Suffering happens to everyone. Phil navigates for us a deeper, counter-cultural way of understanding suffering—not as something to frantically escape, but as a sacred place where the life like Christ’s is quietly born. From Paul’s hard-won wisdom, Jesus at Gethsemane, to the everyday pain carried in our bodies, this message explores the mysterious truth that carrying the death of Jesus is what unleashes His life in us. This truth from scripture will show us a path toward more freedom, less fear, and a love that grows even in the dark. We can learn to suffer with grace, to trust with courage, and to discover hope in the very places we normally would avoid.

One of the greatest challenges to belief in God is the existence of suffering. Every worldview must grapple with it—yet, early Christians saw suffering not as a threat to faith but as an honor, an opportunity to walk with the crucified Christ. Modern culture teaches us to avoid suffering, but not how to endure it.

The Christian story offers something different. Psalm 56:8 says, God sees our sorrow and collects each tear in a bottle. But suffering isn’t the end. Just as the resurrection followed the cross, redemption follows pain. While the world clings to happiness knowing sorrow awaits, Jesus embraces suffering knowing joy is coming. You can’t control suffering—but you can choose your response. And faith makes all the difference.

At Memorial Road, we’re a family of believers striving to honor Jesus by giving and serving others. As we enter the season of Holiday Giving, we’re reminded of Isaiah’s call to “do good, seek justice, and correct oppression.”

There are countless ways to live out our core values of Sacrificial Generosity and Restorative Justice, and we will highlight them Sunday morning. You don’t have to do it all—just pick one or two to help make a difference.

Let’s continue being a church for good—a church that rises above the noise and shines through service!

In a world quick to argue and slow to love, it is easy to lose sight of what we’re really called to be. In his letter to Titus, Paul reminds us that we are saved for a purpose—to devote ourselves to doing good. Goodness is at the very heart of the gospel and a compelling witness to the world.

Arguing wins few hearts; goodness changes lives.

As we continue our series, A Church for Good, we will see that when the people of God choose to embody the kindness and mercy that saved them, the world takes notice.

Each of us faces high-stakes moments—career crossroads, moral dilemmas, and life-altering diagnoses. How do we respond with strength, wisdom, and faith? Drawing from the rise and fall of King David and Paul’s call to spiritual training, Phil will explore how our response to challenges is shaped long before a crisis arrives. Discipline is the key. Our personal and spiritual victories are forged in our habits of preparation. Join us Sunday morning for a refresher on the importance of spiritual training.

At MRCC, justice is more than a word. It's one of our eight core values—not justice as it’s often misused today, but biblical justice: the kind rooted in love, humility, and righteousness. As Psalm 33:5 reminds us, 

“The Lord loves righteousness and justice; 

the earth is full of His unfailing love.”

Justice isn’t a trend. It’s a calling. It’s the visible expression of love. And it’s something our church family has long lived out through food pantries, tutoring, refugee care, and more. When we say we want our city to miss us if we were gone, this is what we mean - being Jesus to those who need it.

As we continue to dream about what deeper justice ministries could look like at MRCC, Mark Taylor will tag in with Phil to share more of that vision.

We’re taking a short break from our Believe in Me series to focus on something foundational—our mission as a church. Last year, we introduced a bold and simple mission: To Imitate Christ by Living Good Lives, Doing Good Works, and Sharing Good News. Over the next few weeks, we’ll dive deeper into the eight core values that support this mission, beginning with Godly Unity.

In a culture that often values being “right” over being “one,” we’re called to something deeper. It’s not just a feel-good idea—it’s at the heart of the gospel, modeled by Jesus himself, and rooted in the very nature of our God. So let’s ask: What would it look like for the world to see Christians as the leaders in unity—not just in doctrine, but in practice? Let’s find out together.

Every advance in technology extends our ability in one area but reduces it in another. As AI continues to advance, it is giving us the ability to do amazing things, but at what expense? Sunday morning we will dissect how to use AI without losing the very things that make us human. We were intentionally created - not by chance, but by a loving Creator. We were made to imagine, to build, to connect, and to thrive. Above all, we were made for more.

As AI continues to transform the world at an unprecedented pace, it’s vital for us to reflect on its ethical implications through the lens of faith. From its groundbreaking applications in medicine and technology to the darker side of deepfakes, the rapid growth of AI presents both incredible opportunities and significant risks. Phil invites us to ask critical questions: How should we, as disciples of Jesus, engage with AI? How can we discern its potential to either enhance or diminish humanity? Drawing on biblical principles and stories, this discussion offers a framework for navigating this technology with wisdom and discernment.

Phil will deliver a message entitled, The Meaning Crisis. In the last 200 years technology has shifted our view of God over all to a life made of matter and motion. We connect with people across the globe but are disconnected from the people in the same room as us, and now we are trying to make sense of who we are and find our story. Join us as we find the source who gives us meaning.