Liquid Church

A lot of us think joy is the same thing as happiness. We often use these words interchangeably. But, from the Christian perspective, there’s actually a big difference. Happiness depends on external things going well: getting a new job, eating a delicious meal, walking along the beach holding hands with your sweetheart. But for the Christian, joy, unlike happiness, isn’t a temporary emotion. Joy is confidence in God, and it’s something that no circumstance or person can take away. That’s a huge difference! 

Did you know that even suffering and joy can coexist side-by-side? Because sooner or later, we will experience suffering, and our hearts will ache, but we will still have the joy of Jesus. 

Watch this message from Pastor Cuyler Black and discover how you can experience joy in your own life!

#ExperienceJoy #JoyofJesus #LiquidChurch

Anger and fear have turned American politics toxic. Is there hope beyond the culture wars? Jesus lived in the middle of a culture war with Rome. His people were bitterly divided by religious beliefs, political positions, income inequality, and ethnic differences. Sound familiar? 

So where was Jesus in all this?  Did He side with conservatives or liberals?  Did he run a campaign to Make Israel Great Again?  A: None of the above.  Instead, Jesus went from town to town, offering hope and a brand-new way to live free… regardless of who has the power, money, or influence. The Kingdom of God is bigger than our petty political boxes and little labels. 

Jesus promised His Kingdom would transform people’s hearts… and eventually the world!  This is how to live free as a Kingdom Christian in a deeply divided world!

Check this out: In the Bible (Mark 12:13-17), political leaders tried to trap Jesus into picking sides on the hot button issue of taxes. But Jesus elevated the conversation and showed that while government claim ownership of our money, God claims ownership of our souls!   Every human is made in the “imago dei” (image of God) and worthy of our love, respect, and compassion. 

This gives Kingdom Christians a supernatural power to love our enemies– yes, even those we disagree with politically.  As a Kingdom Christian, we view politics through the lens of faith… not the other way around!  Christ followers are called to wrestle biblically with hot button issues in our world– including sexual ethics, social justice, the value of human life, and immigration– and cross party lines when necessary to be faithful to Christ’s Kingdom.  Jesus' liberating message calls for loving our enemies, refusing to worship the false idol of politics, and putting our trust in God alone, not the government of man.

#FaithBeforePolitics #JesusAndPolitics #LiquidChurch

God has a special plan for each of us, a unique dream for our lives. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God can do more than we can imagine. If you feel your dream has been delayed or messed up, God can bring it back to life. Let’s look at Joseph, a young man from the Old Testament of the Bible, to learn 5 ways God can redeem your dreams.

1: Dreams direct your destiny: When Joseph was only 17, God gave him a dream that he would come into a position of authority. This dream gave him a sense of purpose. Your God-given dream will also give you a sense of direction and purpose in your life.

2: Require patience with the process. Joseph endured extreme challenges before his dream came true. He was betrayed, sold into slavery, and put in prison. But these challenges were part of God’s plan to prepare him. Just like Joseph, sometimes we have to wait and grow before our dreams come true.

3: Expect setbacks along the way. Joseph faced many problems, but they were all part of God’s bigger plan to redeem his dream. Even when things go wrong, God is still in control.

4: Always bless others. Even when Joseph was in prison, he helped others with their dreams. A true dream from God is not just about us; it also helps others.

5: Make beauty from ashes. Despite all the bad things that happened to Joseph, he kept his faith. In the end, he was promoted and his dream came true. God can take the hard and painful parts of our lives and turn them into something beautiful.

If you’re feeling discouraged, remember: God can redeem your dream! Trust Him, be patient, and know that He is working everything out for your good. Your life, in God’s hands, can become a beautiful masterpiece.

#Dream #Destiny #LiquidChurch

God has a special plan for each of us, a unique dream for our lives. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God can do more than we can imagine. If you feel your dream has been delayed or messed up, God can bring it back to life. Let’s look at Joseph, a young man from the Old Testament of the Bible, to learn 5 ways God can redeem your dreams.

1: Dreams direct your destiny: When Joseph was only 17, God gave him a dream that he would come into a position of authority. This dream gave him a sense of purpose. Your God-given dream will also give you a sense of direction and purpose in your life.

2: Require patience with the process. Joseph endured extreme challenges before his dream came true. He was betrayed, sold into slavery, and put in prison. But these challenges were part of God’s plan to prepare him. Just like Joseph, sometimes we have to wait and grow before our dreams come true.

3: Expect setbacks along the way. Joseph faced many problems, but they were all part of God’s bigger plan to redeem his dream. Even when things go wrong, God is still in control.

4: Always bless others. Even when Joseph was in prison, he helped others with their dreams. A true dream from God is not just about us; it also helps others.

5: Make beauty from ashes. Despite all the bad things that happened to Joseph, he kept his faith. In the end, he was promoted and his dream came true. God can take the hard and painful parts of our lives and turn them into something beautiful.

If you’re feeling discouraged, remember: God can redeem your dream! Trust Him, be patient, and know that He is working everything out for your good. Your life, in God’s hands, can become a beautiful masterpiece.

#Dream #Destiny #LiquidChurch

Did you know that God wants to give you rest? Physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually! This is counter to our culture's constant push to move faster and achieve more. Jesus invites us to experience God's rest, a concept rooted in the practice of Sabbatical from Ancient Israel. God freed the Israelites from slavery and commanded them to observe the Sabbath, a DAY of rest every seventh day, as a reminder that they were no longer slaves, but His children.

Theologically, there are four key parts to a Sabbath:

A sabbatical, happening every seventh YEAR, is a time to step away from work and let your soul recharge. This idea comes from the Bible, specifically from the book of Leviticus. Just like land needs a break to become fruitful again, we also need rest to renew our energy, strength, and motivation. Taking a sabbatical helps prevent burnout and prepares us for more productive and creative work in the future.

#Sabbath #Rest #LiquidChurch

Jesus often used parables—short stories with deeper spiritual meanings—to convey truths about the Kingdom of God. The Parable of the Persistent Widow is a story Jesus told to teach about prayer and justice.

What’s required for our prayers to be answered?

God’s Will: Pray according to God’s will. The Bible says, “We ask and do not receive because we ask wrongly to spend it on our own pleasures.” God is not a genie in a bottle granting wishes, we must seek His heart and plans.

God’s Timing: Even with faith and alignment with God’s will, the Bible teaches that nothing happens outside of the time God has appointed. Patience is crucial.

Your Faith: Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must pray with faith that God hears us and will respond. As Christians, we are called to believe in faith, not just act morally.

Hope and Perseverance: Believing that God can and will do something is crucial. The hardest part of prayer is often continuing to pray persistently. Real faith involves keeping on praying, even when the answer seems delayed.

The story of the persistent widow in the Bible teaches us about perseverance in prayer. She overcame societal obstacles and continuously sought justice, showing that we need to actively participate in our prayers being answered. Remember, we are co-laborers with Christ, meaning our actions combined with God’s intervention can lead to miraculous outcomes. Be encouraged to keep praying and believing, as God often blesses those who wait and persevere the longest.

#KeepPraying #Parables #LiquidChurch

Jesus often used parables—short stories with deeper spiritual meanings—to convey truths about the Kingdom of God. You may have heard of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This is a story Jesus told to teach about love and forgiveness.

This parable is about a young man who asks his father for his inheritance early, squanders it on reckless living, and ends up destitute. When he hits rock bottom, he decides to return home, hoping to be hired as a servant. Surprisingly, his father welcomes him back with open arms and throws a celebration, showing joy and forgiveness instead of anger.

What is the lesson here? No matter how far you’ve strayed from God or how badly you’ve messed up, God is always ready to welcome you back with open arms. He doesn’t judge you and he won’t punish you, rather he rejoices when a lost son or daughter returns home. This parable shows that God’s grace is abundant and freely given to all who repent and come home.

#ComeHome #Parables #LiquidChurch

Jesus often used parables—short stories with deeper spiritual meanings—to convey truths about the Kingdom of God. You may have heard of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This is a story Jesus told to teach about compassion and kindness.

In this story, a Jewish man was traveling when he was attacked by robbers. He was left hurt on the side of the road. We learn that both a priest and a temple assistant saw him, but they didn't help. They walked right past the injured man. Then, a Samaritan, who was usually at odds with Jewish people, saw the man and felt compassion. He helped the injured man by treating his wounds, taking him to an inn to rest and recover, and even paying for his care.

Jesus used this story to show that a true neighbor is someone who HELPS OTHERS, no matter who they are. It teaches us that being kind and compassionate to everyone is important, even to those who are different from us. 

#LoveYourNeighbor #Parables #LiquidChurch

Jesus often used parables—short stories with deeper spiritual meanings—to convey truths about the Kingdom of God. In the “Parable of the Sower,” Jesus tells a story about a farmer planting seeds. 

As the farmer plants the seeds, some fall on a path, where they can't grow because the ground is hard. This represents people who don't listen to God. Other seeds fall on rocky ground, where they grow quickly but die because there's not enough soil. These are people who get excited about God but don't stick with their faith journey. Some seeds fall among thorns, where they grow but don't produce fruit because they're choked by the thorns. This represents people who are too busy or distracted by other things to focus on God. Finally, some seeds fall on good soil, where they grow strong and produce a lot of fruit. This represents people who listen to God and follow Him closely.

Jesus wants us to think about which type of soil we are. Do we listen to God and follow Him faithfully, or are we too distracted or uninterested? He wants us to be like the good soil, where our faith can grow strong and produce good things. So, the question is: are you listening to God?

#ListenToGod #Parables #LiquidChurch

Jesus often used parables—short stories with deeper spiritual meanings—to convey truths about the Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Rich Man and the Beggar, Jesus shares a story about two men with different lives and what happens after they die. One is wealthy and lives luxuriously, while the other, named Lazarus, suffers daily. Surprisingly, after death, Lazarus goes to heaven, but the rich man goes to hell. This shocks people who thought wealth meant God's approval.

Jesus teaches that what comes after death isn't about being good or rich; it's about believing in Him. Heaven isn't earned by actions but received through trust in Jesus.The rich man's issue wasn't wealth but prioritizing it over God. Jesus warns against placing anything above God. The good news is Jesus offers hope to everyone. Trusting in him guarantees a place in heaven. Making Jesus the center of our lives is the wisest decision we can make.

#HeavenOrHell #Parables #LiquidChurch