God said king Solomon would be the wisest man to ever live on earth. In 1 Kings 3 God grants him gifts of discernment and understanding. In Psalm 72 we get a template of Solomon's wisdom in his prayers. We see themes of God's justice, righteousness, and mercy. Not only were these wise prayers when Solomon prayed them, but we have the advantage of using them as templates for our own prayers today. 

God told Adam that if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die, but he doesn't die immediately. So what did die? When Paul says that the wages of sin is death, what does he mean? Sin causes death in more ways than one. Our sin can lead to the death of relationships, trust, peace, joy, and many other things. Seeing sin as death in our lives can inspire us to pursue the life God offers to us. 

King David experienced great highs in his life like uniting the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, defeating a giant in battle, and bringing the ark of the covenant back to Israel. He also experienced many lows such as, having Saul throwing spears at him in the royal palace, running for his life from cave to cave, and being exiled from his kingdom by his own son. Through all of that in Psalm 16 we see David's conclusion - everything he ever needed was found in the presence of God. This is still true for us today! As David writes in Psalm 16, the path of life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore are all found in God's presence.

King David experienced great highs in his life like uniting the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, defeating a giant in battle, and bringing the ark of the covenant back to Israel. He also experienced many lows such as, having Saul throwing spears at him in the royal palace, running for his life from cave to cave, and being exiled from his kingdom by his own son. Through all of that in Psalm 16 we see David's conclusion - everything he ever needed was found in the presence of God. This is still true for us today! As David writes in Psalm 16, the path of life, fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore are all found in God's presence. 

One of the most common metaphors found in the Bible for sin is darkness. Much like sin, darkness causes confusion, fear, and difficulty. 1 John 1 says that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If this is true, how do we exist in a world that by default is dark? What does it look like to pursue what the Bible calls the "kingdom of light"?

The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers and worship hymns to encourage us. We started a new series this week looking at the Psalms as a prayer book for ordinary exiles. Have you ever felt like you didn't belong in this world? As followers of Jesus we are present day exiles in this world. We don't belong here, but we have a purpose here until Jesus returns. In Psalm 1 David encourages us to sit and meditate in the word of the Lord. He compares the person who leans on the truth of God to a tree planted firmly by a river and a person who chases the world and evil things as the chaff of a grain that is dry, brittle, and destroyed.

The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers and worship hymns to encourage us. We started a new series this week looking at the Psalms as a prayer book for ordinary exiles. Have you ever felt like you didn't belong in this world? As followers of Jesus we are present day exiles in this world. We don't belong here, but we have a purpose here until Jesus returns. In Psalm 1 David encourages us to sit and meditate in the word of the Lord. He compares the person who leans on the truth of God to a tree planted firmly by a river and a person who chases the world and evil things as the chaff of a grain that is dry, brittle, and destroyed. 

Can sin actually separate us from God? Paul specifically states that we cannot be separate from the love of God, but what about God removing Adam and Eve from the garden? Or how do we explain the nation of Israel being removed from God's sight? Lead pastor of Mission City Russell Schultz joins the conversation this week to share his experience and knowledge around sin. 

Who were you before giving your life to Jesus? What happened when you were told the good news of Jesus' forgiveness? What is your life like now? In Acts 26 Paul shares his testimony while on trial with king Agrippa. He shares that he was a pharisee and persecutor of christians, Jesus revealed his love and grace to him, and now he is on mission to share the good news of Jesus with everyone. You have your own version of this story! 

Who were you before giving your life to Jesus? What happened when you were told the good news of Jesus' forgiveness? What is your life like now? In Acts 26 Paul shares his testimony while on trial with king Agrippa. He shares that he was a pharisee and persecutor of christians, Jesus revealed his love and grace to him, and now he is on mission to share the good news of Jesus with everyone. You have your own version of this story! Follow along as lead pastor Russell Schultz teaches us how to use this same strategy Paul uses to formulate our own stories of faith in Jesus.