Journey Community Church

The story of Christmas is a demonstration of the good news of the grace of God.    1) How is the grace of God affecting (transforming and redefining) my identity?2) How is the grace of God affecting (empowering and redirecting) what I do?3) How could I share this good news of grace with someone else this week?   "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. N...

The invitation of the Gospel is to trust in a better covenant and better promises. How is God inviting you to trust in a better covenant and better promises in Jesus Christ? Old Covenant: Outside behavioral modification vs. New Covenant: Inside out life transformation. Old Covenant: Knowing about God vs. New Covenant: Knowing God. Old Covenant: Striving to follow the law vs. New Covenant: Surrende...

In our world today, many false gospels are competing for our attention. The true Gospel is GREAT NEWS, because it is the only path to beauty, freedom, joy, and abundant life in Christ now and for all eternity. The alluring invitations of false gospels: The Religious Gospel: Trust Jesus to accept your efforts to do right and avoid wrong. The Prosperity Gospel: Trust Jesus to make you healthy, wealt...

This Advent season, we are celebrating "good news of great joy" and exploring the Gospel through the lens of the Christmas story. Week 1: The God of the Gospel The Gospel begins with God. The Gospel hinges on Jesus being fully man and fully God. The Gospel requires a response from every person. "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were...

Jesus is a Holy Servant King who disrupts, defies and transcends the power structures of our world. Disciples of Jesus are called to be Holy Servants who disrupt, defy and transcend the power structures of our world. “'Woe to me!' I cried. 'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.' Then one of the ser...

Jesus is the pre-existent Creator God and King over everything. Jesus is first/supreme in everything. Jesus is reconciling and making peace with everything and everyone. We are Peacemakers and Ambassadors of reconciliation, joining King Jesus in his work to bring everything and everyone together. "He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the c...

We're shouting a huge "thank you" to our Discipleship Directors, Scott Haskins and Chuck Feay, for sharing about the importance of community. We're also shouting "thank you" to Mark, Leanne, Kendra, & Jeff for being part of the Journey Group panel.  If you're interested in being part of a Journey Group, email disciple@discoverjourneycc.com. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with...

This Sunday, Guest Speaker Jared Chase reminded us that "we mirror what it is that we most closely represent." Is your doppleganger Jesus, or the world? In the ways we resemble the world, there is more work to be done. "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ...

Join us in praying this ONE PRAYER together: I FALL ON MY KNEES BEFORE THE GOD of HEAVEN and EARTH because of THE BEAUTY OF THE GOSPEL. I pray for CHRIST IN YOU and YOU IN LOVE so that YOU WILL BE MADE COMPLETE IN GOD, so that GOD’S GLORY IS REVEALED IN AND THROUGH YOU NOW, and so that GOD’S GLORY IS REVEALED IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST FOREVER. "And I pray that you, being rooted and established i...

You are God's gift! God's GRACE for the Church: Everything flows from grace given through Jesus Christ. (v. 7) God's GIFTS for the Church: Jesus has given the gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds/Pastors and Teachers (APEST) to the church. God's GOAL for the Church: To equip, build up and mature the body of Christ so we can embody the presence of Christ to the world. "There is one b...

We are called to be a people defined by ONE HOPE in Jesus Christ. Our ONE HOPE makes us ONE CHURCH united by ONE SPIRIT. "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ep...

God works through the messiness of our lives to display the beauty of the Gospel. Reflection Questions: Will you trust in Jesus to make you a new creation in the midst of the messiness of your life? Will you surrender the mess of your story to reveal the beauty of the Gospel? Will you become an intentional ambassador of good news and beauty in a world filled with bad news and ugliness? "But we hav...

Guest Speaker & Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr. Tammy Smith, shares a powerful word about what it means to be "a soul with a body," and where Jesus is in the mess of mental health challenges.  "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

NOTE: We faced technical difficulties this week, and apologize for the audio quality on this recording. We did our best to edit it enough that it can still be listened to and shared. Thank you for your grace as we troubleshoot! Description: Randy & Lorie Spain share the powerful story of how God restored their marriage after separation and divorce (they are now re-married)! Pastor Blaine follo...

Living in the fullness of new life in Christ requires: Crucifying our old sinful selves Refusing to let sin control our lives Taking one step at a time “living under the freedom of God’s grace" "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died,...

When we trust in Jesus, life always eventually triumphs over death...but not always when or how we want it to. The good news is that Jesus is present with us in the pain of grief and loss. "When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along...

What are the prayers you have prayed to which God has said "no" or "not yet"? We cannot avoid trials, but we can choose how to respond to them. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." -...

The messiness of our lives becomes the source of our boasting because it reveals the beauty and power of the Gospel. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."  -Ephesians 2:8-9

Psalm 16 teaches us that following a beautiful Savior leads to beautiful relationships, beautiful families, and ultimately, a beautiful life.  "This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? You will not abandon me to experience death and the grave or leave me to rot alone. Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful ...

As we dive into Psalm 103, we learn that PRAISE is a weapon, a compass, and a catalyst. Are you ready to wield the weapon of praise to defeat forgetfulness?   Are you ready to allow the compass of praise to reorient your life around God’s character and activity?   Are you ready to let praise be a catalyst that fuels new steps of faithfulness? "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so gre...

How does remembering our past help us trust God with our future? Guest Speaker Chris Pfarr walks us through the themes of remembrance and trust within Psalm 143.  "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done...Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entru...

In Psalm 32, we learn about the power of confession. While unconfessed sin brings destruction, confessing our sins leads to forgiveness and freedom.  "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." -Psalm 32:7 NIV

What is worship? What is the responsibility of the gathered Church in worship? Guest Speaker Mike O'Brien helps us understand what it looks like to "show up to work" on a Sunday morning. Worship transforms. Worship  sings. Worship sets a table. Worship gathers. Worship works.

Our soul's deepest longings are always spiritual. What is your soul thirsting for, and how is your thirst being satisfied in God? "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." -Psalm 63:1  

What does it mean to be known? In Psalm 139, we are reminded that God knows us, God is always with us, and God values us.  "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." -Psalm 139:1-3