Despite aims of radical welcome, subtle biases leave some feeling like outsiders in many faith communities. Jesus himself embraced villainized groups - the sick, sinful, and even the mentally ill. What if the church followed his model?
Join us in envisioning Spirit-led communities where marginalized voices help transform assumptions and are drawn in from the margins through radical love.
Shame says ‘I am bad.’ Guilt says ‘What I did was bad.’
Guilt focuses on behavior, shame on identity. Like all emotions, guilt and shame reveal something important. But they can easily spiral into destructive cycles that pull us away from God’s truth.
The good news of Jesus is that grace sets us free from shame’s power. It transforms guilt into conviction that leads to hope and redemption.
When it comes to sadness, humans often pressure one another to "get over it" quickly and focus on joy. But the Bible shows God meeting and comforting the grieving - Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb, David openly in mourning, and God hears the cries of those who lament.
This sermon explores how we can faithfully engage grief through communal support and hope in God's redemption, learning to grieve with hope over offering religious cliches.
What if we became a community devoted to interpreting and living out Scripture with Jesus' shepherding heart? Join us as we envision engaging the Bible with humility, literacy, and compassion that builds up our most vulnerable.
You'll come away stirred to embrace the Bible in grace-filled ways that shine light into broken places.
Fear keeping you up at night? Join us this Sunday as we explore how to transform anxiety from foe to friend. You'll discover the incredible Bible story of how God meets Moses' fears with an unexpected response: "I am with you." From this profound promise emerges a radical motif traced through Scripture. Leave with hope that in Jesus, you have power to transform anxiety from the inside out.
Come explore the Bible’s approach to anxiety. Even Jesus expressed anguish in Gethsemane, yet modeled working through it with faith. Learn how reframing anxiety as a signal, not a sin, allows us to engage it constructively. Be encouraged that God meets us in our distress, ready to replace panic with peace.
Does faith prevent adversity?
Job's story confronts this harmful misconception. When trauma strikes, authentic faith grapples and questions rather than suppresses. It expresses anguish openly before God.
Discover how Job models a gritty, messy faith that clings to threads of hope amidst despair. Find deeper perspective on suffering as our Divine Comforter enters fully into human anguish in the broken body of Christ.
In this sermon on mental health, Pastor Nick dives into the apostle Paul's framework for inner healing and wholeness. Discover how identifying with Christ, renewing the mind, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, Christlike community, and embracing weakness provide pathways of grace and hope.
"Jesus pioneered a radical, holistic approach to mental health struggles. His message and ministry addressed emotional issues with humility and compassion, uncovering root struggles while prescribing spiritual practices to heal hearts and minds. Jesus came to restore shalom - an enduring wholeness. The church today is called to extend the gentle, compassionate care modeled by Christ, understanding mental health burdens with patience and validation instead of judgment."
"The gospel of Jesus Christ brings radical good news regarding our emotions and inner lives. When we embrace God's kingdom values, our limited perspectives and unhealthy practices are powerfully confronted and redeemed. As we meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus, we gain wisdom and freedom to relate to ourselves and others in transformative ways."
"Grace gives you the freedom to love yourself."