Immanuel, God with us, demonstrates commitment. A covenant is the strongest of commitments. A covenant is not easily broken.

Immanuel, God with us, defines covenant. This is not a covenant of rule keeping. This is a covenant of grace and intimacy.

Immanuel, God with us, creates connection. This is a harmonious connection. Their is a powerful transformation. Truly forgiven people become truly forgiving people.

You have to look for the Light. You will see Him if you are spiritually hungry. You will continue seeing him as you continually walk in Him. Your relationship with Jesus involves a continual looking not for Him but to Him.

You have to receive the Light. Receiving is surrendering yourself to the transforming power of the Light. Receiving the Light is a spiritual event.

You get to rejoice in the Light. You are living a new life. You are not the person you once were.

Listen as Pastor Steve goes through Isaiah 9:1-7.

The Light that is seen is the Light that invites. The Light invites you to leave the darkness. The Light invites you to see the world as it is.

The Light that invites us is the Light that gives us peace. The Light provides all you need. The Light lifts your burdens. The Light resolves your conflicts.

What kind of relationship do you have with the light? Enter the Light. Walk in the Light. He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!

Listen as Pastor Steve discusses Psalm 91.

Psalm 91 discusses what you need in life: a place to be, a Rescuer – a Savior, a real security, and a bigger perspective.

What do you need to do?

Love Him! Call out to Him. Rely on Him.

Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on Luke 9:57-62 on Forward Thinking Christ Followers.

Forward thinking Christ followers let Christ set the GPS. They also look ahead with desire.

Forward thinking Christ followers leave behind the comfortable and the familiar. They proclaim the kingdom of God.

Forward thinking Christ followers journey with Christ. They never look back.

Why do we believe the Bible?

We believe the Bible because of Its honesty, unity, historical reliability, endorsement by Jesus, and Its power to change lives.

What does the Bible teach us? The Bible teaches us how to live well.

Primarily though, the Bible teaches us the redemption of humankind.

How do we receive the Bible? We use our heads. We look at the words. We receive it with thankful hearts.

What is excellence?

Excellence is a virtue that encompasses other virtues. It is a way that we glorify God.

How do we pursue excellence?

We think prayerfully. We observe others. We imitate.

What are the benefits of the pursuit of excellence?

A peace that heals relationships. A peace with any outcome. A peace resting on God’s presence.

Listen as Pastor Steve takes us through Acts 16:16-40.

Spiritual darkness is marked by greed and control. Spiritual darkness is marked by confusion and chaos. Spiritual darkness is marked by toxicity and destruction.

Spiritual light is marked by transcendence, rising above. Spiritual light is marked by power. Spiritual light is marked by transformation in everything.

Walking in the light changes your life. Your life is marked by compassion. Your life is marked by doing right. Your life is marked by power.

How is your prayer life? Do you struggle to pray?

Pastor Steve discusses the importance about praying about everything.

Why do Christians struggle to pray? Our ignorance. Our busyness. Our arrogance. Our confusion.

We can look to Jesus for our example of times to pray.

Jesus prayed at spiritual milestones. He prayed at His baptism. Jesus prayed in demanding moments. People flocked to see Him. He often withdrew to take time to pray. Jesus prayed before big steps. He prayed all night before choosing the twelve disciples. Jesus prayed when teaching vital concepts. Jesus prayed for a friend’s faith to last. Jesus prayed when darkness descends. He prayed in the garden prior to His arrest. Jesus prayed in great stress. He prayed while He was on the cross. Jesus prayed when He was done. He prayed during His ascension.

Jesus taught us to pray! Pray with a trusting heart. Pray with an amazed heart. Pray with a kingdom outlook. Pray with a confident mindset.

The zeitgeist is the spirit of the age which is the pattern of this world. When you find yourself asking “What is wrong with people?” or “What is wrong with this world?” you’ll likely find the answer by identifying the zeitgeist that is hiding and normalizing evil.

We need to be aware of the zeitgeist. The zeitgeist appears to change- but does it? The spirit of the age is driven spiritually. It is important to recognize the spirit of the age. The zeitgeist turns people away from God and away from one another.

We do things together to help one another remember ourselves and to remember our context. Together we help each other remember that we are Christ’s, and to remember that we are aliens in this world.

We do things together to be deeply rooted in the truth, and to help us through the storms that are ahead.

We do things together to do the work of the ministry as demonstrated by Jesus in Matthew 16:24.

What does doing everything together look like? Take the good and the bad honestly. Push one another! Work with one another. Never do a ministry alone that you can do with a friend. Learn together. Worship together.