Everything you experience, your whole personality and quirks, and even the specific time, month, and day you were born, is all on purpose. Your whole life is specifically and specially planned out for you to meet, experience, and surrender to God. In today's message, Pastor Jay will teach that your circumstances are there to point you to Christ and Christ alone, good and bad. Your life is designed for you to encounter the love of Christ, learn about Him, and then fall in love with Him yourself.

The space that we make for ungratefulness and just plain discontentment is where idolatry grows. Idolatry thrives in our lack of thankfulness and satisfaction in Christ. In today's message, Pastor Jay will share about what idolatry is and how it's so much more than the physical idols we read about in the Bible. Idolatry looked like a little statue, but idolatry today can be anything we put above Christ. Anything you trust in, think about more, or even love can be an idol God wants to remove.

God's leading of his people has never been absent. He has always been clear about how He would have his people live. Whether we look at God walking in the garden with Adam, the Ten Commandments given to ancient Israel, or the Bible that God has given us now, he has always been clear on his desire for us and how we ought to live. In today's message, Pastor Jay reminds us that as God directed the nation of Israel out of Egypt, so He directed the Corinthian church, and that hasn't changed for us today

 I was definitely that hard-headed kid growing up! There were times when I would be told not to do something because I could get hurt, and no sooner had my parents turned away than I figured, “Well, surely I can do it and not get injured!” I hate to say it, but doing things my way, more often than not, ended up disastrous for me! Israel, and as we’ll see in today’s message, the early church, also suffered these consequences! Listen today as Pastor Jay teaches how we can avoid these hard lessons ourselves!

Are we actively engaging in our spiritual journey by obeying God’s call to share the gospel? Politicians strive to connect with different groups to win votes. The Apostle Paul encourages us to become like those we encounter so we can lead them to Christ. Today, Pastor Jay urges us to adopt a mindset focused on winning the prize by practicing temperance. Exercise self-control and maintain spiritual discipline. Remember, we aim to win the prize not for our own gain, but for the sake of the gospel.

What does it mean to run the race of our Christian life in a way that leads to winning the prize? Today, Pastor Jay encourages us to live our Christian lives with intention. We should not live with uncertainty, but rather in a manner that enables us to win the race. Casual living leads to disqualification. If you want to live in a way that wins the prize, focus on three key aspects: establish a solid foundation in God’s Word, gain a clear understanding of God’s mission, and develop proper spiritual discipline.

Do our behavior, speech, and actions ever cause someone else to stumble? Today, Pastor Jay warns us about the potential of being a stumbling block to our weaker brothers and sisters in Christ. He emphasizes the importance of safeguarding our freedom in Christ so that it does not hinder someone else’s faith. Sometimes, stumbling blocks can be subtle. For instance, they may manifest as a lack of love or a failure to live a godly life. Submit to God and limit anything that leads others astray.

Is your church a welcoming community of love that draws others to attend? In today’s message, Pastor Jay reminds us of Paul’s message to the church in Corinth. This church struggled with selfishness, carnality, and pride, lacking genuine love for one another. The love among believers should be sacrificial. Although they knew God, their pride hindered their relationships. A true relationship with God should lead to a life of submission to Him, resulting in selfless actions that attract the lost.

What is the fundamental purpose of marriage? Why did God establish this institution? In his message today, Pastor Jay explains that although one purpose of marriage is to procreate and God permits sexual relationships, the primary purpose of marriage is companionship. God intended for two individuals to become one in spirit, soul, and mind. He provided a partner to comfort, encourage, and support. An attack on marriage is an assault on our entire society and the well-being of our souls.

Why does God have such strict requirements for remaining in a marriage? The Apostle Paul states that if a person leaves a marriage, they should remain unmarried. Today, Pastor Jay explains the importance of marriage. He reminds us that God established marriage before the church, businesses, or schools, and that it is the foundational element of all society. Marriage was meant to be eternal, which is why the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman is so significant.