It seems like yesterday that my car was new and problem-free… but somehow it’s been over a decade since that was true… Now it’s got all kinds of dents and dings and parts that need to be replaced, along with well over 200,000 miles on the odometer. In his message today, Pastor Terry tells you that everything in life fades over time, but true, lasting joy comes from Jesus. Material things can bring moments of happiness, but a relationship with Jesus Christ will bring you a joy that will last for all of eternity.

In the early hours of the morning, it’s still dark out. But slowly, as the earth rotates and the sun makes its way towards breaching the horizon, the sky begins to lighten up…. And then… the dawn breaks, and that orange glow of the sun fills the sky. Isn’t the sunrise such a glorious thing to witness? In Pastor Terry’s message today, he wants you to know that even if you’re going through a dark time right now, joy comes in the morning. Jesus has risen from the dead, which gives you the hope of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is like our GPS. That’s great, isn’t it? When we’re unsure which way to turn, when life feels confusing or overwhelming, we’re not left to figure it out alone. He leads. He nudges. He corrects when we drift off course and gently reroutes us when we make wrong turns. Pastor Terry will tell you today that Jesus promised you wouldn’t be abandoned, and He kept that promise by giving you His Spirit. The key is to learn what it means to actually follow His guidance and trust His voice.

We don’t like to think about this, but God’s standard isn’t “mostly good.” It’s perfection. We either hit the mark or we don’t. One ounce of sin still means imperfection. One wrong thought, one failure to love completely, and the standard is missed. Today, Pastor Terry will share with you how that can feel crushing if it all depends on you. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t. Jesus lived the perfect life you never could. He met the standard on your behalf. Because of Him, perfection is credited to you.

We don’t always talk about this part, but sharing the gospel can be hard. Sometimes it’s awkward. Sometimes it costs us. And sometimes it brings real hostility and opposition. The world often doesn’t welcome the name of Jesus. Pastor Terry will encourage you today to not stop sharing Jesus with people. Because even when hearts look closed, God is still working. Seeds are still being planted. Lives are still being changed. You can’t give up, because there are people who need to hear about Christ.

Do you remember growing up, how kids at school would treat a kid who looked different or acted differently? It didn’t take much—different clothes, different interests, a different way of talking—and suddenly they were on the outside. The world has always had a way of pushing away what doesn’t fit. Today, Pastor Terry will tell you that it doesn’t change much as you get older. But as a Christian, you aren’t called to blend in. You’re called to live set apart, even when it makes you stand out.

I love the chances I get to sit across from my best friend at a coffee shop, talking about everything and nothing for hours. No pressure. No pretending, just being known and wanted at the table. There’s something sacred about that kind of friendship. Pastor Terry will share with you today something amazing: God loves you like that. Not distant. Not cold. Not merely formal. He calls you friend. The Creator of the universe desires closeness with you. That kind of love is almost too wonderful to take in.

We spend so much of our lives trying to earn love. We perform. We strive. We polish our image and hope it’s enough. Somewhere deep down, we start to believe God must work the same way, that His love is a reward for good behavior. Today, Pastor Terry will remind you that the gospel tells a different story. You didn’t earn God’s love. You couldn’t. And yet, He chose you anyway. That’s the kind of love that isn’t achieved, but received, the kind that meets you right where you are and never lets go.

Have you ever seen a branch that’s been cut off the tree make fruit? Of course not. The moment it’s separated from the trunk, it starts to wither. It might look fine for a little while, but it has no life source. That’s exactly what Jesus taught. Pastor Terry will share with you today that you can’t produce real, lasting fruit apart from Jesus. You can try to strive, perform, and manufacture growth, but without abiding in Him, it won’t last. If you want to display the fruit of the Spirit, you need to stay connected to Jesus.

We love the idea of growth, but we don’t always love the process it takes to get there. God wants us to be fruitful, to reflect His character, to multiply His love, to produce something lasting. Today, Pastor Terry will remind you that God’s not distant from that process. He’s like a careful gardener tending a fruit tree. He waters. He prunes. He protects. Sometimes He even cuts back what looks healthy so something better can grow. He’s invested in the harvest of your life. And everything He does is aimed at lasting fruit.