The Church has proven to be one of the most resilient things to ever exist. Despite persecution against early Christians, major wars, and culture shifts, the Church has persisted. But that didn't always seem like a sure thing.

In Week 4 of "Hope Beyond Today," we dive into just how harshly the first Christians were treated by Roman Emperor Nero. Despite horrendous deaths, the faith kept growing, and the words of Peter tell us how we can apply that same perserverence to our lives today.

Whenever we’re hurt, we all have instinctual responses. We may want to fight fire with fire, we may avoid the conflict entirely, or we may let it simmer until something eventually boils us over. Whichever camp you’re in, you’re not alone. And the reality is that the deepest cuts tend to come from betrayals rooted in misunderstandings or false accusations from those closest to us.

In week 3 of “Hope Beyond Today,” we pick back up in Peter’s writings to the church facing false accusations from the Romans. Just like Jesus, Peter encourages the early Christians to live a life that gives no evidences towards the allegations and instead points non-believers to Christ.

What does it mean to be different? The Bible calls for Christians to stand out from the world and be holy, but that’s a word that can sometimes just be used with no explanation. Today, we change that. Because being different is an intentional, daily choice with the power to impact generations.

In Week 2 of “Hope Beyond Today,” we wrap up 1 Peter Chapter 1 and head into Chapter 2 by weaving together two distinct ideas that Peter ties together. Christians are set apart to be different from the world, but it's living that out that ultimately creates a legacy of faith that outlives us.

You’ll often hear about the power of hope, but that power depends on where your hope comes from. It’s very easy for us to put our hope in temporary things like finances, but do those hold up when life gets difficult?

In Week 1 of “Hope Beyond Today,” we study the early persecution of the church in 1 Peter and learn how God often forges hope in the fire.

How many times have you delayed doing something because you didn't feel like you were quite ready? Or your finances weren't right? Or you were just too busy? The reality is that opportunities don't come when we're ready, but when God is. In the final week of "Comeback Stories," Pastor Jeremy DeLoach teaches us the importance of taking the next step through the journey of Nicodemus.

Have you ever been hurt by someone? It may seem like a silly question, but often times we like to pretend the answer is no, especially when it comes to our childhood. Our default reaction to pain is to hide it until it goes away, but when it inevitably doesn't, God is waiting with a better plan.

In Week 9 of "Comeback Stories," Pastor Jason dives into the heartbreaking story of Jepthah in Judges 11-12. Once a castaway, Jepthah gains everything and then loses it all because he never dealt with his past wounds. Today, we unpack the damage childhood trauma inflicts on us and those around us, and the steps we can take to find healing and break generational curses.

"But it's complicated." It's a sentence we've all said at one point or another, and it's usually as a counter to a solution that sounds like it HAS to be too simple for our situation. But just because a situation is difficult, doesn't mean it's actually complicated. What if God's blueprint for you to get through this season really is that simple?

As we continue "Comeback Stories," Pastor Nic Smith joins us to study Ecclesiastes 12:10-14, as King Solomon reflects on all the highs and lows of his life before landing on a simple guide to life: "Fear God and keep his commandments."

Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many as the greatest US president, but his path to get there was an ugly one From early political defeats, to constant turmoil while in office, Lincoln had to learn the hard way that his own knowledge and strength weren't enough to fix a broken country. Instead, he had to rely on a God powerful enough to heal all wounds.

In a special Independence Day edition of "Comeback Stories," we dive into Abraham Lincoln's life to find 4 core lessons that can be applied to any comeback story.

What do you do when God says no? It’s easy to give up and let the disappointment define your attitude towards God. But what if by being so focused on our own desired answer, we miss God actually trying to redirect us to something bigger?

In Week 6 of “Comeback Stories,” we see Moses rebel against God and suffer the consequence of never getting to enter the Promised Land. He easily could’ve decided that was the end of his journey, but instead allowed God to use him to prepare a new leader. Moses teaches us to never abandon the assignment, even if God changes the outcome.

Everyone gets tired. We're not just talking about being physically tired, but mentally and emotionally exhausted. And when that exhaustion hits, people are watching closely to see how we respond. Fortunately, God never intended for us to have to do it alone.

In Week 5 of "Comeback Stories," Pastor Jeremy DeLoach examines a moment in Exodus 17 where Moses is being crushed by the weight of guiding the Israelites. When his tank hits empty, he doesn't give up. He gives in to what God is about to do through him.