Stello Grove, Grand Rapids MI

Imagine staring at a raging river that's a mile wide, up to 12 feet deep, and rushing currents as fast as 40 miles per hours. Now imagine that river is what stands between you and your future.  And not just your future, but the futures of all your family and friends everyone you know and love. Crossing is impossible, yet necessary. What do you do?  That's what this message is all about!

So how does “you do you” and the pursuit of becoming more like Jesus work together? Counterintuitive as it may seem, the truest, most authentic version of the unique individual you are has everything to do with becoming more like Christ. How? Pastor Jack explains!

We have all been through a lot these past few years, and many are entering this coming year with weariness, caution, and trepidation. In this powerful message, Pastor Jack Sytsema lays out why this coming year is full of potential, possibilities, and all the provision you need, come what may. This is the go-to message for breaking lack of expectation or even fear off of your spirit as you enter 20...

How do I get out?  That's a question we've all asked at one time or another.  In this encouraging and hopeful year-end message, Pastor Jack takes a look at that and a few other questions on everyone's mind.

So, how is it that doubt can be a gift? Isn’t is a sin, or at least a bad thing that we are supposed to fight off? Well, that’s why this message is so interesting. Pastor Jack takes a fresh look at doubt, how it can actually produce good in our lives, and why it’s linked to the love of God. This is an advent message you won’t want to miss!

Grief and joy aren’t words you’d find together on a Christmas ornament. But maybe they should be. If we look closely at the baby in the manger, we find a child who had to endure much grief in order to produce much joy. In this message, Pastor Jack shows how we too can find great joy despite the grief we may be suffering.

When Zachariah was unable to speak before the birth of John the Baptist, it was a punishment for his lack of faith, right? Well, maybe not. In this Advent season kick-off, Pastor Jack takes a fresh look at this story. This message is sure to bring hope and expectation for the season to come and beyond!

What if there was a way to change the way you experience your life or your story?  What if you can live with a deeper expectation of hope, of restoration, and of real fulfillment?  Exploring those questions is what this message is all about!

Jesus may have been without sin, but it doesn't mean He never broke the law!  So, what law did He break and what would make Him do it?  Join us as pastor Jack explains and shows just how far Jesus goes for the sake of an encounter!

We all want to be known -- and loved.  But are those two desires compatible?  I mean, it's easy to wonder, "If you knew thus-and-such about me, would you still love me?"  In part one of this new message series, Pastor Jack examines how to become well-known, and discover how deeply you are loved in the process!

Do you believe you are important? Do you believe you have a voice? Are you valuable? Desired? Included? Loved? Do you really matter? Instead of feeling loved, many people feel like they are only tolerated. Instead of feeling loved, many walk around as traumatized version of themselves. And that raises a really good question. Why is that so hard for people to feel loved and valued?  This message is...

As we continue looking at making church a safe place for all, Pastor Jack takes a look at the woman caught in adultery and the beautiful lessons we can learn from how Jesus responded to her.  And for all of us who have been "caught in the act" of sin, (which includes, well, all of us) that's really great news!

In part one, Pastor Jack openly shared his testimony of same-sex attraction. But, he’s married to Becky. Why? How does that work? Is it really what they want? In this message, Jack and Becky continue their commitment of vulnerability as they answer these and other questions, giving you a front-row view into their mixed-orientation marriage.

Are you ready for real honesty from the pulpit? Here it is! Pastor Jack Sytsema delivers an unforgettable message on same-sex attraction, a subject that has long been avoided by most traditional churches. Through this personal message, Jack hopes to normalize the conversation of human sexuality, and help all who have sexual struggles of any kind find a safe place to encounter Jesus and be surround...

Does it sometimes feel as though the challenges you face are a punishment from God?  What if they are not punishment at all, but instead a set-up for a proclamation of God's grace and goodness and of what Jesus came to do? Pastor Jack explains how!

If you heard God's voice booming from heaven telling you who you are and what He wants you to do for Him, would you respond with, "No thanks.  I'll pass."  I mean, who does that?  Well, Moses for one.  And some of the excuses he used are very similar to what we may be saying to God right now.  Pastor Jack takes a look at some common reasons we feel disqualified and why those things can't really ho...

The disciples asked Jesus how to pray. But another question is, why should we pray? And what happens when we get discouraged in prayer? And in what way do we know God is always answering prayer? That’s a ton of questions. But this message has answers to them all. If you’re looking for a fresh message for your prayer life, this one is worth your time!

Did you know that the only recorded question the disciples asked Jesus was how they should pray? Why would that be? This week Pastor Jack answers that question and focuses on the opening of the Lord’s Prayer. What is “hallowed,” why is it there, and how will it revolutionize your prayer life when you need to connect with God more than ever before?

What is the enemy of love? And why is that critically important for every Christ-Follower to understand? Jeremy Jones gives an insightful, timely exhortation that brings clarity to political and social divisions running rampant in today's Church.

Honest question:  Do you pray as much as you'd like (or think you should)?  If the answer is no, what do you think holds you back?  This week Pastor Jack begins looking at prayer element of spiritual formation, and takes a look at these questions.  (BTW, this is a judgement-free message for those of you who are allergic to that).

This week Pastor Jack takes an honest look at what can seriously impact our intimacy with God and with each other, as well as destroy a healthy church culture. This message is full of truth, but also has a good dose of hopeful encouragement!

Christian Community: The Body of Christ (Ron Renzema) by Pastor Jack Sytsema

Got discontentment?  If you're like an overwhelming majority of people across the globe these days, you'd have to say yes.  And with that often comes a feeling of powerlessness.  But we humans tend to react to powerlessness by trying to control whatever we can.  The problem is, control and faith aren't compatible.   So, what can we do?  Learn to tell a good story!  Pastor Jack explains it all in t...

Sometimes it feels like there are two scripts at war in our minds, doesn’t it? I mean there’s the one that says that God has plans and purposes for our lives, then there’s the one that is based on the hurts and fears of our past that creep in and affect our expectations. So, what do we do? This week Pastor Jack talks about breaking off old mindsets and strongholds so we can move with more freedom...

Here’s a radical thought: Dealing with our past honors God. Wait! Why? Because being willing to submit our past to God is an important way of putting Jesus first in our life. Our willingness to really examine everything we've been and done in light of our salvation makes Jesus the Lord of our past as well as our today and our tomorrow. And that is a crucial aspect of spiritual formation. In this m...