The Son of Man Will Be Delivered

Brandon Rodriguez

As we step into 2026, we must recognize that following Jesus is not a path of comfort but a journey of radical transformation. The world promises ease and prosperity, but Christ calls us to something far deeper. In Luke chapter 9, we see Jesus revealing His true mission not as a conquering king but as a sacrificial savior. His power is not about dominating others but about surrendering everything for our redemption. When we encounter the majesty of God, we are confronted with a choice: will we live for ourselves or will we deny ourselves and truly follow Christ?

Discipleship is not about cherry-picking the comfortable parts of Scripture but embracing the entire gospel message. Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily, a call that demands we die to our own desires and live fully for Him. This means facing hard truths, confronting our sin, and allowing God to reshape our hearts. When we understand the depth of Christ's sacrifice - that He, with all power and authority, chose to be delivered into human hands for our sake - we cannot remain unchanged. Our response must be total surrender, a life that says less of me and more of Him. Will you count the cost and follow Jesus completely this year?

 

 

The Healing of a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

Chris Fernandez

We live in a world of broken faith where people constantly try to solve spiritual problems with human understanding. Look around you. We chase solutions, we rely on our own strength, we believe our intellect can overcome every challenge. But the truth is brutally simple: apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Our human efforts are like trying to fight darkness with a matchstick. True power comes not from our abilities but from radical dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Jesus demonstrates that transformation happens when we surrender our perceived control and trust completely in God's power. When the disciples failed to heal a demon-possessed boy, Jesus revealed the core issue was not their technique but their lack of faith. Every struggle you face today requires more than your intelligence or skill. It demands complete trust in God. Whether you are battling personal demons or facing seemingly impossible circumstances, your breakthrough comes not by your might but by fully surrendering to Christ's power. Stop trying to fix everything in your own strength and start trusting the One who can truly restore and heal.

 

 

Christmas Eve Celebration 2025

Brandon Rodriguez

Hope is not a wishful thought but a divine promise that pierces through the darkness of our human experience. From the moment sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, God has been weaving a redemption story. When Adam and Eve fell, God didn't abandon humanity. Instead, He promised a Savior who would crush the serpent's head and restore what was lost. This hope isn't dependent on our circumstances but on God's unchanging character and His relentless love for His creation.

Jesus came not just as a historical figure but as the fulfillment of every prophetic promise. He is hope personified, born in humble circumstances, living a perfect life, and sacrificing Himself to rescue us from sin. When the world tells you that you are beyond redemption, Christ says otherwise. He died to set you free, rose to conquer death, and offers you a hope that transcends your current struggles. This hope isn't just about a future promise but a present reality that can transform your life right here and now. Believe in Him, and you'll discover a hope that never disappoints.

 

 

The Light of Advent: Love

Brandon Rodriguez

Love is not a mere emotion or a fleeting feeling that the world tries to sell you. It's a profound, transformative reality rooted in the very character of God. In a culture that cheapens love to a temporary passion or a self-serving transaction, we must understand that true love is sacrificial, unconditional, and powerful enough to change lives. This is the love that God demonstrated when He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were still sinners, still rebels against His divine plan.

The world will know we are Christ's disciples not by our perfect programs or impressive performances, but by how we love one another. This love goes beyond mere sentiment. It's a love that serves humbly, forgives deeply, and extends grace even to those who have hurt us. When we embrace the agape love of Christ - a love that is patient, kind, and does not keep record of wrongs - we become living testimonies of God's transformative power. Our love for each other becomes the most powerful evangelistic tool, showing a broken world that there is a hope and a love far greater than anything they have ever experienced.

 

 

The Light of Advent: Joy

Chris Fernandez

Joy is not a fleeting emotion tied to your circumstances, but a profound spiritual reality anchored in the person of Jesus Christ. In a world that constantly shifts and changes, where happiness can vanish in an instant, true joy remains unshakable. When the shepherds were working their ordinary night shift, God broke through their darkness with an extraordinary message of hope. This joy isn't dependent on your performance, your social status, or your current life situation. It's a gift freely given to those who are willing to receive it.

The good news of the gospel is that God sees you right where you are. He doesn't wait for you to clean yourself up or become worthy. While you're in the middle of your struggles, working your daily routine, God is ready to interrupt your life with His presence. The birth of Jesus demonstrates that joy comes to the overlooked, the marginalized, and the broken. It's not a reward for the righteous, but a grace extended to sinners. When you anchor your hope in Christ, you discover a joy that cannot be stolen, a peace that surpasses understanding, and a love that transforms everything.

 

 

The Light of Advent: Peace

Brandon Rodriguez

In a world drowning in anxiety and uncertainty, true peace is not found in calm circumstances but in the midst of life's storms. The American Psychiatric Association reports rising anxiety levels year after year, with nearly half of adults feeling more anxious than ever before. But I'm here to tell you that peace is possible. Not a peace that depends on everything being perfect, but a supernatural peace that can sustain you through life's most challenging moments.

This peace comes through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, who was born in the most unlikely and uncomfortable circumstances. He came to reconcile us to God, offering a peace that surpasses human understanding. Whether you're facing personal struggles, global turmoil, or inner chaos, Christ offers a peace that can anchor your soul. By trusting in Him, repenting of your sins, and believing in His finished work on the cross, you can experience a transformative peace that doesn't make sense to the world but will guard your heart and mind in every situation.

 

 

The Light of Advent: Hope

Brandon Rodriguez

Hope is not found in the temporary things of this world. Your job, your finances, your relationships; these will all fade away. But there is a hope that transcends our earthly circumstances a hope rooted in Jesus Christ. The light of Advent reveals that even in our darkest moments, God has been preparing a rescue plan since the very beginning of human history. From the moment sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, God promised a Savior who would defeat darkness and bring redemption.

This hope is not a promise of an easy life but a promise of eternal salvation. Through prophecies spanning generations God revealed His plan to send Jesus Christ as the ultimate hope for humanity. He would be born of a virgin come as Emmanuel God with us and shine light into the deepest darkness. When you place your hope in Christ, you are not hoping in worldly success but in a promise of eternal life. No matter what struggles you face today, you can have hope because Jesus came to reconcile us to God and offer us a future beyond our current circumstances.

 

 

Bless the Lord!

Brandon Rodriguez

God pardons all our sins, heals our deepest wounds, lifts us out of the pit, and crowns us with loving kindness and compassion. His mercy stretches higher than the heavens and His forgiveness separates us from our sins farther than the east is from the west. Though our lives are brief like grass in the field, His love remains everlasting for all who fear Him. I invite you to see His holiness, His justice, His love, and His faithfulness and to give thanks for how He deals with us.

I urge you to join all creation in praising Him, for His throne is established in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all. Angels obey His word and never cease to cry Holy is the Lord God Almighty. As we walk through moments of joy and moments of sorrow, bless the Lord. As we gather with family and share good food, and even when circumstances disappoint us, remember the goodness of the God who saves, restores, and sustains. Let your soul bless the Lord today and trust in the One whose love never ends.

 

 

The Transfiguration

Brandon Rodriguez

In this passage, we see Christ shine with a radiance that confirms His identity as the Son of God, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and the only One able to save. Peter, James, and John saw a glimpse of His true majesty so that we might remember who He is and place our confidence in Him alone.

And the voice of the Father still calls out to us now saying, Listen to Him. In every season of life, in joy and in suffering, Jesus remains the One who has overcome the world and offers hope that cannot be shaken. His glory assures us that He is worthy of our trust and able to redeem all things. Today I invite you to look to Him, believe Him, and follow the One who gives life.

 

 

The Cost of Discipleship

Chris Fernandez

Jesus calls us to a discipleship that costs us everything but gives us more than we could ever gain on our own. If anyone would come after Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow. To deny yourself means surrendering the throne of your heart and giving up control. It means letting Christ rule where He belongs and choosing His will over your comfort. To take up your cross is to die daily to sin, to pride, to the pull of the world. It is to live each day in obedience and surrender, even when it hurts, even when it costs. Following Jesus is not about gaining the world but about gaining your soul. For what good is it to win everything and lose yourself?

True discipleship is not a call to comfort but to surrender. It is the daily choice to live for Christ instead of for self, to let your life be a confession of who He is. The call to follow is not an invitation to religion but to a living relationship with the Savior who already paid the price. Salvation is free, but following Him will cost you your old life. Yet in that surrender, there is joy, there is purpose, there is eternal life. Christ conquered sin and death, and through His Spirit we have power to live for Him. So today I call you to come, to follow, to take up your cross and find in Him everything you were made for.