jesus.

Why did this brokenness, this pain, this shattering, come upon us if it is not God's intention for us? James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that sin, both rebellion and missing God's goal of goodness for us, has reaped destruction on all we touch, but that this is not what God intended for us, there is redemption coming!

"For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the..."

"For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the....."

"Dear Child of the Father, All creation waits on tiptoe for the day I return and bring you home to the Father. On that day, you will experience "the....."

God has provided each of us the ultimate proof of our identity: the Holy Spirit living inside of us! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to reassure us of our victory through Christ because of the Holy Spirit's presence within us as God's children.

Let's begin somewhere, doing something, and not just talk about it! Phil Ware talks about our broken world, spring, the tsunami and earthquakes in Japan, and the Lord's prayer.

"For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are..."

"The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs..."

"Dear Beloved, As My apostle Paul's death grew near, he was confident of his deliverance as well as My return. Hear his beautiful words of faith:For I..."

You used to be normal, ho-hum, and average. No longer. You are not who you used to be! Max Lucado reminds us of who God is to us and that this great and almighty God has invited us to call him our "Abba" Father!

"And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin..."

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."

"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

"Not only [is all creation groaning under its bondage to decay], but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for...."

"The boundless realms of his Father's universe are Christ's by prescriptive right. As "heir of all things," he is the sole proprietor of the vast..."

"Present possession is declared. At this present moment we have the first fruits of the Spirit. We have repentance, that gem of the first water; faith,..."

"This groaning is universal among the saints: to a greater or less extent we all feel it. It is not the groan of murmuring or complaint: it is rather....."

"Even in this world saints are God's children, but men cannot discover them to be so, except by certain moral characteristics. The adoption is not..."

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:23 -- Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:19 -- The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:18 -- I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Weren't we re-made for more than we're settling for? Phil Ware shares with us ideas about growth and how God has re-created us to be like Jesus and be full of life and growth, spiritually and physically.

We are God's precious and highly valued adopted children! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word, and a blessing to enable us to worship from home or with family and friends in a meaningful way and ask this important question: Can I rea

"Dear Precious Disciple, The world can be a confusing place. You love and adore the Father. You recognize the sacrifice I made for you. I know that..."

You're not getting any younger! Our world is messed up, and that's nothing new. Ever since the Fall, things have been in a state of imperfection.

How can we say these things and really mean them? Phil Ware writes about Romans 8:22-29, the bondage to decay that our world faces, our own troubles and hardships, and slogans that we often use and abuse to try to encourage people who are grieving, wounded, or hurt.

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if...."

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:16-17 -- The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs —- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that

"Dear Child of the Father, Yes, you are a child of God! Doesn't that sound incredible? The Father in heaven, the Eternal, the Almighty, the Creator is..."

Hope beyond our world's brokenness! Phil Ware continues his series on the value of woman in the eyes of God and how we incorporate that value into our belief system, roles, and treatment of women in our church culutures.

As human beings, we can survive almost any 'how' if we have a 'why'! — Viktor Frankl James Nored and Phil Ware share God's message for us about purpose and meaning through words and video, focusing on Viktor Frankl and the apostle Paul.

"Dear Follower, Roman soldiers saved Paul from being beaten to death by an angry Jewish mob. The mob had mistakenly thought he had taken a Gentile..."

How wet is it in your world? Sometimes we face difficulties and trials, but the big challenge is bearing up under the weight of incessant trials, problems, difficulties.

The earth is sick. Our world is sicker. We are to bridge the gap until Jesus' return! Phil Ware along with Doug Peters help us hear the Lord's Prayer for the kingdom to dawn on earth so that the will of God can be seen on earth as it is in heaven.

What do you do when you hit a bump in the road? God’s plan for us is not to eliminate suffering in our lives, but to teach us to look past it.

How can we say these things and really mean them when trying to help those who hurt? Phil Ware writes about Romans 8:22-29, the bondage to decay that our world faces, our own troubles and hardships, and slogans that we often use and abuse to try to encourage people who are grieving, wounded, or hurt.

Would you know if someone didn't tell you? We are God's children and that sense of identity should be crucial in our lives.

Can you find a father? God is the father I never had.

"Dear Beloved, Your world can be a brutal place for good people. I never promised My disciples that life would be easy and without problems. People..."

You're invited to use our worship guide for your home or group worship! Dr. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware invite you to join us for our Sunday Verse of the Day home worship guide and videos, called ToGather.church!

When this life-altering grief and separation invade our worlds, we are left with many challenges, some seem insurmountable. Gene Vance shares insights from his book, 'Transition to Eternity' to help us find great hope and anticipation of Eternity with Jesus!

Do you know God's middle name? Russ Lawson reminds us that sometimes it takes a child to help us approach God personally and lovingly.

How dare we address God in this way? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit by talking about God being Abba Father.

Much of the recent worldwide conversation has been focused on the question, 'How can we be kept safe in our world today?' Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to trust that God will keep us safe and honor all that we have entrusted to him.

If you can't keep something, why not give it up? There is nothing foolish about turning our back on the things of this life in order to gain a life that has no end.

Jesus rose from the dead, so we choose to live based on the conviction that this world is not our home, while we long for our lasting and more glorious one! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God as we remember the life-changing implications of Jesus' resurrection.

With whom else could you have this grace? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit and the gift of the Spirit's intercession before the Father in prayer that guarantees that our words and emotions are heard.

Your suffering is only temporary. In a world of suffering, God's Spirit offers Hope for Life.

How can we learn to put things in the right perspective? Problems that seem so huge can be cut down to size when we look at them from an eternal perspective

"Dear Precious One, Live animated by the power of the Father's "indwelling presence," the Holy Spirit within you! Your flesh — "your fallen,..."

We trust in Jesus' promise to return in victory for us and bring God's new heaven and new earth. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us of God's greatness and Jesus' promise to take us home to the Father and reveal us as God's adopted children and heal our broken wo

Paul's declaration to the Galatians is a racial, social, and gender earthquake. Phil Ware continues his series of articles on the role of women and God's plan for women in Jesus' church; this week focuses on Paul's liberating statements in Galatians 3:26-29 and Romans 8.

Paul blows away the confusion and declares us all equally heirs of God's promise! Phil Ware continues his series on the way God values a woman and how Pentecost begins a new humanity that is to work itself out in the life of Jesus' people, the church.

What would you give up for the Kingdom? While we talk about giving up things for the sake of the Kingdom, are we willing to give up our children to go to the mission field?

Our lesson elaborates on this promise from God. We know that our Father does not withhold sharing his grace and every gift that is for our best good. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to recognize that God is our Father who does not withhold from us good things, especially the best things in this life and the life to c

Who is the Holy Spirit? Phil Ware continues his SpiritFire series focusing on God getting personal with us in the Holy Spirit and addresses the question of whether the Holy Spirit is a he, she, or it.

Jesus came to earth, lived as one of us, and died a horrible death of shame and humiliation on the cross so we could be in his family. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to celebrate and focus upon what it means to be a child of God who can approach Jesus as an older brother and God as Abba Father.

How do we combine both reverence and familiarity, respect and intimacy? Phil Ware and Doug Peters remind us what it means to pray to God as our Abba Father and then give us some pratical ways that we can experience God as Abba in our prayer life.

Growing in prayer, feeling a connection with the Father, and being formed to be a useful vessel for Jesus to use to bless others is a journey. Phil Ware, with the help of Chad Higgins, continues his series on Lord Teach Us to Pray focusing on learning from Jesus.