Jacob was a man of God who was wandering from the path intended for him. God commanded he go to Bethel, yet Jacob settled his family in a town 15 miles away. Is that close enough? Would God be okay that Jacob stopped his journey short of the goal? Today, Pastor Bill asks you the same question; are you where God wants you to be? Do you feel a calling in your life but are too scared, too intimidated, too lazy, or too weak to continue the journey? Rely on His strength and sustaining grace and get to your Bethel.

How is your love relationship with Jesus going? How would He say it’s going? In today’s message, Pastor Bill encourages you to take time to think about those questions. A relationship with Jesus needs to go both ways to be fruitful. He is always in your life, ready to spend time with you, and is faithful even when you’re not. How do you treat Him? Did you accept Him as your Lord and Savior and then forget about Him? Have you yet to accept Him? He is always ready to accept your invitation into a relationship!

Genesis chapter 34 is confusing and troubling. But, as Pastor Bill teaches through Genesis today, he doesn’t just skip over the chapters he dislikes. God has reasons for every Word in the Bible. After Jacob’s family walks through a difficult time in chapter 34, God is there in chapter 35, to pick them up, dust them off, and welcome them back with open arms! God is in the business of reconciliation, no matter how many times you’ve ignored Him or how far you’ve strayed from His path.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God; including the genealogies, the hard truths, the entire book of Leviticus, and Genesis chapter 34. In today’s message, Pastor Bill reminds us that there are no Biblical passages we can just skip over or assume are irrelevant to us. All scripture was breathed by God. Surely, we can glean truth from it. Genesis chapter 34 is one such difficult and confusing chapter. But Pastor Bill believes in teaching all of God’s Word, not just the easy parts.

Reconciliation cost God everything. Do you need to be reconciled to someone? It may cost you something. You may need to buy something, say something, do something, or lose something. Reconciliation can be painful and time consuming. But, as Pastor Bill reminds you in his message today, it is always worth it in the end. Be at peace and live in unity with those around you. Reconciliation cost God His only Son, but He would sacrifice Him all over again in order to save you because you’re worth it!

When you accepted Christ, you became reconciled to God. Jesus made you righteous through the cross. In today’s message, Pastor Bill discusses reconciliation and turning everything you have over to God. Keep nothing left over. He wants your whole self. Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for you, and died on the cross to save you. You were reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and now you are an ambassador to encourage others to be reconciled as you were.

This life will bring hardship and trials along the way. You were never promised smooth sailing. God is okay with you questioning your circumstances and even wishing they were different. But what he desires most is that you praise him in the face of such trials. He is still your God and still your Savior. He will never leave you or forsake you. In today’s message, Pastor Bill encourages you to praise Jesus always, because when your circumstances are difficult, your witness is even stronger.

Hold onto Jesus. He wants you fully surrendered to Him. He doesn’t want your belongings, or your wealth, or some corner of your life. He wants you wholly given to Him. Today, Pastor Bill discusses Jacob’s half-hearted attempts at surrendering to God. But he never surrenders his whole self. That’s why Jesus meets Him and wrestles with him all night long. He breaks Him and weakens Him, and when Jacob is at his weakest, he fully surrenders. Jesus desires for you to meet Him before you are weakest.

In today’s message, Pastor Bill discusses the story of Zacchaeus. He reminds us that Jesus came for all of us. He died on the cross to save sinners, which is everyone. Like Zacchaeus, He will call you one day to visit you at your house. He wants your whole life. Be like Zacchaeus and give it over to Him. Trust Him with it and turn from your sin to be reconciled to others. Live a life worthy of your calling. When Jesus gets a hold of your life, you can be a witness to others. He can save everyone!

There is a whole spiritual realm that we cannot see. There are angels fighting our battles all around us. A few people have seen this other side and one of them was Jacob from today’s message. Pastor Bill wants to remind us, however, that our focus should remain on Jesus. Although there are angels, created by God, Jesus is your only Savior and Lord. He died on the cross for you and was resurrected to defeat death for you. He is the one we pray to and the one we should listen to. Praise Jesus!