Venture Church Messages

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 Many of us have heard this verse at graduations or baby dedications and maybe even know it by heart. But do we know why it was said, who wrote it down, and what struggles he faced? The Book of Jeremiah shows us a man with grit...

Mother's Day elicits so many mixed emotions. Sweet, understanding, bittersweet, hard, toxic, complicated - do any of these words describe your relationship with your mother? Community, loving, missional, healing, hurt, hypocrites - like mothers, the church can evoke vastly different reactions. Through all of these responses, it can be hard to navigate loving others and following Jesus well. Bu...

Shepherd, poet, giant killer, king - this is how we usually remember David. But alongside that list stands another - betrayer, liar, adulterer, murderer. The Bible makes no effort to hide David’s failures, yet he is still remembered and respected for his heart for God. When we consider our own lives, our biggest mistakes can quickly bubble to the surface of our minds, but there is good news! Even...

One church, multiple locations! Every Sunday, five campuses across south Mississippi and hundreds of individuals around the world on Church Online hear a single, unified message from one of our teaching pastors streamed from our broadcast location. As each campus hears a live message from its very own Campus Pastor, our prayer is that you will be challenged, encouraged, united, and focused on the...

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about following Jesus, but the reality is that we all need a Savior! There is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness or redemption. When we repent and follow Jesus, He reclaims us from sin and death for eternal life and purpose as part of His Father’s Kingdom! When we are reclaimed, He gives us a brand-new life! Today, as a church family, we celebrate thr...

The eggs have been dyed, hidden, and hunted, and the only trace of candy is a basket full of wrappers. Easter may be over for the year, but the celebration of the empty tomb never ends! The same power and victory that burst forth from the tomb when Jesus took His first step into the garden is the same power that now actively resides in each of us who believe in Christ as Savior. Jesus calls us not...

Have you ever felt abandoned? Unwanted, discarded, and unworthy of love? The beauty of Easter is that Jesus, fully God and fully human, understands exactly how you feel! On the cross, Jesus was abandoned by God, His Father, so that we would never be. He is a friend who will never let you down. On Easter, believers from around the world lift their worship as one Church to celebrate Jesus' victo...

As we look toward Easter, don't miss the significance of Palm Sunday, a foundational day in the history of the Church and God's people. This is a celebration of victory just as much as Easter! In Biblical times, Roman generals would ride through the street on a donkey after the war was won to commemorate their victory. On Palm Sunday, Jesus did things differently! He announced His victory...

A devastating assault on Gen Z, a growing battle for men, and a raging war that 1/3 of all people fight. Can we really have victory over anxiety? Anxiety is running rampant, but we don’t have to surrender in defeat. Jesus won the victory over sin, shame, and death when He walked out of the grave, and His victory continues to flow out of the grave and into our lives today. In 1 Peter 5, we find bat...

Would you sell your future for a bowl of soup just like Esau does in Genesis 25? Your immediate response is probably “Absolutely not!” But the reality is we all have appetites, strong desires that seek total satisfaction in a substance or activity. Just like Esau, we are tempted to trade the ultimate for the immediate, and our responses to these appetites determine the direction and quality of our...

Do you need renewal and restoration in your life? Are you hungry for revival? Tension in our lives shows where our desires have turned deadly. When left unchecked, those deadly desires can take root and sin enters our lives. The enemy turns sin to shame, but God can cover and redeem even the deepest shame. Revival starts when we realize how broken we are and how good our God is. Press into God, ge...

What legacy do you want to leave? Riches, good morals, wisdom, faith? What will you pass on to the people around you? God has a plan for His people to reflect God’s character in their everyday lives. He has given men four life-giving responsibilities to live a full life of purpose. The glory of God is a man fully alive! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"...Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10. The Lord's Prayer teaches us to pray for God's Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven, but how do we see heaven break into the earth? How does this happen? Through us! God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, and we have work to do! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love warped by hatred, unity broken by discord, peace wrecked by unrest, and truth twisted by confusion. Sound familiar? It’s easy to recognize that our culture has become deeply divided over some very difficult-to-address topics, but the human struggle is not new. It goes all the way back to the book of Genesis, woven through the pages of the Old and New Testaments including Jesus's ministry on e...

Have you gotten off track in your relationships? In your marriage? When our foundation is built on Christ and there is the mutual pursuit of God in patience and humility, we can live in unity. Join us as we discuss the blessing we receive when we do marriage God’s way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No dessert until you finish your dinner. Don't wear white after Labor Day. Treat others as you would like to be treated. What are some rules you have to follow? Though rules can seem restricting at times, loving rules act as guardrails for what is good and pleasing. Our heavenly Father has rules for His children as well, and LOVE is number one on His list! Discover how we can invite Heaven to eart...

Do you ever just quietly sit with no distractions and no agenda? How does it work in your prayer life? Psalms 46:10 tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” When we come to God to sit in His presence, we get the opportunity to connect with Him and surrender our struggles to Him. In all circumstances and every season, we can be still, know God, and just pray. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

What is the best gift you’ve ever received? How do you respond when you receive a blessing? It’s natural to feel grateful, but how often do you stop to show your gratitude? Stop and think about all the things God has given you and all the ways that God has blessed you. There is power in gratitude, and God deserves our praise for all He has done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

Why do you pray? For comfort, help, and guidance? To give thanks and praise? As we bow our heads in prayer, some may even be asking, “Why should we pray?” The answer is not in what we ask for but who we approach. Today we’ll discover the primary purpose of prayer – to be in the presence of our Father. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Year, new you! January is often filled with lists of things to do and habits to change in hopes of living a better, happier life. Happiness is the emotional response to your current outcome, but joy isn’t found in our success, achievements, or circumstances. True joy starts with an attitude of gratitude towards the Lord. We need to begin this year with a plan, not to DO something but to BE som...

A new year means fresh, unique opportunities to reflect and set new priorities. Before you spend too much time making goals to be a whole new you this year, slow down to consider what your next best step could be. We can let fear and past patterns drive our plans, or we can instead trust in the future God has for us. Remember who holds the future, and find a reason to praise Him for His presence i...

When you lose power during a storm in the middle of the night, the wait for the light to return can seem scary, isolating, and hopeless. In the period from Malachi to Matthew, the Jewish people waited in silence and dark hopelessness for God to send a Savior, but even in that darkness, they had a promise of hope. Hope was delivered to all mankind through Jesus after 400 years. Jesus came as a man...

As we continue to celebrate advent and anticipate the arrival of Christmas, we are reminded that Christmas is so much more than presents and parties; it’s an invitation to live with deep joy and satisfaction regardless of our circumstances. Advent is about choosing the hope of Jesus over hate. As we look to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are reminded that although following...

The holidays can bring so much joy, excitement, and anticipation! Other times, the holidays approaching can feel like getting caught in a torrential storm. Maybe it’s a storm of grief, of loneliness, or of anxiety. No matter what season, our lives hold a forecast of 100% chance of storms. In these storms, our perspective becomes limited, and we are often led to ask “God, are you there?” By looking...

You've eaten your fill of turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce, and now, the Christmas season has officially arrived! As you enter this season of joyful anticipation, you'll have plenty of practice waiting for gifts and gatherings. But waiting is not always as enjoyable as our favorite holiday festivities. Sometimes seasons of waiting bring frustration. Today, we'll discuss three ways to make...