Identity Crisis - Ephesians 5:10-20: A friend of mine asked me a question the other day: “Is there enough joy in your life?” I initially answered him: “I guess that depends on how one defines enough!” How would you answer the question? Is there enough joy in your life? Enough peace? Passion? Hope? What motivated you to get out of bed this morning? Was there a sense of anticipation that God had given you another day to live and love and learn and serve? At the heart of Christianity is an invitation to a life with Jesus at the center. We're going to delve deeper into these questions and engage with some incredibly helpful and hopeful challenges from Ephesians 5. Have a great weekend – stay warm, stay safe, and I'll see you here!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 4:17-5:9: This is going to be an amazing weekend! We'll take a few minutes to remember and celebrate the incredibly impactful life and ministry of Billy Graham and consider his core message (God loves you) - how does our response to that message ultimately shape our lives? We'll also reflect on what a committed life looks like for us and we might even talk a little about baptism... and just... "wait and see what happens!" I'm so excited to worship Jesus together with you! Have a blessed weekend and I look forward to being with you at one of our services.

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 4:1-16: Have you been watching the Winter Olympics taking place in PyeongChang? Obviously, one of the big stories is how the rival nations of North and South Korea have been able to set political tensions aside, even marching into the opening ceremonies under a single unification flag. And while this symbolic gesture provides a measure of hope, we all realize that the pathway to true reconciliation between these two nations – who are still technically at war – is unbelievably complicated. As it turns out, unity is not only complicated between nations, but also within the church. Thankfully in Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul shows us a way forward. Join us this weekend as we discover some essential ways that we can make real the kind of connectedness that Christ has made possible. Can't wait to see you!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 3:4-21: I always feel a certain “weight” each time I teach at Foothills … but this weekend, I sense it even more deeply! The prayer we will study in Ephesians 3 is centered on the truth that in Jesus we are dearly loved, and it's our understanding of that love that truly transforms our stories. We will begin the message with a powerful monologue about the lies we easily believe: the labels we allow to shape our conclusions about who we are, and how others view us. I hope you will be able to join us as we work to contrast these lies with the truth of how God views us: we are a beloved people! Loved more than we could even dare to dream! Please be praying for God to move in our midst and for truth to be embraced and celebrated. Pray that this will be a transforming weekend for many. I so look forward to being with you all!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 3:1-13: There was a really popular little booklet published when I was a student called The Tyranny of the Urgent. It begins with this question: “Have you ever wished for a thirty hour day?” Surely this extra time would relieve the tremendous pressure under which we live. Our lives leave a trail of unfinished tasks: unanswered letters, unvisited friends, and unread books haunt our quiet moments when we stop to evaluate. We desperately need relief. But would a thirty hour day really solve the problem? This weekend, from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we'll spend some time remembering that God has an amazing plan and purpose for our lives - to settle for anything less would be a failure of epic proportions! One of the great tragedies of life is failing to understand the wonder of what God wants to do in and through our lives. Hopefully this weekend will propel us deeper into God's heart for us and the calling of God upon our lives. (And we will discover that a thirty hour day is not the solution we need most in life!) Looking forward to worshipping with you!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 2:11-22: During this cold snap of weather we are thankful for the walls in our houses that keep us safe and warm. However, throughout history we have also used walls to keep others out, and we have been people who have been kept out. This exclusion can cause a crisis in our identity. What do we do with the walls that people put up around us? The book of Ephesians reminds us of our true identity and that Jesus broke down all the walls! I hope that you'll join us this weekend!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 2:1-10: Treadmills. Many of us have one in our basements. Some are used as an exercise aide. More often they become entities that we hang our clothing upon. It’s been said that treadmills, when used for their intended purpose, give us something to do but don’t take us anywhere. Sometimes we find ourselves on a treadmill in life… always having something to do but not really getting anywhere. Our passage this weekend from Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are all in desperate need of salvation and presents the danger of our unredeemed condition: the not-really-getting-anywhere condition. It also presents for us an answer that looks nothing like a “treadmill life.” Come and be amazed and inspired and transformed by the wondrous gift of God’s grace in our lives. It’s a gift that keeps on giving and we will celebrate it this weekend! Be safe … be amazed … be joyful … be grateful! Ian Trigg - Lead Pastor

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 1:15-23: Prayer. It's a bit of a complicated reality for many of us at times in our lives. What is prayer? Why pray? What do we pray for? Does it even matter if we do pray? Paul gives us an incredible template in the later part of Ephesians 1 that gives us both pattern and passion for this dimension of our spiritual journey. I hope to be able to both alleviate some confusion and elevate the wonders related to this core practice in our walk with God. At least, I hope the Holy Spirit will do that for each of us this weekend! Much grace to you as we gather to thank Jesus for slightly warmer temperatures this weekend! Bless you!

Identity Crisis - Ephesians 1:3-14: Identity Crisis … or as my dictionary pronounces it: [īˈden(t)ədē ˌkrīsis]. Sociologists tell us it's a phrase that describes what commonly happens in young adults as they move from adolescence into adulthood. I wish it was just that simple and something we all grow out of, like the changes in our voices or unwelcomed facial blemishes. It appears to me that all of us struggle to figure out who we are and why we're here. I'm so excited about our new sermon series Identity Crisis, which will take us through the book of Ephesians over the next few months. We'll discover who we are (or can be) in Jesus, and how that identity is intended to transform and shape how we live. It will be a remarkably encouraging journey that will take us deeper into the heart of God and His purpose for our lives. I hope to see you either Saturday night or Sunday morning as we reflect on the reality that God has chosen each of us for a remarkable life with Him at the center. Can't wait to be together again!

Fear Not - Philippians 4:4-7: “Don't Worry, Be Happy!” exclaim the words of a catchy 1980's pop tune. If only it were that easy! Psychologist Dr. Robert Leahy said that today's average high school student has as much anxiety as a 1950's psychiatric patient. It seems that for all the impressive technological innovations and the significant social and institutional changes that the last 60 years has brought, not only are we NOT calmer, but the train of anxiety and worry is picking up speed and we often feel powerless to stop it! We are bombarded with pressures, deadlines, bad news and all manner of other perceived threats that wage war in our hearts and minds against the peace on earth promised by Jesus' birth we just celebrated. On this last day of 2017, as we stand on the ridge of reflection upon the year that has past and anticipation (anxiety!?) of what 2018 holds, we will examine the words that God speaks to us, “Do not be anxious for anything,” and how Jesus leads us to peace. I hope you will join us this New Year's Eve morning as we celebrate and worship our Lord and His incredible gift to us. See you then!