The American Dream has no category for suffering and trials. In the pursuit of happiness, we consider trials as setbacks. But God graciously sends us trials to grow our faith. And so, followers of Jesus choose joy in trial. Because trials are not setbacks; it’s an opportunity from a loving God curated purposefully for your good and his glory.

James 1:2-4

The American Dream says freedom is found in doing whatever we want whenever we want. But that constant pursuit will always leave our souls weary. True freedom is found in being bound to Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30

The American Dream tells us life is found in getting what we want and keeping what we’ve got. The right to possess and to keep. What I get is mine and no one else’s, and I can do with it what I want, and no one else can tell me what I’m supposed to do with it.

The only problem is, this is profoundly self-centered, and it is not what God has called us to. True life is found in having one, greater possession. Jesus is the greater possession.

Hebrews 10:32-34

What is your ambition? Will it outlive you? As Paul closes his letter to the Romans, he stresses the central ambition of his life: to make Christ known where he is not, to reach the unreached. Is that your ambition, too?

Romans 15:18-24

We all naturally use our freedoms to serve ourselves. But Christian freedom ought to be different. Christian freedom is not freedom to do whatever you want. Instead, it’s a freedom from everything and anything that would stop you from being who God wants you to be. Followers of Jesus sacrifice their freedoms for the sake of the gospel...to win as many as possible by all means.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

We are prone to exalt the Bible to our only source of truth, or diminish it to one among many sources of truth. But it isn't meant to occupy either of those places.

What, then, is its role of the Bible in the life of the believer? Find out this morning, as we discuss Critical Race Theory and the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We generally think of devotion to God in terms of personal righteousness. But what God shows us through the prophets and the inauguration of Jesus' kingdom is that personal righteousness means nothing without social justice.

Isaiah 58:1-12

We only care about injustice when it affects us. When injustice hits you personally, it is normal, it is human, to feel passionate, and urgent, to right a wrong. But it is Christian to address injustice when it impacts someone else. It is a mark of God’s character to address injustice when it visits someone else.

God shows special concern for the marginalized and so should we.

Psalm 146:1-10

We hear a lot about racism, equality, inclusion, and justice these days. We regularly hear cries for “social justice” to be done in situations where the vulnerable are mistreated or taken advantage of. But what does it mean to “do justice”? Is “social justice” even a biblical concept? Generally the categories of society do not line up exactly with God’s Word. So, what are the differences between the world’s cry for justice and God’s heart for the same?

Matthew 5:2-11

If we're honest, we don’t really believe Jesus is coming back any time soon. Like a package that's "out for delivery" for way longer than we expected, we've given up on him ever showing up.

But Jesus' encouragement to us this morning is to stay confident in his promises because when you’re confident in Christ’s return, you wait watchfully.

Luke 12:15-48

Worry tempts us to believe the worst is yet to come. But it’s lying to you! It’s a false alarm! Worry is always deceitful when you serve a loving, sovereign God.

Luke 12:13-34

We let fear of man control us. We try to cover these things up with impressive resumes, over-committing, or needing others to fill us up. We become worried we might be exposed as an imposter, we second guess decisions because we are afraid of making mistakes that make us look bad….in other people’s eyes, we can feel empty or meaningless, we get easily embarrassed, jealous of other people, people make you angry or depressed, or we avoid people. It leads to us becoming hypocrites as we have talked about before. This hypocrisy of putting on masks to cover up our inner ugliness, and alter our self-identity. But what Jesus is going to tell his disciples and us this morning is that when it comes to the kingdom we cannot live our lives this way. We can’t be afraid of being rejected, or ridiculed. And the solution to doin this is understanding a proper fear of God will free us from improper fears of men.

Luke 12:1-12

So often we clean up our act to keep up appearances. We act as though everything is fine on the outside when inside there is a raging war. But Jesus transforms us from the inside out. In this text, we see that Trusting in Jesus' righteousness is the key to salvation.

Luke 11:37-54

Looking for a sign? It's Jesus.

Luke 11:29-36

This morning, Jesus lays down the gauntlet. If you’re not for him, you’re against him.

Luke 11:14-28

If you were asked, “Do our prayers change anything?” What would you say? Find out what God says this morning, as we learn how to pray!

Luke 11:1-13

Does life feel hectic and out of control? Do you feel like you're barely keeping it all together? You're not alone. Come to the feet of Jesus and listen to his words of life!

Luke 10:38-42

We like to show mercy to those whom we think deserve it most. But what if God did that?

Luke 10:25-37

Oftentimes we treat God like any other subject of investigation. We examine him. Pick him apart. Stand in judgement of him. Take out the parts we don't like and keep the parts we do.

But God has chosen to reveal himself to the humble and child-like, not the prideful and wise of this age.

Luke 10:21-24

Do you have a life’s mission for which you would be willing to risk everything? Do you have a calling on your life that makes everything else pale in comparison and is worth giving up everything, even your own life?

In our text this morning, Jesus invites us to find our life’s mission in his. He invites us to risk our lives to carry the good news of his victory to a world that is lost and in confusion.

Luke 10:1-20