This week in our Unity series, we discussed the challenges and beauty of living out genuine unity in the church. Charlie walked us through several key passages—Luke 22:24–26 and 1 Corinthians 1 and 12—to show that relational divisions aren’t a new problem for followers of Jesus. From the disciples arguing about who was the greatest to early church members aligning with different leaders, we saw how comparison and pride quickly make differences feel like divisions. But Paul and Jesus both point us to a better way: serving, focusing on Christ over our camps, and recognizing our diverse gifts as intentional and valuable to the body. Charlie encouraged us to shift from comparing to serving, and to let our differences strengthen rather than separate us. This message is a practical call to resist comparison and choose unity, whether in our own church or among fellow believers everywhere. Take some time this week to reflect: How can you celebrate and serve alongside those who are different from you?

In this week’s Cultivate episode, we continued our pneumatology series with a special Q&A on the Holy Spirit. Abigail brought both practical and theological questions—covering everything from the Spirit’s role in the Old Testament to what it really means to be baptized in the Spirit. Charlie unpacked the difference between baptism and filling, explained how Jesus related to the Spirit in His earthly life, and explored how the Spirit works in conviction, empowerment, and transformation. We also touched on the charismatic/evangelical debate, the role of spiritual disciplines in learning to hear God’s voice, and why humility is essential for living a Spirit-filled life. If you’ve ever wondered how the Spirit works in salvation, daily guidance, or the broader church, this conversation brings both clarity and encouragement.

This week in our Unity series, we dug into the question: what is oneness? Mark helped us see that unity is not simply a nice idea but a powerful, God-given reality that the church is called to live out. Using illustrations from team sports, Psalm 133, and Romans 12, he showed how unity is both good and pleasant, life-giving, and rooted in humility. We also looked at Jesus’ prayer in John 17, where He ties the credibility of His message to the unity of His followers. Unity becomes the visible evidence that the gospel is true. This message challenged us to see life not as an individual pursuit but as a team effort—learning to rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and pursue peace as far as it depends on us. True oneness means living sacrificially, honoring others above ourselves, and letting our shared salvation shape how we treat one another.

In this week’s Cultivate episode, we continued our pneumatology series by exploring the differences between evangelical and charismatic traditions, particularly in how they understand the work of the Holy Spirit. Charlie and Abigail broke down how evangelicals tend to emphasize the authority of Scripture and the universal baptism of the Spirit, while charismatics often emphasize personal spiritual experiences and gifts such as tongues. We discussed how these perspectives shape worship, discipleship, and the way churches view maturity in Christ. Charlie also shared his “friendly evangelical” approach—holding firmly to Scripture while respecting the meaningful experiences of charismatic brothers and sisters. This conversation invites us to wrestle with how the Spirit moves, the role of spiritual gifts, and how to disagree as family in Christ without division.

This week in our Unity series, we opened with Paul’s words in Ephesians 4 and explored what it means to live as one body in Christ. Charlie challenged us to see unity not as something we must achieve but as something already true because of the Spirit within us. We were reminded that humility, gentleness, and patience are essential for living out our calling as one church. Even when disagreements arise, we are invited to “fight like family,” not enemies, recognizing that what binds us together is greater than what divides us. This message calls us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace so that the world may see Christ’s love through us.

How do we know we are already unified?

Why doesn’t our experience match the truth?

How can we work to experience unity?

What does that work require from us?

This week on Cultivate, we explored what it really means to “walk by the Spirit” from Galatians 5. Charlie and Abigail unpacked the ongoing battle between the Spirit and the flesh, emphasizing that the Christian life is not about behavior modification or rule-keeping but about living from the Spirit’s power within us. We discussed how the fruit of the Spirit is a singular fruit—an internal transformation that produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The conversation also highlighted the difference between external religious practices and genuine Spirit-filled living, the role of prayer in discerning God’s voice, and the pitfalls of equating spirituality only with outward actions. This episode challenges us to consider whether our lives reflect the Spirit’s inner work or if we’re still trying to manage our way to goodness.

This week we wrapped up our focus on the gospel by looking at what it means to live on mission together as the body of Christ. Charlie shared from Ephesians 4 about how God designed the church to function as one body, with every believer equipped for works of service. We unpacked how sharing the gospel, showing the gospel, and serving in unity are not separate callings but parts of one mission. From the “green pool” story to Paul’s imagery of maturity and stability in Christ, this message challenged us to see ourselves as active participants in God’s work. When each of us embraces our role—bringing our gifts, serving one another, and stepping into opportunities—together we become a strong, unified church that reflects the fullness of Christ to the world.

In this week’s Cultivate episode, we continue our series on pneumatology—the study of the Holy Spirit—by exploring His ongoing work in the lives of both believers and non-believers. Charlie and Abigail walk through John 16 and other passages to unpack the Spirit’s role in convicting the world of sin, guiding believers toward righteousness, and reminding us of the stakes of judgment. We discuss four primary works of the Holy Spirit for believers: regeneration, sealing, indwelling, and baptism into the body of Christ. Along the way, we address the difference between conviction and shame, the partnership between Scripture knowledge and the Spirit’s voice, and how to recognize His gentle guidance in our daily lives. This conversation offers practical tools and biblical insight to help you discern God’s voice and live in step with His Spirit.

This week in our To the Churches series, we looked at how Jesus calls His church to both share and show the gospel. Drawing from Luke 17:11–19, Charlie unpacked the story of the ten lepers—where Jesus met a physical need without requiring an immediate spiritual return. We explored the false dichotomy many churches face between proclaiming truth and extending tangible love, and how Scripture calls us to embrace both. Through personal stories and biblical examples, we were challenged to see meeting physical needs as inherently good, while also hoping and praying for the deeper spiritual transformation only God can bring. Whether we see the end result or not, every act of kindness can be a step in God’s bigger plan to bring hope, healing, and salvation.

Who exactly is the Holy Spirit—and why does it matter that we get that right? In this week’s Cultivate episode, Charlie and Abigail begin a new conversation on pneumatology, the theology of the Holy Spirit. With their usual balance of clarity and curiosity, they break down what it means to say that the Holy Spirit isn’t just a vague force but a fully divine person—eternal, all-knowing, and present with us.

They explore how different traditions treat the Spirit, what Scripture actually reveals, and how our language can both help and hinder our understanding. This episode is a helpful starting point if you’ve ever wondered about the Holy Spirit’s identity, how He works, or how He fits into the bigger story of God.