One of the most inspiring chapters in the Bible is Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Great Hall of Faith." But while the stories contained there are indeed powerful, we shouldn't regard the people in them as perfect or their faith as unattainable. In this week's message, Pastor J.D. begins our series through Hebrews 11 by helping us see what faith looks like in practice. Through the examples of Abel and Enoch, we're reminded that true faith is demonstrated when we believe in and act on...

While the issues at the front and center of American politics in 2024 are different from those that the religious leaders highlighted during Jesus' day, they certainly aren't any less contentious. In this week's message from Mark 12, Pastor Bryan shows us how Jesus navigated stormy political waters with grace—and how we can do the same. When we recognize that it should be our faith that drives our politics (and not the other way around), we can then approach the upcoming election season in a...

With six months to go until Election Day, the rhetoric from news outlets and social media is likely to become increasingly combative. For Christians, one thing is certain: Our political engagement should look different than that of the world. In this week's message, the first of a two-part series, Pastor J.D. examines Mark 1 and Luke 2, drawing out the implications of Jesus' rule in a world hostile to it—both then and now. As followers of Jesus, our vote is important, but even more important...

These days, it's not exactly popular to claim the existence of absolute truth. It's even less popular to claim that such truth is embodied in the person of Jesus, the one who is the only way to salvation. In this week's message from John 14, Pastor J.D. shows us the importance of what is perhaps Jesus' most controversial "I am" statement: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." Yet, this statement isn't primarily about a set of principles to live by, or even having the correct answers to...

It doesn't take an expert gardener to know that a branch that isn't connected to the vine won't survive for very long. In this week's message from John 15, Pastor Bryan explores the next of Jesus' "I am" statements, helping us understand what it means to abide in Jesus, the "true vine." Many other things—often good things—vie for our time and attention, making this seem impossible. But the truth is, we have no hope of producing lasting fruit if we're seeking life from any other source.

Without shepherds to care for them, the threats posed to sheep run the gamut, from losing their way to being attacked by other animals. Simply put, sheep thrive under the guidance and protection of their shepherd. In this week's message from John 10, Pastor J.D. takes us through Jesus' claim to be the "good shepherd." What is so remarkable about this shepherd is that his love for the flock leads him to not only protect them, but lay down his life for them. As believers, then, we can fix our...

Given the choice between soda and water to quench extreme thirst, surely we would all agree on which to choose. The difference, of course, is that one truly satisfies and the other doesn't. When it comes to spiritual thirst, we can be tempted to turn to things that don't fulfill us instead of to the one who offers living water: Jesus himself. In this week's message from John 7, Pastor Curtis helps us see that this living water is something that not only satisfies us, but in the end, flows out...

If we're honest, most of us have probably experienced disappointment with God at some point in our lives. We question why God didn't cure our friend's cancer, or why he didn't provide for us financially when we really needed it. This Easter, Pastor J.D. walks us through Jesus' claim to be the "resurrection and the life," from John 11. In Jesus' response to the death of Lazarus, and to the pain of those close to him, we find a Savior who not only weeps with us, but meets us in our moments of...

Doors and gates are things that we likely don't give much thought to until they are in need of repair—and while the truth is that they are usually constructed to keep people or animals out, they can also certainly be opened to let them in. In this week's message from John 10, Pastor J.D. explains perhaps the most overlooked of Jesus' "I Am" statements: "I am the door." Though most people recognize this as Jesus' claim to be the only way to salvation—and it is—it is also a statement that is...

No matter what side of the "daylight saving time" debate we find ourselves on, we all have to at least acknowledge that light is essential for life, for a myriad of reasons. So Jesus' declaration that he is "the light of the world" was truly a bold claim. In this week's message from John 8, Pastor J.D. shows us how Jesus' light is one that doesn't merely reveal our sin, but ultimately, it heals us. As a result, we shouldn't feel as though we have to hide in the darkness—on the contrary, we...

As humans, one of our most basic needs is food—when we don't have it, we experience discomfort, irritability, or even sickness or death. And yet, as unbearable as physical hunger can be, it is our spiritual hunger that we often neglect to address, to our own detriment. As we begin a series looking at the seven "I am" statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of John, this week's message from Pastor J.D. explores the first of these, from John 6. Jesus' claim to be the "bread of life" is a truth...

It's often easy to dwell solely on the joys of discipleship, but what about the costs? We can't divorce forgiveness from repentance, communion from confession. If we do, we are left with what Dietrich Bonhoeffer so aptly referred to as "cheap grace." In this week's message from 2 Timothy 4, Pastor John shows us how following Jesus comes with a cost—and it is one that we must embrace if we are to be able to say, with Paul, that we have "fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith." 

When individualism is prized above all, it can be difficult to communicate to others that there is truth that is not subjective, not up for debate—namely, the Word of God. In this week's message from 2 Timothy 3, Pastor Bryan highlights why it is vitally important to look to the Bible, rather than looking inward, to remind ourselves of truth. If the words contained in this book really are the very breath of God—a lamp to our feet and a light to our path—shouldn't our lives be saturated with...

As followers of Jesus, we wouldn't disagree with the need to make disciples. But the reality is that it requires both intentionality and a significant investment of time—one that we may feel we simply don't have, at least according to our busy calendars. In this week's message from 2 Timothy 2, Pastor Bryan shows us the importance of prioritizing disciple-making in our lives. When we take the time to pour into others, sowing the seed of the gospel, we may just find that those around us are...

For many of us, fear rules much of our lives. We worry about our finances, our health, our relationships—and yet, the solutions we seek are often unhelpful at best. What's more, this fear tends to spill over into our spiritual lives, making us less likely to share the gospel. So how can we walk with courageous, unashamed faith? As we begin our series through 2 Timothy, Pastor Curtis reminds us of three key gospel truths that can help us combat our fear and live as bold witnesses for Christ.

When you hear the phrase "The Great Commission," what is your initial reaction? There can be a tendency in the church to relegate the carrying out of this command to those who are "called," or perhaps to those of a certain personality type. But if we follow Christ, the command to make disciples applies to us all—to the introvert as well as to the extrovert; to the lawyer and the barista as well as to the pastor and the career missionary. In this week's message from John 15, Acts 1, and...

Whether you make New Year's resolutions or not, you probably have areas of your life that you would like to change. But the path to change, as we all know, isn't always an easy one. It can be difficult to break old habits, make new ones, and incorporate fresh rhythms into our lives. In this week's message from John 15, Pastor J.D. helps us to see that our growth as disciples isn’t a matter of steeling ourselves and willing new routines and habits into existence. Rather, this growth is a...

If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, you probably refer to yourself as a "Christian." But how often do you call yourself a "disciple"? In this week's message from John 15, Pastor J.D. shows us that the difference between these two words might just be more significant than we think. What's more, we may be surrounded by people who claim to be Christians but are far from being true disciples of Jesus. The good news? For those willing to fully submit to and follow Jesus, there is immense...

"Getting back to the basics" is an oft-repeated phrase—and for good reason. Whether you've been following Jesus for 10 months or 10 years, it is always beneficial to be reminded of the essential truths of the gospel, upon which our faith is built. In this week's message, the first in our series on "The Whole Disciple," Pastor J.D. helps us unpack some of these foundational truths from Romans 3:23–26. As true disciples of Jesus, these are the things that we cherish and continually learn from,...

It's safe to say that we all desire to pray bold prayers, grounded in God's Word and fueled by his Spirit. So why is it that we often find ourselves settling for a prayer life that is characterized more by timidity than audacity? As we prepare to begin 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, this week's message from Pastor J.D. focuses on a lesser-known story of Elijah and King Ahab in 1 Kings 18. Bold prayer, prayer that truly changes things, isn't just reserved for the select few—rather, it is...

In this short message from 1 Corinthians 16, Pastor Curtis provides valuable direction for us as we find ourselves on the cusp of a new year, giving us four practical steps to ensure we are making progress in our lives as Christians. While we don't know exactly what this new year will hold, we can be sure that there will be both highs and lows. But we can also know with certainty that even through these mountains and valleys, consistent steps of obedience to God will lead to our growth as...

Have you ever been in a place of immense darkness, literal or otherwise? If so, then you know how incredibly powerful it is when you see the first rays of light beginning to break through. In this week's message from Isaiah 9, the last in our Christmas series, Pastor J.D. shows us how Jesus is the light that the long-ago prophet spoke about. Even when darkness threatens to overwhelm this weary world, we can rejoice in the knowledge that the light of Jesus has come—a light that will never be...

Christmas can stir up many different emotions. For some, it generates excitement and anticipation. But for others, particularly those who find themselves in the midst of a difficult season of life, it may feel more sorrowful than joyful. So what do we do when it simply doesn't "feel" like Christmas? This is precisely the question that Pastor Bryan considers in this week's message from Revelation 5. As we look at a second image that the Bible uses to describe Jesus and how he comes to us, we...