Casas Church

Jesus demonstrates that we don’t have to do something extraordinary to show others we genuinely care about them. He did something very ordinary for His disciples by washing their feet in John 13, but it made a significant impact because it demonstrated genuine care. We can be difference makers by serving others with love, which doesn’t require special abilities or circumstances. Each of us has the...

Jesus revolutionized our understanding of spiritual priorities by connecting the two greatest commandments - loving God and loving others - in a profound way. During the Last Supper, He gave a new command that loving one another as He loved us would be the defining mark of His disciples. This teaching reveals that we express our love for God through loving others, not through isolated spiritual di...

Throughout this series, we’ve been learning from the Sermon on the Mount and how Jesus took Old Testament teachings and further revealed the heart of God. One of the most impactful moments is in Matthew 5:43 when Jesus teaches that it’s not about “identifying our enemies,” but ensuring we don’t become enemies ourselves. It isn’t about drawing lines between who deserves love and who doesn’t, but er...

Jesus challenges us to ask, 'Who do I most want to be when this conflict is done?' Rather than fixating on fairness, we can find creative third ways to respond to injustice. This approach invites us to pause before reacting, consider our desired outcome, and even practice unexpected grace. The goal isn't just becoming fair people, but reflecting God's character and standing against injustice witho...

In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus addresses the common practice of oath-taking, teaching that we should be people of such integrity that oaths become unnecessary. He wasn't contradicting Old Testament teachings but revealing their true intent - that we should be consistently honest in our words and actions. Just as God remains constant and faithful to us, we should extend that same trustworthiness to othe...

Do you ever catch yourself reducing people to labels instead of seeing them as children of God, loved by Him? In situations and circumstances we face, it can be simpler to reduce people to “somethings” rather than “someones.” Jesus’ words on divorce in Matthew 5 give us practical guidance for examining all our relationships - in marriage, family, workplace, and community - to identify where we mig...

Jesus transforms our understanding of adultery in the Sermon on the Mount by focusing on the heart rather than just external behavior. Matthew 5:27-30 reveals that Jesus wasn’t simply making the rules outlined in the Old Testament more strict; He was addressing the deeper issue of human desire and how it shapes relationships. Desire itself is not bad, but how are we directing our desires? Are we d...

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus wasn't contradicting Scripture with His 'but I say to you' statements—He was revealing its deeper meaning. Taking the commandment 'do not murder,' Jesus expanded it to address the heart issues behind violence: anger, contempt, and broken relationships. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently approached people with compassion, seeing their needs and struggles ra...

When Scripture and Jesus seem at odds, we should reconsider our approach. Jesus said He came to 'fulfill' the law, which means He had the authority to correctly interpret Scripture. The Sermon on the Mount demonstrates how Jesus challenged everyone's preconceptions about who belongs in God's kingdom. Through the Beatitudes and His 'But I say to you' teachings, Jesus wasn't contradicting Scripture...

In August, we set a few five-year goals as a church, which are rooted in our mission: Loving people into the acceptance and freedom of Jesus Christ. We’ve been pursuing those goals since August. On Sunday, we paused at “mile 13” to reflect on how far we’ve come and encourage each other to keep going in this marathon. Colossians 3 reminds us who we are in Christ and how love keeps us moving forward...

Throughout our spiritual journeys, it’s ok to experience both faith and doubt simultaneously. We see this in Sarah’s story in Genesis 18. She receives news that seems impossible, and her reaction to it reveals a struggle between faith and doubt that we all can face from time to time. Through her experience, we learn that having doubts doesn’t invalidate our faith journey, and we can trust God’s ch...

Faith journeys, like Abraham’s, highlight that life is not linear but is filled with ups and downs, which are not indicators of weak faith but opportunities to stay constant in our faith. Through Abraham’s examples of faithful moments and failures, we see that faith is always available regardless of circumstances or decisions. God is with us through it all; our challenge is to continually trust in...

Sometimes the best place to begin is at the beginning. Abraham started to follow God without anything external. There were no scriptures to read to make sense of it, and no set doctrine. It was simply a call from God to Abraham to be in a relationship with Him. Whether you are new to faith or have been in a relationship with God for a while, what would it look like to model our spiritual lives aft...

The story of the Prodigal Son highlights the fact that we are not lost causes to God. Just as the father in the Prodigal Son welcomes his child home regardless of his choices, so God longs to be with us. When we return to Him, He doesn’t demand speeches of unworthiness but celebrates our homecoming. This truth is demonstrated through Jesus’ death and resurrection. God goes to extraordinary lengths...

The parable of the Prodigal Son reveals deeper truths through the older brother's perspective, highlighting common misunderstandings about God's kingdom. While appearing dutiful, the older brother misunderstood the purpose of celebration. His focus on rule-following over relationship and struggle with extending grace mirror challenges many face today. God's kingdom operates unexpectedly, valuing r...

We may already be familiar with the story of the lost son, but there are many layers and depths to it that we may have missed. It is a radical story of God’s love for us and how He views His relationship with us. His love isn’t about punishment, but about celebration and restoration. God's compassion extends to those who feel completely lost, and it has practical application in our lives today. Ro...

Being part of God's family means adopting a spiritual dress code that transcends our earthly differences and divisions. We are called to clothe ourselves with spiritual attributes that reflect Christ's character. These include compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Above all, we must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. While conflicts may arise, we'r...

Our relationship with God goes far beyond empty religion or worldly values - we are His beloved children. Rather than viewing God as a distant authority figure or basing our worth on achievements, we can embrace our identity as sons and daughters who are fully accepted and loved. This adoption gives us the privilege of calling God 'Abba Father' and living as true heirs in His family. When we truly...

Each person plays a vital and unique role in God's family, much like pieces in a mosaic. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, we should recognize how our individual skills, perspectives, and personalities contribute to the bigger picture. Our differences aren't flaws but essential elements that create beauty when combined. Making space for others' uniqueness while embracing our own allows Go...

Oftentimes we choose to love others because it’s “what a good Christian should do.” And that’s not bad, but as we mature spiritually, we can take a deeper look at what perspective Jesus modeled for us. When we take opportunities in our community to volunteer we become a part of the fabric of the city. It becomes ours. And, as outlined in Jeremiah 29:7, “…if it prospers, you too will prosper.” This...

When we look at Jesus, we get to model our lives after Him. He interacts with people in ways that they feel seen and valued. Jesus does this in two distinct things: He gives love a name and a story. We see this in action with the woman Jesus heals in Mark 5:24. He shows love and care, but doesn’t stop there. He sees the person first. 

Epiphany primarily celebrates three significant events that revolve around Jesus’ life: the visit of the Magi, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ first miracle. In this final week of the series, we took a brief look at the meaning behind the Magi’s visit and how it was cause for hope. How does this hope translate to our day-to-day especially when we may be wrestling with hopelessness?

In John 2, we are witness to Jesus’ first miracle. He turns water into wine at a wedding, which may seem unusual, but hospitality was paramount in that time and that culture. This first miracle of Jesus has a lot of parallels to Moses’ first miracle. However, there are a lot of differences as well. By comparing and contrasting both miracles, we learn that with Jesus we always have more than enough...

The season called Epiphany often includes commemorating the three wise men visiting Jesus, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding. Epiphany is the result of waiting and hoping for the Messiah. Today, we are not hoping for Him because He is with us. We have Him and the church can be the powerful expression of hope lived out and what goodness comes from livin...