UGA Freshley

We worship a King and a Father. While it can feel easier to relate to one over the other, we are meant to embrace both sides of God’s nature if we are going to grow in our relationship with Him and understand how we are invited to enter boldly and confidently into His presence. 

Tonight, we talk about having a faith that perseveres, endures, and lasts. We want to be marked by a faith that withstands life’s challenges, distractions, and hardships.

Jesus said He came to see and save what was lost. That His Father sent Him not to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. What does it look like for us to partner with Him in that? What should mark us in light of His mission in the world? 

As the people of God, we want to be marked by a mature faith–one where our roots grow down deep in God, and we are able to bear fruit in all seasons of life.

Relationships are a huge part of our lives and our walks with the Lord. This week, we look to scripture for what God’s heart is for singleness, and chat about how we can live abundantly while single. 

When feeling weary or burdened, the last thing we want to do is add anything to our to-do list. However, the invitation of Jesus to receive rest is followed by the call to take His yoke, His way upon ourselves. True rest requires effort. Following the way of Jesus is the only way that we receive true rest and true life.

While the journey of becoming like Jesus is lifelong and difficult at times, one of the main takeaways from the book of Philippians is that God will finish what he started. We see that God is always holding on to us, even as we struggle and face setbacks along the way.

Tonight, Bob teaches on how our willingness to love and follow the Lord in the midst of suffering is our greatest witness. God is faithful to work through it all for His greater good in our lives.

In this series, we take a look at the letter Paul wrote the Philippians and see how we can apply it to our lives today. This week, we dive into a major theme of Philippians: We are meant to become like Him. Our primary assignment as his followers, as his disciples, is to be like Him.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he writes that Jesus is the most worthy of honor and worship. Therefore, He is worthy of all our devotion - our love, commitment, and passion. So, how can we give Him all the devotion He is deserving of while still having other things we love, are committed to, and are passionate about?

The Bible was written thousands of years ago to a world that looks very different from our own, which can make it difficult to understand. As an authority in our lives as followers of Jesus, this week we explore how to approach the Bible and learn to read it well to become more like Jesus.

This week we wrap up our series on mental health by looking at where our hope comes from in the midst of hard seasons, and how to partner with God in the middle of battling depression and hopelessness.

In Mark 4’s account of Jesus calming the storm, Jesus asks his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” When we deal with anxiety, Jesus is inviting us into faith and trust in Him by knowing that Jesus is with us, has authority over the storms, and is leading us into His plans for our lives!

One of the most challenging parts of coming to college can be the transition we experience in our community and friendships, and it can take longer than we’d like to feel at home. This week we’re looking at what scripture has to say about community, and finding some practical ways to partner with God in building community and friendships in the midst of loneliness.

As you read through the gospels and you pay attention to the things Jesus did and said, it is absolutely true that He was trying to teach His followers how to live. But at a deeper level, He was just as much teaching them how to think. Because learning how to think different is the key to learning how to live different.

Jesus tells us that he has come that we might have abundant life, but his definition of ‘abundant’ is different than the our’s. This week we look at what the abundant life really is, and how we can experience it.

In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that He is the Truth. This week we explore that one reason Jesus came to earth was to reveal the truth of who God really is–that He is a Father who forgives anyone and everyone who comes to Him and repents. 

Jesus is meant to be more than just a part of our freshman year–He is meant to be at the center of everything we do during our freshman year. This week we look at the life of Peter, as he went from fisherman to a follower of Jesus, and attempt to answer the question: What was it about Jesus that made Peter go all in?

For the final Freshley, we sat down with 4 Freshley small group leaders to hear about their own transition from their freshman year into the greater body of Wesley. Jake, Sam, Olivia, and Haven each shared their perspectives on leadership, community, and pursuing your personal relationship with God. 

This week we wrap up our series called Rooted by talking about the parable of the sower in Mark 4. Jesus shows us that the only thing we can control about our fruitfulness is the condition of our hearts. We want to be a people who give God the best of our attention and affection, because when we do, we can reap a harvest “30, 60, even a hundred times what was sown.”

In this week's message, Bob talked about how transparent discipleship is one of our best tools to deepen our roots and mature our relationships with Christ. 

Prayer is how we enter into and experience relationship with the Lord. It brings us to Him, and Him to us. How do we pray? What are those key ingredients? Why do we pray? Abiding in Jesus is the foundation of a fruitful life. Prayer is more than head knowledge; it’s heart and soul knowledge. 

As followers of Jesus, our ultimate goal is to become more and more like Jesus, full of the fruit of the spirit in every season as we place our hope in him. However, much of our hope, peace, and joy is based on our circumstances. This week we look at how we can be rooted in Jesus as our source of hope, and how Scripture can help us get there.

The night before Jesus went to the cross, He had a moment of excitement. He communicates that Him leaving was actually a good thing because it meant that the Spirit was coming. The problem is: we don’t buy that. The Spirit wants to move through us to see “even greater things,” and He moves best when we are available, aware, and willing to act!