Life Together

Some live with steadiness.  They have peace and joy, even in the midst of challenges and trials.  For others, life goes into a tailspin of anxiety and worry when small struggles arise.  Psalm 92 gives a powerful illustration of building a rooted life - a life that endures and prospers through every season.  // Pastor Tom Murray

God goes to great lengths to warn about and protect against enemies that threaten to separate you from Him and other people.  Jesus said that one of the greatest threats you face is not an outside force.  Rather, it is what comes from within that has the potential to ruin you. // Pastor Tom Murray

Jesus promised a path from eternal separation from God, toward relationship with our Heavenly Father, with an immediate peace available through the Holy Spirit.  Yet, Jesus is not the only person in history to make spiritual claims, receive a hero's welcome as He entered a large city, or even to give His life for a cause.  Join the conversation about the confirmation that sets Jesus apart from the...

For most of us, naming the community of our physical location is easy.  We would not need to pause for even a moment if someone asked, "where do you live?"  The question to wrestle with is, where do you live spiritually?  Living life God's way makes a tangible difference in the areas of our life that matter most - our community, our family, and our work.  As you may have experienced, there are als...

Suppressing sin in exhausting.  Yet, too often, you settle for attempts to hold captive or hide destructive appetites, habits and behaviors.  You tell yourself you have it under control, only for a resurfacing in a moment of weakness or frustration.  In this episode, hear what happened when Jesus entered a community that worked diligently to suppress a move of spiritual darkness - only to find tha...

We value loyalty.  This is true in our marriages, extended families, friendships, businesses, and churches.  Our Heavenly Father was loyal to us before we were loyal to Him.  He will not abandon us.  The question we wrestle with, "will we abandon Him?"  Strive toward a life where nothing can separate you from God.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God using food to teach and reinforce spiritual truths.  The Daniel Fast is a 21-day partial fast for the purpose of strengthening our relationship with our Heavenly Father and identifying unchecked sin in our lives.

Sexual desires, temptations, and relationships are deeply personal.  In Leviticus, God warned His people that they would be surrounded by a culture that would affirm, endorse and encourage behaviors that are outside of His plan for sexuality.  Experience the freedom that begins with allowing your Heavenly Father to speak into this area of your life, and the restoration offered through Jesus Christ...

We have a measure of time, talent, and treasure.  God places a value on the order in which we release those resources.  He rarely asks for the most of what we have - but, our Heavenly Father does ask for the first.  Experience the joy linked to building your daily life around your relationship with Christ that flows from placing Him first.

Jesus is woven throughout all of Scripture.  The Bible reveals a unified message about God desiring relationship with His people centered on the hope that comes through the death and resurrection of Christ.

That's it.  I'm out.  Someone once asked Jesus when they could stop forgiving another person.  How many times must I forgive before I end the relationship?  You may have wondered this before.  Others are bound to disappoint us and fail to meet our expectations.  They owe us a physical or emotional debt because they wronged us - accidentally or intentionally.  Jesus gave us a challenge to live out...

This week's podcast includes reflections on the life of a faithful church member, testimony of a man who was revived on a volleyball court, and a teaching on Psalm 18:1-2.

Watching a marathon is not the same as running a marathon.  Reading about rock climbing is not the same as actually rock climbing.  Taking a campus tour is not the same as earning a college degree.  There are many experiences that are far more meaningful when we voluntarily put ourselves in the risk and challenge - instead of just observing from the sidelines.  Jesus led His closest followers into...

Past rebellion and sin can be enticing and tempting.  We remember the highlight reel of what left behind while forgetting the hurt, guilt, and regret .  Pastor Tom encourages us to live a forward-looking life in Christ by overcoming desires for what's in life's rearview mirror.

There is unanimous consent amongst Christians that reading the Bible is beneficial.  Yet, every study on Bible engagement reveals that many Christ followers rarely or never read God's Word on their own.  In 2019, resolve a commitment or recommitment to investing time each day in personal devotions.

History's most famous parents were on the verge of divorce.  Through the historical account of Mary and Joseph - we find that God’s timing is perfect, He speaks with consistency (not conflict), and He acts in the best interest of mankind’s eternity.

Jesus said one of the reasons He came to earth is "to preach deliverance to the captives" (Luke 4:18 MEV).  Sin, anger, addiction, rebellion, loneliness, envy, jealousy, busyness, relationship tension, grief, regret, anxiety, and other areas have the power to hold us captive.  These areas of captivity are often amplified during the Christmas season.  Find freedom from whatever is holding you back...

God wires us with a spiritual hunger for His righteousness.  Hunger is not the same as appetite.  Appetite fluctuates based on our past experiences, mood, and desires.  Unchecked, appetites can lead to destruction.  Align your God-given hunger for his ways with appetite for life-giving purpose.

God is the provider, the One who “will supply all your needs from his glorious riches” (Philippians 4:19 NLT).  Gratitude begins with expressing thanks for what you have received.  If it ends there, you stand to miss so much of what God wants to do in your life.  Experience the blessing of stretching your gratitude beyond receiving to releasing.

Prosperity attracts more friends than prison.  The relationships we treasure most are with people who are with us during life's most difficult seasons.  Great friendship is extremely valuable.  Let's talk about becoming the friend others desire.  

We face important decisions about college, career, marriage and spirituality.  But, what is life's most important decision?  Join the conversation with Pastor Tom Murray.

We freewill to respond to life's most important questions.  Yet, all answers do not lead to the same outcome.  This week, Pastor Tom leads a conversation around the question, "Who is Jesus?".

God gives us freedom to choose our own path, but not all choices lead to the same outcome.  We have freedom to choose how we will confront sin in our lives, but not all choices lead to freedom.

Guest speaker Danny Thomas is the founder and president of Water for the World NLA.  The need for drinkable water is well documented from the United Nations, medical societies and missions organizations throughout the world.  What is taken for granted by so many is the single greatest need that hinders the formation of the building blocks of family gatherings around the globe.  A drink of disease...

If you've ever taken a multiple choice test, you know that you have freewill to answer however you choose.  We also know that all test answers do not lead to the same outcome.  God gives us freewill to make big decisions about our life and eternity.  Let's talk about our freewill to choose and the outcomes we can expect.