This Christmas Eve, we gathered to celebrate Jesus and the gift of peace He came to give. We looked at a question many of us ask, is this really all there is? Scripture reminds us that God has more for you. He has a plan and a purpose, and true joy and lasting fulfillment are found as we know God, find community, pursue growth, make a difference, and impact the world. If those things stirred something in you, we invited you to start the new year with us as we begin our new message series, Back on Track. We also explored what the Bible says about peace. Jesus never promised a problem free world, but He did promise peace in Him. Peace is not the absence of chaos, it is the presence of God. As we closed with candlelight, we were reminded that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and His peace is available to us today.

When we look at the story of Mary and Joseph, we are reminded that obedience does not always come with clarity, comfort, or ease. But obedience places us right in the middle of God’s redemptive work and his plans for our lives. Their story shows us that our best response to God is often a simple yes, even when it does not make sense, even when it costs us, and even when waiting makes it harder. This past weekend, Pastor Andy invited us to see Christmas as a story still being written and to consider how our yes to God shapes who we become and the chapters God is writing in our lives today. As Christmas approaches, we are each invited to ask ourselves. What might God do if I offered him my best yes?

This weekend Pastor Andy kicked off our Stories of Christmas series by reminding us that we all want our lives to tell a better story, and with God’s help, that is absolutely possible. He walked us through three simple questions that shape the direction of our lives: What do you want, why does it matter, and how will you respond? Our desires guide what we notice, our expectations determine how we see God at work, and our choices move us toward the future we’re hoping for. Andy encouraged us to let God reshape our desires, lift our eyes, and help us live with a fresh sense of anticipation. Instead of settling for less or drifting through the season, he invited us to lean in, pay attention, and take a step toward God’s story for us this Christmas.

When we choose gratitude, God opens our eyes to his goodness and draws our hearts toward him, while entitlement closes us off from the grace he’s already pouring into our lives. This weekend, Pastor Buddy wrapped up our Closer series by reminding us that gratitude is often the first step toward a deeper, more trusting relationship with God. We grow in gratitude by paying attention to the ways he cares for us and choosing to thank him throughout our day. And as this rhythm takes root in our lives, our faith grows, our joy deepens, and we begin to experience God’s presence with a clearer, more hopeful heart.

This weekend we opened our new series called Closer by looking at one of the biggest barriers that keeps us from feeling close to God. All of us want a real relationship with him, yet Jesus teaches that unforgiveness can quietly block our hearts in ways we may not realize. Through the story of the unforgiving servant, we were reminded that God has already forgiven a debt we could never repay, and that releasing others is part of the freedom he wants for us. Forgiveness is not pretending the hurt never happened. It is choosing to let go, trusting God with the pain, and stepping into the kind of life where nothing stands between us and him. As we move into this Christmas season, we’re invited to receive God’s forgiveness in a fresh way and extend it to others so that we can grow closer to his heart.

This weekend was a powerful reminder that God calls us to dream big, to dream his dreams, and to step out in bold faith. As a church, we celebrated all that God has already done through Dream Now, from lives changed to ministries growing and new campuses taking shape. And we believe he’s only getting started. Together, we’re stepping into what’s next by faithfully responding to his call, trusting that as we give, serve, and pray from now through the end of the year, God will continue to do more than we could ever imagine. Learn more or get involved at saddleback.com/dreamnow

Have you ever wondered if God really has a plan for your life, and how to figure out what it is? This weekend, Pastor Kurt Johnston reminded us that God absolutely has a unique purpose and plan for each of us. God’s will begins with relationship. His will for everyone is that we would know Him, respond to His love, and enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. But beyond that, He also has a specific plan for each of our lives. So how do we discover it? Pastor Kurt taught that understanding God’s will is not about unlocking a secret. It is about growing closer to Him. The more time we spend in prayer, reading Scripture, and walking daily with God, the more clearly we begin to hear His voice and recognize His direction. God’s will is not always revealed all at once. It is something we discover step by step as we follow Him. When we seek God daily, He gives us peace, clarity, and wisdom for each decision along the way.

As Christians, how do we respond to a world full of division and conflict? How can we stay rooted in our faith while living in a constantly changing culture? In the second week of our series Hey God!, Pastor Andy Wood reminded us that if we want to know how to live, we must first know who, or what, we follow. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all being shaped by something. We can choose to follow Jesus and build our lives on the firm foundation of God’s Word, or let the world shape us instead. Who we become starts with what we follow. Pastor Andy challenged us to ask two key questions: Who am I following? and Who am I aiming to please? We can’t live to please both people and God. Living for God’s approval brings peace, purpose, and strength to stand firm in truth. Jesus modeled both grace and truth—loving people deeply while never compromising what was right. To follow him means being willing to stand apart from the world and reflect his love, truth, and compassion in all we do.

Pastor Andy Wood kicks off an exciting new series, Hey God!, with a powerful message teaching us how we can tune in to hear God’s voice. In the busyness of our lives today, it’s hard to believe that the same God who spoke to Moses, Jesus, and Paul still speaks to us. But we often forget that God does want to speak to us and he wants us to listen. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and we can hear his voice and calling in our lives when we learn how to be still and listen. In this message, Pastor Andy shares the story of God speaking to the prophet Samuel, calling him to step into his great purpose as a leader of Israel. Through our study of 1 Samuel, we witnessed how God called Samuel and were reminded that God answers those who seek him with all their heart. We hope this message inspires you to seek God’s voice in your life and leads you to a deeper relationship with him.