Minimalism isn’t a fringe movement. Brand names reduced to consonants, simple logos, and simple packaging has become the norm for businesses. A limited menu – if there’s a menu at all – has become synonymous with fine dining. And instead of countless pictures on the wall, we choose one painting to allow the piece space to speak.

Minimalism has taught us that the best way to make a statement is by dialing back.

In this week’s message, the Apostle Paul, along with the sages who penned the Proverbs, teaches us that screaming tends to make people deaf to our message, while a gentle, controlled temperament has the power to pierce the noise of a chaotic soul.

We get annoyed when someone puts us on hold when we need assistance. We get perturbed when someone jumps in front of us because their friend is holding their place in line. And we get worried when we discover our romantic interest is still holding onto something from their ex.

But perhaps the worst thing that can ever be held onto is a grudge. Whether we’re holding it against someone or someone is holding it against us.

This week in our series Unshakable, the Apostle Paul pleads with two disciples – and us – to put in the work to resolve our problems and reconcile our relationships, handing us the tools to do so when we’re ready.

Many people learn to play piano or guitar by obsessively learning the songs of their favorite artist. It’s not unusual for their first musical projects to be cover or tribute bands that play the tunes of their favorite artist. When they day comes that they begin to write their own music, it’s normal for them to sound a lot like their favorite artist.

As we jump back into our series Unshakable, the Apostle Paul urges us to take the same approach with our discipleship – to pattern our discipleship after that of a disciple whose walk with Jesus we admire.

Trees produce fruit in season. As much as we may want them to always be creating beautiful, delicious fruit, it would be ridiculous to expect them not to go through times when they don’t. 

But when humans experience seasons when our faith feels dormant, we wonder if it’s actually dead. But what if we could learn to navigate these times believing God just may be using these seasons to strengthen and solidify our faith?

This week, our friend Jeff Lucas walks us through the call of Gideon to help us be aware of struggles these seasons often bring with them and how we can learn to trust that God is up to something even in them.

There’s nothing wrong with a night out with good friends. There’s nothing wrong with spending your day off watching a good movie. There’s nothing wrong with making time for a good conversation over good coffee.

There’s nothing wrong with any of these good things. Unless any of these good things is getting in the way of a more important thing.

As we continue our series Unshakable, the Apostle Paul shows us how to keep good things from getting in the way of the most important thing – knowing Jesus.

If your dream is to run a Fortune 500 Company, you’d jump at the chance to get an MBA from Harvard Business School. If you learned Peter Stern, President of Peloton, was hosting a leadership seminar in your area, you’d rearrange your schedule to attend. But none of these experiences would hold a candle to CEO of General Motors and leader in the electric and autonomous vehicles revolution Mary Barra offering you a personal invitation to apprentice and learn from her how to run a business.

This week, we come to arguably the most important truth in our series Unshakable – that the Creator and King of the universe invites you to get to know him personally so he can love you and teach you how to live an abundant life with him.

“Great job!” “That’s awesome!” “You’re amazing!” Just two words delivered in less than one second can change someone’s day – maybe even their life. Encouragement is that simple.

In a world where so many people use their words to tear others down, what if disciples of Jesus used their words to build people up? What if every time we saw someone act in kindness, compassion, service and love we took one second to say just two words to let them know we see their heart through their actions – and we’re grateful for it!

This week, our series Unshakable brings us to what may be the most overlooked portion of Philippians. But if we will slow down and listen to what Paul is doing and the power of his words, perhaps the Spirit will open our eyes and loosen our tongues to build up and encourage those around us.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best in your field. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be a leader in your community. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to stand out in your friend group.

There is a problem, however, with letting being the best, being a leader, or being the standout go to your head. There is a problem with using your status to your own advantage at the expense of others.

This week in our series Unshakable, we come to one of the single most important poems in the Bible, a poem that gives us everything we need to live like our Messiah without developing a. Messiah-complex.