It's not unusual for us to cry out to the Lord in times of distress, and Scripture gives us numerous examples of honest, heartfelt prayer in trying times. Such is the case with Jonah as he finds himself crying to the Lord from the belly of a fish. And while it is unlikely that any of us will face Jonah's particular predicament, we can learn a great deal from Jonah's prayer about how God works his salvation and deliverance in the midst of distress through his unrelenting grace in the gospel.

You've heard the saying, "There are no atheist in fox holes." Tim Keller noted that being under attack or facing the threat of death reveals the fact that we are all "God-knowers" or "God-needers." When God hurls a great storm at the ship carrying his runaway prophet, both Jonah and the sailors recognize they are the mercy of almighty God. As they desperately seek calm in the midst of the great storm of God's anger, their actions and God's response once gain point us to the reality of God's unrelenting grace.

When God called Jonah to go to the city of Ninevah, he packed up and went in the exact opposite direction. It's easy to be hard on Jonah for this clear act of disobedience, but how often have we felt like and even decided to run from God when his will takes us in a direction we don't want to go? We begin our series in the book of Jonah and God's Unrelenting Grace.

In almost every area of our lives, we are used to having an abundance of options to choose from. Whether we're purchasing a car, shopping for groceries, choosing a career, deciding on schools, or even looking at churches, there are many different options and a number of good choices available. However, when it comes to knowing God and entering his kingdom and living a true, abundant, eternal life, there are only two options and one choice to be made. Here we look at Jesus' challenging conclusion to his call to kingdom living in the Sermon on the Mount.

Have you ever felt truly overwhelmed? Do you know what it feels like to burn the candle at both ends while trying to juggle more than you can handle as you hold onto what might actually be the "end of your rope"? If so, you know that it can be a lonely, tiring, and even frustrating place to be. Some of you may even be feeling this way as we’ve gone through the Sermon on the Mount together. Even though you're comforted by God’s abundant love, you still find yourself overwhelmed by the many revelations and commands made by Jesus throughout the sermon. Join us as we encounter God’s great mercy, compassion, and provision for our weary souls in a simple, yet profound, invitation - an invitation to pray.

It is always easier to spot the faults of others than it is to see our own shortcomings or sins. Which is why Jesus warned his followers against judging others. But does that mean we're never to make a judgment concerning what others say or do? Not at all. Part of kingdom living that we are called to by Jesus is being morally discerning. But that discernment starts with looking at our own attitude and actions in light of God's truth, which will then impact how we look at and respond to the attitudes and actions of others.

What have you worried about today? What are you worried about right now? It is safe to say that most, if not all of us would have no problem coming up with a list of things that even at this moment cause us some level of anxiety. Job, kids, finances, health, relationships, church...fill in the blank. Many of us wake up in worry mode, anxious about the day. Think of how freeing it would be to live worry-free. The good news is that Jesus gives us an antidote for anxiety, several reasons why as believers we need not worry. Join us as we continue to hear Jesus' call to worry-free kingdom living.

We continue with the Sermon on the Mount Series as Mr. Steve Brown challenges us to consider the treasures of kingdom living. Where are your treasures stored up? Surely your heart will follow. (Matthew 6:21)

All of us like to be recognized for doing good things, particularly when those good things are things which please God. Unfortunately, it is quite easy for our motive in doing those things to become the reward and recognition of man's praise and being seen by others. Jesus warns us against the dangers of a hypocritical public piety and points us to a sanctified secrecy that is truly pleasing to God and in keeping with kingdom living.

"What goes around comes around." "You get what you deserve." These familiar sayings define to some degree the common response most people have to those who do them wrong. Our world largely functions on a system of justice governed by "pay back," and in our personal lives that too often takes the form of retaliation or revenge. One of the most radical teachings of Jesus' to his disciples is his command to resist retaliation and to love our enemies. Here we look at Jesus' call to kingdom living in relationship to those who are against us.