Romans 8:13-27

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.

"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....."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

"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..."

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

"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..."

"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 all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's..."

"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....."

"[T]he Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who..."

"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who....."

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit..."

"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...."

"In the same way [as the Spirit blesses us in so many ways in our lives], the Spirit [also] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,....."

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words...."

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with..."

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with..."

"Dear Father, who knows my secrets, Help me to wait patiently for my redemption. Thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit to make up for the..."

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

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:13-14 -- 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God

"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..."

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.

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

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.

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.

Why is it so hard to let our Father help us? Max Lucado reminds us that God wants to help us through our hardest challenges.

"Dear Father, who indwells me, Show me that I do not really live in the flesh, since your Spirit really dwells in me, else I would not belong to you....."

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

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.

"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..."

"So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him,..."

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."

"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

"...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

"...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.""

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.""

"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...."

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words...."

"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..."

"Dear Father, creator and re-creator of the world, Whatever I may have to suffer is nothing compared to the glory you will reveal in your people, and...."

"And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will."

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep...."

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 8:26 -- We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:15 -- For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba Father."

Inspirational illustration of Romans 8:25 -- But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

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.

Communion is a reminder of why we belong at the Father's Table of grace. Phil Ware reminds us that the cross was personal to Jesus and to us and because of it, we come to God as our 'Abba Father.'

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.

Fears are often more what we imagine than what is real! Ron Rose is in his mobile office and at Black Rifle Coffee having a cup of beyond black visiting with people and inviting them to share a conversation and invite God to be part of the moment.

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

Don't you wish you could handle things as well? Rubel Shelly reminds us of what good fathers are like and that there are great stories out there to tell about good dads.

Since God so carefully created our world with splendor, how much more will he not also care for us as his beloved children? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God for making us his children and promising to never leave us.

How close is God to us? Phil Ware shares insight in his SpiritFire series on the Holy Spirit and reminds us of the incredible promises of God's nearness and personal indwelling in us through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer can be an incredible blessing for us as God's children. However, prayer can also feel frustrating and bewildering to many who are trying to follow Jesus. 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 that prayer is about relationship and Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us know our hearts are heard.

"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..."

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.

Could you keep on coming after so many years and trips? Sometimes we don't have answers, but we just have to keep on keepin' on trusting that God will be faithful and bring us home.

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.

Why not forget winning arguments and win the heart? Ron Rose talks about his adopted granddaughter, Halle Grace, a Russian lifeguard and Halle's desire to hug and be hugged.

"Dear Disciple, Very few people have direct access to the leader of their nation. If you urgently needed to get your leader's attention, you would be...."

"My Beloved, Far too often in your world, children and their fathers have great difficulty communicating. Sometimes this situation is because of..."

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.

"Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But....."

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation — but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you...."

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.

Do you know how to pray? We can learn to breath pray and pray any time and any place and reach out to God through prayer.

How can I believe before I have proof? Phil Ware continues his series on UNPREDICTABLE and reminds us that faith needs to show itself before proof comes or it's not faith and we're not blessed!

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.

Imagine the audacity of Jesus to identify himself as the LORD, our shepherd, the one David praises in Psalm 23 as well the God of deliverance who identified himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3! Demetrius Collins & Phil Ware lead through worship in song, the Lord's Supper, a powerful message from God's word about Jesus our good shepherd, along with a closing blessing for worship from home with family and friends in a meaningful way.

What will the weather be this Christmas? Phil Ware reminds us of the weather when Jesus came, filled with the fresh wind and heavenly breezes of heaven brought by the Holy Spirit.

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.

What's the universal language? Ron Rose talks about his adopted grand daughter Halle Grace and how important hugs are to her.

God knows you need help to remain committed. God provides the Holy Spirit and a community of believers to help us fulfill our commitment to Him.

Is there a way through times of ineffective prayer? Phil Ware continues his series on Nehemiah and focuses on prayers, especially when prayers seem to go unanswered and we feel alone, frustrated, disappointed, discouraged, and ignored by God.

Here is someone whose faith has stood the test of time and continues to display that faith in the face of great challenges. Phillip Morrison reminds us of the decency, faith, and goodness of two former presidents, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

What can melt our hearts and let God find us? Ron Rose talks about being open with God about what is on our heart in hopes He moves us to change.

"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.

"Dear Disciple, You have received grace. I died for you when you were "far from God... powerless... weak... wasting [y]our lives in sin" and "in the....."

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.

Phil Ware challenges us to look beyond the New Year's resolutions on to a life pursuing Jesus. Phil Ware challenges us to look beyond the New Year's resolutions on to a life pursuing Jesus.

"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!

We are blessed to have the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures that the Spirit inspired to guide our steps in a confusing and dangerous world. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remember God's faithfulness to his promises, the victory our God has promised to us, and the importance of obeying the Scriptures God has gi

Prayer changes something much more important than our circumstances! Phil Ware continues his series on building a culture of honor focusing this week on prayer, especially prayer as a redemptive tool of offering forgiveness and blessing to those who are our enemies and who mistreat us.

One of the important areas of our focus for our shared hour of prayer is the healing and health of our world and the people in our world. Phil Ware shares Scriptures, stories, and ideas to help us prepare for the hour of worldwide unified prayer for our broken world, especially focused on healing and health for our broken world.

What can we really expect the Spirit to do for us, today, in our world? Phil Ware writes about Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit focusing on John 14 and Jesus' promise to not leave us as orphans but to come to us and show himself to us and be in us and make his home with us.

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.

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.

People "stand for" or "stand on" many things that waste their time, efforts, and lives on causes that don't really matter. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to stand in grace.

Will you hang in there when things are tough to do? Growth takes consistent, persistent effort, it is not something that happens right now, but God is at work right now to make it happen in us.

To become more like Christ, we must allow the Lord to lead us in the dance of grace to the music of the Holy Spirit. Phil Ware shares article three in his four part series on being transformed to become like Jesus.

Rather than taking God's lavish grace for granted, we choose to offer ourselves to God and walk away from sin. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us of all that we have received from God through grace and how we must say no to sin because we have been so blessed!

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.

What can we expect the Spirit to do for us? Phil Ware continues a short series on the Holy Spirit focusing on John 14 and what it means for Jesus to not leave us as orphans, but to come to us and show himself to us and be in us and make his home with us.

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.

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

I want to grow spiritually — to be more like Jesus — but can I really do that? Phil Ware answers a question he is often asked by those who are new followers of Jesus or people whose spiritual lives have stagnated: "How can I grow spiritually?"

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

Can any good thing come from having to wait? Phil Ware turns to some key principles Jesus' lead apostle Peter shared with people in his day to help them be ready for both opportunity and trial.

I want to invite you to join me in living beyond the horizon of our children's faith! Phil Ware writes about leaving a legacy with his children and grandchildren to pass on faith and be passionate disciples of Jesus.

You know you can't change, right? There is a certain futility in making resolutions. Only God can truly change us.

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

No more carrying weight you were not intended to bear. Max Lucado's reminder, and new book, that because of God, and the work of the HOly Spirit, we are not alone and our help is here!

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

Does God still speak and make his presence known in our lives or is he silent, leaving us to decipher our own way through our troubled world? Phil Ware continues his series on finding God's vision for our lives and living on mission for God.