This week at Guy’s Night, we began The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence by reading and discussing the book’s four conversations.

We talked about Brother Lawrence’s simple but powerful pursuit of living continually aware of God’s presence—not just during prayer, worship, or church, but in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

The challenge is simple: What would change if we learned to live every moment with God instead of only looking for Him in certain moments?

In the final week of our Family Tree Church History Class, Pastor Jamie Wright walked us through the Protestant Reformation and the many branches of Christianity that followed.

We discussed Martin Luther, the 95 Theses, Sola Scriptura, justification, and the major questions that fueled the Reformation: What is our ultimate authority? How are we justified? Who has access to God? And should ordinary people have access to Scripture?

We also traced the family tree from the early Church to Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, and non-denominational traditions.

Different histories. Different traditions. Different branches. One story centered on Jesus Christ.

This week at Guy’s Night, Pastor Jamie Wright continued our Family Tree Church History Class by exploring the divide between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity and the events that eventually led to the Great Schism of 1054.

We discussed the historic centers of the early Church, the growing authority of the Bishop of Rome, the Filioque controversy, and some of the similarities and differences between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.

More than just learning why the Church divided, the night challenged us to consider how Christians can hold strong convictions about truth while still recognizing believers who disagree with us on secondary issues as part of the family.

Next week: The Reformation & The Branches — how we went from one Church to thousands.

This week at Guy’s Night, we continued our Family Tree church history class by tracing the story of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome. We looked at the early Church, key figures like Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, Constantine, Arius, and Athanasius, and explored why the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople mattered so much.

We also unpacked words like catholic, bishop, presbyter, deacon, creed, and council while asking an important question: How much of what we consider “normal Christianity” comes directly from Scripture, and how much comes from the particular branch of the family tree we were raised in?

A night of history, theology, and some really good conversations about what we believe—and why.

What happens when we start asking the questions we’ve all wondered about the end times?

In this special episode from our August Committed Gathering, Pastor Jamie Wright and Lisa Wright walk through common Christian views of eschatology before sharing the perspective they most closely align with—including Dr. Lynn Hiles’ understanding of Victorious Eschatology and the significance of 70 A.D.

From there, the conversation opens up into a deeper Question & Response, tackling questions like:

❓ When we die, do we immediately go to heaven, or do we remain in the grave until the end-time events?

❓ Scripture says no one knows the day or hour Jesus will return—but will we know when Jesus has returned?

❓ How should we understand Jesus’ teachings about the end times in their biblical and historical context?

This conversation isn’t about trying to predict the future or pretending we have every answer. It’s about asking honest questions, examining Scripture, understanding the different perspectives Christians hold, and ultimately finding our hope in Jesus.

Why did Jesus face temptation before stepping into public ministry? And what does that teach us about the battles we face today?

In this powerful message, Isaiah Dalton walks through Luke 4:1-13, where Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, and Luke 23, where Jesus is mocked and challenged at the cross. Though separated by years, the same temptation echoes in both passages: Will Jesus trust the Father, or take matters into His own hands?

Through the book of James and other key Scriptures, we’re reminded that temptation isn’t just something to survive—it’s often God’s way of preparing us for what He’s calling us into. The wilderness wasn’t a detour for Jesus; it was preparation.

Isaiah closes with five practical steps for overcoming temptation:

🔹 Recognize – “Be alert and of sober mind…” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

You can’t fight a battle you don’t recognize.

🔹 Replace – Fill your mind and life with things that lead you toward Christ.

🔹 Remove – Wisdom creates distance between you and opportunities for sin.

🔹 Rely – “Walk by the Spirit…” (Galatians 5:16)

Victory comes through dependence on God, not self-discipline alone.

🔹 Remain – Stay connected to God and His people (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Whether you’re in a season of testing, struggling with temptation, or wondering why God has you in a wilderness season, this message is a reminder that temptation may be preparation for the purpose God has ahead of you.

🔥 The temptation isn’t the end of your story.

🔥 God may be using it to prepare you for what’s next.

This week, we kicked off a brand-new series called Family Tree, led by Pastor Jamie Wright, exploring the history of the Church and our shared Christian heritage.

Our first night began with a simple but foundational truth: before there were denominations, there was the Church Jesus established. Looking at Matthew 16:13–18, Acts 2, and other key passages, we discovered that the Church isn’t a building, a denomination, or an institution—it is the people of God, called together by Christ.

We also explored the meaning of the Greek word ekklesia (“the called-out assembly”) and looked at what the earliest Christians valued most: the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer, communion, and mission. Rather than debating denominations, this class invites us to understand our shared family story and remember that the Church has always belonged to Jesus.

As we begin this journey through church history, our goal isn’t to prove who’s right—it’s to grow in understanding, humility, and a deeper appreciation for the Church that Christ promised He would build.

This week at Guy’s Night, we wrapped up John Mark Comer’s Scripture Practice with our final session: Memorize.

Looking at Matthew 27 and Psalm 22, we saw how Jesus had God’s Word so deeply hidden in His heart that, even in His darkest moment on the cross, Scripture flowed from His lips. We discussed that memorizing Scripture isn’t about impressing others—it’s about storing God’s truth in our hearts so it shapes our thoughts, strengthens our faith, and sustains us in every season.

As we concluded this series, we were challenged to move beyond simply reading the Bible and become people who are formed by it. The more God’s Word lives in us, the more it will guide us, encourage us, and point us to Jesus every day.

Night 1 | Jesus Is Our Only Redeemer

Jesus didn’t just make salvation possible—He became our Redeemer. In this opening message of our Jesus Is Enough series, Pastor Daven Wall unpacks the hope, freedom, and new life found in Christ alone. No matter your past, Jesus is enough.

This week at Guy’s Night, we continued John Mark Comer’s Scripture Practice with Week 3: Study.

Together, we walked through Luke 4:1–13, where Jesus is tempted in the wilderness and responds to every temptation with the truth of Scripture. We discussed how studying God’s Word goes beyond simply reading it—it means asking questions, understanding the context, and discovering what God is revealing through the text.

The challenge this week was to know Scripture deeply so that, like Jesus, we are rooted in God’s truth when temptation and trials come.