Flagstone Church of Christ

Easter is usually full of bunnies and eggs and bright colors and fun photos. But Easter tells a far greater story—the story that Jesus didn’t remain in the grave. Three days after His death, He rose again. And that truth isn’t just worth celebrating—it’s worth building my entire life around. Because the empty tomb is more than a story of victory; it’s a story of hope.

There is both danger and responsibility for those who follow Jesus and have been blessed with material wealth. Scripture calls us to guard our hearts against pride and misplaced hope in riches, while stepping into the opportunity to “be generous and ready to share” (1 Timothy 6:18). So how do we flee arrogance and false security—and instead pursue a life marked by goodness, purity, and generosity?

We live in a world that constantly tells us we need more—more money, more success, more recognition. In Luke 12:15, Jesus challenges that narrative and invites us into something deeper. Join us this Sunday as we unpack “The Lie of More” and rediscover a life not defined by what we have, but by who we are.

There are countless things that bring stress and anxiety into our lives—economic uncertainty, job pressures, marriage struggles, family conflict, war, racism, environmental concerns—the list goes on. How do we relieve the deep sense of worry so many of us feel? The world tells us peace can be purchased: invest in this, buy that, accumulate more, and your problems will fade away. But is peace reall...

It has never been easier to accumulate “stuff.” With a click of a button, we can buy almost anything and have it delivered to our door—sometimes within minutes. There’s nothing inherently wrong with enjoying what we buy. But what if something deeper is driving our constant desire for more? What if it’s greed? How do I recognize when greed is taking hold of my heart, and how do I stop feeding it?

When things don't go the way we want them to, our natural response is to try to find someone to blame. It makes us feel better about ourselves, and maybe even our circumstances, if we can find someone else to be at fault for whatever situation we find ourselves in. Pointing fingers and blaming may help us feel better about ourselves, but it can be very hurtful to the person who is receiving th...

"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Many of us grew up hearing this phrase, usually with the purpose of teaching us not to insult others or gossip behind their backs. However, sometimes choosing not to say anything, not to use our words and communicate, can actually be more hurtful than sharing what's on our hearts. My silence can end up causing anxie...

While guilt can sometimes be a good motivator, it is also often used as a weapon, especially in relationships. We put people on guilt trips to manipulate feelings and make them do or not do what we want. Sometimes we don't even realize we're using guilt as a weapon in our relationships until enough damage has been done, and we see the hurt we've caused. No one wins when we play the &qu...

Comparison is such a common part of our daily interactions. We compare prices on items we want to buy. We compare the food we eat at different restaurants. We compare our music tastes to those of others. We find all sorts of ways (sometimes without even thinking about it) to compare what someone else has to what we have. Comparison can sometimes be harmless, but it can also be dangerous, especiall...

It’s common for people to “play games” in certain relationships. We make choices and say things in order to win the argument or get things to go our way, and at the same time we end up undermining trust and respect with that other person. At Flagstone for the month of February, we are going to take an honest look at the games people play in relationships and discover how we can truly “win” by maki...

When our glasses are dirty and scratched or when our contacts have debris on them, it impacts the way we see and perceive the world around us. We might be able to see something in front of us, but we may not see it clearly or be able to recognize what it really is. In the same way, our perception of other people, or even ourselves, can be clouded. We don't see things the way we should. We rely...

We all have lots of different things to which we give our attention, our effort, our time, even our finances. And most of the time the things that dominate our schedules and our list of priorities aren't necessarily bad in and of themselves. There's nothing wrong with advancing our careers or setting and accomplishing goals or having nice possessions. But what about when I become more pass...

Many of us have allowed ourselves to accumulate a lot of junk. Not old clothes or broken toys or containers of random bolts and electrical cords, but we accumulate addictions and criticisms and debt and various anxieties. We hold onto thoughts and habits and even relationships that are unhealthy or hurtful, and they end up clogging up our minds and our hearts and keep us from freely experiencing t...

After the final Christmas songs fade in Luke 1–2, a storm begins to gather around the newly born Son of God. The joy of angels gives way to danger, and the fate of Jesus—and His family—rests largely in the hands of His earthly father, Joseph. As Herod schemes to destroy every boy two years old and under, Joseph responds with quiet, decisive faith, following God’s direction without hesitation in th...

As Christmas Day approaches, many of us go through our lists of people we need to buy gifts for to make sure we haven't left anyone out. There are some gifts that are more generic and given without a lot of thought. There are some gifts that have a special significance to them or a special reasons behind the giving. Centuries ago there was an old man who took an infant in his arms and recogniz...

The winter holiday season can easily become one of the most stressed-filled, chaotic times of the year. We have parties and gift exchanges and travel plans and holiday traditions that can quickly create a sense of anxiety and pressure. Add to that the negative feelings many of us experience during this time of year with broken relationships, family strains, and maybe memories of lost loved ones. S...

Many of us have watched so many Christmas pageants, sang so many Christmas carols, and gazed at so many nativity scenes that we may no longer feel surprise or wonder when we look at the story of the birth of Jesus. But the nativity story is full of unexpected moments, including when Jesus’ mother Mary was surprised by a visit from an angel. What was her reaction to this unexpected messenger? And w...

What songs are on your Christmas playlist? “All I Want for Christmas Is You”? “Last Christmas”? Or maybe something a little more classic like “Jingle Bells” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”? Christmas playlists help us enjoy the holiday season with songs dedicated to Santa Claus and sleigh rides and winter wonderlands. But there are also several Christmas songs that help focus our thoughts on t...

Regardless of the holiday season, HOPE can sometimes be in short supply. We may have placed our greatest hopes in finite things that have failed us, or been let down by someone or something in our lives that promised satisfaction. When Paul tells us in Romans 15:13 that we can have hope abundantly along with joy and peace, he wasn't kidding. Because we place our hope in someONE that is unshaka...

We live in a culture that consistently communicates "what's mine is mine." It's my stuff...it's my house...it's my car...it's my bank account. And the danger in only seeing my money and my possessions as "mine" is that I become less willing to share those things, less willing to be generous or to give. But God has always had an expectation for His people to...

We live in a culture that often seems to encourage people to have a "me-first" mentality. We are encouraged to look out for ourselves and make sure our own needs are being met before we worry about anyone else. This is not a new concept however; people in Jesus' day seemed to have a similar focus. What was Jesus' response? "If you want to be first, you have to be last."...

This is the time of year that many of us are reminded of all the different ways God has blessed us. But God’s expectation in sharing these blessings is not just for us to enjoy them ourselves but to use those gifts to benefit others. This month at Flagstone we’re going to spend time together thanking God for all He’s done and also discovering ways we can pour the blessings He has given us into the...

Shame is a harsh slavemaster. Shame wraps itself around our minds and our hearts and convinces us that, not only are we bad people who don't deserve acceptance or who don't measure up, but also that we can't ever be set free from it. We become convinced that this feeling of self-doubt and unworthiness is just going to be part of our lives from now on. But Jesus came to set us free from...

Shame is such a powerful emotion. It goes beyond just a sense of guilt or remorse for past mistakes. Shame leads me to believe, not just that I did something bad, but that I am a bad person. That kind of perspective can be devastating to my sense of self-worth. But Jesus came into our world to conquer the things that keep us separated from God, including our shame. So how do I recognize if shame i...

The pursuit of happiness is one of the "rights" outlined in the Declaration of Independence. It's a concept that permeates our culture even today - pursue happiness...search for and find what makes you happy. But is being happy truly the goal in life? Is that what God wants for me? To just make sure that I'm happy? Scripture seems to indicate that God calls us to choose something...