Have you ever heard of a trust fall? A trust fall is an activity where a person deliberately falls backward without bracing themselves, relying entirely on another person or group to catch them. When I was a youth pastor, we would invite students to volunteer for the trust fall to demonstrate what faith looks like. Some students could not bring themselves to trust the process. They looked back at the last second and braced themselves for the fall. The students who trusted the process usually walked away saying something like, “Wow, that was so cool.”

Last week we started a new sermon series called “The Art of Being Unordinary.” In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews there is a list of people who had unordinary faith. They chose to believe God against all odds when faced with enormous problems and what appeared to be insurmountable circumstances.

God created each of us to be original, yet the pressure to fit in can cause us to lose sight of who He made us to be. Moses faced his own identity crisis when he had to choose between the privileges of Egypt and identifying with God’s people. His life teaches us the importance of being ourselves, taking responsibility for our choices, and establishing values based on God’s Word. Moses chose God’s purpose over popularity, people over pleasure, and God’s peace over possessions. Even when the journey became difficult, he continued moving forward because he kept his eyes on God. His example challenges us to stop following the crowd and become the people God created us to be.

Through the years I’ve been asked if it’s necessary to go to church to be a Christian. Before I answer that question I think it’s important to bring some clarity about what a church is.

The majority of people, even many Christians, think of church as a place you go to on Sunday to worship the Lord. It’s unfortunate that our word for church has come to mean that because that’s not what church meant when it was used in the first century. In the original language of the New Testament the word for church was Ekklesia, which means an assembly or called out gathering of people, not a building. In other words the church is people, not a building. Not just any people, but the people of God who have committed themselves to following Jesus. What this means is that church is not a place you go to but rather an assembly you are a part of.

We conclude our journey through Mark by exploring the surprising nature of God's Kingdom. While the world pursues power, success, and recognition, Jesus invites us into a revolution marked by humility, sacrifice, and love. His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane demonstrates that God's greatest victories are often accomplished through surrender rather than force. This message challenges us to examine which kingdom shapes our daily choices and values. As followers of Christ, we're called to live differently, trusting the Holy Spirit to help us reflect the character of our King in every area of life.

One of my favorite New Testament verses is Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” In the original Greek the actual word used for handiwork is poem; we are God’s beautiful poem to the world.
Although we are commanded to do good works sometimes we might wonder exactly what good works the Bible is talking about? Of course there is the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is a byproduct of having a relationship with Jesus. It doesn’t mean we automatically have all those things working in our life but hopefully we are moving in that direction. For instance, I’ve struggled with being patient most of my life, but I’ve made a lot of progress in that area. I’m so thankful God is patient with me!
Let’s talk about those good works we are created to do.

Rich Nye takes us to the Garden of Gethsemane, where we see both the humanity and perfect obedience of Jesus. As He faced the cross, Jesus responded with honest prayer, complete surrender to the Father's will, and unwavering faith. This message reminds us that prayer isn't an escape from hardship—it prepares us to walk through it. We're challenged to stay spiritually awake, trust God's plan, and depend on His strength rather than our own. When life becomes difficult, Jesus gives us the pattern to follow: pray, obey, and then move forward in faith.

I follow a pastor from Hawaii on social media. His name is Thomas Costello. He likes to talk about what’s going on in churches in America today. He documents his research with credible sources. In his last video he talked about the giving habits of Christians in churches across America. Some of the information he shared was disappointing and some was encouraging. Here is some of the information he shared.

We are now providing Sermon Recap Questions each week to help you go deeper into Sunday’s message. These questions are designed to guide personal reflection or group discussion, helping you engage more meaningfully with the Scripture and key takeaways from the sermon. Whether you’re spending time with God on your own or connecting with others in a group, this is a simple and practical way to continue growing throughout the week.

We see Jesus enter Jerusalem as King, but not in the way the crowds expected. While the people hoped for political victory and immediate change, Jesus came to bring a deeper salvation. His cleansing of the temple revealed God's desire for a place where all people could encounter Him without barriers. The message challenges us to examine the narratives we create about Jesus and whether they truly align with who He is. Following Christ often means allowing Him to overturn assumptions, priorities, and attitudes in our own lives. Ultimately, discipleship begins when we embrace His story instead of insisting on our own.

Sometimes the best discoveries happen when we change our plans. What started as a simple bicycle ride with friends turned into a journey through parts of San Diego I had never really noticed before. Along the way, familiar landmarks gave way to hidden parks, scenic waterways, and surprising sights that made me see the city with fresh eyes. It reminded me how easy it is to pass by something valuable without truly paying attention to it. Some discoveries only happen when we slow down enough to look a little closer. And often, those discoveries can be more meaningful than we ever expected.

We are now providing Sermon Recap Questions each week to help you go deeper into Sunday’s message. These questions are designed to guide personal reflection or group discussion, helping you engage more meaningfully with the Scripture and key takeaways from the sermon. Whether you’re spending time with God on your own or connecting with others in a group, this is a simple and practical way to continue growing throughout the week.

We explore Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler—a man who seemed to have everything, yet still felt something was missing. His sincere question about eternal life reveals a common misunderstanding that salvation can be earned through good behavior. Jesus lovingly exposes the one thing standing between the man and true freedom: his misplaced trust in wealth and security. Through this encounter, we learn that following Jesus requires surrender, not just morality. The message reminds us that salvation is only possible through God's grace, not our achievements. Ultimately, it challenges us to consider whether anything in our lives is competing with Jesus for first place.

I’ve read the Gospels many times, and I still feel a rush of excitement when I read about Jesus inviting a few commercial fishermen to follow him. In first-century Palestine, students asked rabbis if they could follow them, not the other way around. Those young fishermen jumped at the opportunity to follow Jesus.

Have you ever gotten excited about an invitation? I’ve had many such invitations, and I never get tired of them. On the other hand, I’ve been invited to events I was uncertain about, like parties, sporting events, concerts, mega churches, and too many other kinds of invitations to mention.

We are now providing Sermon Recap Questions each week to help you go deeper into Sunday’s message. These questions are designed to guide personal reflection or group discussion, helping you engage more meaningfully with the Scripture and key takeaways from the sermon. Whether you’re spending time with God on your own or connecting with others in a group, this is a simple and practical way to continue growing throughout the week.

Special guest speaker Pastor Mike Chong Perkinson reminds us that faith is not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep our eyes on God in the middle of life's storms. Looking at King Jehoshaphat's response to overwhelming circumstances in 2 Chronicles 20, we learn the importance of praising God, remembering His faithfulness, and trusting Him when we don't know what to do. Pastor Mike challenges believers to stop focusing on the size of their problems and start focusing on the greatness of God. Through powerful personal stories and biblical truth, he encourages us to remove the armor of self-reliance and fully surrender to God's strength. Even when life feels uncertain, God remains faithful. When we trust Him, we can find peace in the storm and courage to move forward in faith.

I know some of you are going to find this hard to believe, but sometimes I make mistakes. Okay, you can stop laughing now!

Last Sunday I made a mistake in my message, so I want to make sure I correct it.

We are now providing Sermon Recap Questions each week to help you go deeper into Sunday’s message. These questions are designed to guide personal reflection or group discussion, helping you engage more meaningfully with the Scripture and key takeaways from the sermon. Whether you’re spending time with God on your own or connecting with others in a group, this is a simple and practical way to continue growing throughout the week.

Rich Nye explores the Transfiguration of Jesus and the powerful lessons it teaches about faith, suffering, and hope. For a brief moment, Peter, James, and John witness the glory of Christ unveiled, giving them a glimpse of God's coming Kingdom. This mountaintop experience prepared them for the difficult road that lay ahead. The message reminds us that Jesus stands above every other voice and deserves our complete trust and obedience. While life often feels more like a valley than a mountaintop, God gives us reminders of His presence and faithfulness along the way. Ultimately, the Transfiguration points us to the hope that glory comes after suffering.

Stories have a way of connecting us in ways few other things can. Whether it’s how we met a spouse, a life-changing moment, or a memory we never get tired of sharing, our stories reveal who we are. Recently I was reminded how even people we’ve known for years can surprise us when they tell their story. The more we share, the more we discover—and sometimes we find ourselves reliving moments we thought we had left behind. There’s one story in particular that has the power to keep stirring our hearts no matter how many times we tell it.

Pastor Steve is now providing Sermon Recap Questions each week to help you go deeper into Sunday’s message. These questions are designed to guide personal reflection or group discussion, helping you engage more meaningfully with the Scripture and key takeaways from the sermon. Whether you’re spending time with God on your own or connecting with others in a group, this is a simple and practical way to continue growing throughout the week.