God doesn’t act in malice or carry out any evil against His beloved Creation. Even in judgment, He acts in love. He is love, and He won’t contradict that. Yet, so often in our brokenness, we interpret hardship, trials, or temptation as being a punishment or a sign of disapproval from Him. As Pastor Richard will explain in today’s message, while God doesn’t cause these things, He does allow us to experience them, while He quietly orchestrates His good and perfect will for us in the background.

We often envision Satan as a dark, sinister figure. He’s portrayed as an ugly, red villain, with horns on his head and a pitchfork in hand. There’s nothing scriptural about that. Satan is a fallen angel. He was created by God, and if we were to see him, we might be surprised by his beauty. As Pastor Richard will remind us in today’s message, the Prince of Darkness is not God’s equal. He’s strictly subordinate to God, and he knows it. While we should be wary of his methods, we do not need to fear him.   

Hold loosely to the things of this world. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy what you have while you’re here. As Pastor Richard will point out in today’s message, it’s important that we maintain the perspective that we’re foreigners traveling in a distant land. We know our journey will take us home to the perfection of God’s eternal Kingdom, but it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy moments of blessing in this current one. All good things point to our Creator, and we can glorify Him as we enjoy temporary blessings.

Many of us are guilty of that in our lives. We try to fit God into our will for life. We search His Word and twist our interpretations to support who we want God to be instead of submitting ourselves to who He is. As Pastor Richard will remind us in today’s message, following God is a journey of discovery. As we seek His face and strive to live in a way that honors Him, we’ll make mistakes, but as our faith grows, we keep moving forward. 

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough to come to God? Some churches might say you have to fix your life before coming to church or even getting to know Christ, but you don’t wait to get better before going to the doctor, do you? You go to the doctor because you’re sick and because you need help. And today, Pastor Richard invites you to come to Jesus just as you are, and let Him be the one to change your heart

Only God can know how the current conflict in Israel will play out. Could this be the beginning of the end, or is it just another brief moment of tension? As Pastor Richard will remind us in today’s message, none of us can see the future. This is a moment to stand firm in our faith. Whether this comes to a peaceful resolution or results in all-out war in that region, our mission as Christ-followers is unchanged. We need to live as though He could return at any moment, sharing His love with urgency.

Israel is a small country, comparable in size to the state of New Jersey, yet it often finds itself as a major player on the world stage. Why is that? In this moment, all eyes have been on the conflict unfolding there, and it has been a matter of debate as to how we should respond. As Pastor Richard will point out in today’s message, what we observe happening in the Middle East is not really surprising. As believers, we know that the Word of God prophesies of upheaval as Christ’s return approaches.

Like a gardener who turns a field of burned soil into a place of new growth, God brings life out of what seems destroyed. The fire may leave scars, but it also clears the way for something beautiful to bloom. Pastor Richard will tell you today that God takes your deepest pain and redeems it. He restores what was lost and brings purpose from your suffering. What once looked like ruin becomes a testimony of His power to make beauty from ashes.

The other day, I told my teenage son it was time for a shower, but no matter how much I reminded, reasoned, or pleaded, I couldn’t physically make him do it. He had to choose it for himself. Today, Pastor Richard will share with you that, in a way, that’s how it is with God. He offers cleansing, grace, and new life through Jesus, but He won’t force you to accept it. Love doesn’t coerce; it invites. God’s gift is free, but it’s up to you to receive it.

I remember grabbing a bag of chips one night, telling myself I’d just eat a few. But before I knew it, the whole bag was gone, and I still wasn’t satisfied. Pastor Richard will explain to you today how selfishness works. The more you feed it, the more it craves. It promises satisfaction but only leaves you emptier inside. Living for yourself never fills the hunger of the heart. True satisfaction comes when you align your desires with God’s desires.