“How do you affair-proof your marriage?”

It’s a question we all want a simple formula for, but the reality is much more sobering. An affair is rarely a sudden impulse; it is usually the final chapter of years of quiet neglect. Marriages don’t collapse overnight—they erode when wounds are ignored, needs are unmet, and hearts are left unattended.

In today’s message, “Building A Lasting Marriage,” we look at the "Rise and Fall" of David. While we often focus on his failure with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11, the cracks in the foundation started a decade earlier. By looking at the volatile interaction between David and his wife Michal in 2 Samuel 6, we discover the warning signs of a marriage losing its connection.

From the danger of "calcified bitterness" to the "dashboard indicator" of sarcasm, we explore how unresolved conflict creates a chasm that leaves us vulnerable. Whether you are in a season of bliss or feeling the chill of a distant spouse, this message offers a candid look at how to choose your spouse every day and protect the covenant you’ve built.

In this sermon, we discuss:

The Myth of the Sudden Failure: Why affairs are often the result of long-term neglect.

The Michal Complex: How unresolved bitterness turns into contempt.

The Sarcasm Warning: What your tone of voice says about the health of your heart.

The "Homecoming" Test: What it looks like to return home to "bless your household" versus being "met with a mood."

Vulnerability & Validation: The danger of seeking honor from others when you don’t feel it at home.

Reflection Questions for Couples:

Use these to spark a conversation on your next date night:

What are some disappointments that have accumulated over time in our relationship?

Does our home feel like a place of blessing or a place of "moods" and tension?

How can we move from being "stiff-necked" to being tender with one another again?

Scripture References:

2 Samuel 6:14-23; 2 Samuel 11:1-3; Deuteronomy 17:17

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This powerful message takes us on a journey through the Ark of the Covenant, revealing what happens when we approach God with enthusiasm but without reverence.

We explore the tragic story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6, who reached out to steady the ark and died instantly—not because God is capricious, but because the Israelites had abandoned God's clear instructions about how His presence should be honored.

They borrowed a 'new cart' idea from the Philistines instead of following God's original design with consecrated Levites carrying the ark on poles.

This raises an uncomfortable mirror to our own lives: How often do we borrow the world's ideas and present them to God as improvements on His Word?

Whether it's our views on sexuality, relationships, language, or priorities, we can fall into the trap of casual Christianity—believing in God while not actually obeying what He says.

The Ark's power wasn't meant to be punitive but purposeful; when Obed-Edom honored God's presence correctly, his entire household was blessed.

The message calls us back to reverence, reminding us that before we can be leaders in God's kingdom, we must first be followers.

It challenges us to take six deliberate steps in our walk with God: acknowledging He is God and we are not, following rather than leading Him, trusting His ways are higher, decreasing so He can increase, obeying rather than expecting Him to obey us, and keeping Him as our only God without idols.

This isn't about fear that drives us away, but reverence that draws us into the fullness of His blessing.

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This powerful exploration of spiritual warfare pulls back the curtain on the invisible realm where angels and demons clash over our prayers, families, and daily battles.

Through David's encounters with the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5, we discover a God who doesn't just bless our plans—He goes before us with armies of angels when we wait for His timing.

The imagery is stunning: David waiting to hear the sound of marching in the poplar trees before moving forward, understanding that victory comes not from rushing ahead but from staying aligned with God's movement.

We're introduced to 'Lord Sabaoth'—the God of angel armies—a name first cried out by a desperate mother named Hannah and passed down through generations.

This isn't the sanitized, theoretical Christianity many of us learned in Sunday school. This is visceral, tangible faith that recognizes every prayer we utter launches spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms.

When we pray, angels are dispatched. When demons resist, battles rage for days or weeks before breakthrough comes. The revelation from Daniel 10 is sobering: our prayers matter so much that they trigger cosmic conflicts we cannot see.

The challenge before us is profound—are we living with what one commentator called 'a refined spirit of atheism,' believing in God intellectually while making decisions as if He doesn't exist?

Or will we call on the God who mounts cherubim, rides through the heavens, and reaches down to rescue us because He delights in us?

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In a world that rushes us through grief with kitschy platitudes and "get 'er done" culture, David does something shocking: He stops. He stops the nation, stops the coronation, and stops the economy to sit in the heavy, agonizing space of the soul.

In this message, we dive into the "never-ness" of loss. From the heartbreak of losing a loyal family protector like Remi to the gut-wrenching grief David felt for Saul and Jonathan, we explore why 60% of the Psalms are songs of lament while 90% of our modern worship is upbeat. Is our faith big enough to hold our sorrow?Join us as we learn how to grieve well, why death feels so "unnatural," and how God meets us in the pit—not with empty explanations, but with hands that are engraved with our names.Key Takeaways:The Necessity of Lament: Why skipping the "bad feelings" short-circuits our healing and our faith.Presence over Platitudes: Why "everything happens for a reason" often hurts more than it helps, and what to do instead.Honoring the Messy: How David honored Saul’s life despite the deep wounds Saul caused him.The "Why" of Suffering: Distinguishing between the consequences of a broken world and the refining heart of God.Hope for the Hurting: The powerful imagery of a God who tattoos your name on His palm and promises to personally wipe every tear from your eye."Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy." — Psalm 126:5Website: https://impact.church Facebook: https://facebook.com/ImpactChurchHome Instagram: https://instagram.com/ImpactChurchHome YouTube: https://youtube.com/@impactchurchhome TikTok: https://tiktokcom/@impactchurchhome

What happens when you lose everything? In week two of our Rise and Fall series, we look at the life of David in 1 Samuel 30. After a devastating raid on Ziklag, David and his men find themselves at a crossroads of faith and exhaustion.

When the world takes from us, our natural human instinct is toward bitterness, greed, and "keeping score." But David shows us a different way—the way of the Kingdom. Join us as we explore why Goodness is greater than Bitterness and how radical generosity can transform our lives.

In this message, we discuss:

The Power of Inquiry: Why asking God questions (Shaal) keeps us humble and dependent rather than fearful.

Faith + Action: How David trusted God’s sovereignty while boldly pursuing the rescue mission.

The Egyptian Slave: Lessons on showing care before questioning and finding heroes in unlikely places.

The 200 vs. the 400: Why we should lead with "Generous Assumptions" instead of "Negative Conclusions" when others are exhausted.

The Gospel Connection: How David’s decision to share the plunder with the weary foreshadows Jesus, who fought the battle we couldn't fight and gave us an inheritance we didn't earn.

"No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us... All will share alike." — 1 Samuel 30:23-24

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We encounter David at his absolute lowest point—returning to find his city burned, his family taken captive, and his own men ready to stone him.

Yet in this moment of complete devastation, Scripture records something remarkable: 'David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.'

This passage from 1 Samuel 30 reveals a profound spiritual discipline that separates those who merely survive crisis from those who thrive through it.

David didn't wait for external encouragement or human comfort; he spoke directly to his own soul, drawing on a wellspring of faith planted deep within him.

Through examining the Psalms—David's personal journal entries—we discover his self-talk wasn't empty positive thinking but Spirit-filled truth: 'Why so downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God.'

He calmed and quieted himself like a weaned child with its mother, recalling the faith modeled by his own mother whose name remains unrecorded but whose spiritual legacy saved her son in his darkest hour.

This message challenges us to examine our own inner dialogue during crisis. Are we speaking life or death to ourselves? Are we rehearsing problems or recounting God's faithfulness?

The ability to encourage ourselves in the Lord—to be in the Word so deeply that we can be in the Lord during catastrophe—may be the most critical spiritual skill we can develop for the inevitable Ziglag seasons of our lives.

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What if the most uncomfortable moments in our lives are actually divine appointments waiting to unfold?

This message from Ryan Kresge challenges us to recognize that God doesn't just call us to gather in sanctuaries on weekends - He sends us on mission every single day into our workplaces, schools, and communities.

Through a gripping roadside encounter that began with frustration and ended with life-saving intervention, we're reminded that obedience often requires us to turn around when we've already passed by an opportunity.

The vision explored here centers on Colossians 4:5, urging us to 'be wise in the ways we act towards outsiders and make the most of every opportunity.'

We learn that vision doesn't live on screens or in buildings - it lives in our daily schedules, our calendars, and the marketplace where we spend most of our waking hours.

The radical truth presented is that we cannot follow Jesus and remain comfortable.

From supporting affordable housing initiatives to mentoring vulnerable children through Kids Hope, from packing over half a million meals for Eswatini to simply showing up with kindness in our workplaces, we're called to be ambassadors who bring peace, wholeness, and completeness to broken spaces.

The message is clear: freed people free people, healed people heal people, and forgiven people forgive people.Our mission field isn't somewhere distant - it's right where we are, waiting for us to look alive and notice the opportunities God places before us.

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As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we're challenged to examine whether we're truly growing or simply going through the motions of life.

This message centers on the powerful concept of being 'resolute'—having firm determination and unwavering commitment in our spiritual walk.

Drawing from 2 Chronicles 16:9, we discover that God's eyes roam throughout the earth searching for those whose hearts are fully resolved, because He wants to pour His strength into people who will actually use it.

The message presents twelve biblical resolutions covering every area of life: making our homes places where God is honored, committing to consistent prayer, suffering well while remaining faithful, living free from shame, conquering fear and anxiety, caring for our bodies as temples, pursuing our spouses with renewed passion, guarding our eyes from lust, controlling our tongues, meeting the needs of others, serving in ministry, and giving generously.

Each resolution is anchored in specific Scripture, reminding us that transformation doesn't happen by accident—it requires intentional resolve. The question we must ask ourselves is sobering: if someone observed our lives over many years, would they see genuine growth or simply the same patterns and limitations?

God is looking for people who will be good investments, who will take His strength and multiply it for His kingdom.

What are you looking for when you look at the night sky?

In this Christmas Eve message, we retraced the steps of the original "stargazers"—the Magi. These weren't just men chasing a light; they were kingmakers responding to a divine signal written in the stars.

But as we discover, the same God who aligned the planets in 6 BC to announce a King is the same God speaking to us today in our driveways, through our grief, and even through a pile of wood.

Join us as we explore why the "Star of Bethlehem" still matters and how "chasing the star" today leads us to a life of radical generosity and worship.

In this message, we discuss:

The Science and Scripture of the Star: How a rare planetary alignment in Aries signaled the birth of Jesus.

The Ancient Prophecy: Why a 1,400-year-old promise in Numbers 24:17 sent the Magi on a thousand-mile journey.

It’s Not Your Wood: A personal story of hearing God’s voice and learning that everything we own is actually a gift meant to be shared.

Finding Jesus in the Unexpected: How following the "star" leads us to help those who are hurting—the unemployed, the grieving, and the hungry.

Scripture References:

- Matthew 2:1-11

- Numbers 24:17

Key Takeaway:

Jesus was sent for you. He was born for you, lived for you, died for you, and rose again because He madly loves you. It’s not too late to chase the star tonight.

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The Best Gifts

We’ve all experienced the joy of giving a "perfect" gift—the kind that makes the recipient light up and creates a memory that lasts a lifetime. But this Christmas, we’re looking past the wrapping paper to the gifts that truly define the season.

In this message, we explore the powerful offerings made by the people at the very center of the first Christmas story. From Joseph’s quiet obedience to the Magi’s kingly treasures, each gift teaches us something profound about what it means to follow Jesus today.

What Are You Giving This Year?

We often focus on what we want to receive, but the Christmas story invites us to consider what we are offering to God. Are we keeping our "treasures" guarded, or are we opening them up to the King?

In this sermon, we look at six specific gifts:

1. The Gift of Joseph – Obedience: Doing what God commands, even when it’s difficult or doesn't make sense.

2. The Gift of Mary – Available Servanthood: Giving ourselves up to God’s will, regardless of our age or status.

3. The Gift of the Magi – Our Best: Opening our "treasure boxes" and offering the most valuable parts of our lives.

4. The Gift of the Shepherds – Watchful Worship: Being intentional and proactive in our reverence for God.

5. The Gift of the Angels – Good News: Sharing the Gospel that brings great joy to all people.

6. The Gift of God – Jesus: The "indescribable gift" of salvation and "God with us."

> "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9

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Key Scripture Passages:

Matthew 1:18-24 (Joseph’s Obedience)

Luke 1:26-38 (Mary’s Servanthood)

Matthew 2:1-12 (The Magi’s Treasures)

Luke 2:8-15 (The Shepherds and Angels)

2 Corinthians 9:15 (The Indescribable Gift)

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