Christmas is time to celebrate the coming of Jesus into our world and into our stories. What does it mean for the infinite God to become a helpless infant? How is the humility of Jesus' birth an answer to our pride and hostility? This message is from our Christmas Eve-Eve celebration.
People often confuse situational happiness with the deep and steady joy that scripture describes. Today we talk about how the coming of Jesus brought joy to the world.
Sometimes clinging to hope feels like pushing a stone uphill. In the coming of Jesus, we have a source of hope that is patient, expectant, and alive.
How is your relationship with yourself? What if you treated yourself like you would treat a good friend, especially when you fail? What would look different if you replaced self-judgment with self-compassion?
Self-care is not the same as comfort, indulgence, or avoidance. Self-care comes from a life aligned with God in healthy rhythm. You need rest, you need play, you need laughter. But you also need structure, discipline, and purpose.
What does it mean to have self-awareness that is informed by the Gospel of Jesus?
What does it look like to take responsibility and ownership for your growth in light of the Gospel of Jesus? How does God's grace work with your choices?
God has something in mind when He created us for connection and wired us to crave and long for intimacy. There is a spiritual mystery revealed in the mutual submission and union of marriage.
What could happen in our relationships if we invested in them as a matter of true priority? We would be more connected and we would have more fun!
The relationship you dream about is something you can build if you pursue it. Connection isn't the result of chemistry, it flows from the energy you invest in the relationship.
Communication is the foundation of every relationship, and when you learn to communicate honestly and effectively, your connection will improve. Unlock the power of assertive communication in your relationships.
God wants to use your relational circle to accomplish His purposes in your life and story. AND - God wants to use YOU to accomplish His purposes where you live, work, play, and learn.
A strong circle protects your story, and a strong family circle creates a place of security so all the members of your family can thrive.
A strong circle protects and supports a powerful story. Your inner circle of relationships will determine so much about the trajectory of your life and how you respond to difficulty. Jesus once encountered a man who didn't have much going for him except for an amazing circle of friends.
There is power when people unite in prayer. Community prayer builds connection, builds faith, and invites God to move on our behalf.
Jesus demonstrated a vibrant, dynamic, and life-giving practice of prayer throughout his ministry. It was a life-line of connection to God and a source of strength in His story. We can activate these practices and access God's power and grace.
Jesus' prayer ends with asking for God's guidance and protection as we navigate a complex world.
After adoration, alignment, and petition comes a prayer of confession - where we seek and grant forgiveness. This part of the prayer focuses on relational harmony with God and with others.
Jesus taught his followers to ask God boldly for their daily needs. Petition is a prayer of dependence where we humbly ask and graciously receive what we need from God.
Pastor Gentry Morris explores what it means to pray: "Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."