With every conflict, there are numerous possibilities. Possibilities to do harm. To sever a relationship. To create a rift you will never recover from. However, there is also a possibility for transformation. With some intentionality and divine guidance, there is a way to fight that is not only healthy, but faithful. The fact of the matter is conflict is pretty much unavoidable. So, how might God use the conflicts in our families, friendships, and workplace to change hearts and minds…especially our own. Join us as we search the scriptures looking for guidance, wisdom and tips for how to fight “good fights.”

Week 1: The Good Fight with Institutions

Topics: Institutions, Conflict, Justice

Easter Season 2024, including Easter Sunday, Baptismal Sunday, and Youth Sunday.

Week 1: Easter Sunday

Topics: Easter, Resurrection, Belief

Week 2: The Inevitability of God (Baptism Sunday)

Topics: Baptism, Love, New Life

Week 3: Spiritual Gifts (Youth Sunday)

Topics: Discipleship, Service, Membership

Scripture is full of exemplary characters with faith we should emulate, but it’s also full of regular people just like you and me who struggle to trust that God will do what God says. Doubt is a normal part of every faith journey. In this series, we will explore moments of doubt from some of the most well-known Bible characters. We’ll ask questions like: why does doubt affect us all? How do we navigate seasons of doubt so that we can move forward in faith?

Week 1: Don't Forget

Topics: Doubt, Science, Remembrance

Week 2: Dealing with Self-Doubt

Topics: Self-Doubt, Identity, Calling

Week 3: Doubt Is Quite Revealing

Topics: Doubt, Discipline, Control

Week 4: Denying Our Doubt

Topics: Doubt, Trust, Questioning

Week 5: I Am Judas

Topics: Doubt, Judas, Betrayal

Week 6: Salvation I Didn't Request (Palm Sunday)

Topics: Palm Sunday, Salvation, Holy Week

We’ve all been there. You made a request of God only to have it go unanswered. Or perhaps it was answered in a way that you never anticipated. Expectations can be tricky. Especially when it comes to the miraculous, what kind of expectations can we have of God? What can we anticipate when we need God to intervene in our lives? In this series, we take a look at the miracles of scripture to better understand not only what happened back then, but what kind of help we can expect from God today.

Week 1: God's Help

Topics: Miracles, Intervention, Help

Week 2: God's Healing

Topics: Healing, Miracles, Intervention

Week 3: Answering Our Own Prayers

Topics: Miracles, Serve, Hunger

Week 4: Our Provider

Topics: Miracles, Provision, Prayer

Week 5: Our Protector

Topics: Miracles, Protection, Suffering

Week 6: Our Guide

Topics: Miracles, Guidance, Direction

Often when we talk about Advent, we notice how many surprising things happen during this season. The Messiah comes in a manner unlike what anyone expected. Yet, for all of the surprises of Advent, it’s also exactly what God said God would do. God promised that a Messiah would come, that reconciliation would be possible, that sin and death would not have the last word. As we wait for Christ to come again and set the world aright once and for all, we may be asking the same questions that the Israelites were asking before Jesus was born: can we really trust God’s word? Will God actually fulfill these promises? What are we supposed to do while we wait for them to be fulfilled? During Advent, we’ll explore the promises God already fulfilled during the first Christmas, and how those promises still apply to us today. We’ll focus on how we can trust God to fulfill the promise of hope, peace, joy, and love, even if things aren’t going the way we expected.

Week 1: Belief or Trust

Topics: Witness, Faith, Trust

Week 2: Grieving Well

Topics: Grief, Loss, Peace

Week 3: Not Happy

Topics: Joy, Happiness, Discipline

Week 4: Love in Correct Order

Topics: Love, Incarnation, Marriage

All throughout scripture, God calls his followers to be different. The Bible calls us to be “holy,” “chosen,” and “set apart.” However, this was not different in a superior way. Rather, God wants us to live differently so as to be a light and an example to the nations. One place where we are called to be different is in our relationships. During this series, we will examine what scripture has to say about our romantic partnerships, our parenting, our family and our friends. We will re-examine whether or not our lives align with these teachings; and furthermore, we will work to be an example to others for what faithful relationships can look like.

Week 1: God-Centered Relationships

Topics: Relationships, Marriage, Love

Week 2: Parenting (Interview with Art Eddy)

Topics: Parenting, Relationships, Learning

Week 3: Godly Boundaries

Topics: Relationships, Family, Boundaries

Let’s face it…some stories in the Old Testament can be hard to understand. Furthermore, they can be really hard to reconcile with the loving, merciful, compassionate God we find in Jesus. For some, the Old Testament is not just confusing, but an obstacle to Christian faith altogether. In this series, we explore the book of Leviticus – arguably one of the toughest books of the Bible. During which, we will ask questions like: is this what God is really like? Is there something we are not seeing? When we compare this God to that of the New Testament, was it God or our picture of God that changed after Jesus came? Join us to find out! 

Week 1: FOR or WITH God

Topics: Rules, Law, Faith

Week 2: Kingdom Justice

Topics: Justice, Service, Law

Week 3: Christian Rules

Topics: Sacrifice, Rules, Right and Wrong

Week 4: Am I Really Forgiven?

Topics: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Salvation

Week 5: Seeing Underwater (Baptism Sunday)

Topics: Baptism, New Life, Faithfulness

Whether you like it or not, technology is here to stay. Furthermore, an increasing amount of our lives are happening online. Just like with anything new, this reality is having both a positive and a negative affect on our health, our happiness, even our faith. This month, we will return to the book of Proverbs to consult with the voice of Wisdom. We will listen for what wisdom has to tell us about how we can use technology in ways that benefit our lives, rather than harming our connection to others, to God, and to ourselves.

Week 1: The Approval Game

Topics: Living, Love, Presence

Week 2: Interview with Eric Chancy

Topics: Responsibility, Witness, Focus

Week 3: Fighting for Contentment

Topics: Contentment, Wisdom, Peace

Every once in a while, our lives need some realignment. Maybe we got busy, maybe we experienced suffering, or maybe for no reason at all…we stopped making time for what matters most. As Christians, there are five historical practices that symbolize a fully devoted and well-balanced faith. As summer draws to a close and we re-engage rhythms of everyday life, we invite you to recommit to the type of faith that can transform not just you, but the world.

Week 1: Are you witnessing?

Topics: Evangelism, Invite, Church

Week 2: Are you present?

Topics: Worship, Church, Present

Week 3: Are You Praying?

Topics: Prayer, Discipline, Spiritual Practices

Week 4: Are You Generous?

Topics: Generosity, Giving, Gifts

Week 5: Are You Serving?

Topics: Service, Engagement, Church

One could argue that one of the most influential forces on kids these days is none other than the magical world of Disney. Whether that is by way of movies, television or visits to their theme parks/cruises this summer, most of us either have or will be impacted by the magic of their creations. Furthermore, upon closer inspection, you’ll find that many of the things we love most about Disney are how their stories teach, inform, and shape our imagination of ourselves, the world…and at closer look…God. This summer, we will explore many of the themes found in Disney films to remind or even illuminate aspects of our faith. Let’s discover this whole new world together!

Week 1: Finding Your Calling

Topics: Calling, Identity, Gifts

Week 2: A Friend Like Me

Topics: Friendship, Relationships, Care

Week 3: Second Chances

Topics: Redemption, Starting Over, Grace

Week 4: Fresh Starts

Topics: Loss, Guilt, Starting Over

Week 5: Mental Health

Topics: Depression, Anxiety, Mind

Week 6: Saved by Grace

Topics: Salvation, Grace, Works

Week 7: New Pastor Interview

Special Introduction to new Associate Pastor, Katie Distefano!

Week 8: Did you help?

Topics: Works, Neighbors, Service

Week 9: Generational Curses

Topics: Trauma, Family, Freedom

Week 10: Heavenly Minded

Topics: Heaven, Afterlife, Earth

Prayer isn’t merely where we make requests of God. Prayer is where we make ourselves available to God. It is how we make ourselves available to God’s direction, transformation, and service to the world. This series is an honest admission that sometimes you need to be careful what you ask for. Maybe the reason why we struggle to pray is not because we are afraid there won’t be an answer, but what if there is?

Week 1: Your Will (Easter '23)

Topics: Resurrection, Salvation, Plans

Week 2: Teach Me Truth

Topics: Knowledge, Understanding, True

Week 3: Give Us Daily Bread

Topics: Provision, Needs, Trust

Week 4: Forgive as We Forgive

Topics: Forgiveness, Grace, Reconciliation

Week 5: Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Topics: Lord’s Prayer, Temptation, Sin

Week 6: Make Us Bold

Topics: Boldness, Faith, Courage

Week 7: Send Me

Topics: Obedience, Faith, Future

Week 8: Pentecost Sunday

Topics: Holy Spirit, Church, Mission

It has long been said that we must get to know ourselves if we want to get to know our God. What if the secret to better understanding Jesus is hidden within each and every one of us? What if the path to discovering the divine starts with a journey inward? Over the years, there have been many tools designed for this very task. Tools developed to help us better understand our personality and our hardwiring as human beings. One of the oldest and long-standing is called the Enneagram. This Lent, we will use the Enneagram to explore the nine different personality types asking a very simple question: What does my identity reveal about the character of God?

Week 1: What is the Enneagram?

Topics: Enneagram, Identity, Personality

Week 2: With all your MIND

Topics: Knowledge, Understanding, Belief

Week 3: With all your GUT

Topics: Intuition, Instincts, Direction

Week 4: With all your HEART

Topics: Emotions, Feelings, Helping

Week 5: Guest Interview with Susan Graebe

Special interview with Enneagram coach and consultant, Susan Graebe.

Week 6: Baptism Sunday

Topics: Baptism, Love, Salvation

A recent study found that over 52% of Americans live within suburban neighborhoods. Over half of our country has opted for a life of white picket fences, soccer practice, and golden retrievers. For good reason too! The suburbs possess numerous amenities that make life not only easier, but more enjoyable. However, just like any community on this side of heaven, there are things about the suburbs that are not only conducive, but obstructive to the Christian life. In 2023, we are going to explore this unique context we are inhabiting. Further, we hope to rediscover what it looks like to be a faithful disciple where we live, work, and play.

Week 1: What's your story?

Topics: Calling, Identity, Mission

Week 2: Burnout

Topics: Commitments, Responsibility, Balance

Week 3: The Nuclear Family

Topics: Family, Relationships, Purpose

Week 4: The Gospel of Knowing

Topics: Knowledge, Understanding, Truth

Week 5: Spiritual Safety

Topics: Fear, Belief, Faith

Week 6: Consumer Christianity

Topics: Consumerism, Works, Gifts

It can be all too easy to fall into patterns and habits in our daily lives, especially in the midst of all the chaos and violence that surrounds us in the world. This year has brought to all of us news of war, natural disasters, polarization, financial struggle, and uncertainty… and that doesn’t include all of our personal struggles and challenges. Our response can often be to shut down, or to return to old ways of thinking, acting, or living that keep us safe and protect our hearts. This is the old way, and the old way isn’t working any longer. But this season of Advent, the new year of the church calendar, invites us into new ways of being… Through the Incarnation, God is making a new way through this wilderness to a promised land that will be better than anything we could ask for or imagine.

Week 1: The Way of Peace

Topics: Peace, Shalom, Reconciliation

Week 2: The Way to Being Human

Topics: Humility, Truth, Justice

Week 3: The Way of Waiting

Topics: Patience, Trust, Faith

Week 4: The Way of Hope

Topics: Faith, Belief, Trust

We know that with any type of change, there is loss. And with any type of loss, there is grief. Unfortunately, not many of us make the time to grieve. We bury our pain in work, busyness, distractions, and even positive cliches. However, the reality is until we process our pain, it maintains power over our mindset, our emotions, and our actions. Grief is not only something we feel, it is something we do. It is a practice, a spiritual exercise in fact, for learning how to rely upon the strength of God to accept life’s losses and continue moving forward. In the wake of a global pandemic and in preparation for the holidays, join us for a brief series discussing how we might heal, rather than hide, life’s losses.

Week 1: People We Lost

Topics: Grief, Loss, Death

Week 2: Dreams We Lost

Topics: Grief, Loss, Job

Week 3: Gratitude vs Grief

Topics: Positivity, Grateful, Belief 

What if there was a tool designed to help you measure spiritual growth? What if there were stages and level to spiritual progress? Actually, there is! For centuries, theologians have created their own ordo salutis (“order of salvation”) so as to help Christians know where they are in faith, what they need to do, and what is next in this pilgrimage toward the person Christ has called us to be! During this series, we will not only help you find this tool using ordofaith.com, but we will also explain each stage in detail so that you can better assess your own, personal spiritual development! 

The Good Fight with Institutions

Topics: Institutions, Conflict, Justice

Musicians are oftentimes some of the best truth-tellers. Songs have a way of capturing so much of the human experience. During this series, join us as we dig into a handful of different genres, while asking the question: what is God saying to us through these artists? 

Week 1: Pop + Love

Topics: Love, Relationships, Marriage

Week 2: Hip Hop + Dignity

Topics: Justice, Race, Equality

Week 3: Oldies + Wisdom

Topics: Wisdom, Direction, Guidance

Week 4: Punk Rock + Anger

Topics: Righteous Anger, Justice, Emotions

Week 5: Classical + Rest

Topics: Sabbath, Rest, Center

We often find ourselves wondering about what Jesus would say about some of our more modern discussions, issues, or questions. First century Jewish Jesus sometimes seems so distant and hard to understand. But as Christians, we believe God – through Jesus who is the Word and through the Holy Spirit – is constantly speaking to us and to our world. A substantial part of our work together is our translation, our interpretation of the words of Jesus. We’ll be asking that question all summer long to discover what Jesus really is saying to us today.

Week 1: Are we listening?

Topics: Prayer, Discernment, God’s Voice

Week 2: To His LGBTQ Children

Topics: Human Sexuality, LGBTQ, Bible

Week 3: About Our Busyness

Topics: Schedules, Rest, Balance

Week 4: About Faith and Science

Topics: Reason, Logic, Brain

Week 5: About Mental Health

Topics: Mind, Depression, Anxiety

Week 6: About Social Media

Topics: Technology, Facebook, Instagram

Week 7: About Money

Topics: Heart, Priorities, Treasure

Week 8: To Our Church

Topics: Church, Mission, Vision