Following Together (Central Baptist Edmonton)

God is active and alive in every place, calling us to praise him, live attentively, and trust that He wants to make Himself known through our everyday contexts.

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 the Apostle Paul gives us an outline of what his approach is to sharing Jesus with others. Rather than something formulaic, Paul is describing to us a way of being as it relates to sharing with others the hope we have in Christ. This message looks at what such a way of being in sharing Jesus can actually look like in our day-to-day so that we can be part of God's amazing plan of seeing lives transformed through Christ.

Paul calls us to practice three spiritual disciplines that keep us centred on Jesus and effective in our mission. Paul calls us to continually 1) rejoice, 2) pray and 3) give thanks. As we practice these disciplines, God promises to keep our hearts at peace and our lives centred in His will.

What does it look like to live on mission when life is difficult, discouraging, or just plain ordinary? In 2 Corinthians, Paul gives us four pictures of what it means to be sent by God—and four practices that help us keep going. Our weakness doesn’t have to put God’s mission on pause; it can become the very place where his power is seen most clearly.

Jesus reveals that the table is more than a place for a meal, it is a place where God’s Kingdom is made visible. At the table, Jesus brings transformation by extending mercy, challenges the pursuit of status by teaching humility, and calls His followers to practice hospitality that reflects God’s grace. The Kingdom of Jesus is seen when we welcome those who cannot repay us and create spaces where people experience belonging, healing, and the love of God. Jesus invites us not only to receive a place at His table but to become people who extend that invitation to others.

Sometimes life does not go according to our plans. Difficulties come and we’re disoriented. We don’t know what to do or how to go forward from here. But God provides so we can keep going in life and mission even during disorienting times. 

Summer interruptions, travel, gatherings, and ordinary conversations can become unexpected opportunities to encounter Jesus and share his good news. In John 4, Jesus shows us that what we might sometimes see as inconveniences could actually be divine appointments. As we learn to see interruptions through the eyes of Jesus, the Holy Spirit can transform everyday moments into opportunities for mission.

Don’t want to sound crazy but if I were your enemy, I think my tactic would be to make sure that you were living your life always in a hurry and never in rest. I would take something neutral and not even sinful like work, family, stress, success, and technology and let a hurried pace steal, kill, or even destroy your soul; a soul that requires rest. Our hurried pace is affecting our spiritual vitality and it's affecting our witness to a culture who is looking for and needing rest. This summer, we can either escape or we can learn to get away and find rest because when God’s people are at rest, other weary souls can find rest in Him too.

As we allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts and the word of Christ to dwell richly within us, our everyday lives become opportunities to reflect the reign of King Jesus. Whether in our relationships, conversations, work, or service, we are called to do everything in His name. Living on mission begins with a heart surrendered to Christ's rule, allowing His Kingdom values to shape how we think, act, and engage with the people around us each day.

What does it mean to be saved by Jesus—and then sent by Him? Paul’s life was completely interrupted by the risen Christ, but his conversion was never meant to end with him. As Acts comes to its final chapter, we see that Jesus is still moving His mission forward through ordinary people in unexpected places. Could the places and people already in your life be part of where Jesus is sending you?

God calls for costly faithfulness, and making room means surrendering our lives to his purposes. In Acts 20, Paul instructs the church to look back on a life marked by costly faithfulness, look ahead to the reality of future suffering, and make the bold declaration that the cost of following Jesus is worth it.

Paul reminds the Ephesian elders that his life among them was a display of humility through proclaiming the truth and investing deeply in people's lives, even through hardship and opposition. Though he knows suffering and danger await him in Jerusalem, he remains surrendered to the Spirit’s leading and refuses to let fear or uncertainty determine his path. The mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus is worth any sacrifice, and costly faithfulness leaves a legacy of transformed lives and deep Christ-centred love.

When you read Paul's bio at this point in his ministry and what follows, it's easy to see how costly faithfulness was for Paul. Yes, he accomplished so much but he also paid a heavy cost and, in light of his life, it can feel like our faithfulness seems pretty cheap and our part in God's mission small and almost insignificant. How can a stay at home parent, a nurse, student, or lawyer feel in comparison to Paul, the early church, and even missionaries today? In chapter 20, Paul calls everyone together and, using his own example, reminds them and us that God’s mission includes all of us and we all play a unique part in it.

How should followers of Jesus live in a city that does not share their beliefs? Acts 17 takes us into the streets, marketplaces, and intellectual centre of ancient Athens, where Paul encounters a culture both impressive and spiritually lost. Join us as we explore what faithful Christian witness can look like in our own changing city.

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Sometimes our plans are good, but God’s mission is bigger. In Acts 16, the gospel moves beyond Paul’s expectations and reaches people in completely different places: a seeking woman, a trapped servant girl, a shaken jailer, and a city that does not know what to do with the kingdom of God. God is still calling us to hold our plans loosely, watch for people he is reaching, press into worship when resistance comes, and love the people Jesus brings into his family.

Karsten Broten speaks from Connors Hill on Acts 10:44-48.

Persevering in the mission and having lasting kingdom impact requires a posture that is rooted in dependence on the Holy Spirit. When God moves, you must resist the temptation to absorb the platform and remain steady through both praise and persecution. Over time, real impact comes as you faithfully multiply what God has done in you into others.

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas experience misunderstanding, suffering, perseverance, and ultimately the strengthening of the church — reminding us that God works through both miracles and hardships to shape a story worth sharing, and that the gospel most powerfully moves forward through ordinary people who faithfully point others to Jesus.

Chased. Opposed. Misunderstood. Beaten. These are the realities Paul, Barnabus, and the early church faced as they went on mission with Jesus, spreading the Gospel. Their call and courage to face all they faced came from hearts that were captured by Jesus, and because of that, people were transformed. It makes me wonder if I have too much to lose to be on mission with Jesus. Am I treasuring something more than I treasure the Gospel? What has my heart, really? How can I ensure my heart is capture by Christ more than anything else?

Jonah 4 invites us to look beneath the surface of our anger, frustration, and comfort-seeking. It asks a question most of us would rather avoid: are we more concerned about what makes life easier for us, or about the people God loves? This final chapter of Jonah draws us toward the heart of God’s mission — and toward the kind of heart God wants to form in us.

Some places feel too broken to change. Some people seem too far gone. In Jonah 3, we’re invited to see what happens when God sends his word into the places we’ve almost given up on.

#Jonah #Jonah3 #CanGodChangeACity #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #Hope #GodsMercy #Repentance #Faith #Jesus #BibleStudy #Christianity #SecondChances #SpiritualGrowth #Transformation

What if the hardest moments in your life aren’t random—or even just setbacks? What if God is actually at work in them? When you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or in over your head, it’s easy to assume you’ve gone too far or waited too long. But what if those “deep waters” are where God meets you, hears you, and begins to bring you back to life?

Have you ever felt like you’re avoiding something God is asking you to do? The story of Jonah isn’t just about a storm or a fish—it’s about what happens when we run, why we run, and how God responds when we do. What if the tension in your life isn’t random… but connected to something deeper? And what if God isn’t trying to punish you—but pursue you?

#WhyWeRunFromGod #Jonah #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #FaithInRealLife #TrustGod #FollowingJesus #ChristianLiving #SpiritualGrowth #GodsCall #Mission #ChurchOnline #SermonClip #JesusChangesEverything #HopeInGod

What if there’s more to your life than what you’re currently experiencing? More clarity, more purpose, more freedom. This is an invitation to pause, pay attention, and take a step toward something deeper. You don’t have to stay where you are.

#wakeup #lifechange #jesus #faith #christianity #easter #resurrection #newlife #abundantlife #purpose #hope #spiritualgrowth #biblestudy #sermon #church

A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, not at a distance but with their whole life. As we follow Him, He does the deep work of transforming us from the inside out. And He doesn’t stop there—He sends us to help others follow Him, too. So trust Him with your life, let Him change your heart, and step into the mission He’s already calling you to.

What do you do when life doesn’t go the way you hoped—even when you’re following God? Is real faith believing things will turn out well, or trusting God no matter what happens? In this passage, we see both incredible rescue and deep loss—and a kind of faith that holds steady through it all. This might challenge how you think about prayer, miracles, and what it really means to follow Jesus.

#FaithfulWhateverHappens #ChristianFaith #TrustGod #PrayerLife #FollowingJesus #FaithInTrials #BibleTeaching #Acts12 #GodIsSovereign #SpiritualGrowth #Perseverance #FaithOverFeelings #ChristianLiving #Sermon #HopeInGod

In these passages it becomes clear that, despite persecution, prejudices, circumstances, and past, this community now labelled, "Christian", understood their call to be in community, to be matured within the community, and then to be sent into the world to show and tell about Jesus by the community. We see a pattern that has been repeated since then and that the Spirit has chosen to expand His kingdom across the world: God is always on the move, calling people to himself, and he has chosen us to go because if we don't, who will?

God advances his mission by dissolving boundaries, moving his church outward to reach people who were once excluded from the gospel. As new believers are discipled in Christ, the church then releases them—and its resources—so the gospel continues to spread to new people and new places. Today, God continues to call us to take part—to reach out, to nurture faith in others, and to step into the places he is calling us to go.

The church is called to be a sending community, supporting and sending out believers for the purpose of spreading the Gospel and serving others. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to make disciples. We encourage, love and care for them with the understanding that they may be set apart to be sent. All of this is empowered by the Holy Spirit through prayer, the power of community, and the necessity of obedience in fulfilling God’s call.

What if the biggest thing blocking the gospel isn’t the world—but us? In Acts 10–11, God begins opening the door to the nations, but first he has to change the heart of one of his own leaders. Could it be that some of the barriers holding the gospel back today are inside the church? Join us as we explore how God prepares hearts, breaks barriers, and expands our vision for his mission.

TAGS: #Acts10 #Acts11 #BibleTeaching #ChristianSermon #Gospel #ChurchMission #Evangelism #ChristianFaith #FollowingJesus #NewTestament #BibleStudy #ChristianLife #Preaching #FaithAndCulture #JesusSaves

What actually happens when someone becomes a Christian? Is conversion just a decision, or does something deeper take place? In Acts 9, Saul’s dramatic encounter with Jesus shows us that real conversion is far more powerful and life-altering than many people realize. If you’ve ever wondered how God changes a life—or what true faith really looks like—this talk explores one of the most remarkable transformations in the Bible.

When persecution scattered the early church in Acts 8, it looked like the mission was falling apart. Instead, the gospel spread further than ever — into Samaria, toward Africa, and beyond every barrier people thought couldn’t be crossed. In this message, we explore how God advances his mission through opposition, how ordinary believers participate, and how faith becomes visible even when the results are mixed. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay faithful when pressure rises, this passage offers clarity, courage, and hope.

#Acts8 #WhenOppositionExpandsTheMission #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #ChurchUnderPressure #Faithfulness #GospelMovement #HolySpirit #GreatCommission #Persecution #ChristianLeadership #BiblicalPreaching #MissionOfGod #ChristianGrowth #BookOfActs

Growth sounds exciting—until it gets complicated. Why does progress so often bring tension, misunderstanding, or even opposition? And what does God actually do when things start to feel messy inside the church… or hostile outside of it? In this talk, we explore what happens when faithfulness creates friction—and how God turns even resistance into something that advances his mission.

The disciples went boldly to the temple because they loved their people and were compelled to proclaim the reign of King Jesus where the lost were. Though filled with fear, awe, and opposition, they obeyed God’s command, showing that obedience, not emotion, drives gospel mission. Their courage flowed from real encounters with the risen Christ. So, because Jesus is exalted as Prince and Savior, we too are called to live as His witnesses and speak of Him no matter the cost.

As the early church professed the gospel of Jesus, we see this message upend the established religious order and confront worldly ideas of authority and control — provoking a strong response from those who felt threatened. Yet the apostles remained faithful, choosing obedience over fear, even in suffering. Like them, when we follow Jesus faithfully today, we discover true joy, purpose, and the power of Christ at work in our lives.

In this passage we can see multiple instances where the apostles and believers would understandably face a difficult time being obedient. There were internal and external realities that would make it easier to choose fear over obedience yet we see courage to remain obedient despite those pressures. Today, many believers still face many kinds of pressures that make it hard to choose obedience over fear. What drove the believers in this passage to choose obedience over fear and how can that help us today?

What if the greatest threat to the church isn’t pressure from the outside, but something quieter on the inside? Acts 4–5 shows a breathtaking picture of unity, generosity, and bold faith—and then tells a shocking story that forces us to slow down and pay attention. Why does God respond so strongly, and what does that mean for us today? This talk invites you to wrestle honestly with fear, hypocrisy, and the kind of honesty that leads to real life.

What do you do when following Jesus brings applause—or opposition? In Acts 3–4, the early church faces both success and pressure, and their response might surprise you. This talk explores where real courage comes from and why silence and aggression both miss the point. If you’ve ever struggled to speak about your faith in public, this is for you.

God’s power was poured out at Pentecost, but the real story is what happened afterward. Ordinary people devoted themselves to learning, prayer, shared life, and generosity—and God used those simple commitments to build something far bigger than they imagined. When faith moves from a personal response into shared community, God continues to draw people in. This is how a powerful encounter becomes a lasting movement.

#Acts2 #Acts242 #Pentecost #EarlyChurch #HolySpirit #BookOfActs #ChristianDiscipleship #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianCommunity #ChurchLife #FaithInAction #FollowingJesus #ChristianLiving #BibleTeaching #SundaySermon

There are moments you can’t repeat, but you’re meant to live from them—and Pentecost is one of those moments. God poured out his Spirit, Peter stood up and proclaimed Jesus, and the church was born as people responded in faith. That day didn’t just change history; it launched the world we’re still living in. And if Pentecost has happened, then none of us gets to live the same way again.

Acts isn’t just ancient history—it’s the beginning of the church, the ongoing work of Jesus through his people, empowered by his Spirit. Jesus didn’t stop working when he ascended; he expanded his ministry through the church. He calls ordinary believers to receive power, bear witness, and move outward—from where they are to the ends of the earth. And it all starts in a surprisingly simple place: people gathered together in prayer, ready to get to work.

You were never meant to follow Jesus, reach others, or carry God’s mission on your own. From the beginning, God has chosen to work through ordinary people who pray together and depend on him. When we make room for God in prayer, he releases wisdom, courage, and power we don’t have on our own.

There are so many amazing reasons that people need to know about the Good News of Jesus!  From the angel's declaration to the shepherds in Luke 2 that God had good news for all people that would bring them great joy, the coming of Jesus fundamentally changes how we understand the nature and character of God, what Christ can do in our lives & our eternal destiny.  For all of these reasons Jesus commands each and every one of his followers to go out with power and love in telling others about him.

If you were to look at the life of Jesus, from manger to mountain, you'll notice the contrast between a powerful God who is healing, speaking, providing, dying and resurrecting and a powerless people who either turn away from Him or come to grips with their powerlessness to receive Him and reorientate their lives around Him. No one wants to be confronted with their powerlessness but what if that's where our hope is found? You don't have to look any further than a child to see this.

The Christmas manger is one of the first places we encounter God’s gift of love—a love that finds its ultimate fulfillment at the cross, where God’s Son, Jesus, gives Himself for the world. Today, we are invited to view the manger and the cross together, seeing them as one unfolding story of God stepping into our world and making room for us through Christ’s life and death. As we reflect on this, may we remember that the greatest gift of Christmas is the life-giving, costly love of Christ.

Around tables, Jesus welcomed tax collectors, sinners, and the left out. He turned ordinary meals into moments of grace and belonging. His way teaches us that love always has room for one more.

Jesus begins his story in a manger, choosing the lowest place so he could come near to us. He doesn’t wait for us to climb our way to him—he comes down to our level, showing that God’s welcome always starts with humility. And the same is true for us: mission grows when we show up simply, listen well, and see ourselves as fellow travellers in need of grace. God has made room for you—and now invites you to make room for others.

What do you really want, and how far are you willing to go to get it? Our desires can lead us toward life or quietly pull us away from it, especially when comparison gets a grip on our hearts. If you’ve ever found yourself wishing for someone else’s life, circumstances, or blessings—has that ever actually satisfied you? Join in as we look for a better way to live with desire, joy, and contentment.

God commands His people to live truthfully, protecting one another’s reputation and relationships. False witness destroys trust and divides communities. The ninth word leads us to preserving the Body of Christ by carefully and justly guarding how we speak about one another.

In God’s 9th Word, we are reminded that our words have the power to build up or destroy. God commands us to avoid false testimony, which is shallow and destructive, and to wield truth, which puts both God and others first.

In the 9th Word, we are commanded to stop practicing something that has the power to oppress and destroy people, relationships, and communities: do not bear false witness. To bear false witness of our neighbours bears false witness to who God is, to who others are, and to who you are.

You might not think of yourself as a thief—but what if “Do not steal” goes deeper than taking stuff? What if it’s about trust, control, and the kind of person you’re becoming? This talk will challenge how you see your money, your possessions, and your faith—and show how freedom comes when you stop grasping and start trusting.

Our culture talks about sex constantly—but seems more confused about it than ever. We’re told to follow our desires, yet that path so often leads to disappointment, pain, and regret. What if God’s design for sex was never about restriction, but about joy, intimacy, and freedom? This talk cuts through the noise and invites you to see sex as one of God’s most powerful and life-giving gifts.

God treasures every human life because each one bears his image. But murder doesn’t start with weapons—it starts with anger, contempt, and the quiet wish that someone would just disappear from our world. Jesus exposes that in us, not to shame us, but to set us free. When we forgive, make peace, and protect life, we live out his heart in a world that desperately needs it.

God calls us to honour our parents—not because they’re perfect, but because honour is the posture of a healthy heart. It’s how we treat, speak about, and care for them, especially as they age. In learning to honour our parents, we’re also learning to honour God and those he’s placed in authority. It’s not always easy, but it’s right, and it leads to blessing in our families and in our world.

The 4th commandment God gave his people moved into some new territory — shifting from commands that defined their allegiance to God, to one that shaped their rhythm of life with him. This Sabbath command continues to remind us today of our true identity, that we were created with a need to rest - and that in that rest, we receive blessing. As we embrace this Sabbath call, we not only find holy rest for ourselves but are able to extend that rest into the lives of others as well.

Busy. Tired. Swamped. Hurried. Troubled. We were never meant to live at the edge of our strength but to experience peace and even joy in the midst of all that life brings to us. The kind of rhythm that allows us to experience that peace and joy comes right from Creation and repeated throughout Scripture. It is the subject of the 4th commandment given to the people of God; it's "Sabbath" or, "Rest". We need it but we often don't live in it. Why? And how do we enter its power to transform us? Sabbath can be found by the thankful.

The Sabbath is so much more than just another rule to follow. It's God’s gift of rest built right into creation. It’s meant to help us slow down, re-centre our hearts on Jesus, and remember that life is about more than just getting things done. Sabbath is about learning a whole way of life that rests in Him. And every time we practice it, we get a little glimpse of the eternal rest God has promised us in His new creation.

We all carry names — our own, our family’s, even our reputations. But what happens when God gives us his name to carry? Join us as we explore one of the most misunderstood of the Ten Commandments and discover why this word is more relevant than ever.

We often crop God down to size — making him safer, smaller, more manageable. It’s easy to edit out the parts that feel uncomfortable, just like we edit a photo. But the result is always less than the real thing. This talk shows how to leave those lesser versions behind and encounter the God who is bigger, more beautiful, and more powerful than we imagined.

Why did God give us the Ten Commandments? Are they outdated rules, or could they actually be the path to real freedom? These Ten Words show us who God is, who we are, and how life works best—and it all begins with one foundation: worship God alone.

Paul paints a picture of what life together in the church is meant to look like, full of genuine love that embodies the heart and actions of Jesus’ covenant love. He calls us to serve each other with joy and perseverance, not out of duty but as worship to Jesus. We learn to celebrate each other’s joys, carry one another’s burdens, and even respond with kindness when it’s hard. This is the kind of community the gospel ought to create, one of radical love.

As the first Christians made room for sincere love and hospitality inside the community of faith, the New Testament reveals that Christ brought them into new places of spiritual maturity. In his letter to the church in Romans, Paul helps the early church to see that it is from that maturity that they are equipped and sent to bring the same grace and courage into a riskier, less inviting world.

Overcome evil with good: that’s God’s vision for His people; for His Church. In Romans 12, we begin to see that God is calling us to something bigger, simpler, and broader than we could imagine. In response to His sacrificial mercy and love, we’re called to be a gathered people who overcome evil with good.

What if God wants to bring more people into his family than you’ve ever imagined? What if he’s asking you to actually make room in your life—for faith to grow deeper, for joy to overflow, and for others to be welcomed in? Join us as we step into a new season with courage and discover what it means to stretch wider and dig deeper with God’s help.

Jesus began His ministry by calling ordinary fishermen, showing that God doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called. He invites us to walk in courage and serve faithfully in the unique places He has planted us, whether that means sharing the gospel or discipling others. True discipleship happens through deep, intentional relationships that help us grow together in Christ.

When Jesus calls, He calls us personally, gives us purpose, and asks us to make Him our highest priority.

There are countless reasons to support our decision to follow Jesus. Much like when He calls the fishermen in Matthew 4, we follow Jesus because He fulfills Old Testament prophecy about being the Messiah and He shows us the way out of darkness, teaching us to love the light. As we are discipled by Him, He transforms us and we can't help but share the joy and hope we have with the people around us.

This passage in Acts takes us into a deeper understanding of what it means to love our enemies. What is sometimes called the "Gentile Pentecost" is an opportunity for us to see the vast love of God and why He calls us to love others like he does, especially if the "other" happens to be our enemy. We all need the courage to love our enemies because it is our only hope.

Some of the greatest moments of faith occur not when life is shifting, but when nothing is changing — when we’re still waiting on God.Joseph’s story is one of the Bible’s clearest portraits of faith. In today’s passage, it moves in two parts: first, Joseph is in a difficult place but still speaks God’s truth; second, even after his faithful obedience, nothing changes — reminding us that even when our hardship does not resolve, our call is to keep courageously waiting on God.

Where will you find the vision to break out beyond what you can now see into God’s purpose for your life? “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus went to a lonely place to pray.” In Christ, we are invited by grace, into profound communion with God that transforms us into people of grace and vision.

It is in the most desperate times of our lives that courage is most needed.  Here in this passage we see the 3 faceted nature of a spirit of courage on display: that of power, love & self-discipline.  Even when our courage fails, God is still with us.

Paul and his friends experience the pain of leaving a beloved church family, showing that deep love often comes with deep cost. Along the way, believers, through the Spirit, warn Paul of the suffering ahead, but he courageously stays the course. His response shows that true obedience doesn’t avoid hardship but embraces God’s will, whatever the cost. These verses invite us to live with the same courage: to love deeply, listen carefully, and follow Jesus boldly.

Taking a courageous step can be exciting. But it can also be frustrating especially when things get worse. Today, we’re going to follow an account of Moses who took a courageous step in God only to see things get worse. We will see three hard realities that can come with a step of faith and four promises from God that can help us keep going in spite of these difficulties.

Naaman was a powerful military leader brought low by a physical affliction and asked to take a humbling, simple step of obedience to receive healing from God. His story reminds us that godly courage often begins where we feel the most powerless and that courage grows best in places of humility, often through the simplest of actions. God invites us to take those simple steps of courage — and often, to let others help us along the way.

As we look this summer at all these stories that include great acts of courage, it can leave us wondering if we would be the kind of person who would respond like them in moments we face that require a great act of courage. The story of David and Goliath isn't really about David and Goliath as much as it being a story about David's journey up to that point that had made God bigger and Goliath smaller that allowed him to have the courage he needed. Great courage is developed and the training happens in everyday moments that often seem uninspiring, unimportant, and even unnoticed.

God has placed a calling on your life—but fear can easily keep you stuck. Maybe you’re just beginning to sense that calling, or maybe you felt it long ago and it’s grown cold. In this passage, Paul reminds us that the Spirit gives us everything we need to move forward with courage. Discover how to rekindle your calling and step boldly into what God has for you.

God has graciously given us every resource we need to live with courage. His provision stirs our gratitude, his promises form our vision, and his presence powers our courage. In Joshua, God tells his people to be strong and courageous—not because the path is easy, but because he will be with them wherever they go. The same is true for us today.

Jesus performed public signs that demand a response. He made bold, unmistakable claims about who he is—claims that either offend or transform. And now, he invites us to trust him, not just with our minds, but with our lives. Faith is about more than mental ascent—it’s about surrender, and the transformed life that follows.

This passage is a beautiful reminder that failure isn’t the end of the story. Peter had really messed up, but Jesus meets him with grace, restores him, and gives him a new purpose. It’s the same with us when we fail, Jesus doesn’t give up on us. He calls us to follow Him, even when it’s costly, and to disciple the people He’s placed around us. We’re reminded not to get caught up in comparing our path with someone else’s. Jesus simply says, “You follow me.” Jesus is still writing His story in the world today and He’s chosen to do some of that work through you.

There are so many reasons for you and for me to believe that there is no possible way for us to make a difference in our world today. The problem is that Jesus tells us that our primary call is to go and do just that! In this conversation between Peter and Jesus, Jesus addresses 3 major lies Peter and many of us can believe that keep us from experiencing God's desire, willingness and ability to transform lives and change the world through us as we follow Him and go.

John’s gospel concludes with a striking parallel moment for Peter - after his shocking denial of Jesus leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus now reinstates Peter into his inner circle of beloved and trusted disciples, not only offering him grace over his prior betrayal, but expanding his role in God’s Kingdom work to include the shepherding of the early church. It’s a powerful story of redemption brought on not by Peter’s work, but by the work of Jesus.

Sometimes we give our all and still feel like the nets are coming up empty. But Jesus shows up, invites us to listen again, and calls us to cast the net where we hadn’t thought to try. When we follow his lead—especially in unfamiliar ways—we experience power, joy, and real impact. And in the end, he’s not just after the tasks… he’s after relationship with us.

Are you living the life you were made for—or just the life you stumbled into? So many of us are searching for purpose, but we’re looking in the wrong place: within ourselves. What if the key to joy, freedom, and direction isn’t found in chasing your own truth—but in responding to God’s calling? This talk will help you rediscover what that calling looks like, and how to start walking in it.

Thomas and the disciples had reason to doubt or to be skeptical of a risen Messiah; there had been a few failed ones before Jesus. This prompted Thomas, despite the witness of his companions, to ask for evidence absolutely no one could give him except Jesus himself. Have you ever been in a position where someone, whether due to skepticism, doubt, or past experience, asked you questions about your faith and about Jesus you couldn't answer? Do you have questions and doubts that you wrestle with? What do we do when we don't have an answer? This passage shows us what we can do, what only Jesus can do, and the opportunity we have in the midst of those who doubt.

We all struggle with doubt at times, and in our society, “deconstruction” has become a common way to describe the process of re-examining and sometimes dismantling inherited beliefs. Thomas embodies this tension as he refuses to believe in Jesus’ resurrection without tangible proof. His journey of discovery leads him back into the community in a sincere search for truth. When Jesus meets Thomas in his doubt, it doesn’t lead to shame but to a deeper, more personal faith, reminding us that questioning can be a pathway to genuine belief and worship.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything- how we understand the world, God and our own lives.  When we look deeply at the truth of the resurrection of Jesus we can see that it transforms our lives in various ways, while also sending us out to tell the world about the Good News of the risen Jesus.

Have you ever found yourself in a moment that completely knocked the wind out of you—grieving, confused, and unsure where to turn next? You’re not alone. This talk explores how Jesus meets us in those moments—and why he never leaves us where he finds us. If you’ve ever wondered how to move forward when life doesn’t make sense, this is for you.

Changing the world starts with changing our hearts—and that’s where following Jesus comes in. The real work of transformation begins when we turn away from our old ways, choose to live with Him at the center, and surrender our personal ambitions to His mission. Jesus invites us to follow Him into new life, a life that’s focused on loving God and loving others. When we choose to follow Him, we become part of His mission to bring healing and hope to the world.

Ever feel like faith should come faster or make more sense by now? You’re not alone. For a lot of us, belief doesn’t show up in a single moment—it rises slowly, like the sun breaking through fog. If you're in the middle of questions or waiting for clarity, this talk might be exactly what you need.

In the darkest hour of Jesus’ life, something unexpected shines through—not weakness, but strength. This message invites you to the foot of the cross, where mockery and true worship stand side by side. Through Jesus’ suffering, the curtain separating humanity from God is torn, and the way is opened for you to walk a new road. Will you keep going down the same path—or will you surrender and follow the one who made a way for your freedom? This isn’t just a story of sacrifice. It’s an invitation to live differently.

Ever wish someone would just understand what you need and make a way for you—especially when life gets hard? That’s exactly what Jesus does. This Good Friday reflection explores how Christ endured suffering not in weakness, but in strength—so that you don’t have to carry the weight alone. He knows betrayal, abandonment, pain, and shame firsthand… and still, he won. And now? He meets you in your Good Friday moments—not just as a distant Savior, but as the one who walks with you and gives you rest. If you're weary, this message is for you.

“You will all fall away.” With these haunting words, Jesus invites us into the Good Friday story—not just as observers, but as participants. This message walks through the painful unraveling of loyalty and faith in Jesus’ final hours: betrayal, denial, abandonment. But it’s not just their story—it’s ours too. If you've ever felt distant from Jesus or wrestled with your own failures, this Good Friday reflection invites you to come face to face with the truth of who we are… and the greater truth of who Jesus is: the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his scattered sheep. Come and see. Come and confess. Come and remember the one who was mocked as king—and truly is.

Jesus was humiliated and stripped of everything, yet lifted up as a King for the whole world to see. Even as he suffered, he showed love, fulfilled Scripture, and finished the work only he could do. Blood and water flowed from his side—the beginning of new life. And as he died, hearts were drawn to believe—including some who had followed him in secret until that very moment.

Every believer is called to step forward in sharing their faith because Jesus’ mission to save the world includes us. When we are empowered by the Spirit and strengthened through prayer, we can boldly share the gospel that saves. With wisdom and grace, we must communicate His truth in a way that reaches people where they are, from their worldview. We need the Spirit’s help to guide us in discovering the most fitting context for sharing our faith.

When Jesus first called his disciples to share the message of the gospel with others, he also initiated the movement of the Christian church. Since that moment of commissioning those initial disciples to share their faith, the church has continued to grow. As those who follow Jesus today, we are called to share our faith with others as well, partnering with the Holy Spirit and relying on his power to help us share our faith generously and with joy.

As we get closer to the Easter weekend, it's natural and good that we take time to remember and celebrate the incredible, sacrificial work Jesus did on our behalf. So many of us can tell and retell stories of how life changing the decision to follow Jesus has been for us. The Easter season also reminds us of the great responsibility and opportunity we have to share this good work of Jesus with the people in our lives who don't yet know about the love, hope, and grace of Jesus. How do we do this? Whether through word or deed, the call for us as Christians is to be delicious: to believe and live in a way others take notice of, recognize their hunger and thirst for something more, and that would lead them to taste and see that the Lord is indeed good.

They mocked Jesus like a joke, judged him like a criminal, and rejected him like a threat. But through it all, he stayed steady—he wasn’t reacting, he was reigning. He wore their insults like a crown, stood calm in the face of power, and gave himself up not as a victim but as the King stepping into his purpose. And the unexpected part? He did it for us.