Jobey McGinty

Jesus meets Peter at work, not after he cleans himself up. When the nets overflow, Peter sees the truth about himself and about Jesus: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). But Jesus doesn’t leave. He calls. “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10–11). Grace comes first. Then the call. That’s the gospel.

Tyler Willis

In Luke 4:16–30, we see a hometown crowd shift instantly from amazement to fury. While they were initially captivated by Jesus’ words, their hearts hardened when He refused to fit their expectations. By reading Isaiah 61, Jesus declares Himself the long-awaited Savior who brings freedom to the captive and sight to the blind. However, as John 1:11 reminds us, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." Jesus does not come to affirm our comforts or meet our demands; He comes to offer the grace of true repentance.

Jobey McGinty

Faith doesn't make our lives easy, or more comfortable. In Luke 4:1–15, we see the truth: Jesus didn't avoid the wilderness; He faced it head-on. Tested while hungry and alone, Jesus resisted Satan by trusting God’s Word. Where we fail, Jesus succeeded—not as a distant God, but as a man empowered by the Spirit. He understands your weakness and offers grace instead of shame. He meets us in the midst of our struggle and walks with us, as fully God and fully man.

Jobey McGinty

We might think that difficult passages in the Bible—like confusing genealogies or apparent contradictions—undermine its reliability. However, Luke’s record of Jesus’ lineage (Luke 3:23–38) proves the opposite. By tracing Christ back to Adam, Luke demonstrates that the gospel is rooted in actual history, not abstract ideas. Genealogies aren't mistakes; they are intentional records showing God working through sinners and outsiders. Jesus entered our broken family lines to redeem them, proving He is both the Son of David and the Son of God. These details exist so you can have "certainty" in what you believe (Luke 1:4).

Jobey McGinty

The gospel alternative is not trying harder. It’s trusting the One John points to. John says, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). Jesus steps into the water, not because He needs repentance, but to stand with sinners. And when He does, the Father speaks: “You are my beloved Son” (Luke 3:22). Real change flows from being made new in Christ. Let us examine our hearts. Not just our past decisions, but our present fruit. Are you trusting Jesus, or just the memory of a moment?

Jobey McGinty

Many believe faith should make life simple. Clear answers. Easy growth. But Luke shows us a different picture. A young Jesus stays behind in the temple, and even His parents are confused and anxious. Real faith often includes tension. Questions. Waiting. The lie is that closeness to God means we always understand what He’s doing. Mary and Joseph assume Jesus should follow their plans. But Jesus says, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). God is not learning who He is. He already knows. And He is inviting us to trust Him, not manage Him. Here’s the gospel hope. This boy is fully God and fully man. “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). He grows in wisdom and obedience (Luke 2:51–52), not to earn God’s love, but to give His life for sinners. Jesus obeys where we fail. He seeks the Father perfectly. And He does it for us. Come and see Jesus for who He really is. Not just a good example. Not just a moral teacher. He is God who came near. Read Luke 2:41–52. Ask honest questions. Bring your confusion. And trust the Son who knows the Father—and leads us home.

Jobey McGinty

In Luke 4:31–44, the crowds are stunned because Jesus doesn’t just talk about truth—His word carries authority. Demons obey Him. Sickness leaves. Evil recognizes Him, even when people hesitate. Jesus is the Holy One of God who confronts darkness and wins. He doesn’t negotiate with sin or evil. He defeats it. Not every sickness or challenging situation will be met with a miracle in this life, but He is working all things for your good, and it all points to a certain future free of sin, brokenness and death.

Jobey McGinty

We live in a world that tells us love is earned. That our worth is measured by our work, our fear managed by control, our sin balanced by effort. It sounds right. It feels familiar. But it never brings rest. Hebrews reminds us, “Here we do not have a lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” In Jesus, our home is not built on performance. It’s built on grace. We are already loved in Christ. Fully. Securely. From that love, something beautiful grows. Praise becomes natural. Generosity flows freely. Good works aren’t a way to get God’s attention… they’re the fruit of hearts already held by Him.

Jobey McGinty

Sometimes we start to believe that grace needs help. That it's not enough and we need to supplement with our own rule following, etc. Hebrews gently exposes that lie. It reminds us that our hearts are not strengthened by what we do, but by grace. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He has not changed. His work is finished. His love is steady. The gospel invites us to stop chasing something new or better and to return to the unchanging Christ. The One who gave Himself fully. The One who still meets us with mercy. Today, we’re invited to rest again at His altar, receive His grace, and let our hearts be made whole.

Tyler Willis

We often feel the pressure to hold life together through our own strength — to work harder, try more, and fix ourselves. But Hebrews closes with a benediction that tells a better story. God is the One who brings peace, who raised Jesus from the dead, and who shepherds His people with faithful care. He is also the One who equips us with everything good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight. This message walks through the sweeping story of Hebrews — the True and Better Christ who fulfills every promise — and reminds us that spiritual growth is not earned by effort but given by grace. Like a garden under construction, our hearts are tended by a God who plants, waters, prunes, and brings the harvest. Come be encouraged to rest in the Great Shepherd, trust His equipping, and run the race set before you with confidence in His faithful work.

Jobey McGinty

Many of us carry quiet wounds from church. From leaders we trusted. From people who should have cared for us. And over time, those wounds can shape how we hear Scripture… or whether we want to hear it at all. Hebrews says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). This isn’t a call to ignore pain or excuse abuse. It’s an invitation to look past broken people and see the faithfulness of Jesus. The same Christ yesterday, today, and forever. This message invites us to let Scripture interpret our experience, to rest our trust in the Good Shepherd, and to find healing, joy, and hope again in Him.

Jobey McGinty

We all feel the pressure to do better—to love more, to get life right—and beneath that pressure sits a quiet fear that everything depends on us. Hebrews reminds us of a different way. Because of who Jesus is, because of what He has done, and because God has promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” we are freed to live differently. We love, we honor marriage, and we loosen our grip on money—not to earn God’s presence, but because we already have it. We can rest in Christ first and let a transformed life grow from a secure heart. Come be reminded that obedience flourishes in the soil of grace.

Jobey McGinty

We all know the feeling of wanting to draw near to God but feeling unworthy or unsure. Hebrews 12 reminds us that our nearness to God isn’t based on performance or perfection. We haven’t come to Mount Sinai—a place of fear and distance—but to Jesus, and to grace. Through Christ, God invites us close, not because we are strong but because He is faithful. This passage calls us to lay down fear‑driven worship, receive an unshakable kingdom, and draw near with grateful, confident hearts.

Jobey McGinty

We all know the tension of wanting real change, but feeling stuck in the same patterns. We tell ourselves that repentance means trying harder, feeling worse, or cleaning ourselves up before God. But Scripture invites us into something far more hopeful.Hebrews reminds us that God’s discipline flows from love, not anger. From a Father who refuses to give up on His children. True repentance is not fear-driven or shame-filled. It’s a turning of the heart toward Jesus. A surrender that trusts His care, even when the road is hard.In Christ, repentance becomes a gift. A pathway to healing. A way back to life. God is not waging war against you. He is fighting for your heart.

Jobey McGinty

We all long for seasons where life feels blessed. When things are working. When joy feels close. When faith feels easy.But we often assume that God’s favor only looks like comfort and clarity. We quietly believe that struggle means distance. That discipline means disapproval. That dry seasons mean God has stepped back.Hebrews reminds us of a gentler truth. God’s love does not leave when life gets hard. In fact, sometimes His love is most active there. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves” (Hebrews 12). Not to punish. Not to shame. But to heal. To form. To produce fruit that lasts.This is an invitation to trust Jesus in every season. To receive His love even when it comes through pruning. And to abide in Him together… believing that every moment held in Christ is marked by grace.

Jobey McGinty

We all want to finish well. But somewhere along the way, faith can feel heavy. We get tired. We stumble. We quietly wonder if endurance is really possible.The world tells us the answer is to try harder. To be stronger. To keep proving ourselves. But that lie only deepens our shame and leaves us running alone.Hebrews reminds us of a better way. “Let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus.” He is not just the one who starts our faith. He is the one who sustains it. The founder. The perfector. The faithful witness who carries us when we’re weak.Let us lay down the weight we’ve been carrying and lift our eyes again to Christ, trusting that He is at work in us.

Jobey McGinty

Moses had a pretty amazing life. He had all the fame and treasure of Egypt right at his fingertips. But when he grew up, he refused it all. Why? Because he chose to get mistreated with God's people rather than enjoying the "fleeting pleasures of sin."He had an eternal perspective. By faith, he saw something the world couldn't: the "reproach of Christ" was greater wealth than anything Egypt had to offer because he was "looking to the reward." This is our model—to trust God's unseen promises over the world's visible threats. It's that faith that let him lead God's people right through an impossible situation at the Red Sea, proving God's power when their own strength ran out.

Jobey McGinty

Faith is not about believing so strongly that God will give us what we want. That is the prosperity gospel—a lie. Instead, faith is believing and laying hold of the things God has already promised. Like Sarah, who considered God faithful even when she doubted and laughed at His promise, we must repent of cynicism and hold fast to the promises guaranteed at the cross.Faith is the marriage of our soul to Christ. It is walking in the humility and dependence that recognizes we are not our own and that our lives were bought with a price. We must strive to do everything in faith, whether in word or action, not to earn favor, but as a reasonable response to glorifying God in our bodies.

Jobey McGinty

The world encourages us to be ambassadors for the pleasures of this life, but we are citizens of a better, future homeland. Like Noah, who built an ark for an unseen event, and Abraham, who left his home for an unknown country, we must acknowledge that we are strangers and exiles on this earth. Our earthly pursuits are merely a path toward something greater, a steppingstone toward our eternal inheritance.When we focus on heaven, our eternal perspective should fuel our present passion and diligence, making us better ambassadors for Christ. We must imitate those who pursue Christ, putting all our time, treasures, and talents into the Kingdom, because where your treasure is, your heart will be also.

Jobey McGinty

We must understand that without faith, it is impossible to please God. In fact, it is arrogant to assume that our good works, moral uprightness, or obedience can earn His favor. The true work of God is simply to believe in the One He sent. Rejecting Christ, the only solution to sin, makes all other accomplishments meaningless.We look to Abel, highlighted here in Hebrews 11, whose sacrifice was acceptable not because it was valuable to God, but because it was given by faith from a heart acknowledging sin's severity. God requires us to sacrifice and let go of the idols we cling to—like money, time, or grudges—because our heart follows our treasure, and God wants our hearts!We must make it our highest aim to please God in everything. By offering all of our life—time, treasure, and talents—as a living sacrifice, we open our hands to receive His freedom and leave a legacy of faith that will outlive us.

Jobey McGinty

We all face moments where the weight of the world—whether it's discouragement, fear, or temptation—tempts us to give up. The world tells us to "dig deep" and be strong, but the Gospel reveals that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. We have a need for endurance so that, having done the will of God, we may receive what He has promised.Remember, faith is not the size of your strength, but the conviction in the unseen promises of a faithful God. We look to the Old Testament heroes of the faith not because they were awesome, but because they modeled dependence, trusting in the God who guaranteed their salvation. When we are faithless, He remains faithful, because He cannot deny Himself.We have the Holy Spirit as our helper and our guarantee, helping us in our weakness and interceding for us. Let's keep our eyes fixed on Christ, boasting in our weaknesses, as His strength is made known, enduring to the end by faith.

Jobey McGinty

What a blessed assurance we have in Christ. We are in a relationship with the one who has sworn on the highest level to never leave or forsake us. Our Savior has already done everything necessary to convince us of His perfect, unbreakable love by coming to earth, dying for us, and rising again. Our salvation is not secured by our own wavering faithfulness, but by His faithfulness to Himself and His promises.Therefore, because of this great news, we must hold fast to our confession without wavering and not neglect meeting together. Let's consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, all the more as the day of Christ's return draws near.

Jobey McGinty

The finished work of the Great High Priest has inaugurated a new and living way, granting us the audacious confidence to draw near to the Holy of Holies—not through our own fragile righteousness, but solely "by the blood of Jesus." This assurance is full and unwavering, a covenant sworn by God to Himself, securing our perseverance against every tribulation, persecution, and doubt.Our salvation is revealed to be imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, an inheritance so precious that the Father has Himself sealed it with the Holy Spirit as our eternal guarantee. Therefore, we are called to fan into flame the gift of God, dying to the self-preserving fear of the world and embracing a life of self-sacrificial love, for nothing—neither the darkness of the age nor the condemnation of our own heart—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Jobey McGinty

Unlike the repeated animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, Jesus made a one-time, complete sacrifice for sin that has put it away forever.The work of salvation is finished, and we can rest in Christ. While Old Testament priests stood daily because their work was never done, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, signifying that His work is complete. Our salvation is secure, an imperishable and unfading inheritance guarded by God’s power.Christ has perfected us, even as we are being perfected. God remembers our sins no more, so our response should be one of thanksgiving, not guilt or self-punishment. This is a reminder to trust in the finished work of Christ and live in the freedom He purchased for us.

Jobey McGinty

God's law is like a "tutor," showing us our flaws and failures, but it can never save us. It demands a level of perfection that no one can achieve on their own.But Jesus is the "new student" who lived a perfect life, earning straight A's in every aspect. He offers us a "great exchange," taking on our sins and failures while giving us His perfect record. Salvation is not about being "good enough" but about accepting this gift from Him. When we do, we are born again, and the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us.The Holy Spirit acts as a renovator, helping us to change from the inside out. As we repent of our sins and seek God's help, we are continually filled with the Spirit, empowering us to live a life that honors God and overcomes sin.

Tyler Willis

The Old Testament system of sacrifices was temporary, a shadow that could never truly cleanse our conscience. It was designed to point to something better—to Jesus, our perfect High Priest. He entered the heavenly sanctuary not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood, securing an eternal redemption for us. The blood of Jesus is far more effective than the blood of bulls and goats. It has the power to purify our conscience, freeing us from dead works so that we can serve the living God. Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant, and through His death, we receive an eternal inheritance. Because of this ultimate sacrifice, we are now called to offer our own bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

Jobey McGinty

The Old Testament provided a specific way to approach a holy God, a system of rituals and regulations that were a gracious provision for a sinful people. But these were always temporary, a shadow pointing to a greater reality.Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment—the high priest, the sacrifice, and the temple all in one. The tearing of the temple veil at His crucifixion symbolized the complete removal of the barrier between us and God. He has not only removed the guilt of our past, but has cleansed our conscience, freeing us from shame and a life lived in the past.Because of His work, we are a new creation. The old has passed away, and we are now the very righteousness of God, in Christ. Live in the reality of this new identity and approach your holy God with boldness.

Jobey McGinty

The Old Covenant, with its rules and sacrifices, was never the final answer. It was a tutor, meant to expose the depth of our sin and point us to a greater solution. The Old Testament priesthood was a "shadow" of what was to come, a temporary measure that could never make anyone truly perfect. But Jesus Christ established a new and better covenant, one based on unbreakable promises. He fulfilled every requirement of the old law because we could not. And through faith in Him, we are not just forgiven, we are justified. Our sins are remembered no more, and we are given a brand new identity—from "children of wrath" to "children of God." Because of His mercy and grace, we are made alive with Christ. Now, as children of God, our purpose is to share this incredible news with a world that is still separated from His saving grace.

Jobey McGinty

Melchizedek, a mysterious king and priest from the Old Testament, serves as a powerful "Easter egg," foreshadowing the coming of Christ and assuring us that God's eternal plan is true. Jesus is our true and greater Melchizedek, a High Priest whose position is not based on lineage but on the power of an indestructible life. He is the guarantor of a new and better covenant—one that isn't a fragile deal dependent on us, but an unbreakable promise God made to Him. Because of this, Jesus is able to save us to the "uttermost." He provides a "bumper-to-bumper" warranty on our salvation, accomplishing it from beginning to end. Even when we fail, Jesus, our perfect High Priest, continually intercedes for us, making our salvation secure in Him.

Tyler Willis

The same omnipotent God who spoke the universe into existence, purposefully created you! Romans 8:28 reminds us that for those who love Him, all things work together for good, for those called according to His purpose. Yet, do we truly marvel at Him? Or do we often worship creation over the Creator, seeking our own sovereignty, thinking our finite minds know better than an infinite God? This is the subtle deception of idolatry. God's sovereign love desires His power be known by you, for your good. We are part of His redemption story, but His glory is the point.

Jobey McGinty

The author of Hebrews uses the story of the covenant God made with Abraham to illustrate the fact that God, when He made a promise to us, likewise did so by making the promise sure by Him making the promise to Himself rather than between us. He swore by two unchangeable things: He swore by Himself (His unchangeable character and purpose), and He swore with an oath (His promise to fulfill His promise). God’s fulfilling of His promise is in Christ, not in you or me. God the Father “sealed the deal” with God the Son, and not only that, but God the Holy Spirit is the seal of this guaranteed, promised inheritance. In the meantime, while we await this heavenly hope of our future inheritance, we wait and endure patiently. We must put our hope in the fact that the promises of God are anchored down in Christ, not in us.

Jobey McGinty

Despite the stark warning the author of Hebrews has already given, it is clear that his ultimate goal is for the reader to have confidence and assurance of their salvation. And he points out that he does have confidence in their salvation for one primary reason: they have proved it. Their works of love and service are clear evidence of their faith. The seed of the gospel has taken root and the evidence is in the strong tree which has grown and is now producing good fruit.

Jobey McGinty

Is the author of Hebrews telling us that it is possible for a believer to get to a point where they can no longer repent? This is, indeed, a challenging passage, and so we must use the whole Word of God to help in our understanding. When things are unclear in any communication or desire for understanding, we ought to appeal to the most clear information we have in order to make sense of the less clear. This helps us understand context better. And while the short answer is "no", if the Spirit of God is within you and you have been born again in Jesus, then your salvation is secure...the longer answer is that this passage, and others like it, serve as a stern warning to all those who are unsure where their faith actually lies and we should all regularly ask God to both give us assurance and point out any area in our hearts which requires repentance.

Jobey McGinty

The basic principles of Christianity are not unimportant or something we should move on from, but they are the foundations that we most build upon and go on from to maturity. The biggest threat to the church today is not from outside the church, but from inside. “Biblical illiteracy” is an epidemic in the church despite the fact that the Bible is carried around in our pockets each and every day. We must diligently work to guard our hearts and keep our focus constantly on the Gospel, so that we are sharpened and ready for use in God's kingdom work.

Jobey Mcginty

The author of Hebrews provides us a description of the High Priest, as it had been described in God's Word. And, eventually, a new High Priest was sent, and it was the very Son of God Almighty. But although He was the Son, He would not be given preferential treatment. He would have to go through all that the earthly High Priests would go through, even what every human would have to go through, and through this, He also became a High Priest originated from the people, with the weakness of human experience being what makes Him sympathetic and gentle.

Jobey McGinty

Paying attention to the “small words” in the bible is of critical importance for us. Whether it is “and” or “but” or “if,” all of these make a huge difference in understanding what the Lord is telling us. And in Hebrews, we see a lot of these, and in particular we see a lot of two important phrases: Because, and Therefore. Because we have a “great High Priest” who entered into the heavens on our behalf, we then therefore should hold firmly to the confession of our faith in Him. And this great High Priest actually comes alongside of us and empowers us to hold firmly to the saving truth of the Gospel.

Tyler Willis

God's word is living, active, and sharper than any sword. It pierces to the heart, revealing what needs to be brought into the light and purifying us from within. Remember, we cannot change our own hearts or anyone else's; this is God's work. Our call is to earnestly desire His word and to seek our rest and fulfillment not in the fleeting things of this world, but wholly in Jesus, our ultimate source of life. Let us continue to pray that His word would dwell richly in us, continually purifying our hearts as we walk with Him.

Jobey McGinty

Rest seems quite elusive for us in this day and age. Constant demands and keeping up with the pace of life leaves us restless. But God offers us the best and most important rest necessary, and that is rest from not only condemnation and shame, but also rest from trying to earn God’s love and acceptance. The Good News is that rest is still available to anyone who still has breath. The sacrifice of Christ is sufficient to cover and pay for the sins of all who would believe in faith. And as long as it is called “today,” anyone, regardless of how “far” from the Lord they are, is able to be saved by that grace, and that grace will be sufficient for us for all eternity.

Jobey McGinty

It is easy to start almost anything, but it is an entirely different thing to finish well. The author of Hebrews does not want his readers to miss out on this “so great a salvation,” and he gives a warning to them of that possibility. From these verses, there are at least two things we can recognize...first, we must heed the call to “take care,” this means we must do something to prevent this hardening of heart. And, secondly, we must remember that this warning simply for those who don’t profess to know Christ, but it is a warning to people who do profess to know Christ, who have seen the work of God. We must be realistic and open about our sin, and we then must come alongside each other, in gospel community, to equip and prepare ourselves to fight against it.

Jobey McGinty

The author of Hebrews calls us “holy brothers.” Though we were enemies and children of wrath, God enacted a fitting way to redeem us to be His children...and if we are in His son, Jesus, then we are holy. Whether we always feel or act holy is another matter! But the author of Hebrews is seeing us through the lens of the completed work of Christ and he is calling us to see ourselves the same way. The more we see ourselves as not only "not guilty" but fully "innocent", because of Jesus, the more we are empowered and free to live, thankfully and purposefully, like the holy sons and daughters that we already are.

Jobey McGinty

It may not be possible for us to fully understand the depths of our sin, but even a surface level comprehension should bring us to our knees. God, of course, sees our sin for what it is and knows that it requires a rescue plan that is beyond our comprehension or capability. And God’s Word says that it was “fitting” that God would come up with a particular plan to exonerate us, and the plan would be preposterous. He Himself would stand in our place. And God called this “fitting." It is necessary that something/someone as amazingly perfect should be what satisfies the justice of God, because sin is itself amazingly treacherous. And because Jesus has become a human and endured all that we have, He has become a perfect, sympathetic, and faithful High Priest who ministers to us and for us.

Jobey McGinty

The author of Hebrews begins with showing Christ’s solidarity with God, but now in these verses he is shifting to show Christ’s solidarity with man. At creation, man was given dominion over creation, but we failed. Christ takes up that cause in order to reestablish that kingdom reign, and also pay for the penalty of the loss due to humankind. That said, while His Kingdom has been inaugurated at the cross, we still don’t perceive that victory…yet. But that Day will come when His rule and reign will be consummated forevermore.

Tyler Willis

How easily we can all drift spiritually without noticing! The serious consequences of neglecting such a great salvation are real, just as judgment under the law was. So how do we fight this drift? God's Word! Read it, meditate on it, discuss it with your gospel community, live it out! As we soak in God's Word we can't help but become closer to the Word Become Flesh, Jesus. Drift doesn't stand a chance when we remain in Christ's presence.

Jobey McGinty

The author of Hebrews begins with big claims about Christ, and he moves quickly into referring to various Old Testament Scriptures to show how Christ is the fulfillment of those Scriptures. His goal is to help these Jewish believers rightly interpret the Old Testament in light of the events of Christ. What the author is doing here is effectively saying, “don’t take my word for it.” He wants his readers to base their beliefs not on what he claims, or on their feelings or thoughts, but he wants them to go into God’s Word. And when we do go to God's Word, we see that it is about Jesus from start to finish!

Jobey McGinty

The whole purpose of the book of Hebrews is to reveal the glory of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. As we behold the glory of the radiance of the Son, we, too, will be transformed from one degree of glory to the next, until the day that we are with Him forever and ever. We begin this new sermon series with anticipation...that God will do a transforming work in each of us.

Jobey McGinty

God’s design for the local church is to gather His people regularly for daily life in Christ, to be built up, healed, equipped, and matured so that we can go out and spread the aroma of Christ and make disciples of all nations. Until that desired end and goal, we have the challenges of sin, failures, pride, pain, death, laziness, stubbornness, and a litany of other roadblocks. While the church is not perfect, nor is it easy, Jesus models how we are to enter into that messy, difficult, imperfectness, to bring healing and help. And so we submit and ask the Spirit to work through us to do the same, here and now, in our local churches.

Jobey McGinty

While any prayer truly from the heart is a good prayer, accepted and loved by God, there are also “wrong” and “better” ways to pray. Jesus gives us “do’s” and “don’ts” when it comes to praying. The Psalms also serve as a kind of prayer handbook. When we pray the Psalms, we pray from our own hearts to be sure, but we are also joining with our spiritual ancestors in Israel, church history, and using the very language that God Himself gave us and taught us so that we can best enjoy communion with Him. God’s Word is like a javelin, and your heart is the target. Praying the Psalms enlarges the target for God’s Word and God’s desires to permeate your heart.

Jobey McGinty

No “one way” relationship can survive, much less thrive. With Christ, if we are only “breathing in” our own thoughts, worries, or desires, we will always be one-sided, because we will only then be “breathing out” our thoughts, fears, and worries. A two-way relationship with Christ requires prayer, and while any genuine prayer is good, when we learn to respond to His Word in prayer our hearts become more aligned with Him, and like fuel (our prayers) being added to the fire (God’s Word), our prayers and back and forth relationship become explosive.

Tyler Willis

Just as physical exercise strengthens our bodies, spending time in the Word strengthens our souls and helps us grow in our faith. The more we make a habit of being in the Word, joyfully anticipating the ways that God will work in our hearts through His Word, we will see the Holy open our eyes and transform us from the inside out. And we know that the new heart God gives us, through the Spirit, is imperishable...not susceptible to sin's decay or death...and we rejoice!

Jobey McGinty

We live in an incredibly noisy world. Noisier than any other time in human history, and that is by design...some of our Enemy's greatest weapons are distraction and busyness. As Corrrie ten Boom put it, "If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy." So how do we counter these weapons? The answer is to start simple and small...to just start building with the tools given to us by our Father: prayer, the Word, and Gospel Community. Around these things we build a trellis designed not to look impressive but simply to support the growth of a living, vibrant vine of relationship with Jesus. This won't happen by accident, though. It takes hard work and training, and a commitment to loving and following He who first loved us!

Jobey McGinty

Paul lets us know that if we are not being transformed by the renewal of our mind, we will be conformed to the world. In our society, this is more challenging than ever, with mobile technology purpose-built for distraction and consuming our attention. It's easy to feel like we just don't have time, but in reality, we have plenty of time...we just are choosing to spend it in undirected ways. This is what conformation looks like, over time. But the good news is that we are not passive victims in this process. Through the wisdom given to us through God's word and Spirit, and in supportive Gospel Community, we can begin to implement helpful limitations and daily liturgies which support the transformation we wish to see!

Jobey McGinty

In Peter’s last recorded letter, he emphasizes his passion and conviction to always be reminding believers of the Gospel. It is, in some ways, a pastoral “mission statement” for all leaders to constantly be reminding those in their lives of the important Gospel truths that keep us walking with Jesus daily. We, as believers, can easily become near sighted, losing sight of the bigger, eternal picture. But, as John Owen reminds us, "So much as we see the love of God, so much shall we delight in Him, and no more." And to know God, we must know His Word. We must pray. And we must join in these things with His people.

Jobey McGinty

The “Word of God” is both with God and is God. It is distinct, yet not an “it,” but a “He.” John tells us that Jesus is the Word of God, but before being revealed as “Jesus,” He was the invisible Word of God. God wanted to be known fully and intimately. Why is He the “Word” of God and not the hand, arm, or mouth? Our words come from us and are intertwined with us, revealing who we are. Other body parts don’t define or reveal our true selves; words do. Christ, as the Word of God, is the lamp to our feet, given so we don’t have to guess who God is. He was given to you to know the one true and living God, and to give you true life.

Jobey McGinty

At the close of the Old Testament, God leaves His people in suspense for 400 years before the arrival of John the Baptist and Jesus. During this period, significant events unfolded, such as the Maccabean Revolt led by Judas Maccabaeus against the Seleucids. And when the curtain opens on the New Testament, we again find Judea under occupation...this time by the Romans. And the Jews are desperate for a Judas Maccabaeus type of Messiah to come along and give the Romans the boot. And when Jesus entered Jerusalem they thought the time had finally come...but they were quickly disappointed by a Messiah who encouraged them, instead, to love and serve their enemies. He had come for a far greater purpose: to conquer a far bigger regime than the Romans. Just like the Jews, we often have our own expectations and desires for what Jesus "should" be...and it mostly boils down to a Santa Claus messiah who will right our personal frustrations and cater to our needs. But He has far greater plans for you and I! He is greater than Judas Maccabaeus...better than Adam, Elija, David, and all others before Him...and He is better than you and I. He stands righteous, in our place, before the Father above, presenting us washed in His blood and acceptable in His sight!

Tyler Willis

This coming day when Jesus returns, and God's kingdom comes sounds amazing and it will be. It sounds miraculous, and it is. However, God is a Holy God. Our Father is perfect in everything, in every way, always. When he comes near sin, evil, unrighteousness…it is all consumed. And we are not holy! For those who fear Him, though, we do not stand alone. Our advocate, our mediator, our savior opens the palms of His hands to reveal his wounds. The wounds we deserved. And the Judge will declare us innocent. And we respond to this certainty of future grace with righteous living, renewed eyes for the lost, endurance to live in the here and now, and hope for the coming day of the Lord!

Jobey McGinty

We often think that simply confessing our sins is the same as true repentance. But God calls us to a deeper level of heart transformation. True repentance involves a reverential fear of the Lord, a fear that leads us to honor and glorify Him in every aspect of our lives.As we surrender our hearts to God, He refines us through trials and challenges, shaping us into His treasured possession. Though the process may be painful, it ultimately produces beautiful, godly character. So let's embrace the refining fire and trust in God's perfect plan for our lives.

Jobey McGinty

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This message, whether coming from Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew or God through the prophet Malachi, remains consistent throughout the Bible. It serves as both a caution and a promise, a statement of fact and a guide for those seeking to draw near to God. To find where your heart truly lies, observe where you invest your time and resources. God understands that our satisfaction and contentment will only be complete when He possesses our entire hearts. We cannot fully surrender our hearts to Him if we cling to the blessings He bestows upon us. In His goodness and love, He invites us to test Him in this: by generously sharing our time and resources in our pursuit to love Him and those around us, He assures us that He will provide blessings sufficient for all our needs.

Jobey McGinty

It is common to wonder about God’s apparent absence amidst tragedy, hardship, and atrocities across the globe...why evil people seem to prosper and go unpunished. We must remember, however, God's perspective and understanding infinitely more complete than ours, and while we are often very quick to focus on the evil around us that requires judgment, we are less apt to want judgement on the sin inside our own hearts. God mercifully delays His judgement and graciously blesses in the meantime, but we must be careful to not mistake the delays and the blessings as approval of sin...ours or the world's. Make no mistake, God's judgment will fall upon all of the evil in this world, in each of our hearts, and it is only by being washed clean in the cleansing, sacrificial blood of Jesus that we may be found holy and righteous in God's sight.

Jobey McGinty

God’s people ignored His ways, and their “smaller sins” grew into “bigger sins.” We must remember that our sin, as well, has no desire to stay “small,” but rather is always looking for ways to grow and take command. It wants to thrive and be in control. So what is our response? First, we must admit our sin...to God and those trusted "iron sharpening iron" brothers and sisters God has placed in our lives. And next we repent, by turning away from sin and drawing near to our Father, in Christ.

Jobey McGinty

“Covenant” isn’t a word we often use in our relationships, but a covenant is what frames up God’s relationship with His people. It is a commitment built up on relationship, which is why we call it the “covenant of marriage.” It is not simply a contract or formal business agreement, but a relational commitment on both sides for mutual benefit. On our own, we don’t live lives that are perfectly integrated...lives in covenant relationship. We all fall short, each one of us, every day. But this is the miracle of rebirth: When we are born again, we are regenerated, and when we are regenerated, we are integrated. When we are hidden in Christ, we are integrated into His righteousness, His character, and His perfection and purity. We now walk by faith in confidence that we are in Him.

Jobey McGinty

God's desire is for our hearts, not just our stuff. He's not interested in our leftovers or second-best offerings. Instead, He wants us to give Him our all, cheerfully and generously. Far too often we cling to "our" time, money, possessions, comfort, convenience as though it is ours, and not given to us by our Father. And when He asks for us to give it back to him we say, "no, that's mine!" forgetting that it all comes from Him. He's asking us to be good stewards of His blessings and to offer them back to Him in worship and service. Let's respond to God's call by opening our hands and our hearts. As we give generously, we'll experience the joy of true discipleship and the abundant life that God promises.

Jobey McGinty

This is our story. We have been loved by God. Even when we doubted and questioned His love, He remained steadfast. He chose us, not because of our worthiness, but because of His great mercy. Like the Israelites in Malachi, we may face trials and hardships, but we must remember that God is with us. He has promised to rebuild our lives and restore our hope. Just as the Israelites saw the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecies in the coming of Jesus, we too can look forward to a future filled with joy and peace because of God's faithfulness.

Jobey McGinty

If Jesus didn't raise from the grave, both body and soul, Christians should be the people who should be most pitied. Without the resurrection, as humans we can only expect more of the same: death, sickness, poverty, loneliness, sin.  But the resurrection is the first sign of something new, something better, and something filled with hope for a future that is currently hopeless. 

Jobey McGinty

Are we free to design our lives and interactions with others however we see fit?  Or is there a better way?  God is a God of order, and even models how we should relate with one another, show respect to one another, submit to one another, and serve one another.  How does this apply to our lives, in our families, marriages, churches, and friendships? 

Jobey McGinty

What is the gift of tongues, and is it still in action today?  What was the whole purpose of tongues in the first place? These are just a few of the questions we face when it comes to this extraordinary and unusual gift that God gave to the church, and the Corinthians were prone to misuse it.

In light of the new legislation passed in New York concerning abortion last week, we take time to look at the topic of abortion, specifically, how we who are pro-life respond to a culture that is ever-increasing in its promotion and allowance of shedding the blood of innocent lives. How does the every day Christian - a stay-at-home mom, a 9-5 employee, a high school student - those who may not know much about politics or consider themselves to be "activists," but who are both concerned yet also feel helpless, actually make a difference and be a part of the long term solution to save the lives of voiceless, defenseless babies? How do we also not act in arrogant judgement and engage in productive discussions and relationships with those we differ with? And, maybe most importantly, how do we care for the young women and couples who are facing difficult and life-changing decisions?

Pastor Jobey also invites congregation member Leslie Salazar-Carillo, CEO of Pathway Health Clinic in Vista, CA, to share insights and great encouragement to the church as we learn to respond to a growing crisis.

For more information or to support Pathway Health Clinic in Vista, please visit www.friendsofprcvista.com. 

Jobey McGinty

We often set goals and have desires to fulfill a particular vision for our life, but without a plan, it is simply wishful thinking. We not only need a strategy, but a strategy that actually provides us with the power to live out the strategy in a way that helps us attain the goals we have. God has given us three primary means to be roots that help connect us into the living water of the Gospel: the Word of God, Prayer, and Gospel Community. 

Eric Price

We often set goals and have desires to fulfill a particular vision for our life, but without a plan, it is simply wishful thinking. We not only need a strategy, but a strategy that actually provides us with the power to live out the strategy in a way that helps us attain the goals we have. God has given us three primary means to be roots that help connect us into the living water of the Gospel: the Word of God, Prayer, and Gospel Community.

Jobey McGinty

We often set goals and have desires to fulfill a particular vision for our life, but without a plan, it is simply wishful thinking. We not only need a strategy, but a strategy that actually provides us with the power to live out the strategy in a way that helps us attain the goals we have. God has given us three primary means to be roots that help connect us into the living water of the Gospel: the Word of God, Prayer, and Gospel Community. 

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What will our eternal future be like? What will our bodies and the place we live be like? Chances are, it will be different than what you thought it would be growing up. It will be far greater than you can imagine!

Jobey McGinty

Sometimes it feels like if we just had enough answers, life would finally make sense. If God would just explain Himself, our pain, or our future, then we could trust Him. The gospel gives a better foundation for trust, however. God has not stayed silent. He has spoken clearly where it matters most. “No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18). In Jesus, God reveals His heart, His love, His purpose to save sinners. When life feels confusing, we cling to what is clear: the cross, the empty tomb, and a God whose wisdom is deeper than ours.

Jobey McGinty

The storm is coming for all of us. We all fail God's standard. Romans 3:12 says it plainly: "No one does good. Not even one." The wage of sin is death—judgment we can't escape through effort or goodness. But Jesus didn't just show us the standard. He lived it perfectly. And He offers to trade places with us: He takes our failures, we get credit for His perfection. That's what it means to be hidden in Christ. Whether you've wrestled with faith or just realized you can't earn your way to heaven, you're invited to believe. You're invited to be hidden in Him.

Jobey McGinty

In our journey of faith, we often struggle with the idea of training and correction. We may believe that we can grow on our own, without the guidance of others. Yet, the truth is that God designed us for community and mutual support. Proverbs 27:6 reminds us that 'Faithful are the wounds of a friend.' It’s in the loving correction of those around us that we find true growth and healing. Jesus invites us into this beautiful process of being trained and equipped, not just for our own sake, but for the sake of others. Let us embrace the gift of community, allowing each other to speak truth in love, and together, we can become who God has called us to be.

Tyler Willis

In our journey of faith, we often feel the weight of our prayer life. We might believe that we should have it all figured out by now, but the truth is, prayer is a continual starting line in our relationship with Jesus. Just as we breathe to live, prayer is essential for our spiritual vitality. Today, let's explore the beauty of prayer as we deepen our connection with God, remembering that every breath we take can be an act of worship. Let us come together to embrace this gift of communication with our Father.

Tyler Willis

Continuing the series on Training in Godliness, we learn from 1 Timothy 4:6 that the Word of God is the essential "protein" for spiritual growth. Just as junk food harms the body, consuming the world's fear and slander trains us in anxiety.Holiness requires active training, not drifting. With the Holy Spirit as our helper, we must move from passivity to action—confessing our lack of desire and choosing to obey, trusting that delight will follow discipline.

Jobey McGinty

We start our new year as we always do, with a short sermon series that reminds us of the basics and shines a light on critical role of the Word, Prayer, and Gospel Community in our lives. In this first sermon from Timothy, we see Paul instructing Timothy to be nourished in the words of faith. This "taking in" is the first step of training—we must feed on sound doctrine and actively reject the "silly myths" and distractions of our age, such as the digital "brain rot" and controversies that clutter our minds.But taking in truth is not enough; we must also exercise (gymnazo) it. Just as an athlete moves from being coached to training on their own, we must move from receiving external discipline to disciplining ourselves. We are called to be doers of the Word, not just hearers (who forget what they look like in the mirror). By limiting what we might see as our freedoms and cutting out distractions, we allow God to equip and mend us, making us whole and ready for every good work He has prepared.

As we do every year, we close out 2025 remembering God's goodness to us through the lens of Psalm 107. We are reminded that if God’s steadfast love endures forever, then the redeemed of the Lord ought to say so. The Psalmist describes four types of people God redeems: the wanderers who are lost and aimless, the prisoners sitting in darkness due to rebellion, the fools suffering affliction because of their sin, and the storm-tossed who face life's overwhelming waves.In every scenario, the solution is the same: "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress." We see that God uses all things—even meaningful affliction—to draw us back to Him. We can trust God's hand even when it hurts, knowing He works in faithfulness.

Jobey McGinty

We conclude our Advent series by looking at Luke 2, witnessing the beautiful passing of the torch from the Old Covenant saints to the arrival of the Messiah.We look to Simeon and Anna, who faithfully waited into their old age for God's promises to be fulfilled. They remind us that Jesus is the Consolation of Israel, coming to bring comfort to a weary world filled with darkness, grief, and exhaustion. Jesus comes as the Light of the World, bringing clarity, warmth, and beauty into our lives. While we often fear the light because it exposes our hidden sin and shame, we are reminded that His light is not meant to condemn us but to free us.We are called to come out of hiding and let His light frame our sorrows and heal our internal struggles. We must not be a "cul-de-sac" of God's blessing, keeping it to ourselves, but rather a "through street," acting as a chosen race and royal priesthood to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

Jobey McGinty

While the world looked at Caesar Augustus as the ultimate authority, the Christmas story reveals that the heart of the king is merely a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. God ordained a global census, mobilizing millions of people and causing massive inconvenience, just to move one family from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy of Micah 5:2. God is willing to move heaven and earth—and even frustrate the plans of peoples and nations—to accomplish His specific purposes for the salvation of His people.We are often tempted to complain about the inconveniences, government overreach, or trials in our lives, much like the people of that day likely did. But we are called to look behind the curtain and see a Sovereign God who orchestrates all things—even the frustrating ones—for the good of those who love Him. Because He holds every square inch of the universe, including our personal struggles, we can hear the angel's command to "Fear not," knowing that no purpose of God can be thwarted.

Tyler Willis

God’s plan for redemption was not a backup plan but something foretold through the prophets. Even so, Zechariah, a priest who knew the stories of old, still doubted the angel Gabriel’s message that he and Elizabeth would have a son. His doubt reveals how our knowledge doesn’t always equal belief. But God’s faithfulness remains even when we waver.Zechariah’s temporary muteness was a gift of humility, leading him to eventually proclaim God’s goodness and prophesy over his son, John the Baptist. Like him, we must learn to lean not on our own understanding but trust in God's perfect timing and power. When we humble ourselves, God magnifies His power through us, inviting us to proclaim the excellencies of the One who called us out of darkness.

Jobey McGinty

God's strength is displayed not through earthly power, but through weakness. He came not as a superhero or a conquering king with an entourage, but as a helpless baby born to poor parents in a lowly town. This was God's plan to show that He is stronger than sin and death!Like Mary, who believed God's promise despite her humble status, we are called to trust in God's faithfulness, not our own strength. Faith is believing that God will fulfill His promises, even when we are weak or don't understand.

Tyler Willis

Life has a way of draining our energy, leaving us spiritually weak and exhausted. The world tells us to “dig deep,” but our faith teaches us that when we are weak, His strength is made known. As Isaiah 40 reminds us, the Lord is the everlasting God who does not grow weary. We receive strength not by striving, but by waiting for the Lord—looking forward to, hoping for, and expecting Him.If you have a lack of strength in your marriage, parenting, or finances, His grace gives you endurance. The Lord gives power to the faint so that we may run and not be weary toward the promises of eternal rest. Jesus Christ, our perfect forerunner, ran the race to the cross, securing your rest. Come to Him, the only one who can carry the weight of sin and give you rest for your soul.

Ron Ohst

Jesus Christ is not just another prophet or priest; He is the Creator and the exact image of God, superior to the angels, Moses, and everything in the Old Covenant. He is our eternal High Priest, and He offered Himself, the single perfect sacrifice, once and for all to secure our forgiveness.Because of this finished work, the Old Covenant is now obsolete. There is no longer any offering for sin, and God remembers our sins no more. Given this incredible truth—that Jesus is better than everything—why would anyone ever turn back? Do not be tempted to walk away from the truth, because there is literally nowhere else to go.We must endure and not throw away the confidence we have in Christ. Let's live by the faith that is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. Jesus is worthy of our complete commitment, our entire life, and all that we have.

Tim Cain

There is a human tendency to be overwhelmed by fear of loss, even in moments of deep love and gratitude. We often focus on the temporary nature of earthly joys, constantly worried about losing what we cherish.However, Paul reminds us that our "earthly tent" is being dismantled, not for ultimate loss, but to be replaced by a "building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." We are called to groan not with regret for what is passing, but with anticipation for the glorious permanence that awaits.God is a giver, not a taker. He sent His Son, the greatest treasure of heaven to take on the form of a temporary tent so that He could offer us a permanent building with Him for all eternity. We are given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that all of God's promises are true. So, love the good things in this world with open hands, knowing that any loss is simply a precursor to something infinitely greater.

Jobey McGinty

As believers, made alive by God's grace and indwelt by His Spirit, we can pursue holiness not in our strength, but in His. It's time to intentionally "put off" the flesh and "put on" the fruit of the Spirit, as Colossians 3:1-17 urges. And, thankfully, this isn't dependent on human willpower. When we tap into the Spirit's power and God's Word, real change begins. So, what's the plan? Daily reading, memorization, and meditation on God's Word. Training ourselves to pray like Jesus, praying Scripture itself. And truly investing in purposeful, accountable community.

Ryan Wentzel

What does God truly think of you? In Zephaniah 3:14-20, we read some profoundly good news for ancient Israel—promises of an end to exile, restoration from shame, and God's very presence among them. These ancient promises find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He embodies God's presence, brings true restoration, and ends our spiritual exile by enduring exile Himself. Through Jesus, God doesn't just tolerate us; He sings over us, smiles over us, and delights in us. His love is not begrudging but overflowing with joy. Believe this good news and find rest in the boundless, joyful love God has for you through Christ.

Forrest Weiland

One of the greatest joys of the Spirit's work in your salvation is knowing that He is actively writing your life story and enabling you to live for Him. You can take comfort knowing that your sanctification and growth come entirely from God, as His Spirit powerfully works within you. He provides all you need to grow and change—a foundational promise and gift of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.Witness how, over the consistent arc of your life, the Spirit transforms you into the very image of Christ. As you behold God's beauty and glory, fixing your eyes on Jesus, you will be changed from one degree of glory to the next, all by the Spirit at work within. Though we plant and water, it is God who gives the increase; in Him we place our hope and trust.

Beyond mere morality or following rules, wisdom is the ability to navigate life's complex choices, even when moral paths seem unclear. A lack of wisdom, though not always immoral, can lead to disaster. True wisdom isn't just about accumulating knowledge; it's about knowing God through His Word and His Son. In fact, Christ Himself is the very Wisdom of God. We need this divine wisdom not just for ourselves, but to be salt and light, crying aloud in a noisy world, drawing others to the saving grace of Jesus.

Jobey McGinty

God’s Word says that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” It’s a picture of how our sin, even just a “little bit,” spreads to the whole lump of dough. So for us, God’s Word makes it clear, we have all fallen short, and God alone is truly good. But we aren’t left with that bad news. Because of His love, God devised a plan. He came to the earth, as a human, and because He is perfect and powerful, He took the cup from is, and He drank it for us. And then He trades with us: our sin for His own righteousness.

Jobey McGinty

It is so easy, natural even, for us to drift from what is good. We pursue the good things of God, we get off to a good start, and then we wander. But thankfully, God gives us new grace and mercy each day, so we never have to think we have built up some insurmountable deficit that gets us “behind.”

Pastor Mwindula Mbewe of Hillview Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia blessed us with a powerful message about God's call for His church to be "one." This unity stems from sharing in Christ's glory, and while we want this unity in the church...we also very much want glory for ourselves. Our sinful desires look for ways to create distinctions and division, the very opposite of the type of unity God calls us to. The glory God gives, through His Son, levels the field and draws us into loving community where we see no differences between us and our brothers and sisters.

Jobey McGinty

Psalm 107 compels us to vocalize God's steadfast love, both for our own souls and to encourage the church. We see four scenarios where people encounter God's grace: the lost wanderer, the isolated rebel, the suffering sinner, and the storm-tossed soul. Whether through aimless wandering, willful rebellion, self-inflicted suffering, or life's overwhelming storms, God's response is consistent. When these individuals, at their wit's end, cried out to the Lord, He delivered them. He satisfies the longing soul, breaks the chains of rebellion, heals the afflicted, and calms the tempestuous seas. Just as we trust a skilled surgeon's knife, we should trust God's hand in our lives, even amidst trials. Let the redeemed acknowledge and celebrate His steadfast love.

Jobey McGinty

The Christmas narrative is fundamentally a declaration of war - a cosmic battle for dominion. God created a world overseen by man, but a rebellious force usurped that order, plunging humanity into a kingdom of sin and death. However, God initiated a divine rescue operation, promising a savior to redeem humanity from its self-inflicted treason. This was no vague promise; God provided a detailed profile of this liberator through numerous prophecies. The statistical improbability of one individual fulfilling these prophecies at random is astronomical, yet Jesus Christ fulfilled over 300, demonstrating the intentionality of God's plan. Jesus' mission was to conquer sin and death, offering eternal life to all who believe. The path to this salvation is through acknowledgment of sin, belief in Jesus' divine identity and sacrifice, and confession of faith in Him. This is the essence of the Christmas message: a victory won for humanity through the birth of a savior.

The Christian life is a journey and a race...a marathon which will last our entire lives. Along the way, we will face many challenges, but with Christ's help, we can overcome any obstacle. God calls us to love and serve those around us as we run the race and, in so doing, we will leave a lasting legacy pointing to God's mercy, provision and grace.

We all want to be remembered well...remembered for our kindness, how we've used our gifts to love and serve those around us. This kind of legacy, however, takes intentional work...practice...good reps! We don't just drift into holiness, however; we drift into laziness. This world is also filled with distractions and temptations which will help pull us away from holiness. With God's help, however, we can learn to repent...to turn away from these obstacles and snares and run towards his freedom, building a legacy of grace, day by day, as we do.

Jobey McGinty

*Acts 29 doesn't actually exist in the Bible...but in a way, we are the living continuation of the story of Acts in the Bible. This is our story, the story of how God’s love continues to spread through us. We are part of a long line of believers who have passed down the light of faith from generation to generation. Just like our ancestors, we have a responsibility to share this light with the world around us. We are the church, and we are called to be living examples of God’s love, forgiveness, and grace. Let us commit to being billboards for Jesus, reflecting His light in our words, actions, and relationships. Together, we can continue to build God’s kingdom and bring hope to those who need it most.

Jobey McGinty

This passage encourages us to live out our faith boldly and faithfully, even when it's difficult. It reminds us that our ministry doesn't end when with us; it can have eternal consequences for those around us. We are called to be witnesses for Christ, even if it means sacrificing our comfort or reputation. We can plant seeds of the gospel in the lives of others, and those seeds may bear fruit long after we're gone. May we be encouraged to be bold in our faith and to live a life that glorifies God.

Jobey McGinty

As we share the gospel with those around us, it can be really difficult to remain patient and hopeful that the good news will sink in and take root...especially after we've seen it fall on deaf ears and hard hearts for a long time. But we must remember that where God is involved there is always a chance . No one is ever beyond His reach. We must remember that while we are called to do something impossible (in our own strength), with His Spirit at work, all things are possible. Let us pray that He would give us boldness, passion, conviction, perseverance, hope and patience as we continue to share the gospel with those around us. May our love for Jesus shine through in all that we do, so that others may see the beauty of his grace and be transformed by his love.

Jobey McGinty

Connections Pastor/Elder at The Fields church, John Duarte

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The conscience is something that every person has that acts as a warning light letting us know what is right and wrong. But for every unique person, there is a unique conscience. No two consciences are alike, and no one's conscience is perfectly aligned with God's will. So what should we do with this? How do we move forward being convinced of our own convictions, yet also humbly knowing that we could actually be wrong? When (if ever) should we go against our conscience? And how do we live with others who don't share the same convictions that we do?

"Clean enough" isn't determined by a kid cleaning his room, but by the parents' assessment. "Clean enough" isn't determined by a suspect's thoroughness in cleaning up a crime scene, but it's determined by the CSI team. Likewise, "clean enough" isn't determined by our own assessment of whether or not we are "good enough" to earn a spot in heaven, but it is determined by God's evaluation. The question "how good is good enough" ought to be one of the most important and pressing questions we should deal with in our lives, and though the bible tells us some very bad news that "no one is good" enough, the bible also gives us the best news ever: there is still hope.

Jobey McGinty

Jesus, the Prince of Peace who is entering into His city and His Temple, makes clear with His actions, “this is My house,” as He causes disruption and causes chaos with His righteous anger. But His actions point to a much larger “destruction” and “cleansing.” John’s Gospel tell us that Jesus makes a direct correlation between this cleansing and the future destruction not of the manmade Temple, but of His body, and that this “destruction” will lead to a permanent cleansing of the Temple, which is the Body of Christ. The desire of God is to have a Temple where people from all nations can come to worship, and ultimately, become living stones of the true and eternal Temple, which is the body of Christ Himself. But room must be made for them, rather than crowding them out. God desires to make room in our own hearts and topple over the tables in our hearts that crowd out true worship and true love for outsiders.

Jobey McGinty

We all have various people or people groups that we look down upon.  We don't care to admit it, but there are some people that we would choose not to associate with. Thankfully, Jesus isn't like this. If He was, you and I wouldn't have a leg to stand on!  But He welcomes the outsider and calls them His own, and this is Good News for us!  In this sermon, God directs Peter to change up his views of how he sees outsiders, and begins to built in him a compassionate heart that desires to see anyone and everyone come to know Jesus.

Jobey McGinty

So often life just doesn't go our way. "I'm so over it," we say.  In frustration and annoyance we we just want to be done with it, but this is not an option for a believer. We can trust that God has called us into every specific circumstance in our life, and we can trust that there is some great purpose in it. We should have an open expectancy that God may even want to surprise us with something we never expected. We aren't to give in to cynicism, but we are to give in to faith. We look not to our circumstances, but we look to God's faithfulness.

Mwindula Mbewe

Pastor Mwindula Mbewe from Lusaka, Zambia, visited us with this message of Jesus' miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead. When it seemed like Jesus was "late" in delaying coming to save Lazarus in his sickness, He actually proves that He was perfectly on time. Even when things don't go how we hope them to go, Jesus proves faithful. We may not understand it in the moment, but we can trust that God is at work in our lives, even amidst the greatest challenges and pains in life. He is always building us and strengthening up our faith and trust in Christ.

Tyler Willis

We need to rest in this truth. That Jesus has given His life for us.  Our contentment is no longer circumstantial because Jesus is alive. No matter the season, our thankfulness should overflow from the generosity we have been shown.

Jobey McGinty

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Tyler Willis

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Tyler Willis

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Tyler Willis

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Kostya Tustanovskyi

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Stephen, faced with an accusation of blasphemy, responds not by defending himself but, rather, by defending the Gospel.  Similar to Jesus providing His followers a history lesson on the road to Emmaus, Stephen walks his accusers through Old Testament truths, which point directly to Jesus.  Stephen's primary motivation is obviously not a love of self, nor is it even a love of those around him (although that is clearly evident in his response)...he is primarily motivated by his love for the Father, and that love compels him to boldly provide his witness, even in the direst of situations.

Tyler Willis

This Sunday we took a deeper look into one of the seven faithful men appointed by the Apostles: Stephen. He was facing opposition, arrest and accusations with grace, power and wisdom. His devotion to Christ was greater than his desire for comfort. In the face of false witness, his face witnessed to the power of God.

Jobey McGinty

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From the church's beginnings until now, we see clearly that thriving, gospel community doesn't just happen, nor does it happen without personal sacrifice.  The early church leaders quickly realized that they had gaps, and that they would not be able to do it all...they needed others to press in, to serve, and to ensure all of the needs of the community were met.  While this service can feel overwhelming at times, we remember the words of our Lord, Jesus (It is more blessed to give than to receive), we draw upon the strength of His Spirit, and we press in.

Jobey McGinty

After witnessing Jesus' life, death and resurrection Peter and John were forever changed, but they were still not sure of what would come next or what their lives would be like.  Once they received the Spirit, however, several things quickly came into focus.  They knew for certain that they must obey God's call on their lives to speak the truth boldly, with gentleness, kindness, humility and, most importantly, love.  They knew their message would be unpopular and not everyone would accept it, but they made up their minds to obey, plant seeds and trust God with the harvest.  God's call on the lives of His followers today is the same, and the world will likely respond the same...persecution is guaranteed.  Thankfully, God's gift of the Spirit is also the same and in Him we can preach boldly and selflessly love those we are preaching to, whatever their response.

Jobey McGinty

Ron Ohst

Tyler Willis

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We can read about the early church in the book of Acts (stories of thousands coming to faith from a single sermon) and feel like these were "professional" Christians, well beyond ordinary followers like us.  But the truth is that most of them were likely still trying to wrap their minds around who Jesus was and what He came to do when He was suddenly killed.   For most of them, it probably wasn't until Jesus left and they received the Spirit that their eyes were opened to the truth of who Jesus actually was.  These were baby Christians leading thousands to faith! God sought out commoners, the unlearned, those without cultural acceptance or influence, and then He breathed His Spirit into them and spoke through them...and He is still doing that today.  You and I can have this same Spirit of power and can see God work mightily through us in spite of, and even because of, our weakness.  He doesn't need your resumé or your proven track record.  He brings both.  He simply asks you to trust and obey!

Tyler Willis

This morning we continued in Peter's sermon and saw God's magnificent sovereignty on display in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter points us back to the Old Testament psalms and prophets that foretold the kind of Messiah Jesus would be. Our faith grows as we recognize the amazing plans God has for His people and his forever faithfulness and steadfastness.

Jobey McGinty

At Pentecost (the 50th day after Easter) we see the disciples waiting, expectantly, for the Spirit helper Jesus had promised.  They know they are in over their heads and that they don't have what it will take to accomplish the mission Jesus has given them.  They know they are in need, big time, and their only good option is to wait for the Spirit to show up.  And He does!  In that moment, we see God's radical plan unfold...the provision of Himself, indwelling these weak, common people (just like you and I!) to empower the kind of supernatural love and service Jesus had called His followers to.  If we go out and try to love and serve and follow the Great Commission out of our own strength, we will become exhausted and discouraged.  But we have One inside of us who easily pushes past human weakness, spent resources, lack of wisdom, lowly reputation and influence, to seek and save the lost!

Jobey McGinty

When we find ourselves in unclear and challenging situations, maybe at a crossroads in our lives, it is natural to cry out and ask God to reveal His will to us.  Sometimes we may receive a clear sign of what God's specific will is in that situation, but often we are met with silence, and we can become discouraged or even doubt God's goodness and faithfulness.  But the Word is full of God's revealed will and when we seek to understand and grow in that which is specifically revealed, on a day-to-day basis, we find that our will becomes more conformed to His and we are able to be more discerning when those times of difficulty, choice or crises come along.

Jobey McGinty

In many ways, God's chosen method of "launching" His church defies logic...or, rather, it defies our logic.  Jesus dies and rises from the grave and then leaves earth and leaves His ministry in the hands of weak, scared disciples.  But God grants His Spirit and, in doing so, He not only accounts for the weakness of His followers but He leverages it and uses it to amplify His message and grow the church.  When we come to the end of ourselves, repent of our self-sufficiency and trust in His Spirit for provision and strength in our weakness we are more at the center of His will than at any other time of felt strength.

Casey Barnes

Do we have to get to a certain level of Christianity before we can be used by God? In this message, we look at the qualifications God looks for when equipping His saints for service and the freedom that gives us to spread the gospel right where we are.

Jobey McGinty

We are all faced with some particularly bad news...the prospect of needing to be "good enough" and "clean enough" to enter into God's presence.  The reality is that no amount of effort or self-discipline will allow us to meet the standard of holiness...which is God, Himself.  Thankfully, there is One who not only met the standard, but if we admit our sin, believe that He alone can save, and confess that He is Lord and Savior, then His clean, perfect record becomes ours.  God not only welcomes us into eternal rest in Heaven, but comes and makes His home with us here and now...within our bodies, as a living temple.  What an incredible mystery and gift this is.  Hallelujah for the cross, and praise God for Easter morning!

Jobey McGinty

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem was confusing and upsetting for many, especially those in positions of power at the time.  For those who were hoping for a Messiah that would stand up to the occupying Roman forces, this "king" entering the city on a donkey must have been a massive let down.  For the religious leaders of the day, who had carved out comfortable positions of power amongst the Hebrew people, their surprise would have quickly turned to indignance as they saw Jesus turning over tables in the temple and calling it "My house."  And today, many are still confused and upset by a King who doesn't seem interested in defeating the enemies around them or changing their difficult circumstances.  But Jesus' zeal for the physical house of God, the Temple, is no less than His zeal for our hearts, and He will not allow our idols and sin to set up shop there.

Tyler Willis

This week we took a look at Peter's 'Final Words'. He reminds his hearers to be diligent and remain stable in the faith. He implored us to not be carried away by false teaching, by growing in our knowledge and in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Casey Barnes

As Christians, we believe that Jesus is coming back. But what is taking so long? In this sermon, we unpack God’s patient grace to us in the waiting, and the importance of making a decision for Christ while there is still time.

Jobey McGinty

Peter continues his letter to the church with an appeal to return to what they knew to be true and to not allow their minds to be drawn away by the fleeting truths of the day.  This reminder has held true for every generation since and is one we need desperately today.  The "wisdom" we see in the world around us stands in stark contrast to what we can plainly see in God's creation and how we have seen Him consistently speak and act throughout history.  We must remind ourselves, through prayer and the reading of the Word, and we must allow the community of believers to also remind us of the truth.  All creation testifies to the glory and truth of God, and by His Spirit's help we can join in.

Jobey McGinty

As Peter continues this letter to the church, he has clear and sobering warnings concerning the types of sins that we become stuck in and, worse yet, those that we return to.  Our enemy is never not working, as the commercial says, and is constantly seeking to gain a foothold in our hearts and minds.  So we must also constantly be at work...rooting out small sins before they grow into big sins, and then immediately backfilling the voids with gospel truths.  Thankfully, God does not leave us alone in this work, but gives us His Spirit as a helper and a guide.  As we read earlier in this letter, "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness," and so we press on in our work to rid our lives of sin and fill our minds with His truth.

Jobey McGinty

The idols and false teachings we encounter, that can ultimately lead us down a path towards destruction, usually look harmless or even good when we first encounter them.  They make promises to fulfill desires, give significance, right wrongs and soothe hurts.  Our enemy uses these tools to exploit whatever weak spots we might have in our defenses and to gain access to our hearts.  Peter warns us of these things and of the destruction they can work in us.  We need God's truth to always be before us, in our ears, on our minds and on our lips, to help us discern when the false "good" and "truth" we are chasing are not what they seem.

Jobey McGinty

After Peter encourages us to not lose sight of Jesus, and to make growing in the knowledge of him our top priority, he goes on to remind us that we never move past the basics.  God's Word must remain the ultimate authority in our lives and the certainty of the return of Jesus must stir in us an urgency to know Him and to follow Him.  We can't trust our hearts or our intellect.  We can't trust in good circumstances or "fate".  But we can trust  in God's Word and in our returning Savior.

Jobey McGinty

Sometimes, as we survey the sin and weakness inside our own hearts and the evil and brokenness around us, we are tempted to think that God has somehow sent us out on a journey without all the tools we need...a journey that is doomed to fail.  Peter encourages us, however, with a reminder that God has given us all we need for life and godliness, in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Our job is to simply respond to this certain knowledge by doing all we can to know him more and allowing this growing knowledge to lead to greater faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love.

Jobey McGinty

Peter's story is one of highs and lows, and at the lowest points we find him taking his eyes off of His Lord, and putting them on himself and those around him...trusting his own strength and "maturity" and trying to differentiate himself from others.  But when he takes his eyes off of Jesus he begins to sink into the water, and he takes matters into his own hands and cuts off the Centurion's ear, and he ultimately denies his Savior.  Even after Jesus restores Peter we find him, yet again, looking away and comparing his calling to that of the other disciples.  Jesus' kind rebuke is a soft reminder to refocus...to bring his eyes, focus, trust and attention back onto Jesus, and to simply follow Him, wherever He leads. Jesus' call to us today is the same; look away from everything else and "Follow me!"

Jobey McGinty

The story of Peter's denial and restoration should be precious to all of us, because it is our story, as well.  Each of us has denied our Savior and turned our back on Him, in thought, word and deed.  Each of us has relied on our own strength and convinced ourselves that "we've got this" or that it's at least possible for us to "got this" with enough work.  But because Jesus' love goes well beyond our sinful, human limitations, we see him move towards Peter (and us) in our sin and failure, not away.  He redirects the focus away from Peter's failures and onto His own faithfulness and love which will never fail, and He brings this same restoration to each of us today.

Tyler Willis

This week we see Jesus revealing himself to the disciples for a third time. He helps them catch a miraculous haul of fish and calls them, once ashore, to join him for breakfast. The King Resurrected is still serving and providing for those He called.

Casey Barnes

Was Thomas doubting or just unwilling to believe? In this sermon we learn how Christ's compassionate command meets Thomas where he is and ultimately brings Thomas to joyful faith.

Jobey McGinty

Let's face it...living in community with others, even fellow believers, can be challenging and messy! Sometimes it's hard to understand why God would call us to specifically follow Him alongside others, and we can start to believe the lie that we can do this better on our own.  But, in God's wisdom, He designed us to live and follow and serve and to be served within a community of believers, and that means allowing others into the messes we'd often rather hide.  It's always easier to think of reasons to not seek out community...to hide, to fill our lives with hobbies, events and idols that crowd out this kind of life together...but when we do finally commit to living in true, vulnerable community with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we see Him bring truth, clarity and change in ways we will not find on our own.

Jobey McGinty

With most (all) aspects of the Christian life, when we start with "me" at the forefront of our minds we often find ourselves on a futile, frustrating, powerless path that leads to despair.  Our prayer lives are often Exhibit A for this demoralizing cycle.  Our prayers can drift into me-centric wish list and gripe sessions that better resemble conversations with a genie or Santa Claus rather than with God, our Father. While He wants to hear our hearts (wishes and gripes included) we should be quick to listen and slow to speak when we come before Him in prayer. If, through the work of the Spirit, we begin to treat prayer like it is the continuation of a "conversation that God has started through His Word and His grace" (J.I. Packer) we will find it to be a powerful, conforming force that goes well beyond what we could ever think to ask for when we start with "me" in mind.

Jobey McGinty

Our mouths put the contents of our hearts on full display, and it's often not pretty.  And while we can (and should!) work hard at running from sin and emptying our hearts of anger, gossip, bitterness, snarkiness, etc, it's not enough to just root these things out and move on with our lives.  Even if we could effectively empty our hearts of these things, how quickly would they sneak back in?  The excavation and demolition of the decay in our hearts must be immediately followed up by laying a new foundation of God's Word. This is not a one time activity...we must constantly be digging out weeds and backfilling with the Word, and thankfully we have God's Spirit as our helper and partner in this activity.  

Each year, our church spends three weeks reminding ourselves of what our mission is.  This year we are focusing this time on understanding how the Word of God, Prayer and Gospel Community searches and rescues our identity and equips us to live out our mission for His glory.

Jobey McGinty

Every year, on the last Sunday of our year, we spend our last time of corporate worship together in Psalm 107.  In this Psalm, the psalmist exhorts the people to consider God's steadfast love, and if they have seen it in their lives, then "let the redeemed of the Lord say so."  In the midst of the congregation and the elders, it is important for us to declare God's goodness to one another.  

Had we known, as a church, what lay ahead of us in 2021 we likely would have been incredulous and fallen into despair before the new year had even begun.  But, in hindsight, we see the kind, strong, loving hands and the tender embrace of a Father who walked alongside us through the loss and heartache, guiding us in the fog of a continuing pandemic, cancer and death.  His strength was evident in our weakness this past year, and as we reflect on His presence in the midst of it all we are prompted to, as the psalmist encourages us, stop and "say so."  God is good, and His mercy endures forever.

Jobey McGinty

In our previous Advent sermons we've seen how God's intention does not seem to be an abandonment of His creation, but rather a cleansing and a redemption of it.  We see clues that it will be the same with our work, cultures, kingdoms and heritages. God clearly loves creativity and variety and the Bible seems to indicate that Heaven will be a place of many languages (united by a single Heavenly tongue) and cultures, as well as opportunities to pursue joyful, life-giving work.  All things will be subject to His perfect will and will operate only for His glory and our good, including any memories we have of this current life.  As we sing about each year at Christmas, sin and sorrows will no longer grow, and thorns will no longer infest the ground.  Wherever the curse is currently found it will be replaced by His blessing and we will live, work, interact, explore, discover and rest in the shadow of His love.  This is good news!

Jobey McGinty

When you think of Heaven, what comes to mind? What does it look like?  What do YOU look like?  If you picture yourself with wings and supermodel looks, flying above clouds and eating chocolate all day, you might be surprised.  The Bible seems to paint a very different, and somewhat more familiar scene.  We will likely look like ourselves, and the world around us will likely look and work similar to how it does now, minus the effects of sin.  The reality the Bible points to is that God's creation isn't something He's looking to abandon, but rather something He's planning to transform, redeem and cleanse.  And this is so much better than misty, ethereal bodies and 24hr harp music!  (Nothing against harp music!) We will get to see and experience God's creation, minus the curse, with bodies and minds not hindered by sin, sorrow and sadness.  It will be so much more and better than we can ever imagine!

Jobey McGinty

Have you ever wondered what Heaven will be like?  As we read what the Bible has to say about Heaven we see that what Heaven currently looks like is different than the future Heaven we so long for.  To be sure, the current Heaven where all of the saints who have gone before us currently are, is paradise and is filled with God's presence.  He has something even better planned for when Jesus returns and ushers in the NEW Heaven and the NEW Earth, though, and His Word gives us an exciting glimpse into what this redeemed world looks like...and it is very good!

Tyler Willis

This Sunday we turned our eyes toward the eternal. Scripture has a lot to say about our future hope and we only scratched the surface. In this part of our Advent series, we acknowledged our current groaning for our eternal home and reminded ourselves that our future hope is secured and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We will find rest, reunion and will reign alongside our Savior and that gives hope as we walk out our salvation here to the glory of God.

Jobey McGinty

The biblical story of sin and death entering into the world through Adam and Eve, along with the sin and suffering each of us have personally witnessed and experienced, don't make much sense without an eternal perspective.  It can all feel like a big mistake, where God's Plan A was thwarted by man's sin and Jesus was the Plan B we needed to put things back together.  But the Bible makes it clear that not only was Jesus God's Plan A, but that the sin and fall of mankind that lead up to Jesus were also part of the plan.  While this might seem confusing and unexpected, it begins to come into focus when we look at God's overarching goal...to put His glory on full display, and for us to be able to enjoy that with Him for eternity.  Our ability to enjoy and to be in God's presence is not possible without the backdrop of sin and suffering and the wonder of God's intervention, through His Son, Jesus.

Jobey McGinty

With Jesus suddenly gone the disciples go into hiding, fearful of being exposed and forgetting what they have been called to live out.  The doubts are creeping in and the fear starts to lead to unbelief, but then Jesus walks in, through a locked door, and interrupts everything.  We, too, can allow the fears of life to lead us into unbelief and hiding, not living out the lives of love and sacrifice He has called us to.  If it were up to us, we would likely stay in those locked rooms of fear, but thankfully Jesus goes where He pleases, and our fear cannot keep Him out.  If you are part of Jesus' flock, nothing can or will keep Him from working in and through your life!

Casey Barnes

In the midst of grief, loss or pain, we can tend to forget the promises that God has given us in His word all along. In this sermon, we take a look at the empty tomb, and how Mary and the disciples forgot what Christ had told them would happen to Him. But Christ’s gracious heart toward us can call us back to remembrance with just the sound of our name. We have hope because of the assurance we have in God’s promises.

Jobey McGinty

In the brutal, stark reality of Jesus' death on the cross we see God's grace on full display, and in the time that Jesus is on the cross, we see how a rich man (Joseph), a religious leader (Nicodemus), a soldier, a thief, Mary (Jesus' mother), Mary (a follower who was called out of demon possession) and John, himself, all are forever changed by this grace. This extravagant display of love, and sacrifice causes each of them to surrender and then respond in kind, and that same call continues to go out to each of us as we approach the cross.

Jobey McGinty

This famous 3-word phrase Jesus utters on the cross, "It is Finished", was actually just a single word in the original Greek: Tetelestai, meaning "It has been and will forever remain finished" and "paid in full." This begs the question...what is the "it" that has been finished? While we will never fully grasp the breadth and magnitude of what Jesus completed in His time on earth, or the specific work on the cross, we do know that it is simultaneously cosmic and eternal while also deeply personal to each of us. Jesus' work shows us God's holy, just hatred of our sin and His gracious, understanding love of sinners like you and me. We find rest today in knowing that Jesus' work has been and will forever remain finished.

Tyler Willis

This week's sermon we look to the Cross of Christ. Now as a church, we hope to always remember our Savior and the work he did on the cross, but this week we read this specific section of scripture in our John series. Without the cross, our sin still stands. However, because of Christ our record of debt that testified against us has been removed by the blood of the Cross.

Jobey McGinty

Jesus came to a world that fundamentally misunderstood Him and what He had come to accomplish.  His parents, His closest friends, and His enemies all misunderstood His identity and purpose, and they often superimposed onto Him their own kingdoms' goals.  And when it became clear that He had no intention of establishing their kingdoms, they either chose to submit and accept Him as King or refuse and revolt.  Not much has changed in the 2000 plus years since Jesus walked the earth and the same choice faces each of us.  He offers us the chance to be ambassadors of a much greater Kingdom, one which will last for eternity, but we must first forsake our own kingdoms and accept Jesus as our King.

Casey Barnes

In this sermon we walk through John 19, as Jesus stands before Pilate. Though Pilate proclaimed his innocence five times, he still sent Jesus to be flogged and ultimately handed him over to be crucified. Join us as Pastor Casey discusses how neutrality toward Christ is ultimately a no-vote against him.

Jobey McGinty

Peter's story is one we all can and should relate to.  Where Peter ends up, as the "rock" upon which Jesus was ready to build His church, is inspiring.  We might be tempted to try to start the story there and hope that God would similarly use us in big ways for His Kingdom work. But Peter doesn't become the rock without the brokenness his sin and pride led him into.  Peter needed to have his plans dashed in order to see the good that the Father had in store for him.  God isn't surprised by Peter's shortcomings.  Neither is He surprised by yours.  Better yet, He has specific plans for those shortcomings! All of the pride, struggle, failure and weakness we see as being outside of God's plan can serve to bring us to a place where all we have left is Jesus...which is precisely where the Father wants us. It is specifically through these things that God will show His strength in you, and in the world around you.

Tyler Willis

This week our church family took a quick break from our series in John and turned our hearts toward the God of all comfort. Life is a gift, but there are times when the gift sits within the shadows of the valley. Our God is the God of all comfort and that comfort exists because of the hope we have in our Savior Jesus Christ. We have a secured future that sits as an everlasting light before us. It's a hope that is secured by the blood of Jesus and is sanctifying our hearts even now. God's promises are sure and his promises are for the good of those who are called according to his purpose. We can trust in this hope, the comfort of our souls, because the one who has called us is faithful.

Jobey McGinty

As Jesus finishes His High Priestly Prayer and makes His way out of the Temple area, each step He takes is bringing Him closer and closer to the cross.  He exits through the Gate called "Beautiful", which the prophet, Ezekiel, says will be the very same gate Jesus will enter back through when He returns.  He and the disciples then make their way to the garden of Gethsemane to rest and pray.  And it is here, in the garden, where Jesus speaks aloud, for ours and the disciples' benefit, His willing acceptance to do what only He could do...drink the cup of God's righteous wrath.  And then our Savior is betrayed and willingly goes, like a Lamb to the slaughter, with those who will ultimately condemn and kill Him.

Tyler Willis

This week we had the blessing of closing out chapter 17 of John, the prayer of our High Priest, Jesus. Not only does Jesus spend time petitioning to His Father on the behalf of his disciples, but also for those who WILL believe. Jesus prays for future believers whom will receive the testimony of the apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit that they may be one even as He and the Father are one. United through our sanctification.

Jobey McGinty

God not only chooses us by and through His Grace, but He also changes us the same way.  This is such a great mercy...can you imagine if He chose you by grace but then told you that you needed to somehow work out your own sanctification and conform yourself to Christ's image?  The same grace which justifies us through the costly death of Jesus also continues to work it's way in and through us, by the power of the Spirit, performing this lifelong work of change.  And while we know that in this world we will never reach that end state of looking like Christ, we take heart in knowing that we are sealed by the work He has already accomplished, and we rest in His promise to complete His work and present us as complete when we stand before the Father.

Jobey McGinty

An orphan who hopes a family will come to their rescue and choose them to be part of their family is powerless, on their own, to force that adoption to take place.  They can't find a family and tell them, "guess what, congratulations, I'm your new son or daughter" and expect that to suddenly become reality.  They have no right to force their way into that family.  In the same way, we don't choose to find God and become part of His family.  We have neither the right nor the ability!  But He chose us and sent His Son on a rescue mission to save all the Father had chosen...and, thank God, Jesus does not fail!  So if our job is not the choosing or the seeking or saving...what is it?  In its simplest form, our job is to accept this miraculous, undeserved adoption, take His name and live like we're part of His family...through the power of the Holy Spirit and out of eternal gratitude.

On Saturday, August 14th, many, many people lost a dearly cherished friend and sister in Christ. Britni, as I have described, was "the face of our church," as she led our Connection Team and welcomed newcomers each Sunday, as well as emanated joy and worship from her as she sang and led us in worship.  We are heartbroken and without words to describe the loss and emptiness we feel.  

This sermon begins sharing about the final days and hours of Britni's life, and then attempts to bring our minds and hearts to the truth that Britni loved so much. We are reminded by Jesus' own words, that we are His, and by His strength and grace He will keep us as is.  Britni knew this, and it is because of that truth that we can, with tears falling from our eyes, rejoice that she is in the eternal presence of the Savior that she loved and worshiped so dearly.

Jobey McGinty

John 17 marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry.  In this High Priestly Prayer we (and the disciples) hear Jesus state in plain terms His reason for coming into the world, His power to save those the Father had given to Him, His intention to return to the Father soon, and His resolve to have His flock sustained through hardship by the truth He has taught them.  Jesus' intention and resolve to save should give us hope and courage, as they remind us that our salvation is entirely based on Jesus' power and willingness to save...not on the quality and strength of our faith or our worthiness.  It all begins and ends with Jesus...and thanks be to God for that!

Casey Barnes

How do we find peace in a life filled with troubles? In the message from John 16, Pastor Casey reminds us that we can ask for anything in Jesus’ name because of God’s great love for us, and that Christ is our peace in times of tribulation.

Casey Barnes

This life’s circumstances can leave us feeling confused and in despair. Rather than having a distant savior who isn’t near to us or interested in our daily living, we can trust that Jesus knows and cares about our hearts. In this sermon, Pastor Casey explains how we can have hope in a God who promises to transform our suffering into joy.

John Duarte

This past Sunday we got to hear from John Duarte, one of the pastors at The Fields Church in Carlsbad.  John preached from 2 Corinthians on the mysterious and powerful work God does in our lives through affliction. We heard how God is present and brings comfort in the midst of our afflictions, that He uses affliction to grow us and turn us into comforters of the afflicted around us, and that his power is often on full display in affliction.  This week, as hard as it may be or as strange as it may sound, take a moment to thank God for the afflictions in your life, knowing that He is specifically at work in them and will bring about good.

Tyler Willils

In our July 11th sermon we hear Jesus tell his disciples that there were certain things He hadn't told them at the start of their relationship, because He was still in their presence and He knew there would be time later.  But He knows that He is leaving soon, and they will still need help to understand what He has taught them.  They will need the Helper.  Jesus ensures them that, when He comes, the Holy Spirit will guide them in all truth as they are unable to complete the mission in their own strength.

Tyler Willis

This week, as we moved from Chapter 15 of John into Chapter 16, we saw Jesus tell his disciples that they will be hated for following Him because He too was hated. He then tells them the specifics of how they will be treated, but does not send them without His Words. We saw Him again promise to send a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to bear witness about Him and to them. Jesus tells them these things to keep them from falling away.

Jobey McGinty

Much of Jesus' ministry on earth was dedicated to showing His disciples a "different way" to live, one which stands in stark contrast, and often opposition, to what they see in both the secular and religious worlds around them.  At this point in the Gospel of John He levels with them, noting that living this different life will not gain them friends and will cause the world to hate them.  They were probably surprised, however, to see just how much of that hatred came from within the church itself.  Jesus has the same warning for us modern day believers...following Him will often put us at odds with both the secular world and many in the church itself, across the political and religious "left to right" spectrum.  This same hatred was directed at our Savior, himself, however and our response, therefore, should be the same as His...to do the will of the Father and to bring a message of truth and love to a world that is desperate for both.

Jobey McGinty

If we're honest with ourselves, Jesus' teachings from John 15 can leave us (and, no doubt, the disciples themselves) feeling called to a life that's impossible to live.  We are to love and be kind to those that hate us, and to never give up on those we are so tempted to see as hopeless causes.  And just in case some of us feel like we're doing those things well, Jesus commands us to be perfect like the God, Himself, is perfect!  Thankfully, we are not left to our own strength to live this "impossible" life.  Instead, God models the kind of love He requires by sacrificially loving you and I, His enemies, first.  He then sends His Spirit to live within us with all of His infinite resources.  He chooses us and appoints us to the life and work He calls us to.  And to cap it all off, He calls us His friends.! So instead of seeing the call to perfect love and service as a hopeless, discouraging endeavor, we see a God who chooses us to do the work, prepares the work ahead of time, promises to bless it, and then calls us to simply abide in Him and watch what He does through us.

Jobey McGinty

We see throughout the Bible a consistent focus on God receiving glory.  From our human perspective this can feel arrogant and conceited.  After all, would any of us want to spend much time around another human being who is only interested in glorifying themselves? But it's different for God...His glory truly is the most valuable thing in all of the Universe, and He knows that when all of Creation, including each of us, are pursuing His glory then there is peace and prosperity as a result. In this portion of the Gospel of John, God gives us some insight into how we can best bring Him glory, and it's not by through self-righteous effort...it's by bearing fruit.  When we abide in the True Vine, we WILL produce good fruit.  God WILL get the glory, others WILL be blessed by our fruitfulness, and what do we get?  The JOY of the Lord!

Jobey McGinty

This past Sunday we looked at what is needed for believers to bear lasting Kingdom fruit.  Our human nature leads us to action plans, checkboxes, self-righteousness and looking elsewhere, away from Jesus, for our strength.  But living a fruitful Christian life is not about our effort, it's about our identity...our membership in the body of Christ, the True Vine.  Grapes don't grow out of a branch that's laying on the ground, close to the vine.  The branch must be attached, with the vine's life coursing through it.  Similarly, true Kingdom fruit won't come from someone just because they spend time in church or know what's written in the Bible.  We must be grafted into the His body...we must draw our strength only from Him in order to bear fruit.  The call is simple, but difficult...die to yourself, give up on your own plans, be grafted into Jesus, the True Vine...and then stay there.  Abide. And watch how God will bring forth the fruit!

Jobey McGinty

Jesus says His Father prunes the branches that bear fruit. Did you catch that? Not the branches that DON'T bear fruit (though He does take those away!), but the branches that DO!  Why?  So that there would be more and lasting fruit to come. It is for our joy, and for our roots to grow deep and strong so that they can support more fruit later. We would do well to receive the pruning and discipline of the Lord and entrust ourselves to His ways. When we allow ourselves to be pruned by the many people in our lives that love us, we are letting ourselves be cared for and set up for a future filled with bearing fruit that remains.

Jobey McGinty

God wants us to know Him, and He wants to be found by us. He wants us to know the peace that He alone gives. But in a world filled with chaos, we often strive for false, worldly peace. He tells us, however, to look only to Him for peace, and He reminds us that the enemy has no claim on Him, and that our hearts ought not be troubled nor fearful, because He is the one who is truly in control.

Jobey McGinty

Do you struggle with obeying God? Do you want to do a better job following Him? How do we go about doing a better job being obedient to His commands?  The answer might surprise you, because it has nothing to do with "trying harder" or "being more strict" with this or that. The answer is "love Jesus."  He says, "if you LOVE Me, you will obey My commandments."  If a husband loves his wife, he will want to honor her. If he does not love his wife, but simply knows that adultery is wrong, he may "try harder" to honor her, but it won't last long or be very effective. The solution is to fall more in love with his wife.  It is the same with Jesus; we will follow Him if we truly love Him.

Jobey McGinty

We sometimes think of God's work being accomplished in the world through grand, significant acts done by missionaries, famous speakers, theologians, full-time pastors, etc.  But we forget that for the majority of Jesus' life, He was none of these...His formal ministry didn't even begin until He was about 30.  Clearly Jesus was serving and ministering to those around him prior to that, while working in construction and living amongst His friends and family.  So how would Jesus live if He had the life you do now?  With your job, and friends and family...warts and all? Would He pray that God would give Him a change of scenery?  Would He ask for change in those around Him to make His life a little easier?  Or would He go about His Father's business, serving and loving those around Him, right where they were?  Today, as you look at the life God has given you and the people He has placed around, pray for His work to be done in and through you and that others would be blessed as a result.

Casey Barnes

Throughout our lives, we all will face many trials and difficulties. In this message, Pastor Casey explains how Jesus cares deeply about our troubled hearts, and how he endured the cross as the only way to the Father so that He could go and prepare a place for us with Him forever.

Tyler Willis

After Judas had gone out, we see Jesus address his disciples and tell them that he has now been glorified. Jesus, and only Jesus, has handed himself over to the events to come. Jesus provides His disciples a new commandment; one that can only be fully understood by looking at the cross. “...As I have loved you."

Jobey McGinty

Every believer will have failures, and this part of the Gospel story gives us both warning, but also hope. One follower, Judas, walked away from the light and into the night. Another, Peter, acted with bravado, yet cowered in fear. Jesus even told Peter that, despite his boldness, he was only one step away from being cut down by Satan himself. The only thing that keeps Peter's faith alive isn't Peter, but is Christ. God's grace gives us strength to continue as He lovingly restores us even after denial. So long as we love the light (even if imperfectly), we can know that Christ is working in us.

Jobey McGinty

When we read about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, it's easy to view this through a modern, sterile lens and to minimize the humility this act of service required.  This was not a pleasant job, however, as the sandaled feet of travelers at the time would have been likely covered with all sorts of dirt, grime, animal feces...you name it!  And when we step back and remember that this is not "just" a man washing the dirty feet of his friends...this is the living God, serving his enemies. Those that were soon to betray him, and those that had lived lives contrary to His law...and even us.  In doing so, Jesus models the type of service He expects from His followers.    We may not agree with the viewpoints, behavior or attitudes of those that God brings into our lives, but He calls us to love and serve them, as He has loved and served us, with grace, generosity and sacrifice.  Thankfully His Spirit comes alongside us and provides all that we can't!

Jobey McGinty

Can you imagine what it would be like to take a class where you never quite knew if you were passing until the very end?  How horrible would you feel to get to the end of the semester only to find out that your efforts weren’t good enough and you had failed! In life, however, the Bible is very clear about what God requires and that the “good enough” mark is well beyond what any of us can attain.  Thankfully, there is good news for those of us who have fallen short, and the message of Easter is one of hope.  Not hope that we can get our act together…not hope that we can somehow boost our efforts and make the grade…but hope in Jesus, the Son of God who was Good Enough!  Jesus is our living hope, and in His death and resurrection we can have certainty in our own eternal standing with the Father!

Jobey McGinty

Our souls are often troubled when facing the future, trials, or internal struggles. What can sustain us during these times? What can truly satisfy us and give us sustenance for the next day? Even Jesus' soul was "troubled," and He calls us to walk in His footsteps. But In those footsteps, He gives help: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me." When we are at out wit's end, we cast ourselves upon what we know to be true, and as we resolve to have God's will be our food, our souls will be sustained, even if still troubled.

Jobey McGinty

Have you ever felt disappointed by God, or felt as if He let you down or didn't do things how you think they should have been done? Maybe you've felt lost and confused, angry or bitter, or just haven't understood why He is allowing certain things to happen in your life. We can know that we are not alone in this, and though God may at the time seem like He is failing or absent, we can have a confident hope and anticipation that all of our trials, sufferings, and struggles will ultimately bow to Him and His purposes in our life.

Jobey McGinty

What does a reasonable response to God look like? Living a good, moral life? Trying our best? Serving others? Though all of these responses may seem reasonable, proportion matters. God has given us everything, and through Jesus He has purchased even our eternal life. The only reasonable response, then, is to give Him everything. However, we often live unconvinced that God has actually forgiven us of much. We either think we're already pretty good and have earned His favor, or we think our sin is too bad (or too current) for Him to totally forgive. And because of that, our response to Him is not full, but it is half-hearted and weak. When we come to realize the truth that God pursues us even in our sin, it changes how we respond to Him.

Jobey McGinty

Jesus came to this earth not just simply to make salvation possible, but to actually save. His mission wasn't to throw the proverbial "Hail Mary" pass in hopes that some of us may catch it. He came to run the ball Himself, securing salvation for those that that His Father gave to Him, and He declared that He will lose none of them, that all those that Father gave Him will come to Him, and He will never cast them out. The power and glory of our salvation is not just simply that it is possible, but that it is actually and truly purchased and secured for us.

Tyler Willis

God's love was demonstrated by the giving of His Son. We as Christians have been called to lay down our lives for one another and consider the needs of others over our own. In 1 John, John tells we are to love one another and in John 13, Jesus tell us this is how the world will know that we are His disciples by our love for one another. Our testimony to the world of God's love is shown by the great lengths in which we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. As we get to be a part of God's mission, may our love spur others towards the reconciling work of Jesus Christ.

Casey Barnes

What is love? In this sermon, Pastor Casey explains how biblical love is others-centered and self-sacrificing. When we model ourselves after the way Jesus loved, we have a reward in Heaven that motivates us to love and hold the interests of others above our own, even in difficult circumstances.

Jobey McGinty

God is not in a hurry to get you out of trouble. We often are, and we pray that God would be, but it is rare that our timing is lined up with God's will and timing. He is not in a hurry to get us out of our trouble, but He is always going to do everything right on time, and for perfect reason.  Jesus wept in John 11 as He witnessed the pain and sorrow caused by death. And that weeping then became His sympathy and empathy towards us, and He now stands at the right hand of the Father interceding for us as a faithful High Priest.

Jobey McGinty

If you could lose your salvation, you would. The only reason you continue forward is because Jesus has promised that you would. Jesus tells us, "Father is greater than all, and no one will snatch them out of His hands," and "they will never perish," and elsewhere in the Word we are told that "nothing can separate us from the love of Christ," and that we have been "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of our inheritance."   If you could lose your salvation, you would. But you won't, because it is not yours to lose. It is kept in heaven for you by the power of God until the day you receive it.

Jobey McGinty

There are many things that promise us comfort, protection, happiness, and satisfaction: money, comfort, political power, lust, etc. But none of those things will lay their lives down for us, and even more so, none of them can give us everlasting life. These "false shepherds" try to lure us away, and we often, sadly, follow after their voice. But there is One who is the true Good Shepherd; He lays His life down for His flock, and He walks them through the Door of eternal life, which is Himself. He goes before us and leads us, protects us, and gives us all that we need.

Jobey McGinty

We quickly ask "why me?!" when bad things happen to us. And it makes sense, given our finiteness and limited perspective that we would wonder this. Often, we make assumptions about God and about suffering. In this story, Jesus' own disciples, when they happened upon a man who was born blind, asked, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sin, or the sins of his parents?"  Their question reveals their assumptions, but Jesus says "neither," and offers a third way. He says that his suffering had meaning and purpose, and that it was mean to "display the work of God in him."  Suffering and trials and hardships have purposes and meaning. What you are going through is not random or a mistake, but has a divine purpose.

Jobey McGinty

God has called us, His church, to His mission on this earth.  And He has not just left us guessing and unarmed for this battle, but our Prince of Peace has given us weapons of warfare as instruments to help us fight for the peace of God to rule and reign in our hearts.

Jobey McGinty

God has called us, His church, to His mission on this earth.  And He has not just left us guessing and unarmed for this battle, but our Prince of Peace has given us weapons of warfare as instruments to help us fight for the peace of God to rule and reign in our hearts.

Jobey McGinty

God has called us, His church, to His mission on this earth.  And He has not just left us guessing and unarmed for this battle, but our Prince of Peace has given us weapons of warfare as instruments to help us fight for the peace of God to rule and reign in our hearts.

Each year, our church spends three weeks reminding ourselves of what our mission is, and for these three weeks we will spend time reminding ourselves of HOW we are to accomplish this mission. God gives us three primary instruments or tools to equip us for this mission: His Word, prayer, and His people.  These three roots are what keep us soaking in the living water and connected to the life source of the Gospel.  These three main roots keep us abiding in the vine when we use them to saturate ourselves with the power of the Good News of Jesus.

Jobey McGinty

Every year, on the last Sunday of our year, we spend our last time of corporate worship together in Psalm 107.  In this Psalm, the psalmist exhorts the people to consider God's steadfast love, and if they have seen it in their lives, then "let the redeemed of the Lord say so."  In the midst of the congregation and the elders, it is important for us to declare God's goodness to one another.  And thought 2020 proved to be the most challenging year most of us have faced, we still want to end our year the same we always do: giving God thanks for His mercy, grace, and kindness. It is important for us to continually keep our eyes, minds, ears, and hearts trained upon His goodness, rather than on the negative events in our world and in our life. It is only by training ourselves to look for His grace that we can be freed from the negativity and discouragement that brings us down and distracts us from God.

Jobey McGinty

Christmas commemorates the most unlikely event in human history: God Himself came down to die in our place. He did this not because there was anything worthwhile in us to die for, or because we had done anything to deserve this gift, but simply because of His grace and love for lost sinners.  Because of His birth, life, death, and resurrection, we have the hope of a future of peace and everlasting life. We thank God for this incredible and unlikely rescue plan.

Jobey McGinty

If you have been stressed, angry, frustrated, annoyed, fed up, irritated, anxious, or worried...if you’re tired of all of this and find your blood pressure rising or mood lowering, this sermon is for you. All of us, to some degree, deal with these things on a daily basis. Our minds and hearts are infiltrated with thoughts and feelings that overwhelm us. There is a war going on inside of us, and it's the battle between peace and anxiety.  But God's Word gives us a great hope, as well as practical advice, on how to combat this and find freedom from it. We can find and have peace even amidst the chaos and confusion and uncertainty of life. We find this when we learn how to "rejoice in the Lord."  We don't rejoice "in our circumstances," but we can rejoice THROUGH our circumstances if we learn how to rejoice "in the Lord" in the midst of our circumstances.  This sermon is for you.

Jobey McGinty

Independence results in separation. Sometimes independence is good, such as a teen moving out of the house and becoming responsible, or a people coming out of the oppression of a nation or other people group. But there is always a separation.  Throughout human history, man has time and time again declared independence from God. Instead of coming under His sovereign guidance, wisdom, and Word, we instead become determined to do things according to what is right in our own eyes. We follow our own hearts and make our own law and rules. In this declaration and action of independence, we commit treason and become separated from God. If we desire to be reunited with Him, peace must be offered on His terms, not on ours.  Thankfully, He desires peace with us, and has made a way. He Himself came to this earth and became our peace, and it is through Him and Him alone that we can have peace with God.

Jobey McGinty

It is natural and normal to fear or have some kind of anxiety over the thought of death, be it our own or of our loved ones.  We fear the separation, or maybe the mystery of it. But Jesus gives a radical promise, that those who keep His Word will never see death. It is as if we pass from one room into the next; it is the difference between being hit by a truck or being hit by the shadow of a truck. If our old self has been crucified with Him, we know that we also be raised like Him. Just as death has no power over Him, we know that death has no power over us.

Jobey McGinty

We often here the quote, "the truth will set you free!"  But what this assumes is that you are not free; that you are enslaved to something. The more we think about this, the more insulting it becomes.  "I don't need to be free, I'm already free!," we decry.  But we are not. We are born into the slavery of sin, and we can't change that by a simple profession of freedom. We must actually possess freedom. But we have no ability to just declare this, just how a physical slave can't just profess his freedom. Something radical must happen. We need to be set free from the slavery of sin. And thankfully, this is exactly what Christ came to do for us.

Jobey McGinty

Both the moon and the sun are sources of light for us, but only the sun has light in itself. The moon is merely a reflection of the sun. Jesus is the light of the world. Any light we have (character, goodness, purity) is given by Him, and darkness in our hearts and minds can only be done away with if we draw closer to the true light. And as that light shines brighter, it is like a dimmer switch being turned up in our hearts. We see more dirt and dust than we knew was there, but this helps us to first see what is lurking, but then also know how to fight any abiding sin. But this can only be done by coming to the light of the world.

Jobey McGinty

It's a famous story. A bunch of self-righteous religious leaders want to have an adulterous woman stoned for her sin. But Jesus shows compassion.  God's Word warns us not to judge wrongly or self-righteously. We're told that whatever amount of judgement we give, we will be judged by that same measure. We ought instead to hope and aim for compassion, mercy, grace, and forgiveness, and desire that everyone, even those who come against us, would be saved and set free from their own sin.

Jobey McGinty

Paul tells the Galatian church, "if you bite and devour each other, beware that you don't consume each other." Today, not just in our country, but in our churches, we are biting and devouring each other. We are lobbing verbal grenades and shaming anyone who doesn't see or believe things exactly as we do. Christians are turning on other Christians in their own churches, and many claim it is for the glory of God. But Paul makes clear that simply taking a stand for righteousness ("I follow Paul! I follow Christ!") does not mean we are actually bringing glory to God. Our attitudes, words, and treatment of others is of paramount importance. Our opinions, words, attitudes, thoughts, and actions towards others ought to be a reflection of how Christ deals with us, His bride, and how we would hope to also be treated by others.  Paul tells us, "you could have all the answers, wisdom, knowledge, and faith known to man, but if you don't have love, you are nothing."  May God have mercy on His church as we aim to be salt and light in this dark world, not just simply speaking truth to one another, but speaking truth in love.

Tyler Willis

In this week’s sermon, pastor Tyler reminds us of God’s sovereignty which transcends every season of life. During these difficult times, and the seasons and trials that have and will come, we can take refuge in God’s steadfast sovereignty. His love for us, demonstrated on the cross, is a rock we can stake our lives on. He is a strong tower in times of trouble (Psalm 61) and in His wisdom is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

Casey Barnes

Are you living open-handedly for the sake of the Gospel? Jesus tells us that if we want to be his disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. In this sermon, Pastor Casey examines a life poured out for the Gospel, which is one that is self-denying, avoids worldliness, and centers its hope on a future citizenship in Heaven.

Jobey McGinty

Is your life marked as one that is overflowing with the Holy Spirit? Or do you sometimes doubt if the Holy Spirit is really at work in you because you can't feel Him or sense Him? The good news is that Jesus promised that every single person who believes in Him and has been born again will absolutely receive the Holy Spirit as a promise to live and work in them. Every believer will have the Spirit as a seal and guarantee of their salvation and future, and He will indeed finish what He has started. Knowing and believing this ought to help us learn to live and keep in step with the Spirit and put to death the works of the flesh when we realize that He has been given to us as our Helper, and that we don't need to try to do this alone.

Jobey McGinty

We tend to only see what we want to see, or what we have trained ourselves to see. When we hear something we don't like, we find ways to have it not apply to us. Our inner lawyer comes out to defend us and get us off the hook. But Jesus came to set us free from this spiritual blindness and hypocrisy. He came to shine light into darkness and give us real life and freedom. But following Jesus means letting Him expose your sin, your blind spots, hypocrisy, comforts, selfish preferences, past disappointments, weaknesses, misguided desires, missed opportunities and regrets, wishful thinking, judgementalism, and any other idolatries in our hearts.

Jobey McGinty

It isn't easy to follow Jesus. His teachings are challenging, His message of dying to self is one of humility and brokenness. In this story, many of His own disciples can't bear listening any longer, and so they turn away. Every day, we have the choice to either follow Christ in His teaching and example, or we can go our own way. And though the other way is easier, more comfortable, and more suited to our liking, we also have to ask ourselves, as Peter did in this story, "to whom else shall we go?"  What other real option do we have, if we have come to know that Jesus actually has the words to eternal life? Is there really any other way?

Jobey McGinty

In an election year, we become accustomed to hearing lots of promises that we (rightly) expect to become unfulfilled. At least, not to the extent of the promise, if at all. But in His earthly ministry, Jesus made some massively sweeping promises, and yet He will fulfill every single one of them, to their fullest extent. Through the sacrifice He made for us, He purchases every single aspect of our salvation, from the first day, until the last day.  He is stronger than anything that can come against us and our salvation, and His promises will never fail. This is our great comfort as we build our lives and hope upon Jesus, who is truly the author and finisher of our faith.

Jobey McGinty

There are many things that satisfy us in life: a good meal, a beautiful sunset, a great conversation with a friend.  But within a few days, or even hours, we want more. It just doesn't last.  But Jesus offers us satisfaction that lasts not just for one meal, or a couple hours, but for all eternity.  And He promises that when we go to Him, who is the Bread of Life, He will satisfy our hunger.

Jobey McGinty

What are you afraid of? Afraid of losing, afraid of what might be in your future? There are constantly storms and waves coming into our lives, often when we least expect it, and they seem to be insurmountable. But out of the darkness of our trials and even our own hearts, a shadowy figure appears and says, "It is I, do not be afraid!"  Jesus reminds us that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He is above and outside of all of our circumstances, and able to lead us and keep us through the storms of life.

Tyler Willis

In this section of Scripture, we see a miracle from Jesus as he feeds a multitude with just five loaves of bread and two fish. We looked at some responses that took place in the story and how God is pulling us into a more trusting relationship. We can fully rely on God as he has sovereignly loved and continues to love us through his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus truly satisfies our deepest needs and has satisfied the penalty of our sin on the cross.

Jobey McGinty

Why is it so hard to follow Jesus sometimes? Why doesn't reading the Word interest us at times? Jesus tells us in John 5 that we shouldn't even expect ourselves to receive Him if our hearts are already full with other lesser things. If you fill your heart and mind with other people or things that offer satisfaction or promises to meet your needs and desires, Jesus won't seem interesting or worthwhile to pursue. Instead, we ought to seek Him out, knowing that that these other lesser things can't fulfill the promises they make.  Jesus alone is the One who can satisfy and save.

Jobey McGinty

Oftentimes, the truth hurts.  It pushes on our egos, our pride, our self-made image and identity.  Our natural reaction is to push back, to defend, or distract.  But the truth is meant to be for our good. To help us, change us, and heal us.  Jesus does not leave us in the dark, wondering where we stand with God.  He tells us the truth of our standing on our own, which in itself is hard truth, but then gives us the way to be in right standing with God.  And that answer can feel like adding insult to injury!  But, like good medicine, it may at first taste offensive to us, when we receive it, it brings life, joy, peace, and healing. Jesus offers Himself as the medicine for our sin-sick souls, and He offers it for our good.

Jobey McGinty

Jesus draws a line in the sand with the religious people of His day. He lets them know that though they may think they are good with God, He lets them know that God is not good with them. However, He lets them know how they can become good with God. His answer infuriates them, yet He makes it clear that He tells them so that they can be saved.  It may be a tough pill to swallow to hear the kind of truth that offends us. But it is better for us to hear hard truth rather than sugar coated lies. How do you know for sure that God is good with you? Is your answer based on your own self-assessment, or self-declaration, or what you just "think" sounds good?  Or is it based on something more reliable, with evidence to back up the claim?  Jesus calls upon 5 witnesses to back up His claim on how to be good with God, and we look at the first of these witnesses in this sermon.

Jobey McGinty

Everyone speaks with an accent, whether we know it or not. Your accent is a product of your culture and environment. Spiritually speaking, thankfulness is the accent of Heaven, and complaint is the accent of Hell. When our minds are immersed in the "culture" of Heaven and God's Word, we will speak with thankfulness on our lips. But when our minds are immersed in the culture of the world and the lies of the enemy, we will overflow with complaint.  We can't thank God enough. And we ought to be people who don't take for granted the many blessings of God. In this story in John, we see Jesus heal a paralyzed man, but for the purpose not only that he could walk, but so that he could turn from his sin and give God glory. However, he goes on his way without fully acknowledging Jesus. Sadly, we do similarly, walking through life with the blessings we've come to expect, all the while never acknowledging or thanking Jesus.  Let it not be so for us!

Jobey McGinty

You are always "at work." Whether you at work looking out for your own interests, or the interests of others, we are always living out life with various motivations. When it comes to the people in our lives, we are either serving them, or looking for ways for them to serve us. We are either aiming to share Jesus with them, or we have already written them off as someone who would never believe.  

Jesus was also always at work, but He was always about the work of His Father's Kingdom. And He gives His followers instruction to not just sow a seed here and there and just sit around and wait, but to always be in the field, reaping a harvest even that others have sown. God has put many people in our lives to bless and share Jesus with. We look to Him to be our example of perfect Kingdom Work Ethic.

Jobey McGinty

These last few months of conversations, social media posts, and news coverage have been marked with division, arrogance, mockery, smugness, and condescension, even among the church and towards other believers. Shockingly absent and increasingly rare is humility, meekness, empathy, discretion, thoughtfulness, and peacemaking.  It is overwhelming to see the amount of ink given in God's Word to the topic of quarreling, division, our words, and how to manage strife.

Jobey McGinty

"You must be born again." There may not be five more important words in the English language. In this sermon, Jesus speaks to one of the most moral, religious, and seemingly passionate followers of God's Law, but even Jesus says to him, "so what? Unless you're born again, it's pointless."  What does it mean to be born again, and why is it necessary? Isn't being a good, moral person and believing in God enough to be accepted by God and go to heaven? According to Jesus, it isn't even close. Rather, we must have faith in the only one who can bring a solution to our problem of sin.

Tyler Willis

In John 4.1-30 we see Jesus reveal his true identity to a Samaritan women. He offers living water that will satisfy her parched soul for eternity. We see God’s love reach beyond the social barriers that existed for centuries and, like the woman in this story,  we need only look to Jesus to satisfy the longings of our hearts.

Casey Barnes

God’s love is unchanging, always steady, and pursues us even when we are hostile to it. Like a loving Father always ready to invite us in, God’s rich mercy is evident in the sending of His Son as the ultimate gift. As Pastor Casey brings us through arguably the most widely recognized passage in Scripture, timeless truths point us back to the central message of the cross; the Good News of John 3:16-21.

Jobey McGinty

The love and anger of Christ are not in opposition to each other. In fact, His anger is fueled by His love. In the story where Jesus disrupts the activities He finds in the Temple, it is because of His zealous love and passion not only for His Father and His Father's House, but also for His people. Though Jesus doesn't today drive out our sin with a whip, He does give us the Holy Spirit to disciple us, sanctify us, reveal sin to us, and change us. He desires that we would not only SEE our sin, but have a righteous anger and hatred towards our sin.

Jobey McGinty

Jesus unveils His public ministry at a wedding. At this wedding, He famously turns water into wine. But why? This water was used by the Jews for ritual cleansing, and as Jesus asks them to fill these jars (about 180 gallons worth!) to the brim, He changes it into the best wine anyone has tasted!   In our lives, we live off of performancism and reward, whether it is in our jobs, schools, and most of our relationships. But God is different. We can fill our lives to the brim with good deeds, religious activity, and good intentions, but something more is needed. Something that only Jesus can do, and that is transform our hearts and make us alive and cleansed on the inside, not just on the outside.

Jobey McGinty

How do we serve others? How do we enter into a posture of learning, listening, and of humble service, laying aside our rights, or comfort, or preferences, for the sake of others? With racial tension, silence amid racism isn’t helpful, and there are hundreds of thousands hurting, yet we don’t know WHAT to say, how to say it, or when to say it. We have a fear of saying too much, or a fear of not saying enough, or not saying it perfectly.  

Paul gives us insight by the example of Christ: become all things to all men so that we might save some. Incarnate ourselves into the lives of others. Seek to understand and learn, and be willing to show compassion in a humble, loving, and truthful way.  This is not easy. And with high-emotion and high-opinion topics like race, rights, and politics, it's like an awkward junior high dance, but in a minefield.  

Ultimately, Jesus is our example of a humble servant who came to bind up the brokenhearted.

Jobey McGinty

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African American man in Minneapolis, died under the knee of a police officer, subsequently setting off protests and calls for an end to injustice and discrimination. Though there are many aspects that are plain and simple, such as the fact that racism is a wicked sin, an affront to God and His creativity and glory, as well as a denial of God creating all men and women as equal, there is much nuanced complications just below the surface.  

There is much to be discussed beyond one simple sermon. However, it seems the best starting point is to take a posture of humble learning and service. In the story of the Good Samaritan, a certain lawyer aims to get himself off the hook as he considers what is required to "love your neighbor." But Jesus turns this question on its head by saying, "you, go and be the neighbor."  We aren't to look the other way when it comes to others who are in pain, even if they are "not our responsibility." We can humbly set aside our right and freedom to "cross to the others side of the road" so we don't have to be bothered by their problems, or we can lay down those rights for the sake of others.  

There is no simple answer, nor one singular path to this progress we want to see as it pertains to racial injustice, but we certainly can't just look the other way.

Jobey McGinty

What are you seeking? What do you want out of life? Where do you look to in order to find real satisfaction and fulfillment? For many, we come to a place where we realize we are wandering, and suddenly find ourselves being drawn and intrigued by something that seems bigger than and beyond us. It can be intimidating, frustrating, and even cause some anxious stirring, but it seems as if it is like a tractor beam pulling us in.  

The call of God in our life, drawing us to know Him, is mysterious, but as we finally "tap out" of our wrestling match with Him, we find ourselves wrapped in the embrace of a Father who called us to Himself from before we were even born.

Tyler Willis

Though proportionately small, affect and influence wise, it wields massive power in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Our words can bring life or death to those around us; encouragement or discouragement; unity or division.  Pastor Tyler leads us through James 3.1-12, the most challenging and revealing of Scriptures that help us pursue our hope of taming our tongue.

Jobey McGinty

John the Baptist comes on the scene baptizing people and preparing them for the Savior who is coming. But he quickly tells his listeners that the Savior who is coming has an even BETTER baptism: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus alone is the one who can immerse us and cover us and fill us in the Holy Spirit, and that baptism is what seals us for the day of redemption. This great gift helps deepen our assurance and open our hearts in a way that causes streams of living water to now even flow from us as we overflow with the Spirit.

Casey Barnes

Taking words of wisdom into our hearts is vital. Words that we bring into our minds, the words we believe and entertain, all shape how we react and act in this life, and words of wisdom are like a wall of defense to protect us from going astray into sin. The wrong types of words we allow in, however, can serve as a breach in the wall. In this sermon, Pastor Casey walks us through many great truths that help keep us focused in on the promises of God and help us keep our eyes on our Savior. It is these truths that are stored in our hearts that keep us from sinning against our God.

Jobey McGinty

God's Word tells us that “flesh and blood” aren’t able to reveal to us that Jesus truly is God.  We can’t simply “see” this on our own, but it must be God who reveals it to us.  Why is this the case?  Spiritually, we are dead and blind, and like how a physically dead man can’t see or understand physical things, a spiritually blind man can’t see or understand spiritual things. A dead man must be raised, and not by his own power, but by an outside power.  Being declared “not guilty” is God’s mercy.  But being called “adopted” and made spiritually alive is His grace. We must understand that the day we are adopted, everything changes.

Jobey McGinty

The opening line of any written work (a book, email, opening arguments of a trial) sets the tone for everything that follows. Sunday, we began a journey into the Gospel of John, and John (an eyewitness and close friend of Jesus') begins with an explosion of declaration from all that he witnessed over three years, and what he maintained as a witness for the next 60+ years until his death: God came to the earth in the Person of Jesus, that you and I could know Him and have true life through Him. He is the Man who is God.  God's very own Word became a human being. In other words, God's heart, desires, character became the exact imprint of God in the Person of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1.3). He did this because He is a God who desires that we would know Him, so that we could have forgiveness and be reconciled with Him forever.  He is, indeed, a God that pursues.

Jobey McGinty

How good is good enough? The vast majority of people who believe in some kind of afterlife believe that the way to make it there, you have to be good enough. But how do we know where the line is, what the standard is? Are we just hoping to make the cut? Or is there a way we can truly know if we are "good enough."    The bad news is that God's Word makes it clear: He is the standard, and all of us fall short of "the cut."  But Easter marks a day that we specifically celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that resurrection gives us hope for our future, despite the fact that we do not make the cut.

Jobey McGinty

On Palm Sunday we celebrate what we call the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ. It's the day that He rode for the last time into Jerusalem, knowing that His mission would soon be accomplished. He came as a humble servant King, the Prince of Peace, making peace with His enemies as He came to sacrifice Himself for them. Because of this, we know we need not have any fear of our future, because the King of kings has set us apart for His Kingdom and called us to His mission.  If you find yourself gripped with fear or anxiety, you have a Savior who came to rescue you and set you free from that suffocating fear.

Jobey McGinty

Last week, we looked "defensively" on how to prepare ourselves, our families, and our church, for uncertain times.  But this week, we have to pivot, turn, and run rather quickly in a new direction, as we prepare ourselves how to look "offensively" as we take these circumstances head on for the sake of others around us. We don't want to simply be preserved in this time, but we want to go into battle for the sake of our neighbors and loved ones.  How do we continue to "build the wall" of our own lives, while also arming ourselves for battle? We need to learn how to effectively multi-task in a time where others around us may be needing us most.

Jobey McGinty

In these past couple weeks, everything changed. Many churches, ours included, were not only trying to figure out WHAT to communicate to their congregation, but even HOW to communicate to them.

In a time when we are being forced to have new limitations, how can we actually utilize these limitations and turn them into purposeful limitations?  In this time of forced neglect, there will be many temptations to run to things that we should not run to, yet there are incredible opportunities for us to make the most of it and plant ourselves in a place by the water where we can grow, change, and be a blessing to others.

Jobey McGinty

In this past week, the world came to a screeching halt. Many churches, ours included, were not only trying to figure out WHAT to communicate to their congregation, but even HOW to communicate to them.  

In this first sermon streamed live online but to an empty room (save for 9 people), we look at how to trust God when facing uncertain times and wondering where tomorrow's needs will come from. How do we filter the news that is coming into our minds in a way that it is all being filtered through the Good New?

Jobey McGinty

Failure is a part of life. A very big part of life.  Every day we fail, and every day we respond to failure, largely by the habits we have built as responses to failure. We need a good and right theology of failure, so that we can know what to do when it comes to us. God uses all hardships, including our failures, to form us, shape us, transform us, and disciple us and discipline us into the image of His Son. Hardships are for our wholeness and healing, not to hurt us.

Jobey McGinty

A power drill is only as effective as the electricity it is connected to. But that electricity needs a way to get to the drill! As believers, on our own, we can do nothing, but if we are connected to the power of God, abiding in the vine, we can do all things through Him. But what are these "power cords" that connect us, and how do we work them into our lives in order to abide in the power of God?

Jobey McGinty

How do we change? How can we be freed from sin that so easily and readily entangles us? God's Word makes it clear that not only has the cross of Christ removed the penalty of sin, but also the dominion of sin. It no longer rules us or enslaves us, even if it feels that way. Because we are a new creation, we can be free from the slavery of sin and have power to crucify the flesh. But it starts with believing who we are in Christ and what He has done for us. We must know that His Spirit is the One that works in us and carries out the work of transformation, promising to mold and shape us into His image.

Jobey McGinty

We don't become "ourselves" simply by looking within. We are always looking outward in order to shape us. If you had been born with your exact DNA but in 600 A.D. in Asia, you would be a radically different person. How we respond to what we see and behold is what shapes us. We first interpret ("i like that" or "I don't like that"), and then we respond or reflect.  If every action, decision, thought, and habit is an act of worship, our habits, in reality, are "liturgies." A liturgy is a pattern that we act upon in order to cultivate worship. And we must begin to analyze what we are reflecting so we can form better liturgies to expedite worship and the glorification of God in our lives.

Eric Price

What is the medicine for a weary soul?   As Isaiah reminds us to "lift our eyes" he is encouraging a discouraged and worn out people where to look for renewed strength to keep doing the good work of ministry.

Tyler Willis

In this parable, Jesus gives us a clear picture of what it looks like to build our lives on either rock or sand. Our lives constantly get battered with waves of trials and the foundation on which we build will be revealed. Building on our Rock, the Word of God made flesh, Jesus Christ, is a foundation that will never be shaken. When we build our lives on the redeeming work of Christ, we can stand on the Rock of His Salvation. That is secure.

Jobey McGinty

We often wait for changes in circumstances, places, and emotional states to bring us contentment, but these things will constantly change from day to day...even minute to minute.  We find ourselves restless and discontent, frustrated by our own sin and circumstances we cannot change.  True contentment, however, can only come from judging God's goodness based upon the cross of Christ and not on the circumstances we find ourselves in.  When we start to trust His good choices for our lives we are ruled less by our circumstances and more by His unchanging love.

Jobey McGinty

On January 11th, one of the children in our church, a five year old girl recently diagnosed with leukemia, unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest three times in the night. Through the week, our church family and many other beyond us both pressed in with faith and prayer, but also struggled with questions. Many of us were pushed to emotional limits we had never been to before. In this sermon, we spend time diving more deeply into the truths that help us to find hope and strength when things don't make sense, and when we become so weak we are at the end of ourselves.

Jobey McGinty

Every action, decision, thought, and habit is an act of worship. It is either coming from a place of love for God, or love for something else. Our habits, in reality, are "liturgies." A liturgy is a pattern that we act upon in order to cultivate worship. Recognizing something as simple as this changes how we approach our every day life.

Jobey McGinty

Psalm 107 says that if we, the redeemed of the Lord, are aware of His steadfast love, we ought to "say so" in the midst of the congregation! In this brief message, Pastor Jobey walks through the psalm's four main "types" of people mentioned, highlighting how the Lord redeemed them. A good reminder for us as we look back to 2019 and head into the new year.

Eric Price

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

To make room for something means getting rid of something else that is taking up current room. To prepare Christ room in your heart, go idol hunting. Evict the idols in your heart that are robbing Him of His space. Blaspheme and bulldoze your idols, and make way for the King!

Eric Price

Confession, regret, transparency, and saying "sorry" is not the same as repentance. They may all be a part of it, but in themselves, they are not repentance. Real repentance starts with heart change, but is proven by change of action.

Jobey McGinty

Advent means "appearance" or "arrival." Most often we associate this with the arrival of the Messiah, the Savior, or even the King. However, it also means the arrival of a Kingdom. But what is the Kingdom of God? Is it here, or is it still to come? When we pray, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done," what is it that we are praying for, and how do we know when it is upon us?  Join us for these four weeks of Advent as we explore what it means for the Kingdom of God to be here, and how we partake in seeing it grow.

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?  God gave us not only instruction on how to pray, but even gave us an entire book of prayer in the Psalms. In this sermon, the psalmist commends the redeemed of the Lord to "say so," to speak aloud of His steadfast love. We spend the final 15 minutes of the service letting the redeemed of the Lord "say so" with impromptu sharing of testimonies of God's steadfast love in their life.

Jobey McGinty

Advent means "appearance" or "arrival." Most often we associate this with the arrival of the Messiah, the Savior, or even the King. However, it also means the arrival of a Kingdom. But what is the Kingdom of God? Is it here, or is it still to come? When we pray, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done," what is it that we are praying for, and how do we know when it is upon us?  Join us for these four weeks of Advent as we explore what it means for the Kingdom of God to be here, and how we partake in seeing it grow.

Elder Candidate Casey Barnes

Casey Barnes was recently introduced on October 6, 2019 as an Elder Candidate at our church. Part of the prerequisites for an Elder-Pastor in a church, according to God's Word, is that they are "able to teach." In this first sermon, Casey goes into Luke 15, when we see a picture of Christ spending time with the worst of society, while the self-righteous religious leaders thumb their noses and sense no need for a Savior of their own. But Jesus is a Savior who will receive the most destitute of sinners, and will even receive the self-righteous who recognize that they are more sinful than they realized and need of forgiveness. Jesus is willing and desires to seek and save the lost!

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

The strength of our faith will rise and fall. There will be times when our faith almost seems nonexistent, and the enemy has a heyday with our doubt, shame, and condemnation. But regardless of how our faith stands, the person who has been born again by the Spirit of God will always and forever have perfect, steadfast, and unbreakable hope. Our confidence ought not to rest in the strength of our faith, but in the strength of the blood of Jesus Christ and His faithfulness.

Elder Candidate Tyler Willis

Tyler Willis was recently introduced on October 6, 2019 as an Elder Candidate at our church. Part of the prerequisites for an Elder-Pastor in a church, according to God's Word, is that they are "able to teach." In this first sermon of Tyler's, he walks through Hebrews 12.1, 2, highlighting from this Scripture as well as his own personal journey the importance of casting aside extra weight if we are to run this race well and cross the finish line.

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

Memories, souvenirs, keepsakes, and memorials all serve the purpose of helping us remember. Ideally, their purpose isn't to have us live in the past, but to look forward to the future with a right perspective. Reminders of God's grace, longsuffering, and wisdom from past experiences help us to have faith for the days to come. As we look forward to the future, we ought to first look into the past to sharpen our view and perspective for difficult days to come.

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

In this third and final chapter, we see Habakkuk have a heart change. His response to God's "hard pill to swallow" forecast of trials is initially pushed back upon, but eventually Habakkuk not only hears God's announcement, but also sees His heart and purpose behind it. He asks God to continue His work, but also to reveal to His people that it is He that is bringing about this discipline, so that His people would also know that it is God, and that His purpose is to bring them back to Him. When we have a "weather forecast," so to speak, we can be more prepared not to just go into trials, but to get through them.

Jobey McGinty 

Every time we complain about life events, we essentially put God on trial. We question His choices, wisdom, love, and care for us, insisting through our complaints that we know better. And though God is gracious and patient with us, even giving us "permission" and "language" so to speak to bring our complaints to Him, we also ought to do so humbly with reverence, as Habakkuk seems to have. May we be people who want to be made and conformed into the image of God, rather than people who try to conform God into our image.

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Eric Price

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

It can be devastating to look at all the tragedies of life, from cancer, death, divorce, gossip, war, poverty, and everything else, and think that these "enemies" are getting away with their pillaging and destruction. But God is not slow concerning the fact that He will not be mocked, nor will He let those who bring about destruction go unpunished or not dealt with. He is a just Judge, and we have the assurance of His Word and promises that all of His enemies, including the ones in this life that torment us, will be put under His feet in subjection to Him, and finally cast into the Lake of Fire to be brought to shame.

Jobey McGinty

Christians ought to desire to live their lives in a fishbowl: open, transparent, and exposed in a way that the world can see in. In a culture that loves privacy, faux social media imagery, pulled down shades and tinted windows, we need to be people who are willing to let others in at the expense of our own convenience and privacy. We ought to do this, because this is exactly what our God did as He left His utopia home of privacy and entered into this world to become known, and also to be made bare, all for our sake.  

On this day, we celebrate 7 years to the day of our first gathering as a small group of about 20 people at Pastor Jobey's house. Earlier in the service we celebrated the Parent Dedications for parents who recently had babies; during this sermon we announce two new Elder Candidates to be assessed within our church community. And after this service, over 165 people would gather at Pastor Jobey's house to witness new believers in our church become baptized.

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

Often we have questions, doubts, fears, and even complaints against God. How should we go to God to express these thoughts and feelings? Is there a right or wrong way, or maybe at least a better way? Habakkuk is struggling in understanding how a holy God could bring about a wicked nation to do harm to God's own people. But in his struggling faith, he wrestles with it in a way that is helpful for us to learn from. Indeed, it is even a way that Jesus taught us to wrestle in our prayer.

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

Jobey McGinty

Does God "allow" bad things to enter into life, or does He "cause" them? What brings you more comfort? A passive God who seemingly arbitrarily allows tragedy according to His whim, or an active God who is loving, all powerful, and unfolding a plan according to His wisdom? We may scoff at the idea of God being in perfect control (and choice) concerning tragedy, but is there a better option?

Jobey McGinty

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. Prayer is not natural for us. At least not real, biblical prayer. Complaints and wish lists and pouring our hearts out is natural, but is that all prayer is?

God gave us not only instruction on how to pray, but even gave us an entire book of prayer in the Psalms. In this sermon, we explore why the Psalms are so necessary for us to learn how to respond to God and who He is in a way that is effective, worshipful, and life changing.

Jobey McGinty

There are many philosophies, opinions, and purported "truths" in our world. There are also many so-called "Christian" philosophies out there that go beyond the fixed Gospel truths of God's Word. In an increasingly post-Christian world we are living in, it is more and more important for us to fear God, rather than man, and keep His commandments.

Eric Price

Paul urges Timothy to “Fight the good fight of faith” and we are called to do the same as we “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” Elsewhere in his letters, Paul talks about the Christian life being a race that takes training and discipline.  So how do we fight and race well?  And what do we do when we’ve gotten discouraged and started walking or have even left the race or the ring altogether?  We start by remembering who God is, what He’s done for us and who we are now in Him.  And then, we get back up and start training.  And we trust the Spirit’s grace and power to take our meager efforts and produce strength and stamina that will one day carry us across the finish line into glory.

Jobey McGinty

True things can change: sports records, what you are wearing today, or what you have done in the past. But these things should only describe us, rather than define us, because they can change. Truth, however, is unchanging, and we ought to learn how to have the truth define us. How does truth trump what is 100% true in your life? How does the reality of what is truth shape how you live your life, despite the things (both good and bad) that are true?

Jobey McGinty

It is never too late to get back on track. Whether 50 or 15, it is vital for us to know how to chart a course and stay on course. We are either like a raft, a speed boat, or a sailboat. We either drift like a raft, being pushed along by circumstances or emotions or convenience, or we charge through challenges like a speed boat, only to run out of gas or overheat as we work in our own strength, or we can be a sail boat. A sail boat has no power in itself, but finds its strength from an outside source. It adjusts itself to the circumstances, and uses that power to navigate upon the waters. How do we learn to adjust our sails in difficulty?

Jobey McGinty

Throwing time, money, and things of value down the drain is wasteful, but Solomon actually encourages us to do so! We ought to be the kind of people who don't spend our live how we want, but rather have Jesus invest our lives how He wants. But being a "blank check" for Christ looks wasteful, and even foolish: spending time, money, and resources on other people, for the Kingdom, for neighbors, and friends. Exhausting ourselves mentally and physically for the sake of others. But if we do the hard, good work ahead of time by sharpening our blades, we will reap a reward that enables us to give freely and liberally to others. 

Jobey McGinty

In our desire to have quick, instant, results, we often work with a dull blade. We don't want to do the right preparatory work, so we foolishly grind away. We eventually get exhausted, and we start to drift, losing our way from God. How can we do the right work ahead of time so that we can keep our blade sharpened, preserve our energy, and see more fruit in our life? 

Jobey McGinty

 Sometimes we feel surrounded and under attack. People, circumstances, or our own thoughts and feelings besiege our minds and hearts. We feel lost, wandering and unable to find God. We want a quick way out, and we can't find it, and we know we also can't avoid the many tragedies that come upon us. So what can we do to endure the battle and survive? God does provide a way out. 

Jobey McGinty

 There's a lot of pressure to live a life filled with meaning and purpose. We have the desire to live a radical life of excitement, and we fear living a life that is mundane and ordinary. But what if we are supposed to live ordinary lives? But what if we are meant to be okay living those ordinary lives WITH a particular purpose.  That changes everything. 

Jobey McGinty

It's tempting to take shady shortcuts in life, especially when they work. God gives us many things to enjoy, and the purpose of them is to "clear a path" so to speak and cut through the fog of life so we can make our way to God, rather than take shortcuts. 

Jobey McGinty

Navigating difficult relationships is like walking through a minefield: should I step here, or there? Shady bosses, bitter spouses, destructive family members...when do we speak up, and when do we not? And when we do, how do we do it? We wish there was a 1-2-3 step process for every situation, but each relationship and dynamic is different.  So how to do we walk in wisdom as aim to be both wise and honorable in our decisions?

Jobey McGinty

We all have areas of life that lure us. The enemy knows how to set a trap, how to bait us into making bad decisions, and he starts often by tricking us into just taking a little bit. We want just a taste, and find ways to justify it. Like the Sirens in Homer's Odyssey, we want to find ways to get as close as we can to hear the powerful song, but without it taking our lives. But if we want to handle fire close to our chest, we have to expect that we will eventually get burned. We need wisdom to keep away from the Sirens of our heart.

Eric Price

The first step on the path of wisdom is to realize that we are part of the problem, not part of the solution. In our own self-righteousness, we often think that we have already arrived, and that others need to catch up with us. But true wisdom comes from humbly admitting our weakness and submitting ourselves to God. 

Jobey McGinty

A common way for us to live life is to try to walk a tight rope walk of not being "too bad," but we also don't want the inconvenience of being "too good."  But is this the way we ought to live? The result is a constant battle of trying to find some mythical middle ground, it we will destroy ourselves, and others, in the process of that exhaustion, condemnation of self and others, and legalism. There is a better way. 

Jobey McGinty

It's a tragedy when we aren't satisfied. God has given us so much, yet we always want a little more, or something different. How do we find true satisfaction when life is filled with many injustices, and when we don't quite get what we want or work hard for? What hope do we have when we know that life is short and that there are no guarantees? If God has planned everything in our life and is in control of everything, would that just make us robots? Does that take the meaningfulness out of our choices and pursuits, and should we just settle into cruise control mode? The Preacher gives us practical wisdom on how to seize each day as we embrace God's plan for our lives. 

Jobey McGinty

It's a tragedy when we aren't satisfied. God has given us so much, yet we always want a little more, or something different. How do we find true satisfaction when life is filled with many injustices, and when we don't quite get what we want or work hard for? What hope do we have when we know that life is short and that there are no guarantees? 

Jobey McGinty

We tend to "put on our best" when we "go to the house of God." We look sharp, use the right language, and put on our biggest smiles. But we ought to "guard our steps," as the Preacher says, not AS we go to the house of God, but BECAUSE we are the house of God; we are the temple of the living God, built on the Cornerstone of Christ. We should, with both confidence as well as trembling fear, guard our steps as we pursue Christ in this life. 

Jobey McGinty

"Two are better than one." "It is not good for man to be alone." Just two of many verses in God's Word that talk about our need for relationships. We are designed to be part of community, having the love and insight of others poured into our own lives. Without it, we are left not functioning how we should, lacking wisdom, and living life out of order. 

Jobey McGinty

Life isn't fair. From large scale oppression, to small scale injustices at work, school, and in family life, there are many things that just shouldn't be. Though we can rest assured that justice will be served, we ought also remember that we ourselves have committed injustices against others. Thankfully (but often to our dismay), God is patient and willing to allow injustices endure...but only for a time. 

Jobey McGinty

There's a time for everything, both good and bad. But time holds us captive, and there is often nothing we can do about the seasons we are in. So how should we respond to seasons of difficulty? And why is it important to respond the right way? 

Jobey McGinty

Are you trying to use money, relationships, and your job for purposes they were not made for? We want jobs that fulfill us, relationships to satisfy us, and experiences that mesmerize us. When we pursue these things to gain something, they fail. But when we receive them as gifts, we enjoy a life of thanksgiving and the joy of contentment.  

Jobey McGinty

ABOUT THIS SERIES: If life sometimes seems empty and meaningless, you aren't alone. One Preacher in the bible even agrees. He surveys his life's great accomplishments and successes, and sees that ultimately, it's all in vain. So what is the point of living? He concludes that in the end, when we live our lives not simply "under the sun," but "unto the Son," all that is meaningless in life takes on great meaning, even eternal meaning, and gives us much to live and hope for. 

Jobey McGinty

Most of us growing up had a pretty similar view of God and how to "make Him happy" or "get into heaven."  It usually consisted of doing enough good, being moral enough, or staying above some arbitrary line (the upper 50% of morality, the 10 Commandments, or something like that).  But that would actually be very bad news if we had to earn forgiveness.  The news we have been given, however, is much better: Jesus did it all for us, and He leaves nothing left for us to prove. 

Jobey McGinty

Countless times throughout Jesus' ministry (and before His ministry in the Old Testament), God's Word tells us to "fear not." We can starve our fear, specifically, because our King has come to bring peace, and He will come again in glory to establish His Kingdom and make all things new.   What you fear will be your god. If you fear financial instability, or loneliness, or a lack of success, those things will determine your behavior, your choices, and your worship. But we need not fear these things, because we have all we need in Jesus Christ, our King. 

Eric Price

God created us to work, it wasn't a punishment! Too often, however, we work for the wrong reasons and for the wrong boss. We put our hope in things like the lottery, unexpected inheritances or retirement as means of escape. This often results in a joyless workweek that becomes out of step with the other areas of our lives (church, community, prayer, study, preaching the good news) that we see as worship. When we understand who our true Boss is and the incredible inheritance we have as a payday, we are freed to work hard, with joy, in the most mundane areas of our jobs today. Let's be thankful for our work and start worshipping God with our Monday through Friday! 

Jobey McGinty

We need more encouragers, and less critics. We ought to aim to be the kind of people who lift others up, refresh others, and speak life into their life, rather than weigh them down and burden them. Those who serve among us ought to be honored for their dedication and sacrifice, and they need us to help spur them on. 

Jobey McGinty

We ought to be people who are always looking for opportunities to get involved in the lives of others, and invite them to get involved in our lives.  But this takes change: putting down our phones, not seeing opportunities as inconveniences, and modifying how we "look" for opportunities.  

Jobey McGinty

 It's hard to picture a place we've never been to, even if we've seen pictures. But we have no photos of heaven, and so it can be even harder to picture! But the bible gives us many clues to let us know much of what we can expect. We won't be see-through, angelic beings with wings floating in a whitewashed cloud city. Heaven will be more real, more physical, more colorful, and more flavorful, and more dynamic than this life. We will eat, drink, play, sing, dance, and enjoy real life...the most real that we will ever experience.  And Christ's resurrection gives us a very real and sure proof and evidence of this future reality. 

Jobey McGinty

 Should Christians give 10% of their income to God? 15%? You can almost picture Jesus saying, "you have heard it said, give a tithe of your money to God. But I tell you, give all of it." Our mentality should be to give God 100% of everything we have, from our money, time, hobbies, work, and everything in between.  But how do we get to a place where we can and want to to do this? Our generosity and sacrifice is a Gospel issue; we give in accordance with how much we realize we have been given to. 

Eric Price

What should a wife model her role in her marriage after?  What should a husband aim to embody in his marriage?  In this sermon, we see that Christ gives us an example of what it looks like to be either a wife lovingly and freely submitted in partnership with her husband, as well as a husband who lovingly and freely lays his very life down every single day for the wife that he has committed himself to. 

Jobey McGinty

After challenging the Corinthians on a number of difficult issues, it seems Paul senses a need to pause from the weighty topics and remind them of their foundations in the Gospel.  In the midst of busy lives, challenging circumstances and our own sin and doubts, we need this same reminder!  The Gospel isn't just our starting point in the faith, it is what sustains and guides us throughout our lives, until the day Christ completes the work He began in us.