What does it mean to belong to the family of God? There are many ideas of what a church should be, but what's important is what God says it should be. Why? Because He's the One who created it. (And we are so thankful He did!)

Empty promises – the world is full of them. From a co-worker who swears they’ll get the job done on time, to a politician who makes campaign promises to get elected, we’ve been conditioned to distrust anyone who makes personal guarantees, and their vows come off as premeditated lying.

Most people expect children to obey or honor their parents. It seems reasonable. But waters turn cloudy when we try to apply this principle to adults. Let’s see what Jesus has to say on the matter.

The apostle Peter lived in a tumultuous time when Christian persecution raged throughout the Roman Empire. As it is today, it was very easy to champion efforts, to protest, to fight against an evil regime. Peter, however understood the bigger picture – that of holding fast to the Word of God, and leaving a legacy that transcended time itself. Simply put – be confident in the character and promises of God.

Isn’t it exasperating when someone misunderstands you? Jesus often taught his disciples important life lessons, and the guys often missed the point. When Jesus warned them about leaven, Peter and the boys thought Jesus was giving them healthy eating advice. No, gentlemen. Let’s try this again.

There are many critics of Christianity who claim that if one is a believer in Jesus, then they've essentially checked their brains at the door. Not only does God in Isaiah 1:18 invite us to reason together, Jesus commands us to be wise as serpents. Now serpents get a bum rep because of the garden of Eden stigma. It’s clear that he doesn’t want us to be “crafty” or deceptive, so let’s learn what wise like a serpent means.

Today, Mike and Heather and Grant decide to let the listener decide the conversation. Right away, the two biggies that vex most everyone surface: forgiveness and dealing with difficult people. And yes, these issues are opposite sides of the same coin!

Pastor Chad Johnson shares what he's been teaching his church family at Fellowship Bible Church. Where 1 Peter focuses on preparing the church for future persecution, 2 Peter encourages those being persecuted.

What if we told you that you're not making resolutions - you're making a wish list? This year, reflect on the goodness of God, look forward to what lies ahead, and look into God's Word for guidance.

We connect to light – we even celebrate with strings of lights and candles! And it’s no coincidence that the first creative act that God performed was creating light. So how much more significant is it that Jesus, God incarnate, is the Light of the World!