Hannah Buchanan | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

This week’s message from Colossians reminds us that the gospel is not just a set of beliefs but a way of life that transforms our everyday relationships. After describing how God has rescued us and brought us into a new kingdom through Jesus (Colossians 3:1-17), Paul shows what that reality looks like in the most ordinary and intimate areas of life: marriage, family, and work. While parts of the text may feel uncomfortable, especially around themes of submission and authority, the deeper message reveals a radical redefinition of power.

Those with influence are called not to use it for control or self-gain but to lay it down for the good of others, reflecting the self-giving love of Jesus. This teaching plants the seeds for a more just, compassionate, and dignified way of relating to others, offering a vision for the kind of relational healing our world longs for. Practically speaking, following Jesus means allowing His love to reshape how we treat others by choosing humility, kindness, and sacrificial love in the places that matter most.

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith | Tap/click here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

In this week’s sermon, we are reminded that what we “wear” spiritually matters far more than the clothes we put on physically. While outward appearance may shape how others see us, our inner identity shapes how we live, love, and treat people.

Drawing from Colossians 3, Paul challenges believers to put off the old self: anger, greed, lust, malice, and selfishness—and instead put on the character of Christ: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and, above all, love.

We learn that transformation does not begin with trying harder or becoming worthy enough for God. It begins with understanding that we are already deeply loved by God through Jesus Christ. When our identity is rooted in Christ rather than success, failure, approval, achievement, or past wounds, our lives begin to change from the inside out.

The message also highlights how easy it is to live from our old selves; pain, insecurity, disappointment, shame, or unresolved wounds can shape how we respond to others. But through Christ, we are invited into a new identity. We no longer have to wear the old clothes of fear, anger, or striving. Instead, we can clothe ourselves in the love of Christ and allow that love to shape every relationship and interaction.

Ultimately, the invitation is simple but life-changing: wear what matters most—love.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

God’s will is something we’ve all wrestled with at different points—whether we’re facing a major life decision like a move or career change or simply trying to discern where we belong and how we should live day to day. We often approach these moments wondering if we’re choosing what God has planned for us. But Colossians 1:9-14 reminds us that, while we may not always know every detail, God’s will is not hidden from us. It is knowable, doable, and good. At its core, God’s desire is to form us into people who love Him fully and love others deeply. And the good news is that God is not only guiding us—He is actively working within us, through His power, to make that kind of life possible. He understands the deepest desires of our hearts even better than we do, and His will is ultimately for our good and the good of others.

Hannah Buchanan | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

New things often bring both excitement and fear. Whether it’s stepping into a new season, trying something unfamiliar, or sensing God’s call, the unknown can feel overwhelming. Yet throughout Scripture, and in our own lives, God consistently invites us beyond comfort and into trust.

This week’s message reminds us that the life of a disciple is not about personal strength or ability but about trust and obedience. As followers of Jesus, we are called to step out in faith, obey his voice, and trust that he will hold us.

In Matthew 28, the disciples encounter the risen Jesus. Some worship, while others doubt, providing a powerful reminder that faith and uncertainty often coexist. Despite their fear and lack of qualifications, Jesus gives them a mission: to go and make disciples. This calling wasn’t reserved for the elite or the fearless; it was given to ordinary people willing to trust an extraordinary God.

The same invitation extends to us today. As we go about our everyday lives at work, at home, and in our communities, we are called to live as disciples who reflect Jesus. And all the while, this promise remains: we are not alone; Jesus is with us always.

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Hannah Buchanan

Hannah Buchanan

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

Jesus was asked many questions throughout his life. In fact, most of his teachings come as responses to what people asked or assumed. But here, just before his final week, Jesus turns the tables and asks a question himself—twice, in two different conversations:

“What do you want?”

First, a mother comes on behalf of her sons, asking for places of honor in his kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28). Then, two blind men cry out from the roadside, simply asking to see (Matthew 20:29-34). It’s a familiar question, but Jesus invites a deeper answer, one that moves beyond surface desires to the longings underneath.

Placed side by side, these stories invite us to compare and reflect. One asks for power, and the other asks for sight. One reveals a kind of blindness despite proximity to Jesus, and the other demonstrates true spiritual vision despite physical blindness. Both, however, need Jesus to open their eyes in different ways.

Through these moments, Jesus redefines life in his kingdom: greatness is not found in status or control but in service, sacrifice, and surrender—the way up is down. He not only teaches this truth but lives it, moving toward the cross and praying, “Not my will, but yours be done.” His invitation is to examine what we want, uncover what we really want, and bring those desires honestly to him. As we follow Jesus, we trust that he will reshape our desires according to his will.

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

Research shows, as children, we naturally long for equality in that we want everyone to have the same. But as we grow older, that instinct often shifts toward self-interest, and our concept of “fairness” is defined by what benefits us. This way of thinking shows up in Peter’s question to Jesus in Matthew 19:27: “What’s in it for us?”

In response, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16), where each worker receives the same wage regardless of how long they labored. What initially feels unfair exposes something deeper within us: a resentment and resistance to generosity.

Through this story, Jesus reframes the conversation. The kingdom of God is not built on fairness but on grace. If God operated strictly on fairness, giving each of us exactly what we deserve, none of us would stand. Instead, God is extravagantly generous by offering love, forgiveness, and new life to all, regardless of timing or merit.

With an honest examination of our own lives, we see how quickly we fall into judgment and comparison. Yet as followers of Christ, we are invited into a different way of living that is shaped by gratitude, humility, and grace. Following Jesus is not about calculating what we gain but about receiving a love so generous that it transforms our lives completely.

Alex Johnston | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

We live in a world obsessed with greatness, which is measured by success, influence, recognition, and achievement. Whether through social media, career status, or personal accomplishments, we are constantly evaluating where we stand compared to others. Like the disciples, we often ask, “Who is the greatest?” or, more personally, “How can I be great?”

In Matthew 18, Jesus responds to this question in a way that challenges our assumptions. Instead of pointing to power or prestige, he places a child in their midst and says that true greatness begins with humility. In Jesus’ day, children had no status, no power, and no influence. They were overlooked and dependent. Yet Jesus says that unless we “turn” and become like them, we cannot even enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3-5).

In God’s kingdom, greatness isn’t found in climbing higher but in going lower—serving others, especially the vulnerable and overlooked. At the same time, Jesus warns that chasing worldly greatness can leave a trail of wounded people behind. True discipleship requires a radical reorientation that sees others as image-bearers and reshapes how we think, act, and relate.

Ultimately, Jesus points to the cross as the clearest picture of greatness. He did not grasp for power but gave himself away in sacrificial love. To follow him is to take up our cross by laying down our crown, embracing humility, and becoming people marked by sacrificial love.