As we begin the Advent season leading to Christmas, we look at peace, and what that means for us today. How do you define peace?

Jesus asked his disciples a question that remains crucial today: Who do you say I am? This isn't just about eternal salvation - how we answer shapes every aspect of our daily lives, from relationships to priorities. The danger lies in creating a mascot Jesus who conveniently supports our political views and cultural preferences rather than following the real Christ revealed in Scripture. The authentic Jesus, found in passages like the Sermon on the Mount, often challenges our natural inclinations and calls us to love enemies, show mercy, and demonstrate humility. Our answer to this question either draws people toward Christ or repels them based on what they see in our lives.

Jesus asks a surprising question to a man disabled for 38 years: Do you want to get well? Instead of saying yes, the man lists excuses for why he remains broken. We all face invisible disabilities like fear, shame, guilt, and anger that paralyze us just as much as physical limitations. Jesus came to bring complete freedom from every form of brokenness, but healing requires us to stop focusing on the reasons we're broken and instead look to His power to transform us. When we shift our attention from our problems to His solutions, we can experience the freedom He offers.

Jesus warns us about losing our souls while chasing worldly things, but this isn't just about eternal destiny—it's about becoming hollow right now. When we pursue control, validation, comfort, certainty, or image management, we slowly trade away our capacity for joy, peace, and compassion. This hollowing out happens through small compromises over time, not a single bad decision. Communities can lose their souls too when they choose uniformity over diversity, security over compassion, and comfort over justice. The good news is that we can get our souls back by making an immediate U-turn toward Jesus, who offers abundant life instead of empty pursuits.

Jesus challenges us to move beyond surface-level judgments and truly see people as God sees them. In Luke 7, when a woman anoints Jesus' feet, He asks Simon the Pharisee a profound question: Do you see this woman? This question reveals how we often judge others harshly while excusing ourselves. True seeing means recognizing every person as an image-bearer of God, regardless of their circumstances or past. When we learn to see through Christ's eyes rather than cultural categories, we become agents of healing in a divided world.

Feeling stuck between where you've been and where you're going? God asked Hagar two life-changing questions in the wilderness that can transform how you view your current struggles. What if the difficult season you're trying to escape is exactly where God wants to meet you? The God who sees you is present in your in-between space.

Anger is like a warning light on your dashboard - it alerts you to injustice, but what you do next makes all the difference. God asks us a powerful question when we're angry: Is it right for you to be angry? The answer might surprise you. Are you responding with vengeance or seeking healing?

Ever feel stuck in a place you never intended to be? God has a powerful question that can change everything: What are you doing here? It's not about shame - it's about invitation to something better. Sometimes the breakthrough we need starts with facing the hard questions instead of running from them.

In this sermon, Pastor Shane discusses the final component of the church's vision called 'Forge,' which is a relaunch of their small groups ministry with an emphasis on service. He explains that these small groups will be geographically located and focused on spiritual formation through discipleship and serving the local community. The pastor emphasizes that following Jesus requires letting go of things that divide us and putting Jesus above everything else, including political affiliations and personal comfort.

The ministry of Jesus was characterized by kindness, compassion, and grace rather than judgment or condemnation. Through encounters with both Nicodemus, a religious elite, and a socially ostracized Samaritan woman, Jesus demonstrated that his grace extends to everyone regardless of their background or status. Romans 2 reminds us that it is God's kindness, not fear of punishment, that leads people to repentance. Jesus built his ministry team with individuals who had fundamental disagreements, showing that unity in mission transcends differences. Today, Christians are called to follow this example by approaching others with kindness that draws them toward God rather than pushing them away with condemnation.

Pastor Shane introduces our core values summarized as Be, Belong, Become, and Bless. 'Be' focuses on recognizing ourselves as image bearers of God (Genesis 1:27), our true identity beyond what we do or how others define us. 'Belong' emphasizes that everyone has a place in God's family regardless of background or beliefs. 'Become' is about growing into who God created us to be rather than changing into something we're not. Finally, 'Bless' calls us to extend God's grace to others just as we've received it.

Charis + Forge Intro

Power intimidates, but influence transforms. Jesus could have ruled with an iron fist, yet chose the path of a servant—and changed the world forever. Every day, we choose between the crown (power) and the cross (influence). Which path are you taking today? #InfluenceBafflesPower

What if the path to real influence isn't gaining power but giving it up? Jesus rejected worldly kingdoms for something greater. Are you pursuing power or influence in your relationships? Discover how dying to self daily leads to the contentment, peace and joy Jesus intended for us. #InfluenceOverPower #FaithJourney

At the core of every human being is the image of God, a truth often obscured by our prejudices and limited perspectives. While we all need salvation, it's not just about fixing what's broken, but uncovering the divine image that has always been there. Our greatest hindrance to loving others well is how we view them through our personal filters. Jesus calls us to move beyond surface judgments and see the God-likeness in everyone, even those who differ from us. By embracing this truth about ourselves and others, we can love more authentically and have the influence God desires for His church.

Jesus consistently chose influence over power in his ministry. While power focuses on control, position, and compliance, influence centers on relationships, internal motivation, and others' wellbeing. When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus rejected opportunities for self-preservation, proving his importance, and gaining worldly power. Instead, he demonstrated influence through genuine interest in others, offering unsolicited assistance, resolving conflicts, challenging conventional thinking, and exceeding expectations. As his followers, we're called to pursue influence through humility, genuine care, community engagement, and selfless service—recognizing that only influence, not power, can truly transform hearts.

When God opens a door, NO ONE can close it! But are you walking through the opportunities He's placing before you? Discover how the ancient church of Philadelphia teaches us to recognize divine open doors even when we have 'little strength.' What door is God opening in your life right now that you've been hesitant to walk through? #OpenDoors #Faith #Revelation

Jesus radically transformed how we value children, elevating them from property to precious beings worthy of love and protection. In His message to the church at Sardis, Jesus warned about appearing spiritually alive while being dead inside. The city's history of falling to enemies despite seeming impregnable parallels the spiritual danger of complacency. Five key lessons emerge: things are not as they seem, our choices matter, even a little faith is enough for God to build on, childlike faith is essential, and Jesus' warnings always come with promises. No matter our spiritual condition, Jesus desires to claim us as His own.