David, faced immense challenges—from being hunted as a young man to experiencing personal failures as a king. Despite David's flaws and the turbulence of his life, he was known as "a man after God's own heart" because of his genuine willingness to invite God into his circumstances. David’s last words express his gratitude for God's unwavering faithfulness throughout every moment of his life. David recognizes where God has been present, even in hardship. The same is true for us. We too can express gratitude for every moment of our lives as we grow to embrace and trust the promises of a faithful God.

SERMON SUMMARY:

In this sermon, Casey uses the analogy of a rollercoaster to describe the ups and downs of life, highlighting how we can sometimes choose our paths and at other times be thrust into challenging situations beyond our control. He reflects on the story of David and Bathsheba, illustrating how choices driven by neglecting accountability and responsibility can lead to significant consequences not just for ourselves but for others as well. Pastor Casey emphasizes the importance of repentance and recognizing our mistakes early, encouraging the congregation not to wait until they are in crisis to turn to God for help. Ultimately, he reassures that God desires to offer forgiveness and restoration, urging everyone to bring their struggles to Him and seek His guidance.

5X5 Challenge:

Click HERE to download this weeks 5X5 Devotional. “5X5” stands for 5 minutes of reading, reflecting, and praying per day for 5 days.

The challenges we face in our daily lives often cause us to feel as if we're on an "emotional rollercoaster." Our feelings hijack our sense of well-being and decision-making, often leaving us unaware of the impact this has on both ourselves and those around us. We must learn to acknowledge our emotional nature and navigate our feelings in alignment with God's design. Through David's encounter with Goliath, we learn that through faith that we can face our fears and challenges. David's authenticity, reliance on God, and willingness to confront his giant in his own skin aren't examples of fearlessness, but rather serve as a reflection of David's faith and confidence in God to provide and care for him in the face of overwhelming odds. David wasn't fearless, but rather because of his faith, he feared less.

Sermon Summary:

Jesus opens the doors of His kingdom, offering a new way of life to those who have been deemed by the world to be unworthy. Accepting Jesus means recognizing Him as both Savior and Lord, which involves a choice between continually submitting to worldly powers or embracing the transformative life found in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus speaks openly about the pressures and oppositions believers will face while living in a culture that often contradicts His values. Jesus urges us to remain steadfast and courageous, by reminding us that He has already conquered the world. Because of that, we are freed up to live in such a way that our Kingdom values transcend partisan agendas. Our word (a simple yes or no) should stand on our character because it is being shaped and molded into the image and likeness of our King. According to Jesus, attempting to use God's name or His word to manipulate people for personal or political gain, is not only a form of lying, it is a diabolical evil that makes God an accomplice to an intentional act of injustice.

5x5 Devotional:

Click HERE for this week’s 5X5 (5 min a day for 5 days) devotional.

Sermon Summary:

This week highlights Jesus’ transformative message, contrasting cultural ideals of success and happiness with the values of God's Kingdom, as expressed in the Beatitudes. We are encouraged to reorient ourselves towards accepting our current state and finding comfort in God's promise to meet our needs, this allows us to embrace this radical and freeing perspective.

5X5 (5 min for 5 days) Challenge:

Click HERE to download this week’s 5X5 challenge

SERMON SUMMARY:

In the final week of the Say “Yes!” series, we explore the concept of true obedience, and that it goes beyond mere compliance to authority; it stems from love, respect, and trust, requiring vulnerability.  Obedience to Jesus is essential for experiencing a transformative life, as it involves surrendering our hearts and resources to Him while acknowledging His divine authority. "The Great Commission",  empowers us to make disciples by living obediently and reflecting Jesus’ teachings in our lives. Saying "yes" to obedience brings the safety and presence of Jesus' power and authority, while the cost of nondiscipleship and lack of obedience, leaves us exposed and vulnerable.

Discussion Guide:

Click HERE to download this week’s discussion guide

Saying “Yes!” in obedience when it comes to stepping into the mess of other people’s lives and living on mission means that instead of asking “Who is my neighbor?” we must ask “Who am I neighboring?”

We were not created to "do life" alone. Part of our very good (as it's meant to be) design is to be in authentic community with others.

Obedience is the vehicle that brings our values and priorities into alignment with Jesus.

Gentleness & Self-Control are the mindset and the muscle that bring our passions and desires into alignment with the passions and desires of Jesus.

In order for faithfulness to be born in our character and integrity, we must allow Jesus into every part of who we are, not just the parts that we like and accept.

This week we are pressing pause on unpacking the individual elements within The Fruit of The Spirit, to talk about the lifelong partnership between Jesus and us in cultivating fruit in our lives.

This week, special guest Rick Kyle walks us through what it looks like to bear the fruit of Goodness in our lives.

This week begins with a very exciting announcement before we unpack the fruit of kindness. Kindness shows up in our lives through authenticity (truth) and empathy (grace).

When our lives are rooted in the Holy Spirit, the fruit of patience is born in contentment and compassion.

Jesus once told a story about "healthy" and "diseased" trees to help us get a better idea about the current state of our lives and also to point us toward God's desire for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of The Spirit are not circumstantial or influenced by emotions; instead, they are the outcome of deep-rooted faith that can flourish regardless of our life situations. Joy differs from happiness; rather, it has its roots firmly planted in the certainty of our relationship with God, ensuring its existence even amid trials. Peace, is not just the absence of conflict. It indicates a state of completeness that arises when one is firmly rooted in the Holy Spirit—real peace results in reconciliation and unity. Active peacemakers, intervene in situations of conflict to restore what's broken.

In Week 2 of our series on The Fruit of The Spirit, we unpacked the importance of being rooted in the Holy Spirit and bearing Holy Spirit fruit. There’s an inseparable connection between our roots and the fruit of our lives. Love, when rooted in the Holy Spirit is bears the fruit of commitment through our attitudes and actions, regardless of our situations and circumstances.

"Roots & Fruit" discusses the significance of the relationship between the roots and fruit of our lives, emphasizing the importance of being genuine disciples of Jesus. Our actions reflect what is stored in our hearts, similar to how a tree bears good or bad fruit based on its roots.

Whether we spend eternity living life as it's intended to be with heaven and earth interlocked and overlapped or we spend eternity in death separated from God forever depends on whether we accept or reject Jesus. But the choice is ours to make.

Sermon Summary:

"The Truth about Heaven and Hell" distinguishes between primary and secondary issues in matters of faith, urging the followers of Jesus to focus on essential aspects of faith when it comes to understanding concepts like heaven and hell, amidst uncertainties. The sermon discusses the traditional and biblical views of heaven and hell, exploring the interconnectedness of heaven and earth and the consequences of human rebellion. It ends with a call to repentance and faith, highlighting Jesus' role in restoring the relationship between heaven and earth for eternal life.

Study Guide & Discussion Questions:

Download this week’s study guide and discussion questions HERE.