What if happiness doesn't have to wait until every problem is solved? As we continue studying the Fruit of the Spirit, Pastor Steve explores how God can grow genuine joy in us even in the middle of difficult circumstances. Lasting joy begins when we stay connected to Jesus instead of expecting relationships, success, or changing circumstances to provide what only God can give. When fear, bitterness, and trials threaten our joy, we can bring them honestly to God and trust Him to use even difficult seasons to strengthen us. The joy of the Lord doesn't mean pretending everything is fine—it gives us strength and renewal as God works in our lives. No matter what season we're facing, we can make room for God's joy today.

Yesterday my two sons, Stevie and Caleb, plus a good friend of Caleb’s, played in a "CAPS" College Area Pregnancy Services golf tournament to raise money for CAPS. We played on one of the best golf courses in the United States. It all sounds dreamy until you factor in that we played on one of the hottest days of the year. It was so hot that several foursomes came in early. I seriously thought I might pass out around mid-afternoon. As a team we did okay, but the important thing is that we raised around 12 to 13 hundred dollars for CAPS, that was from our team alone. I believe life is precious. I am not pro-choice because the Bible is not pro-choice when it comes to the life of a baby.

Love is the first fruit Paul mentions in Galatians 5, and it is foundational to everything that follows. Biblical agape love is more than an emotion—it is unconditional, sacrificial, selfless love that moves us to action. First Corinthians 13 shows us what this love looks like in everyday life: it is patient and kind, celebrates instead of envies, chooses humility, extends grace, forgives, and refuses to give up. We can love this way because God first demonstrated that kind of love toward us through Jesus. As the Holy Spirit transforms our lives, our love for others should become increasingly visible in the way we speak, serve, forgive, and respond to difficult people. Jesus said that our love for one another would be one of the clearest ways the world recognizes us as His disciples.

Do you ever think about the people who have contributed to your life and, to some degree, made you the person you are today? Hebrews 12 begins with these words, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.”  The author of Hebrews is making reference to those who have finished their journey in this world and are now with the Lord. You and I are standing on the shoulders of some of those people, although some of the people whose shoulders we are standing on may still be alive today.

We provide 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.

What does it really mean to live a Spirit-filled life? In Galatians 5, Paul teaches us that freedom in Christ isn't the freedom to live for ourselves—it's the freedom to love and serve others. Every day, we experience a conflict between our sinful nature and the Holy Spirit, which is why we're called to keep walking in the Spirit. As we remain connected to Jesus, the Holy Spirit produces character in us that we could never manufacture on our own. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not qualities we simply choose from a menu—they are all part of becoming more like Jesus. As the fruit of the Spirit becomes visible in our lives, the world begins to see something different in us.

I love the Bible and I have a lot of favorite verses. At some point in my life, Romans 8:1 became my life verse. Why and how?

One day I was reading through Romans again, and when I say again, I mean maybe the 200th time. Suddenly Romans 8:1, which says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” came alive to me. It was like an epiphany. I realized that although I am far from perfect, meaning I still sin, because I am in Christ I am not condemned. For some people that’s a no-brainer, but for me it was a revelation.

We provide 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.

Following Jesus isn't something we practice only on Sundays—it should shape every relationship and responsibility in our lives. In Colossians 3 and 4, Paul shows us how Christ transforms the way we live at home, approach our work, pray, and interact with the world around us. Our faith becomes visible through Christlike love, integrity, persistent prayer, and words filled with both truth and grace. Even ordinary work can become worship when we remember that ultimately we are serving Christ. As followers of Jesus, our conduct and conversations are part of our Gospel witness. Wherever God places us, we have an opportunity to let others see Christ through the way we live.

In my devotions this morning I was reading from John 11 where Jesus raises his good friend Lazarus from the dead. If you haven’t read it, Jesus is notified by Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, that their brother is seriously sick. Of course they have seen Jesus heal a lot of people and probably have the utmost confidence that Jesus will come right over and heal their brother.

We provide 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.

Following Jesus isn't about putting our old life under better management—it's about living from the new identity we've been given in Christ. In Colossians 3, Paul uses the picture of changing clothes to show us what transformation looks like. We're called to take off the old habits and attitudes that no longer belong in our lives and put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. This wardrobe change isn't something we do once; it's a daily decision to live like the new person Christ has made us to be. The Christian life doesn't begin with “Try harder,” but with the truth that we have been raised with Christ. Each new day gives us another opportunity to take off the old and put on the new.

Have you noticed that certain words suddenly become vogue in our vocabulary? When I first began to hear people use the word agency, I wasn’t quite sure I had a handle on the meaning of it. It’s a word that can be used in a corporate sense or government sense in that they have agencies to help people. However, I want to focus on individual agency, which is the capacity of people to act independently, make their own free choices, and shape their own lives despite social structures.

There are so many negative things happening in the world right now that if we are not careful, we can lose our sense of agency. …

Following Jesus isn't about adding more rules to our lives or trying harder to earn God's acceptance. In Colossians 2, Paul warns against empty philosophies, religious traditions, and human standards that can distract us from Christ. Through the cross, Jesus has already canceled our debt, defeated the powers against us, and secured our freedom. Religious practices may appear spiritual, but rules alone cannot transform the human heart. Instead of living in the shadows of empty religion, we're invited to build our lives on the reality of Jesus and grow deeper in our relationship with Him.

Sometimes, depending on how we are wired, we might mix up our standards with God’s standards. Let me give you an example. God’s standard in a nutshell is, love God with everything and love your neighbor as yourself. Of course that plays out in a number of ways throughout our life but at the end of the day that's God’s ultimate standard.

The greatest mystery of the Gospel isn't hidden knowledge—it's the incredible truth that Christ lives in every believer. In this message from Colossians 1:24–2:5, Pastor Steve reminds us that spiritual maturity comes from knowing Jesus more deeply, not from searching for something beyond Him. Paul encourages us to joyfully invest in helping others grow, remain rooted in Christ, and continue walking with Him every day. Rather than drifting toward false ideas, we're called to discover the endless riches already found in Jesus. When Christ is at the center of our lives, we have everything we need to grow and mature in our faith.

My typical morning routine goes something like this: coffee, read Scriptures, and pray. I also like to listen to worship music while I’m stretching out.
A while back I discovered a YouTube station with some really great morning worship. Many of the songs being played on this particular YouTube channel are new to me. Some songs are based on books from the Bible like James, the Psalms, and other books of the Bible. I’m amazed at how they can perfectly match the words of Scripture to some really catchy tunes. In fact, the production is so high quality it kind of blows my mind. Every note and every instrument is sung and played with absolute perfection. As the songs are playing, there are pictures of beautiful places but no pictures of people singing or playing instruments.

Who is Jesus, really? In The Supreme Life – Part 2, Pastor Steve explores Colossians 1:15–23 and shows why the answer to that question changes everything. Paul reveals four foundational truths about Christ: He is fully God, Creator of all things, Head of the Church, and our Redeemer. This message also warns against slowly drifting from our faith and encourages us to remain firmly rooted in the truth of the Gospel. When we recognize Jesus for who He truly is, it transforms the way we worship, trust, and follow Him.

In case you weren’t aware, the acronym FOMO stands for Fear Of Missing Out. I have to be honest, I struggle with FOMO. The problem is that there are so many streams of information coming at me from so many directions it makes me dizzy sometimes. To complicate things, I’m not sure if the information I’m getting is correct in the first place. There has never been a time like this in history, and I don’t think it’s helping us.

Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and the goal is not simply to start well—but to finish well. Pastor Darrel Larson reminds us that faithful endurance comes from offering our everyday lives to God, resisting the pull of culture, and staying connected to the body of Christ. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, we're challenged to focus on our own spiritual growth and continue running the race with purpose. Most importantly, we're reminded never to let Satan define our past because Jesus has already redeemed it. By faithfully walking with Christ each day, we can finish the race with confidence and hope.