In week two of the series,"Teach Us To Pray," Brian Smith, Young Adults and Teaching Pastor, explores the theme of how to pray when we have made a mess of our own lives. He uses the narrative of King David in 2nd Samuel, tracing David's journey from a "man after God’s own heart" to a man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of Uriah. Brian emphasizes that while we often blame others for the chaos in our lives, our "small" choices frequently lead to significant, destructive consequences that can leave us spiritually blind. Drawing from Psalm 51, Brian outlines a pattern for restoration: first, developing a personal relationship with God to understand His character; second, owning the severity of our sins without making excuses; third, asking for forgiveness; and finally, begging God to create a "clean heart" and do the internal work we cannot do for ourselves. Brian concludes by reminding the congregation that God does not seek outward religious performances or sacrifices, but rather a broken and humble spirit that acknowledges its need for His presence and the Holy Spirit.

In week 1 of the series, "Teach Us To Pray" Pastor Jimmy Carter shares a message centered on the persistence of prayer, using his daughter’s journey as a collegiate golfer and the teachings of Luke 11 to illustrate his point. He acknowledges the common frustration of feeling like God is silent, but he encourages the congregation to move from polite requests to "shameless boldness," arguing that if even an earthly friend will eventually respond to a persistent knock, how much more will a loving Heavenly Father provide for His children. Jimmy recounts how his daughter, K, faced the devastating loss of her health and a college scholarship, yet through that trial, she was formed by the discipline of seeking God even when the door seemed closed. Ultimately, Jimmy emphasizes that prayer is not merely a means to an end but the goal itself—a way to cultivate a deep, reliant relationship with God—and he invites the church to return to the "door" with renewed passion and consistency.

In this Easter message, Jimmy Carter uses the narrative of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb to illustrate how the hope of the resurrection can liberate individuals from the "prisons" of grief, debt, illness, and despair. Drawing a parallel to the film The Shawshank Redemption, Jimmy emphasizes that while life often feels like an incarceration of unpleasant circumstances, the risen Christ meets believers in their confusion and calls them by name, just as he did with Mary in John 20. He argues that this divine hope does not merely provide personal comfort but serves to transform a person's "mourning into a mission," urging the congregation to live as missionaries who share this message of restoration within their own communities. Jimmy concludes by inviting the audience to stop trying to author their own lives and instead embrace the "greatest love story ever told" by inviting the Creator into their personal stories to find unassailable hope.

In week 2 of the Easter series,"The Road that leads home," Jimmy Carter challenges us to "Make Room for Miracles." Drawing from a personal story about a cluttered basement that attracted pests, Jimmy uses the biblical account of Jesus clearing the temple in Mark 11 to illustrate how a "cluttered heart" can obstruct one's connection to God. He challenges the congregation to simplify their lives by prioritizing prayer and forgiveness, arguing that these spiritual disciplines create the necessary space for God to perform transformative works. Jimmy concludes with a call to action, inviting the church to move past mere religious activity and expect genuine, miraculous encounters with the Holy Spirit during their weekly worship.

In Week 1 of the Easter series titled, "The Road That Leads Home," Pastor Jimmy Carter speaks on, "You Are What You Love," emphasizing that our identity and direction in life are defined by our deepest affections. Drawing from the biblical account in John 12, Jimmy contrasts the radical, costly generosity of Mary—who anointed Jesus's feet with expensive perfume—with the prideful greed of Judas, illustrating that proximity to religious life does not guarantee a transformed heart. He argues that human desires are naturally "disordered" and deceitful, acting like a broken compass that points toward selfish idols rather than God. Jimmy concludes that Jesus does not just offer forgiveness but seeks to reorder our hearts through the practice of generosity and humility, urging the congregation to ensure their lives are marked by personal sacrifice rather than outward performance.

In Week 6 concluding the series, "The Life of Peter," Brian by examining the apostle’s final letters in Second Peter. He emphasizes that Peter, a "regular person" who experienced both miraculous faith and deep failure, wrote these instructions as his final legacy to ensure believers would lead impactful, fruitful lives. Brian uses the analogy of a failing pecan tree in his own yard—which looks healthy but produces hollow fruit due to poor roots—to illustrate that spiritual fruitfulness is not achieved by focusing on results, but by tending to the "roots" of faith. He challenges the congregation to cultivate their spiritual lives through a specific progression of qualities: supplementing faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Ultimately, Brian argues that by focusing on these fundamental disciplines and putting trust in God's divine power, believers can avoid a "useless" faith and instead build a lasting legacy of impact.

In Week 5 of "The Life of Peter," Brian bridges the conclusion of The WKND with the ongoing "Life of Peter" sermon series to explore how to build a lasting spiritual legacy. Reflecting on Peter’s journey from a common fisherman to a bold apostle, Brian highlights that while faith often includes moments of failure and denial—much like Peter’s heartbreaking experience in the high priest's courtyard—failure does not disqualify someone from following Jesus. Drawing from Psalm 1, he argues that a legacy isn't built on isolated emotional moments but on the daily "proximity" of surrounding oneself with the right influences and the "practice" of consistent spiritual habits. Brian illustrates this transformation by showing how a once-fearful Peter, after being filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 4, stood fearlessly before the same authorities he once fled, proving that a life rooted in Christ can move beyond temporary experiences into a transformative, lifelong mission.

In Week 4 of "The Life of Peter" series, Brian Smith reflects on the life of the Apostle Peter to illustrate how personal failure does not disqualify someone from their divine purpose. Brian connects his own recent vulnerability—recovering from a lost voice after a family trip—to Peter’s "soul-crushing" public denial of Jesus. He emphasizes that while the "sifting" process of life often brings us to our lowest points, Jesus is never surprised by our failures and proactively seeks to restore us. By highlighting the parallel between Peter’s initial calling at the Sea of Galilee and his restoration breakfast with the resurrected Christ, Brian argues that the invitation to follow Jesus remains open even after we mess up. Ultimately, he encourages the congregation to leave their past mistakes behind, reminding them that God's grace is larger than any failure and that their story is far from over.

In Week 3 of "The Life of Peter" series, Brian explores the theme of identity and purpose through the life of Simon Peter, specifically focusing on the moment Simon recognizes Jesus as the true Messiah. Drawing a comparison to counterfeit products—like a "knockoff" soccer jersey with missing details—Brian warns that following a "counterfeit Jesus" (such as a self-help version, a mascot for personal beliefs, or a "vending machine" for desires) inevitably leads to a counterfeit identity and unfulfilled purpose. He highlights how Peter’s clarity didn't come from personal cleverness but from an authentic relationship and time spent with the real Jesus, who far surpasses the "shadows" of great prophets like John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. Brian concludes that just as Simon was renamed Peter and given a foundational role in the church after professing his faith, we can only discover our own God-given purpose by looking past cultural counterfeits to see and follow the real Jesus, no matter the cost.

Brian Smith continues the series on the life of Peter from Matthew 14. He emphasizes Peter’s relatability as an ordinary person who, despite his flaws, was willing to follow Jesus even at a high cost. Brian draws a parallel between physical hurricanes and the "personal storms" of life—such as illness, job loss, or broken relationships—noting that these trials are sometimes assignments from God or consequences of our own choices. Using the imagery of Job’s longing for a mediator and the "anchor for the soul" from Hebrews, Brian explains that Jesus is the only one capable of walking on the waves to meet us in our chaos. He concludes by urging the church to respond to life’s storms by gathering together, listening to God’s word, and choosing to worship, while inviting those who feel they are sinking to echo Peter’s desperate prayer: "Lord, save me."