When you think of a father, what do you think of? Maybe you had a dad who showed up and believed in you.

For others, the idea of a father brings negative feelings and painful memories. Wherever you find yourself on

the dad spectrum, whatever our image of our earthly father impacts how we view God, our heavenly Father.

Our experiences with our dad impact how we trust God, how we interact with God, and how we believe in God.

The Big Idea: Your past, present and future are held by the Everlasting Father.

During the holidays, we often don’t know what we need. We spend money on gifts people need that don’t satisfy what they want. But God knows us, and He knows exactly what we need.

THE BIG IDEA: Our Mighty God isn’t just powerful—He’s personal.

During the holidays, many times we don’t know what we really need. We spend money on gifts that people really need that don’t satisfy what they really want. But God knows us, and He knows exactly what we need.

THE BIG IDEA: Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor who knows us and cares for us.

More than almost anything, our world needs truth and grace. Reconciled. As one. Our world needs it, but so does your world. This week, we’ll look at how you can change the way you live to better reflect grace and truth, reconciled.

THE BIG IDEA: God doesn’t love you because you change, you change because God loves you.

In Jesus, grace and truth were perfectly reconciled. He never acted with grace in a way that was untrue, and he never acted truthfully in a way that graceless. This week we’ll see how to live more like Jesus lived by studying how grace and truth were completely present in him.

The Big Idea: Truth—when joined with grace—always brings freedom.

There are two kinds of people in life: grace people and truth people. One kind is all about the relationship; another kind is all about the rules. Both think the other is wrong. So, who’s right?

THE BIG IDEA: When grace and truth collide, your ability to make an impact soars.

The Fourth Watch of the night comes from ancient Roman practices of dividing the watch periods into four,

three-hour periods. It has come to have significance both in its literal period of the hours just before dawn and

in the figurative sense of the final period of some situation, event, or other finite time span.

THE BIG IDEA: A Fourth Watch Salvation is still Salvation!

One of the most significant spiritual battles we face is in our minds. While Satan plays a role in this struggle, the real challenge lies within us. Our thoughts shape who we are, and learning to control them is key to victory.

The Big Idea: The battleground for faith is in the mind.

As we continue the Defense Against the Dark Arts series, we focus on the spiritual battles that we all face daily. These battles are often unseen but very real, and God has given us the tools we need to defend ourselves and stand firm. This week, we'll explore the armor of God described in Ephesians 6 and learn how each piece equips us to face the enemy’s schemes. Are you ready for battle?

THE BIG IDEA: God gives us His armor to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy, and live in victory.

Scripture tells us that our enemy is unseen but does not claim that his schemes are also invisible. So, if you can’t see the enemy to fight him, you fight his schemes! Satan uses his demons and all kinds of schemes to keep us from knowing and doing God's will. All through scripture we have examples of the enemy finding victory of people, but we also have examples of what victory of the enemy's schemes looks like. Jesus shows us how to fight and be the most likely and most dangerous course of action the enemy takes.

THE BIG IDEA: Knowing God’s word is the only way to end the schemes of the enemy.