Growing closer to God doesn't just happen, it requires intentional habits that we build into our daily lives to align our hearts with His.

Christmas is about God coming to earth as an infant to show His incredible love for His people. At God’s appointed time, Jesus, God’s Son was born into humble beginnings, and His birth was announced to the most lowly in society. Yet God’s big plans for His Son was to fulfill a rescue mission that will prove Jesus to be the Savior of the world. The story of Christmas is the greatest of all stories. However, our familiarity with the story can cause us to lose our wonder. Join us this advent season as we take a fresh look at the main characters of the Christmas story – Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. By looking at these characters with new eyes and surprising insights, the hope is that the meaning of Christmas will recapture our heart and refresh our mind about the wonder of Christmas.

Joseph found himself in an unimaginable situation. His virgin fiancée was found to be pregnant with a child that wasn't his. As he considered his next steps, he believed and acted on an angel's message to him, taking Mary to be his wife. His courage to act obediently to God's call on his life to do what is right, not just what's comfortable is an example for every Christian to follow. --- The story of Christmas is the greatest of all stories. However, our familiarity with the story can cause us to lose our wonder. Join us this advent season as we take a fresh look at the main characters of the Christmas story – Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. By looking at these characters with new eyes and surprising insights, the hope is that the meaning of Christmas will recapture our heart and refresh our mind about the wonder of Christmas.

Surprised by her encounter with the angel Gabriel, Mary, the mother of Jesus said yes to God's invitation into an extraordinary life. While she might not have fully understood what was being asked of her, she knew enough to know that submitting to God's will for her life would come with great sacrifice. Luke provides for us a glimpse into the extraordinary life of the mother of Jesus and her prominent role in the Christmas story. --- The story of Christmas is the greatest of all stories. However, our familiarity with the story can cause us to lose our wonder. Join us this advent season as we take a fresh look at the main characters of the Christmas story – Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. By looking at these characters with new eyes and surprising insights, the hope is that the meaning of Christmas will recapture our heart and refresh our mind about the wonder of Christmas.

Throughout the book of Jonah God reveals His character to us. He demonstrates His sovereignty and proves His love is for all people everywhere. He taught us of the greatness of His mercy and the lengths He will go to prove His love to those who don’t deserve it. For those of us who know God’s mercy and have benefited from it, how can we do any less than treat others the way God treats us! --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

Our willingness (or ability) to hear God's word is directly correlated to the condition of our heart. If our heart is the soil in this parable, we need to evaluate the condition of our soil, so-to-speak. If it's not fertile, if it's not receptive, if it's full of thorns, we will go through life missing the full truth. Jesus himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6) and we know that in the beginning was the Word (Jn 1:1). A major component of our walk with Christ is to be prepping the soil, so that his truth – the truth of who Jesus is, will be able to take root, by the work of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.

Jonah preached God’s message to Nineveh and thousands of people repented and turned to God to be saved from His judgment against them. Instead of rejoicing in God’s mercy and grace extended to the people in Nineveh, Jonah became angry with God and let God know how he felt. While Jonah’s heart is revealed and his sin exposed, God still deals with Jonah gently to align his heart with God’s heart for people. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

Turning from evil and the outward signs of repentance by the Ninevites is a model for us what true repentance and faith is. Jesus preached repentance throughout His ministry and Peter tells us that God is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Because God is a merciful God, the Lord extends His forgiveness to all who repent of their sin, which has been His real desire for humanity all along. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

Join us this Sunday as Keith Hamilton from Alaska Christian College shares a message.

Jonah was a reluctant prophet, yet God gave him a second chance to go where God was sending him on mission. Like Jonah, we are all called to go with God to do God’s work in the world. Being on mission for Jesus might not mean leaving your community to go to another to preach the gospel but it always means being a blessing to others in word and deed no matter where you find yourself. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

In a time of disobedience and running from God, Jonah experiences God’s great grace when he turns to God in prayer and asks Him for help. In staying true to His character, God demonstrates that He is the great Rescuer and that salvation belongs to the Lord. Jonah’s prayer provides for us four principles that will help us in times of trouble to know God’s mercy and experience His amazing grace. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

Join us for a message from Pastor Darrell Nelson, retired pastor of Mission Covenant Church of Poplar, WI!

The Bible says that God is a present help in times of trouble. Look to Jesus when life feels out of control so that you don’t exchange the idols of self-effort, self-protection, and/or self-preservation for trust in the mercy of God. You can be certain self-help will be no match to the power of God at work in your life. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

Join us for a message from Pastor Eugene of Shalom Covenant Church!

Being a Christian means we now have a new identity and purpose in the world. God’s desire is that we will embrace people who are not like us and show them what His love, mercy, and grace are all about. Nothing will hinder our effectiveness in reaching people for Jesus more than when Christians don’t live like Christians. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

Rebelling against God is serious. God never takes our sin lightly. In fact, our sin can be the reason for storms in our lives and in the lives of those around us. While not all storms in life are the result of our sin, God is ready and willing to use a storm to turn us back to Him. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Nineveh about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

The book of Jonah is about God and His love for humanity. It proves God’s sovereignty, demonstrates His compassion and mercy, and calls us who belong to God to be on mission with Him in the world. Throughout the book of Jonah, we will learn about the will of God and how we are to respond to it. We will also learn about the love of God and how we are to share it with others. --- God wants all people everywhere to know His great love for them. And long before the Great Commission was given to the church, God chose a prophet named Jonah to tell people in Ninevah about God’s amazing grace. Jonah knew God was merciful and initially responded in disobedience by not bringing God’s message to a people he saw as his enemy. Throughout this sermon series we will see how God gives second chances, demonstrates His compassion, and proves His love for all people everywhere.

While the seasons of life constantly change God's faithfulness never does. Each season brings fresh opportunities to serve Him, whether through raising children, mentoring others, or offering comfort in grief. We are called not to wait for an "easier season" but to rely on God's strength and be faithful right where we are.

A sign of Christian maturity is living generously and learning to be content in life regardless of our situation or circumstance. Paul describes the contented life of a believer as one whose confidence is in the spiritual resources abundantly provided by Christ. This means that in Christ we lack nothing and have everything we need to live the Christian life. Together we will explore what we can do to grow up in Christ and live a life of generosity and contentment. --- Wanted: A joyful life! Have the burdens in life been robbing you of your joy? Joy is a gift from God that we can have in all circumstances. Living for Jesus can lead to a life of peace and contentment regardless of what life brings. A Christian's joy is one of the most attractive things to a watching world to help them see the difference Jesus can make.

Living in a world that is filled with chaos, dysfunction, and hostility often results in discontentment, unnecessary conflicts, and anxious living. But God doesn’t want us to live a life filled with anger, broken relationships, or anxiety. He wants us to experience peace, joy, and contentment even in troubled times. Paul gives us some practical advice on how to fight for peace in our life. --- Wanted: A joyful life! Have the burdens in life been robbing you of your joy? Joy is a gift from God that we can have in all circumstances. Living for Jesus can lead to a life of peace and contentment regardless of what life brings. A Christian's joy is one of the most attractive things to a watching world to help them see the difference Jesus can make.