Magnify Church - Rockford

Do you ever wonder why God allows suffering? Stu Quackenbush continues our series One Hope: The Gospel Changes Everything and looks at Ephesians 3, where Paul shows that even in hardship, God reveals the mystery of Christ. When we share in one another's suffering, we reflect the beauty of the gospel and show the world what it means to belong to Christ together.

Do you tend to see people's differences or the ways we are more alike? Stu Quackenbush opens the next section in our Ephesians study and reminds us that through Christ's forgiveness, the walls of division come down. There is no "Us vs. Them." We are one family, united together in Him.

What does it mean to be rescued? We see it all the time on the big screen, but what does it feel like to personally be saved from a hopeless situation? Ben Phebus continues our series in Ephesians, One Hope: The Gospel Changes Everything, and reminds us that we were once dead in our sins, but through Christ we are now alive! The gospel is not just something we believe; it's something we live every...

Do you believe the best is yet to come? This week, Stu Quackenbush continues our series in Ephesians and reminds us that because of Christ, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. It begins with praying for eyes to see the hope, the riches, and the power we have in Christ.

Do life's distractions keep you from fully living in the hope God has promised? In week two of One Hope: The Gospel Changes Everything, Stu Quackenbush digs deeper into Ephesians 1 and reminds us that in Christ, we've been given an eternal inheritance. Our hope is secure, our future is certain, and our lives are meant to reflect and praise His glory.

What do you put your hope in—your wealth, your work, your relationships? Stu Quackenbush kicks off our new series in Ephesians: One Hope, The Gospel Changes Everything. Together we'll discover how God invites us to see our identity, our relationships, and every part of our lives through the lens of the gospel. Come ready to see how the good news of Jesus truly is the best thing in the world.

Why does it feel so good to do a job well—whether it's finishing a project, serving someone, or creating something with excellence? Trent Heaton opens Ephesians 2 and shows us that our joy in good work points to something deeper—it reflects the design of our Creator. We are saved by grace, not by works, yet God invites us to walk in the good works He has already prepared for us. That's why it feel...

In our culture, it's not always easy to stand up and proclaim that you follow Jesus. That's what makes baptism so powerful—it's a bold, public declaration that your life belongs to Him. Aligning your life with Christ means living out that declaration every single day and walking in the freedom from sin that salvation provides. This Baptism Sunday, we get to celebrate together with powerful testimo...

When you think of your Father, what comes to mind? Maybe you remember a special family vacation, a moment when he was proud of you, or maybe the memories of your dad are difficult. As we conclude our summer series Worship and Wonder, Pictures of God in the Psalms, Trevor Hunt invites us to reflect on the image of God as our Heavenly Father. In Psalm 103, we see a powerful picture of a Father who f...

Have you taken time this week to delight in God's creation—perhaps by watching a sunset or gazing at a starry sky? Have you also taken time to delight in His Word—His law, precepts, and commandments? Trent Heaton continues our series Worship and Wonder, by inviting us to reflect on the truth, power, and perfection of God's Word, and to consider the right response of our hearts to His revelation.

How often do you take time to delight in our Creator's masterpiece? Creation speaks of God's majesty and invites us to pause, observe, and respond in worship. This week, Ben Phebus continues our summer series, Worship and Wonder, and invites us to delight in God's creation and come to know the glory of His gift.

Have you ever carried a secret so heavy it felt like it was eating you alive? Health and psychology experts alike will tell you what God has knit into our very being from the start: hiding is not healthy. Gary Heim continues our summer series in the Psalms by exploring how God lovingly draws us out of hiding through confession, into His mercy, grace, and forgiveness, so we can find healing for our...

What makes you shout for joy? Maybe it's when your favorite team scores, during a standing ovation at the end of an incredible performance, or maybe when you open a surprise gift? Ben Phebus continues our summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms, and invites us to shout for joy because of God's steadfast love.

Safety, security, and satisfaction. Aren't those things we all want? Yet so often, we look in the wrong places to find them. Trent Heaton continues our summer series and takes a deeper dive into the second half of Psalm 23 to show us how our Good Shepherd pursues us and provides all we could ever need.

Many people take pride in being independent, and if you called them "sheep" it would be an insult. Yet in Biblical times, being a sheep with a good shepherd meant that you did not want for anything. Don Denyes continues our summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms and explores how following our Good Shepherd gives us rest, refreshment, restoration, and direction.

Life is a journey with pitfalls and trials along the way. As we continue our Summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms, Don Denyes looks at God as our Sun and the blessings He offers for those who trust Him.

Where do you turn when your world is shaken? Some turn to media, food, or other worldly comforts and pleasures to escape. This week we kick off our Summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms. Don Denyes looks deeper into Psalm 62 and shares where we can find security, safety, and stability in times of trouble.

If someone was to observe your life, what would they see? Stu Quackenbush asks that pretty sobering question in our last teaching in Luke as we close out our Storytellers series, and encourages us that our actions and words tell a story. What story do you want your life to tell?

Sin has a way of holding us down and keeping us from receiving the grace of Jesus. Don Denyes continues our Storytellers series with another of Jesus' encounters in Luke, that reminds us of Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost, even those the world deems unworthy.

Helen Keller once said, "Better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing." Don Denyes looks at another of Jesus' interactions with a crowd in Luke to remind us to have a heart that seeks Him. He cares and has the power to transform our lives!

Have you ever gone grocery shopping and decided you didn't need a cart? Then remembered the most important thing that wasn't on your list? It's hard to pick something up when your arms are already full. Don Denyes looks at two encounters in our Storytellers series that contrast the ways people approach Christ and encourages us to lay down lesser things to receive what Jesus has for us.

Most days do you feel like you can tackle life on your own, or do you regularly hit your knees in prayer? Don Denyes looks at another parable in Luke that contrasts two people's prayers, as he invites us to see our desperate need for the Savior.

What prayers have you stopped praying? Are there things you've brought to God for years that you feel like He still hasn't answered; or maybe He hasn't answered the way you had hoped He would? Stu Quackenbush continues our Storytellers series in Luke with a parable that encourages us to not lose heart as we bring our heart's desires to the Lord in prayer.

Do you find yourself asking God more often for what you want, or thanking Him for what He has already given you? Don Denyes jumps back into our Storytellers series in Luke with a story that highlights a characteristic that should mark our lives.

How can we live in a world of chaos, suffering, and disillusionment with hope, joy, and peace? The closing paragraphs of Luke's gospel start with the disciples in the chaos and disillusionment of Jesus' death and end with them filled with joy and worship. What makes the difference? In our last week of The Greatest Story series, Ben Phebus unpacks these paragraphs and points our hearts to the answe...