In my mind, I can see Mary’s surprised and astonished expression at that very moment. Jesus let her know that He knew her. She was important to Him. She was valued by the risen Savior who had conquered death. Even now, as I think about this, I get teary-eyed because just as He called Mary by name, He calls me and you by our name. He knows us and desires to forgive our sins and be in a personal rel...

As it turns out, I spent the vast majority of my life believing “romantic love” was the primary and most important kind of love. I thought romance alone would lead me to happiness. But after a year or so of marriage, you realize if this is going to last, there has to be more to love than romance. Times come where self-sacrifice, forgiveness, obedience, and compromise are necessary. Accepting and p...

If you struggle to look beyond the immediate, you are not alone. The story of Lazarus reminds us that God has a greater plan and invites us to abide in Him. Although we may not see clearly or understand our circumstances, our lives are a work in progress. God is working everything for His glory and our good. ...

Unlike me, God is perfect. His Word is perfect, and His plan is perfect. It is a perfect foundation for us—solid, unchanging, unwavering perfection. We are the ones who falter when we don’t conform to His will. He is worthy of our trust....

Trust is defined as putting confidence in or relying on someone or something. It is about believing that God will do what He says and that He will give us strength to get through difficult situations. On Sunday, Pastor Andrew recited one of my favorite Bible verses, Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know ...

Wherever you are today in your walk with Jesus, know that God is not some distant God up in the clouds anxiously waiting to bring the hammer down or is disinterested in you, but is One who took on humanity, can sympathize with your weaknesses, was tempted in every way that you are, but praise God—He did so without sin—showing us He can guide us through and help us in our time of need. ...

We need to lean into God, especially when life feels overwhelming. It’s okay to admit that we can’t handle it all—God already knows our struggles, and like with Elijah, He will meet us where we are. The key is to recognize that we were made to depend on Him, and He is always there to restore us, even in our most desperate moments. ...

This Sunday, Pastor Josh Rhodes spoke about the importance of lifting others up in prayer. He reminded us that while it’s natural to pray for those closest to us—our family and friends—we are also called to pray for our neighbors, our leaders, and even those we may not particularly like or agree with. Prayer isn’t just for the people in our inner circle; it’s for the world around us. ...

One of the most powerful ways to express adoration in prayer is through worship. Sometimes, I struggle to find the right words in prayer, but worship music gives me a voice. Singing words of praise helps me articulate my love for God in ways my heart feels but can’t always express on its own. Realizing this has unlocked something incredible in my prayer life—it has expanded my vocabulary of love a...

Could you imagine a world where you were not able to talk to God, not able to feel His presence, not able to feel His love? How would you survive? As we begin this new series on prayer, we need to take just a moment to imagine what a hopeless existence we would be living if communicating with our Savior was not possible....

The Father’s gift of His Son is the true definition of love. As we celebrate Jesus’ Advent, we must see it as a part of our love story. Throughout history, God showed His love by calling us to Him. We see His love through Old Testament prophecies and faithfulness to His chosen people. His love continues in the New Testament, fulfilling many prophecies about the Messiah coming, living, dying, and r...

Feeling low amid Christmas joy is normal, like Charlie Brown’s struggles in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Rather than looking inward or taking on more, Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest. This season, lay your burdens at His feet—only He can bring true peace and strength....

We often put our hope in people or things and end up disappointed. Where can we find hope that won’t disappoint? On Sunday, Pastor Josh said that our hope is found in Jesus. He never waivers. He has always been and always will be who He said He is, the Savior of the world. ...

Whether you are serving in ministry or any other area of life, you are called to steward your gifts well. It’s easy to get caught up in the demands of life and forget the purpose behind what we do. But living for the Master’s “well done” requires intentionality and a heart willing to follow God’s leading. ...

This past Sunday, Pastor Josh Rhodes kicked off our new series, "Margin for More." We have the ability to create margin for more generosity in three areas of life: our time, talent, and treasure. But in order to do that, our first step is to be grateful for those things....

The enemy's lies often lead me to believe that if I dwell on every "what if," every potential scenario, and all the things that could go wrong, I will be better prepared when these challenges arise. This tendency has been particularly evident during my wife Olivia's pregnancy. However, I have found support from others when I have struggled to bring my worries and anxieties about my wife and younge...

On Sunday, Pastor Josh Rhodes reminded us of an often-overlooked truth: suffering for our faith is not just something Jesus warned us about but something He shared in, for our sake. As Christians, we’re called not only to endure hardship but to see it as an honor—a mark of our shared identity with Christ....

When Pastor Josh said, "Holy living starts at home," it struck a chord in me. As he mentioned, home is where our guard is let down. As long as no one else sees the chaos, we can hide our weaknesses from the world by downplaying or justifying them. We often walk out of church on Sunday as if God stays at the church—but that is not the case; God knows and sees everything. ...

This past Sunday, Pastor Josh taught from 1 Peter 2 how, as “citizens of heaven, we are to live honorably as citizens of earth.” I couldn’t help but think of the Olympians representing their countries in Paris this summer. Whether hailing from Germany, Spain, Greece, or the USA, they temporarily resided in Paris and, while there, represented their home to those around them. Even though we often d...

Given the absolute destruction Hurricane Helene has caused, my mind has been flooded with hopelessness for the past week; yet, amid the storm and beyond, many beautiful stories of hope existed. As powerful as it was, Hurricane Helene did not have the final say. In the same way, the trials and suffering we face in this life do not have the final word over our lives. Jesus does....