A Better Word

We spend a lot of time and money trying to feel prepared. We purchase insurance policies, extended warranties, and build up emergency funds. But nobody’s ever really ready for the moment when life falls apart. Pastor Nick Gatzke talks about what happens when everything falls apart and our faith falters. 

Most of us measure success by results. We want to see progress. So when the results don’t show up, we assume the effort isn’t working. The diet gets abandoned, the savings plan fizzles, and the guitar goes back in the closet. But Pastor Nick Gatzke explains why spiritual success works differently and what to do instead. 

We live in a fast-moving world. We want instant answers, same-day delivery, and quick dinners. In fact, we’ve gotten so used to fast results, that waiting on anything feels like something’s gone wrong! But Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals why God’s kingdom doesn’t run on our timetable and why that’s actually good news. 

Have you ever gotten to the end of a conversation and realized you don’t remember a single thing the other person said? Somewhere between hearing the words and actually receiving them, something got lost. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals why so many people who gathered to listen to Jesus, failed to understand what He was saying. 

Have you ever noticed that some of your closest relationships aren’t with people who share your last name? Maybe it’s a neighbor who’s become like family or a friend who somehow knows you better than your own relatives do. Pastor Nick Gatzke explains what it really means to belong to The True Family of God . 

These days, we throw around the word “family” loosely. We use it to describe all kinds of relationships––best friends, team mates, and sometimes even co-workers! Somewhere along the way, the word got stretched. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals Jesus’s surprising claim about who truly belongs to The Family of God . 

In the Gospels, one group shows up again and again—usually frowning, objecting, and plotting against Jesus––the Pharisees. What was their problem with Jesus? Pastor Nick Gatzke examines back-to-back interactions involving heads of grain, a withered hand, and a holy day. Discover how Jesus handled the Pharisee’s objections and what it means for us today. 

Like them or hate them, rules exist for a reason and every family has them. But when we forget the reason for the rules, the rules themselves can start running the family! Pastor Nick Gatzke turns to a biblical confrontation over rules, when Jesus was challenged for breaking the Sabbath. 

Pastor Nick Gatzke explains why Jesus had a bad reputation for hanging out with people the rest of society rejected, specifically sinners and tax collectors. While we may not think we’d be so critical, data overwhelmingly shows we’re no different. Most of us prefer to hang out with people who are similar to ourselves. Find out why. 

People form lasting opinions of others within seconds. No matter how much time passes, some people just can’t seem to shake the way others see them Pastor Nick Gatzke introduces us to a man whose reputation made him one of the most hated men in town, and we’ll find out how Jesus approached him. 

When Jesus showed up in the first century, people couldn’t ignore Him. His words carried weight, His miracles defied explanation, and everyone wanted to know what would happen next. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us to a shocking scene when four friends lowered a paralyzed man in front of Jesus; and His response was not what they expected. 

Most people don’t like being told what to do. From a toddler who says “no” before he can barely talk to a grown adult who bristles the moment someone questions their choices. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes a closer look at why so many people resist authority and what their reaction reveals about the human heart. 

We all know people who have some level of authority in their field––a doctor who walks into the ER and people move or a coach who says a word and the whole team responds. That kind of authority is earned. But Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals why Jesus’ authority is in a completely different category. 

Most of us have worked for a boss who has the title but can’t get anyone to follow.  Pastor Nick Gatzke continues our series in the Gospel of Mark by introducing us to the leader of a movement who captured everyone’s attention and spoke with the unparalleled authority. Jesus would be the one to follow. 

Pastor Nick Gatzke turns to the first chapter in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus delivers a message that demands a response. His public ministry began with the bold declaration that the Kingdom of God had come. Discover how people reacted to Jesus’ ministry and his message. 

Most of us don’t have a problem saying, “I’m sorry.” The hard part is repenting and actually changing our patterns of behavior. It quickly becomes clear that there’s a difference between an apology and repentance. Pastor Nick Gatzke explains the difference and what it really looks like to repent. 

There are key moments in history when someone steps onto the public stage and changes the way we see the world. John the Baptist was one of those voices. He cried out “make way for the king!”... and soon everything changed. Pastor Nick Gatzke launches a series from the Gospel of Mark, where a new king is announced. 

Most of us go about our day without too much conflict. But beneath the surface, whether we know it or not, there’s a battle waged against us. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals the origins of this spiritual warfare and what victory looks like, from the earliest pages of the Old Testament all the way to Revelation. 

We love to root for the underdog—the outnumbered, the outmatched, the one who has no business winning—and yet somehow does. It’s an instinct that runs deep throughout history and the pages of the Bible. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals the unexpected, supernatural victories that belong to God’s people. 

The Bible is the most popular and best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 to 7 billion copies sold and distributed. But how often do we open these Bibles and read The Word of God ? Pastor Nick Gatzke reminds us of the remarkable power of The Word of God to transform your life. 

There are countless voices competing for your attention. Your phone, news feed, inbox, neighbors, and even your own thoughts at two in the morning are all speaking into your life. But which of these voices matters? Which one can you trust? Pastor Nick Gatzke clarifies the comparative value of the Word of God. 

The world has never had a shortage of smart, hardworking people. It’s also never had a shortage of people who are smart, hardworking, and deeply unhappy. If intelligence and effort aren’t enough, what are we missing? Pastor Nick Gatzke shares practical, biblical guidance about true wisdom and how we live. 

Some people just seem to navigate things well. They don’t panic when things fall apart. They make good decisions under pressure.  There’s a word for that. It’s not intelligence, talent, or even experience. It’s wisdom. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals what the Bible says about wisdom and where to get it. 

There’s an old saying: “you can’t take it with you.” It’s one of those truths that we agree with, in theory, but never quite gets all the way down into how we live. Pastor Nick Gatzke returns to a powerful parable to find out what our money says about what we value. 

Most of us have a complicated relationship with money. We know we shouldn’t want it too much, but we’re not entirely sure what “too much” looks like. Pastor Nick Gatzke presents an often-overlooked parable that challenges us to think about what we have, what we want, and what will happen in the end.