"You also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." - Romans 1:6

We do a lot of "calling" in our lives. Calling in favors, calling the family to dinner, etc. We get called for Jury Duty. Sports officials make calls...the list could go on and on...but what is God's call on our lives? 

GO DEEPER: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 - Paul offers encouragement to stand firm in our calling.

"Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given." - John 1:16

We see examples of grace daily, many in our own lives, shown to us...and yet we miss that Christ gives us grace to replace grace as we learn and grow. We do nothing to earn it, yet He supplies and maintains it..God is good!

GO DEEPER: 1 Corinthians 15:9-11 - Paul's description of the undeserved grace of God.

"The Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'" - Genesis 3:9

"Where are you?" - Did God need to ask this? No. Why, then, did He? It was more of an invitation than a question. So, where are you today?

It's worth asking. God pursues you, seeking you like the lost sheep. 

GO DEEPER: Luke 19:1-10 - Jesus seeking the outcast

Sunday Sermon based in Genesis 28:10-22. 

Pastor Phillip dives into the text to take a deeper look at the spiritual battle that Jacob was facing, as well as how that battle is the same for us as we struggle through this life. 

Why do we neglect to see that God is with us until it is after the fact? What is it that is so hard for us to sense His presence in our lives today?

Remember getting picked for the team growing up? Maybe that dreamy crush you had asked you to prom or on a date? Maybe you got that fantastic job you had been wanting? You got picked. It felt great to be chosen...

Ephesians 1:4 reminds us, "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight." He chose us...let that sink in. 

GO DEEPER: 1 Peter 2:4-10 - The Living Stone has chosen you

We are all victims of something, honestly, and our lists could go on and on...but what if we started accepting our own responsibilities in this world? What if we reject the "culture of blame" and refused to surrender to the victim mindset?

"Each of us will give account of ourselves to God." - Romans 14:12

One day we will not be able to place the blame on others.

GO DEEPER: Galatians 6:1-10 - Instructions on carrying your own load

Do you ever get the uneasy feeling you are being watched? You are. From security cameras, to companies monitoring your phone calls, internet usage, and more, every move we make is being watched...and there is One who is watching that will always be watching, even if we go off grid.

"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." - Proverbs 15:3

GO DEEPER: 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 - The Lord is ever watchful

The opening chapters in the Bible give us a unique opportunity to look back to creation, and to see it as God intended it. We look back to our original intention when God formed man out of the dust. We are workers and caretakers of His creation.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." - Genesis 2:15

GO DEEPER: Colossians 1:15-20 - Paul looks at Jesus' role in creation.

"Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them." - Deuteronomy 11:16

Worship is giving our time, energy, attention, and affection to whomever or whatever we consider worthy. But where does our worship lie? In whom, or what, do we place our time and energy? What do we worship? 

It is worth asking ourseleves.

GO DEEPER: 1 Chronicles 16:23-31 and Psalm 96 - Look at David's time of worship and celebration of God.

"God said,'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" - Genesis 1:26

Saying we bear God's image isn't saying He looks like us. It is, however, saying that we have many characteristics implanted into us that resemble Him. This fact alone gives us great dignity and worth...as well as breathtaking potential.

GO DEEPER: Romans 8:28-30 - Paul speaks of God's goal to make us "conformed to the image of Christ."