This message explores what happens when life doesn’t go according to plan and how our instinct to grasp for control can pull us away from trusting God. Through a humorous but honest story about a disaster-filled student ministry trip and the biblical account of the Israelites forming a golden calf, Niko's message shows how fear and uncertainty often drive us back to familiar habits, false comforts, and “golden calves” of our own making – things we cling to for a sense of security. But God invites us to loosen our grip, release our illusions of control, and trust Him even when the path feels unclear.

In this message, we explore why the way out of life’s hardest moments is often straight through them. Using Jacob’s story as a guide, we see a God who meets us in the struggle – not after it. Instead of numbing, avoiding, or outrunning our pain, God invites us to bring our questions and fears directly to Him. Just as Jacob’s encounter led to a new identity, our own honest struggles can become the very places where God transforms us. This sermon encourages us to stop running, face the darkness, and walk through it with God, where healing and growth are found.

Have you ever felt the weight of loss so heavy it seemed impossible to move forward? Facing grief head-on, rather than avoiding it, can lead to profound transformation. Through the story of Naomi and Ruth, and the moving testimony of Tim and Renee Roberts, we discover that God doesn't just rescue us from pain – He walks with us through it.

Have you ever felt like your world was crumbling beneath your feet? We can't avoid life's shocking moments – those unexpected events that leave us reeling. Both receiving help and crying out to God are essential pathways through our pain. Whether you're in the midst of shock now or supporting someone who is, this message offers practical wisdom for navigating life's most challenging seasons with authenticity and hope.

Jesus' teaching transforms our spiritual vision from blurry to crystal clear. Praying "Lord, I want to see" can shift our focus from control to clarity, from our small story to God's bigger picture. Whether you're struggling with forgiveness, feeling spiritually stuck, or seeking fresh purpose, this message illuminates how prayer reshapes our perspective.

We need to move beyond "Amazon wish list" prayers to a transformative relationship with God. "Lead us not into temptation" isn't about dodging spiritual landmines—it's an invitation to let Jesus guide our lives away from self-protection and self-gratification toward loving others. Whether you're wrestling with temptation or seeking deeper faith, this powerful message shows how following Jesus—not just believing in Him—opens the door to abundant life.

What if your prayers have been missing their true purpose all along? Jesus transforms our understanding from treating prayer as a spiritual wishlist to seeing it as a profound alignment with God's will. Mature faith means declaring our daily dependence and extending the same forgiveness we've received - even when it's difficult. we should move beyond "kiddie prayers" to experience the power of praying as Jesus taught.

Have you ever wondered if your prayers are more than just a cosmic wish list? Prayer is not about bending God's will to ours, but aligning ourselves with His perfect plan. Seeing God's true greatness changes everything about how we pray. "Your kingdom come, Your will be done" isn't just a religious phrase, but a transformative way to approach our relationship with an amazing Creator who knows us better than we know ourselves.

What if the path to peace isn't found in rage rooms or primal screams, but in discovering your true identity as God's beloved? Joel unpacks how embracing our belovedness transforms anger into grace, drawing from Paul and Peter's radical examples of remaining unoffendable even amid persecution. Trusting in God's unconditional love empowers us to forgive freely and live with thick skin but soft hearts.

Have you ever wondered what true Christian love looks like in a world that seems increasingly hostile to faith? We're called by God to love the world, not police the way those around us live and act. Grace-filled words and unexpected kindness can transform lives more powerfully than judgment ever could.