The rings of a tree show its age. When a tree is young, it’s just a shoot and its trunk is weak and thin. But as the tree grows, it gets stronger, its roots get deeper, and the tree grows into a huge tree that can tower above buildings and the roads below. Today, Pastor Johnny says that when you decide to become a follower of Christ, there should be evidence of growth in your faith and your relationship with God. As you grow, you become stronger and you have roots that are planted deep in the Word of God.

You have a boss at work that you take orders from and carry out those duties. In the military, there’s a commander in charge who gives marching orders and you better believe those soldiers are going to follow those commands. So why would it be any different when it comes to God and the commands that He’s given you? Today, Pastor Johnny provides some very clear reasons as to why it’s important to hear, believe, and then share with others what you know about God to be true. So go!

Everyone wants others to think well of them. You work hard to present yourself as someone who’s likeable, funny, and relatable. What most people don’t see is the side of you that you show at home to those who love you most. Those people see your selfishness and the ugliness that creeps into your heart. So what if everyone on the outside world saw that version of you too? In today’s teaching, Pastor Johnny emphasizes that the inside-you and the outside-you need to be consistent in leadership.

So many times, people are more than willing to share all the things they don’t like about a situation or a version of something, due to their personal preference. But instead of jumping in and affecting change, they stand on the sidelines, nit-picking everything they think is wrong. Pastor Johnny mentions today that this happens all-too-often in the church because some are unwilling to step up into leadership and be part of the change, with a servant’s heart. Are you part of the peanut gallery?

Being disciplined isn’t always a bad thing. Being disciplined in what you eat means that you’re taking note of what you’re consuming and determining whether it’s healthy for your body. You can be disciplined in your workout regimen by being consistent so that you will end up being stronger than you were before. In today’s message, Pastor Johnny talks about being a disciple of Jesus and what that looks like on a daily basis. Once you learn how to do this, you’re better able to help others too!

The rings of a tree show its age. When a tree is young, it’s just a shoot and its trunk is weak and thin. But as the tree grows, it gets stronger, its roots get deeper, and the tree grows into a huge tree that can tower above buildings and the roads below. Today, Pastor Johnny says that when you decide to become a follower of Christ, there should be evidence of growth in your faith and your relationship with God. As you grow, you become stronger and you have roots that are planted deep in the Word of God.

You have the news blaring with the latest update of political upheaval. Then you hear the noise pollution from the busy highway near your house. On top of that, someone is blasting music so loud that all you can hear is the bass. There’s no room for quietness. Is silence something you long for or avoid at all-costs? It’s in the space where there’s a lack of noise that you hear from God, but sometimes the absence of distraction makes people uncomfortable. Today, Pastor Johnny encourages quiet time.

For those of you familiar with the Tasmanian Devil cartoon, you know that he’s plenty bulky and broad-shouldered on top, but that his legs are thin and spindly. His body is out of proportion. People might underestimate the value or importance of having strong legs, but it’s your legs that provide support and strength for the rest of your body. Today, Pastor Johnny talks about prayer being one of the legs of the church and that it’s a central component of what helps the church body be in great shape!

Oh how easy it is to make an excuse so that you don’t have to do something. Are you too busy to be available? Are you too unreliable to be faithful? Are you too proud to do something that’s unseen? Are you too injured to step up? These are things that Pastor Johnny wants you to consider today, as he teaches on being part of a bigger body of people who work together to make things happen. Don’t be that unused muscle that ends up being useless because of lack of exercise. Be a crucial part!!

When you have multiple pieces of a puzzle, it’s obvious that no two pieces are the same, but they’re all needed to complete the picture. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting to the end of a puzzle and realizing that there’s a piece missing. The project feels incomplete without that one important part. Today, Pastor Johnny wants you to keep in mind that you might be that one missing piece. You have an important role to play and without your unique gifting, others around you might miss out.