One of the subtle dangers for Christians is worrying more about how righteous we appear (or how righteous we think we are) rather than looking to God alone for righteousness and approval. In Matthew 23, Jesus addresses the religious leaders of His day and exposes the temptation to serve religious idols like self-righteousness and the approval of man.

Who is Jesus? It is a question that many people are asking and the answer is profound. The church is built upon the fact that Jesus Christ is God in human flesh - fully God and fully human. In this message, we see that if Jesus was not both God and man there could be no salvation for any of us.

How would you describe God the Father? Our view of the Father can be affected by our earthly father and by cultural opinions. In this message, we look to the Bible to accurately describe God the Father. We find these words: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.”

Because people are made in the image of God, it’s easy to put relationships with them in the place of God - to expect spouses, children, or family to give us what only God can give. But when we put God first and other relationships second (in their proper place), we are actually better able to love those around us instead of putting a crushing weight on their shoulders they can’t bear.

Our statement of faith says, “We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Understanding the eternity and the Trinity is not easy, but how we view God is essential and has practical implications. A proper understanding of God affects our priorities and perspective on life and what is most important for us each day.

If someone were to ask you to demonstrate the authority, inerrancy, and reliability of God’s word, would you be up for the challenge? Are you yourself convinced that the Bible is a book set apart and it contains the ultimate prescription for life and godliness? Pastor Paul gives us many details from inside and outside of the Bible (with MAPS) to bolster our awe of God and His word. Spread the Word!

This first message in our series on Foundations shows the importance of sound doctrine. We look at what doctrine is, why it matters, and where we go from here. Doctrine is more than just academic head-knowledge - it is the basis for real life application. Understanding how God has revealed Himself to us through His word is the foundation for us living our lives in Christ.

We become what we worship, but what do you really worship? Jonah shows us that we can say we worship God but really be worshipping idols in our heart. God graciously shows Jonah his duplicitous heart and idols. We also see ways we can identify idols in our own hearts and how to dethrone them and worship God as revealed in Jesus, who is “greater than Jonah” and our idols.

As Jesus travels to Jerusalem, He is given two very different requests along the way. In this section of Scripture, we get insight into the heart of those asking the questions, their display of (or lack of) faith, and Jesus' wisdom in responding to both requests. What do your own requests of Jesus reveal about your heart, your faith, and your understanding of who Jesus is?

This week, we zoom out to get an overview of the whole book of Genesis. How do these ancient stories of creation, faith, forgiveness, and redemption affect our lives right now? Have we substituted a weakened version of God for the awesome God of Genesis? Pastor Paul challenges us to think through these themes in this fast-paced message that gives us much to consider.