Who are you, really? Beneath the job title, your birth order, relationship status, family connections, organizational involvements… at your core, what values shape who you are? And does the person you are in public match the person you are in private? The character of a person matters deeply to God. ----------------------------------- TAKE YOUR NEX…

There is a deep longing in the human heart for justice. But often our culture defines justice differently than God does. What does justice look like for the one who follows Christ? And how do we pursue biblical justice in our world? ----------------------------------- TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP ---------------------------------- Let us know that you were …

Freedom of speech has long been an important value in the United States. But it doesn’t mean we can say whatever we want. In our increasingly divided nation, it is vitally important that we understand the power of language and use that power in ways that honor God and people. ----------------------------------- TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP -----------------…

Benjamin Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” These days, people don’t even bother to pick up pennies off the ground! There’s been a big shift in our culture around the concepts of work and wealth. Where is the healthy middle ground between workaholism and laziness? Between getting a hand up or a handout? We need a biblical perspective…

It’s been said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In other words, trends come and go, but human nature is pretty constant. When it comes to figuring out how to navigate life, it can be a challenge to sort through the sea of ‘expert’ opinions to find timeless truth. We need a rock-solid source we can depend on. ---------------…

As we come to the end of Paul’s letter, we will discover that joy is inextricably linked to peace. But as we have just discussed… peace is in very short supply! Fortunately, there is a solution. The good news is that peace is possible; in us and in the midst of our circumstances, and through us, in the midst of our conflict-ridden world. Let’s lear…

We are working our way through the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians this month and this Sunday, we’re digging into chapter 3. This portion of Paul’s letter is filled with words of encouragement and exhortation. But tucked in amongst the affirmation and instruction are some words of warning that we might be tempted to skim over. But just lik…

We are mid-way through our June sermon series on the book of Philippians, Joy In Every Circumstance. As we continue this week, we’ll be taking a look at the power of a radical idea. The kind of idea that motivates someone to do something that seems irrational, unbelievable, incomprehensible, to others. But that, when carried out can turn the world …

Don't Forget Your Passport Philippians: Joy In Every Circumstance June 9, 2024 This week, the Apostle Paul addresses the topic of citizenship. It’s a pretty personal topic for him – after all, he has had his rights as a Roman citizen violated and had to stand up for himself. But, as we will see, Paul has a whole other perspective on the subject of …

Make Up Your Mind Philippians: Joy In Every Circumstance June 2, 2024 This Sunday we are beginning a new sermon series on the New Testament book of Philippians. We’ve subtitled it: Joy In Every Circumstance. The good news is, joy is more than a fleeting emotion. It’s not dependent on how we feel, or even, what we know. It can’t be bought, but it ca…

Made For Intimacy Made For Good May 26, 2024 Everyone wants to be wanted… to be needed and known, to have a deep sense of belonging. We were designed for intimacy. But in our culture, the word ‘intimacy’ has become synonymous with sex. And though it can be used to describe a physical relationship, intimacy is much more multifaceted than we typicall…

A picture is worth a thousand words… or so the saying goes. We also use phrases like, ‘picture this…’ or ‘do you get the picture?’ Pictures can help us understand things in ways that words can’t. It helps to have an example to look at! It’s why children’s books come with illustrations and IKEA directions come with diagrams! Visible representations …

Made In His Image Made For Good May 5, 2024 According to Mother Goose, little boys are made of frogs, snails and puppy dog tails, while girls are a combination of sugar, spice, and everything nice. Though the nursery rhyme sounds sweet, it subtly reinforces long-held, unhelpful stereotypes. What does it mean to be a boy or girl, a man or woman? Doe…

Made In His Image Made For Good May 5, 2024 “Why, oh why…” it’s the question we all ask. For centuries, humans have created stories to help them explain the ‘whys’ of life. From Greek mythology to children’s fairy tales, Aesop’s fables to a good country song… we love a story that help us make sense of the world. The problem is, sometimes the storie…

Messy Grace Ridiculous Grace April 28, 2024 As we are wrap up our series Ridiculous Grace, this Sunday, we’ll be taking a look at the idea of messy grace. We all know that life is messy. Our world is broken, our systems are broken, WE are broken… all of us. Some of us disguise our messiness better than others, but that doesn’t make it any less true…

The Aroma of Grace Ridiculous Grace April 21, 2024 We are in the middle of a series we’ve called Ridiculous Grace. This week, we’re taking a look at the aroma of grace. Most things have a distinctive smell. But though our human sense of smell is incredibly sensitive, it is also easily fatigued. The common scents we encounter every day, we hardly ev…

The Scandal of Grace Ridiculous Grace April 14, 2024 Last Sunday we learned that grace is an undeserved gift; free to the recipient, but costly to the giver. We learned that grace has many facets… patience, kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love. And we learned that grace is always active, never passive. Grace always takes the initiative, makes…

The Aptitudes of Grace Ridiculous Grace April 7, 2024 We are beginning a new sermon series this Sunday that we’re calling Ridiculous Grace. If you watch the evening news or scroll through social media, you know we live in a very narcissistic, me-first, entitled culture. The messages all around us tell us we deserve more, better, and faster. Grace i…

An Invitation to Believe Easter Sunday March 31, 2024 More than two thousand years ago, Jesus gave His followers another kind of forecast. One they should have known they could be certain of. But things in their world got dark and scary really fast, and they lost their grip on that hope-filled forecast. Things didn’t play out the way they expected …

All That and a Bag of Chips Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews March 24, 2024 Over the past 3 months, we’ve been on a journey through the New Testament book of Hebrews. We’ve spent weeks unpacking deep theological truths that have helped us to better understand why we believe what we believe, and given us a solid foundation for living …

Run For Your LifeGreater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews March 17, 2024 There’s a famous line in the movie, Chariots of Fire, that has Eric Liddell saying, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” God did make him fast and he ran for God’s glory, but Liddell never said that. What he did say and what most people don’t know, i…

Faith For Today Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews March 10, 2024 Over the past couple of months, we have been digging deep into the book of Hebrews in a series we’ve called, Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus through Hebrews. And, we covered some pretty heady theology. But now, we’re making a shift. We’re getting to the part where the ru…

We’re discovering all the ways in which Jesus is greater than the Old Testament system of relating to God. Originally written to a group of Jewish Christ-followers who were experiencing difficulty and persecution for their faith; this letter was meant to encourage them to keep their eyes on Jesus, to hold tightly to their faith, to keep on keeping …

Since the first of the year, we’ve been taking a deep look at how Jesus and the new covenant way of relating to God that He makes possible is greater than the old way. This week we’re looking at how Jesus changes the access we have to God and the difference that makes in our lives. ----------------------------------- TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP -----------…

Obsolete Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews February 18, 2024 We are mid-way through our series, Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews. Over the last several weeks, we’ve been taking a deep look at how Jesus is greater than the Old Covenant system that the Jews were so familiar with. They were comfortable with they way things…

Melchize-who? Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews February 11, 2024 In Bible times, names of people and places were very much given with the meaning in mind. There were even occasions when God changed someone’s name to reflect a new direction or calling He had given them. Sometimes it’s a nickname that holds deep significance – whether …

We are working our way through the New Testament book of Hebrews in a sermon series we’ve called Greater. The unidentified author of this letter is making the case that Jesus is greater than anything – than any other hope, dream, or system; prophet, priest or king. He’s about to take his readers to the next level in his rationale, when he realizes …

We are studying our way through the New Testament book of Hebrews in a series we’ve called, Greater. This letter was written to Jewish Christ-followers who found themselves experiencing hardships that had them longing for the old days. “It would be so much easier if we could just go back to the way things used to be!” But God had called them to som…

The Myth of Greener Pastures Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews January 21, 2024 We are studying our way through the book of Hebrews in a sermon series we’ve called Greater. The letter of Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish followers of Jesus who were at risk of forgetting all that they had received in Christ and returning to the c…

Catch Your Drift Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews January 14, 2024 There is something appealing about the idea of just drifting along, going wherever the tide or breezes carry you. On the surface it sounds relaxing or refreshing. After all…navigating the demands of daily life is hard work. We can feel pulled in a million difference d…

Bigger, Better, Stronger Greater: The Supremacy of Jesus Through Hebrews January 7, 2024 We are kicking off 2024 with a brand-new series we’re calling Greater. Over the next 12 weeks, we will be diving deep into the New Testament book of Hebrews. It’s a book that will help us understand how Jesus is truly greater; greater than any person, any syste…

What We Learned in 2023 December 31, 2023 Jesus loved to tell stories. Storytelling was one of His go-to methods of helping His disciples better understand God and His plan for the world and their lives. Stories can move us, challenge us, inspire and encourage us. They can open our eyes to things that we otherwise might not see and our minds to pos…

Disappointed By God Missing Peace December 24, 2023 We all have expectations about certain things. Your kids are counting on Santa to bring just what they want for Christmas, but you know “Santa’s” budget is too tight. You have holiday traditions that aren’t working out. Perhaps there’s a broken relationship that’s making this season hard, instead …

Why Do I Have To Wait? Missing Peace December 17, 2023 It’s the Christmas season and as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we’re working our way through a series we’ve called, Missing Peace. I imagine that you, along with most everybody I know, struggles with waiting. Whether it’s waiting for a response to your email, or a call from the…

You're Driving Me Crazy! Missing Peace December 10, 2023 Luke 2 records the refrain declared by the host of heaven, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” But across centuries, continents, and cultures, no matter which corner of history we search, we discover an overwhelming deficit of peace. Certain…

Is Peace Possible? Missing Peace December 3, 2023 The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is on the horizon. But when our newsfeeds continue to be filled with stories of international conflict, economic uncertainty, political division, death, disease, heartbreak, and loss, it’s hard to believe that the message of…

DON'T BLINK! - as the world burns - November 26, 2023 This Sunday, we’re continuing our look beneath the subject lines and rhetoric that fill our newsfeeds, to see what God’s Word has to say about the things happening in our world. We’re looking to gain a firmer grasp on what we can know for sure, and what we must confidently entrust to the soverei…

TEETERING ON THE BRINK - as the world burns - November 19, 2023 It’s no wonder that as we look around our world, scroll through social media, and listen to the news, that so many of people are struggling with uncertainty and fear about the future. Things are very dark in our world and just seem to be getting darker. Is there any hope to hold onto? …

A Faith Of Their Own Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child's Heart November 12, 2023 This Sunday we are wrapping up our series, Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child’s Heart. We’ve covered a lot of ground the past few weeks, but we’ve saved the best – and maybe the hardest – for last. As parents who have committed their lives to Chris…

Because I Said So Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child's Heart November 5, 2023 As we continue in our series on parenting this week, we’ll be taking a look at the difference between discipline and punishment. Though we often use the words interchangeably, they aren’t the same thing at all. Punishment is linked to condemnation and control; d…

This week, as we continue in our series on parenting, we’ll be taking a look at how much marriage impacts our kids. In our world today, the traditional family isn’t so traditional anymore. There are lots of single parent households, broken and blended families, and grandparents raising grandkids. Families come in all shapes, sizes, and situations. …

We are midway through our series Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child’s Heart. This week, we’re taking a look at the weight of our words. We all know that words are powerful and that we need to be wise in how we use them. We know words can be misunderstood, taken out of context, or be twisted. But when it comes to our kids, there’s a whole …

We are in week 2 of a six-week series that we’ve called Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child’s Heart. Throughout this series we are taking a look at big picture principles for successful parenting that will help us to navigate the nitty gritty of daily family life. We all know that change is one of the most certain things about life. Every …

Destination Parenting Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child's Heart October 8, 2023 This week we are beginning a new series we’re calling Parenting: Winning the Battle for Your Child’s Heart. Being a parent is the most challenging job in the world. Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, something changes. That’s both the fun and …

Risky Faith Stuck: Get Back In the Race October 1, 2023 This week we are wrapping up our series, Stuck: Get Back in the Race. We’re going to unpack what it could or perhaps should look like for followers of Jesus to live out a faith that takes risks; that is unflinchingly ready to say ‘Yes’ to the possibilities and opportunities God puts in our liv…

Stuck In a Rut Stuck: Get Back In the Game September 24, 2023 We are in week 3 of our 4-week series we’ve called Stuck: Get Back in the Game. This week we’ll consider some of the reasons we get stuck and stay stuck, along with some how-tos for getting unstuck. Everyone, at some point – and probably more than once – is going to get stuck. It might b…

We are in week two of a new sermon series we’ve called, Stuck: Get Back in the Race. As we continue in our study this week, we’re going to take a look at who God says we are - beneath the labels, the job descriptions, the hats we wear and the roles we play. Strip all those things away and what’s left? What’s at the core of who you are? And how does…

The (UN)comfort Zone Stuck: Get Back In the Game September 10, 2023 Most people want to use their time well and spend it wisely. We value productivity, growth, health and happiness. We want life to be good; always moving up and to the right. But sooner or later, we all get sidelined – something breaks down, whether in us or around us, and we find o…

We are coming to the end of our sermon series we’ve called Beautiful Surrender: The Blessing of a Psalm 23 Life. As we’ve journeyed through this psalm together, we’ve discovered many benefits of choosing to live a life fully surrendered to Jesus. As we come to the final phrases of this well-known psalm, we’ll find there is still more abundance, mor…

Between a Rock and a High Place Beautiful Surrender: The Blessing of a Psalm 23 Life August 27, 2023 We are in week 4 of our 5-part sermon series we’ve called Beautiful Surrender: The Blessing of a Psalm 23 Life. As we gather together this Sunday, we come to verse 4 of Psalm 23. This is the ‘comfort’ part of the psalm that people all over the world…