WELCOME | 2

WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE! We have a truth we’d like to share with you. In spite of having a weekly gathering for corporate worship, many people feel like Christianity is an isolated journey. With unanswered questions, unresolved conflict, unexplainable traumas, and so much more, many find themselves spiritually, emotionally, and ideologically stuck unable to move closer to God. The truth is, Scripture is replete with examples of individuals who also experienced great tragedies, temptations, and trials, and even experienced seasons of being spiritually stuck. During this preaching series we want to communicate that part of being a Christian is going through seasons of being stuck. We want to present the persons in Scripture who were stuck, the reasons why they were stuck, and how God interacted with them during that season. We want to take you on a spiritual journey that shows you that you are loved, you are planned, your identity is in God, you’re connected to His very image, and your grief, emotional brokenness, and family dysfunction can all be healed and restored by our loving God. We want to take you on a journey that shows you that you may be stuck but God can and wants to save you. We also want to teach you how to understand the Bible in context so that you better see yourself in Scripture and understand that you are not on this spiritual journey alone. In essence, we want you to hear the Bible yell out that beautiful question of inclusion, “you too?” We want you to see that the Bible is a book that is well acquainted with every question, every tragedy, every temptation, and every trial. Which means that God is acquainted with every question, every emotion, and every experience. “You2?” is about teaching Christians how to journey together and with God. We aim to accomplish this through dynamic preaching, in-depth Bible study, authentic question and answer, and transparent discussion. We’re so excited you’re joining us on this journey! Sincerely, The Emmanuel Brinklow Pastoral Team

MEET THE SPEAKER | 3

Claudia M Allen is an activator. A writer, speaker, and teacher for Justice, Claudia is passionate about activating the activist in all of us.

Claudia has been passionate about the work of justice and equality for years, but believes she made her first mark during her senior year at Andrews University. In fulfillment of the change project requirements for the undergraduate leadership program, Claudia created and successfully implemented an African American Studies minor housed out of the Andrews University Department of History. This project made Claudia the first student to graduate from Andrews University with a minor in Leadership, and the first undergraduate student to successfully amend curriculum at the institution. After earning her BA in English and her minor in Leadership in 2013, Claudia went on to

Georgetown University where she subsequently graduated with her Masters in English in 2015. Currently, Claudia is a PhD student at the University of Maryland Department of English.

As a writer, Claudia has published articles on justice in religious and non-religious magazines and journals. This include but are not limited to: The Rational Online, Spectrum, Adventist Today, and Message Magazine. She has preached at churches and schools across the North American Division’s Seventh-day Adventist Regional Conferences since the age of 12, and was the keynote speaker for Andrews University Social Consciousness Summit, various forums and conferences for Adventists for Social Justice, the Black Adventist Religious Scholars Conference, and she also served as the keynote speaker for the inaugural MLK celebration at Southwestern Michigan College.

Whether through guest appearances on Hope Channel’s Cross Connection, speaking, writing, or serving in her newest role as Content Manager for Message Magazine, Claudia is dedicated to activating people to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” Her favorite scripture is Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who is working in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.”

NOTES | 4

MARCH 21 | CLAUDIA M. ALLEN

“YOU2?”: STUCK ______________________________________________________________________________

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What are the emotional, ideological, and spiritual things that are keeping you stuck or unable to move forward in your relationship with God.

NOTES | 5

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MY TAKEAWAY

MY RESPONSE | 6

God, I’m stuck. And I

don’t know how to fix it. All I know is I want to move closer to You. Please keep moving closer to me.

In Jesus name, Amen

MY HOMEWORK | 7

FILL IN THE BLANK & MEMORIZE

“FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST

WHO IS UNABLE TO ____________ WITH

OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT WE HAVE ONE

WHO HAS BEEN _________ IN EVERY WAY,

JUST AS WE ARE – YET HE DID NOT SIN.

LET US THEN APPROACH GOD’S THRONE

OF GRACE WITH ______________, SO THAT

WE MAY RECEIVE ________ AND FIND

_________ TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF

NEED.”

HEBREWS 4:15-16 (NIV)