Messages

The earliest followers of Jesus were made up of people who believed the message of Jesus and chose to follow him. But there was one man named Saul, who began his journey as an ardent opponent of Jesus – even arresting and wanting to kill Christians. But God had a different plan for Saul to become one of the most influential and dynamic followers in history – the first Christian missionary. This week we’ll read the story of Saul’s dramatic conversion and be inspired to trust God to breakthrough to even the people most resistant to his love.

Some of the first followers of Jesus found that their finest moments were defined by how willing they were to cross cultural boundaries to share God’s love. This week we’ll read the story of a man named Phillip who faced the same challenging limitations and prejudices we still face today, but chose to follow God’s loving plan past his hesitations, with incredible results.

What does it take to stand strong when everything is against you? The growth of the first family of Jesus-followers was full of joy and excitement – but that first family also faced extreme challenges and heartache. This week we’ll read the story of the very first Christian martyr – the first Christian to lose his life because of his faith. From the story of Stephen, we’ll learn to be humble and truthful, even in the face of adversity, and find out how we can share God’s love, against all odds.

As the earliest followers of Jesus were trying to decide how to keep his movement of love going, they landed on a surprising theme: sharing. They shared meals. They shared their time. They shared their possessions. They shared the journey with one another in order to reach new height of connection and strength. This week we’ll take inspiration from the first family of Jesus in order to become more open and generous ourselves.

The first and most important thing the early followers of Jesus decided to do was WAIT; wait for the Holy Spirit to inspire and motivate and guide them. Though it may have first seemed like inaction, waiting on God resulted in a explosion of growth and miracles. This week we’ll explore the arrival of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the first followers of Jesus, and learn how we can be transformed by that same experience.

The spiritual life extends beyond our personal fulfillment; it is about guiding all of humanity to reconnect with God and thrive in His goodness. This profound mission calls for collective participation, which is why God invites each of us to play a part. This week, we’ll explore The Great Commission—Jesus’ final instructions to His first followers—where He calls them, and us, to embrace a spiritual life far greater than ourselves.

Isn’t it comforting to know that someone is praying for you? Even more amazing, Jesus Himself prays for you! He prays that we can endure life’s challenges and that our love for one another will guide others to Him. This week, in our series The Summit, we’ll explore John 17, where Jesus prays for His followers, and uncover how His prayer can shape the way we live.

No one wants to feel alone. While we all need moments of solitude, none of us want to feel abandoned, rejected, or unsupported during life’s challenges. The good news is that Jesus promises we will never face those moments alone. This week, we’ll explore Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit, our constant companion and source of help. Together, we’ll reflect on how God has been present in our lives all along and how He continues to guide us—and others—into a future filled with hope.

Have you ever felt like what you have to give isn’t enough to matter? What if generosity isn’t about the amount we give, but about what it does in us? In this final week of our True Value series, we’ll explore Jesus’ perspective as He watches a widow offer a small yet deeply sacrificial gift at the temple. Through her example, we’ll see that true generosity is measured by the heart, not the sum. Together, we’ll invite Jesus to examine our hearts, relieve our financial anxieties, and show us how giving to God can lead to deeper spiritual growth.

What if the way you handle your finances could make it easier for others to experience God? While culture often pushes us to focus on getting ahead, God calls us to help others move forward, especially toward Him. This week, we’ll explore one of the most striking moments in Jesus’ ministry—when He overturned tables to clear the temple of money-changers. Through this powerful story, we’ll be challenged to choose generosity and purpose over personal gain and discover how we can remove obstacles to create clear pathways for others to encounter Jesus.

How does your faith influence the way you handle money? As we kick off our new series, True Value, we’ll dive into a conversation between Jesus and a rich young ruler. In this powerful exchange, Jesus challenges us to move from a mindset of clinging to what we have to trusting God and letting go. Together, we’ll reflect on what might be competing with our faith and discover practical steps toward trusting God more with our finances.

The Kingdom of God can begin right now as we choose to let Jesus lead our lives. But Jesus also promised that he would return someday, wrap up history, and establish his full Kingdom. Are you ready? What would Jesus find in us if he returned right now? How should we live our lives if he waits another 2000 years? How do we operate without knowing his timing? This week we’ll explore Jesus’ descriptions of his second coming and take to hear the challenges he gives his followers to stay ready, invitational, and faithful.

Even Jesus used multiple illustrations to help people grasp the idea of the Kingdom of God. This week, we’ll explore several of the powerful images he used—a treasure, a seed, and a fishing net—to reveal what life looks like under his leadership. Each of these examples gives us a clearer picture of God’s love and his desire for us to live in deep connection with him.

Jesus taught about the idea of the Kingdom of God, but on one special day, he gave three of his disciples an in-person demonstration of what his true power in that Kingdom was like! This week we’ll read the story of “The Transfiguration,” witness Jesus’ glory for ourselves, and learn how we can invite him to bring powerful transformation to our own lives.

Have you ever faced a situation so hopeless that it felt beyond repair? The good news is that nothing is beyond Jesus’ power to change. In our hopeless situations, Jesus shares in our pain and can transform even the most irreversible circumstances. In our third and final message of our series It’s a Miracle, we’ll witness Jesus’ miraculous ability to overcome the most hopeless situation of all… death itself. And learn to invite Him into our unmet expectations and struggles.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life’s storms, wondering if your faith is enough? In this second message in our series It’s a Miracle, we’ll explore Jesus’ miraculous power over what overwhelms us, showing that He helps us even when our faith falters. And we’ll discover even when we are struggling to have faith, that Jesus responds graciously to our needs despite our doubts.

Have you ever wondered if God cares about more than just your religious life? When we read about the life of Jesus, we discover that he has a deep concern for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This concern is seen so clearly in his miraculous and holistic care of people. In this first week of our three-week series called It’s a Miracle! We’ll explore Jesus’ desire to heal every part of our lives. And invite him to meet us in practical and unexpected ways.

As we gather a spiritual support team for 2025, it may be exciting to think of all of the ways we can encourage and challenge each other. However, we may quickly recognize that our efforts to help others are limited – we’re busy, we’re weak, and we don’t know any more answers than anyone else. Before those moments come, it is important to recognize that our true benefit to others comes from a deep faith in God. As we close out the first message series of the new year, we’ll see how the faith of an unexpected biblical character amazes even Jesus, and learn the power of fully trusting God to make us a powerful part of his team.