Mention the Holy Spirit and reactions are likely to range from excitement to uncertainty or even discomfort. But for the early church, the Holy Spirit was vital to everything they did. In this week’s message from John 16, Pastor Curtis explores the role that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives, both individually and as a church. What does it mean that God’s glory dwells inside of us? Among the many implications of this profound truth, there is one that we must not miss: Simply put, there is no area of our lives that isn’t sacred.

As we close our journey through the book of Exodus, we come to a seemingly anticlimactic ending—the construction of the tabernacle. You might think it strange, after all of the crescendos in the book, to end here. The burning bush, the 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, Moses meeting God on the mountain … and this is the happy ending? But as Pastor J.D. shows us, the tabernacle functioned as the center of the Israelites walk with God. Not only that, but through Jesus, it can enrich our daily time with God as well.

To one degree or another, we all long for transformation, whether on a physical level or a spiritual one. In this week's message from Exodus 34, Pastor Bryan walks us through a transformation that happened to Moses, one that was brought about by time spent in the presence of God. The reality is that true gospel transformation isn't something we can manufacture. Though we can ready the environment for such change in our lives, it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who brings it about. And when he does, it serves as an incredibly powerful witness to the watching world.

In many cultures around the world, names are a big deal. More than just what someone is called, names often imply identity and even purpose. In this week's message from Exodus 34, Pastor Bryan explores a passage that is quoted numerous times by the Bible itself, a passage that reveals not just the name, but the very character of God. When we think rightly about who God is, we can approach his throne boldly, with the confidence and assurance that his unchanging character provides.

We tend to read the story of the Israelites making the golden calf and ask, “How could they?” But we fail to realize that what the Israelites were guilty of, idolatry, is the very thing that is behind all of our other sins. In this week’s message from Exodus 32, Pastor J.D. shows us not only the danger of idolatry in our lives, but how we can escape it. Ultimately, what is bad news for those who reject Christ is actually good news for those who follow him: You become like what you worship. 

At Easter, we consider the cross and the resurrection, of course—but this consideration ultimately demands a response from us. It demands that a choice be made. In this Easter message, Pastor J.D. explains how Luke 23 is the dividing line of history, and the most important decision we will ever make is whether we are on the side of Jesus or not. For those who choose to put their faith in Jesus, we can say with confidence and joy, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Rather than a necessity, the idea of rest can often seem like an unattainable luxury. After all, who has time for rest in a society that prizes constantly being on your hustle? But even as he was giving the instructions for building the tabernacle, rest was the very thing that God commanded for his people. In this week's message from Exodus 31, Pastor Curtis explains how God intended the Sabbath to be a reminder to the Israelites that their relationship with him wasn't built on their work for him, but their rest in him—a lesson we would do well to remember today.

We love the idea of freedom, but what does it really mean? Clearly, the freedom offered by the world is drastically different from that offered by Christ. In this week's message from Galatians 5, Pastor Wes Smith shows us how in Christ, we are set free both from and to certain things. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to do what we were designed to do—live in obedience by loving God and loving others.

In a secular, post-Christian society like the one we find ourselves living in, the Ten Commandments aren't exactly popular. Cries to "live your own truth" threaten to drown out the absolute truth of God's law. But how can we expect to love each other well without parameters for what that actually looks like in practice? In this week's message from Exodus 19–20, Pastor J.D. shows us how the Ten Commandments are designed to help us flourish, experiencing God's creation as it was truly intended to be. True freedom, it turns out, isn't found in the absence of God's law, but in the embracing of it.

We all have an important role to play in the body of believers. This truth, though seemingly ingrained in us now, was something that God had to intentionally teach the Israelites. In this week's message from Exodus 17–18, Pastor J.D. takes us through three foundational lessons that God taught the Israelites about life in the redeemed community. In showing them that everything wasn't meant to be centered around one leader, the people were ultimately better equipped to serve the needs of the community as a whole.