Studies show that worry is most often a result of a desire for control mixed with fear of the unknown. So we worry about not being in control of a situation that may or may not cause a disruption in our life. As Christians our worry may not be defeated like other sins and struggles in our lives because we don't see it as a road block that probably affects our relationship with God.
What’s something you’ve tried to practice and improve, but no matter how hard you try you can’t seem to do it any better? Basketball, Cooking, listening, etc. Sometimes we try to improve something or fix something in our lives when we really need to seek help from other people or sources. In this series, we will start with truth, move to common myths and end with truth!
You ever hear something you can’t wait to share? Maybe it’s good news, bad news, juicy gossip. The Pharisees and the chief priest had a situation that required making up a story to cover any word of a resurrection. They shared a lie to keep the truth from getting out. How might we be like the Pharisees?
Think through all of the contracts you are involved in (gym membership, mortgage/lease, car note, streaming service, etc) and try to determine which contract/agreement in your life has been the best deal? As Americans, we often times live and die by the contracts. Hold up your end of the contract or the deal is voided. So did you know God built his redemptive story through covenants with the main difference being that He does His part, even when we fail to do our part!
Why do we feel the need to jump into a dating relationship with the intent of hearing the words "I love you" and setting a wedding date? If we would slow our dating role it may in turn help our marriage. As we learn to honor Christ in our dating relationship it will lead to honoring Christ in our marriage!
If you could change 2 aspects of your marriage what would you change? Many of us assume more money, better schedule, more attractive version of self or spouse, but what would you change to improve your marriage? Today’s passage is very misunderstood, but in it Paul lays out the framework for a healthy marriage. There are 2 key ingredients that are necessary: Respect and Sacrifice.
Marriage is much easier when you want to raise kids, plan your weekend, determine what values your home will and won’t celebrate if you both are on the same page. Paul knows you can’t build a foundation together if you’re not even in agreement what to build a life upon. Who we spend the most time with will influence our faith, values, our world view and so much more.
Would it surprise you to know that the average age for marriage today is 28.5 for females and 30 for males? It’s no wonder most don’t save sex for marriage as people are now on average, 15-20 years beyond puberty by the time they are married. So was Paul right when he said "it is good not to be married" or when he said to marry quickly if "they cannot control themselves?" Maybe Paul was addressing people who view marriage as an idol or status to obtained above the blessing that God ordains through marriage.
There are so many questions to consider for lasting relationships. Why do most marriages fail? How do I know if someone is "marriage material"? How do I know if I am? How can I prepare for marriage? How do we protect our marriage from being another statistic? What does a healthy relationship look like anyway? By the time we think through all of the "what ifs" we may conclude that marriage will require too many feelings which may exhaust us. Marriage is a commitment of personal sacrifice to your spouse for the purpose of a Christ centered relationship in your marriage!
Remember when you thought being an adult was when you’d really enjoy life? Graduating HS, College, Marriage. We all thought the next season would be so perfect that’s when we’d be happy. So how do our current expectations align with individuals whose stories are shared in scripture?
Restore is celebrating 8 years on this Vision Sunday. While we continue to study the book of Joshua we will celebrate what God has done in and through Restore in 2023 while looking forward to what He is continuing to lead us to.
Have you ever watched a team get caught for cheating while having an incredible season? They fell into the lie that rules don’t apply to them. Every “rule” has a reason. God’s Word has endured because this guide for living applies in every generation. Passages used in todays message force us to deal with hard truths: sin, punishment and God’s holiness.
How many cliche terms have you heard referencing the beginning of a new year? New Year, New You or others. How much time have you spent planning out the changes for your new year? Have you ever reminisced about the good God has done in the previous year before making plans for what's next? Join us as we reminisce 2023 while dreaming about what's next.
Do you get tired of being asked what you want for Christmas? As kids we assumed stuff under the tree would make us happy. As we get older we look for bigger stuff or more expensive stuff which leads to storage problems. Given enough time the day hits us that no purchased gift can really bring us joy when we are broken inside. This is where God does His best work. He didn’t send us Jesus to give us what we
want but to offer what we needed most: Peace
Christs birth all the way to His ascension to heaven was predicted hundreds of years before by prophets. We can ask "what is the likelihood" of such happenings but it is more relevant to look at the history of and how each of these prophecies was fulfilled in real life.
When Jesus was born why did God announce the news of the Saviors birth to the Shepherds first? Pastor Brian shares insight into the importance of shepherds hearing of the Saviors birth as well as offering first hand insight into the landscape of Bethlehem and how it played a role in sending a message of salvation to the world.
The "Wise Men" brought 3 Types of Gifts (Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh) to honor the arrival of Jesus. So what is the symbolic meaning attached to each gift and how can we have better insight into Jesus being our ultimate Prophet, Priest and King?
What significance does The Star have in the story of Christ coming to earth as Savior of the world? How do the Rich Rulers or Magi play into the story and how does this all pertain to us today? Listen as pastor shares how Gratitude has always lead to Giving throughout Christian history.
Have you ever heard of a 501c3 or non-profit ask individuals to stop giving because they had too much? How about a church? Ever seen a pastor stand up and tell the congregation that giving is no longer wanted because there is too much to distribute? Scripture tells about a time that deep gratitude led God’s people to give to the Lord so sacrificially Moses had to tell them to stop giving.
Have you noticed every time there’s major conflict in the middle east our hearts get nervous? Some Christians are quick to say this means Jesus return is imminent, as if it wasn’t already. But isn't the return of Christ supposed to be good news for believers? As we are reminded of the imminent coming of Christ are we challenged to share Him with others or are we just wrapped up in fear and anxiety of what "the end" will look like for us?
Praising and thanksgiving go hand in hand. It’s impossible to praise God without being thankful and just as impossible to be thankful without praising God. So how can we practice continued gratitude according to scripture. Pastor Marc shares practical applications from scripture of how we can consistently practice gratitude.
Have you ever felt overlooked or wondered if anyone is noticing you? Psychologists actually believe now that we suffer from something called hurry sickness which is defined as a behavior pattern characterized by continual rushing and anxiousness, or an uncomfortable feeling in which someone feels chronically short of time, and so tends to perform every task faster and to get flustered when encountering any kind of delay.
Have you ever come to Sunday and felt so exhausted you considered skipping the fellowship of believers? Maybe you have considered stepping away from Sunday gatherings to gain more personal time during your week. Pastor Brian shares from Mark 6 that if you don’t make time for your wellness you will be forced to make time for your illness.