When we are overwhelmed by a particular challenge or even just by life itself, feelings of insecurity can threaten to take over. In today’s message from Exodus 3 and 4, Pastor J.D. walks us through Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Though Moses felt completely unprepared for the assignment in front of him, God provided reassurance that was rooted in his unchanging nature. This reassurance addressed what Moses needed the most, and what we need the most in the face of life’s challenges and trials: the very presence of God himself.

Rescue. Salvation. Deliverance. These words characterize the story of the book of Exodus, as God frees his people from slavery in Egypt in an amazing display of power and might. As we begin a new series through the first half of Exodus, Pastor J.D. shows us from the first two chapters what we can learn about God’s work of salvation on a broad scale, as well as in our individual lives. And often, the very aspects of our lives that we consider weak, broken, or useless are what God uses to write a beautiful story of redemption.

In this message from Genesis 32, Pastor J.D. tells the story of Jacob, a man who began his life as a deceiver and ended his life with a limp—but who, right in the middle, wrestled with God and received an unimaginable blessing. Jacob provides a model for all of us who have ever waited on God to answer us, unsure if he hears, he cares, or he will ever act. Through Jacob, we learn that many of the blessings of God are released into our lives only through persistent, unrelenting prayer.

Jesus said we should pray like children. Children don’t think about how they approach, whether they are using the right words, or whether their parents are pleased with them. They just ask. Astoundingly, that’s the beginning of learning to pray.

Hope has a name, and his name is JESUS. For all that you aren’t, for all that you need, for all that you fear, for all that you crave, for literally all that you ever cannot be, he is the great I AM.

The Savior that was promised hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth was the Messiah an army under siege needed … not because they needed to be delivered from their enemies but because they needed to be delivered from their sin. Pastor J.D. continues today in Isaiah 7 to show us how to approach the Wonderful Counselor, who knows our sin but instead of condemnation offers us the righteousness of Christ.

The promise of a Savior that wouldn’t arrive for 700 years might not have been a great comfort to the army that received the prophecy, but God knew what they needed, and what we need today, is a Messiah who would save us from our sin. Today, Pastor J.D. is unpacking the promise of Isaiah 9 from the series “Hope Has a Name” and showing us how we should approach the Wonderful Counselor, who brings light to our darkness and gives us the gift of himself.

Have you ever been in a place of immense darkness, literal or otherwise? If so, then you know how incredibly powerful it is when you see the first rays of light beginning to break through. In this week’s message from Isaiah 9, the last in our Christmas series, Pastor J.D. shows us how Jesus is the light that the long-ago prophet spoke about. Even when darkness threatens to overwhelm this weary world, we can rejoice in the knowledge that the light of Jesus has come—a light that will never be eclipsed by darkness.

While Christmas has inspired the writing of many songs throughout the centuries, one song that is often overlooked is a biblical one—namely, that of Zechariah, whose words were inspired by the birth of John the Baptist. It talks about three ordinary objects and how they can help us better apprehend the meaning of Christmas. In this message from Luke 1, Pastor J.D. walks through Zechariah’s song to explain the first of these objects, the horn. At first glance, it may seem a curious image to use—but its rich symbolism serves to point us to Jesus, the ultimate horn of salvation.

Though the first few chapters of Acts are filled with baptisms and miracles, the pivotal point of the book—the stoning of Stephen—shows how God uses ordinary believers to display his power and accomplish his mission amidst persecution. In today’s message from Acts 7 and 8, Pastor J.D. encourages us to consider how God might be calling us to advance the mission of the gospel. It won’t look the same for everyone, of course. But the worth of Jesus and the truth of the gospel should compel us to share with a lost and dying world, whether here or overseas.