Blaze Church

We all know what it’s like to feel lost in life. Wondering if what we have and do is really all we were created for. At some point, lost people all ask the same question: “Where is Jesus?” The wisemen followed a star that brought them to Jesus. We discover three principles that followers of Christ should have in order to point lost people to Jesus: Go First, Stand Firm, Bring Joy. This was the mission of Jesus, and the mission He gave His Church.

During the holiday season, we are intentional to get ready for parties, gift-giving, and all the festivities. But what about what truly matters: Getting ready to experience the love of Jesus. People all around us are waiting to know God this Christmas! Discover an incredibly important truth from a man named Simeon who said, “I’m ready to die” after he met Jesus.

Is it hard for you to hear the voice of God? Has following Jesus became routine, mundane, or religious? Discover how fasting will make Jesus alive in your life again! When we fast, we remember that Jesus has come to save us! Discover the three steps needed to embrace biblical fasting!

Have you ever thought that life could be good with or without God ? Let’s face it, we see people who are very successfully and appear to be happy and they don’t have a relationship with God. It’s easy to fall trap in comparing the life of a Christian to those who don’t believe in Jesus. But as we look through scripture, we see that our God is leading us through His path and to eternity through Jesus’ sacrifice. We are the temple of God and when we find time to enter into His presence daily and fix our focus on Jesus, it's a reminder that while our earthly situations may look like they are failing, God will never fail us. He is our strength. 

God has called every single person to a larger mission and purpose in this life. How can you fulfill the destiny God called every believer toward? It is more than 'showing up' on a Sunday. The mission of Jesus is about Him showing up in our everyday lives and inspiring us to pick up the towel of service. This world needs to know about God's love. How can you help others experience the love of Jesus Christ in a practical way?

Can we live life and find rest simultaneously? Psalm 91:1 reminds us to “Live in His Shelter, Rest in His Shadow”.  When we sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary and allow Him to be our covering, we are also inside His shadow. Being in Jesus’ shadow gently guides our hearts to surrender our busy lives and rest in His love.  Just like Martha, Jesus provides us a path to peace. As we continuously surrender the control, comparison and worry that surrounds our to-do lists, Jesus promises us we will find rest in His shadow. We have the choice to “choose what is better, and it will not be taken away.” (Luke 10:42) 

How can we “rejoice always” when we experience such brokenness in life? There are joy-thieves outside and inside of us. Is God setting us up to fail? Or does He have a plan? David wrote a song about the moment the ark of the covenant entered the city. He sings about the gospel: God’s control and holiness, humanity's sin and failure, and God’s rescuing presence. Rejoicing comes with the presence of God. Jesus invites us to surrender our lives and begin a relationship with him. Enjoy the presence of God is the way to choose joy.

Complacency is a dangerous thing. The enemy of excellence if complacency.  When we become excessively proud of ourselves, we set the stage for destruction. God calls us to live humble lives, and pursue excellence. David’s complacency as king was the starting point for his sin. The enemy wants to bring guilt, God brings grace. Nathan came and called out David’s sin. He repented, but there was still a consequence for his actions. We look to Jesus, the true King David, who overcame every temptation so that we can approach God’s throne with confidence and find the grace that we need.

Why is it so hard to love other people? We may be able to love our friends or people who treat us well, but what about people who hate us? David had an opportunity to kill Saul, who was trying to kill him! His view of others, God, and himself caused him to cut corners. Jesus demonstrated his love for others by serving; he laid down his life. When we struggle with loving others we remember that Jesus has called us his friends. The gospel and godly friendships empower us to love others.

In one of the most famous stories in the Bible, we see a teenager defeat a giant! Why was David the only one who stepped out to fight? David loved God! He recognized Goliath as an enemy of God! He had a different outlook, outfit, and outcry than anyone else because of his love for God. David points us to Jesus, who stepped out from heaven and defeated our greatest enemy: sin & death! In the garden, it was Jesus’ love for God that caused him to surrender to the Father’s will. We grow in our love for God as we get to know God more.