Week 5 of 5; Pastor Matthew concludes our series on James. The final chapter of this letter is an important reminder of what it means to put our faith into action. James talks about material wealth, calls us again to pursue patience and perseverance, encourages us to pray, and concludes it with an instruction to hold each other accountable.

Week 4 of 5; Ryan Hayes. In the fourth chapter of his letter, James addresses jealousy, pride, judgment, and boasting—and he warns us of the damaging effects of these poisons. He tells us that we need a humble heart and urges us to focus on responding to God by trusting him with what he’s doing in our own lives, one day at a time. Ryan challenged the group to talk about how selfish sins impact their relationship with God and others, and consider a practical plan on how to avoid them.

Week 3 of 5; Jennifer Burris continues the series on James. Words hold power. People sometimes throw around nicknames, insults, and phrases carelessly, not thinking about the negative impact. James reminds Christians to consider the weight of what they say, realizing that there is great power in our words. Jennifer challenged the teens to discover that their words bring either honor or dishonor, their words produce uncontrollable results, and wisdom can help them control their words.

Week 2 of 5; Katy McGrath continues our series on James by looking at chapter two. God wants everyone to believe in Him; He is looking for a real faith, something beyond, “I believe God exists.” Katy shows us in James 2 the depth of our faith is shown by actions and choices—how we respond to faith.

Week 1 of 5; Tracy Hayes kicks off our series on James. In his letter, James quickly begins with a teaching that’s counterintuitive: In the midst of trials, find joy. He encourages his readers to persevere because it helps produce spiritual maturity. In this message, Tracy shows how James offers wisdom and guidance about conquering trials and temptations, and we’ll discover how he challenges and reminds Christians to live out what they believe.

Week 4 of 4; Jay Parry finishes our series on the Gospel of Luke. The Son of God, Jesus, had a very human moment just before his sacrifice on the cross, which fulfilled His earthly mission. As Jesus was looking toward his own death, His plea to the Father revealed the ultimate picture of surrendering to God’s will and purpose. This week focuses on how Jesus’ tremendous love for us was displayed in His sacrificial death—the greatest act of friendship ever displayed.

Week 3 of 4; Jay Parry continues our series in the Gospel of Luke. This week focuses on three stories Jesus told to help us understand his passion for restoring our broken relationship with God. These stories about lost sheep, lost money, and a runaway son use concepts that Jesus’ audience would understand. These parables give us insight into Jesus’ compassion toward those who don’t know him. They also represent his feelings of frustration with the religious leaders who were lacking compassion.

Week 2 of 4; Pastor Matthew continues our series on Luke's gospel, this time looking at Jesus’ first visit to his hometown after the start of his public ministry. He already has been baptized and faced Satan’s temptation in the desert. The primary Scripture gives us a vivid view of Jesus as he declares that he has come to bring salvation to those who need it, followed by the people’s reaction to this news. Even today, followers of Jesus face opposition to the truth of Jesus’ message, and we need encouragement to stand up for what’s right, just like Jesus did.

Week 1 of 4; Pastor Matthew kicks off our new series on the Gospel of Luke by looking at a

passage from Luke revealing the only picture we have of Jesus’ life between

infancy and the start of his adult ministry. We might be

surprised to think about Jesus wanting or needing to study the Scriptures, but He did, and His example reminds us of the importance of letting God’s Word

guide our life. We also can pursue growth in all areas of our lives, following

the pattern Jesus established.

Part 3 of 3; Pastor Nate wraps up the winter retreat series on Hot or Cold by challenging the students to a lifelong faith.