Continuing our series on Discipleship and its personal cost, Pastor TJ Conwell further unpacks the concept that Discipleship being the process of becoming like Jesus - by changing our wants to His - which in application means we are living our lives as He lived to show others how good our God is. When we are challenged to be obedient and follow God, especially by our family or close friends who do not want us to obey God, do we respond with hope? Do we encourage others to look to Jesus? Or, are we too busy looking for a “quick fix” and taking control of our life - instead of surrendering to what God has called us to do?

In this standalone message our worship pastors, Marc and Tanya Ferrara, offer a challenge to our church to strive to be the kind of person that God has called us to be: by being faithful! This means that no matter what we do - where we are called - or how we are serving ... our call to obedience begins immediately when we receive Christ as Lord, and with each day we should be growing & maturing to be more like Him. God bless you!

Discipleship involves a process of becoming like Jesus which means changing our focus and our wants to follow Him. Are we obediently doing that today? Or are we still trying to do things our way and make a deal with Jesus to do what we want? Jesus confronts many who called themselves "followers" with some of the most direct questioning imaginable; but even as many desert Him we see a very specific reaction (and encouragement) that we need to understand as it STILL applies today. This message begins a brand new sermon series in John called, "Discipleship Will Cost You", and we pray that we are blessed by it.

Concluding our series, "Give Us This Day", we examine Jesus's very clear teachings in Capernaum. His word and encouragement to those following Him is simple: Unless you do the things He told them to do, they (we) will have no part of what He offers - which is eternal life! It is a stark reminder that loyalty and faithfulness to Him, because of what He is doing for the Father, matters FAR more than our desire to have our "personal wish list" approved. May God bless you as you continue to grow closer to Him each day.

One of the greatest questions we may face in our journey of faith is: "What can we hold onto for strength to endure in our belief?" Jesus clarifies this with a declaration that ONLY the Son of God could make!! He is truly the "Bread of Life", and in Him alone we can find hope, security, strength, and a continued encouragement to remain faithful to Him because His Father has only asked us to only do one thing: BELIEVE!

We are not acceptable to God because of the "checklist of things" we accomplish. Therefore, we must stop living as if God is keeping score but instead live for Him because of who He is and what He has (already) done in Christ!! Pastor TJ Conwell begins to unpack part one of three messages surrounding Jesus's teaching to the crowd following Him to get them to understand this truth: Life is not about what "we / they" can get, but about being obedient to the Author of all life! God bless you as you seek to draw closer to Him today.

John unpacks the marvelous miracle of Jesus walking on the water from a totally different perspective than what Matthew does (who includes Peter also walking on the water with Him). So, why did one disciple include this and why does another leave it out? Also, do we realize there is actually more than one miracle described in this incredible event? Join us as we continue our journey in John, Chapter 6, and let's focus on drawing closer to Jesus, together. God bless you!

Launching into Chapter 6 in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus performing a miracle that so many are familiar with ... but do we REALLY know (and understand) the complexity of the conversation being had around the feeding of the 5,000? One thing becomes abundantly certain: this event has less to do with the miracle and everything to do with the discipleship and application that Jesus is demonstrating with His disciples (and for our benefit to grow today). Pastor TJ Conwell unpacks this tremendous event with a personal challenge for each follower to consider: "Where do you need to really surrender to God in whatever you are dealing with?" God bless you.