The Backpack

This week DJ got the chance to sit down with Christ community member Billy Doolittle, as he unpacked how the Lord changed the trajectory of his life through encounters with his word. With his people and with uncomfortable circumstances that pushed him towards Jesus.

This week we continue on in our study of First Corinthians and entitled We Are His. We begin chapter six this week and Pastor Blake unpacks the first half of the chapter looking at the reality that we are his righteousness, and we look at how that reality should shape the way that we view slights and offenses from those around us in the church as we strive together in holiness.

This week we return to our series in one Corinthians entitled "We Are His." Pastor Blake Opens up one Corinthians chapter five and looks at the painful reality of discipline within the local church, but why it ultimately is restorative and a path towards forgiveness.

Pastor Elder Jeff Bracken examines a couple of accounts in the Gospel of Luke and looks at the reality that when Jesus saves us, he not only saves us from our sin and desperation, but he saves us to something.

This week in our 2025 Christmas message, pastor Blake opens up First John chapter four.We look at how the fact that God sent love into the world through Jesus Christ changes the way that we love those around us.

This week we continued our sermon series titled "God Sent." Pastor Blake opens up Isaiah 9 and looks at the promise that God is sending Joy into the world to cut through our darkness and give us hope as we walk through this life with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Yesterday’s story featured Daniel Bright and Derek Page sharing from their recent vision trip to Chile. Their message reminded us that the global church is alive, vibrant, and hungry to partner in the gospel.

They described small congregations with enormous faith, pastors serving tirelessly, worship that shakes the room, and believers who are passionate about reaching their communities for Christ.

Their trip wasn’t about “helping” it was about linking arms with brothers and sisters who are already faithfully living out the Great Commission.

We were challenged to pray, to encourage our missionaries, and to be willing to say yes if God calls us to go.

This sermon kicks off the series God Sent, reminding us that true hope always arrives through a spoken word from God, not things or circumstances.

Even when we feel stuck in a personal wilderness or captivity of our own making, God lovingly sends voices, forgiveness, comfort, and ultimately His Son to uncover His glory in our lives.

This message calls us to gain, grab, and give access to God's Word, embrace the wilderness, and walk with Jesus on the path to freedom and real hope this Christmas season

This week’s message from 1 Corinthians 4 challenged us to rethink what it means to live faithfully for Jesus in a world that sees the gospel as “foolishness.” Pastor Blake walked us through Paul’s reminder that we are servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God, called not to justify ourselves, but to rest in God’s justice and grace.

This week, Pastor Blake challenged us with Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “I couldn’t speak to you as spiritual people, but as infants in Christ.”

In a world that prizes independence and self-definition, God calls us to something deeper; spiritual maturity. We’re not meant to stay spiritual babies. We’re meant to grow together, as His temple, built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.

The message reminds us that growth requires testing, belonging, and surrender. God Himself is building maturity in those who belong to Him. If you’ve been “just trying to get through the next season,” this one’s for you.