Messages

What if the very things we try to hide are the ones God most wants to heal? We all carry parts of ourselves we’d rather keep in the dark, but real transformation begins when we step into the light. This week in our BeLoved series, we’ll be invited to experience the freedom, forgiveness, and clarity that come when we stop pretending and start walking in truth Jesus provides!

What if your faith could be more than just a feeling—real, grounded, and lasting? Many of us wrestle with doubt, especially when faith feels invisible or unclear. As we begin our BeLoved series, we’ll see how Jesus’ closest disciple, John, discovered a faith in Jesus that was both deeply emotional and historically anchored. We’ll be challenged to make that kind of faith our own.

As we’ve started the Fall, we’ve been exploring the many ways that we’ll pursue God together this year at Journey of Faith: through our services, our commitment to personal spiritual growth, and through our focus on sharing God’s love with the community.  But what might this look like, practically, for our church?  What changes or initiatives can we work on together that will help us pursue God’s plans for our church?  This week we’ll look forward at the year ahead and discover ways that we can follow God deeper into his vision for us. 

There is a deep well of spiritual connection that is available to us, but we often overlook the chance to spend personal time with God.  How could dedicated time that we share only between us and God shape the rest of our daily lives?  What could our lives be like if we had a more intimate and vital personal relationship with God?  This week we’ll explore several important ways that we can experience God beyond Sunday mornings, learning how to feel and rely more on the presence of God in our lives. 

For many of us, the first thing that comes to mind when we think of “church” is our Sunday morning gatherings for worship and a message. But real spiritual growth can’t possibly be contained to one hour a week! Instead, God has a plan for our lives and spiritual growth that can be refreshing to every hour of our week.

At Journey, we believe that spiritual truth comes from God’s Word, the Bible. But reading and learning from the Bible can be challenging; it’s likely the only 2000-year-old document that any of us has ever read. So how do we develop a pattern of studying and applying God’s truth consistently in our lives? This week, we’ll talk through practical ways that we can grow through our interaction with the Bible and see how that commitment is reflected in the way we teach the Bible at Journey.

Understandable. Jesus-centered. Invitational. Those are some of the ways that people in our community describe Journey of Faith. But what, exactly, are we inviting people into at Journey? During this first 5-week series of the Fall, we’ll explore the unique blend of values, mission, and programs that define us as a church. Along the way we’ll find new ways to grow closer to God together and share his love with the South Bay.

We live in a world that is broken by death and pain and evil. Sometimes we can catch ourselves longing for the next life, expecting that God will finally be rid of this earth. But we read in the Bible that God has a much different plan – rather than moving on from Earth, his ultimate plan is to redeem and recreate all that is currently lost and corrupt. In this final week of The Story Project, we’ll read the very last verses of the Bible and learn how we can join in the invitation for Jesus to arrive and make everything new.

There are many perspectives on the prophetic nature of the book of Revelation. From tackling the strange and vivid imagery to parsing out the curious timelines presented, Christians have worked to unpack John’s vision for the past 2000 years. But does this type of debate about Revelation obscure what Jesus is trying to teach us through the last book of the Bible? Or is it possible to still learn important lessons that can impact our current (and eternal) life? This week we’ll look at a few key passages from Revelation and discover how we can hear Jesus clearly together.

The book of Revelation is often considered to be a confusing and complicated book of future prophecy. But the truth is that the opening chapters of Revelation feature the risen Jesus himself giving practical insight to his followers. And his direction in those early chapters is clear: we need to stay alert and focused on following him, despite the increasing challenges we face. In this first week of our three-week walk through Revelation, we’ll hear what Jesus has to say to his Church, take his message to heart, and move toward a closer and more fulfilling relationship with him.

What kind of faith endures—and how do we pass it on? In two personal letters from the Apostle Paul to a young church leader named Timothy, we discover the key to leaving a legacy of faith: a life anchored in truth, shaped by character, and strengthened through perseverance. Real faith doesn’t just last—it multiplies. It changes us from the inside out and impacts the people we care about most. When we live with purpose and stay rooted in God’s truth, our faith can outlive us.

What does it look like to be the Church in a world that’s constantly pulling us in opposite directions? This week, we’ll look at two letters in the New Testament written to churches in an ancient city called Corinth – a city with a lot of similarities to Los Angeles! We’ll see how we can move from being to divided and distracted Christians, to a people known for their unity, holiness, and purpose. Let’s not just go to church—let’s be the Church.

What good is faith if no one can see it in action? This week we’ll look at a letter written to first century Christians from Jesus’ half-brother James. We’ll be reminded that faith isn’t just a belief we carry, but a life we live. Real faith shows up in real ways—through how we handle hardship, love others, and walk humbly with God. Like a fast Amazon order, faith is meant to move quickly from conviction to action. When we put our faith to work, it becomes powerful, practical, and transformative.

What if the solution to the world’s brokenness isn’t found in us, but in someone greater? This week, we begin series looking letters from the New Testament, starting with the Apostle Paul’s letter to the ancient Roman Christians. In it, we discover God’s global mission—a plan not just to save individuals, but to unite a fractured world through faith in Jesus. Beneath all our differences, we share a common need and a common hope. When we trust in Jesus, everything changes—from how we see ourselves to how we treat others. This is the good news: God’s love isn’t just for us—it’s for the world.

How can we share our faith in a way that truly connects with others? In this final message of our Pioneers series, we’ll explore how Paul, Christianity’s first missionary, engaged with philosophers in Athens. He met people where they were, using their own culture and beliefs as a bridge to introduce them to Jesus. We’ll reflect on how God can help us shift our focus from ourselves to communicating the Good News of Jesus in a way that resonates with those He wants to reach.

How can we stay strong in our faith when life gets tough? This week, we’ll explore the New Testament story of Paul and Silas, two Christians imprisoned for their devotion to Jesus. We’ll see how they kept their faith alive during suffering and used it as an opportunity to share God’s love. Their example will encourage us to worship God even when we don’t feel like it and remain a resilient witness to those around us.

How can we help others grow spiritually without trying to force change? This week, we’ll explore the transformation of Lydia, a key leader in early Christianity. Her decision to follow Jesus came through people who recognized God’s work in her life and trusted Him to open her heart. We’ll learn how to recognize spiritual longing in others and rely on the Holy Spirit for transformation.

How can we stay united in our mission while navigating deep cultural and theological differences? This week, we’ll look at how the first followers of Jesus worked to overcome division so they could continue to share the message of Jesus. We’ll learn how we can be grateful for God’s love for us and take practical steps toward cooperation with people who believe differently than us, without compromising our faith. 

Where do you turn when life feels uncertain or overwhelming? For our first week in this series, we’ll explore what shaped the minds and hearts of Christianity’s first missionaries. We’ll learn about the importance of Christian community, how to face hardships, and celebrating what God is doing in people’s lives. And we’ll be reminded to look for the “doors of faith” God opens all around us.

As the first family of Christians was beginning to grow, it turned out their perspective on who was in and who was out of God’s scope of love was incredibly limited. This week we’ll read the story of how God opened their eyes and made it possible for every to be a part of his family – including you and me.