The Bible was written thousands of years ago, in languages and cultures very different from our own. And sometimes, something gets lost in translation. In this series, we’ll take a closer look at familiar words, names, or passages to uncover the meaning their original audiences would have understood - and discover how those deeper meanings might change the way we understand Scripture today.

Real change starts when we stop asking what we need to fix and start asking what is actually driving the behavior. Is it fear? A need for approval? A wound that has never healed? A belief about ourselves that simply is not true? As is evident in Mark 7, Jesus is not interested in the performance. He is interested in the heart. Transformation happens when we bring the real, unpolished version of ourselves before God and allow Him to meet us there. That is where lasting change begins.

What if the people walking away from church are not walking away from God? Jesus spent most of His ministry going to the people who thought the kingdom of God was not available to them. We see evidence of that in the book of Matthew. Today, many people who have been hurt by religion are still looking for something real, and they are looking for a place that is safe to try again. God is already at work; we just need to show up and meet people where they are!

God has been writing a story of hope, acceptance, love, and freedom through ordinary people like you who make room for others to encounter Him. Throughout our journey, we've seen Him do more than we could have imagined - and we believe He's not finished yet. Made for More is an invitation to embrace the life God is calling us into as we continue becoming a different kind of church where every person is accepted, deeply loved, and finds freedom in Jesus.

Proverbs 10:19 reminds us that more words don't always bring more clarity. When emotions are high, adding more words often causes more harm than healing. Wisdom is knowing when to pause, when to hold back, and when to revisit the conversation later. Restraint isn't avoidance - it's choosing to protect the relationship. The most important conversations aren't won by being right, but by consistently choosing connection.