We have found ourselves living in challenging times. We are facing a global pandemic, riots and civil unrest are hurting our cities, while fires and hurricanes are destroying people's homes. All of this chaos has caused many of us to wonder: are we nearing the end? Pastor Andy shares an excellent sermon from Matthew 24 encouraging us to not be alarmed. These scriptures tell us to stand firm in our faith and continue to press on in our mission to share the Gospel with the world around us.

In Mark 11, Jesus cursed a fig tree and ran the livestock market out of the temple courtyard. What was he up to?

In Luke 16, Jesus tells a parable that seems to endorse the actions of a dishonest manager who stole from his master. How can Jesus teach something like this? Let's jump into the story and see what it really means.

As we look at The Parable of the Great Banquet, we see that Jesus was using the parable as a critique of the values of the society in his day. Jesus looked at what was going on among God's own people, and said through this story, "The kingdom is not like this." As we examine this parable, we'll ask four questions:

What does this teach us about God and his kingdom?
What does this teach us about the people who are part of God's kingdom?
What does this teach us about the people who are not part of God's kingdom?
How can we reflect this kingdom glimpse?

Why did Jesus tell parables? In this series, we'll see that the parables pack a lot more punch than we often think. They're not just sermon illustrations or Jesus' version of Aesop's Fables. They're commentary on life and the Kingdom of God.

In the final week of teaching through our EFCA Statements of Faith, Pastor Josh asks us the question: what does biblical faith look like? As we look beyond this world into the eternal life that lies ahead for those of us that have put our faith in Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15 encourages us to hold firmly to the gospel and stand firm in our heavenly hope. Our biblical faith will overflow producing lives that bring God glory!

What comes to mind when you think of the return of Christ? Joy? Excitement? Anticipation? Fear? Dread? Anxiety? Often, we link the second coming with the Great Tribulation and terror described in Revelation, and try not to think about it. But, the return of Christ is our motivation, our hope, and our greatest joy. If we want to be more earthly good, we need to be more heavenly minded.

The world desperately needs to SEE the people of God ACTING like the people of God. Taking Jesus' words from Matthew 5:13-16, we are challenged to avoid compromise and taking on the ways of the world (losing our saltiness). We must shine with hope despite the darkness.

Have you ever been hurt by the church or someone in the church? Many of us have! This pain can make us wonder, "what's the point of church?" In todays sermon, Pastor Josh shares a powerful message about the identity of the church and how God designed the church to truly be.

Why has the Holy Spirit come? What does he do? And how can I have the Spirit at work in my life?