Theological education born in the soil of Africa.

Rediscovering our identity as African Christians who interpret the Bible through a uniquely African

cultural lens and desire to express our faith via a distinctively African style.

This means an educational approach that is:Inductive,Communal,Collaborative, and Praxis-oriented.

August Courses (Diploma Level)

August 5-12 (Wed-Wed)Understanding Our Community's Book: Interpreting Scripture

August 12-19 (Wed-Wed)Old Tribal History: Old Testament Survey

To enroll email: registrar@vsmafrica.org

CREATING AN APPETITE FOR GODSUNDAYS IN AUGUST

CREATING YOUR OWN LIFE WITH GOD2 KINGS 13

by Pastor Doug Brownpdf, power point, & audio available @

karenvineyard.org

sur·ro·gate

A substitute. Someone who fills in for another or made a deputy for another in a specific role or office.

Surrogates

Leasing our relationship with God

“You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” John 5.37-39

“I rented my womb for $8,000.”

Why doesn’t our nature change once we’ve experience God’s redemptive work? For example, why does our thinking start with what we don’t have? How can we alter our thinking to begin with what we do have?

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires . . . The mind governed by the flesh is death . . . The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8 5-8

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take

captive every thought to make

it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10.6

Owning our Life with God

Our past with God. Our present with God. Our future with God

Our Past History with God

We expect little of God, we ask little of God, therefore we receive little, and eventually become content with little.

Our present with God

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary,

they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 

2 Corinthians 10.3-4

But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 2 Kings 13.23

Our Future with God

“ . . . but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires . . . but the mind governed by

the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8.5-8

“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity.

William Butler Yeats (1919)

“ . . . all things have been created through him and for him. He is before

all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Colossians 1.17-18

See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. Revelation 3.8