From time to time, we all can allow comfort to keep us from doing what God has called us to do; GO. A response to God will lead to the redemption of others, and he wants us to take risks in order to rescue those that don't know Jesus. If we are going to be rooted in Jesus in 2022, we must be All In.

If there was ever a time for our church and for our lives to be rooted in something that is fixed, secure, and true it is now. In this season of upheaval and transition, it is imperative that the roots of our lives, both personally and corporately, go deeper. This year we believe that God is calling Pantano to be wholeheartedly rooted in Jesus. We believe that deeper roots will be like an anchor that will stabilize our church and personal lives in a world full of storms. Today you’ll be introduced to our church one word and the scripture which it is based on. Rooted means pressing deeper into Jesus and we’ll begin the process of discovering our own one word that will help us be rooted in Jesus.

Love is more than feelings, and the kind of love that is a fruit of the Spirit is the kind of love that takes action. The Greek word for that love is agape, and that love is a love that takes action and understands self-sacrifice. Christmas shows us that God took action and sent Jesus to humankind because he was motivated by love. How are you going to express the kind of love that takes action?

How do we find peace in a world of conflict, suffering and turmoil? We go to the Prince of Peace! Our only trusted source of peace is God himself. Peace with God and Peace from God is possible because of Christ.

Gabriel the angel announced good news that would bring joy to all people. Jesus is that good news. And he alone is our source of joy. Joy will never be found or sustained when seeking it through experiences, people, accomplishments or possessions. Joy is found as we stay focused and centered on Jesus and the things of God. No one or no situation can rob us of that kind of joy. Joy is birthed in us as we allow the Spirit to fill us.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. Patience is learning to trust God through the slow slog of life and all its challenges. The result of patience is that we’ll experience slow growth. The Spirit slowly transforms us. The fruit of the Spirit does not grow quickly. The root comes before the fruit. Patience allows the root of character to grow, so the fruit of the Spirit forms in us and is expressed outwardly. They grow and mature over a long time of faithful obedience to Jesus. That long obedience requires patience. ‘Fast and furious’ might be a great adventure movie series, but it isn’t how the Spirit transforms us. Slow growth is lasting growth that can withstand the hurricanes of life. You want fruit that matures and lasts.

We’ve become cynical and now accept that “nothing lasts forever.” That may be true in a fast changing world, but God is faithful, trustworthy, reliable and dependable - always! And we’ve been let down by people who were not trustworthy and dependable. Because God is faithful, if our inner self is being shaped by the Spirit of God, then we too will be faithful, trustworthy and dependable as well. We can’t always control outcomes, but we can do our part which is being faithful to do our part. First, we are faithful to God and just as importantly, we will be faithful in our relationship with others.

God is kind and gentle. For that, we are all grateful! His kindness is expressed in action. He came to us in Jesus to bring his love close to us. He is Lord over us, but he is a kind and gentle Lord. As we allow the Spirit to have greater influence in us, we’ll treat others with a powerful, gentle kindness that not only helps, encourages, and comforts but it also will lead people to the very God who created that within us.

The words good or goodness don’t mean much these days. But if we look at the Bible's definition for goodness we begin to realize that it is strongly tied into the very nature of God, Himself. Jesus teaches us that goodness flows from the heart. God wants our hearts to become good so that we will be good and reflect his character. In this message we explore how our hearts can become God as we experience the goodness of God.

How do we actually grow to become more and more like Jesus? Is it mostly on us to make it happen? Are there rules we can follow? No, there’s a much better way. It’s the way of the Spirit. It’s the Spirit who transforms our character into the character of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit gives us a picture of the character of Jesus. As we stay connected to the Spirit and let him have his way in us, we’ll be transformed.