The Summit STL

As we begin a new year, this message sets a clear and hopeful vision for Summit. Rooted in Ephesians 1:3–8 (NLT), Eyes Up, Summit! reminds us that our identity, freedom, and future are found in our union with Christ. When our eyes are lifted to Jesus, praise flows naturally, and joy and peace are shaped by who He is rather than by what we are facing.

This sermon invites our church to avoid two unhealthy extremes: pushing down pain and pressing on in our own strength, or turning inward and becoming stuck in discouragement. Scripture offers a better way. With our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1–2), we can honestly face hardship while remaining rooted in hope and purpose.

Advent joy is defiant joy - it sings even in the dark. The shepherds were weary, forgotten people, yet the angel’s message came to them first: “Good news of great joy for all people.” Joy comes when we realize that even in our pain, we are not forgotten. Jesus’ arrival is the assurance that God is near, and His nearness turns despair into delight.

We often look for peace in control, comfort, or certainty, but true peace is found in the presence of Christ. Into the noise and chaos of the world, the angels declare, “peace on earth.” The Prince of Peace entered our unrest to still our hearts and reconcile us to God. Advent peace invites us to rest - not because everything is calm, but because He is with us.

In this Advent message, we’re reminded that hope doesn’t overlook our weariness — it shines through it. For centuries, God’s people waited in silence and darkness, clinging to a promise they couldn’t yet see. That same promise meets us in our own seasons of uncertainty. Advent hope is the trust that even when the night feels long, the dawn is already on its way. Jesus is the fulfillment of every longing and every promise — the Light who still breaks into our darkness and calls our weary hearts to hope again.

Living out the Beatitudes won’t always bring applause. Jesus reminds us that persecution comes with a promise: we are never alone, and our reward is eternal.

God calls us not just to keep the peace, but to make it - building bridges, resolving conflict, and bringing reconciliation. We are peacebreakers, peacefakers, or peacemakers. God wants us to deal with conflict with honesty and respect. Jesus challenges us in our motives and our methods as we pursue unity.

This text shows the cards for many themes of the sermon on the mount. We begin to understand our hearts, do whatever we can to get them clean toward God, and realize that it is futile - we are powerless to do that on our own. We need something that we can’t provide.

Guest speaker Tim Gray shares a heartfelt message about what it really means to receive and show mercy. Through a down-to-earth story and Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount, he reminds us that God’s mercy meets us in our mess and moves us to forgive others. It’s an honest look at grace, healing, and how mercy can reshape the way we live and love.

What are you hungry for? This message examines our appetites and ambitions, encouraging a life deeply satisfied by pursuing God’s will, justice, and holiness. This also connects with Matthew 6:33, enabling us to satisfy our hunger with the food of God’s will.

Meekness isn’t weakness - it’s strength under control. A gentle and humble spirit brings influence, peace, and the favor of God in a world obsessed with power.