When you’re new to Christ, not everyone in your life will celebrate the change. In those moments, it’s natural to look for new people to walk alongside you, as you grow in your faith. But sometimes you might choose companions simply because they’re available, not because they’ll hold you accountable to God’s Word. That’s why today, Pastor Richard urges you to pray for godly friendships and trust that God will bring the right people into your life.

As we move through this world, there are times when we place our spiritual lives on the back burner. When that happens, our vision grows cloudy, and we begin to desire the wrong things instead of deepening our relationship with Jesus. That’s why today, Pastor Richard encourages you to make Jesus Christ your number one priority in life. When Christ is first, everything else falls into its proper place. So, make Jesus the center of your life today.

God loves you, and there’s nothing you need to do to earn, keep, maintain, or justify that love. You don’t have to follow any rules or regulations or perform any rituals. As Pastor Richard will clarify in today’s message, the only way to be saved is through Jesus. When you trust in Him, believing that He’s your Savior and Lord, you are saved. That’s all there is to it. It will change your life, but only in response to the salvation you’re given.

The verse that Pastor Richard is referencing today, where Jesus says that those who love Him must “hate” their families, has been a source of confusion and abuse at times, by those who misunderstand the heart of what Jesus was saying. Elsewhere in Scripture, it’s clear that hating anyone is the same as murdering them. We are to love others as Christ has loved us – but Jesus is our first love, and following Him should be our top priority.

Have you come to that place? As Pastor Richard continues our study in the Minor Prophets today, we’ll once again have our attention drawn toward Jesus. Hundreds of years before He would walk the earth in the flesh, these words of prophecy foretold the conditions of His arrival, as well as His second coming. When you submit your heart to Him in repentance and faith, you can find hope for what’s to come in this broken world.

At this moment, and frequently throughout its history, we’ve seen turmoil, violence, and war plague Israel and its surrounding region. Whenever things escalate over there, it can feel a little like approaching the top of a roller coaster. Many of us ask, “Is this it? Are we on the verge of Armageddon?” It can feel frightening, but as Pastor Richard will remind us in today’s message, we can have confidence knowing that Jesus wins. 

There’s a story about the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. It’s said that he was cut from the high school basketball team, so out of anger and determination, he practiced jump shots and free throws until his arms were numb. Jordan would eventually go on to become one of the most well-known players in the NBA. Today, Pastor Richard teaches that when you remain faithful in the small things, God will use you for great things.

As we move through this world, there are times when we place our spiritual lives on the back burner. When that happens, our vision grows cloudy, and we begin to desire the wrong things instead of deepening our relationship with Jesus. That’s why today, Pastor Richard encourages you to make Jesus Christ your number one priority in life. When Christ is first, everything else falls into its proper place. So, make Jesus the center of your life today.

There are moments in all of our lives when we make plans, only to watch them fall apart. What those moments reveal is a simple truth: there are many things in this world we cannot control. But there is One who sees the whole path ahead. Jesus calls us to follow Him down that road, one that leads to everlasting life. Today, Pastor Richard invites you to trust Christ with your life. When you place your life in Jesus’ hands, He faithfully leads you down the right path.

There’s a common trend in many open-world video games. As you play, you can veer off the main path to complete some side quests, and you might find some equipment in the process if you’re lucky. But one thing’s certain… as you approach a boss battle on the main quest, the developers will make sure you are well stocked. In today’s message, Pastor Richard teaches that when God calls you to complete a task, He will always equip you.