Perhaps one of the most dangerous games people play in their spiritual lives is avoiding sin by staying on the "acceptable" side of a threshold. We believe that issues aren't really black or white. We tell ourselves we can get close to sinful things, as long as we don't cross the thin lines we believe mark them as sin. The problem is that we don't recognize the consequences of living in the "gray areas".

Among all the teachings of Jesus, repetition signals increased importance. When we see a teaching appear in all four Gospels, we know it is critical to our spiritual lives. Jesus made it clear that we are to live a life of surrender in order to find the fullness and peace we are all searching for.

This week, we revisit a message from sixteen years ago in a series called “Reality Bytes.” In it, we unpack a few simple but powerful truths—“bytes” that challenge how we measure our worth. Instead of defining ourselves by the standards of others, our abilities, or our accomplishments, we’re reminded that our identity is found in who God says we are. When that perspective shifts, everything else begins to fall into place.

They said it was impossible for a man, a teacher, to be put through a brutal death and come back to life, but this was no ordinary man...

Join us for a special service as we remember the crucifixion.

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “I’ve gone too far… I’ve messed up too badly for God to forgive me”? Maybe you've looked at someone whose actions seem unthinkable and assumed they’re beyond grace; only judgment remains. When we draw such lines, we become the judge, but one of the most shocking moments in the Gospels completely challenges that idea.

Nicknames, we all have had one at some point, often a reference to something embarrassing, or they stick because of something we wish we could forget. Imagine if, for over 12 years, you were not known by your name, but a shameful label. Desperate for hope and resolution, this woman took a huge risk, and it changed everything!

When something goes wrong, our instinct is to ask one common question: “Whose fault is it?” We look for someone to blame, somewhere to point the finger. But sometimes the problem isn’t about blame at all. Sometimes God is doing something bigger. When Jesus encountered a man born blind, his life was forever changed. But the greatest miracle in the story isn’t the one most people notice.

We’ve all been there, when the pressure seems to pile up, and there seems to be no answer in sight. Life begins to feel like a bad nightmare, and the very thing we were fighting for suddenly slips away. In those moments, we find ourselves asking the question, “What now?” When we feel out of options, out of strength, and out of answers, Jesus steps in.

There may be nothing more frustrating than feeling stuck, except realizing you actually are stuck, and every effort to get free only pulls you deeper into the sand. In marriage, that struggle can intensify. Two people are attempting to solve problems at the same time, often with good intentions, yet sometimes unintentionally working against each other. The good news is this: you don’t have to stay stuck. There is a path forward. There is a way out of the sand and into solid ground, into renewed clarity, and strength in both life and marriage.