Keep The Faith (Week 6)

May 24: GOD's Here

Too often in life, people move on. A protective father dies young. A talented teammate moves away. A close friend gets a new job. Thus, we are left with the fear that life will change in all the wrong ways. But what if there was someone who endured, who lasted from year to year and day to day? What would happen to our fear if we had faith that God endures?

Keep The Faith (Week 5)

May 17: GOD's Enough

There are few guarantees in life. That bitter, but honest truth is what drives many people to despair, but it doesn’t have to. What each of us need is something satisfying enough to fill up our souls, even if everything else is stripped away. Thankfully, there is One who can do just that.

Keep The Faith (Week 4)

May 10: GOD Can

Caring people are not entirely helpful. While compassion and sympathy go a long away, in the end they cannot solve our problems. What we deeply need is not only someone who cares, but someone who also can.

Keep The Faith (Week 3)

May 3: GOD Cares

There are few guarantees in life. That bitter, but honest truth is what drives many people to despair, but it doesn’t have to. What each of us need is something satisfying enough to fill up our souls, even if everything else is stripped away. Thankfully, there is One who can do just that.

Keep The Faith (Week 2)

April 26: GOD Knows

According to Jesus, we are afraid of the wrong things. We tend to freak out over medical reports, our financial situation, and what other people think of us. However, Jesus taught that, in the grand scheme of things, such events only effect .0000000001% of our lives. Instead, we should stand in awe of the One who can and has changed our eternity.

Keep The Faith (Week 1)

April 19: GOD Reigns!

What do you do when life feels out of control? When, despite your best efforts, you realize that you cannot control anyone or anything? The answer is found in an often-forgotten story from the end of Jesus’ life, a reminder that the perfect Person is always in control.

He Is Risen! (Easter Sunday)

April 12: No More Fear

Jesus shocked his friends and changed the world when he rose from the grave and appeared to many witnesses. Today we celebrate the grace and power of our Savior, and the strong evidence that he is indeed alive.

He Is Risen! (Easter Sunday-sunrise service)

April 12: Easter Sunrise

Feeling shut in? Feeling like this Easter is so terribly strange, and not at all in a good way? Take heart. We are not alone in having feelings like this on Easter. The first Easter was like this year's Easter in so many ways. Are you interested in finding out more about how the first disciples dealt with events that were threatening them and a world gone mad? Join us at 7AM online as we journey to the most unlikely of places to find hope, and as we hear a message that'll turn everything around for our good. John 20:1-18 will lead the way as we contemplate our Lord's resurrection and all that it means for us!

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 7b Good Friday)

April 10: Teach Me To Praise

Jesus’ death teaches us not something to do, but something that has been done. He was forsaken by God so that we never would be. For this, we praise and thank, confess and acclaim him—Surely he was the Son of God!

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 7a Maundy Thursday)

April 9: Teach Me To Feast

In the midst of his upcoming betrayal and death, Jesus taught his disciples a wonderful truth—that in the Supper was his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.

Less Me (Week 6)

April 5: Jesus' Humble Identity

Jesus could have paraded into Jerusalem. He could have ridden a white horse and forced trumpeters to announce his coming. Instead he chose a donkey and the chorus of little children. Why would Jesus chose such a humble arrival?

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 6)

April 1: Teach Me To See

Jesus taught his disciples to see people in a whole new way. The manner in which we treat even the least of these is the manner in which we treat Jesus himself. Lord, teach us to see people with spiritual eyes!

Less Me (Week 5)

March 29: Jesus' Humble Life

Jesus could have chosen comfort. He could have pursued pleasure. Instead he chose the nails, the thorns, the cross. Why would Jesus chose such a humble life?

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 5)

March 25: Teach Me To Keep Watch

Life is distracting. Work, family, fitness, and hobbies keep us busier than we’d care to be. This is why Jesus repetitively taught his disciples to keep watch and fix their eyes on spiritual things.

Less Me (Week 4)

March 22: Jesus' Humble Word

Jesus didn’t promise health and wealth. He never guaranteed a good earthly life. Instead he exalted the meek, the poor, and the persecuted. Why would Jesus preach such a humbling word?

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 4)

March 18: Teach Me To See Opportunity

Jesus taught his disciples many things the last week of his life. One of those things was what daily life would be like between his ascension into heaven and his return on judgement day. Wars, earth quake s, famine, disease. Should we then be surprised by something like Covid 19? Not really. Jesus spoke plainly about it. Jesus gave comfort to his disciples, and he gives us the same. Jesus' words are trustworthy and true.

Less Me (Week 3)

March 15: Jesus' Humble Work

Jesus didn’t rule from a kingly throne. Nor did he study in a scholar’s office. Instead our Savior got dirty amongst the sick, sinful, and needy. Why would Jesus choose such humble work?

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 3)

March 11: Teach Me To Love

Our life of faith can feel complicated, an endless list of countless do’s and don’ts from God. Jesus, however, taught his disciples a simple way of faith—Love God and love your neighbor. That’s what the entire Law is about.

Less Me (Week 2)

March 8: Jesus' Humble Crew

Jesus didn’t select scholars to be his closest friends. He didn’t seek out Israel’s smartest or most talented. Instead our Savior chose fishermen and commoners. Why would Jesus choose such humble friends?

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 2)

March 4: Teach Me To Respond

Although many are invited to the feast of the Lamb, few actually attend. Many refuse to come, paying more attention to the busyness of life than the blessings of God. This is why Jesus taught his disciples the cost of refusing God’s invitation and the blessing of being chosen by grace.

Less Me (Week 1)

March 1: Jesus' Humble Home

The Son of God wasn’t born in a palace. The Prince of Peace did not grow up next to a throne. The King of Kings spent his life in dusty streets and common villages. Why would Jesus choose such a humble home?

Teach Me, Lord (Lent 2020 Week 1)

February 26: Teach Me To Believe

Faith can move mountains. Faith is the spiritual force behind powerful prayers. This is why Jesus taught his disciples, unlike the Pharisees, to have radical faith in God.

f********** (Week 4)

February 23: How Do I Forgive Myself?

What if you struggle to forgive yourself? When you come face to face with the earthly consequences of the sins you have committed, it can crush your spirits, making it feel impossible to move on and enjoy the grace of God. This message takes a surprising approach to this common struggle and bringing us back to the authoritative declaration that Jesus made at the cross.

f********** (Week 3)

February 16: How Do I Forgive Them?

Does forgiveness means you act like sin never happened? What if you don’t trust the person who sinned against you? What about consequences? This message discusses the tension between daily forgiveness and healthy boundaries from a biblical perspective.

f********** (Week 2)

February 9: Forgiven People Forgive

How do you forgive someone who sins against you? While Christians may agree that they should forgive, finding the power to forgive day after day can feel impossible. This message unpacks Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, proving that the most important thing to do is begin with the forgiveness you have first received from heaven.

f********** (Week 1)

February 2: Forgiveness Is Found At The Cross

What do you do when someone sins against you and it hurts? This message explores the four paths you could take (and the one that God prefers). Don’t try to “forgive and forget.” Don’t get back. Don’t get better. Instead, make the daily choice to let that sin alone, to forgive as God has graciously and daily forgiven you.

God Goals (Week 4)

January 26: God Wants Rest (Balance)

What if one of God’s goals was for you to do less? What if God was nudging you to say “no” to more people more often? What if a key to achieving more for his glory was resting in what Jesus has already achieved for you?

God Goals (Week 3)

January 19: God Wants Work (Vocation)

The easiest part about God’s goals is setting them. The hardest part is actually achieving them. Where can you find the motivation and power to pursue God’s goals after the rush of the resolution has worn off? The Apostle Paul knows, and he cannot wait to tell you.

God Goals (Week 2)

January 12: God WANTS Obedience (Purpose)

What does God want you to do with your life? Where does God want you to live? Or work? Or go to college? These common questions go unanswered in the Bible. Instead, God gives an overarching command to his people, no matter where they live, study, or work. Do you know what it is?

God Goals (Week 1)

January 5: God WANTS You (Identity)

God’s greatest goal for your year is not for you to be more patient, more generous, or more loving. The #1 thing on God’s list is much, much more important than anything you could ever do. His primary goal is for you to remember who you are. At the start of a new year, have you figured out your identity in Jesus?

Christmas Hype Encore

December 29: What the End of the Hype Man Means

Sometimes the holidays don't turn out as we hope. Sometimes, Christmas can even be haunted by tragedy. If that remotely describes your experience this year, then, listen in for one more visit with John the Baptist, the hype man of Christmas, and his untimely end, a tragedy by all human standards. Yet, it was hardly a tragedy at all because of what Christ did through his coming at Christmas. Join us for our message on Matthew 14, the account of the beheading of John, to find how Christmas haunts all our tragedies in Christ and never the other way around.

Christmas Hype (Christmas Eve)

December 24: From Hype To Hope

Is Christmas worth the hype? After all the shopping, cooking, planning, and partying, is the holiday season worth it? The Apostle Paul thinks so. 2,000 years ago, Paul described the meaning of Christmas in one simple sentence, a sentence that reminds us all what this season is truly about and why Jesus is worth all the hype in the world.

Christmas Hype (Week 4)

December 22: The Greatest

How can you be blessed in the midst of an imperfect Christmas? If God hasn’t covered your life in blessings and you are struggling to trust him, what do you do? Jesus’ best friend, sitting behind bars, asked that same question. And this was Jesus’ answer.

Christmas Hype (Week 3)

December 15: John's Parting Message

What do you do with a less-than Christmas? When you are less popular, less known, less loved, and feeling less than, where do you turn? John knows the perfect answer to that question, an answer that brings joy back to empty hearts.

Advent (2019)

December 11: The Perfect Family Christmas

Are you hoping for the perfect family Christmas? Do you have plans for how Christmas should go? Are you fearful that you won't have enough time to get it all done and even if you do, it might not be a guaranteed perfect Christmas? Listen in to the message as our God and Father sends to us the perfect forerunner, John the Baptist - the Hype Man of Christmas, to lead us to the perfect family Christmas in Christ inspired by Luke 1:17.

Christmas Hype (Week 2)

December 8: Family Pictures

Is God pleased with you? If you could see the Father’s face, would a smile spread across his lips? If you are unsure of your answer, look to John standing with Jesus and listen to the voice that booms from heaven. At Jesus’ baptism and through your baptism, God answers life’s most important questions.

Christmas Hype (Week 1)

December 1: Prepare For Christmas

How impressive is your Jesus? The answer to that question might determine the quality of your Christmas. That’s why John wants to remind you who Jesus really is and how impressive his work really was.

Thanksgiving 2019

November 28: Praise the Lord, my soul!

The pain or hurt of the moment can easily grab our attention, and drain the thankfulness out of our hearts. Our inner self-talk is negative and focused on everything going wrong. No one talks to you more than you! What is your inner voice saying? This Thanksgiving we will correct that inner voice, and make it tell God's truth. "Praise the Lord, my soul! And forget not all his benefits."

And... (Week 7)

November 24: Devoted

“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Paul knew that being devoted to God and his good will would be a lesson that many Christians would need to learn. This message, in light of the gospel, spurs us on to love God’s Word and to love the people God put into our lives.

And... (Week 6)

November 17: Saved For Something

Some Christians talk all about grace and not much about works. Others focus on obedience after breezing past Jesus on the cross. Paul picks a middle ground. He focuses on the love of God in Christ, and explains how that shapes our lives as Christians.

And... (Week 5)

November 10: God's Greatest Motivation

How do we inspire people to change? How does change happen in our own lives? Paul knows there is something more powerful than guilt or demands to change our hearts and lives. That something is grace. Christians need high standards of behavior…and cannot forget the greatest motivation of all—the grace of God.

And... (Week 4)

November 3: Free From All AND Slaves Of Everyone

Paul clearly lays out various instructions for the Christian Church, which shape the way we treat one another in the family of God…and reflect on the name of God and the attractiveness of his Word to the outside world.

And... (Week 3)

October 27: Encourage And Rebuke

Paul cared as much about doctrine as dieticians care about ingredients. What is contained in a person’s belief system will either help or harm. Therefore, Paul pushes us to read the ingredients on someone’s teaching…and rebuke those who deviate from God’s truth.

And... (Week 2)

October 20: Great Responsibility

Those who lead the church have a high and holy calling. They can bring many people to Jesus or damage those that God loves dearly. Therefore, Paul gives Titus (and us) high standards for their message…and their personal lifestyle.

And... (Week 1)

October 13: Grace and Truth

How does Paul open his letter to his dear friend, Titus? By talking about our hope, our peace, and the eternal life we have in Jesus…and GOD! Every verse of Paul’s introduction contains the name of God, a theme that runs through the entire book (and the entire Bible). In fact, only by focusing on GOD do we experience true hope, peace, and life.

Greater Things (Week 5)

October 6: Greater Going

922 has not turned inward. Our leaders and members have not lost their focus for the unchurched, dechurched, and unbelieving members of our community. So many people have invested and invited and evangelized. But God, who loves every soul, wants greater things! Jesus’ mission for his followers was clear—Go and be my witnesses. While we may be excited about the ministry plans of our Greater Things campaign and a new downtown location, what matters so much more is the message of Jesus, the Savior who is coming back soon.

Greater Things (Week 4)

September 29: Greater Growth

2019 was a great year for our Grow Root. We maxed out a plan to read through the Gospel of John. Pastor Bill launched the Lead Me Father Project and has met with x families. But God is after greater things! He wants every 922 member to love his Word enough to meditate on it every day. So, when life is busy and time is short, how do you convince yourself the Bible is a “get to” and not a burdensome “have to.” The author of the longest chapter in the Bible would like to answer that question as he gushes for 170+ verses about the beauty and power of the Word of God.

Greater Things (Week 3)

September 22: Greater Giving

So many people give so much at 922. Given the number of dollars and volunteers need to make our ministry work, we are so blessed. God has done great things! But he wants to do something even greater—to make 922 as abnormal as the early Christian Church. The power of Jesus and the grace of God moved their hearts to give like few people had ever given before. That story reminds us of the impact the Church can make when “all the believers” give in response to Jesus’ love. As we kick off a ministry campaign, we are not just thinking of dollars and cents, but of resurrection power and saving grace.

Greater Things (Week 2)

September 15: Greater Groups

Life Groups and Seasonal Groups are something that sets 922 apart. Other churches call us, looking for advice on how to create community and bring people together to carry out the “one anothers” of the Bible. Yet there are still greater things to come. One of the best ways that we want to leverage our “one another” groups is to understand the words and promises of God. The story of the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip is the perfect reminder of why doing life together is the best way to do life.

Greater Things (Week 1)

September 8: Greater Gatherings

In the past decade, 922 has exploded in Sunday attendance. God has blessed us with great things—2 campuses, 6 services, and a humbling number of souls who regularly gather around the Word of Jesus. But God still desires greater things. There are still so many from our church family who rarely gather (mid-40% of our membership=weekly attendance; that number includes guests!). There are still so many temptations that keep us from church and so many distractions that keep us from worshiping once we get there. This message reminds us why we gather every week in Jesus’ name.

Race & Religion (Week 4)

September 1: God Has A Dream

The Bible ends with revealed God’s plan for our diverse world, namely, to gather a massive church from every tribe, nation, race, and people.

Race & Religion (Week 3)

August 25: What Almost Killed Jesus

Early in his ministry, Jesus’ hometown neighbors tried to murder him. Not because he claimed to be God. Not because he broke the laws of the Sabbath. But because he claimed that God might actually love other cultures. His bold sermon and the visceral reaction remind us that followers of Jesus are called to boldly proclaim God’s love for all races, no matter what it costs them.

Race & Religion (Week 2)

August 18: Racist & Religious

From Jonah to Peter to the reaction of Jesus’ neighbors from Nazareth, God’s people have struggled with the “other,” even if the other is a brother or sister in God’s family. This message helps us see that race is as much of a perennial problem as jealousy, pride, or greed, which God deals with through confrontation, repentance, and faith.

Race & Religion (Week 1)

August 11: Jesus' Family Tree

The series begins by examining the roots and race of Jesus himself. In Matthew’s genealogy, we meet a Jesus who is more colorful and cultured than what most of the pictures have taught us. In light of Jesus’ color, how could God’s people not love a more colorful church?

Skeptical Faith (Week 5)

August 4: God & Science

The dichotomy of science/reason/logic/proof and faith/religion/belief/God is too much for many to overcome. How can people of faith share the Word with those who oppose faith altogether? Paul gives us two compelling answers in Romans 1-2.

Skeptical Faith (Week 4)

July 28: Heaven & Hell

Few things are more disturbing to modern skeptics than the idea of eternal torture for a sincere Buddhist or a run-of-the-mill sinner. How can a Christian scoundrel be saved while an upright atheist is condemned? What would God say in the face of such questions? Isaiah gives us God’s answer, stressing what is truly evil in God’s eyes and how anyone can find forgiveness in his sight.

Skeptical Faith (Week 3)

July 21: But Christians Are Hypocrites!

(Unfortunately, due to a power outage on July 20, 2019, we were unable to record a podcast or video of this week's message. Please see the attached notes for message details.)

According to a survey published in unChristian, one of the most common objections to Christianity is the hypocrisy of Christians who don’t practice what they preach. Why follow Jesus if so many of his followers are self-righteous pretenders? Given the public scandals of so many church leaders, why wouldn’t we all throw organized religion on the trash pile and become independently spiritual? Jesus himself answers such questions in one of his hardest sermons.

Skeptical Faith (Week 2)

July 14: Are People Inherently Good?

Dr. D.A. Carson, a prolific Christian author and frequent college campus speaker, has said that the biggest pushback to his presentations is a belief in sin itself. More than ever, people believe they are inherently good and only the environment around them is bad. What people need is therapy and coping mechanisms but repentance and trust in God’s salvation. What would Jesus say to this heart-affirming objection? His words in Matthew 12 give a clear answer, one that drives us back to the gospel for our hope.

Skeptical Faith (Week 1)

July 7: Reliability of Scripture

What makes the Bible believable? How do we know it is unique among all the beliefs, books, and religions of the world? Dr. Luke, a 1st century physician and author, has powerful answers. His introduction to the Gospel of Luke reminds us that Christianity is based not on blind faith but on historical facts.

God & Gender (Week 4)

June 30: God & Transgender

If God created us male and female, why have so many of God’s sons questioned if he actually created them to be his daughters? And why have so many Christian women wondered if they were really made to be God’s sons? Paul indirectly answered these questions when he wrote about the struggles of life in this broken world. This message intends to explain the transgender temptation and offer hope and encouragement to those facing it.

God & Gender (Week 3)

June 23: Silence & Submission

1 Timothy 2 is a chapter many Christians wish was not written. The Apostle’s Paul’s words seem patriarchal and downright impossible. No braided hair? Or expensive clothes? Or women in church who are not “silent”? Really? This message seeks to faithfully explore Paul’s provocative words in context and the issue of men and women working together in the church.

God & Gender (Week 2)

June 16: Head of the House

Perhaps now more than ever, Americans find the idea of distinct gender roles as outdated, offensive, and oppressive. Much more preferable, many believe, is to recognize God-given gifts, regardless of gender. How does such thinking fit into the biblical view that Paul lays out in Ephesians 5 where husbands are the “heads” of their wives and wives are called to submit to their husbands? How do biblically-committed Christians winsomely explain these verses in our modern age?

God & Gender (Week 1)

June 9: God's Design For Men & Women

In the beginning, when everything was perfect, God created people. Not only did he create Adam and Eve “in his image,” he also “created them male and female.” This message lays the foundation for our faith when it comes to gender, a faith in the Father who loves everyone of the children he has created.

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 7)

June 2: The Water Of LIfe

When a “bad Samaritan” met Jesus, she was shocked by his behavior. He engaged her, confused her, and then saved her, turning her into the Bible’s most unlikely missionary. This message reminds us that Jesus is still offering the water of life to the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places.

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 6)

May 26: Eternal Life Giver

Many Christians know the famous words of John 3:16. But when did Jesus speak them? And why? And to whom? This message teaches that powerful verse in the context of the powerful verses around it, remaining us of the new life that only the born again can find.

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 5)

May 19: Church Protector

Within one verse in John 2, Jesus turns from wine maker to church destroyer. Raging, flipping over tables, and whipping animals, a furious Jesus turns the church upside down...or order to keep the Church right side up. In an age when greed, sin, secrecy, and scandal have driven people away from church, Jesus is passionate about protecting the places where his resurrection is proclaimed.

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 4)

May 12: A Miracle For Little Things

Jesus’ first ever miracle was making 150 gallons of alcohol! Turning water into wine was not only proof of Jesus’ identity as God, but also a reminder that God’s great goal for our lives is joy, to celebrate in his presence by the miraculous work of his Son, Jesus.

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 3)

May 5: Look At Jesus' Identity

How can an imperfect person fall asleep without guilt? How can the abused live without shame? How can a sinner end up in the presence of God? The Bible’s answer—a lamb. A spotless substitute, accepted by God’s own design. This is what John the Baptist’s followers would have thought when he pointed to Jesus and shouted, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 2)

April 28: The Word

Jesus faced the horror of his friends’ death/grief with a powerful hope with the reminder that he was the resurrection and the life. In a world where we all are dying every day (and trying to ignore it), Jesus’ own resurrection is proof that he is our Savior and our true source of Life!

Fake News/Real Jesus (Week 1)

April 21: The Resurrection & The Life

Jesus faced the horror of his friends’ death/grief with a powerful hope with the reminder that he was the resurrection and the life. In a world where we all are dying every day (and trying to ignore it), Jesus’ own resurrection is proof that he is our Savior and our true source of Life!

LENT 2019: Broken (Good Friday)

April 19: Broken

Thirsty, pierced, dead. Jesus walked straight into death so that we would not have to face death alone.

LENT 2019: Broken (Maundy Thursday)

April 18: Grieved

Broken to Bind Believers in Blessed Communion (John 19:25-27)… If you have ever felt alone in this world, ever been surrounded by adversaries, ever abandoned by friends, or ever faced the loss of your dearest loved one, then, know that in Christ on this night, you are never truly alone. Jesus was broken for us as is evidenced for us in his gift to us of Holy Communion - all so that we might be bound to the family of God, to Christ Himself, and enjoy blessed communion with God and all His children in every hour and forever.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 7)

April 14: Sent

Why doesn’t God just take his kids out of this broken world? Answer: Because God wants more people to believe and be saved. This is how Jesus closed his epic prayer, a fact that reminds every Christian of the incredible calling we have to share our Savior with the world.

LENT 2019: Broken (Week 6)

April 10: Shamed

Stripped, crucified, and stuck between two criminals. Jesus knows what shame is. Yet his death means that those who trust in him will not be ashamed before God.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 6)

April 7: Glory To God!

Jesus’ longest recorded prayer is about the purpose of life—to glorify God and find joy in the process. In a world that is searching for joy, Jesus words are a surprising and powerful path.

LENT 2019: Broken (Week 5)

April 3: Abused

The injustice of that Friday tightens our stomachs. The same way our Savior feels when injustice injures someone that God dearly loves.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 5)

March 31: Haters

Jesus never promised a warm and fuzzy Christian life. Rather, he was honest about hatred, persecution, and even death. Yet Christian persecution is proof of our connection to Christ. So, don’t go astray! Let the Holy Spirit remind you of Jesus, whose eternal blessings are worth a lifetime of suffering.

LENT 2019: Broken (Week 4)

March 27: Misunderstood

Pilate and the crowds jumped to conclusions and false assumptions about Jesus. He knows how it feels to be misunderstood and quickly labeled.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 4)

March 24: Fruitful

God wants us all to be “fruitful,” to do good things according to His will. How? By staying connected to Jesus, trusting in God’s “pruning” work, and remembering the love we have received from the Father & the Son.

LENT 2019: Broken (Week 3)

March 20: Abandoned

Peter promised he would never fail Jesus, but he did. When our friends and family fail us, we know that Jesus will always be by our side.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 3)

March 17: Spiritual

The Holy Spirit often sparks questions and confusion among Christians today. But Jesus’ words, though deep, are clear. The Spirit is our counselor, our teacher, our “reminder”, and our source of peace. This message teaches us to rely on one of Jesus’ greatest gifts, the Holy Spirit.

LENT 2019: Broken (Week 2)

March 13: Framed

Ever had someone you couldn’t please, no matter what you did? Ever been set up to fail, no matter how hard you tried? Ever been in a situation where you just couldn’t win, whether with a boss, a coworker, a family member, or a former friend? Jesus understands. Jesus too was set up before the court of his people. No matter what he did or said, he couldn’t win with the high priest. Turns out, Jesus was framed. Join us and listen in to this event of Jesus’ passion (John 8:12-14, 19-24). Learn from your Savior and Friend when you too are framed and broken.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 2)

March 10: Trust

Fear filled the hearts of Jesus’ friends that night, especially after Jesus’ chilling words of denial. But that made Jesus’ promise all the sweeter. He was going to prepare a place for us. He would be the way to get to the Father. We could trust in him when our hearts our troubled. That’s the peace we need when we realize the sinfulness of our hearts.

LENT 2019: Broken (Week 1)

March 6: Betrayed

Jesus’ closest friends betrayed him when he needed them the most, something that too many of us experience in this life. Yet Jesus was willing to enter his suffering so that we could be saved.

The Night Before He Bled (Week 1)

March 3: Love

Jesus knew the time of his betrayal and death was drawing near. So, what did he do? He showed his friends the full extent of his love. He humbled himself, washed the very feet that would later abandon him, and encouraged his followers to love one another. In an age when many Christians are panicking, hiding, reacting, and living in fear, Jesus’ words are urgent for his 21st century friends.

NextGen (Week 4)

February 24: When Church Hurts

This message might seem odd, but it is important. Many kids get disconnected from church because they or their parents get hurt by someone at church. The pastor. The church council. A fellow member. Without the right reaction, these sins/hurts can uproot entire families for generations to come, leaving kids to tell the story of that one pastor who said that one thing to one of his parents. This message is meant to prepare people for the next time church hurts. What do you do? What do you say? When do you go?

NextGen (Week 3)

February 17: It Takes A Village

This message expands from week 2 to include all of us—pastors, teachers, church members, godparents, older siblings, friends, aunts/uncles, grandparents, etc. Share stories from the Scriptures and our experiences about people the Spirit brought to Jesus from the wider family of God. Give purpose to singles and non-parents who, like Paul himself, may not produce the next generation, but absolutely want to see them in heaven with Jesus.

NextGen (Week 2)

February 10: Parenting 101

Based on Proverbs 22/Deuteronomy 6/Ephesians 6/Colossians 3, this message reminds parents of what matters most - the training up of their children. What you do when they are young will probably (like the Proverbs) shape what they believe when they are older. So, what should you do? God gave Moses the answer. Seek God with a personal passion, based off his unbeatable promises, and then talk about that God as often as you can.

NextGen (Week 1)

February 3: Leave The 99

Based on Matthew 18, this message is meant to show us Jesus’ heart for the next generation. In Matthew 18, Jesus warned against leading kids to sin or looking down on them. Even more importantly, he told a story about a desperate shepherd who was not willing that even a single lamb be lost. Application—While it’s easy to stereotype and look down on other generations (in both directions!), our Father has a massive heart for those that are unlike you. This is good news, because it means that he has a massive heart for you!

Fresh Start (Week 4)

January 27: Emotional

Few things shape us like what we think about our thoughts. Our thoughts might be true or false, healthy or destructive, demonic or Holy Spiritual, which means we need to think carefully about our thoughts! Paul made the same point to his friends in Corinth, urging them to take their thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. By that same practice, we put our frantic minds at ease and fix our thoughts on Jesus.

Fresh Start (Week 3)

January 20: Financial

Money is a good gift and a terrible god. When accumulating more and more becomes the center of our universe, we end up, according to Jesus, with darkness, worry, and eventual loss. But when we seek God first, satisfying our hearts with the presence ad promises of God, money finds it rightful place in our lives. Our loving Father can become our true treasure, freeing us from serving money and allowing us to use it wisely.

Fresh Start (Week 2)

January 13: Physical

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Billions of Christians have confessed these famous words, admitting that God is the creator and we are part of his creation. Yet many Christians forget this truth when it comes to their own bodies, ignoring the Creator’s guidelines as they overwork, overeat, and underestimate the necessity of rest. This message takes us back to the beginning, to physical life as God intended, and reminds us of the Father who gave us life and wants only what is best for his kids. In addition, it reminds us of the “image of God” that we have through Jesus, a spiritual reality that gives even our bodies peace and rest.

Fresh Start (Week 1)

January 6: Spiritual

Most people don’t equate repentance with the words “fresh” or “liberating.” Crying “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” seems like a miserable way to start the year. But not according to Jesus. Jesus said that those who humbly confess their need of God’s grace (instead of self-righteously comparing themselves to others) would be justified and exalted in the eyes of God. Perhaps, then, repentance is the most liberating way to live!

Classic Christmas (New Year's)

December 30: Follow The Star

Our culture emphasizes a focus on the present. “It’s the journey, not the destination”. It’s not where you’ve been or where you’re going. What is important is where you are now. But what if the destination is better than the journey? We find the answer to that question in the Wisemen who visited Jesus in Bethlehem and for many are another part of what makes for a Classic Christmas.

Classic Christmas (Christmas Day) 

December 25: Beautiful Feet

I'll bet you've said to someone at some time in your life, "You have a beautiful smile," "You have a beautiful voice." "You have beautiful eyes." That's pretty common to say something like that. Once in awhile someone might say to someone, "You have beautiful feet." You probably know someone, woman or man, who has had a pedicure. Toe nails clipped. Polished and buffed. Foot massage. New color. . . . Beautiful feet. The prophet Isaiah spoke of beautiful feet. There was no pedicure though. Dusty feet. Worn sandals. Dirty toes. Yet those feet were more beautiful than the most expensive pedicure that could be purchased. Come to Christmas Day worship to hear about some of the most beautiful feet ever!

Classic Christmas (Christmas Eve)

December 24: What's Next

Life slows down after Christmas. The season passes and the winter blues begin. But not on that first Christmas. The shepherds burst with good news blurted out to anyone who would listen. Mary treasured up the truths about her newborn son. People went home glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. What if we did the same?

Classic Christmas (Week 4)

December 23: Contact Has Been Made

There are many classic songs of the Christmas season but nothing quite matches the first song of Christmas, the song of the angels in Bethlehem. Their lyrics are few, but their meaning is profound. God’s favor. Peace on earth. Glory to Him on high!

Classic Christmas (Week 3)

December 16: To: You

Few things are as exciting as finding a Christmas gift labeled To: (You). The label means someone thought about us. Someone loved. Someone searched for just the right gift. No passage proves God’s giving heart more than Luke 2:11, the classic summary of the Gift of Christmas.

Classic Christmas (Week 2)

December 9: The Big Announcement

Christmas is a time when families gather, for better or for worse. Tense relationships are revealed. Sins come front and center. Which is what makes Luke 2 so incredible. The shepherds, infamous in the ancient world for their lack of character, are God’s first audience for Christmas. Angels bring good news of great joy to take away their fear and welcome them (and us) to the family of God.