Rather than measuring growth by performance, we are invited into a more reflective question: What is forming me? One of the clearest ways to discern this is by noticing where our love has limits—where it tightens, hesitates, or pulls back.

As we follow Jesus, we are continually being invited into a way of life where love becomes wider, deeper, and more embodied. This week, we are encouraged to approach our growth not with pressure, but with curiosity—paying attention to where God may already be at work within us.

But here's the truth: Anxiety may scream the loudest, but faith speaks the truth. Anxiety loses when faith leads. Choosing to surrender your fears to God, trusting in His promises and leaning on community brings freedom and peace that anxiety can never steal. Temporary fixes only mask the pain, but God’s peace is lasting.

But here's the truth: When shame defines you, it steals your joy, cripples your growth and cuts you off from God’s grace. But through the grace of Jesus you have been offered a freedom that transforms your heart, mind and identity. You are not the sum of your mistakes or the weight of your shame, you are redeemed, loved and set free. Grace doesn’t just forgive; it restores and invites you to step out of the shadows of guilt and walk into the light of God’s mercy. When you accept this grace, shame loses its power. You are invited to live fully and embrace the new life Jesus offers; to see yourself as He sees you.

The message turns to Scripture, beginning with Paul’s instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” This passage reframes prayer not as an occasional reaction to crisis but as a continual posture of life with God.

Other texts reinforce this vision. Philippians 4:6–7 encourages believers to bring everything to God in prayer rather than carrying anxiety alone. Psalm 46 1 names God as “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” reminding us that God is not simply a last resort in moments of fear but a steady presence in daily life. And Psalm 16 11 points to the deeper promise that life with God is a path of joy and presence.

A story about a frightened child who called 911 in the middle of the night illustrates the heart of the message: in that moment, the most important response was not solving the situation immediately but staying present with the child until help arrived. The sermon uses this image to reflect on prayer as connection with the God who stays with us in the dark.

The message ultimately invites the congregation to move from reactive, crisis-based prayer toward a more rooted pattern of daily prayer—remaining connected to the God who walks with us in ordinary life as well as in moments of fear.

But disciples of Jesus are not called to live like thermometers that merely reflect the temperature of the world around them. Through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we are invited to live differently—to set the climate of love, courage, and faith wherever we go. When we follow Jesus, even when it stretches us beyond comfort, we discover that true life is not found in protecting ourselves but in giving ourselves away. As we walk this path of discipleship, we are becoming who we shall be.

Avoid risk and sacrifice. Tell yourself that following God’s calling is too hard, too risky or too uncertain. Let your decisions be guided by temporary satisfaction rather than eternal significance. Choose the path that requires the least resistance, even if it means ignoring your purpose. Expect life to be easy, resist the challenge to grow, serve or impact the world. Believe that if God is with you, everything should be smooth and that any resistance means you're on the wrong path.

When trials come, feel entitled to escape them, not endure them.

missed moment of connection. Spiritual drift may feel harmless, but it

leads to disconnection, disillusionment and defeat. No one wakes up

spiritually healthy by accident; abiding in Jesus requires intentionality.

If you’re not being transformed by Christ, you’re being conformed by

the world. God’s mercy is fresh every day and He is always ready to

welcome you back, no shame, no delay. Return to God, stay connected

and let your life be shaped by His presence.

Treat all beliefs as equally meaningless or irrelevant and stop seeking truth. Silence your conscience urging you toward goodness and love. Ignore it. Numb it. Laugh it off. Float through life without anchoring to anything solid; believing that life is meaningless and that there's no real purpose, value,or truth to anything.

This message reflects on repentance as a real change of direction: of leaving what was and stepping toward what will be. Repentance is more than feeling sorry or naming sin; it is turning back to God with the whole self. Through Scripture, story, and everyday images, we explore what we hold onto, what we are called to leave behind, and how God’s kindness keeps drawing us home. 

What began with fear quickly turned into joy as the shepherds hurried to see the newborn Savior. They didn’t hesitate; they went in faith, found Jesus and then became messengers of that same good news of great joy! 

Their story reminds us that God often meets us in moments of fear and transforms our anxiety into joy. When we respond with trust, we discover the true reason for celebration - God with us.

During this Advent Season may we move from fear to joy, embrace the Good News and share it with the world.

Scripture tells us that as they prepared to return home, God warned them not to go back to King Herod as he had told them.  Herod sounded devout on the surface, even eager to worship. But beneath the polished words were motives that opposed what God was doing.

The Wise Men listened. They discerned. And they quietly chose another way.

Their story invites us into the spiritual practice of seeing beyond the shine—because some things that appear good or spiritual on the surface don’t carry the character of Christ beneath. Discernment isn’t about suspicion; it’s about wisdom. It’s the Spirit teaching us to notice what’s true, what’s healthy, and what aligns with God’s heart.

This week we’ll reflect on what it means to be wise enough to walk away—to test what we hear, to trust the Spirit’s guidance, and to welcome the gentle mercy of God that helps our hearts keep learning, tuning, and becoming.

Join us as we prepare our hearts for worship and for a season shaped not by the world’s shine, but by God’s truth.

Today’s passage takes us to one of the hardest moments of that story. When Herod learns that a new king has been born, fear turns to violence, and the cries of Bethlehem’s children fill the night.

It’s not an easy text to hear, but it’s an honest one. It reminds us that Jesus was born into a world marked by both wonder and deep sorrow. And it tells us that God did not stay distant from that pain. God entered it. God still does.

Let’s listen to this difficult, holy story from Matthew’s Gospel.

In a world that constantly urges us to spend, consume, and live for the moment, God's Word calls us to something deeper: God calls us not just to spend our lives, but to invest them strategically, prayerfully, and eternally.

When we invest in our church, we’re not just supporting an organization, we’re fueling a living mission. We’re investing in people and living with purpose. We’re not just attending, we’re partnering with God in the work of His Kingdom and making eternal investments that bear fruit today.

Singing Still Matters - For us, to others, and to God.

Faith isn’t meant to be mindless consumption. It’s meant to be cultivated—to grow into a discerning palate that can “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).

And perhaps the sweetest part of that faith is what Psalm 19 offers us: “The decrees of the Lord are… sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.”

So what does it look like to develop a faith that’s not just sweet—but substantial?

How do we live out of the sweet promises of God, with the care and intention of someone crafting the perfect s’more?  We trust in the sweet promises of God.

In moments like that, it’s easy to respond with frustration, bitterness, or even hopelessness. But what if instead, we responded with boldness, prayer, and praise?

That’s exactly what Paul and Silas did. After being unjustly beaten and thrown into prison, they didn’t panic. In fact, it was at midnight, the darkest moment that they chose to worship. And because of that praise, the prison shook and they were set free. Some would argue that they were already free, even as they sat in chains, because of their hope in Christ.

We all face situations that shake us and maybe you feel trapped right now, but this story reminds us that worship has power. It shakes foundations. It breaks chains. And it doesn’t just free us, it becomes a witness that can set others free.

Our faith isn't fragile. It’s not just for the good days. It’s a faith that holds strong in adversity, a faith that declares freedom even from the darkest cell and a faith that speaks loudly to those who are listening. No matter what “midnight” you may be facing, may we lift our voices and proclaim the name of Jesus.

As we practice listening to the Holy Spirit and grow more attuned to the sounds of God's promptings, we become more courageous and more ready to spring into action. Often, this is when our witness turns into wonder!

In today’s text, the disciples experience the Holy Spirit in a truly wonder-full way. The Spirit didn’t whisper a quiet call to witness—no, the Spirit showed up in miraculous, undeniable ways! This prompting of the Holy Spirit is fierce, fiery, and filled with wonder!

Have you ever experienced a movement of God the Holy Spirit in your life that left you standing in complete awe of God’s greatness? Have you ever spoken so boldly in the name of Christ that others, too, stood in wonder? Or have you ever stepped out in faith, only to be rejected?

What do we do then?

No matter how others respond, when we step out in courageous faith, our witness becomes part of the wonders of God’s work in this world.

That is good news.

In our reading for today, Acts 4:32-5:11, Ananias and his wife Sapphira held back a portion of the money they received from selling a piece of property. The problem wasn’t that they kept some of the money for themselves but that they wanted others to think that they were more generous than they actually were by telling them that they had given the full amount. They were more worried about appearances (“look at us”) than what God thought. 

Sometimes we do the same when it comes to our lives of faith. Maybe we’ve embellished a story to appear more spiritual or generous, but lack in action or failed to correct a misconception in order to keep up appearances.

Instead of holding back, what would it mean to be all in?  

In today’s text we meet a man who, in the name of Jesus, is holy and wholly healed.  Mind, body, and spirit. The heart of God’s work in Luke/Acts is salvation. Our saving God wants ALL to be made whole, which includes a wide range of needs, such as forgiving sin, defeating evil, restoring health and ability, and promoting peace and justice.  So, the saving purpose of God for the whole world is uniquely fulfilled in the person and work (the name) of Jesus the Christ. This week let’s consider how we, like Peter and John, participate in this most holy whole healing. How might we be bold like Peter? How might we proclaim God’s goodness and faithfulness when we are met with resistance?

This week we see how being preoccupied with even good things can get in the way of experiencing the best things.  Sometimes, good enough is good enough, especially when we then have heart and mind space for what is the best. What are the good a seemingly necessary things we are preoccupied with that hinder us from experience the best thing—time with Jesus?

This weekend, we turn to the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, where a wealthy man consistently ignores the suffering of someone right outside his gate. Only in hindsight does he recognize the depth of his neglect, but by then, it’s too late. 

As part of our Connected Lives series, this message invites us to consider: Who is sitting at your gate? Who might you be overlooking, even as God places a call on our hearts to respond with compassion and love? Don’t wait until later to realize what we already know to be true in our hearts today.

There are times, many times, when we face negative consequences to acting in a way that honors God and the other, and even our planet.  Our text for today focuses on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who suffer at the hands of an angry king.  King Nebuchadnezzar demands complete loyalty to him and his gods, alone. The consequences to defying this tempestuous king means physical harm, even death. And yet, Daniel’s friends refuse to bow down the golden idol Nebuchadnezzar has made of himself. They choose to honor God and trust that no matter what happens, God will save them.  And God does. Yes, walking in the fiery furnace is a negative consequence of disobedience to the earthly empire, but God, who is faithful, uses this situation to show God’s complete power and love above any and every earthly kingdom, empire, country, or king. 

How might you stand together with others to face retribution because you choose to trust God and God alone?

1. Keep from going in a ditch
2. Don’t cross the center line
3. Get to our destination in fairly good condition

In western religious thought this makes sense. The road is our time on earth. The commandments are the ‘side of the road’ that keep us from driving into a ditch. We avoid collisions with people we think are going the ‘wrong way’. Our destination is Heaven (wherever that may be).  But what if life and faith are not linear? What if the way isn’t clear? What if the road has switch backs, underpasses, u-turns, one way signs, or even, an occasional dead end?  What if you thought you were going one way only to find that you were using an old map, or navigation system that is not updated? What if there is no light to light the road, including no headlights? (I have nightmares about this all the time).

Today’s scripture passage gives us this hope and promise:  God’s word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The first word is the WORD who was in the beginning. God’s word, in and through Jesus the Christ, IS the light and the lamp. God’s word is that which will keep us in grace and mercy. Jesus’ teachings and example will show us the way so that we do not fall in a ditch, lose our way, or crash into someone else. The way of Jesus,  of the Christ, will guide us no matter the earthly adventures, discovery, set backs, and sin. In Christ, we will make it our destination not only in fairly good condition but in perfect condition. And when we arrive, we won’t care if the road was straight. We will simply be in the Light.

The phrase, “Eat the Frog” comes from a quote attributed to Mark Twain which says, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” It’s a metaphor for doing the most challenging or unpleasant thing first thing in the morning in order to make the rest of the day easier. Remember, we can do all things through God who strengthens us. 

This declaration of faith, recorded in Philippians 4:4 by the Apostle Paul, is the catalyst to our Advent Season. It is a call to worship our need for Jesus in and through all things in life...and not just Sunday mornings. It serves as a wonderful reminder that while worries look to bog us down or stir us away from looking to Jesus as our light of hope, God's gift of worship cancels those worries. In fact, worship wipes out worries!  After all, there is plenty for us to be concerned about in this dark world, but there is a huge difference between concern and worry.  That is why we are invited to pray and connect aways to THE light source of the universe--- God himself! Concern leads us to turning to and trusting God's biblical promises, while worries try to get us to become our own god...and it never ultimately works. When we realize such Good News is real, we are filled with Jesus-Joy...that leads to rejoicing...over and over again!

Maybe you’re feeling burnt out right now. Maybe that feeling is not only impacting you but those around you.

But luckily, there are some extra bulbs - ask God to restore you in those places where you are feeling burnt out or prone to fatigue.

While Absalom’s actions were more than a bit extreme as he sought to get his father’s attention, what will it take for others to get our attention as we go about our day to day?

So with that in mind, what enemy are you facing right now? 

Take a moment to think about that enemy, have you ever felt isolated or alone? Have you ever felt like the odds were stacked against you? 

Now what if you had someone standing with you, supporting and encouraging you? What comfort or assurance would it give?

Knowing that someone is walking with us and has our back can make all the difference in the world. So who’s walking with you, better yet, who are you walking with?

Now, how are those same gifts blessing others? 

You see each day, we have a choice to bury our gifts or to bless. We can either use them to make an impact for the sake of the Kingdom or simply hide them and keep them to ourselves. 

But maybe there’s a part of us that’s fearful because it’s risky to use our gifts or we think that if we share them with others, then we may not have enough? 

But what if by hiding them and keeping them to ourselves, we miss out on the greater gift that God seeks to do in us and through us?

If someone were to say, “I’m coming over” would it send you into a panic? 

Would certain things rush into your mind that you’ve let slide or neglected completely and what type of cleaning would you do - a surface clean or a deep clean? 

In our reading on Sunday, Jesus approaches Zacchaeus and says, “I must stay at your house today.” While we may say that Jesus has an open invitation, are there certain places that we have deemed off limits? Are there things that we’ve let slide? 

What would it mean to take care of our spiritual houses?

Yet sadly, when we don’t turn to God’s Word first and use that as the foundation for our lives, it’s easy to base our beliefs on how we feel or what we think and this type of teaching may cause others to be drawn further from God rather than towards Him. 

How does Jesus’ warning in our text for today speak to us in terms of our own teaching and walk of faith? 

The same is true for us! We are called to rule for God's kingdom by standing on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ. He is our only way, truth and life for stability and purpose. Sunday's message then shifts to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16, verses 10-13. In it, Jesus warns us in love to rule our money for the sake of God's kingdom, and not let money rule us. 

1). Blessing and Speaking Peace...

2). Developing Relationships...

3). Healing the sick...

4). Proclaiming God's kingdom is near!

Christmas, Easter..and Pentecost Sunday! It's the trifecta of the Good News in our midst!  Jesus is born for us, he died and was raised for us...and He gives us His very own power, the Holy Spirit!

We celebrate Sunday, May 28th, as Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Christian Church. Pastor Dan will speak to God's heart for His missional church-- one that seeks to save the lost! We will be opening up the Scriptures to Luke 15, where Jesus shares 3 parables of the lost being found: the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. Come and receive God's marching orders for His Body--- King of Kings Church!

While our tendency is to think that the former way of thinking has the greatest impact on our lives, it’s the latter that will truly enrich our lives as well as those around us. 

It’s a question that many have wrestled with and maybe you’re wrestling with it right now. 

But what if it’s the wrong question? What if we began asking instead, “Where do I find __________ when bad things happen?”  

How would words like peace, assurance, strength, comfort speak into those times of hardship and loss? Let’s explore this question together.