The Increase

When you attended school, did you ever have a teacher who could truly unlock the secrets of history, math, or science?  Throughout the letter of Philippians, Paul unlocks amazing secrets on how you can experience the joy of Jesus in your everyday life— even in the midst of life’s challenges and adversities. Even as the letter draws to a close, Paul is still sharing incredible insights on Christian...

Can you imagine a fist-fight breaking out in the middle of your Sunday church service? That’s what happened at a church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and sadly--- the brawl made national news. Internal strife and open conflicts are so harmful to the church’s testimony and the spread of the gospel, which is why the Bible continually calls us to protect our togetherness. In Philippians chapter 4, Paul...

Did you hear the news about the fastest-selling item at Target last week? Women by the hundreds were lining up before dawn to get the latest pink Stanley mug. What’s so amazing about this story is how the pink mug went viral through contagious sharing over social media, texts, and emails. As we dig deeper into the Great Commission in Matthew 28, what are the five key components to sharing Jesus? H...

*Guest Speaker* January 2024 is here, and that means a new year with new opportunities to exercise your faith and experience more of Jesus. This past Sunday, our Next-Gen Pastor Jared Carline shared an encouraging message from 1 Timothy 4 on what it means to pursue godliness. How can you make advances in your faith this new year?  What practical steps can lead you in that direction?  

In John chapter 9, Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth, proving that He really is the Light of the World. But the religious leaders refused to believe it, even when the man went public with his story. As we study this mind-blowing miracle, what relevant lessons come into view for our lives in the here and now? How is Jesus still pushing back darkness today?   (Light of the World, Conclusio...

In John chapter 8, Jesus spoke up during a national night-time celebration and declared himself to be the Light of the World. What did Jesus mean by this, and why is His declaration still relevant for our lives today? What does Jesus offer to people like us who are surrounded by moral, intellectual, and spiritual darkness? (Light of the World, part 3) 

Christmas is all about Jesus, but what if I told you that Jesus’ beginning wasn’t in Bethlehem’s manger— or even Mary’s womb?  In John chapter 1, the Bible points us back to the beginning of beginnings, where Jesus existed in eternity past. What else does this famous passage of Scripture reveal about Jesus’ true identity? What does it mean for us that Jesus is “life” and "light”?   (Light of...

If you asked the average Christian about the good news of a Savior, they would probably point you to the Gospels, where we read about Jesus’ birth. But the first rays of gospel light actually started in Genesis 3, immediately following the rebellion of Adam and Eve.  What do we learn there about this Savior to come, and why is that first light still good news for us today?  (Light of the World, pa...

Christians are more than just citizens of an earthly nation— we are citizens of heaven! Since that is true, then we should believe and behave accordingly with our everyday lives. So what are three everyday practices you should live out as a citizen of heaven? (Blueprint for Joy, part 11) 

In chapter 3, Paul explains that he isn’t satisfied with his present spiritual condition. Just like a highly-trained athlete, Paul wanted to go further and lay his hands on the ultimate prize. As we digest this Scripture, what will it take for you to experience similar spiritual growth and gains? What practical goals must you embrace for yourself? (Blueprint for Joy, part 10)

In Philippians chapter three, the Apostle Paul decided that nothing on earth could compare to the value and worth of knowing Jesus. When you let go of earthly treasures and religious efforts— and exercise genuine faith in Christ alone— what is it exactly that you stand to gain? (Blueprint for Joy, part 9)

In Philippians chapter three, Paul calls on Christians to steer clear of the false teaching that religious efforts can make people with God.  If anyone ever had a dynamic resume on religion, it was Paul— but he surrendered everything to know Christ. As you digest this powerful section of Scripture, how can you make Christ your everything? (Blueprint for Joy, part 8)

*Guest Speaker* This past Sunday, we heard a timely message on Martin Luther and the importance of Reformation Day from our Next-Gen Pastor, Jared Carline. Pastor Jared took us into Galatians chapter 1, and showed us a glimpse of Martin Luther’s life and how he rediscovered that the gospel of salvation isn’t by human efforts, but by faith alone in Christ alone. If this gospel is the only message t...

When a new restaurant or eatery opens, they typically share free samples to get customers excited. In Philippians two, the Apostle Paul highlights two men who were great samples of Christian service.  So how can you become a useful servant for Jesus? What steps can turn you from a spectator into a servant? (Blueprint for Joy, part 7)     

You and I live in a dark and confused culture, where anger and arguing and violence are the norm. If you want to be a Christian who shines the light of the gospel into the darkness, what practical actions does Jesus want you to carry out in your everyday experiences? (Blueprint for Joy, part 6)

In Philippians chapter two, the Apostle Paul holds out Jesus as the supreme model of humility, so that we might be humble in all our interactions and relationships at church. In what ways did Jesus demonstrate a humble attitude, and how should you adopt that attitude in your life?  (Blueprint for Joy, part 5)

Even though the Philippian church was healthy, they were struggling with some internal conflicts and in-fighting. As we think about our own churches, how can we protect our unity and togetherness? How can your church be a place where unity flourishes and the gospel goes forward?  (Blueprint for Joy, part 4)

Even though the author Paul was imprisoned and facing an uncertain future, he wanted the Christians receiving his letter to keep living worthy of Jesus and the gospel.  As we think about living worthy for Jesus in our day, what does that look like for you and me?   (Blueprint for Joy, part 3) 

The New Testament calls us to examine our spiritual health. If you were subjected to a spiritual health exam, would you pass the test?  How would you know if you are a spiritually healthy person?  As we search the Scriptures, what are some unique benchmarks that can help you evaluate your own spiritual health?  (Back to Church Sunday 2023)

Are you facing any challenges or adversities at the moment?  Are you going to let those struggles steal your joy?  Even though the Apostle Paul was under house-arrest in Rome with uncertainty hanging over his head, Paul didn’t let that situation steal his joy in Jesus. When you hear Paul’s words to the Philippian church, what can you learn about hanging on to joy even in hard situations? (Blueprin...

We're launching a new message series called ‘Blueprint for Joy’, where we’ll step verse by verse through the book of Philippians. Fourteen times in a short letter, Paul spoke of joy and rejoicing—so even though it was penned from jail—this letter shows Christians how to experience the joy of Jesus in a troubled world. (Blueprint for Joy, part 1)

Jesus’ greatest miracle was his own bodily resurrection, three days after he died. While many people know the basic timeline for Jesus’ resurrection, there are still many who don’t understand “why” it had to happen. Why was Jesus’ resurrection so necessary? Why does it still matter to us in the here and now?  (Death Defying, Conclusion)

In Luke 11, Jesus’ good friend Lazarus died, and Lazarus’ two sisters were distraught that Jesus didn’t make it in time to bring healing. But Jesus shocks the world when he stands in front of the tomb and calls Lazarus out alive! When you wade into this story and soak in its significance, what should you believe about Jesus? When life brings you to those discouraging dead-ends, what can bring you...

In Luke chapter 8, a community leader named Jairus begged Jesus to come and help his 12-year-old daughter who was dying. What happens in this death-to-life drama? What applications can we make to our own lives, especially when we’re facing those heart-breaking, hope-robbing situations that seem impossible?  (Death Defying, part 2)

It happened four times in the Gospels where Jesus defied death and pushed back against the power of the grave. The first of those mind-blowing miracles took place in Luke 7, when Jesus stopped a funeral in its tracks. What does this miracle reveal about Jesus, and what relevance does it have for our lives right now?  (Death Defying, part 1)