This week we continued in 2 Corinthians and uncovered a surprising truth: Paul’s words in 6:1–2 actually point us straight to Christmas. When Paul warns us not to “receive God’s grace in vain,” he’s reminding us that grace has a purpose—God always intended His salvation to reach all nations. By quoting Isaiah 49, Paul shows us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Israel. Jesus is the Servant who brings God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. That’s the heart of Christmas. The season isn’t ultimately about traditions, gifts, or family rhythms—even the good ones. Christmas is God keeping His promise to bless all people through Jesus. So the invitation for us is simple: don’t let the season revolve around you. Let your heart for Christmas reach beyond yourself and join God’s heart for the world.

So many of us worry that we are going to defined by our past mistakes forever which impacts how we see ourselves. Paul calls us to be reconciled to Christ, which leads us to see differently. Instead of looking at what we’ve done, we look at what God has done: He has made us new creations. This new way of seeing begins with how we view ourselves, then extends to how we view others. Our prayer becomes, “God, help me see me and others the way You do.” When this truth transforms us, we then can share the message of reconciliation with the world. 

We all know what it feels like to think, “This is not the way it’s supposed to be.” Yet this is the life we actually have. Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 4:13–18 how to take life on life’s terms without losing heart. Faith isn’t pretending everything is fine—it’s naming what’s true in us and trusting that God is still at work. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we can trust that God will one day raise us too. That hope gives us strength to endure today’s struggles. When life feels heavy, we don’t deny our pain; we fix our eyes on what’s unseen—the resurrection life, the unseen work of God, and the presence of Christ with us. Life on life’s terms is hard, but when we face it with Jesus, our faith becomes real, our hearts are renewed, and our hope holds.

In this message titled “Tent Living”, Pastor Matt Love explores 2 Corinthians 5:1–10, where the Apostle Paul describes our earthly lives as temporary “tents” and promises an eternal home with God. Through personal stories and honest reflections on pain, grief, and hope, Matt unpacks how to live faithfully in a broken world. Whether you’re dealing with loss, fear, or uncertainty, this sermon invites you to embrace three powerful truths: grieve what is, live by faith, and obey with confidence. If you've ever felt like this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, this talk is for you.

This Sunday, guest preacher Nigel “Legin” Anderson continued our 2 Corinthians series with a powerful message from 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 called “We Do Not Give Up.” Paul reminds us that ministry isn’t earned; it’s received through God’s mercy. Because of that mercy, we can’t quit — not on God, not on people, not on ourselves. Even when life feels dark or discouraging, God’s light shines in our hearts through Jesus. We serve not for recognition but to reflect His glory. When you understand how deeply you’ve been shown mercy, you’ll find strength to persevere and share that mercy with others.

This Sunday, Eric wrapped up our series Like Him // For Others by reminding us that the goal is transformation—but not the kind we can produce on our own. Drawing from Matthew 3, we saw how Jesus entered the waters of baptism—not for His sin, but to identify with ours and fulfill God’s covenant promise. In doing so, He showed us that transformation begins not with striving, but with surrender. When heaven opened and the Spirit descended, Jesus was affirmed in love before He ever performed a miracle. The same Spirit and the same love are available to us. Because Jesus became like us, we can live in His kingdom, empowered by His Spirit, and love others from the assurance that we are already loved.

This week, Eric taught that God’s mission has always been to bless the world through His people. From Abraham to Jesus, God’s plan has never changed: those who know His love are called to share it. When Isaac lost sight of that mission, God corrected the story through Jacob—and ultimately through Jesus, who came to bless all people. Following Jesus means joining that mission today: serving others, blessing outsiders, and sharing Jesus wherever we go.

What makes or breaks your experience in community? According to Galatians 6:2, real community isn’t built by people who act strong—it’s built by people who share their burdens. When we don’t know our needs, or aren’t willing to share them, others can’t love us the way Jesus calls them to. In this message, Eric challenges us to move beyond surface-level relationships and discover how honesty, vulnerability, and need are essential to becoming like Jesus for the sake of others.

This week in our series Like Him // For Others, Pastor Eric reminded us that if we want to be like Jesus, we have to do what Jesus did. Again and again in the Gospels, Jesus withdrew to lonely places to pray. Silence and solitude are not just spiritual “extras”—they are essential for following Jesus in our busy, anxious, and distracted world. Silence is where we find true rest for our souls and where God shapes us to be wise and loving for the sake of others. Take a step this week: choose a time, choose a place, and start small. God will meet you there.

Why do we fight, quarrel, and struggle so much in life? James 4 tells us it begins with desires that battle within us—desires that put ourselves at the center. Left unchecked, pride makes us believe everything should revolve around “me.” But there’s hope: God gives grace to the humble. Following Jesus means choosing humility as our posture toward God—submitting to Him instead of demanding our way, resisting the devil instead of acting on impulse, and drawing near to God instead of ignoring Him. This week, Eric reminded us that pride closes us off from God, but humility opens us up to His transforming grace. And when we posture ourselves with humility, we don’t just receive grace for ourselves—we reflect Jesus for the sake of others.