Renewal Church: Recent Episodes

Renewal Church

RENEWAL CHURCH is a church plant in Sunnyvale, California. Renewal is a member of Acts Ministries International, a family of churches committed to declaring the love of Jesus both locally and globally. Check out Renewal's Sunday messages here, or better yet, stop by one of our services! For more information, please visit www.renewalsv.org.

Now that we have finished our mission’s month sermon series, Pastor Jonathan guides us through a lesson on fear this Sunday. How should we deal with and cope with fear? How should we view fear biblically? What does it mean to fear the Lord, and why should we fear Him?

This Sunday is the last service of our missions month, for which guest speaker Pastor Di Leonardo shares about his experience as a missionary in Italy—including some of the challenges of reaching the people in that region of the world. He also illustrates through a variety of passages from the Bible what missions are truly about holistically, and how they can enable us to live our lives in the presence of God to the glory of God.

This week our guest speaker, Pastor Phil, invites us to reimagine the Christian life not as something we do for God, but with God. Drawing from John 15 and Matthew 11, he unpacks Jesus’ invitation to walk in intimate friendship and shared burden. Through his personal stories and illustrations, we’re challenged to see mission as a daily journey of presence, rest, and partnership with Christ.

This week, we continue our missions series as guest speaker Pastor Keith challenges us to break out of a “Christian ghetto” mindset and embrace the global mission God has given us. Drawing from Acts 1:6–8 and Revelation 7:9, he reminds us that the abundant life Jesus promises is not about material gain, but about living with purpose—making disciples, spreading the gospel, and seeking first God’s kingdom.

This week we celebrate Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Pastor Ulysses takes us through a passage in Acts where Paul shares about the one true God to the people in Athens, who were at the time completely consumed by daily news—much like we are today in the Bay Area. He explains how each of us can experience the resurrection life today if we look upon the cross and acknowledge the sacrifice he has made that we might live!

This week Pastor Ulysses teaches through the 12th chapter of Zechariah, in which both victory for Jerusalem and a time of deep mourning are described. He details how Christians today often swing too far one direction, either towards victory where we know we are forgiven so we ignore our sin, or towards morning where we feel total despair or worthless and unloved. We should truly morn and weep over our sin, but at the same time have the spirit of encouragement within us to know that there is victory over sin through Jesus Christ.

This Sunday we read through Zechariah 11:1–17, where God's judgment unfolds through powerful imagery and prophetic sign acts. Pastor Jonathan walks us through Zechariah’s portrayal of both a faithful shepherd and a worthless one, revealing Israel’s rejection of God and the consequences that followed. This sobering chapter ultimately points us to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, reminding us that true peace and protection are found only in Him.

This week, as we continue through Zechariah 10, we’re challenged to ask: What are we trying to handle through our own strength and control? Pastor Ulysses reminds us that God is our ultimate provider. Yet, like the Israelites, we often foolishly turn to “false idols” and worldly solutions instead of seeking Him first. Through this Sunday’s sermon, we learn about trusting in His provision and rejecting the temptation to rely on anything else.

Pastor Ulysess teaches us that only through God will we find everlasting peace with this passage in Zechariah. It is too easy and tempting, when we are young, to put our peace in worldly things. But the trials and slings of fortune will come in time. If we are to truly stay steadfast and unshaken by this life, we must put our faith in the one place where no one can take it away. That in the arms of Jesus Christ and His promise of everlasting peace.

This Sunday we continue our series in Zechariah with a message of blessing. This world is a broken place due to our sin. But in spite of all of that, God wishes to bless us. There is freedom from the tyranny of the present if we look at the blessing God has given us and the final blessing He has in store for us. If we accept this in our hearts, it will renew and repair us until the day we join Him.

Pastor Jonathan continues our series through the book of Zechariah with the 7th chapter. From this passage we learn about the dangers of religiosity, self-righteousness, and having a hardened heart. We also discover how his grace has freed us from a need to do spiritual acts to earn his favor, and accordingly what it looks like to instead live for God out of a humble spirituality.

This week, Pastor Ulysses continues teaching from the book of Zechariah, this time from chapter 6. The passage details Zechariah’s 8th and final vision, as well as a prophetic sign that Zechariah is to perform upon Joshua. We dig very deep into the text to gain a strong understanding of who Jesus the Messiah is - Is he a king? Is he a priest? Can he be both? And we also learn about the price one must pay to follow him.

This week, we delve into Zechariah's sixth and seventh visions, which call us to reflect on our lives. Are we living with integrity and obedience to God's commands? These visions not only reveal God's justice in addressing sin but also His grace in removing wickedness and restoring His people. Even in our shortcomings, He invites us to walk in holiness, reminding us that His ultimate plan is not just judgment but transformation and renewal.

We continue our series in the Book of Zechariah with the fifth vision he sees, that of a lampstand and two olive trees. Pastor Ulysses teaches us with this parable that greats works are done with small steps of obedience to God. And that to build a joyful, radiant relationship with God also takes small, thoughtful and deliberate actions. There is no fast track to spiritual growth despite what we may hear otherwise in the Silicon Valley.

This Sunday we are blessed with a guest message from Pastor Mark. He teaches us how we are to grieve as Christians and how we can bring comfort to one another. Through the suffering of Job, we learn how to lament, mourn together and maintain our faith through difficult times.

On this Sunday's message, we discuss the fourth vision of Zechariah: "The High Priest". Through his vision we see how unclean God's people are and that we have no right to receive His blessing. But because of God's grace and the coming sacrifice, we are restored. Satan stands ready to condemn us and we are helpless, but God chooses to defend us.

As we continue our series through Zechariah, Pastor Jonathan leads us through the second chapter of the book. Here Zechariah describes his third vision, which is one of a man with a measuring line and a wall of fire around Jerusalem. Through the chapter, Pastor Jonathan helps clarify for us what it means to be secure in the Lord, and how this vision demonstrates the depth of God’s love for us.

This week Pastor Ulysses continues our series through the book of Zechariah. In this section, we read about the first two of the eight visions that Zechariah has—one of horsemen and one of horns and craftsmen. We learn that God sees everything that happens in this world, and also that He is a God of perfect justice. The message is one of hope, however, because the sins of those who put their faith in Christ has already been paid for by Jesus on the cross.

This Sunday, Pastor Ulysses begins a new book from the Old Testament, Zechariah. From these verses, we learn that God wants us to return to Him and repent from our evil ways. It is a message of love, of grace and mercy. Similar to how the prodigal son returns to his father with open arms, through Jesus' sacrifice, we too can return to His fold.

As we prepare for our congregational fast, Pastor Ulysses guides us through Ezra 8, where Ezra takes a bold leap of faith by choosing to forgo military protection on their journey to Jerusalem. Similarly, we are sometimes called to embrace "impractical" acts, like fasting, as an expression of trust in God. In this sermon, we explore how such actions demonstrate humility and deepen our commitment to living out our Christian faith.

As Christmas approaches, Pastor Ulysses begins to take us through the birth of Christ as described in Luke. He helps to clarify the true meaning of the season of Christmas, and the impact on how we view our lives. We don’t need to have fame or power or success in the eyes of the world, because we can rest on the fact that we are children of God, and he has a purpose for each of us.

This week, Pastor Jonathan takes us through the very last section of the book of John, thus concluding the series! In this final passage, Jesus has a conversation with Peter, through which we learn about Jesus Christ as the great Redeemer. Not just from death to life, but in every aspect of our lives as well—nothing is wasted when we bring it to Jesus for him to redeem.

In the final chapter of John, the disciples return to their ordinary lives, settling back into routine despite the miraculous events they witnessed just months earlier. Yet, in a powerful moment, Jesus appears to remind them of his unwavering presence and provision. How often do we as believers lose sight of God in the busyness of our daily routines? In this sermon, Pastor Ulysses challenges us to recognize that even in the mundane, God is actively present, calling us to align our lives with His mission.

During Pastor Pete's concluding sermon he emphasizes the importance of us slowing down our busy lives and intentionally focusing on our relationship with Jesus. God can do wonders, bring healing and joy amidst darkness. But if we do not spend time with Him, He cannot build us up.

At our third session at Renewal's Annual Retreat, Pastor Pete talks about how all of us have much mourning and suffering through the ordeals we have endured in this broken world. But there is great light and renewal ahead of us with Christ.

In our second session at retreat Pastor Pete talks about to how we need to identify things that may seem to fill us, but are actually harming us. At the same time, we need to do things that reaffirm our identify in Christ.

Welcome to Renewal’s Annual Retreat. In this first session titled "Racing for Death" Pastor Pete talks about how it is critical we stop and meet with God routinely amidst all the limitless distractions and obligations we face in daily life. We need to remember what our true priorities are.

This week we take a break from the book of John to discuss Christianity and politics. Should we attempt to leave our Christian morals at home when we go to vote? How should we evaluate candidates and proposals? Pastor Ulysses shares the biblical perspective on those questions and many more.

This Sunday, we continue our series through the book of John as Pastor Cho teaches on the resurrection of Jesus. As many Christians know, this is the most important event in history and it's the foundation of the Christian faith. Pastor Cho explains, however, that if we just stop at the level of simple belief, we miss the full meaning and power of the resurrection.

It is finished. This Sunday, we reflect on the final verses that signify the completion of Jesus' ministry and the fulfillment of prophecy in his last moments. We then explore the deeper implications—what does this fulfillment truly mean, and how does the reality of this sacrifice continue to impact our lives today?

As we continue through the crucifixion story in the book of John, we encounter verses that highlight how we should approach our familial relationships within a Christian context. How can we honor our parents, even when they hold views that may conflict with our beliefs? And as parents, how can we support our children spiritually amid the pressures of the world? In this sermon, Pastor Ulysses guides us through these questions, showing us how to navigate these topics by following Jesus' example.

We take a break this week in our sermon series on deacons to learn from Paster Mark about spiritual leadership in the church. He teaches out of 1st Corinthians about how wrong judgements cause division, and also how unity in the church can be achieved through humility.

We are back with Pastor Ulysses as he teaches the second lesson of a three-part series on deacons. Today we learn not about what deacons do, but instead about the character of deacons. And the character traits discussed would ideally apply to all christians, not just those seeking to become deacons.

This week we take a break from the book of John to start a series on deacons. In this first part of the series, we learn what exactly do deacons do and their responsibilities based off various interpretations of scripture.

How committed are you to living out Christian principles in your everyday life? As Pastor Ulysses walks us through Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate, we realize even Pilate, who seemingly had a strong moral compass, succumbed to the pressure from the Jewish leaders and the crowd to sentence Jesus to crucifixion. In this sermon we learn the key to holding our principles firm despite today's culture pushing against the teachings of the bible.

Pastor David Kim joins us today and teaches on what Jesus has to say about community, especially in this world of loneliness and isolation. What does it mean to have an intentional community? Why is it so important? Pastor Kim walks us through five core practices of what it means to love one another well, so we can experience more of God’s presence and power in our lives.

We are back with Pastor Mark as he finishes up the series on the story of Joseph. This time, the focus is on God’s ultimate purpose for the gospel message. Forgiveness, redemption, and salvation are all very important concepts, but Mark suggests that reconciliation is the ultimate goal.

Why are you on this Earth? What is your purpose? In this week's sermon, our guest speaker Pastor Joel King tackles the profound question of what it means to live out our God-given purpose. He unveils the essential principles for living a truly beautiful, kingdom-centered, and meaningful life.

What do you value most in life? As Christians, we know the answer should be "God," but do our daily lives truly reflect this? This Sunday, our guest speaker Pastor Paul reveals to us the importance of God's presence and why it should be valued above everything else the world has to offer.

The series on the book of John continues, with Pastor Ulysses teaching on the beginning of chapter 18. We learn about John’s perspective on the events leading up to Jesus’s arrest, and how it’s distinct from the other gospels. We learn key themes from the text, including Jesus’s omnipotence and the power of living with a true understanding of what Jesus came to accomplish.

This Sunday, our guest speaker Pastor Barry delves into Nehemiah 13. In this chapter, the Levites show us that despite our best efforts to do everything "right" in the eyes of God, we often fall short. We learn that the primary issue in our ongoing struggle to maintain a godly life isn't a lack of effort, but a lack of heart.

This past Sunday, Pastor Ulysses guides us deeper into John 17, helping us answer three key questions through the study of Jesus' prayer for his disciples: What does it mean that God has already chosen who will be saved? What does God's promise of protection truly entail? And finally, what does it mean to be sanctified by God?

In this sermon, Pastor Ulysses preaches about the expectations that followers of Jesus should have. Many falsely believe that Jesus promises us prosperity in this life. The truth, however, is much the opposite. We should not expect to live in full harmony with this world, but rather should anticipate persecution from standing firm in our core beliefs that often are at odds with the world.

In a world of fleeting pleasures, we constantly grapple with maintaining joy in our lives. This Sunday, Pastor Mark unveils how by anchoring our lives in Christ, we find enduring and everlasting joy which transcends the temporary allure of our superficial pleasures.

Continuing to the next chapter of John, we delve into the poignant metaphor of the vine and branches. What does it mean to bear fruit as a disciple, and why does God still prune those who yield fruit? How do we genuinely abide in Jesus? Pastor Ulysses answers these questions and more as we learn what it means to maintain our life as one of the branches to God's vine.

This Sunday we continue our sermon series in John. Pastor Mark leads us into a discussion of Jesus' miracles and how through His sacrifice we are capable of even greater miracles than the ones Christ performed when he was on Earth. But we need to have faith, disregard our own feelings of inadequacy and trust in God's plan for these miracles to happen. We need to especially remember that miracles do not primarily happen to satiate man's needs but to glorify God.

For Easter Service, we are reminded of the mercy Christ offers us. Pastor Ulysses through this passage in John teaches us how through Jesus we are redeemed in the eyes of God and can have a relationship with Him. How emancipating it is that we have a guide in this world full of trouble that guides us with a steadfast hand and with what culminates in everlasting joy! All we have to do is to trust Jesus, trust in His strength to begin walking with Him.

On this Good Friday's service, Pastor Ulysses discusses two of Jesus' betrayers near the time of His crucifixion. Through Judas and Peter, we witness how our God is one that knows betrayal. That He has endured the darkest things some of us have will ever experience - the betrayal of those closest to us. Yet through Jesus, we see the awesome power of His love. That he still willing to die for those that have abandoned Him. When we invite Jesus to our hearts, we share this supernatural love.

In this message, we look at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday from the perspective of the multitude of disciples. Even as the religious leaders oppose the ministry of Jesus, the disciples cannot contain their praise for all that God has done through Him. This serves as a timely reminder of how we can be powerful witnesses of Christ by allowing our praise to overflow to those who need to hear about the saving love of God.

As we approach the latter half of Jesus' ministry, we recount the humbling act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. What does it mean for us to practice this same act in the world today? In this sermon, Pastor Ulysses preaches on how we can "wash the feet" of others, following Jesus' example of love and servanthood towards one another.

This week, we continue our series from the gospel of John. After Jesus resurrects her brother, Lazarus, we see Mary's extravagant display of love in response. From her actions, we come to understand the true nature and cost of worshipping Christ along with the humility it takes to live a life of devotion to Him. In the end, a life of worship demands that we joyfully surrender ourselves at the feet of Jesus.

The Sunday we continue our series on John. We learn how despite all of Jesus' miracles, the Pharisees decide to have him killed in order to protect their privileges. In a similar way, we Christians are sometimes tempted not to represent Jesus in our lives so we can secure our worldly privileges or reputations. Yet despite our sinful nature, God will always be there for us. He is always in control and if we go to Him, He can take our darkest moments and use them for our growth and salvation.

This week we continue on through John 11 where Pastor Ulysses explores a common question we often ask ourselves: How can we reconcile God's love for us when it feels like He allows trials and tribulations in our life?

What does it mean to live for the eternal and not get caught up in our lives her on Earth? We are often troubled by weakness and loss in this world however, Pastor Mark encourages us that despite these challenges, fixing our eyes on the resurrection gives us strength and we find ultimate fulfillment through glorifying God.

This Sunday we continue our series with the Book of John. When bad things happen to us, do they happen because we deserve it? Through the parable of the healing of the blind man, Pastor Ulysses shows us that this is not necessarily the case. Sin and suffering exist in this world because of what our ancestor Adam did. However, that doesn't mean we should lose heart. We can glorify God through our suffering and become more than our pain.

As Christians, why is fasting important? In today's sermon, Pastor Ulysses teaches us that fasting is a type of earnest prayer to God. It is a way for us to call God to some area of our life that needs attention or repentance. It is also a demonstration of our humility to Him. Through the story of Naboth's Vineyard, we see this in action when a wicked King commits a terrible deed but is shown mercy when he fasts.

What is Christmas really about? Is it about all the gifts we give and receive? Is it about the time off from work? Or is it about just a general spirit of generosity and joy? The Bible tells us that it is about the greatest gift of God to humanity - Jesus Christ. Are we misunderstanding the true meaning of Christmas and its greatest gift Jesus like the political and religious leaders of His time? Then maybe this Christmas message by Pastor Ulysses from Matthew 2:1-15 will change your world upside down.

Pastor Ben Moore blesses us this Sunday with a guest sermon on the vital importance of singing in the Church. He teaches us that if we are to be true disciples of Christ, people that want to follow and be like Jesus, we need to sing. We can serve just by singing and lifting up others with our voice.

This Sunday we continue our series with the Book of John. During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus reveals to the crowd that He is the Light. That those that walk with Him, will not walk in darkness nor sin. Pastor Ulysses teaches us therefore we have a choice. To fully embrace Christ and let Him illuminate the world and reveal to us the sins we cling to. Or we can choose to remain in the darkness and let it take away our connection with God.

What are we pursuing for a sense of fulfillment — Is it from traveling abroad, financial stability, or professional achievement? As we progress through John 7, we learn that genuine fulfillment will only come from "drinking" the Holy Spirit, and will allow us to authentically make an impact here on earth.

This Sunday, we continue through John 7, where Jesus imparts lessons to both his disciples and the people of Judea. In the sermon, Pastor Ulysses underscores the significance of aligning our lives with God's timing rather than solely relying on our own plans. What does it truly entail to live a Kairos life, actively seeking God's guidance and faithfully carrying out his will?

Are we looking towards Jesus to provide us the simple comforts of this world or are we genuinely seeking to be fulfilled with what He has to offer? This Sunday, we continue John chapter 6, where we are challenged to live a life grounded in that which is eternal and not the "empty calories" of this world.

In today's sermon, we return to the sermon series on the book of John. This week's talk focuses on the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, a remarkable miracle from which we are reminded of God's ability to provide. Through this sermon, pastor Ulysses encourages us to apply this truth — that God will provide — to our lives, and challenges us to not look at just our fish and our bread, but to look at Jesus.

On this Sunday's teaching, we learn from Pastor Ulysses the importance on waiting upon God rather than taking matters into your own hands. Through the lens of 1 Samuel, we see the growth of David's heart from one that is impulsive to one that trusts in the Lord and His will. This is especially difficult in modern times as we are habitualized to instant results. But a person that trusts in the will of the Lord and patiently waits for it to emerge, is one who will model their very heart after God’s.

Pastor Dandy concludes Renewal’s 2023 retreat with a teaching on how we can abide and abound in Christ through one another. He teaches us that there is a grace of God that we can only experience through each other in the Church’s body.

In this third sermon from Renewal’s 2023 retreat, Pastor Dandy reveals to us that our God is one that remembers the covenant with His people even when we forget.

In our second sermon from Renewal’s 2023 Retreat, Pastor Dandy teaches us how we can abide and abound in Christ when we make Him our greatest possession.

This is the first sermon of a special series from Renewal’s annual fall retreat. In this sermon, our guest speaker, Pastor Dandy Mejias from Journey Church of Atlanta, introduces himself, discusses his testimony and his walk with God.

Today, Pastor Ulysses continues his series on the Book of John. In this passage Jesus reveals to us who he truly is, how it has been proven and how this should affect us. Jesus claims to be the Son of God, nothing more, nothing less. John the Baptist, the miracles He has done and the Old Testament all bear witness to this. So if Jesus is truly the Son of God, how are we to respond? Listen more to find out.

Jesus' deeds are always purposeful, whether we recognize it initially or not. In this week's sermon, Pastor Ulysses walks us through Jesus' healing at the Pool of Bethesda. This miracle underscores not only Jesus' compassion but also the deliberate intentionality of his actions. It prompts us to consider our own lives today: how often do we convey the Gospel's truth through our compassionate actions when interacting with others?

If we don't see it with our own eyes, how much faith do we really have? This week we explore how the people of Galilee depended on visible evidence to bolster their belief in Jesus. Pastor Ulysses subsequently prompts us to contemplate our own faith, questioning whether it's primarily built on trust and faith or whether it hinges on tangible, observable signs.

In this week's sermon we continue our series through the book of John. Today's talk focuses on the second half of the story of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman, where we observe the response of the Samaritan woman and the Samaritans to Jesus. Through this story and the magnificent outcome, Pastor Ulysses reminds us to hunger for more than just physical food and encourages us to play our part, recognizing that 'the fields are white for harvest.'

This Sunday we are blessed with a guest speaker, Phil Wright. Phil teaches us how we must be wary of our internal voices and how they can bind us. We will never be free of our internal critic until we learn to listen God's voice and tear down the rest. God's voice is never condemning and always affirming. And when we are able to recognize God's voice, we begin a process of renewing and refreshing our minds.

Today we continue our series on the Gospel of John with a passage on John the Baptist and his response to Jesus' rising popularity. Pastor Ulysses teaches us with this story that we need to be sure of who we are in this world. We need to realize we are children of God and that our self-worth should come through that alone. Every accomplishment we do is through His grace. Therefore there is no point to compete with others, especially other Christians. Afterall we all should build up the bride, the Church for the bridegroom, Jesus. We must decrease and He must increase.

This Sunday Pastor Ulysses speaks to the beginning of John 3, which emphasizes the importance of spiritual rebirth and God's love for us. We learn the concept of leaving our past selves behind to become renewed through our new life centered by Christ. The sermon also digs deeper into the idea of God's love and desire for a relationship with us. While we are ultimately judged by God, we are not condemned thanks to the salvation provided by Jesus.

This week Pastor Ulysses walks us through John 2:12-25 where Jesus enters the temple and finds it with merchants and money exchangers. He then drives them out of the temple while rebuking them for turning the sacred space into a marketplace. Pastor Ulysses encourages us to reflect on our own intentions attending our "temple". What are our true intentions when we attend church? How can we ensure we avoid the "consumer Christian" mentality and instead cleanse our hearts to be in alignment with glorifying God and building up the body?

This week Pastor Ulysses take us through the passage in John’s gospel which presents Jesus’s first supernatural act on record. The story presents to the reader some fascinating questions. Is Jesus rebuking his own mother? Why does Jesus perform the miracle after first seemingly refusing to do so? Pastor Ulysses uses these questions to challenge our perception of who Jesus is and how he related to his family and his disciples. In the story of this miracle at Cana there is also a beautiful image of Christ’s blood shed to purify us, a new and different grace delivered to us by God through His Son.

As Pastor Ulysses continues his series in the Gospel of John, verses 19-34 points to the Jesus already introduced through the testimony of John the Baptist. As the Jewish leaders try to investigate who this Baptist was, they make many guesses. Is he the promised Messiah or the prophesied Elijah or even the prophet promised by Moses? John instead points to Jesus, the only one worth knowing and cherishing. John introduces Jesus as the lamb who takes away the sins of the world, the one in whom the Holy Spirit remains and the one who fills us with his spirit. John identified it as a privilege to point to this Jesus. Listen to Pastor Ulysses explain why!

Today we begin a new sermon series on the Gospel of John. Through this passage, we are introduced to Jesus and learn that though He is of flesh, He is the perfect expression of God. The deeds and words of Jesus are those of God. As Christians we need to remember that Jesus so loved us, He gave His own life so that we may be saved and free to have a relationship with God.

This Sunday we are blessed with a guest speaker from Kairos Christian Church. Pastor Peter Yoon delivers to us a message on the importance of missions through the lens of the parable in which Jesus restores a blind man's sight. Through this passage, we learn that in this world of broken people, God sends hope and healing through His healed messengers. When we embrace the gospel and walk with God, we can do this as well.

This past Sunday, Pastor Joel King asks the question “Why are you here?”, serving as a reminder for us to check our motivations in being a follower of Christ. Pastor Joel then explores the motivations behind why the disciples followed Jesus and uses that as a template of how we should follow Jesus in our lives as well.

What does it mean to truly invest in and seek first the kingdom of God? In this message Pastor Sung illustrates how we can join in what is God doing and put aside our personal greed and anxieties of the world to pursue Him first in our life.

Pastor Soosang Park from Revive Presbyterian teaches us this Sunday from Philippians 2. Going through the passage the guest speaker challenges us to consider what being humble in the Kingdom of God means. The world calls on us to seek equality with God, but the Word of God calls us to a kind of humility that can be only defined as blessed forgetfulness. Listen to Pastor Soosang as he challenges our perspective on life, family and friendships if we lived with kingdom minded humility.

As Paul wraps up his first epistle to the Corinthians, he presents a compelling picture of the importance of both the local and global church. From this early age we see the local church coming together on the first day of the week, raising money and sending people to support the global church. Pastor Ulysses leads us through this description of the first century church and Paul’s affection for them to show us a biblical mandate to love and support both the local and global church.

For this Sunday's message we are blessed with a guest speaker from the Church of Southland. Pastor Keith Park teaches us a little bit about life and how to live it to the fullest.

The answer to that question is to remember we are created by God to love Him and to be loved by Him. As long as we journey through life and remember and practice that, we can lead a fulfilling one instead of one where we endlessly chase worldly desires.

Continuing our series on Corinthians, Pastor Ulysses teaches us this Sunday about our resurrection bodies. Because of the first Adam and his sin we will all die a dishonorable death, sickly and frail at the end. But because of Jesus and his sacrifice, we will be reraised in glory with a heavenly body just like Him. Thus we no longer have to fear the ever setting sun of youth or try and extract every drop of existence from this life. Instead we can look forward to the next life where we will be bestowed with eternally delightful bodies and boundless joy.

As we go through one of the last chapters of 1 Corinthians, Pastor Ulysses covers the topic of Jesus' resurrection and the importance of this event as part of our faith. During the sermon we learn about the evidence of resurrection and how we can view the resurrection as a means of hope and freedom in a fallen world.

Pastor Ulysses continues his series on 1 Corinthians, expanding upon the themes of diversity and unity that we saw in Chapter 12 and diving into the importance of congregational participation and order within the church.

This Sunday Pastor Ulysses teaches from 1 Corinthians 14 where Paul, after teaching of love as the context in which spiritual gifts are exercised, begins to discuss the benefits of three particular gifts: Tongues, it's interpretation and Prophesies. As the chapter explains these gifts, join with Pastor Ulysses in understanding why Paul considered prophesy a more superior gift for the church.

As Pastor Ulysses continues his series on 1 Corinthians, this Sunday her arrives at chapter 13. A passage often read at weddings, anniversaries and other such occasion', it is best understood in context of the teaching on spiritual gifts that precedes in chapter 12. As relevant as it is to married life, the passage's original purpose is to place the virtue of love at a superior station to that of spiritual gifts and any sacrifices made for Christ. Without love all of Christian life is at a loss.

This Sunday Pastor Ulysses continues his series on 1 Corinthians. We learn from Paul that the Corinthians felt that those with the gift of tongues were better than those with other gifts. This is not true. Rather like the human body, each member is indispensable and plays an important and unique role in the church body. Together we must rejoice and carry life's burdens as one family.

On today's sermon we learn about Paul's discussion of spiritual gifts. We learn about how God blesses people with gifts from wisdom to healing to speaking in tongues in order to further His Kingdom. We also learn about the two different camps of thought regarding spiritual gifts, the Cessationists and the Charismatics. Ultimately, although we may have different gifts and beliefs regarding these gifts, as followers of Christ, we all have the gift of the Holy Spirit in us.

What does it mean to show genuine brotherly and sisterly love in our community? This Sunday our guest speaker Pastor Soosang Park preaches on the importance of having real "Philadelphia" love between one another and how to invest earnestly in our relationships.

On Easter Sunday, Pastor Ulysses teaches about the parallels between the Athenians and us today. We are all seeking after new things and have a desire to fill something that is missing in our hearts. By studying Acts 17:16-34, we learn that true fulfillment is not found in WHAT we fill our hearts with, but WHO we look to for fulfillment.

On Palm Sunday Pastor Ulysses teaches us from the account of Jesus' truimphal entrance into Jerusalem. As he comes on a colt Jesus asserts his Kingship and Lordship. We often read this passage and rightly understand that the religious leaders misunderstood Him. But Pastor Ulysses makes the point that the crowd also misunderstood him. Which is why they rejected him a few days later in front of Pilate. So what did they get wrong about Jesus that made them reject him? And can that happen to us?

This Sunday Pastor Ulysses teaches from what is probably a very hard passage to read and get to the heart of in this day and age. How do we apply what Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16? Does it instruct us on the specifics of what to wear to church? Does it tell women to cover their heads while engaging in public worship? Or are we to go deeper and see the fundamental principles from which Paul speaks regarding the divine design for men and women?

On this Sunday's teaching, we continue to learn from Paul about how to conduct ourselves as Christians. Even though the Old Testament law been fulfilled by Christ, that doesn't mean we are free to do whatever we want. The law of love never changes. We are still to love God with all our heart and love our neighbors as we do ourselves. In the spirit of doing so we should conduct ourselves in a manner that would not trouble the conscience of our fellow brothers and sisters.

This Sunday we continue our series on Corinthians with a sermon on protecting ourselves from the influence of demons and the importance of communion. Pastor Ulysses teaches us how dangerously easy it was for some Corinthians to partake in devilry by sharing food sacrificed to idols. In today's world, although we do not face the same environment as the Corinthians, we must still pray and fast with the power of the Holy Spirit to guard against demonic influences. We also need to try and partake in communion whenever the opportunity arises because this is something that blesses and nourishes our souls.

Despite the miracles the Israelites experienced from God, it did not exclude them from the evils and temptation that they were ultimately punished for. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-14, Paul uses the Israelites as an example of not ignoring our sins hiding beneath our outwardly righteous acts and how we can properly address them in our life.

If we are entitled to reap rewards for our service, does that mean we should gladly take it? In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul thinks otherwise. In this chapter he makes an argument to forego rights to our reward in order to show genuine belief and faith in what he preaches. In this sermon we dive into how we can be more like Paul, acting out of duty and discipline, and becoming a living example of the Gospel.

In Christian Life what is preeminent - Knowledge or Love? Paul in 1 Corinthians 8 addresses this issue as he takes on the matter of eating food that is offered to idols. And just like in that matter 2,000 years ago - Christian life is replete with occasions when our knowledge of what is allowed competes with how we should operate in love towards our brothers and sisters. Paul in addressing this issue teaches us to live life in a manner where our knowledge is tempered by love. For knowledge puffs but love builds up. Knowledge informs us of our rights but love leads us to lay them down in order to not stumble our brothers and sisters. Does our walk with Christ builds up those around us or tear them down?

This week Pastor Ulysses continues his series in 1 Corinthians from a particularly hard passage in Chapter 7 verses 25 through 40. As Paul considers marriage he also exposits on the benefits of being single like himself. What are we to make of this exhortation by Paul to remain single? It tells us that marriage is not ultimate and there is nothing wrong with being single. And this is because our temporal identities are not a reflection on our eternal identity in Christ. For this reason being married is not superior to being single. In fact, being single provides us with a special period in life when we can be fully devoted to god, even if we look forward to marriage. In Christ, we can be single and whole.

This Sunday we are taking a break from our series on Corinthians and instead Pastor Ulysses will be discussing the significance of baptism with Naaman's story from 2 Kings. Through this story of a leper who seeks mercy, we witness many parallels with the gospel. Naaman has everything except his health. Similar to how we can have all the worldly things in the world yet still never be satisfied. Because without God, we will always be missing something.

Pastor Ulysses continues his series on Corinthians with a teaching on how unnecessary it is to "prep" ourselves to serve God. The truth is we are perfectly equipped to serve God as we are. The Corinthians had thought they needed to change themselves before being fit to follow God. In reality, regardless of our situation, if we believe we are saved by Christ, we are free instantly to follow Him and serve Him.

This Sunday Pastor Ulysses walks us through 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. In this passage Paul emphasizes the importance of sex as a means to safeguard the marriage. Afterwards, we dive further into Paul's perspective in regards to other marriage topics ranging from separation to marriage with unbelievers.

In this sermon, Pastor Soosang Park encourages us to reflect on the idols in our life. What glory do we seek? Worldly things, which in 1 Peter is compared to grass that eventually withers away? Or do we put our hope in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us and is eternal?

Should Christians make fasting a more integral part of our lives? Pastor Ulysses, in this week’s teaching, contends from Matthew 9:14-17 that it should. In this passage Jesus gives a new reason and purpose for fasting. While the Jewish leaders and people who observed the law fasted in order to appear religious, Jesus calls us to fast as we grieve our distance from him. We fast because we recognize the great need for Jesus in our hearts. We fast because we need Him more than ever, yet often He feels so distant. For Christians, in fasting, our intimacy with Jesus is what we seek and find.

As the world enters a new year, many of us soon get busy planning for it. Companies plan for how to meet their business goals, families plan their finances, and many individuals plan to get fit this year. But how should Christians heed James' warning against planning in chapter 4 verse 13-17 of his epistle? Are Christians not encouraged to plan for their life? Or is there a deeper more significant truth at play here? Pastor Ulysses in his first sermon of 2023 teaches from this passage to help the Christian see our planning as ultimately futile if not subservient to God's sovereign will and working. And in doing so find the appropriate framework of humility and submission to God's sovereignty under which a Christian should plan.

Renewal Elder, Pastor Mark Chun delivers a special message this Christmas Sunday reminding us of the true purpose of Christ's birth and how we can celebrate Christmas with the rest of the world. The light that is found in Jesus shines on everyone especially in times of great darkness. It's important for us to share that light. It's also important to remember how the birth of Jesus changed everything about our relationship with God.

This Sunday we are blessed to hear about The Great Commission from Guest Speaker Ryan Beneke. Through the gospel and his experience as a missionary from Kyoto, Japan, he leads us to a journey of where we came from, where we are now and where we're going. Ryan also discusses how we can get involved and bring to fruition God's command to make disciples of all nations. We are blessed to know Christ. Now, its our turn to be a blessing for others.

We don't always attend church with prayer in mind. Instead we come expecting a sermon exposition. Pastor Young speaks about the importance of prayer in our lives and how it's more about our encounter with God during prayer rather than what we are asking or the answers that we may get. By using the ACTS method of prayer, we can better focus on God and find excitement and true fulfillment in prayer.

Does Jesus' fulfillment of the old covenant mean that we have freedom to do what we want? According to 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Paul says that our perceived "freedom" has its limits, specifically in regard to the physical body and sexual immorality. In this sermon Pastor Ulysses dives into the arguments Paul has against the Corinthian perspective when it comes to this topic.

Can I sue my brother or sister in Christ? Pastor Ulysses uses this question as a jumping point to exposit on various issues that Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. In thinking through why Paul discourages us from suing our fellow Christians, Pastor Ulysses helps us see that differences in the body of Christ are to be expected and understand the wisdom and authority God has given the church to Judge and resolve those differences. It also exposes the state of our heart when it aggressively pursues recompense when wronged.

Why do we need Church discipline? Why can't we just people be? Do we really need to judge and guide our fellow brothers and sisters in their Christian walks? Pastor Ulysses guides us through 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 where Paul addresses the sin in the Corinthian church and teaches them to guard the fellowship against the unrepentant brother or sister by cutting ties with them. Pastor Ulysses shows us that such a prescription for church discipline is indeed instituted in the scriptures as guardrails for the Christian life.

On this Sunday's message, guest speaker and Renewal Elder Pastor Mark Chun teaches us how and why it is important to discern between good and bad spiritual leaders in the Church. He reveals to us what are the signs of healthy spiritual leaders and how we must minister to them as they do to us. In addition, he discusses that there needs to be intimacy between you and your spiritual leader for them to love you. If they do not know you, they cannot love you.

Does anyone, except for God, have the right to judge us? And if we are to be judged, what should it be according to? Through the lens of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, Pastor Ulysses answers these questions and more. We explore how judgement should come from God because only He sees everything. People have a limited perception and thus as Christians we should give each other the benefit of the doubt.

Even though groups of people can rally behind the same belief initially, a weak foundation makes division inevitable. Pastor Ulysses preaches on the importance of building our church on the word of God and Jesus' teachings rather than other ideals such as social justice or relationships. Although building a legitimate foundation can be harder and slower, it is only through Christ that we will be able to ultimately be free from burden of division.

The wisdom of God is not a secret, yet it is a challenge for the world to understand it. In this sermon, Pastor Ulysses emphasizes the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit in order to interpret and communicate with God. And through prayer and studying scripture, we can better know God's heart, character, and ways.

Pastor Sam Lee leads us through 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 in showing how Paul positioned himself amongst the Corinthian believers not on the basis of his giftings but in a manner that emptied himself of all things impressive. Holy Spirit's power is not about its manifestation but the transformation it produces in the person in whom He works. We should let go of the desire for recognition and say with John the Baptist: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Can we empty the Gospel message of its power? Paul shows us in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 that yes it is possible to do that. If we adopt the Gospel to the first principles of the culture in which we preach instead of the first principles that we find in the scriptures then we can rob it of its power. Pastor Ulysses in his exposition of this passage shows us how God uses His foolish messengers to preach what the world considers a foolish message to “save those who believe”. And this should motivate the Christian to humble themselves in the hands of a God who can use us mightily despite our foolishness.

Continuing our series on Corinthians, Pastor Ulysses examines the first issue affecting the church of Corinth, divisions. Divisions that were caused by our fleshly desires to elevate ourselves. It is easy to fall into the habit of boasting our name or the name of others in hopes of elevating our status. But we must remain vigilant and remember that there should only be one name we should be glorifying and that is our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

This Sunday we began a new series on Corinthians. Through the lens of Paul and his correspondence to the church of Corinth, Pastor Ulysses shows us how there will be difficult moments and relationships in the church. In all of this, the starting point of resolving these conflicts must be the grace of God. For we were all dead in sin until God gave his only son so we could be part of his family.

Our guest speaker Joey Wang explores three important ideas relating to Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. How to be unified as a church body, why we should not strive for conformity but diversity, and what it means to grow together as a supportive church community.

In this sermon, Pastor Ulysses goes over the meaning of baptism by illustrating the parallelism between Moses' parting of the Red Sea and Jesus' death on the cross. He then dives deeper into the purpose and importance of baptism as it pertains to the individual and the Church body.

As the church enters the post-pandemic era with increased apathy towards community and in-person attendance Pastor Ulysses leads us through the author of Hebrew's exhortation in chapter 10:25 to "not neglect to meet one another". Meeting not just for meeting's sake but because it unlocks our intimacy with God and reveals what God has done and what He is about to do to radically redefine our identity in Him.

What is Spiritual maturity and how do we measure it? If you have asked yourself this question Pastor Emerson Lin from Shahangai invites us to take heed to Paul's answer for this in Romans 8. The word of God calls us to submit all aspects of our life to God’s will and follow the leading of His Spirit. The only other way to live is in the flesh. But as we see from Jesus’ admonition of Peter in Mathew 16, those who live in the flesh live in fear. It is such a life of fear that we often refer to as a rat race. So will we pursue a rat race or will we live by the Spirit?

In this Sunday's message, Pastor Ulysses addresses the issue of abortion and the sanctity of life. What is the bible's guidance on abortion? When does life began? Through God's word we see that all life is important, both the mother and the unborn child's.

Pastor Yoon Lee from Southland Church is our guest speaker this Sunday. From Genesis, we see that God yearns to bless us and through us bless others. However to truly be able to listen to Him, we need to leave behind our sin, idols and distractions. Afterall this lifetime is fleeting and we should live it vibrantly by His word with His People for His glory.

Pastor Ryun Chang reveals to us from the two letters to Corinthians the pastor’s heart of Paul. As he exhorts and increasingly confronts the Corinthian church on its various sinful practices Paul calls its members to test their faith - if Christ is in them. Pastor Chang tells us that this continues to be the most important test we will ever take in our life. Do we have faith that saves? Do we have faith that is verified by the fruit of good works?

In Isaiah 49 we encounter a desperate prophet of God who feels he has failed the purposes to which he was called. God responds to His desponded prophet with a great vision for the ends of the earth. A vision that is ultimately fulfilled in God’s greatest redeemer, Jesus Christ. Pastor Ulysses in his exposition of Isaiah 49:1-6 calls the church to an elevated vision of God’s calling that is rooted and connected to the Great Commission. God, through his response to a desperate Isaiah, invites His saints to be part of this grand vision. After all, our problem is not that our visions are too big but rather that they are too small. Christ, in the Great Commission, has called His church to a big vision for the ends of the Earth.

The gospel transcends the wisdom of our world and makes peace among warring nations. Pastor Joshua Kim of Southland Church is our guest speaker this week. Through Ephesians he reveals to us how Jesus came not just for our own salvation but to weave together a new people. A people that is privy to a wisdom hidden for the ages and its messenger as well.

This sunday we continue our Mission Series with guest speaker and Renewal Elder, Pastor Mark Chun. We learn why is it important to share the gospel and how to navigate our own emotions when we do so. We are reminded that Jesus was not ashamed of us when He died for our sins. We should not be ashamed when we teach others of His sacrifice.

Guest speaker Joel King shares from Luke 10: If we take the Lordship of Jesus seriously then we must surrender our selfishness and time to learn and love those around us. This week we learn that there is no way to believe in Jesus and not join Him in His mission to bring our neighbors into His presence.

For Christians, evangelism and the Great Commission feel like need-to-do's rather than want-to-do's. Today's passage is an esoteric one from the Old Testament, but it's a beautiful picture of the gospel. What's more, it reveals the key to a lifetime of urgent and joyful gospel proclamation.

We are broken without Jesus with no hope for redemption or of being cleansed, but God sends his one and only son to save us. In today’s message, we learn that we can respond by hiding from the light or we can choose to receive Jesus in our lives. God’s perfect love is so great that as we draw near to the light in all areas of our lives He will renew us.

In this concluding message on Colossians, we learn the significance of the church body. Paul praises the brothers and friends that have served along his side. Through the lens of his words, we come to realize that every member of the church is important and plays an instrumental role in the great commission. We all need to pray for and answer God's calling no matter how weak or insignificant we think we are.

In this concluding message on the Book of Colossians, we learn more about prayer and how our new Christian selves should affect our relationship with those outside the faith. We learn that we must pray consistently and deeply so that our relationship with God flows out into the rest of our lives. We must also pray that we are gifted opportunities to share the good news and to do it courageously and clearly.

If God is not visible in the most familiar intimate relationship in our lives then we’re falling short of our potential to display His love. When we respect those around us and lay our lives down in our relationships it’s not about us, but about living and demonstrating God’s covenant love. Today we hear how we are called to show God’s love daily.

If "food and drink...festival or a new moon or a Sabbath" "are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh," what can we do? In this week's passage, the Apostle Paul gets to the heart of the matter and teaches us what true spirituality looks like. It's a teaching that applies to us all and does so in every way imaginable.

In this Sunday's message, Pastor Ulysses preaches on how it is easy to regress into a habit of legalism. By believing we can earn our right standing with God through following certain rituals or practices, we give the enemy tools to be used against us. It is only by forming and continuing a relationship with Christ through grace and discipline can we maintain our salvation.

When we are willing to take up the cross, there may be suffering and trial. But we can find comfort knowing that suffering in Jesus name gives us purpose and helps us understand a fraction of the afflictions that Jesus experienced. Today we hear that if we want to follow Jesus there is no other road where we can find Him besides the road of the cross and that we can rejoice as we travel this road.

Few passages of Scripture compare to this week's in terms of the majestic picture of Christ that is painted. This grandeur, rightly ascribed, is also of utmost importance when it comes to understanding Jesus' true nature. The better we understand who God is, the more rightly can we follow him as well.

Resurrection is for the present, future, and each day in our lives. It gives us the ability to live through the power of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead. Today, we learn that resurrection is not just a thing of the past or a far off occurrence to come, but that the resurrection remind us each day that God is with us. That even in our pain, God is beside us bearing our suffering.

Before Jesus entered Jerusalem, he told the parable of the ten minas. In today's Palm Sunday sermon, Pastor Ulysses breaks down the meaning and significance of this story. Jesus warns those listening that all fall into one of the following categories: the faithful, the false or the foes. Perhaps it's time to take inventory of your life and think about where you are spending your time, money, and energy. Is it for God or for yourself? We are all given so much by God to steward in this life - what will you do with your "minas?"

In this week's message, Pastor Ulysses concludes our Weak Made Strong series with a discussion on biblical community. Too often in our world, do we have superficial relationships that we discard when things get rough. As Christians we need to realize this inherent brokenness in our relationships and strive towards treating each other with the love and forgiveness Moses demonstrates in Exodus. Instead of starting over, we need to start forgiving, start loving one another.

We’re called to live by the spirit, but our lack of faith leads us to distrust God’s plan and purpose for our lives. We fool ourselves into thinking that our actions are uplifting to Him, but this distorted view brings us further from God and instead we live by our flesh. This week, we're asked to evaluate if there are idols distorting our relationship with God and we learn how to live by the Spirit who is within us to trust more in God.

Glancing at world and domestic events, it's easy to be fraught with worry and fear. What can we do about it? Do we reach inward and rely on our own strength? In this week's continuing Lent series, Pastor Ulysses shows us that Christians have no need for anxiety. We can live our lives full of confidence with an all-powerful and caring God by our side.

Pain and grief is a reality of our human experience. It can rock our world and bring us to a place of despair. The Bible makes some audacious claims about what God is doing in our pain. If we lean in we could be surprised by joy

What should we do in the face of the heartbreak and brokenness that pervades our world? This week we learn that when we are surrounded by brokenness and are at a loss for what to do, the spirit of God hears our prayers and comes alongside us to help bear our burdens and to serve as our witness before God. Because of this we can have immense confidence knowing that all things will be made well through Him who is for us.

This Sunday we close out our series on 2 Peter. Peter says that some will try to tell us that Jesus isn't coming back and not to worry about judgement. Peter shows us that both History and the faithful promises of God prove otherwise and helps Believers understand what it looks like to live with wild expectation for the day Christ Returns and establishes the New Heavens and New Earth.

On this sunday's message, we continue the topic of false teachers, particularly in the area of sexual sin. The apostle Peter warns there are false teachers in the ministry that teach a lifestyle that is bereft of sprituality and fitting only of animals. Animals have no soul and thus are enslaved to instinct. Man has a soul and can choose to be led by Christ or succumb to his instincts. What master will we choose?

In our midst are false teachers who reject the authority of the scripture and instead follow their own desires. This week we learn that God does not sit idly by and that He can be trusted, but we must submit to His authority, fight for scripture, and commit ourselves to Jesus.

Does God truely provide us everything we need? Why should we accept such a strong statement made by Peter? How do we know that the scripture is true? Would you die for a lie? A hoax? A Charlatan? Peter would soon die after writing this passge for what he believed, as did 11 of the 12 apostles. This week we delve deep into the fundamental reason of why we should trust the witness testimony of those who heard and saw the living God.

In this week's passage, we begin a series on 2 Peter and what Christian life should be like. Do I need anything else besides what I already have to live a godly life? Is there a bare minimum I need to do to continue being a good Christian?
Pastor Ulysses answers these questions and more with today's message. And reveals how we need to continue and consistently pursue God's promises to be part of his divine nature.

In the midst of our comfort, complacency, and entitlement, we lack the catalysts of persistent prayer and struggle to pray against the brokenness around us. This week we learn to overcome these barriers and rely on God to bring about unimaginable prayer movements.

As Christians, there will be times when God calls us to be impractical. Through the story of Ezra's journey we learn how he chooses to rely on earnest prayer and fasting for God's protection rather than an armed escort. Without this type of faith, we cannot be radically generous nor ever be able to fully share the gospel. Through fasting, we can practice challenging ourselves to doing impractical things and thereby strengthen our relationship with the Good Lord.

Desire and willingness alone are not enough in the face of temptation and fleshly weakness. Listen this week as we learn how to pair desire with prayer to turn wishful thinking into genuine action for God.

How can I cultivate my love for God? Why is it important to read the bible everyday? In today's message we learn why it's a joy and a necessity to read the gospel daily and what kind of methods we can use to make the scripture part of our daily bread.

In our days peace is an elusive quality. We are more often marked by confusion, frustration and anxiety. The coming of Christ 2000 years ago introduces us to a New King and a government that is marked by peace. This rule of Jesus continues to expand and grow to this day. How can we participate? How do we let the promised peace of Jesus shape our hearts and lives?

In this second message of the Advent Season, we discover God's powerful love for us. Because of our sin, rebellion and faithlessness, God has every right to abandon and condemn us. But our God is not a man. Instead of wraith and anger, there is ultimately tenderness. Join us to learn how this is possible.

We often fall into anger and bitterness while waiting on situations in life that we cannot control, but it is important to ask where we are rooting our hope. As we enter into this Advent season, listen as we learn how to wait intentionally and actively by placing our hope in God.

Does God owe us anything? In this Thanksgiving message, Pastor Ulysses reminds us we must not serve God from an attitude of entitlement but one of gratitude and giving thanks. Through the lens of Luke 17, we explore different types of entitlement and how it may creep into our behavior. Pastor Ulysses ultimately shows us the spirit of Thanksgiving is revealed by returning to the cross.

We naturally rebel against God and want to take charge of our own lives because of our sinful nature. Through Christ, we are set free and are to live and serve in a new way to bear fruit for God. This week, we learn how to serve in this new relationship with a renewed heart surrendered to God and filled with the fruits of the spirit.

Now that I'm a Christian, what changes do I need to make in my life? Do I need to make any social, economic or physical changes? Pastor Ulysses answers these questions and more with wisdom from 1 Corinthians. He also gives us guidance on how we might avoid the sinister trap of perpetual upward mobility.

"""Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."" Whether people realize this saying is from the Book of Ecclesiastes or not, many have heard this lament. Those who spend their lives pursuing money, fame, or power often wind up feeling this sentiment. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes pleads with us to wake up to God's truths so that we don't give into this age-old struggle. Today's sermon shows us how we can experience godly wisdom and find true meaning for our lives!"

We are called to finish running the race to the very end. However, the deceitfulness of sin seeks to enter, hardening our hearts towards God and leading us astray from the race before us. Listen this week as we discover how the Word of God helps us cut through all things that hinder us from His truth.

It was Stephen Covey who said, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” More and more in this day and age, we have lost the desire and ability to actively listen. Last week, we were reminded that God intently hears our prayers - but are we listening to Him? Do we seek to silence the noise in our lives long enough to hear His voice? This week's passage shows us what happens when we take the time to listen for God's voice in our lives!

Do you ever wonder if God's really listening when you pray? Wouldn't it be so much easier to pray if we could see what our prayers were actually accomplishing? In today's passage, God opens the curtain to show the apostle John - and in turn us - what's taking place in heaven when we pray.

We all go to church on Sundays, read the Bible, pray regularly, tithe, and go to Bible studies. However, does any of this matter if we aren't doing these things with devoted and joyful hearts? Today, as Renewal celebrates its 4-year anniversary, Pastor Ulysses reminds us to be intentional in how we approach God, bearing in mind that when we give to God, we should always be trying to give Him the best we can all the time.

Worship is a central aspect of the Christian life and how we worship ought to be centered on the greatness of the God we worship. Isaiah 6 gives us a glimpse of who God, how He is worshipped and the powerful effect worship has on our lives.

One of the most important characteristics that define Christian community is being there for others when they’re in need. This week, as we approach the start of another community group season, Pastor Ulysses preaches on how we can better serve those in our community through thoughtful action. In doing so, we can go beyond providing shallow solutions to peoples' problems by basing our efforts to help on the model of intentional love God has shown to us.

In Romans 12, Paul warns the church to not be conformed to the world. It can be hard to do this and live distinctly from the dominant culture. This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches on how we can keep our minds free from the value system of this world, and impresses upon us the importance of staying connected in community.

Before we do anything for God we have to stand in what Jesus has accomplished for us. Jesus has poured out "Every Spiritual Blessing" into the life of the Believer. Pastor Chuck explores what it would look like if we received what God has given so freely to us.

When we're discouraged, at our lowest of lows, where can we find hope? This week, Pastor Ulysses encourages us in a teaching about how God encouraged Jacob when he was feeling low. In times of loneliness, we need to be reminded that God is always with us. He reassures us that He will keep his promises even if our circumstances feel like it is all going wrong. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and be reminded that surely God has always been there, steadfast and faithful.

Our “Missio Dei” series over the last five weeks has focused on the different lenses through which we as Christians are to view God’s command to spread the gospel around the world. In the last sermon of this series, Pastor Ulysses brings this message full circle by explaining how we as individuals are to carry out God’s mission, with our personal, undeserved salvation in Christ serving as the driving force in how we go out and share the good news of Christ with others.

In John 13, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet as an example of how we are to love and serve one another. Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches on this story as a reminder of how furthering God’s kingdom starts with how we treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and how by humbly serving each other as Jesus served his disciples, we can answer Jesus’ “new commandment” to love one another.

The first century church advanced the mission of God under incredible adversity and virtually no support in society. How did it grow to make such an impact? One major reason was the way that they demonstrated a unique love for their neighbors and the city.

When things don’t go the way you plan, how do you react? As humans, it is natural for us to want total control over our lives, but the Bible challenges us to think differently in these situations: to completely trust in God. Today, we are joined by guest Pastor Jonathan Moon, principal of the AMI International School in Guatemala, as he shares the challenges his team faced amidst the unexpectedness of the Covid pandemic, and how we can find peace in uncertainty through leaning into God.

The pandemic has been easy for some, but also very difficult for others. Perhaps you've felt a sudden loss of control in your life, or all the remote relationships and time alone have caused you to question your identity. This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches about how sometimes the crises of our lives can become catalysts for the gospel. Paul encountered many obstacles, persecution, and imprisonment. Yet, these difficulties became opportunities for him to further the gospel. Pastor Ulysses encourages us to not miss any opportunities that God may be giving us in the midst of struggle.

We all want to become better people, and as Christians we typically lean on spiritual experiences to drive this growth. However, evil and sin are real factors that live in our hearts, and choosing to ignore these will always hold us back from living out good, godly lives. Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches from 1 Corinthians 10 on the importance of purposefully fleeing temptation and idolatry, and how by allowing God to have full influence of our hearts, we can truly change as people for the better.

During the days of the pandemic life as we know it changed. For believers the mission of God to reach people with the gospel hasn’t changed but how to do it in these changing seasons may feel really uncertain. How do we press on?

God has always been about the business of gathering a family to Himself. This family is designed to walk in deep love and commitment to each other in the pursuit of knowing God and making him known. The last year has been a real struggle in how believers connect and for many it’s been hard to develop real authentic relationships. Now that life is moving back toward normal we may find ourselves out of practice. What does it look like to walk in the light together as we press into Jesus.

Often soldiers who are deployed and spend a season (6-18 months) isolated from community and under threat of danger experience ptsd. A symptom of ptsd is often emotional numbness. As we emerge from the trauma of social isolation and the very real threat of physical suffering I wonder if some of us feel emotionally numb in our personal relationship with Christ. How do we combat this numbness? How do we press in to find the intimacy Jesus has for us?

The relationship with our fathers is often seen as analogous to our relationship with God, the one true Father for all. Today, as we celebrate Father's Day in America, Pastor Ulysses invites us to reflect on the characteristics of fatherhood in the context of our faith in Jesus, and how by modeling fatherhood after God's Fatherhood, we can help show the love of God to our children.

Where are you invested? In stocks and bonds or in the kingdom of God? In the final message in our series on heavenly reward, Pastor Ulysses teaches that while money and possessions in this life will not stay with us after we die, heavenly treasure will last for eternity. Where we invest our material possessions reveals what we really care about. When our focus is on heavenly things, we live in a way that brings light to the world.

We live in a reality where earthly rewards often drive the "why" behind what we do in life, but as Christians who aspire to live as God intended, what does that mean for us? In Luke 14, Jesus says: "when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed". This week, Pastor Ulysses' sermon centers around the idea of doing for those who can't give back, with the understanding that although these deeds come with no earthly retribution, the biggest prize comes from our God who is watching above.

Why do we follow Jesus? As Christians, we often feel that we should do so solely because of His sacrifice on the cross and its implications in this world, but another very real motivation is the fact that we get to spend eternal life in heaven with Jesus. But is it bad to follow Jesus with this kind of rewards-based thinking? This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches about to view heavenly rewards as one of multiple motivations for following Jesus, and how the fact that God rewards those commensurate to their obedience should drive us to earnestly pursue Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

In Matthew 23, Jesus says to do everything the Pharisees tell you to do. Why is this, when he also often rebukes and criticizes them? It wasn't that the content of their teaching was incorrect or particularly bad. Jesus rebukes the Pharisess because they do not live according to what they preach. This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches about the effects of this hypocrisy: people develop an incongruency between their public and private lives, striving to look good and be exalted in the eyes of others. He reminds us that Christians can live humbly without validation from the world, knowing that God sees those who serve in secret.

Usually, we find the Pharisees trying to trick Jesus; they ask him tough questions trying to get him to say something wrong. This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches about one encounter where Jesus instead puts them on the defense. He asks them a question which reveals they didn't care about the nature of Jesus' authority. If we say we recognize Jesus' authority, then we must also live every aspect of our lives choosing to do as he says.

In the New Testament, Jesus performed many signs and miracles, often to the amazement and benefit of those around him. Yet in Matthew 12, we see Jesus rebuking the Pharisees when they ask him for a sign. Despite the positive nature of signs, why does he do this? Today, Pastor Ulysses explains why as Christians we shouldn't rely on signs to fuel our faith, and how we should instead constantly fill ourselves with the things of God to have a substantive relationship with Him.

As Christians, we may often experience the dissonance of having two lives - a Christian life, and a worldy life. Alongside our obligations to the world is a constant call to also devote our lives to God. How are we to live both in this world and also wholeheartedly for Jesus? Today, Pastor Ulysses’ sermon focuses on this question, preaching from the book of Mark, and how through wisdom and loving God, we can live a life of wholeness before Him.

The Jewish religious leaders during Jesus' time had tons of rules, especially on the Sabbath. These laws were derived from commands God has given to the Jewish people, but Jesus and his disciples often lived in ways which went against traditional teaching. Does this mean we are free to live however we want? Not quite - This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches that God's commands are meant to give us life, not meant to be oppressive or enslave us.

As Christians, we strive to follow and love Jesus the best we can. However, being the imperfect humans we are, we are bound to face setbacks in our mission to follow Him. Today, Pastor Ulysses shares a message of redemption from the book of John, focusing on the story of Peter's denial of Jesus. We are reminded that even with all the mistakes we make, God knows that we love Him. Our message today focuses on what this means, and how we can apply this to our lives as followers of Christ.

He is risen! Easter is a day of great hope as we remember Christ's resurrection. With the COVID-19 pandemic and racial tensions in our country, this has been a tough year. Pastor Ulysses reminds us this week of our hope found in Jesus Christ. Because of his death and resurrection, today, we can hope in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform and renew our sinful souls, and tomorrow we look forward to a restored creation - a world devoid of pain or suffering.

In this time of Lent, we often find ourselves focusing on Easter Sunday and the importance of what happened on that day. However, for Jesus, the journey towards the cross didn't begin on the day of his crucifixion, rather it began way back in Luke 9:51 when he "set his face to go to Jerusalem". Today, as we enter Passion Week, Pastor Ulysses reminds us that following God doesn't begin in some distant future date - it begins now, and we are encouraged to set our own sights towards Jersusalem as we walk with God in our daily lives.

God is a god who speaks, and we see in the Bible that he often speaks directly to his people. How can we hear his voice when we look for guidance? This week, Pastor Ulysses goes through some reasons we fail to hear God. Often, when we have already come to our own conclusions, it can be hard to accept what he says. Pastor Ulysses encourages us to surrender our plans as we seek to hear and follow His will.

It's now been a year since we as a church have gathered in person on Sundays, and in this time, we've all faced new and unexpected challenges in adapting to this new way of living. Through all the distractions, busyness, and hassles that come with this pandemic, it's easy to not only feel far from God but also to feel as though we are alone in our fight against the enemy. This week, Pastor Ulysses encourages us to be vulnerable with the Lord and how in doing so, we can lean on God to defend us in our struggles instead of relying solely on ourselves.

Are you on track? With the hustle and bustle in life and with daily temptations toward sin, sometimes we lose sight of God's plans for us. This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches that when Jesus needed to reorient himself with God's plans, he went to pray. This Lent season, let's spend time alone as Jesus did and pray to stay aligned with God's will for us.

Christians typically classify our world in two categories: things that are holy, and things that are sinful. But is being holy just merely not sinning? In today's sermon, Pastor Ulysses challenges us to recognize a third part to this spectrum of holy vs sinful, a common middle where the actions of Christians and non-believers are indistinguishable. By doing so, instead of viewing life as an effort to not cross the boundary of sin, we are encouraged to strive for the highest of callings, raising the bar for what God has in store for our lives.

Lent is a period of time leading up to Easter where the Church enters a period of time of prayer and fasting. While it can be difficult practice, Pastor Mark encourages us to take this time to reflect, deepen our dependence on Christ and renew our focus on God and his will. It's a time where we can remember and adore our God, and also rededicate ourselves to his purposes.

We all have things that we’re passionate about in life, and most likely, not all of those things are God-centered. More often than not, it’s easier to side with the world we live in than with what we’re told in the Bible. However, James 4 tells us that “to be a friend of the world makes [us] an enemy of God.” Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches on putting God before worldly passions, encouraging us all to prioritize not what the world wants of us, but what God so desires of this world.

In today's world, we often feel that with enough work, we can become experts and masters of anything. We can learn to control our domains and environments with such skill that we're tempted to view ourselves as the ultimate masters or gods. Today, Pastor Ulysses cautions us to practice self control. He teaches us that the most difficult and most important thing to master is our own hearts. If we are to follow Christ, we must learn to say "no" to many things that we might live godly lives.

Over the last ten months, our day to day lives have changed drastically. As Christians, we may feel that we cannot worship and serve God in the same way that we could prior to Covid, and may give up on those parts of our Christian identity. Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches from the book of Daniel on committing oneself to the Lord, challenging us to not let where we are determine who we are.

With so much division and conflict in the United States, it's hard to imagine the animosity is simply a result of politics and peoples' differences. This week, Pastor Ulysses reminds us that the Christian struggle is not just a physical one. We are not only managing difficult relationships with people with divided political views and opinions, but we are also up against powerful spiritual forces seeking to divide us. Let us seek to put on the armor of God with urgency that we may be prepared and ready to make a stand against the schemes of the devil.

Our country’s political climate has become increasingly more heated and polarized over the years, a fact that was highlighted once again with the events on January 6th. All of this prompts the question: how should Christians navigate and engage with today’s complex political landscape? Today, Pastor Ulysses’ sermon focuses on responding to the events that occurred at the Capitol, and how in the midst of all these political issues, we as Christians are called to "fight the good fight of faith."

The Apostle Paul visited and wrote to many of the early churches, but surprisingly, one of the most troublesome churches appears to be the most special to him. Why did he have such a special relationship with the church in Corinth? This week, Pastor Ryun teaches on a few reasons that made the church so important to Paul, and encourages us to likewise give our church a special place in our hearts.

How do you make big decisions in your life? And how much do you lean on God when navigating these uncertainties? No matter what life has in store for us, God always has a plan to lead us towards what’s best. Today, as we enter into a new year together as a church, Pastor Ulysses invites us to remember the importance of leaning on the Lord in prayer.

2020 has been quite a year filled with so much difficulty and suffering. It's the end of the year and many of us are looking forward to moving on. This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches from the book of Philippians on how Paul learned to be content in both times of need and times of plenty. He encourages us to take these last days of the year to contemplate how we can find our contentment more in Christ and less in circumstance.

When facing problems in your life, where do you turn to in order to resolve your issues? Do you rely on yourself and other worldly ideas to fix your problems, or do you lean on God and trust in Him to make things right? This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches on this topic from Isaiah 7, focusing on the story of King Ahaz and how instead of turning towards Assyria, we should turn towards Immanuel - the God who is with us in all of our affliction.

Sometimes we imagine the first Christmas as a warm fuzzy scene at the manger, and we gloss over the purpose of His coming. Jesus came to rule, and the wise men recognized this by going to worship Him as King. This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches from the book of Matthew about two different responses to news of Jesus' birth: one of apathy, and one of resistance. In this teaching, he urges us to long for Jesus' second coming and realize that Jesus kingship applies to every area of our lives, right now.

This Christmas season is very different than in past years. With COVID-19 cases still spiking across the U.S., it is easy to feel like there’s not much to be hopeful for in these coming months. Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches from the book of Luke on how Jesus is the ultimate consolation for the sorrows of this world, and how as much as Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, it's also just as much about waiting in anticipation of His Second Coming.

How often do we find ourselves making commitments to God only to find ourselves sliding back into sin? We're caught in a cycle of devotion and rejection. This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches about the sinful nature within us against which we battle, and he highlights prayer as our most important and effective tool in keeping us from sin.

In this world, death is seen as the end of all things. We’re told that nothing overcomes death, and because of that, many people focus on accumulating wealth, fame, and fortune in an attempt to make the most of this life we have. Christians however see the world differently - through Jesus’ resurrection, we believe there is in fact life after death, and that worldview affects how we are called to carry out our day to day lives. This week, Pastor Ulysses shares how as Christians we can live a different life than those around us - a “Resurrection Life” that puts our faith in Jesus to overcome death and sin.

When we face pressure or criticism from the world, it's tempting to distance ourselves from Jesus. We fear the persecution. When Jesus talked of going to the cross, Peter spoke against him even though he knew Jesus was the Christ. This week Pastor Ulysses encourages us to be true in our confession and follow Him, holding tightly onto the majesty and glory of who He is.

There are a number of traditions that Christians devote themselves to as part of our following of Jesus. We have routines like tithing, worship, prayer, and Communion, but is it enough to just simply "do" these things? Today, as we return to our series reading through the Book of Mark, Pastor Ulysses expands on the topic of Christian traditions, challenging us to engage in these acts with mindful intentionality and God-pursuing hearts.

The 2020 general election is days away, and we may be feeling some powerful emotions. We may have great hope for our preferred candidate, or feel fearful and anxious about the results, or feel hopeless about the country's political climate. This week, Pastor Ulysses reminds us of the wrongly placed political and economic hope Jesus' disciples placed in him. They were crushed following his crucifixtion, because of their earthly vision of the freedom Jesus would bring. Let's reorient, and instead of placing our utlimate hope in a political savior, turn our hope to rest in Christ above.

As Christians, we often feel that we are expected to be happy all the time - that we should always have joy and comfort in knowing that God is in control. But does this mean that we should never be sad? Knowing this, is sadness something that Christians should always stray away from? Today, we are joined by guest Pastor Eddie Kim as he preaches on the topic of seeking happiness through mourning. Reading from the beattitudes in Matthew 5, Pastor Kim explains how happiness can be achieved through facing one's difficulties head on, knowing God is by our side to comfort us every step of the way.

Are you afraid to follow Jesus? Jesus' ministry was full of radical and unexpected events. So much so that many people thought his actions were crazy, and the religious leaders of the time accused him of being possessed by demons. While Christians would never say that Jesus is of Satan, how far will we really go to follow Jesus when the dominant culture finds our actions ridiculous? This week, Pastor Ulysses teaches from the book of Mark, and challenges us to consider whether we will follow the crowds or whether we will choose to be like Jesus.

Mark 2 begins with the miraculous healing of a paralyzed man. As he's carried by his companions, Jesus recognizes their faithfulness in approaching Him, but before healing the man of his paralysis, He first declares the man's sins forgiven. Why exactly does Jesus do this? And how does this play into our own lives today? This week, as we partake in Communion together, Pastor Ulysses challenges us all to consider our inabilities and struggles in life, and how ultimately, they are rooted in sin, an issue that can only be resolved through faithfully walking with Jesus.

What does it mean to follow Jesus? Often we ask Jesus to follow us. We want him to come with us as we pursue new jobs or opportunities. We want him to bless us in our endeavors and relationships. This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches from the book of Mark, urging us to consider what Jesus is asking us to do right now to truly follow him.

Changing for the better is not an idea unique to Christianity - everyone wants to become better versions of themselves. However, change is difficult, and especially as Christians, it is common to find ourselves struggling to realize what the "right" change is in the eyes of God. Today, Pastor Ulysses shares on how we can better pursue "change" through living lives that revolve around prayer, repentance, and, perhaps most crucially, knowing that our God is already pleased with us.

Christians live caught between two worlds. We live as both children of God, but also as members of culture and communities that may be opposed to God. We can be timid or find it difficult to live into our Christian identities. This week, Pastor Ulysses offers us encouragement from 1 Kings 18 that we can be confident about the great and good message we bring as ambassadors of Christ.

As Christians, it's common to feel that we should never complain about our difficulties given the grace that God has shown us in our lives. We justify our hardships by telling ourselves that "it could be worse", but does this mean that we should never be complaining about our hardships to God? Today, Pastor Ulysses tackles how this question is answered in the closing verses of 1 Kings 17, and how we should view no hardship as being too insignificant to bring forth to God.

These are challenging days, and we might feel tired, empty, or uncertain of what's to come. It's tempting and easy to retreat back into your own life when there's just enough energy to care about yourself. But, Jesus tells us not to be anxious about our own needs, but to seek first His kingdom. This week, Pastor Ulysses encourages us to be generous and give to God first. Even in times when we feel we are lacking, when we sacrifice boldly in faith, God provides lovingly and abundantly.

As another week passes, we find ourselves faced with an ever-growing set of new challenges and crises in the world. It's times like these when we need to remind ourselves of how we always have God's provision on our side. When doors close, God is always opening new ones for us to walk through and experience more of Him. This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches on how we should seek God with humility and faith, and in doing so, how we can become more aware of God's perfect provision in our day-to-day lives.

There have been so many troubling and trying events during 2020. Does God know what's going on? And if he does, why doesn't He just stop and fix it? This week, Pastor Ulyssess shares about the difficulty to trust God when it seems like he isn't there or isn't doing anything to heal our pain. Though he does see us and know us, sometimes he doesn't make the suffering go away, and we need to come to terms with why he allows such difficulty to continue.

The life of a Christian often looks like this: going to church on Sundays, attending weekly prayer meeting on Tuesday, spending time with your community group every week, and praying/reading the Bible on your own time. However, is this enough? It's easy to develop religious routines and habits, but to follow God, it's not adequate to simply just be around Jesus. This week, Pastor Ulysses preaches on the topic of approaching God with faith and how we are to pursue Him not out of routine like the rest of the crowd, but out of a steadfast and true desire to seek more of Him.

How do you respond when you hear that God is a God of wrath? Many find this conflicts with their view of Jesus as kind and loving. However, the God of the Old Testament was also full of love and mercy, and Jesus often showed righteous anger against sin. This week Pastor Ulysses teaches that God is both wrathful and loving, and his character is contant and unchanging. In fact, God's wrath toward sin helps us see clearly His holiness and appreciate Jesus's work on the Cross.

"What is truth?" - Pontius Pilate asks this question to Jesus prior to his death, and it's a question that's essential to Christianity. The bible teaches us that our God is the god of truth, which is important because it provides the basis for all the rules of morality that come with our following of Jesus. Today, Pastor Ulysses expands upon this as he preaches about how we as christians are called to live out this ideal of truth, from how we live our own lives to how we act towards others.

Love one another. This is the Apostle John's recurring message throughout his letters. It is so important because God is love. And by loving others, we both know more fully who God is, and also make visible His attributes to the world. This week, Pastor Ulysses focus on what John means when he says God is love, and why it is so important for Christians to show the same love to one another.

As the pandemic continues to find new ways of disrupting our day to day lives, it’s clear that we as a society are living through many hardships. It’s during times like these when we are called to lean into God’s goodness, but what exactly does that look like? Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches on this through the lens of David’s time running from Saul, reminding us of the importance in taking refuge in God’s goodness during times of crisis.

What is the difference between church attendance and church membership? The Bible may not explicitly talk about membership, but it can be a helpful and practical process to intentionally become a part of a local church family. This week, Pastor Ulysses goes through several reasons for church membership and why Christians today are encouraged to make a formal declaration of their belonging to a community.

In Hebrew, the word "holy" is derived from the root word for "to set apart for a specific purpose". In this way, we as Christians are called to "be holy" in our pursuit of Jesus, but what exactly does this mean? Today, Pastor Ulysses unpacks this idea of separating oneself to God, challenging us to think about what we need to cut out of our own lives in order to have more of Jesus.

For millenia, people have looked up to the stars to guide their way at night, whether on sea or on land. We are starting a new series - This Is Our God - focused on the attributes of God. During this extended shelter-in-place, where days melt into weeks and weeks melt into months, we want to look up to who God is when we feel lost. Today we begin by exploring the justice of God, which is all the more apropos in light of recent events in our nation.

COVID-19 has driven us into a unique time of distance. Traditionally, the church has revolved around gathering in person to worship God, so a common question for Christians nowadays is how are we supposed to be the church while separated? Today, we are joined by Guest Pastor Barry Kang from Symphony Church as he preaches on how we are to proceed with doing God's work in today's scattered world.

When we think about missionaries, there is a tendency to see them as Christians with the greatest faith and spiritual maturity. This week, John Moon, our AMI missionary and pastor in Guatemala, shares with us that missionaries are not a special class of Christian. They are just as fearful of what comes next, uncertain if they will be ready or prepared for what God calls them to. He encurages us that we can be assured that God will certainly equip us with everything we need for the good works He has planned.

We are living in a time of great uncertainty and turmoil. We are still living in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the nation's longstanding history of racial discrimination and injustice continues. We are headed into the unknown, unsure of when "normal" will return and unsure of how the nation will heal from deep racial wounds. Looking at the example of Joshua when he was appointed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, Pastor Young shares how we can face the our battles with courageous faith instead of fear. He encourages us to fix our eyes on God, medidate on the Word, and trust in His promises.

Before becoming the renowned apostle we all know him as today, Paul was initially a stout enemy of Christ, thoroughly convinced that he had to do everything in his power to oppose Jesus. Like Paul, we all suffer from the struggle of not seeing things the way they actually are in our lives, and like Paul, only through God’s help can we truly understand and overcome these realities. Today, we are joined by guest speaker Pastor Ryan as he shares from the book of Acts on how we are to overcome perceptual blindness in our following of Christ.

With all of the work, pressures, and dreams we find ourselves juggling everyday, it’s no surprise that we tend to lose sight of God’s role in our lives. Oftentimes, we think of God as the helper for achieving our life goals when in actuality it should be flipped, with our lives being driven by God’s purpose. Today, Pastor Ulysses preaches from Acts 8, using the story of Simon the Sorcerer to illustrate how idolatry interferes with our view of God, and how we as believers can overcome this to live more righteously.

Choose a few questions you feel are most relevant for your group to focus on.

Thinking back to this week’s sermon, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
Based on Acts 4:32-37, do you see a relationship between spiritual unity - being “of one heart and soul” - and material unity (that is, with regard to material possessions)? If yes, why do you think this to be the case?
What might it look like for our church to practice material unity? What challenges might we face? What’s one step you can personally take to grow in this area?
Why did Peter accuse Ananias of “lying to the Holy Spirit”? How should this affect how we relate to the church community?
What does it mean to “fear the Lord”? How seriously do you take holiness?
How can what happened with Ananias and Sapphira - and the reactions of both the church (vv. 5 & 11) as well as outsiders (v.13) - inform our understanding of how the gospel is presented to non-believers?
Ananias’ outward expression (giving “all” of the proceeds of the sale) didn’t match the true state of his heart (deceptive, worshiping people more than God). Are there any areas of your life right now where you feel that who you really are doesn’t match up with who you present yourself to be?
The current Shelter-in-Place is a valuable opportunity to “live for God alone.” What have you learned about yourself thus far? What will you take with you even after the SIP is lifted?

What does the Christian gain in this life? This week, Pastor Ulysses explores the question by sharing from the book of Acts. Peter and John approach a lame beggar outside the temple gate, but tell him they have no money to assist. Christianity offers nothing of earthly reward—nothing that the world can give. But, it does promise a relationship with God. Instead of giving money to this needy man, what follows instead is a miraculous healing which allows him to enter into the temple and worship God. He wasn't simply healed, but he received access to God, the greatest gift every human needs.

Easter arrives this year in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak that's upended many peoples' lives. As we work through these hard times, it's understandable for both believers and non-believers to wonder why this virus is happening in the first place. Through all the suffering that we see around us, Easter is a reminder for all of us to remember the greatest suffering of all: Jesus and the sacrifice he made on the cross for our sins. In today's Easter service, we are joined by our sister church, Radiance, as Pastor Mark and Pastor Ulysses give a joint sermon on how we can process today's current situation and move forward with Christ in mind. Happy Easter everyone!

When it feels that God is absent in our darkest moments, we are reminded through Communion that God's presence is always with us.

When Jesus entered into Jerusalem after raising Lazarus from the dead, people shouted, "Hosanna!" However, they were completely mistaken about what Jesus was coming to do. Days later, the same people would be upset with Jesus, their expectations unmet, demanding to kill and crucify him. How often do we have incorrect expectations of God and demand that He works according to our wants and desires? This week, Pastor Ulysses encourages us to seek a simple, child-like relationship with Jesus as we reflect on his journey to the Cross during Passion Week.

In the midst of great difficulty and pain, how can we trust that God hears us? It becomes easy to feel that God isn't answering. This week, Pastor Ulyssess shares how Jesus responded to the death of his dear friend Lazarus. Jesus chose to delay instead of preventing Lazarus's death in order to display the resurrecting life that he brings. Even though he knew he would raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was still deeply compassionate and moved to tears. While Christians look forward with hope to everlasting life and joy, Jesus is also here for us, right now, in the present. He knows our pain and mourns with us through both struggle and sadness.

We're living in a time of great dispruption. With mandated guidelines for social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, how should we choose to live each day? God's people have faced major disruption throughout history, including major separation and isolation. Daniel, taken captive in a foreign nation and tempted to give up his identity, committed himself to keeping God's Levitical law concerning food. God blessed Daniel and he matured to great spiritual stature. Today, Pastor Ulysses talks about how drastic situations may bring difficult challenges and extra temptations, but they can also be opportunities for us to continue to choose God with joy and receive more of His grace.

Reference Scriptures:

Exodus 2:11-12, Exodus 3:7-8a, Hebrews 11:24-25

Choose a few questions you feel are most relevant for your group to focus on:

Thinking back to this week’s sermon, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
In Exodus 2:11-12 and 3:7-8a, what is the relationship between knowing someone’s burdens and doing something about his burdens?
What, according to Hebrews 11:24-25, did Moses choose to do? Why is that important when it comes to bearing the burdens of others?
With regards to the current COVID-19 pandemic, what’s one step you can take this week in order to move towards the goal of bearing the burdens of your brothers and sisters in Christ? How about when it comes to bearing the burdens of others in your community?
How have you been doing this past week with regards to the public health crisis? Are there any things you’re struggling with or need prayer for?

Thinking back to this week’s sermon, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
In dramatic language, the psalmist paints a picture of serious upheaval in vv.2-3. What might be some modern-day examples of such upheaval in our world?
What is the psalmist’s attitude toward such events? What does he base his attitude on?
The only direct command from God in this psalm comes in v.10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” How do people tend to respond to crises? Why do you think it's important to “be still”?
How would you describe the difference between “reacting” and “responding”? Why is it more important to do the latter as opposed to the former?
Are there any areas of your life where you’re “reacting” more than “responding”? What could it look like for you to “be still” in any of these areas?
What does it look like to “be the Church” during COVID-19? In other words, what would it look like for the Christian community to “respond” in a Christ-like way?
Are there things that you, as a disciple of Christ, can personally do to love your neighbor during this COVID-19 outbreak?

Discussion Questions

Choose a few you feel are most relevant for your group to focus on.

Thinking back to this week’s sermon, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
“In giving us the privilege of fasting as well as praying, God has added a powerful weapon to our spiritual armory. In her folly and ignorance the Church has largely looked upon it as obsolete. She has thrown it down in some dark corner to rust, and there it has lain forgotten for centuries. An hour of impending crisis for the Church and the world demands its recovery.” - Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen Fast

a. If Wallis is right, why do you think that the Church has looked upon fasting as “obsolete”? Do you think that this is still the case today?

Is fasting antithetical to grace? Why or why not?
Of the six reasons to fast surveyed this past Sunday (repentance, guidance, consecration, deliverance/protection, healing, and favor), is there one that resonates with you? In other words, where in your life do you need to “pull out the big guns” of fasting?

If you’ve begun to incorporate fasting into your life, share how that’s going. If not, what’s one step you can take to begin to incorporate fasting in your life?

Thinking back to this week’s sermon, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
In v.15, Jesus said, “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” This is another example of the New Testament’s affirmation of fasting as a part of the believer’s life. Have you ever fasted for spiritual (rather than health) purposes before? What was your experience like?
What reason does Jesus give in v.15 for His disciples not fasting? What does He mean by His answer?
How would you describe the difference between the old and the new wineskins?
Thinking about your own spiritual practices, i.e. fasting, prayer, reading the Bible, attending church, etc., would you say that you are more likely to do them with an old or a new wineskin mentality?
John Piper said, “Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God.” How do you feel about his definition? In what way(s) do you need more of Jesus in your life or in the lives of others?
What’s one step you can take to begin incorporating fasting into your lifestyle? If you’re fasting from anything for Lent, feel free to share that as well!

Have you ever fasted for spiritual (rather than health) purposes before? What was your experience like?
Why, according to vv.3b-7, does God not respond to the fasting of the Israelites? What was God looking for?

a. Does this surprise you?

b. What implications does this have on the way we go about spiritual practices in general?

c. “It seems like you can earn God’s favor through fasting.” How would you respond to this assertion?

Would you consider fasting during Lent? Here are a few examples from Journey to the Cross: Readings and Devotions for Lent by Will Walker of how fasting can also move us toward others:

a. Having given up junk food for a healthy diet, what will you do with the energy you gain?

b. Having given up reading magazines, what will you read now?

c. Having given up Facebook, to whom will you devote meaningful conversation?

d. Having given up lunch, how will you rely on God for the strength of “food from heaven”?

e. Having given up TV as a default activity, how will you use that time to cultivate quality family time?

f. Having given up isolation, how will you immerse yourself in community?

g. Having given up shopping, will you see those who need clothing in your city?

h. Having sacrificed whatever form of selfishness you indulge, how will you meet the needs of others?

Do any of the examples from #3 resonate with you? Or how are you thinking of fasting during Lent?

Of all the amazing blessings that come from trust fasting in vv.8-12, which do you need most?