The Summit Church - Weekly Services: Recent Episodes
The Summit Church
The Summit Church Weekend Service podcast is our weekly main service message designed to give practical, biblical insights to challenge and equip people to receive and share the love of Jesus. Share feedback at info@thesummitchurch.net.
More Than Meets The Eye - Week 4 - The Crippled Man - Kernersville by The Summit Church
For Here or To Go - Week 3 - United with Christ, United with Others by The Summit Church
Black Lives Matter - An honest and necessary conversation at The Summit Church by The Summit Church
Made For This - Week 2 - What's The Real Problem and What's the Solution by The Summit Church
The Struggle - A Conversation About Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide - Week 2 - What You Need To Do by The Summit Church
The Struggle - A Conversation about Anxiety, Depression, and Suicide - Week 1 - What You Need To Know
We’ll finish this series with a clear look at our true identity as a church, together. Although identity is a personal thing, it’s also an organization thing. Together, we are the “body of Christ”. Together we can do, be, and experience things we could never do, be, and experience on our own. Together, we have a mission and purpose that includes us yet is so much bigger than any of us. We’re gonna look at the impact God has called us to have in our communities, and it’s much bigger than a place to hold religious services on the weekend. What does it mean for us to be the “church” called The Summit?
It’s not enough to know who you are. You’ve got to find a way to maintain who you are. It is very easy to “lose” who you are in the complexities of life and living. We get so busy that we get lost. We begin to associate our jobs with who we are, and we get lost. We resign ourselves to stop dreaming and believing, and we get lost. We even get lost in our relational roles. In fact, Satan’s goal is for us, especially as Christians, to lose sight of who we truly are, who God says we are, in the layers of life. Once we forget who we are, we lose our way. So staying on course in life has everything to do with remembering and reclaiming and rediscovering who we truly are.
It’s not enough to know who you are. You’ve got to find a way to maintain who you are. It is very easy to “lose” who you are in the complexities of life and living. We get so busy that we get lost. We begin to associate our jobs with who we are, and we get lost. We resign ourselves to stop dreaming and believing, and we get lost. We even get lost in our relational roles. In fact, Satan’s goal is for us, especially as Christians, to lose sight of who we truly are, who God says we are, in the layers of life. Once we forget who we are, we lose our way. So staying on course in life has everything to do with remembering and reclaiming and rediscovering who we truly are.
It’s not enough to know who you are. You’ve got to find a way to maintain who you are. It is very easy to “lose” who you are in the complexities of life and living. We get so busy that we get lost. We begin to associate our jobs with who we are, and we get lost. We resign ourselves to stop dreaming and believing, and we get lost. We even get lost in our relational roles. In fact, Satan’s goal is for us, especially as Christians, to lose sight of who we truly are, who God says we are, in the layers of life. Once we forget who we are, we lose our way. So staying on course in life has everything to do with remembering and reclaiming and rediscovering who we truly are.
We naturally associate our own identity and the identity of each other with the things that we do and the things that happen to us - basically our story. We become known for and by what we do, what we experience, and how we respond. Unfortunately, that is a very shallow foundation for true identity. Thankfully, God sees things at a much deeper, truer level; and invites us to do the same. Our identity is not based on or limited to what we do or what happens to us. It comes from a much deeper, solid, sure place. Identity is ultimately determined by who God is and what He has done, not who you are and what you have done, or has been done to you. This is the beginning of freedom and purpose.
There is a perfectly good reason we choose not to live and give generously. It makes sense to us but goes against the way God sees things and how He wants us to see things. It’s something no one teaches us to think; we just intuitive assume it to be true. It’s what makes us cautious and leads us into stingy behavior. It’s all about how you choose to see what you have, what you don’t have, and what you stand to lose or gain through your generosity. We overestimate the value of what we have/hold in our hands (possessions) and we underestimate what God can/will put in our hands because of our generosity. When we discover this truth that God wants us to see, it sets us free to be the generous people He created us to be reflecting His heart to the world and people around us.
None of us like it when those around us are approaching life and relationships and jobs and responsibilities with a “barely get by” way of thinking. A minimalistic mindset is not just unattractive, it’s dangerous and unfortunate. While we know not to take this posture when it comes to our career, education, and relationships, we often bring this mindset to matters of giving and generosity with the local church and our connection to God. No wonder we miss out on God’s great blessings. No wonder we fall short of our potential. May we all be grateful that God does not approach us with a minimum mindset. So let’s determine to never settle for “the least we can do”.
One of God’s most defining and most obvious characteristics is His generosity. God is simply a giver. He goes beyond what’s expected in how He deals with us and treats us. As His children, we must reflect His character to the world around us. What does it look like to not just “be” generous, but actually live a generous life? What gets in the way of us doing this. We all would rather not be characterized by greed and selfishness; but are we willing to do what is necessary to embrace a life of generosity, which applies to much more than giving financially. It’s what we’re called to. It’s what God blesses. It’s what we need, what the world around us needs. And no one is more equipped to live generously than those who are recipients of the grace and promises of our generous God.
Faith is something we naturally want to share. The more we grow in our faith, the more we want to share it with others. To NOT share your faith, what God is doing in your life, with others is unnatural. Fortunately, there are about as many unique ways to share your faith as their are people. We all get to make it our own and tell our unique story. It’s as easy as inviting someone to church and as sharing your personal story. The beauty of sharing your faith is that you also enter into the faith story of others in doing so. It’s the way it was meant to work.
Faith will eventually, always be tested. Faith will not go untested. And when our faith is put to the test by pain, problems, and challenges we have to dig deep and lean into our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We’re talking about times when not even our closest friends can provide for us what our soul needs to keep going and growing in faith. God has given us His Word and welcomed us to come to Him in prayer and learn how to depend on Him first, most, ultimately, and finally when we hit the wall, because we will.
Living by faith is what it means to follow Jesus. Living by faith is all about taking steps that put our faith in Jesus into tangible, measurable action - for us to see, and for others to see. God is the only one that can see our hearts and the faith it contains; the rest of us need something to see and measure. God has given us several easy to identify steps to take that help propel our faith to new heights and that help us grow closer to Him and others. These are the things that build our faith.
Our faith in God truly begins to take shape when we respond to who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us. God always meant for Jesus to be the object of our faith. And the amount of faith we have is never as critical as who our faith is in, the object of our faith - Jesus. Once we are living by trusting in Jesus, we have a foundation that will support our journey with God. Everything in the Christian life flows out of our faith in Jesus, our willingness and readiness to trust Him and Him alone.
It is very common for people to describe their connection to God (or relationship with Jesus) in terms of their church attendance. We naturally associate church attendance and involvement with the benchmark of what it means to follow Jesus. While it is certainly a very important part of the story, attending church is not the primary reason Jesus gave His life for the you and me. It’s more than attending church, although that is a big step for most of us at some point. We must move, grow beyond simple attendance to engagement. Why? Because we just don’t “go” to church, we “are” the church. So let’s “be” the church in the 167 hours we live in between the hour a week we spend “in” church.
The only miracle (other than the resurrection) to be recorded by all 4 gospel account writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Jesus fed a minimum of 5,000 people - probably closer to 15,000; and all he had to work with was 5 loaves and 2 small fish from a young boy. This miracle teaches us what Jesus can do with a “little” when we give to him. But the point is not the size of the gift, but ability of the Savior. It’s a story of trust, blessing, provision, and so much more.
Jesus healed more than one blind man in his ministry but this particular miracle with this particular man stands out from the others because of the detail we are given. Why was he blind? Did he sin or was he born that way? How is it possible that Jesus could do such a thing and why? So many questions were asked yet not many answers were given. What we do learn this miracle is the importance of sharing our story and the need to share it even when we don’t have all the answers. May we keep the main thing, the main thing and not get sidetracked by things we were not meant to know.
Jesus raised a dead man from the grave. It was a close friend of his named Lazarus. This miracle shows us a very tender side of Jesus; He is affected by our pain. It also helps us wrestle with the timing of God’s work in our lives: He’s always on time even when it appears He is late. And it provides us with one if Jesus’ greatest statements about Himself and the purpose for which He came. Of all the miracles, this one might be the most hope-filled for us.
Jesus first recorded miracle was no doubt one of his most controversial ones. At a marriage celebration, He turned water to wine. So much to learn about what this miracle teaches us about Jesus’ heart for us and how He works in our lives - many takeaways - one of which is how He takes common things and does miraculous things with them and through them.
Now Joseph is second in command in Egypt next to Pharaoh. He encounters his brothers with the opportunity to get even, yet he chooses to forgive them and care for them. He fights through his pain and hurt and acts with utmost love to the ones who showed so much hate to him that led to years of anguish. In the end, we discover that God has positioned him here to save his family, the nation of Egypt, and set the foundation for God’s people - Israel. Joseph’s story is much more about God’s faithfulness than Joseph’s forgiveness. We see God’s hand in it all. And we are reminded that this is just how God works - He has a masterful master plan he is working through our dark days. Will we trust him, do what is right along the way, and reap the benefits of His mysterious ways?
Now Joseph is second in command in Egypt next to Pharaoh. He encounters his brothers with the opportunity to get even, yet he choses to forgive them and care for them. He fights through his pain and hurt and acts with utmost love to the ones who showed so much hate to him that led to years of anguish. In the end we discover that God has positioned him here to save his family, the nation of Egypt, and set the foundation for God’s people - Israel. Joseph’s story is much more about God’s faithfulness than Joseph’s forgiveness. We see God’s hand in it all. And we are reminded that this is just how God works - He has a masterful master plan he is working through our dark days. Will we trust him, do what is right along the way, and reap the benefits of His mysterious ways?
Now Joseph is in prison, yes for a crime he didn’t commit. For the next couple of years, he must have wondered if God had forgotten about him. Sounds familiar to many of us at times. Joseph watched as hope turned to greater despair for a long time while he sat isolated and forgotten. Yet God was with him and he would eventually discover he had not been forgotten. In a series of God-sized events, Joseph found himself elevated to a place of honor, authority, and power. Turns out God had not forgotten about him, nor has He forgotten about you/us.
Now Joseph found himself serving in the house of Potiphar trying to make sense of his life. Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph and made many advances toward him. Joseph resisted each time, being a young man of integrity. Ultimately she lied and framed him, accusing him of trying to rape her. Potiphar had no choice but to toss Jo into prison. Things don’t always work out the way we hoped or planned, at least for a while. Often when you’re just trying to do what’s right, things blow up in your face. This was the beginning of the lowest period of Joseph’s life. How willing are we to do what is right? What if things just get worse? Are we willing to wait while God works behind the scenes?
Poor parenting, favoritism, some weird dreams, and an unwise conversation led to Joseph being betrayed by his older brothers, which set into motion a series of events that would change the trajectory of a family and alter nations for generations to come. What a mess Joseph found himself in - yet a mess all overseen and orchestrated by the hand of God. Often our messes lead us into a mystery of what is happening in our lives, but ultimately it brings us to the reality that all along the way God is working a masterpiece in us and with us.
We all doubt from time to time; it’s a natural part of being a limited, fallible human being. One of the biggest doubts people have has to do with our eternal destiny. Most everyone wants to go to Heaven. Many believe they are. But how would you know for sure? God goes to great lengths to address our doubts and make it very clear what gives us assurance about Heaven in a world where we can be sure of very few things, thus the need for insurance :). Fortunately, there is no need for insurance when it comes to the assurance we can have about our eternal home in Heaven through Jesus. The peace to be gained from this truth will set you free from worry and anxiety; and unlock a new level of hope and joy that God intended for all His children to enjoy.
Is Jesus the only way to God? Isn’t that an arrogant statement to make? And what would that mean for everyone else on the planet trying to find God in other ways, in other religions? What did Jesus say about it? And does that make sense in a world of extreme tolerance and inclusion? The truth is that the answer to these questions, while seemingly narrow, actually simplifies the whole thing and makes our purpose and mission so much clearer. Again, it’s going to come back down to Faith, as does all these things; but there is one thing that makes Faith in Jesus alone almost a no-brainer; and we’ll discover it together.
Everything rises or falls on the existence of a Divine, Almighty God who rules over everything we know and understand. People who reject God’s existence typically have weak, circumstantial evidence as their support and then accept that assumption by faith. And those who believe in God’s existence typically cannot strongly defend or support their belief and why they choose to put their faith in His existence and involvement. There is much logical and understandable evidence to help us be confident in God’s existence. We’re gonna explore it together. It’s imperative that we know why we believe what it is we say we believe.
Everybody believes something. And eventually, and at some level, everything requires faith from everyone. The biggest questions in life can only be approached with faith in the picture. Very few things, and almost none of the biggest things, can be scientifically known and proven; they all require faith. Even non-religious people choose to believe what they do by faith. So the questions are… what does the evidence tell us and most importantly, what am I willing to put my faith in? God requires faith from us. Fortunately, there is much to put our faith in!
Some of the most challenging relationships that exist in a family unit are the ones that we often overlook the most - sibling relationships. The term “sibling-rivalry” exists for a reason. How would things change if we loved our brother/sister with a Jesus kind of love? Wow! Talk about honesty, forgiveness, grace, etc… There are going to be many needed follow-up conversations after this weekend for sure. Let’s really love those with whom we share the tightest life-long bond. We shared the same space and experiences - and that’s probably part of the problem. What would happen if we loved the way Jesus loved us? We’d never be the same.
Is it possible to love our kids with the same love Jesus loves us with? Sure, but how? What does that look like? In theory, it’s what every parent already declares they do - “I would die for my children!” - and rightly so. However, do we treat them daily the way our Heavenly Father treats us? I will probably focus on Grace the "space to let them get it right”. This is our campus-wide family day with KS and Impact joining us and leading us.
Is it possible to love our kids with the same love Jesus loves us with? Sure, but how? What does that look like? In theory, it’s what every parent already declares they do - “I would die for my children!” - and rightly so. However, do we treat them daily the way our Heavenly Father treats us? I will probably focus on Grace the "space to let them get it right”. This is our campus-wide family day with KS and Impact joining us and leading us.
Is it possible to love our kids with the same love Jesus loves us with? Sure, but how? What does that look like? In theory, it’s what every parent already declares they do - “I would die for my children!” - and rightly so. However, do we treat them daily the way our Heavenly Father treats us? I will probably focus on Grace the "space to let them get it right”. This is our campus-wide family day with KS and Impact joining us and leading us.
What about the “other side” of the family, the in-laws, those people whom you didn’t marry but actually did? You kind of knew what you were getting into but again, you didn’t. These people from the other side of the family don’t do things the way you do, think or believe as you do, or even do Christmas the way you do. Tons of expectations, assumptions, and conflict here. What does it look like to share Jesus’ love with them? And what happens when they just don’t want to throw the ball back? Even in the worse case scenarios, God tell us what we should do and how we should respond to “the others”.
What if we loved our spouse with the same love that Jesus has loved us with? We’re actually commanded to do that very thing. For sure, it would be a game changer. Talk about sacrifice, submission, etc… Talk about love, deep love. And the wonderful reality is that this is totally possible for every marriage that wants to choose it. Since marriage is the center of the family unit, it is imperative that we learn how to live the “new command” with our spouse and then watch the magnificent effects it will have not he rest of our gang.
We simply don’t know what’s gonna happen next, what we will face together next as a nation. It could be another act of violence or terrorism. Or it could be a natural disaster or some other kind of tragedy. Fact is: we simply live in a fallen world, and we must never lose sight of that. This is not how God wanted it to be, and it’s not the way it’s eventually going to be. We’re gonna see what God intended; discover what God will eventually do; and be challenged by what our role is in response to all these things between now and then. It’s really hard but very simple and it’s something all of us can do. It happens to be the most powerful thing in the world given to us by God to impact our world.
We simply don’t know what’s gonna happen next, what we will face together next as a nation. It could be another act of violence or terrorism. Or it could be a natural disaster or some other kind of tragedy. Fact is: we simply live in a fallen world, and we must never lose sight of that. This is not how God wanted it to be, and it’s not the way it’s eventually going to be. We’re gonna see what God intended; discover what God will eventually do; and be challenged by what our role is in response to all these things between now and then. It’s really hard but very simple and it’s something all of us can do. It happens to be the most powerful thing in the world given to us by God to impact our world.
Yes, it’s a problem, still, even after all these years. No, it’s not just an American problem; but we certainly know the division and destruction that mistreatment of others because of the color of their skin can bring. Bottom line: there is absolutely no room for racial injustice in the local church or among God’s family. We are brothers and sisters, all. The beauty of God’s love and the power of the Gospel should make racism extinct. And it starts with us and how we see those closest to us.
So what do you do when you want to take a stand for what you believe in? How do you make your voice heard? We've got "rights", but so does everyone else. We're gonna tackle some of the most sensitive issues in our culture today in the light of responding in ways that would honor and best represent Jesus.
Everyone is under authority; everyone answers to someone. We live in a culture where authority is assumed and abused. At the same time, the blessing of free speech is assumed and abused to the point of disrespect. How are we supposed to live under and respond to authority we may not like, agree with, or doesn’t line up with our beliefs? Fortunately, God has much to say about this, and Jesus modeled it beautifully.
The best way to deal with the reality of judgement is to simply start with the “man in the mirror”. Focusing on judging ourselves (who we should become and what we should do) brings 3 benefits. 1.) It increases your self-awareness as you live a life that is honoring to God. 2.) It leaves less time for you to focus on judging others. 3.) It leaves others with less material with which to pass judgement on you. Bottom line: we’ve got our hands full with us.
The best way to deal with the reality of judgement is to simply start with the “man in the mirror”. Focusing on judging ourselves (who we should become and what we should do) brings 3 benefits. 1.) It increases your self-awareness as you live a life that is honoring to God. 2.) It leaves less time for you to focus on judging others. 3.) It leaves others with less material with which to pass judgement on you. Bottom line: we’ve got our hands full with us.
The best way to deal with the reality of judgement is to simply start with the “man in the mirror”. Focusing on judging ourselves (who we should become and what we should do) brings 3 benefits. 1.) It increases your self-awareness as you live a life that is honoring to God. 2.) It leaves less time for you to focus on judging others. 3.) It leaves others with less material with which to pass judgement on you. Bottom line: we’ve got our hands full with us.
Everybody answers to somebody; and ultimately, that somebody is God Himself. In a culture where “judgement” is seen as unloving and unfair, we must remember that it is the natural and logical end to living on earth. We are not in charge, so that means we are responsible and accountable to the One who is.
We all get judged. That’s just the way it is. It’s as natural for others to judge us as it is for us to judge them. But it feels much different when it’s coming back at us. Do we dismiss it? Do we defend? Or is there a way to see it as an opportunity for personal growth and more importantly, a chance to show the love of Jesus to those who have formed negative opinions and conclusions? And it’s always a great opportunity to remind ourselves who the final Judge is and leave the final verdict to Him.
We all judge people. We don’t often admit it, but we do. We do it quickly, regularly, and naturally; we’re humans - it’s what we do. What we may not realize is that there is a right and a wrong way to Judge people. Jesus clarified the difference. And there is a difference between judgement we pass on the culture around us and the judgement we reserve for those of us who claim to know, trust, and follow Jesus. There is a way for Judgement to be a good thing, when we do it right and in the right way.
There is a simple yet enormous difference in just believing something to be true and believing it to the point of actually doing something about it. When it comes to believing and trusting in God, this difference could not be bigger. It’s not enough to say we believe; we must believe to the point of obeying. Trust God to the point of actually doing what He says. Without that kind of living-it-out action, our belief is merely mental acknowledgment and gets us no where. In other words, if you don’t do it, you really don’t believe it. We’d be crazy to believe what we say we believe about God, and yet not live it out. Let’s live beyond just the point of belief; let’s live it out - do something about it!
There is a simple yet enormous difference in just believing something to be true and believing it to the point of actually doing something about it. When it comes to believing and trusting in God, this difference could not be bigger. It’s not enough to say we believe; we must believe to the point of obeying. Trust God to the point of actually doing what He says. Without that kind of living-it-out action, our belief is merely mental acknowledgment and gets us no where. In other words, if you don’t do it, you really don’t believe it. We’d be crazy to believe what we say we believe about God, and yet not live it out. Let’s live beyond just the point of belief; let’s live it out - do something about it!
Most people are one mended relationship away from a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Since we do life with people, and the desired goal is happiness in life with those people, brokenness in our relationships makes life unnecessarily hard. Forgiveness is the foundation of next level relationships. Some wounds are heart deep, much deeper than surfacy annoyances, so they take time. But start! Start the process of Healing. Take the next step. Do the hard work. Have the conversation. Get the counseling. Make the investment. It’s worth it. Your life really does depend on it.
Nothing changes us quite like pain does. Few things have the ability to leave us different like hard times and suffering. Pain has a refining influence on our lives. God allows and uses pain to take us where He wants us and to make us who He created us to become. However, it’s up to us to decide whether we will choose to grow and gain through our pain. Not everyone does; it’s easy to just give up and survive. Will I be bitter or will I get better? Let’s discover how to leverage difficulties as opportunities for God to propel us to the next level.
Life is God’s idea. He knows how to make it work best. And He knows what we face and need personally, each day. One could assume that people would quickly choose to align their lives with God in order to maximize their lives, given the fact that God is the creator and designer of life. However, it’s amazing how often we substitute other things for and even neglect a personal pursuit of God and then wonder why we live unfulfilled lives. Let’s get first things first and look at what life looks like when we live with God, each day, every day.
Jesus’ birth was physical proof that God’s presence was on the earth. Through Jesus, God is literally with us. Ultimately, His birth, life, death, resurrection, and the sending of His Spirit were all key elements of what God did through Jesus to bring us, surround us and fill us with His presence. This changes everything.
God presence is at times, obvious, and at other times, illusive. Sometimes God seems near; other times He seems a million miles away. So what’s the deal? Discover how we know God is present even when we are surrounded by circumstances that suggest He’s not.
Discover the holy places and spaces where God’s presence dwells. Caution: you might just be surprised when you find out. God has chosen an ingenious way to fill the world with His presence; don’t miss it.
Discover where God has been and where He is now. Once you see HIs journey here, you begin to see Him so much more clearly.
God doesn’t change. He is our constant. His love is our foundation. His promises are our hope. In every season we face, His unchanging nature secures and strengthens us. Discover the power, sanity, and joy found in Him.
Some seasons are wonderful. You don’t want them to end. Discover the blessing and purpose of the “good times”. Don’t overlook them. Enjoy them. They won’t last forever. They are God’s way of breathing life into our souls and prepare us for what’s ahead.
Some seasons are hard. You want them to just be over already. They are inevitable and exhausting. But there is a power and beauty and meaning to be discovered in the storms in your life. Don’t miss it. If you gotta go through it, you might as well be better for it.
You’re always in a season. Not all are good. Not all are bad. Some are short. Some are long. None last forever. Know the one you’re in and discover the opportunity that awaits you in it. Seasons always come and go. Change is one of the few things in life that doesn’t change. What change does to you will depend upon your choice to embrace and roll with it or fight and resist it. Either way, change is coming, always. And the change that is most important is the change God wants to bring about INSIDE of you, not just around you. You need to find out the reason for this season.
Sharing is not a one-time event or occurrence. It’s meant to be a way of life, the way we live. Since there is no end to all we can receive from God’s love, there should be no end to all we must share with others. The rhythm of love (receiving and sharing) must never stop. What changes do you need to make? How should you begin living to keep it going?
Nothing reveals the true condition of our hearts like what we do with money; Jesus said so. Learning how to live with open-hands financially will allow God to take us to a new level of sharing and even receiving. Why is this so important? It’s for the good of others; it’s for the good of you; it’s for the good of God’s purposes on earth.
Life is filled with moments where we have a choice about what we are going to do with what we see around us. Will we walk on or Will we engage? Will be a part of the solution or assume someone else will? Nothing sets you up more to receive what God has for you than your choice to share His love when the opportunity is in front of you. What will you do? What are you doing? And the power of choice is seen most in what WE can do together as a church that you and I could never do individually. And when WE do, it’s a beautiful thing!
Regardless of how much you have, you are blessed far more than you think. You have received more than you might want to admit. You’re loaded… and you have a responsibility to live a certain way and do certain things as a result. God is our Source, and embracing this truth helps us know what to do with our “re”sources.
Discover the rhythm of love. You might be surprised just how God designed it all to work best. When we live in love’s rhythm we live healthily, receiving, then sharing, then receiving, then sharing, etc… This is the “Why” and the “What” of serving, giving, and living a life of generosity.
Your voice has more power than you think it does. Believe it or not, someone is always listening to you. You are the voice inside someone’s head. Proceed with caution.
The facts is: you hear your own voice more than any other voice. Your voice is the most influential voice in your life. Pay careful attention to what you’re telling yourself.
So many people tell us so many things. It gets easily confusing. Who do we listen to? How do we clear it all up? Discover the voices that make it possible.
We are bombarded with voices coming at us from all directions and sources. Discover how to make sense out of whose voice you’re really hearing.
What if we didn’t just “do good” but we helped and encouraged others to do the same? Imagine how our world would be different and better if we propelled each other towards good?!
What if we didn’t just “do good” but we helped and encouraged others to do the same? Imagine how our world would be different and better if we propelled each other towards good?!
What if we didn’t just “do good” but we helped and encouraged others to do the same? Imagine how our world would be different and better if we propelled each other towards good?!
Humility calls us to take ourselves off the pedestal that others and life puts us on. We are not self-made, self-sufficient, or self-reliant. Humility is the foundation of true greatness.
We all have needs. Discover how meeting needs in others will bring irreplaceable, unexplainable blessings and joy to your own life. Jesus said we are being most like Him when we serve.
People are hard to live with and deal with. Life would be really easy if it were not for the people in it, right?! God calls us to a higher level that sees the messiness of our lives and yet connects anyway, through it and even because of it.
We all want it. We all need it. But do we realize the connection between giving encouragement and being encouraged? It’s there, and it’s powerful.
In a culture dominated by the drive to honor oneself, God calls us to an entirely different focus - one that reveal the heart of Jesus to a world who desperately needs to see it.
Is there a more simple yet more overlooked relational behavior? Probably not. Kindness is the doorway to a new level of community.
Harmony is beautiful but hard. How do we harmonize our lives with those who are so different from us? The power of harmony is created by how we choose to blend our differences into a single chord of unified life and function.
No other behavior ties us more to each other, and to God, than this. It’s the most God-like thing we do. It’s what we need the most and what others need most from us. Nothing stands to change us more than this.
In a “me first” world, the secret to life-changing moments and meaningful relationships is found in just the opposite. Your life gets better when you simply submit.
What if we did, just love each other? It’s not cushy; it’s the hardest and most rewarding thing you’ll ever do, every day! And nothing else means more or makes a bigger difference in our lives or the lives of others… just love!
We don’t need, or truly want, a “nice” God. We’ll discover He’s better than just “nice.
Discover how, because of Jesus, the worst thing that could possibly happen to you is really not a bad thing.
The world we live in is a mess, but that’s why making it “personal” matters for you and the people in your life.
How do you live with sanity and purpose when you’re not where you used to be but you’re not yet where you want to be?