FOUNT

When we explore Jesus' seven last sayings as he went to the cross, we uncover a tapestry of divine love, mercy, and redemption. From 'Father, forgive them' to 'It is finished,' each utterance reveals a facet of God's character and His plan for humanity. This challenges us to see the cross not just as a historical event, but as a personal invitation to experience God's forgiveness, family, and freedom. In this Good Friday message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter urges us to stop trying to earn God's love and instead rest in the finished work of Christ, surrendering our lives to the One who gave everything for us.

Holy week is filled with events happening on every day, but the day after Jesus' death everything remained silent. In times of waiting on God, it's easy to be defeated by the silence that stands before us; however, we see that after the silence comes new life and promises fulfilled. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Fount Kid's Director Steph Rivas encourages us with ways to walk through seasons where God seems silent, and how to wait upon the promises that he has already reamined true to.

Through his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus reveals that he is not just a humble king, but a different kind of king altogether. As the crowds chanted "Hosanna" while he rode into the city on a donkey, we see that true greatness often comes wrapped in unexpected packages. How often do we expect God to show up in a way that we want, instead of the way that we need? In this week's Sunday message in Manhattan, Pastor Ryan Schlachter calls us to reflect on whether we're truly ready to follow Jesus, not just in moments of triumph, but through the valleys of challenge and change.

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem, recorded in John 12, reveals a beautiful paradox: the King of Kings riding on a donkey, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This image challenges our expectations and reminds us that God's ways often defy human logic. We're called to recognize Jesus as our sovereign ruler, not just in grand moments, but in the everyday aspects of our lives. This Palm Sunday in Brooklyn, Pastor Kathryn Myers urges us to surrender our hearts fully to Christ's governance, trusting that His seemingly paradoxical approach, strength through humility, victory through sacrifice, is the path to true peace and transformation in our lives.

In the last commandment, we see that the call to not covet leads us to find our satisfaction in God alone. When we shift our focus from what others have to what God has graciously provided, we discover the secret of contentment. In this Sunday's Manhattan message, Pastor Amy Perez encourages us to realign our desires, put God at the center, and find true fulfillment in His presence rather than in pursuit of more.

It's easy in this life to always long for something other than what we have, but our insatiable desire for more often stems from a lack of trust in God's provision. Through the tenth commandment, we're challenged to examine our hearts and recognize that coveting isn't just about material possessions, but extends to relationships, influence, and even productivity. In this Sunday's Brooklyn message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter reminds us is that contentment comes not from having everything we want, but from recognizing that in God, we have everything we need.

The Bible encourages us to not grow weary in doing good, because there is a temptation for us to not finish the race that is set before us. The way that we run the race well is not looking at how able we are to run the race, but looking to the one who ran it first. Jesus walked through this life and did not forsake the pain and hardships of humanity so that we would know what it looks like to walk through suffering in this life. In this month's ALLIN message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter reminds us that we can find joy when we are weary because in Him there is a fullness of joy ahead.

The Bible commands us to be people who are joy filled, but if we are not careful we will put joy in a box on how we are to receive it. We are to be those who exhibit joy to the world, because joy and generosity is our greatest witness to the cities around us. It shows lives changed by Jesus. In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Ryan Schlachter invites us to be a people who are marked by joy that comes not from this world, but from the presence of Jesus.

The ninth commandment goes beyond simply avoiding lies; it calls us to embrace truth in all aspects of our lives. God himself is Truth, and as his followers, we're called to reflect this attribute by using our words for truth and a tool for building up others. In this week's Sunday message, Pastor Ryan Schlachter encourages us to seek honesty not just in our words, but in our hearts, recognizing that self-deception can be the most damaging form of dishonesty.

The story of Jonah isn't just about a man swallowed by a fish; it's a mirror reflecting our own struggles with obedience, trust, and compassion. We're invited to see Jonah not as a hero, but as a cautionary tale—a man who knew about God but failed to truly know Him. Are we, like Jonah, merely going through the motions of obedience without growing in trust and humility? In this week's Leadership Lesson, Pastor Amy Perez urges us to move beyond simply doing what God says, to developing a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.