Messages

Authentic Faith

The Book of Philippians

We live in a world where there are lots of expressions of faith that fall short of what we'd hope for. We don't want to live our faith in a way that's plastic or fake, or in a way that's for show, nothing more than going through the motions, arrogant, cookie cutter, or so many other lesser things. No, we want authentic faith. The book of Philippians gives us an amazing snapshot of how the Apostle Paul lived his faith. As he wrote to the people of the Church at Philippi, there is an authentic quality, something so natural and genuine about the way Paul lived and the things he taught, that it's compelling. So this fall, we'll look at the book of the Philippines and see how we can live an authentic faith.

Life in our modern world can be a real challenge. Things like worry, stress, and anxiety seem to plague so many of us today. Summer is often a time when life slows down for a while, and it can be not only a time to rest but a time to reflect and reset. So, this summer under the Tent, that’s what we’re going to seek to do, to have a Summer Reset. Led by the wisdom found in scripture, we’ll seek to overcome some of the unhealthy patterns we can so easily slip into and pursue a happier, healthier way of life.

We live in a world that’s often very unforgiving, and things like the polarization of society, the onset of cancel culture, and the effects of technology seem to have intensified that reality in our time. Many people take a “no mercy, no forgiveness” approach to life. Others think forgiveness is impossible or unnecessary. Yet, at the heart of the Christian faith is the concept of forgiveness. There are over a hundred verses about forgiveness in the Bible; it was central to Jesus’ teaching and His death for us on the cross. With this series, we will cover what forgiveness is and why it’s so important, the forgiveness of God, our call to forgive others, and what it means to forgive ourselves.

The classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life is a favorite every year at Christmas time because it tells a story of struggle and hope that we can all relate to. It also points to the fact that it’s easy for us to focus on the wrong things in this life, things that we think will lead to a “wonderful life” but ultimately can’t deliver. Advent and Christmas tell a similar story in a way, but in fact, a greater one; it’s a story that calls us to focus our hearts and lives on Jesus and the gifts He brings that do not disappoint! If we do that, we can indeed have a pretty Wonderful Life!

Hey there! Thank you for stopping by our website. If you are searching for a good church, we know we are the place for you. Feel free to check out the "New Here" page linked below where you can find the answers to all your questions. If you have never been to our church before, come by this Sunday! We would love to get to know you. We want to see lives changed here by the power of Jesus Christ, and we see that happen every week when someone steps through our doors. We look forward to meeting you! God bless.

Pastor Matt Hoyt