Faith journeys, like Abraham’s, highlight that life is not linear but is filled with ups and downs, which are not indicators of weak faith but opportunities to stay constant in our faith. Through Abraham’s examples of faithful moments and failures, we see that faith is always available regardless of circumstances or decisions. God is with us through it all; our challenge is to continually trust in Him.…

Sometimes the best place to begin is at the beginning. Abraham started to follow God without anything external. There were no scriptures to read to make sense of it, and no set doctrine. It was simply a call from God to Abraham to be in a relationship with Him. Whether you are new to faith or have been in a relationship with God for a while, what would it look like to model our spiritual lives after Abraham’s experience and simply follow?…

The story of the Prodigal Son highlights the fact that we are not lost causes to God. Just as the father in the Prodigal Son welcomes his child home regardless of his choices, so God longs to be with us. When we return to Him, He doesn’t demand speeches of unworthiness but celebrates our homecoming. This truth is demonstrated through Jesus’ death and resurrection. God goes to extraordinary lengths to restore relationships with His beloved children. His love remains constant. He does not condemn, but welcomes us home.…

The parable of the Prodigal Son reveals deeper truths through the older brother's perspective, highlighting common misunderstandings about God's kingdom. While appearing dutiful, the older brother misunderstood the purpose of celebration. His focus on rule-following over relationship and struggle with extending grace mirror challenges many face today. God's kingdom operates unexpectedly, valuing restored relationships over rigid rule-following, and invites everyone to participate in the joy of being a part of it.…

We may already be familiar with the story of the lost son, but there are many layers and depths to it that we may have missed. It is a radical story of God’s love for us and how He views His relationship with us. His love isn’t about punishment, but about celebration and restoration. God's compassion extends to those who feel completely lost, and it has practical application in our lives today. Rock bottom isn’t too deep for God’s love to reach us.…

Being part of God's family means adopting a spiritual dress code that transcends our earthly differences and divisions. We are called to clothe ourselves with spiritual attributes that reflect Christ's character. These include compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Above all, we must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. While conflicts may arise, we're called to bear with one another patiently and forgive as Christ has forgiven us. This spiritual dress code transforms how we interact with others and shapes our identity as children of God.…

Our relationship with God goes far beyond empty religion or worldly values - we are His beloved children. Rather than viewing God as a distant authority figure or basing our worth on achievements, we can embrace our identity as sons and daughters who are fully accepted and loved. This adoption gives us the privilege of calling God 'Abba Father' and living as true heirs in His family. When we truly grasp our identity as God’s children, it transforms how we see ourselves and how we relate to Him. This shift from a performance-based relationship to one of genuine belonging brings freedom.…

Each person plays a vital and unique role in God's family, much like pieces in a mosaic. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, we should recognize how our individual skills, perspectives, and personalities contribute to the bigger picture. Our differences aren't flaws but essential elements that create beauty when combined. Making space for others' uniqueness while embracing our own allows God's family to function as intended, with every member playing their irreplaceable part.…

Oftentimes we choose to love others because it’s “what a good Christian should do.” And that’s not bad, but as we mature spiritually, we can take a deeper look at what perspective Jesus modeled for us. When we take opportunities in our community to volunteer we become a part of the fabric of the city. It becomes ours. And, as outlined in Jeremiah 29:7, “…if it prospers, you too will prosper.” This is an encouragement to be involved in the city we live in and to be a difference maker where and when we can.…

When we look at Jesus, we get to model our lives after Him. He interacts with people in ways that they feel seen and valued. Jesus does this in two distinct things: He gives love a name and a story. We see this in action with the woman Jesus heals in Mark 5:24. He shows love and care, but doesn’t stop there. He sees the person first.…

Epiphany primarily celebrates three significant events that revolve around Jesus’ life: the visit of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ first miracle. In this final week of the series, we took a brief look at the meaning behind the Magi’s visit and how it was cause for hope. How does this hope translate to our day-to-day especially when we may be wrestling with hopelessness?…

In John 2, we are witness to Jesus’ first miracle. He turns water into wine at a wedding, which may seem unusual, but hospitality was paramount in that time and that culture. This first miracle of Jesus has a lot of parallels to Moses’ first miracle. However, there are a lot of differences as well. By comparing and contrasting both miracles, we learn that with Jesus we always have more than enough.…

The season called Epiphany often includes commemorating the three wise men visiting Jesus, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding. Epiphany is the result of waiting and hoping for the Messiah. Today, we are not hoping for Him because He is with us. We have Him and the church can be the powerful expression of hope lived out and what goodness comes from living in the hope we have and can share with everyone.…

How do we experience a God who is invisible to us? We know that God loves us, but we might not feel it with all that is happening in our lives. There are two ways that God shows His love: God makes Himself visible by manifesting Himself in Jesus and God makes Himself visible by manifesting Himself in us. As stated in 1 John 4:12 - we are the ones who can show God’s love for us by loving one another.…