Messages

The Christian life is simple: Just follow Jesus and He takes care of it all, right? Actually, Jesus made it clear that the longer we follow him, the more we have to give up. However, the more we give up, the more we discover that what we were holding onto was nowhere near as valuable as we thought it was.

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The Cost-Part 2: Where Worldviews Go to Die
The Cost-Part 2: Where Worldviews Go to Die

Everyone of us wants to live in a better world, but we do not agree on what a better world looks like. In this message, we find out that Jesus is better than all our utopian ideals.

The Cost-Part 1: A Life Worth Losing
The Cost-Part 1: A Life Worth Losing

This week we begin a new series in the Book of Luke: The Cost. In this message we learn that it is impossible to believe that Jesus is messiah and Son of God and still hold onto our own lives.

How would you react if you saw something unbelievable?

Throughout the gospel of Luke, Jesus consistently does the unbelievable so that our concepts of what’s possible gets stretched. There is one common thread through all the miracles that Jesus performs: He does the unbelievable so that we may start to believe.

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Unbelievable-Part 11: What about you?
Unbelievable-Part 11: What about you?

Jesus was a master at asking questions. In today's message, Jesus asks us the most important question of our lives.

Unbelievable-Part 10: In the Game
Unbelievable-Part 10: In the Game

In this series, we have seen Jesus do all sorts of unbelievable things. This week, we find out the most amazing thing about following Jesus isn't just that He does the unbelievable for us, but He chooses to do it through us.

Unbelievable-Part 9: Sent
Unbelievable-Part 9: Sent

In this week's message, Jesus does the unbelievable in inviting His apostles to take on the mission of spreading the Good News of the Kingdom.

Unbelievable-Part 8: Push-Through Faith
Unbelievable-Part 8: Push-Through Faith

What do you do when you find faith difficult to hang onto? In this week's message, we find out that sometimes we have to push through before we see break-through.

Unbelievable-Part 7: On the Other Side
Unbelievable-Part 7: On the Other Side

When you follow Jesus, He often takes you where you have never thought of going. In this message, Jesus not only takes the apostles to the other side of the lake, but also to the other side of something entirely unexpected.

Unbelievable-Part 6: Where is your faith
Unbelievable-Part 6: Where is your faith

In this message, Pastor Mike exposes three things Jesus calls His followers to.

Unbelievable-Part 5: Sowing Seeds
Unbelievable-Part 5: Sowing Seeds

In this message, Jesus teaches about the unbelievable power of the gospel when it is spread everywhere.

Unbelievable-Part 4: The Depth of Our Debt
Unbelievable-Part 4: The Depth of Our Debt

In the fourth message of the Unbelievable series, we learn the depth of Jesus' forgiveness.

Unbelievable-Part 3: Losing that Loving Feeling
Unbelievable-Part 3: Losing that Loving Feeling

Have you ever been disappointed by God? In this week's message, we look at John the Baptist in his lowest moment as he begins to wonder if Jesus really is the messiah.

Unbelievable-Part 2: Beyond You
Unbelievable-Part 2: Beyond You

In this message, Jesus does the most unbelievable thing anyone can imagine: He raises someone from the dead. In it we learn that even when things are beyond you, they're never beyond Jesus.

Unbelievable-Part 1: How to Amaze God
Unbelievable-Part 1: How to Amaze God

How would you begin to try to amaze God? Would it be through your obedience? Your knowledge of scripture? Or, perhaps you could impress God with your great works of compassion? In this week's message, we encounter someone who amazed Jesus, and learn that we can do the very same thing.

Belief in Jesus is a core aspect of Christianity—even to the point that if you asked, most people would tell you they believe in Jesus. However, if our society is so filled with believers, why does it obviously not reflect Kingdom values?

In this series, we discover that Jesus was never looking for believers only. His first and most potent call on us was to become followers—a people changed by Him, living for Him, and influencing the world toward Him.

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Follow-Part 9: Matters of the Heart
Follow-Part 9: Matters of the Heart

In this message, Jesus reminds us how important it is to align our heart with His

Follow-Part 8: Judging Rightly
Follow-Part 8: Judging Rightly

Jesus tells us "judge not," but is that the whole of it? In this message, Pastor Mike shares Jesus' words about how to divine truth from error without moving into condemnation.

Follow-Part 6: One of those days
Follow-Part 6: One of those days

Jesus was about to have one of those days. We have all had one of those days before. Sometimes those are great days, but often they can be very difficult days. Sometimes they are both. Let’s look at how Jesus dealt with his most important days and most important decisions.

Follow-Part 5: Lord of the Sabbath
Follow-Part 5: Lord of the Sabbath

This week's message is a look into the biblical meaning of the Sabbath, how it applies to us and what Jesus meant by calling himself the Lord of the Sabbath.

Follow-Part 4: New Wineskins
Follow-Part 4: New Wineskins

It's so easy to get caught up in our own tried and true thinking. The problem is, the more convinced we are that we're right, the hard it is to see what God is doing. In this message, Jesus teaches us that embracing new truths doesn't mean sacrificing eternal truth.

Follow-Part 3: Faith Fiesta
Follow-Part 3: Faith Fiesta

The biggest obstacle to following Jesus is ourselves. But when we learn that even we can't get in the way of God's love for us, we have reason to celebrate!

Follow-Part 2: The Experience
Follow-Part 2: The Experience

So often, we come to Jesus because we want things from Him. In this week's message, we see three things Jesus wants for us.

Follow-Part 1: Start Here
Follow-Part 1: Start Here

Our relationship with Jesus begins with a simple, yet powerful truth: Following Him means leaving something behind.

To follow Jesus isn’t just about receiving forgiveness and going to heaven. It is to answer the upward call God has on our lives. That call always creates a tension between our character and our comfort.

In this series, we discover four key tests that God uses to expose the condition of our character.

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Tested-Part 4: The Test of Popularity
Tested-Part 4: The Test of Popularity

As the news about of Jesus grew, so did His popularity. In this message, we learn why it is important to be aware of the dangers of popularity and how to stay centered on God's call.

Tested-Part 3: The Test of Authority
Tested-Part 3: The Test of Authority

There was one thing everyone noticed about Jesus: Everything He did carried authority. In this message, we learn why it is important to surrender to Jesus’ authority.

Tested-Part 2: The Test of Acceptance
Tested-Part 2: The Test of Acceptance

In this Easter message, we see Jesus face the test of Acceptance and learn that the only way we can be accepted is through the risen Messiah.

Tested-Part 1: The Test of Temptation
Tested-Part 1: The Test of Temptation

Everyone who sees their lives through the lens of God's plan realize one thing: He has called to an incredible mission. The tests God puts us through help us evaluate how prepared we are to step into His calling. In this message, we find out how Jesus helps us face the test of temptation.

Origin stories are powerful. Through them, we get to identify with the humanity and victories of our heroes. In this series, we look at the incarnation of Jesus and what it means to us as His disciples.

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Origin Story-Part 11: Jesus Baptized
Origin Story-Part 11: Jesus Baptized

Baptism is a unique, defining aspect of what it means to be Christian. In this message, we see how Jesus' baptism sets the tone for every one of His followers.

Origin Story-Part 10: The Power of Repentance
Origin Story-Part 10: The Power of Repentance

John's ministry revolved around one concept: Repentance. In this message, we learn how repentance welcomes Jesus as Messiah.

Origins-Part 9: Lost in Plain Sight
Origins-Part 9: Lost in Plain Sight

Yes, Jesus was the Son of God, but He was also human. Like all men, that means He needed to grow. In this message, we explore four key ingredients to effective life-growth.

Origin Story-Part 8: High Expectations
Origin Story-Part 8: High Expectations

He was eight days old--too young to do anything. However, for a few people, their expectations of Him were without bounds. In this message, find out how to live with faith in the unfulfilled.

Origin Story--Part 7: Seek, Share, Shout
Origin Story--Part 7: Seek, Share, Shout

The birth of Jesus was a once-in-history event witnessed by the most humble of people. In this message, we see why God often does his greatest miracles in the presence of the least important people, and what we should do about it.

Origin Story-Part 6: Past, Present, Future
Origin Story-Part 6: Past, Present, Future

Continuing in our study of Luke, we find out how God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises helps us be faithful to Him in each moment.

Origin Story-Part 5: Custom or Kingdom
Origin Story-Part 5: Custom or Kingdom

Culture, customs, and traditions make up a huge part of how we live our lives and make our decisions. But sometimes, we have to put God's Kingdom ahead of our customs.

Origin Story-Part 4: The Best Place for Praise
Origin Story-Part 4: The Best Place for Praise

We were built to praise God. Trouble is, we don't always know how to do it authentically. In this message, Mary teaches us the one thing that results in authentic praise.

Origin Story-Part 3: Blessed?
Origin Story-Part 3: Blessed?

Everyone wants to be blessed.

But what does it mean to be blessed? In this week's message, we look at two of the most blessed people in Jesus' origin story.

Origin Story-Part 2: What to do with a miracle?
Origin Story-Part 2: What to do with a miracle?

Everybody wants a miracle, right? But what do you do if the your miracle doesn't come in the way you expect? In this week's study of Luke, we look at two reactions to promised miracles and ask the question, are you ready for what God is doing?

Origin Story-Part 1: Locked In
Origin Story-Part 1: Locked In

What would you do different if you were absolutely certain of your faith? This week, we begin our journey through the book of Luke as he writes about the beginnings of Jesus' story. In this message, we find out how Luke's account helps us lock in our faith.

We look back at Christmas as the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago, but the Old Testament prophets looked forward to a coming King that would set things right. In this series, find out that the real power of Christmas is to embrace the promise of Jesus as king in every aspect of your life.

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The Promise-Part 1: Wonderful Counselor
The Promise-Part 1: Wonderful Counselor

It's always a good thing to get good advice. But what would you do if you knew you had access to miraculous wisdom? In this message, we find out that Jesus is just that kind of gift.

The Promise-Part 2: Mighty God
The Promise-Part 2: Mighty God

With the right amount of determination and skill, we can overcome most of the difficulties and challenges we face. But things like sin and death are insurmountable. That's why the promise of Jesus as Mighty God is so important.

The Promise-Part 3: Everlasting Father
The Promise-Part 3: Everlasting Father

One of the best promises of Christmas is that God wants to be in relationship with us. He isn't satisfied with us just being servants. He wants children so that He can be an Everlasting Father.

The Promise-Part 4: The Prince of Peace
The Promise-Part 4: The Prince of Peace

The world is chaos. Our families can't get along. We have a hard time accepting ourselves. We have so many reasons to be upset. But the promise of Christmas is that Jesus will be our Prince of Peace.

Gratitude is a powerful emotion that has the potential to transform our lives and relationships in meaningful ways. It is the act of acknowledging and appreciating the goodness and blessings we have received, whether big or small. In a world that often emphasizes wants and needs, cultivating a spirit of gratitude is crucial for our overall well-being and happiness.

In this series, we find out how God works through gratitude to make us more like Him.

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The Grateful Life-Part 3: Contagious Gratitude
The Grateful Life-Part 3: Contagious Gratitude

When we live lives of gratitude, it overflows onto others and multiplies.

The Grateful Life-Part 2: Generous Gratitude
The Grateful Life-Part 2: Generous Gratitude

Here's a simple truth: God gives! He gives freely, generously, and lavishly. One of the best ways to display our gratitude is to be generous givers as well.

The Grateful Life-Part 1: Choose Gratitude
The Grateful Life-Part 1: Choose Gratitude

Through Christ, God showers down so many blessings. The problem is, it is easy to take those for granted. In this message, we find out how gratitude opens us to the changes God wants to do inside us.

How do you handle trouble when it comes your way? Do you ignore it and hope it goes away? Or perhaps, you face it straight on? Or maybe, you find a way to dodge it altogether?

More importantly, do you know how to see trouble before it arrives?

In this series, we look at several areas that scripture tells us to “Watch Out” for. In it, we find out that the best way to handle trouble is to see it before it gets here, and find ways to avoid it.

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Watch Out-Part 6: I Have My Rights!
Watch Out-Part 6: I Have My Rights!

Especially in North America, we take pride in our rights. The problem is, our rights can destroy others. In this message, we find out how to watch out for the damage we can do by insisting on our rights.

Watch Out-Part 5: Showing Off
Watch Out-Part 5: Showing Off

Everyone of us searches for some level of affirmation. However, when it comes to faith, our search for approval leads to much less than we think.

Watch Out-Part 4: The Hidden Threat
Watch Out-Part 4: The Hidden Threat

In this message, we find out how to watch out for a hidden condition that keeps us from completely enjoying God.'s goodness.

Watch Out - Part 3: Of Sheep and Wolves
Watch Out - Part 3: Of Sheep and Wolves

Have you ever seen something that's too good to be true? As followers of Christ, we believe the miraculous is possible. The problem is, our expectation for or desire to see miracles makes us easy targets for dishonest people. In this episode, we find out why it is so important to practice discernment in the face of so-called miracle-workers.

Watch Out-Part 2: Not Just Any Jesus
Watch Out-Part 2: Not Just Any Jesus

Is it enough for people just say they believe in Jesus? What if the "Jesus" they believe in is not the Jesus of the gospels? In this message, we learn that we are to Watch Out for those who would deceive us into accepting a different Jesus.

Watch Out-Part 1: Can You See It?
Watch Out-Part 1: Can You See It?

Over and over again, scripture warns us to watch out for certain things. But what do you do when you see trouble ahead? In this message, we find out the best way to handle trouble is to avoid it.

Life is complicated. But it doesn’t always have to be that way. We all have a knack for making things more complicated than they need to be.

The truth is, we do the same thing with faith. We take simple faith and make it so hard on ourselves. That’s how we change relationship into religion.

In this series, we look at one clear lens that, when we look through it, simplifies everything we do in our faith lives.

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Simple-Part 5: The Long Haul
Simple-Part 5: The Long Haul

The simplest life is to find and follow God's will. However, life can be a long haul. We need perseverance to finish well.

Simple-Part 4: Orienting Upward
Simple-Part 4: Orienting Upward

In this message, we discover three practices that keep our attitude aligned with God's upward call.

Simple-Part 3: The Good Life
Simple-Part 3: The Good Life

The simplest life is to find and follow God's will. When we surrender to God's moral will, life gets better and we become a light to others.

Simple-Part 2: An Eye to the End
Simple-Part 2: An Eye to the End

God has an overarching plan for all of creation. When we align our lives to that plan, faith becomes simpler.

Simple-Part 1: Stripped-Down Faith
Simple-Part 1: Stripped-Down Faith

Complicated faith turns into religion. As we begin a new series, we find out how to keep our faith as simple as can be.

Whether or not you want to admit it, the moment you become a Christ follower you volunteer for battle.

In this series, we look at the armor that God provides for us so we can have victory in our walk with Jesus.

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Armor Up-Part 7: The Sword of the Spirit
Armor Up-Part 7: The Sword of the Spirit

That we're in a spiritual battle is inarguable. Some of us, however, would prefer to just armor up and hide. The truth is, we can't stand firm by stay safe. In this message we find out that with the sword God gives, we're dangerous.

Armor Up-Part 6: Helm of Salvation
Armor Up-Part 6: Helm of Salvation

For some reason or other we all face doubt. Not doubt in God, but doubt in ourselves. During such times, we need the protection of knowing our salvation is completely in God's hands and if we did nothing to earn it, we cannot do anything to lose it.

Armor Up-Part 5: The Shield of Faith
Armor Up-Part 5: The Shield of Faith

If you follow Jesus, you will be targeted by the enemy. Faith is the shield that keeps his attacks at bay.

Armor Up-Part 4: Walking with the Gospel
Armor Up-Part 4: Walking with the Gospel

One of the first things every soldier learns to do is march. In this message, we learn that we are to go forward with steps that lead people to peace with God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Armor Up-Part 3: The Breastplate of Righteousness
Armor Up-Part 3: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Our righteousness comes straight from Jesus. However, when our lifestyle veers from our position in Christ, our hearts get damaged. In this message, we learn how important it is to align ourselves to Christ's righteousness.

Armor Up-Part 2: The Belt of Truth
Armor Up-Part 2: The Belt of Truth

Jesus proclaimed that knowing the truth sets us free from the bondage of sin.

Armor Up-Part 1: In the Fight
Armor Up-Part 1: In the Fight

Whether we want to admit it or not, when we become a follower of Jesus, we're volunteering for battle. This is why we have to learn how to Armor Up every day.