Many people have a tendency to confuse needs with wants, and this becomes even more pronounced with the arrival of the Christmas shopping season. For the Israelites living in exile, meeting their deepest need wasn’t a matter of satisfying their hunger or providing a luxurious place for them to live. What they really needed is the same thing we still need today: a Savior. In this week’s message from Isaiah 9, Pastor John shows us how everything we lack is met in this Savior, Jesus—the one we know to be the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Brier Creek Campus Pastor Warren Neverson shares a message from Isaiah 9.

Popular Christmas songs paint the picture that “all is merry and bright” this time of year—but for many, the reality is starkly different. In this week’s message, the first in our Christmas series, Pastor J.D. shows us the contrasting realities present in Psalms 88–89. It is in these two psalms that we see one of the great paradoxes of the Christian life: Our seasons of darkness and despair, while incredibly painful, don’t invalidate the steadfast love and faithfulness of God.

With the holidays fast approaching, along with the feeling that you are constantly inundated with ads, you'll likely pick up on a common thread: The accumulation of more things equals happiness. But with a "never enough" mindset, it's impossible to be what God desires us to be: cheerful givers. In this week's message from 2 Corinthians 8–9, Pastor J.D. helps us to see a kind of giving that is motivated not by guilt, but as a response to the grace that we have received. When we have this as our focus, we can move from asking, "What must I give?" to "What do I get to give?"

While we know that it is more blessed to give than to receive, it doesn't always feel that way, especially when the bills are piling up and the money doesn't seem to stretch far enough. So how can we reclaim joy in giving? In this week's message from Matthew 6, Pastor Bryan shows us how generosity helps to shift our perspective on life, giving us what material possessions never can—deep, lasting joy.

We're likely familiar with the call from Jesus to seek the kingdom of God above all other things, but our financial decisions are one indicator of what we are truly seeking. In this week's message from Haggai 1–2, Pastor J.D. encourages us to consider how our giving reflects the priority we have placed on God in our hearts and lives. Just as the Israelites fell to the temptation to place their own comforts and priorities ahead of their worship of God, we are still susceptible to this today. By reorienting our hearts, we can ensure that the stewardship of our finances is in alignment with God's kingdom. 

A legacy is inherently something that reaches far beyond us, making an impact long after we're gone. So how do we approach the stewardship of our money in a way that leaves a lasting legacy? In this week's message from Luke 16, Pastor J.D. takes us through one of Jesus' parables to show us how leveraging our resources for eternity truly is the wisest course of action. If we believe that everything ultimately belongs to God, this will radically change the way in which we handle our finances.

Conflict isn't generally regarded as a positive thing, but the reality is that learning to handle conflict in a healthy way can be something that actually sanctifies and matures us. In this week's message from Song of Solomon 5–7, Pastor Curtis explores how even in conflict, we can fight for each other—and for love that endures. When we are overwhelmed by God's forgiveness toward us, we will find ourselves able to more easily extend forgiveness to others.

If there's one myth surrounding marriage that has been perpetuated by our society, it's that marriage is what completes you. Of course, Jesus refuted this idea over and over in his teachings. In this week's message from Mark and Luke, Pastor J.D. shows us the importance and implications of considering the church as family. When we take this seriously, we will realize that faithfully investing in this family will yield a harvest far beyond what we could ever imagine.

For sailors lost at sea, the sextant was a remarkable tool designed to help them gain their bearings and navigate to where they needed to go. For us today, making our way through the dating world often feels akin to sailing across the vast ocean—and without the wisdom found in God's Word, we will find ourselves hopelessly lost. In this week's message, Pastor Bryan returns to Genesis 24 to equip us with biblical tools that can help us ensure we are charting a wise course as we pursue dating, engagement, and marriage.