Our Turn with Guest Speaker David Nelms

The Timothy Initiative

“It’s my turn!” a child shouts from the top of the playground slide. After watching others race down the long curving slide with laughter and joy, he finally steps forward. He’s seen what’s possible and now it’s finally his moment. 

Scripture shows how God has been moving His story forward, generation after generation. From the very beginning, He has invited His people to step into what He is doing in the world. Each time, someone new takes their turn in the unfolding work of redemption. 

And now, it’s our turn. 

Join us this Sunday as we discover our place in God’s mission, exploring how we can faithfully step into His redemption story. 

Praying for Our Daily Needs  (Prayer Part 2)

Matthew 6:11-13 

We depend on food and water to survive. An individual can only go for about 40 days without food, and only three days without water. We depend on the air in our lungs; without it, we survive only a few minutes. Every breath, every sip, every bite is a reminder that we are not self-sustaining. 

So then, who provides these things? It’s easy to give the credit to our routines, our jobs, or the country we live in. But Scripture reminds us that God Himself is the One who supplies every need. Our dependence is not a flaw, rather it’s an intentional design. We were created to rely on Him. 

Join us this week as we continue our series on the Lord’s Prayer and explore how Jesus’ model of prayer becomes our declaration of dependence on God. 

Lord, Teach us to Pray 

Prayer (Part 1)

Matthew 6:9-10 

Most things in life don’t come naturally to us. We need a tour guide when we travel, a mentor to walk with us through parenting, and a teacher to help us learn how to read. In the same way, it’s unrealistic to assume that everything in the Christian life will come naturally the moment we step into faith. When we assume that everything will come naturally, we forget how much we need God to teach and shape us. God knows that prayer is a spiritual discipline – one that takes time, practice, and guidance as we learn how to honor Him when we approach His throne. 

Thankfully, He doesn’t leave us on our own. Jesus gives us a model for prayer right in the Sermon on the Mount. 

Join us this Sunday as we dive into our series on prayer and discover how prayer is first and foremost about God, the ruler of the universe 

Pentecost (Part 2) 

Fulfillment and Harvest 

Acts 10:23-48 

Children often insist, “I can do it myself!” as they wobble on their new bike or reach for shoelaces they haven’t quite learned to tie. Teenagers can also strive for independence, convinced they can navigate life themselves. Even adults pride themselves on self-sufficiency, learning new skills from videos, solving problems alone, and pushing through challenges without asking for help. 

But deep down, we know the truth: we can’t live this life alone. 

Thankfully, God never asked us to. The celebration of Pentecost reminds us that the Christian life is not driven by our effort but by His Spirit. We need His presence to guide us, shape us, and empower us in ways we never could on our own. 

Join us this Sunday as we continue our Pentecost celebration and learn what it means to live a truly Spirit-empowered life. 

Pentecost (Part 1)

Promises in the Famine

Joel 2:28-32 

Awaiting someone’s promised arrival can be thrilling. Children write letters to Santa weeks in advance, bursting with excitement at the thought of his Christmas visit. Families crowd around the airport, scanning every traveler for the familiar face they’ve been longing to see. Parents in the delivery room hold their breath, waiting for that first cry confirming the arrival of their newborn baby. 

But what if the waiting wasn’t minutes, hours, or weeks. What if it stretched into centuries? 

From early in the Old Testament until the day of Pentecost, God’s people lived with a promise: that His Spirit would one day dwell among them. Prophets proclaimed this coming blessing, but generations passed without seeing its fulfillment. Still, Israel waited – longing, hoping, and trusting. 

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost, the day Joel prophesied about, and the day God’s long-awaited promise came to life among His people. We’ll explore miraculous truths about the Holy Spirit including His work then, His work now, and His work in the future. 

Instruments of God’s Grace 

Guest Speaker Steve Zarrilli 

Acts 9:36-42 

Our world celebrates the loud. We chase after famous people on bright stages, quote authors and podcasters we’ve never met, and take on the agendas that shout the loudest. Yet something in us still longs for the quiet – the soft wind, the lapping waves, the songs of birds at dawn. 

Jesus celebrates that quiet place. He lifts up the humble and the lowly. He honors the unseen, the overlooked, and the ordinary. He Himself entered the world not with applause, but as a baby in a manger. 

This Mother’s Day, join us as we explore how Jesus views humble, natural servanthood within His supernatural kingdom and discover what a life of gospel faithfulness truly looks like. 

Come and See 

John 1:43-51 

We don’t always grasp how good something is until we experience it ourselves. A famous landmark, a five-star restaurant, even a New York Times bestseller may be highly recommended, but you only know it’s worth it once you’ve seen it for yourself. 

In the same way, Jesus invites His followers with a simple call: “Follow me.” Naturally, those who accepted Him couldn’t keep it to themselves, so they passed the invitation along with three life-changing words: “Come and see.” 

Join us this Sunday for Student Takeover, as we hear from both Scripture and from the mouths of our students – young men and women who have responded to that same invitation, discovering the goodness of Jesus for themselves. Come and see what happens when God’s children say yes to their King. 

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and King (Part 14) 

The Seed and the Storm

Mark 4:35-41 

There’s a reason we’re drawn to action movies, thrilling fiction, and dramatic rescue stories: everyone loves a big, cinematic save. But what about the rescues that feel quiet? What about when the miracle looks less like a calmed storm and more like a verse on a page? 

In Scripture, Jesus rescued His people in powerful, unforgettable ways. It’s easy to look at our own lives and wonder, “Why isn’t He fixing my problems like that?” But Jesus hasn’t left us empty-handed. He’s given us something living, active, and deeply powerful – His Word. 

Join us this Sunday as we explore how Jesus uses both mighty miracles and His living Word to reach the hearts of His children, then and now. 

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and King

The Unconcealable Kingdom 

Mark 4:21-25 

We’ve all heard the phrase “let’s address the elephant in the room.” It describes that moment when something feels too important to ignore, or so obvious that there might as well be a full-sized elephant standing between you and the other person. 

In a way, Jesus’ ministry began in the opposite manner. It arrived quietly. He was born in a manger, in a small town, and grew up like every other child. And yet, unlike any other human life, Jesus was bringing forth the Kingdom of God into the world. He knew that even though His mission began quietly, it would eventually become impossible to overlook – an “elephant in the room” of sorts. 

Join us this Sunday as we discover how the light of Jesus’ Kingdom refuses to stay in the shadows and how we’re invited to live in it. 

The Summons: Grappling With God’s Kingdom and King (Part 13)

The Seed of the Kingdom

Mark 4:26-34

We’ve all been there. The teacher assigns a group project, and you’re paired with two people who likely won’t do a thing. You spend all week working, and by the time presentation day arrives, your only goal is to make sure the teacher knows exactly who did all the work.

From Lego towers in the living room, to reference pages in academic writing, we are wired from a young age to claim credit for our accomplishments. We want the acknowledgment we feel we’ve earned.

But the Kingdom of God operates differently.

Scripture reminds us that we are simply vessels in the greater plan of the kingdom, not the source. God tells his children that all credit should be given to him, because any growth we see is a product of his plan being carried out.

Join us this Sunday as we read the parables of Jesus and rediscover our role in God’s great plan.