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Woodside Bible Church Troy

Woodside Bible Church Troy Podcast: Subscribe to listen to the latest sermons from Woodside :: Updated Weekly :: At Woodside, our mission is to Belong to Christ, Grow in Christ, and Reach the world for Christ. :: For more information, visit us at www.woodsidebible.org.

Have you ever felt ravaged by sorrow for yourself? Ever felt defeated and bundled in a ball of self-pity? In a society that is fixated on ourselves, it’s likely you’ve felt this way before. Even Elijah, a man of great faith, fell into a pit of depression caused by his self-pity. Today, we continue in our series: Elijah, picking up in 1 Kings. In 1 Kings 19, we see the aftermath of the defeat of the false god, Baal; that though it was a good thing, there was still some unhappiness in the end. This causes Elijah to fall into self-pity. Through his battle of self-pity, God comes in and strengthens Elijah. His conquering of self-pity can be beneficial to us when these times overtake us. God conquers our self-pity by calling us to himself, to his truth, and to serve. Listen to our newest message of the series, Conquering Self-Pity, may these truths give us strength and courage as we look to overcome our defeat.

When you pray do you ever feel like God doesn’t hear you? Have you ever wondered how you can pray in an effective way? God's word says that a righteous person's prayer is powerful. In Christ, your prayers are heard and received by God. They are filled with power, as we are His and filled with His righteousness. Today, we continue our new series, Elijah, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. We are preaching from the same passage of scripture from last week, finishing up the story of Elijah facing off the prophets of Baal. In this story we see Elijah’s strong faith in God and his prayers of fervor. Elijah’s prayers were persistent in remembering Gods promises and in accordance with the Word of God. Listen to our newest message of the series, The Prayer of a Righteous Person, and hear that the prayer of a righteous person is effective and powerful.

Have you ever been tricked into believing something that was untrue? Or maybe have paid for a duped item? It can be common among all the stories on social media and cheap items sold online. But what is the cost of getting fooled by a fake god? What is the impact on our lives if we devote ourselves to a cheap, imitation, false god? Well, as you can imagine, the stakes are much higher. We continue our new series, Elijah; A Man Just Like Us, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. What does Scripture say about false gods? How does idolatry impact our lives? In this text, we are at the peak or the high point of Elijah’s ministry. We are going to witness an awesome triumph, a spectacular demonstration of God's presence and power, and a remarkable confirmation of who the true and living God is. Listen to our second message of the series, A Theology of Idolatry, and realize the Lord is the only God who gives life.

Sometimes it is a struggle trusting God, taking Him at His word, and believing that what God wants is best for me. This comes from wanting to be in control. Because in control of life, one can be confident everything will happen how they want it to. We have just launched a new series, Elijah; A Man Just Like Us, reminding us how the same God Elijah served can use us to live a life of impact for His kingdom. When looking at this section of scripture, we see that God's people have lost their way and its unique and dangerous time to be a faithful follower of God. In all this, Elijah lives a life of faith, trusting God and taking him at his word. But what does this look like? What does a life of faith look like? Listen to our first message of the series, Elijah, A Life of Faith, and see how a life of faith is a life of trusting God and taking him at his word.

Have you ever been met with the question; “why are you a Christian?” The outside world loves to ask that question, for curiosity or possibly to prove you wrong. It can be very intimidating to feel like all the pressure to defend your faith and want to do it perfectly. Fears may sneak in, and insecurities build up. What should I say? How do I do this? In our series, Asking for a Friend series, we’ll answer tough questions and provide you with gospel-centered answers that you can share with a

friend. We all have questions, but sometimes, navigating the answers to cultural issues through the lens of the Gospel can be challenging. We need to learn how to be comfortable with the skeptics and doubters within our world. The issue is not about criticizing the blindness of those who do not yet believe and live as we do, but how we respond to an unbelieving world that will help them see Jesus! Listen to our newest messages, How Can We Defend Our Faith When Talking to Unbelievers?, and come to understand when the unbelieving world sees your life, let them see Jesus.

Is anxiety or being anxious, a sin? Anxiety is an issue of giving weight to the things we care about. If we give the proper weight to the proper things, then our anxiety over them is not sin. But if we give improper weight to things, our anxiety could be the kind that Jesus instructs us against. Each of us needs to ask ourselves this question considering scripture, how do I address my anxious heart? In our series, Asking for a Friend series, we’ll answer tough questions and provide you with gospel-centered answers that you can share with a friend. We all have questions, but sometimes, navigating the answers to cultural issues through the lens of the Gospel can be challenging. We need to look to God, who he is, and what he has done to help properly reorder our cares and anxieties. Listen to our newest messages, Is Anxiety a Sin?, and begin to see that reflecting on God will reorder our anxieties.

Is anxiety or being anxious, a sin? Anxiety is an issue of giving weight to the things we care about. If we give the proper weight to the proper things, then our anxiety over them is not sin. But if we give improper weight to things, our anxiety could be the kind that Jesus instructs us against. Each of us needs to ask ourselves this question considering scripture, how do I address my anxious heart? In our series, Asking for a Friend series, we’ll answer tough questions and provide you with gospel-centered answers that you can share with a friend. We all have questions, but sometimes, navigating the answers to cultural issues through the lens of the Gospel can be challenging. We need to look to God, who he is, and what he has done to help properly reorder our cares and anxieties. Listen to our newest messages, Is Anxiety a Sin?, and begin to see that reflecting on God will reorder our anxieties.

We prepare for tests, parties, job interviews, house projects, and difficult conversations. Preparation is a part of our lives. But how often do we think about preparing for paradise? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. We concluded our study by examining the final defeat of sin and death, culminating with the New Heaven and New Earth where God dwells with his people forever. In paradise. If this is truly the destiny for all those who believe in Jesus, then how should we live today? How should we prepare for it? Listen to our newest message of the series, The Great Return, and choose to live in anticipation of Jesus’ return!

Do you think often about heaven? Does the desire to be there ever overcome you? For most of us heaven is a long-off dream that has very little substance to us. When we think about heaven, we may picture dreams of ethereal clouds and harps and angels’ wings. Or perhaps more modern versions of heaven are earthy, wide-open spaces and lush green pastures, tranquility and rest. But if we’re honest, heaven probably doesn’t come across our minds very often. And with our limited imagination, we may not even be that excited for it compared to our favorite things here on earth. Can you relate? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. In today's scripture, we’re not given a “they lived happily ever after” fairytale description. We are introduced to a glorious picture that will create a deep longing within us for our forever and eternal home. Listen to our newest message of the series, The True Eternal City, and long for and live to enter the city of God!

We all love a good story! Maybe even more specifically, one with a hero and a happy ending! It’s the classic adventure we sometimes relate and reflect within our own lives—we face antagonists, weakness, trial or even death—and then we come out of the abyss victorious, resurrected, changed. It’s the hopeful outcome of the human soul! We love stories that illustrate this because we all are asking the same question – are we going to make it? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. We find the magnificent conclusion of Christ’s work in Revelation Chapter 2, which reveals to us that through Christ, God will bring restoration to all! That’s the undeniable truth, regardless of what it looks like today. We are going to make it and we will have a happy ending! Listen to our newest message of the series, All Things New, and trust that God is making all things new!

If someone were to ask you what the word “father” means to you, your answer may be vastly different than the person next to you. In fact, everyone may have a slightly different view based on your relationship with your father or if you are a father. Our world has deeply impacted our view, but has that somehow impacted our view of our Heavenly Father? In a special message for Father’s Day, we unpack verses from Psalm 103 to answer the question; how does God care for his children? Listen to our newest message of the series, Looking Up to Our Father, and see that God shows us how a father cares for his children.

Who gets the last word? In so many aspects, we see that the last word comes from a place of authority. In a court case, the jury makes the decision. At work, your boss makes the final decision. In a game, the referee makes the call. At church, we learn that God is the ultimate power and authority over all. So, we may wonder, how does God deal with the forces of evil? Will He get the final verdict? In Revelation: All Things New, we’ll discover a glorious description of the end of all things and the great kingdom to come. In order for God to renew the world, he must rid the world of what’s ruined it. The forces of evil have wrought tragedy after tragedy after tragedy throughout our history. Listen to our newest message of the series, The End of Evil, and trust that God gets the final word on sin and evil!

Everywhere we turn, it seems someone or something is promising to finally give us the satisfaction, happiness, and peace we long for. Yet from advertisements to political campaigns, these promises – and the empty places within us – remain unfilled. Throughout His Word, God makes promises, too – the kind that connect with our deepest needs, longings, and desires. But in today’s day and age we can’t help but wonder, will He actually keep them? Today we begin our Christmas series, Fulfilled: His Promise Kept, Our Longing Met, where we will discover how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to us. Together, we look through the book of Matthew’s narrative and see that he has given us an account of how Jesus has fulfilled the signs of Isaiah’s prophecy. Listen to our first message in our series, A Surprise Arrival, and see how in Jesus, God comes to be with us!

In light of Thanksgiving festivities, we open to the book of Matthew and examine one of Jesus’s timeless parables - the Parable of the Treasure Hunter. Jesus chose to use stories—what we commonly call parables- to bring an intangible reality into a more palatable message for his followers. In this story, he discusses treasure

Listen with us in our newest message, The Parable of The Treasure Hunter, and embrace there is no greater treasure than the Kingdom of Heaven!

How often do we do a double check before we leave the house, go on vacation, or during prep, saying “Do I have everything I need?” We want to make sure nothing is missing, and we are good to go! The question is worth asking about our lives, especially in regard to our spiritual pursuits. Do we have everything we need to flourish and to overcome in this world? We conclude our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” His concluding message to his disciples is aimed and driving home in their hearts and lives that they have everything they need because of what he has done. Jesus wants us not just to intellectually affirm the truth, he wants us to believe and experience it in every area of his life. As we conclude, we’re going to see how he equips and prepares us to walk with courage because we have everything we need. Listen with us in our newest message, Walking in the Way, and rejoice that Jesus’ victory provides us everything we need to follow him.

It seems to be a common theme in life to find “happiness”. We see it on bumper stickers, motivational decor, and even on t-shirts! Even in our country’s Declaration of Independence, it says we have the “unalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” We want to be happy. We want to pursue the things that will ultimately make us happy. But how often do we try to find happiness in fleeting “things” of this world? While happiness can fade, we find that joy is steadfast! In light of all these conversations, we ask, where does the path towards true joy take us? We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” In our passage, Jesus speaks of a joy that cannot be taken away, that will meet our heart’s desire and beyond. Jesus makes this audacious and bold claim that the object of pursuit for every human ever is Him! Listen with us in our newest message, Making a Way to Eternal Joy, and unravel the way of Jesus leads to fullness of joy!

One of the most mysterious aspects of the Christian faith actually revolves around one of the persons of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit. Questions arise like, is it a force or maybe like the force? Is the Holy Spirit an “it” or the Holy Spirit a “he?” Even beyond “what the Holy Spirit is,” or the better question, “who the Holy Spirit is?” What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the world and our lives? Part of what adds to the questions surrounding the Holy Spirit is that different Christian traditions place different emphases on the person and the role of the Holy Spirit. So, how do we answer these questions? We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” As we examine today’s text, Jesus brings his most straightforward teaching on the role of the Holy Spirit for the way ahead. Listen with us in our newest message, The Way of the Spirit, and learn how the ministry of the Holy Spirit spotlights the Son!

Have you ever felt unprepared in a situation? Maybe you didn’t realize that would happen or possibly someone else didn’t prepare you correctly for what was to come! Some have felt this way about becoming a Christian! Maybe you didn’t realize when you signed up that spiritual victory comes through carrying your own cross. Is it worth it? We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” As we examine today’s text, hours before Jesus is to be crucified at Calvary, he wanted his disciples to know what to expect from the world and how he would help them through all the hostility they would face. Listen with us in our newest message, Haters and the Helper, and see how knowing our opposition and our support helps disciples stay on the way.

So, what is the foundation for all who profess faith in Christ? What is the source of living a life that reflects the things Jesus teaches? While this may seem a bit too simple, too religious, too churchy, the answer remains - Jesus Himself! We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” As we examine today’s text, we’ll find two significant ways that Jesus shapes our life in community with other believers, by defining our definition of love and redefining the nature of our relationships. Listen with us in our newest message, The Way of Love, and see how walking in the way of love looks far different than we imagine.

Have you ever noticed that in the Bible fruit is frequently used in parables, stories, or symbolism? Fruit and farming were common things among the people of the Bible, so it was an easy topic to relate to in a message. While scripture was written to the people of those days, it was also written for us! So, it is important for us to understand just exactly what Christ means when posed with the question; “How do we produce fruitful lives?” We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” In these particular verses in John, we see several key aspects of what the discipleship of Jesus looks like. Listen to our newest message of the series, Abiding in the Way, and recognize how disciples of Jesus produce fruitful lives!

In both Christian and non-Christian settings, Jesus is a more well-known name! People know about Jesus and the stories about him. Similarly, God is also known throughout the world. But there’s one person of the Trinity that seems to be more of a mystery: the Holy Spirit! Even many within the church don’t fully understand who and what the Holy Spirit really does! We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” Through diving into scripture, we unpack the question, what active role does the Holy Spirit have in your everyday life as a believer? When you think about your days, is the Holy Spirit an active participant in your day-to-day life? Listen to our newest message of the series, A Helper for the Way, and find comfort that Jesus Sends the Spirit to Help us on the Way!

Throughout the years, most have tried to find the meaning and purpose of life. They pose questions like - Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Who am I? How should I live? And statistics prove that year after year, more people are looking for those answers outside of the church and God, relying on and believingin money, self, power, politics, or something else! One reason why people are so worked up is because their belief — their faith — in all these other things is letting them down. We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through His last hours and teaching with His disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” Here in scripture, we will answer the question: What are we supposed to do when the way we were headed doesn’t seem certain anymore? Listen to our newest message of the series, Jesus the Way, and see that believing in Jesus is still the only way!

Do the people around you know who you follow? The things that interest us tend to take priority in our lives; our children, our job, favorite sports team, a hobby, or even favorite series of books. We may have pictures, posters, shirts, and even often have conversations about whatever we follow! As a Christian, can those around us also see that we are followers of Jesus Christ? We continue our series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus, following Jesus through His last hours and teaching with His disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” Listen to our newest message of the series, Which Way?, and realize that the world knows who we follow by how we love one another!

What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Have you ever been unsure of what comes next, where to go, or how to get there? For as many people as you ask that question to, you will probably hear as many different answers. Yet Jesus didn’t leave that question unanswered. Welcome to the first episode of our new series, The Followers Trail Guide: Navigating the Path of Jesus! Over the course of ten weeks, we will be following Jesus through his last hours and teaching with his disciples in the book of John known as “The Farewell Discourse.” Jesus gives his disciples, and us, a trail guide of sorts to bring clarity and direction to our lives as we follow him home to the Father. Tune into our first message of the series, The Jesus Way, and see how Jesus paved the way for us to follow! But the question is: will we follow him?

Is there any word that could better describe the state of our world, our nation, our communities, and even our churches than “divided”? “I follow her… We follow him… Us versus Them… Me against the World!” Differences of opinion have led to a tribalism where discussion and sincere debate is no longer tolerated. What do we do with our differences? If the world will know Christ by the love we demonstrate for one another, how do we find unity in such a fractured world? We aren’t the first generation called to represent Christ in a splintered society, and God’s Word addresses this exact issue in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. So, join us for Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, as we discover the unifying power of a people called to follow Christ!

As our culture becomes increasingly secular, many of us face the challenge of feeling singled out or isolated for our Christian values. When faced with a culture that challenges our identity in Christ, we can often be left wondering, is God’s wisdom and power truly greater than human “wisdom?” Join us as we conclude our series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, by looking to 1 Corinthians 1 to discover how we can be a people who don’t succumb to the world’s divisions but are united in following Christ. Listen to our final message of the series, Choosing Weakness, and learn how to place your trust not in the "wisdom" of the world, but in God.

In today's day and age people can portray themselves to the world however they choose on social media, while the reality might be a completely different life than what people see. Influencers entice us to follow them on the basis that if we do what they do, we can achieve the appealing life we see on screen. Before we know it, we are following everything they do, and seeking their guidance for answers to our lives. In his letter to the church of Corinth, the Apostle Paul speaks to this kind of "wisdom" the world offers, exposing what seems wise to the world as foolishness. Join us as we continue our series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, by discovering the true wisdom and power of the Gospel. Listen to our next message of the series, The Message of Fools, as we're challenged with the question, "Where am I finding wisdom?"

We’ve seen it on shirts, bumper stickers, and even on wall murals: Detroit vs Everybody. This isn’t the first time people have rallied behind the fact that they are different than another group, where an “us vs. them” mentally has formed. In a society that so often places people at odds, how can we experience unity despite our differences? Join us as we continue our series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, by looking to 1 Corinthians 1 to discover the unifying power of Christ. The Apostle Paul addresses this exact issue in his letter to the church in Corinth, where he admonishes there is no such thing as "us vs. them" when it comes to the people of God. Listen to our next message of the series, Vs. Everybody, to discover the unity we have in Christ.

We might understand the division in our nation, but can we justify it in the Church? Join us as we continue our series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, by looking to 1 Corinthians 1 to discover the unifying power of Christ. This letter by the Apostle Paul teaches us how to live differently—in community with one another. Amidst a culture as diverse as Corinth, not unlike modern-day America, how does a follower of Jesus practice this sort of faith? Listen to our next message of the series, Inexhaustible Grace, as we discover the affects of God's grace when we are in Christ.

One of the chief concerns of our day is that "we're more divided than ever." Have you felt that in your own life? It seems people are polarized over every possible issue and the division is only growing deeper and more isolating. We aren’t the first generation called to represent Christ in a splintered society, and God’s Word addresses this exact issue in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Welcome to the first episode of our new series, Divided: Seeking Unity in a Fractured World, where we're looking to 1 Corinthians 1 to discover the unifying power of Christ. Tune into our first message of the series, Come Together, and find the answer to the question, "What does it mean to be called together in Christ?"

It’s as easy as…” Sound familiar? We live in a culture flooded with the newest “quick fix” to all our problems. And we’ve started to believe happiness is just a click away. The problem? Behind that pill, product, or program lies an empty promise and another disappointment. Through this summer series, we’ll reject culture’s “new big idea” for God’s time-tested truth. Together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where true satisfaction awaits.

The Big Idea: Disciples can be confident that God both hears and answers our prayers.
Point 1: We have confidence in God's acceptance of our prayers because we are in Jesus' care.
Point 2: We have confidence in God hearing our prayers when our main concern is His will.
Point 3: We have confidence in the outcome of our prayers because God gives only good.

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Big Idea: Our Generosity is Evidence of God’s Grace

God’s grace enables us to give in spite of our circumstances (vs. 1,2)
God’s grace enables us to give beyond our means (vs. 3,4)
God’s grace enables us to give more than money (vs. 5)

In the book of Genesis, we learn that God created us to be in relationship with Him, to care for His world, and to experience unity with Him and one another. Yet we also see the effects of sin that set the perfect world He created into chaos. As the story continues, we watch God choose a family through which to rescue humanity from the destructive power of sin. It's through this story we discover God's purpose for the family, and by extension for all human relationships. As we conclude our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we look to the life of Joseph and his family to uncover convincing evidence that God is not limited to working within only wholesome and functional relationships! His sovereign grace can perform its work amid the most tragic of circumstances. Join us for our newest message, Is My Family Too Messy?, and find confidence that God reigns over the chaos of our relationships!

In the name of "keeping the peace" many people avoid confronting problems in their relationships. Have you ever felt that tension among your family and friends? As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we see how the author of Genesis doesn’t gloss over the dysfunction of this family or leave it unattended. Instead, he brings it front and center. Why? Because it’s through this family’s dysfunction, not despite it, we learn something vital about how we can navigate the broken dynamics in our own families. Join us for our newest message, When Dysfunction Meets Grace, to see how God’s grace prevails over family dysfunction.

Have you ever been convinced that you and you alone know the best way to do something? If so, can you remember how it feels to have someone distrust your opinion or even prove you wrong? It's not a great feeling. We often go through life convinced we've got it all right, only to find out we missed something. As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we’re looking to the account of Isaac & Rebekah to understand God's sovereignty over our lives. As the only One who actually knows everything about everything, He invites us to rest in His sovereign provision of exactly what we need. Join us for our newest message, Providential Provision, and ask yourself, “Am I trusting God’s plan or my own?”

Parents promise their children lots of things. If you finish your dinner, you can eat dessert; if you go potty on the toilet, you can have an M&M and the list goes on. But the trick is, this type of promise only works if the parents stay true to their word – because if your toddler goes potty on the toilet and doesn’t get an M&M, they’ll lose faith. And you’ll gain dirty laundry. As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we’re looking to the account of Abram and Sarai to unpack what happens when we lose faith in the promises of God. We’ll see that when we look to ourselves, instead of God and His faithfulness, to provide what we feel we deserve, we cause much more harm than good. Join us for our newest message, The Trouble from Not Trusting, to see how our lack of faith in God’s promises affects our families.

Pride has often been called the root of all other sins. Pride blinds us. Pride can't see itself because it justifies itself. This is the great danger of pride - and the reason it wreaks havoc on so many relationships. As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we'll see the impact pride has not only on us as individuals, but on our families. As we explore how pride creeps into our relationships and what happens when it does, we'll experience how Jesus alone can renew, refresh, and restore our hurting families. Listen with us to the newest message of our series, Family after the Fall, and confront pride's power to destroy fallen people.

Do your relationships ever feel like a double-edged sword? On one hand, we all long for community - to know and be known. On the other, many of us have learned that entering a relationship opens us up to a lot of pain. As much as we need each other, people are the very ones who hurt, disappoint, betray, or even abandon us - and family is no exception. As we continue our message series, Family: Why Bother?, we'll explore how the effects of sin have fractured the way God designed us to live in unity with one another. And, together, we'll uncover the answer to reconciling the broken relationships in our own lives. Listen with us to our newest message, The First Family Conflict, and discover the power of Jesus to renew our hurting families.

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, reveals all kinds of family dysfunction – from favoritism and manipulation to accusation and jealousy. Can you relate? It turns out, families have been dysfunctional from the very first. The good news is that just like God used the broken families in Genesis to unleash blessings on the whole world, He can do the same in your family today. As we start our new message series, Family: Why Bother?, we'll experience how Jesus alone can renew, refresh, and restore our hurting families. Listen with us to the first message of our series, Designed for Dignity, and discover God's design for His greatest creation: us.

Join us for a special message from Senior Pastor Chris Brooks where we look to 1 Thessalonians to uncover the one thing most deserving of our passion: the Good News of Jesus Christ. We'll explore what happens when the Gospel comes into our lives, how it changes us and, consequently, changes others. Tune in now to face the crucial question, "Am I living with a passion for the Gospel?"

Over the last two weeks we’ve explored how the glory of God and His undeserved forgiveness compel us to share Him with others so they, too, can encounter His grace. Today we conclude our message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go, by turning to Isaiah 6 where we learn how to listen for God to lead us - and how to respond when He does. Together we'll come face-to-face with who God is, what He's done, and how He calls us to live in response. Tune into our newest message, You Can’t Not Go!, as we embrace how God's calling compels us to move.

It's easy to come up with a long list of reasons why we shouldn't talk to our neighbors about Jesus, isn't it? Perhaps we're sure they've heard it before - it's not like it would be news to them. Or maybe we assume someone else would do a much better job, so we pray for God to send someone better, smarter, and "more Christian" than us. But have you ever paused to consider all the reasons you should tell others about Christ? The reasons you must? Today we continue our message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go, by turning to Isaiah 6 to uncover one undeniable reason we're compelled to share God with others: His forgiveness. Tune into our newest message, Our Greatest Need, as we unpack how receiving God's grace compels us to share it with the world.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, God sends and His people go. From Moses to Matthew or Jonah to John, God sends those who have a relationship with Him. So, where is He sending you? Today we begin our newest message series, Send Me: When God Calls Us to Go. Over the next three weeks, we'll look to Isaiah 6 for a glimpse of the way God calls and compels us to go! Through our study, we’ll come face-to-face with what’s keeping us from answering as Isaiah did: “Send me.” Listen along with our first message of this series, The Glory of Going, and witness how God’s holiness compels us to tell others about Him!

This Resurrection Sunday, we conclude our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, by unpacking the last meal Jesus shared with His disciples before ascending to heaven. As we step into Luke's Gospel, we'll uncover that Jesus came to earth, lived the sinless life we never could, died in our place, and raised again to new life. Why? To make a way for us to have new, everlasting life in Him. Today we'll place ourselves in the shoes of the disciples that very day and question, if you could share a meal with the resurrected Jesus, what would you ask? What would you learn? Listen along with us to the final episode of this series, If You Could Have One Meal With Jesus, and discover what the living Jesus wants you to know and do about Him.

Do you enjoy Jesus? Think about that statement for a moment. If you were able to sit down and have a meal with Jesus, would you enjoy being with Him? Some of us may jump to answer “yes,” but today we'll look deeper into our hearts for a more real and raw answer. We continue our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, by unpacking what Jesus has to teach us from the time He spent around the table. As we read on into Luke, we come across barriers that keep us from authentically enjoying a relationship with Jesus. Listen along with us to the next episode of this series, How Not to Enjoy a Meal with Jesus, and realize what may be stopping you from enjoying Him.

As humans, we know what it feels like to be full, and what it feels like to be hungry. Over time, we learn what satisfies our bodies and what leaves us wanting for better sustenance. If we're able, we adjust accordingly - like eating a sandwich for lunch instead of cotton candy. But have we applied that same principle to the rest of our lives? Or do we attempt to "fill" ourselves with things that will always leave us empty, hungering for more? Today, we continue our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, where we’ll unpack what Jesus has to teach us from the time He spent around the table. Today we join Jesus at one of His most well-known meals, where we'll discover that He alone is enough to fully satisfy us. Listen along with us to the next episode of this series, More Than Enough, to experience the satisfaction awaiting you in Christ.

Jesus ate with “sinners” because he came to bring salvation to those who were sick with sin. Jesus pursues sinful people and invites us to his table to eat and experience His saving work. Sometimes I think we forget that includes us! Have we truly recognized and received that grace? Or have we taken Jesus for granted - or perhaps rejected His grace altogether? Today, we continue our message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, where we’ll unpack what Jesus has to teach us from the time He spent around the table. As we read on into Luke, we run into a stark contrast between the way two people respond to Jesus’ grace - and wonder which represents our own heart. Listen along with us to the next episode of this series, Is Jesus Good Enough to Eat with You?, and realize that our response to Jesus reveals our grasp of His grace.

If you could invite any 4 people to a dinner party, living or dead, who would you choose? Follow up question: Why them? Maybe you'd choose those particular people because of their fame, a set of qualities you respect, or because they make you feel loved. We tend to view our relationships - or hypothetical guests - in light of what we stand to gain; we'll engage as long as the benefit to us is high enough. Today, we begin our new message series, Soul Food: When a Meal with Jesus was More than Food, where we’ll unpack what Jesus has to teach us from the time He spent around the table. We’ll start by turning to Luke 5:27-32 to ask the question, “Who would Jesus eat with?” We may be a bit shocked (and humbled) at the ‘kind of people’ invited to dine with the Savior of the world. Listen along with us to the first episode of this series, Who Would Jesus Eat With?, and realize that following Jesus means feasting with “sinners.”

We all know there are “sins” and then there are “SINS,” right? Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve created a scale in our own minds defining which sins are worse than others - then we ask ourselves, how could God possibly forgive THOSE sinners? As we close our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we come face-to-face with God's scandalous grace, which He's in the habit of extending to those we don't think deserve it. Listen with us to our final message, Too Compassionate?, and learn how to respond to the Lord’s compassion when it exceeds our logic.

From an early age, we were taught to say “sorry” after we hurt someone or make a poor choice, but as we grow up we realize just saying “sorry” doesn’t always cut it. So, what does true repentance look like? As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we begin to understand repentance is not simply confessing one’s sins or asking for forgiveness. It's so much more! Join us as we take a front row seat to the radical transformation that took place in the ancient city of Nineveh as a result of true repentance. Listen with us to our newest message, Real Faith Repents, to see how God responds to repentance.

Over the past few decades, the issue of discipline has come into question, as society has asked, "Is discipline effective? Necessary? If so, what kind?" In a similar fashion, we can, perhaps subconsciously, question whether God should correct us when we're in the wrong. For those who view God only as love and gentle goodness, to suggest He would bring corrective discipline on His people might seem absolutely foreign. "God wouldn’t do that, would He?" As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we begin to understand God as a loving Father who disciplines His children through what we'll call "severe mercy." Listen with us to our newest message, The Kindness of Severe Mercy, to learn how the goal of God’s discipline is to pursue, awaken, and ultimately save us!

Have you ever feared someone? Not in a fear-for-your-own-safety kind of way, but a healthy fear that feels more like respect? Maybe you fear a boss, a mentor, a parent, or even a pastor this way. In Scripture, we're taught the importance of holding this type of fear - reverent fear - toward God. As we continue our series, Jonah: At Odds with God, we come across a group of sailors who teach us what it looks like to fear God in this way - the way His power and authority deserve. Listen with us to our newest message, Who's Afraid?, as we encounter the part fear plays in genuine, submissive faith.

You’ve heard about that guy who got swallowed by a fish? That classic Bible story has breached church circles and even become a part of secular phrases. But, there may just be more beneath the surface of this story. Join us as we encounter a prophet who was not only angry with God but defied God’s desire to save people he didn’t like. Through Jonah: At Odds with God, we’ll pose the tough questions Jonah wrestled through - Am I angry with what God’s done? Allowed? Asked of me? - as we all face the same choice he did: receive God’s mission or resent it. We begin this journey through Jonah with our first message; Defiance Gets Us Nowhere!

As we draw the curtain on our current series, James: Live the Truth, we end on one of the most difficult truths and controversial topics among believers. Within these teachings, we're reminded that just because someone claims to have faith in Jesus doesn't mean they actually do. This brings us face-to-face with some tough questions: What is genuine faith? What does it look like compared to false faith? How do I know if I have it? As we conclude our message series, James: Live the Truth, James exhorts us that genuine faith is revealed through actions. Listen with us to our newest message, Faith in Action, and come to understand the age-old tension between faith and works!

It comes so naturally! We see someone and our brain makes a judgement call. When you look out at the world - when you meet other people - what do you see? How do you measure the people in your life? As we continue through our message series, James: Live the Truth, James earnestly pleads with us to measure people by God's standards, not our own. Listen with us to our newest message, Seeing with the Eyes of Faith, as we recognize that a mature faith shows no favoritism, but sees others through God's point of view!

From childhood we've been taught more money equals more happiness. The only thing that's changed over the years is the kind of possessions we desire. The toys and games that brought us happiness then have been replaced by the "need" for bigger houses, faster cars, name-brand clothes, and the newest devices. Sound familiar? Join us as we continue our message series, James: Live the Truth, by asking ourselves the question, "What place do my possessions hold in my heart?" Together, we'll discover whether we're defining ourselves by the amount of money and "stuff" we have - and what role God plays in that equation. Tune into our newest message, God Over Money, to determine whether you need to put your possessions in their proper place.

We’ve all been there one way or another - that point in life where you need to make a decision. Some decisions have easy answers, while others haunt our thoughts as we weigh our options. How often do we wonder which choice God wants us to make, but the Bible doesn’t spell it out for us? We pray and sit puzzled, asking ourselves, “How can I know what God wants me to do?” As we continue through our message series, James: Live the Truth, we're encouraged in the truth that God's wisdom is available to us, if only we'll ask Him for it. Listen with us to our next message in the series, Wisdom for Life, and discover how mature faith seeks God’s wisdom!

Just believe. Live your truth. Sound familiar? In a culture preaching the power of whatever feels right to you, it’s time to set aside positive vibes for a Truth you can stand on. The Biblical book of James is a call to counter-cultural living – the kind that rejects the latest “feel good” message for a mature faith. A faith with deep roots producing the fruit of a life lived on purpose. Join us as we spend the next six weeks journeying through our new message series, James: Live the Truth, as we're confronted with the question, "Am I living what I claim to believe?" Listen with us to our first message in the series, Surviving Seasons of Suffering, and discover how only through a mature faith in God can we survive the trials life brings.

As we turn to Ephesians 4:1, we discover the importance of living out your calling in Christ. Together, we'll be challenged and encouraged by the Truth in this important passage of Scripture. So listen with us in our newest message from Pastor Steve Zarilli to be encouraged to know the worth and nature of your calling in Christ.

No one likes to wait. We are a generation of instant gratification: we get what we want when we want it. So how do you think you'd last if you were told to wait years for something? Or even, hundreds of years? As we conclude our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we turn to the book of Luke where we encounter Simeon & Anna as they respond to the arrival of Jesus after decades of waiting. Listen with us to our final message of the series, Waiting on Jesus, and learn from Simeon and Anna how waiting in faith enables us to receive God’s promise!

Have you ever experienced the joy on someone’s face as they open that perfect present on Christmas morning? Their joy brings you joy! As we continue our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we turn to the book of Luke where we watch the events of the first Christmas unfold through the eyes of the shepherds. As ordinary people going about their usual daily job, they had an amazing encounter with the glory of God - and spread their great joy with everyone they encountered! Listen with us to our new message, Seeing the Good News, and experience the splendor of the extraordinary birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Have you ever had a time in your life where things didn’t go as planned? And you found yourself asking God, “What? Why?” As we continue our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we're turning to the book of Matthew, where we see this very situation play out in the life of Joseph. The Bible doesn’t say much about him, but in the glimpse we do get, God reveals a powerful truth: trusting His plan and walking in obedience bring about His glory! Listen with us to our newest message, Quiet Joseph, and discover how trust and obedience in God’s plan bring about amazing results!

Christmas is often said to be the most wonderful time of the year. As followers of Jesus, this is not just due to the Christmas festivities but because it’s the celebration of the Messiah’s birth. Can you imagine what it was like for those who got to witness that miraculous event firsthand? How amazing, overwhelming, and glorious it must have been! This Christmas, we invite you to watch the events of Jesus’ birth unfold through the eyes of the men and women who were there that first Christmas. Through our Christmas series, Eyewitness: Finding Your Christmas Story in Theirs, we’ll see that no matter who we are, the coming of the Christ was for us. Listen with us today for our first message of the series, Believing the Impossible, where we'll look through the eyes of Mary, the mother of Jesus, to discover that nothing is impossible with God!

Win. Achieve. Succeed. As children, we heard these words more than we care to remember. As adults, some of us work ourselves to the bone to get there. Others give up. All realize we are one crisis away from losing it all. Join us for our series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we journey through what many call the greatest chapter in the Bible to uncover a more lasting force than hard work and a more enduring purpose than momentary success. In the pages of Romans 8, you’ll experience freedom in a power not your own.

Have you ever wondered if you would make it to the end? Whether it was a strenuous hike, an essay to write, or a difficult project at work, the striving, exhaustion, and frustration, just made you want to quit. We all know what it's like to feel we can't go even an inch further. But have you ever felt that way in your faith? Join us for our series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through Romans 8 to uncover God’s invitation into an infinitely better perspective. Perhaps you’ve had a season of doubt or difficulty fighting sin and are wondering whether you’ll get to heaven. Maybe you don't understand why you're in this trial and are on the verge of giving up. If that's you, listen with us to our newest message, Destined for Glory!

Big Idea: Our present sufferings will give way to future glory.
1. The creation groans in hope for its full restoration. (vv. 18-22)
2. God's people groan in hope for our full redemption. (vv. 23-35)

If the Spirit of Christ dwells in you:

You possess spiritual and resurrection Life (vv. 9-11)
You owe nothing to the flesh (vv. 12-13)
You received adoption into God's family (vv. 14-17)

In this special message, Senior Pastor Chris Brooks shares something God's laid on his heart for our Woodside Family across all campuses. Through the truths in Luke 10, he challenges us, as the Church, to the call God has placed on all of our lives: to share and show God’s perfect love to our neighbors! If today you identify yourself as a saved child of God, have you been obeying the call He's placed upon your life? Listen with us to this unique message, Sharing & Showing God’s Perfect Love, as we unpack truths about justification, the law, sin, and the perfect life of Jesus Christ our Savior!

These days, most of us live in a nonstop state of busyness and distraction - and we have endless reasons to justify our lifestyle. But, deep down, could it be that the reason we distract and entertain ourselves every waking moment is to keep from feeling inadequate with the true purpose of our lives? Maybe you feel desperate for something to change. Perhaps you're longing to live the life you were created for, instead of the shallow, overly-stimulated existence of today. Join us for our new series, Unstoppable: Bound in His Love. Freed by His Spirit., as we venture through one of the most well-know chapters of the Bible: Romans 8. In the pages of Scripture, you'll encounter God's power to completely transform your life, and will uncover a more enduring purpose than anything this world has to offer. Listen with us in our first message of the series, No Condemnation!, as we discover that, in Christ, we are freed, sin is condemned, and we walk in the Spirit!

From the beginning, laws have been an important part of society. Throughout time, laws have existed to protect people, yet history also displays the power the law has to effectuate injustice and oppression. The parasite that is sin has corrupted the purpose and power of laws, even since Biblical times. So if we can’t rely on the laws of this world (whether well-intended or not), where can we look for security and hope? We continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, to discuss this very issue that Paul addresses to the Church in Romans 7. Only God’s law is perfect, pure, good, holy and righteous. Laws of this world can only restrain evil. They can’t purge it. Listen with us to our newest message, The Law Can’t Deliver, and discover that where the law fails, Christ prevails!

The Gospel tells us all have fallen short of the glory of God and, because of our sin, deserve death. Yet it doesn't end there. In Jesus, God has given us the gift of eternal life - a brand-new life that starts today! But...can it really be that easy? Maybe today you feel stuck in your old way of life, your old habits, struggles, and vices. If that's you, join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, by uncovering how we can live "in the new way" gifted to us in Jesus. Listen with us to our newest message, A Fruitful Marriage, as we unpack the truths of Romans 7:1-6.

Whether in conversation, on the news, or plastered across our newsfeeds, "freedom" is a hot topic these days. There are countless opinions on what true freedom is and how it should look today. And, just as people are talking about freedom, they're talking about slavery - a word with deep pain packed into it. But maybe the reason these buzzwords run so deep in our culture is not only because of our nation's history, but because each one of us is engaged in a spiritual battle between slavery and freedom. Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, as Paul reminds us that everyone is a slave to sin, but through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, Christians are free! Listen with us to our newest message, The Freest Slave, and ask yourself the question, "Whose slave am I?"

We all see the constant conflict in our world, but did you know there’s a spiritual battle happening as well? There is a struggle between who controls our hearts, whether our sinful, fleshly desires or God's Holy Spirit. But here's the good news: If you've placed your faith in Christ, we know who wins this war! Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, as Paul seeks to bring us to the scary realization that sin is a power that seeks to master us. But the story doesn't end there. Jesus' death and resurrection have given us victory over sin and death! The question is, does your life reflect this truth? Listen with us to our newest message, A New Master, and determine who you're allowing to rule your life!

According to Scripture, baptism is an important step of obedience after you've accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. At Woodside, when someone is baptized, we have the opportunity to hear their testimony of faith. Have you ever wondered why? Join us as we continue our series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, to discover why Paul uses the topic of baptism in Romans 6 to remind us how we are to walk in our faith. Through baptism, we're reminded that followers of Jesus have died to sin and been given new life in Him! The question is, are you living in that new life or going back to your old ways of sin? Listen with us to our newest message, The New Life of Grace, as we determine that our walk must match our baptism!

May Grace Reign - Romans 5:12-21
BIG IDEA: Our lives are ruled by one act from one man.
1. In Adam, death reigns. (vv. 12-14)
2. In Jesus, grace reigns. (vv. 18-21)
3. In you, who reigns? (vv. 15-17)

Are you a good person or a bad person? That’s a hard question to answer without some kind of twist in your stomach. Today we begin our new series, New-ish?: Everything's Changed. Have You?, with a big claim: God only saves bad people. Join us as we venture through Romans 5:1-11 to uncover the truth about God's salvation. Over the next seven weeks, we'll decipher whether we're living in the freedom available to us through Jesus Christ, or trapped in the patterns of our old life. Listen with us in our first message of the series, Only Sinners Welcome, and find hope in our new life in Christ!

Over the last five weeks, we’ve examined five different places our culture tells us to look for fulfillment in this world. Like the writer, we hope to leave a lasting mark, enjoy the best this life has to offer, and accumulate the greatest knowledge and possessions we can in our lifetime – and we find ourselves forever hungry for MORE. Today, at the close of our series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," we come to our final question: does anything in this world truly matter? Is there any meaning to this life? Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Purpose: Nihilism, as we turn to the pages of Ecclesiastes and discover that God is life!

If you only had _________ life would be so much better, right? In a culture flooded with newer, better versions of everything we already have, we've all fallen victim to the desire for "just a little more." Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes, where we'll explore what it looks like to have it all, but realize it still isn't enough. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Demand: Materialism, to enjoy the generosity of the God who shares His prize with His children!

Goal completed! Yes! So...now what? Whether our ambitions are big or small, we've all felt how quickly the "runner's high" of our successes slip away. It begs the question, why don’t the accomplishments of this world ultimately satisfy us? Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes, where we'll consider what happens when we look for meaning in our success apart from God. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Ambition: Individualism, and see how our God gladly shares His victory with His people!

Have you ever fallen victim to FOMO (fear of missing out)? Since the dawn of social media, this fear has become increasingly prevalent in our society. We are bombarded with everyone else’s experiences, successes, and opportunities, leaving us with a deep desire for more and more! But when the pleasure and joy of a moment subsides, what are we left with? Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths," by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes' teaching on earthly pleasures. We'll come to terms with the fact that the pleasures of this world are short-lived, but God’s goodness is unending! Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Appetites: Hedonism, as we celebrate that God is good and His well never runs dry!

We live in a society of information overload! If you don’t know something, you google it. Resources are endless. Yet we find that, more often than not, more knowledge leads to even more questions. And we find ourselves frustrated when we can’t get the answer we want RIGHT NOW. Today we continue our message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths", by looking to the book of Ecclesiastes to see that a “perfect” understanding of life will always be out of reach. Where does this leave us? To trust in God! Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen Mind: Intellectualism, as we encounter the wisdom of God and realize only He is all-knowing!

Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions of life? Like you’ve lost sight of your purpose in this world? Today we begin our brand new message series, Smoke & Mirrors: Deciphering Truth in a World of "truths", by turning to the wisdom in Ecclesiastes. Through this book, the author unmasks the myths of human autonomy and self-sufficiency and drives us to our true meaning in this world. Listen with us in today’s message, Fallen World: Naturalism, and together we’ll cling to the truth that God is Creator and has a plan for this world!

In part 3 of our message series - Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World - we learn to reject our culture's "new big ideas" for solving life's problems and seek after the time-tested truths God earnestly offers us! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him and give us the satisfaction we've been searching for.

Sermon Summary

Big idea: Pray not to impress others and thus respect God’s holiness.

Do not pray to impress other people (5-6)
Do not pray trying to impress God (7-8)
Pray in ways that honor God’s name and character (9-15).

Culture is flooded with the newest “quick fix” to all our problems, and we’ve started to believe happiness is just a click away. But, the truth is, behind that product or program lies an empty promise and another disappointment - every time. Today we begin a brand new message series, Habits: Ancient Practices for Today's World, where we'll take the focus of our hearts and minds off our culture's "new big ideas" and refocus on God's time-tested truths! Listen with us and, together, we’ll re-discover age-old practices that draw us to Him, where true satisfaction awaits!

Have you ever wondered if God is still control when walking through a season of grief, pain, or suffering? Today we continue our message series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by turning to chapter 5 of Lamentations, where we’re invited to turn our gaze from the rubble of our brokenness to the Redeemer of every hurt. The poet's words invite us to look toward God's promises even while we're still in pain. Listen with us to our newest message, What to Do When We’re at the End, and see how lament brings us back to God.

Don't you love a good rags-to-riches story? Certainly no one likes to see the opposite: beauty descending into ruin. Today we continue our message series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by examining what happens to people when they deny God. As we begin chapter 4 of Lamentations, the writer gives us a glimpse of the streets of Jerusalem, where an idolatrous people face the consequences of their rejection of God. Listen with us to our newest message, On the Streets of Ruin, and encounter the reality that without God, people perish.

We live in a world full of hurting people who hurt people. Today we continue our message series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by learning to cry out to God in the face of injustice. As we turn to Lamentations chapter 3, we'll talk about remembering the heart of God and learn to have hope as we wait on His justice! Listen with us to our newest message, How to Lament Injustice, and recognize lament as a means to grieve with those who grieve.

Do you know what it feels like to lose hope? To believe you'll never make it out of the darkness, the brokenness, the pain? In life, we all experience these "end of your rope" moments. The question is, where do we go from there? Today we continue our newest message series - Good Mourning: Taking Our Sorrows to the Savior - an exploration of an often-forgotten book in the Old Testament: Lamentations. As we turn to chapter 3, we find ourselves at the heart of this book, where we turn from suffering under the weight of our affliction to remembering God. Listen with us to our newest message, The Turning Point, and discover how lament allows us to hope again.

Often when we talk about God we focus only on His love, mercy, and grace; forgetting that God is also holy and righteous - traits that cause Him to exercise judgment over sin. Today we continue our series - Good Mourning: Taking Your Sorrow to the Savior - by examining what the often forgotten Old Testament book of Lamentations has to teach us about God's righteous anger in response to our sinfulness. Listen with us in our newest message as we discover what to do When God Becomes the Enemy.

After a year filled with so much loss - whether of your livelihood, your relationships, or even your loved ones - we're all grieving. The question is whether there's a way for us to mourn in a matter that moves us toward growth, hope, and refreshment. Today we start our newest message series - Good Mourning: Taking Our Sorrows to the Savior - where we'll explore an often forgotten book in the Old Testament: Lamentations. As we study this book over the next six weeks, we’ll be taken back to Jerusalem when the city was invaded, destroyed, and their people carried off into exile. Listen with us to our newest message, Why Lament?, to discover the powerful, yet unfamiliar, spiritual discipline of lament.

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Brooks delivers a passionate message God has placed on his heart about grace and reconciliation! Collectively as one church, we'll explore Paul’s letter to Ephesus as he teaches how we have been reconciled in Christ. Listen with us to this special message, Better Together, as we see how grace reconciles us first to God and then to one another.

The goal of every Christian is to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ, including in how we give! So, how do we become more Christlike in our giving? As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 urge us to trust the sufficiency of what God has given us and pursue the deeper fruit of giving! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Ability, and celebrate that we can give because God gave first!

Do you give out of obligation? Does it take a lot to convince you? Or do you find yourself giving freely and cheerfully in response to God's goodness? As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 encourage us to not give simply out of duty, but to give cheerfully and generously because God first gave to us! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Ministry, as we come to the realization that being generous isn’t just about the money; it’s about the ministry!

As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - we are again encouraged by Paul, the author of 2 Corinthians 8, to be eager in our giving! Together we'll learn what it looks like to not give carelessly but use our gifts intentionally as an opportunity for partnering with those around us. Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Partnership, as we discover why we should eagerly give to others and how to wisely choose where to give!

To excel in something is to do it with abundance and excellence; to go above and beyond what is “normal” in that area. In our Biblical text today, we are called to “stand out” or “surpass” the norm in a particular area of our lives: generosity. As we continue our message series - Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All - we'll be challenged by God's Word to not simply give, but to excel in our giving! Listen with us to our newest message, Giving & Love, as we see how exceptional giving displays God’s grace, genuine love, and ultimately the truth of the Gospel!

Have you received God’s grace in your life? This is the big question we're asking through our newest message series, Overflow: From Him, Through Us, For All. The evidence that we've received that gift of grace is seen in how it overflows throughout all aspects of our lives regardless of our circumstances, beyond our own limitations, and as a giving of our very self to God. Listen with us to our first message, Giving & the Gospel, as we discover that grace received is grace given.

Happy Resurrection Day! The tomb is empty because Jesus Christ is alive! Let your memories of God’s work in your life and the salvation He won for you fasten you close to your Savior - and propel you to spread the good news of His Gospel! Today we turn to Matthew 28 as we reflect on the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ and the start of the Great Commission. Listen to our newest message, With Us, as we rejoice together that Christ is with us today!

In the closing words of Jesus' final teaching before His crucifixion, He paints the picture of a shepherd separating sheep from goats, by which He teaches us a critical lesson: our faith reveals our identity - and determines our destination. Our current series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, concludes with a hard look at our own faith in the anticipation of Christ’s return. Listen with us to this final message, The Shepherd King, as we prepare for that glorious day!

Jesus frequently used parables, or stories, to teach us important lessons. In our last message we examined a parable urging us to be ready for Christ’s return. Today, we dive into the Parable of the Talents, an illustration of what it looks like to multiply – or squander – the gifts God’s given us. We continue in our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by learning from the decisions of three servants, whose actions invite us to contemplate the way we’re using our own giftings. Listen with us in our newest message, Being Ready Means Being Diligent, and learn what it looks like to reinvest for the Kingdom of God.

Last week we posed the question, “Are you ready?” This week we challenge you, “But really, are you?” Join us as we continue in our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by evaluating the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins. Together, we'll examine our hearts to determine whether our discipleship is authentic or superficial - and learn the implications of both. Listen with us in our newest message, "Really, Are You Ready?", as we look ahead to the return of Jesus Christ.

Are you ready? That question alone is enough to put us on edge. When we’re standing at the start of something new, many of us get that familiar sinking feeling in our stomach as we begin to question, “Am I ready for this?” Today we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, by examining whether we're truly ready for the long-awaited day when our Savior returns. Listen with us in our newest message, "Are You Ready?", as we uncover Jesus' teaching about the last days before His return.

Many of us have found ourselves asking, “What could possibly happen next?” We’ve lost our sense of control over the future and don’t know how the events of the world will play out. Yet in the midst of the unknown, God invites us to hold fast to His unchanging nature and steadfast promises. Today we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, where we'll see that while the things of this world are always changing, the Word of our Savior never does. Listen with us in our newest message, God’s Forever King!

For many, a key motivation in what we choose to do every minute of our day is to avoid discomfort. Our culture tries its hardest to escape any kind of suffering. No one likes to suffer, but the extremes many take to stay comfortable has become an idol to many. And the Christian church is not exempt. Today, as we continue through our series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, we’re hit with the hard truth that suffering is inevitable, especially as Christians. But we have a Savior who also suffered and overcame it all for us. Listen with us in our newest message, Don’t Be Surprised.

As we've turned the page to a new year, many are wondering what’ll come next and how to navigate it when it does. Today we kick off our brand new series, What Now: How Tomorrow Shapes Today, where answer the question on everyone's mind: "What do we do now?" Listen with us in our newest message, Not So Breaking News, as we explore what Matthew 24 reveals about how the Gospel should and WILL be proclaimed throughout the world regardless of the circumstances of our day!

Christians often use the phrase, "born again," but do we really understand what it means? In our culture, we've come to relate the idea of birth with a new beginning, a fresh start, a grand renewal. And such is the case with our salvation! In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, we unpack what it means for our new birth in Jesus Christ to make us a child of God. Listen with us in our newest message, Born into God’s Family, to discover how 1 John 5 reveals that when we become a child of God, we believe in Jesus, love others, and have overcome the world!

If you're a follower of Jesus, can the people around you tell? While we don’t wear material indicators of our faith, our lives should display the radical, sacrificial love of our Savior. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, 1 John 4 reveals that to believe in Jesus Christ is to know God's love. Listen with us in our newest message, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, to learn how God’s love is in us, for us, and between us!

Has loving the people around you ever felt like a chore? Like you're running on an empty tank? Maybe it's because you aren't being filled with the right kind of fuel. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, the scripture of 1 John 4 teaches us God is our ultimate, enduring source of love because he IS love! Listen with us in our newest message, Love Defined, to discover how love begins, manifests, and is perfected through our triune God!

It wouldn’t take much searching to find harsh, hate-filled words being spoken in the name of “being right.” We may even contribute to these damaging conversations ourselves. In the next part of our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, the words of 1 John reveal how seriously God condemns hatred - to the point of equating it with murder! Listen with us in our newest message, A Tale of Two Loves, where we discover that hate only takes while love always serves.

We often hear that God is love - and He is! But our world has a way of twisting something God created into a thing He never intended it to be. And our understanding of love is no exception. In our misunderstanding of God's love, many have come to believe He's incapable of hating or judging evil and sin. Today, we continue in our series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, by looking to 1 John 2 for the truth about love. Listen with us in our newest message, The Love God Hates, as we compare the love God intended for us with the worldly love that surrounds us.

When we face trials, we can lose sight of what it means to really love, as God calls us to. Today we begin our new message series, The Forgotten Virtue: Learning to Love Again, by taking a hard look at how society, including the Church, left love behind in 2020. Listen with us in our newest message, The Old (New) Commandment, as we discover how truly knowing God transforms our understanding of love.

As we turn to 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, we discover you can draw near to God and do the things that assure that He will be with you. You can also draw near to others as God draws near to you in blessing and fellowship.

Whether depicted in movies, books, or even in our imagination, when we see a king they are typically being catered to or assisted by many different servants. Between royalty, wealth, or status, those in authority seem to have many at their disposal to serve their needs and wants. So how unique and heartwarming when we witness someone who could be served by many, choosing to serve those around (especially those possibly in a lower position then them)?! This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will unpack the covenant that God made with David in the book of 2 Samuel. There we will learn about God's promise of a messiah king to His people and even as king, Jesus Christ came to earth to serve us! Listen with us in our newest message, The King Who Serves! And on Christmas, we can be reminded of what an amazing gift Jesus Christ was to us all!

As each new unprecedented update floods our screens and news feeds, we can’t help but wonder “why?” Some of us may question how we can escape this darkness in the world. This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will unpack the covenant that God made with Moses and His people in the book of Exodus. Listen with us in our newest message, Bearing the Family Resemblance, to see how God saves, equips, and establishes community for His people!

When reading the promises of God in Scripture, our minds are stirred to wonder: Will God keep these promises? Can I really trust God to do what He says? This week we continue our series, Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, by answering these lingering questions. Together we'll unpack the covenant God made with Abraham in the book of Genesis - a promise He's still keeping with us today! Listen with us in our newest message, Believing in an Unseen Home

This week we start a brand new series called Giftwrapped: From Longing to Lavished, where we will analyze the covenants God has made with His people - that’s us! Today, we start with the covenant He made to Noah in Genesis. In this covenant, God promises never destroy the earth and life on the earth by a flood giving Noah, and us, stability and grounds to trust the works of God. Learn more about how this promise still currently impacts us and how a fresh start can only be found through Jesus with our newest message, A New Beginning!

Join us for today's message, Finding Joy, we will dive deeper into the book of 1 Peter as we allow God’s Word to shape us and renew our hope with the brilliant truth of the Gospel!

When walking through suffering what do we focus on? Often, focus is on ourselves and the situation. And our mind is flooded with asking – why, why God? This week we hear a message from Senior Pastor Chris Brooks, where we will unpack how as believers in Jesus Christ we are going to encounter suffering. But instead of dwelling on the “why” we compel you to ask different questions that will ultimately allow you see grow deep in your faith in God and accept His saving grace! Listen with us in our newest message, Suffering for Good!

Series Title: Unshakeable

Pastor Chris Brooks

1 Peter 3

BIG IDEA: Our hope in Christ removes fear of suffering.

No One Can Stop our Blessing. (vv. 13-14)
No Opposition Can Stop our Mission. (vv. 15-16)
Nothing is better than God’s Will. (v. 17)

It’s time to rethink what it means to be a citizen in this country. Too often we allow politics and opposing parties to dictate how we behave and treat others around us. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, we discuss how we are supposed act as temporary citizens of this world but eternal citizens of heaven! Listen with us in our newest message, One Nation Under God, to hear how submission, goodness, and servanthood is how God wants us to live!

All our lives are witnesses to something and someone every single day. Our passions and priorities are evident to those that get to know us. As Christians, there is nothing greater, more glorious calling than being used and empowered through the Holy Spirit to make disciples for the glory of God! This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, we discuss how internal and external spiritual battles must be fought so that our lives can point others to Christ. Listen with us in our newest message, Exiles Within The World.

Whether you are a Christian or not, we have times where we question who God is and who we are. Many are searching for their place and purpose in life and end up feeling lost and shook with doubt. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where our examination of 1 Peter 2 reminds us who we are, why we are here, and what God has done for us! In God's Word, we will find the answers to our deepest longing and questions. Listen with us in our newest message, God's Kinda People.

Tragically, often church culture has transformed into a spectator sport. It is something we consume once or twice a week, but then go home to live life apart from what is learned and from what God is calling us to do as His beloved children. Our whole lives should be built off of God, our foundation! This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where we examine 1 Peter 2 and we that each of us has a place in the house of God. Listen with us in our newest message, This Is God's House.

Sometimes we hear the word "love" and imagine that deep feeling of affection or romance with red hearts and warm hugs. But love shouldn't just be a feeling. God intends for it to be so much more! Love is active, ongoing, and a daily choice. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, by analyzing how the source to great love is truly knowing God and growing in our faith in Him. Listen with us in our newest message, Love is a Verb.

What do you hope for today? What do you hope for this year? Or even this lifetime? Hope is a powerful thing and it can guide how we choose to live each day. This week we continue our series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World, where we make the connection of what we hope to how we act. When we know of the future grace and victory God has given us, we are transformed in how we conduct our lives! But do we truly find our hope in God alone? Listen with us in our newest message, What Do You Hope For?

This week we are starting a brand new series, Unshakeable: Steadfast Hope in an Unpredictable World! Hope seems to be a word thrown around when our circumstances seem, well, hopeless. In this series, searching for hope, we look to 1 Peter. Here, we read of the unshakeable hope of a scattered group of Christians facing exile and persecution from the culture around them. We see that hope is active and are encouraged to praise God for the security we can find only in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even if we are experiencing great suffering, we know that Jesus is our hope. Listen with us in our newest message, Hope Has a Pulse.

How can we experience the presence of God? Pastor Steve shares Psalm 24, a Hebrew poem, that celebrates the reality of God’s presence among his people and how we too can experience his presence by seeking Him, trusting Him, and worshipping Him.

As we trust the testimony of God's character and promises, we can count it all joy, knowing God will use trials to produce endurance, perfect our faith, and give us wisdom for the future.

As we wrap up our series, Built for More, where we’ve studied how God desires for us to live in community together, we conclude by looking at what God desires to do through us as His people. We truly are built for more! But there’s something else we need to see before we begin to unpack this massive purpose. Discover with us in our newest message, Blessed for the Nations.

If we asked people what they have been most fearful of during this time, we may get many different answers; from COVID-19, social injustices, the unknown future, or maybe the safety of their family. But we have good news, THE good news! God is the greatest and most powerful. Period. And guess what? He’s on our side! Discover with us in our newest message, Imagined Disaster, how when God is with us, we have nothing to fear.

Full Description: Unity seems very hard to come by these days. And we’ve all felt the harsh effects of what disunity causes. The Psalmist tells us of an eternal remedy - spiritual unity! God has given us the precious gift of a spiritual family. Discover with us in our newest message, The Goodness of Unity, how we can find the ultimate harmony in our Lord and Savior.

When one testifies in a courtroom, it’s usually to present evidence or because they witnessed something important. When we witness God’s goodness and power even during trials of life, we cannot help but testify!! We invite you to discover more on this message, Collective Testimony.

Has worship ever seemed like just a tradition you are supposed to do before a Sunday service? And now, worship seems less inspiring over a TV or computer screen? In Part 3 of our message series, Assembly Required, we are discussing the importance of praising God in every season. Worship is the key to unlocking blessings that we may have never realized. So what does happen when we praise God? Discover more in this message, Ever-present Praise.

Have you ever had to forgive someone who wasn’t really sorry? Not the easiest thing to do and ultimately that relationship will never be the same. Without repentance there is rarely a restored relationship. It's the same with God (and it’s not His fault). God wants nothing more than to have a relationship with us, with YOU! If our sin earns us God’s displeasure and separation from us, how is it possible to be restored to relationship and joy? Let's find out together as we discuss The Joy of Confession.

How do you know what your priorities really are? We prioritize what we delight in. The things that give us the greatest joy, we tend to meditate on. The same is true for the church when we gather. What we delight in most, what we value most, is what we prioritize, even when we gather as a church body. We should be asking the question, do our revealed delights match what we declare as a priority while in church? Discover more in this sermon, We Are What We Love.

Through the Parable of the Great Reversal, Jesus points our focus inward, inviting us to reflect on our own posture toward the Word of God. At the same time, he guides our attention to what’s to come, revealing to each one of us how our posture today determines our position in eternity.

When he told the Parable of the Qualified Sinner, Jesus revealed two ways people approach God. The meaning behind this story is as relevant to us today as it was to those listening when Jesus spoke it. Come away understanding how the heart matters when we approach God, and what may just be the matter with your heart.

As we study the parable Jesus told of the Open-Invite Banquet, we’ll discover what it looks like when we live as if the Kingdom of God has an open invitation. Parables are stories with intent, with the power to reveal truth we wouldn’t otherwise see. This parable asks us to stop treating Gospel invitations like an invitation to a social party and to truly consider, who are you inviting to the Kingdom?

Revealed Part 1: Parable of the Soils.