Beyond the Message

What helps Christians pursue holiness in a world full of distraction? In 1 John 3:1–3, we are called to “see” two life-changing realities: the Father’s love and the Son’s return. John reminds believers that we are not just forgiven sinners—we are beloved children of God right now. And though what we will be is not yet fully visible, one day Christ will appear, and we will be made like Him. That future hope is not meant to stay abstract or theological; it is meant to shape present holiness. As we fix our eyes on the Father’s love and the Son’s return, we are strengthened to practice righteousness, resist distraction, and pursue purity in the present. Message Highlights:John begins with a command to “see” or behold the Father’s love. The Father’s love is both great in magnitude and foreign in quality—a kind of love the world does not understand.The result of that love is astonishing: we are called children of God—and so we are.Believers are not merely labeled as God’s children; this is their present identity.The world does not know believers because it did not know Christ.Two major distractions that wreck purity:1) The world’s acceptance 2) The world’s affliction John shifts our attention from who we are now to what we will be when Christ appears. At Christ’s return, believers will see Him as He is and become like Him. Present holiness is fueled by future hope: “everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.” Purity is not earned righteousness, but the practice of those who have already been born of Him. Main Point: Pursue purity by focusing on the Father’s love and the Son’s return. Practical application: Fix your gaze on the Father’s love: When you feel overlooked, rejected, or unimpressive, remember you are already loved and chosen by God. Fight for purity with hope: Don’t merely focus on saying no to sin; focus on the coming Christ and the glory still ahead. Identify your distractions: Ask honestly whether you are more controlled by the world’s approval or by the pain of this present life. Use your future to strengthen your present: Let the certainty of Christ’s return reshape how you respond to temptation, suffering, and discouragement.Invite others into the fight: Be the kind of church member who reminds others, “You are loved now, and Jesus is coming back.” Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

Ian, Jake, and Sam discuss the sermon on 1 John 2:28-29, which causes us to ask ourselves a powerful question: When Jesus returns, will you have confidence—or shrink back in shame? John reminds us that Christ’s return is not hypothetical; it is promised. The issue isn’t if He’s coming back, but whether we are ready. Real confidence doesn’t come from comparative morality, religious activity, or presuming on God’s kindness. It comes from abiding in Christ—a life of union with Him, shaped by His Word, and marked by growing obedience. As we abide, we don’t just endure the last hour—we begin to anticipate His appearing with joy. Main Point: Abide in Jesus to live for Jesus to be ready for the return of Jesus. Message Highlights: We are in the “last hour” — living in the final chapter of redemptive history. Christ’s return is certain (John 14; Mark 8; Titus 2). The question is readiness. Two responses at His appearing (1 John 2:28): Confidence (eager expectation, longing). Shrinking back in shame (fear, regret, exposure). John’s warning fits his larger theme: make real believers confident, make false confidence uncomfortable. Misplaced confidence shows up in: Comparative morality. Presuming on God’s kindness without repentance. Religious activity without love for Christ. True confidence comes from abiding. Abiding defined (John 15): Begins with union with Christ (you must belong to abide). Requires His Word abiding in you (not just reading it, but dwelling in it).Is expressed through obedience (not perfection, but trajectory). Knowing Christ as righteous produces practicing righteousness (1 John 2:29). Abiding produces not just readiness—but anticipation. Practical application: Examine your confidence: Is it rooted in Christ—or in comparison, habit, or assumption? Strengthen union before activity: Don’t try to “abide better” without first resting in belonging to Christ by faith. Move from recharge to connection: Treat your soul less like a battery and more like a branch—stay connected throughout the day. Let the Word dwell richly: Build rhythms of meditation, memorization, and application—not just consumption. Practice visible obedience: Ask, “Does my knowing of Christ produce a growing righteousness in my life?” Cultivate anticipation: Regularly reflect on Christ’s return (Matthew 24–25; Revelation 19). Let hope shape daily choices. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

Ian, Jake, and Sam discuss the sermon on 1 John 2:18-27 where the alarm bell is ringing: deception isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. John says plainly, “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you,” and that reality should wake us up. In the “last hour,” false teachers and spiritual opposition work with strategy to pull believers away from Christ, distort the truth about Jesus, and normalize compromise. But John doesn’t leave the church afraid—he points them to their comfort and protection: believers have been anointed by the Holy One (the Spirit of truth), and God preserves his own. The call is not just to feel comforted by the gospel, but to take refuge in it—by letting the apostolic word abide in us so we abide in the Son and the Father. In a world of lies, safety is found in closeness to God through his Word. Main Point: The Word of God is the way the people of God take refuge in God. Message Highlights: The punch-in-the-face verse (v.26): there are people (and spiritual opposition) trying—with effort and strategy—to deceive you. “Last hour” urgency: the coming of Christ inaugurated the last days; we’re living in the final chapter of God’s redemptive story. Antichrist (singular) and antichrists (plural): a climactic deceiver is coming, but many deceivers already operate—deception is their game. False teachers came from within (v.19): “They went out from us… but they were not of us.” Their departure clarified truth and exposed error. A needed warning: don’t idolize unity if it requires compromising truth; real unity gathers around truth. Comfort for believers (v.20): “You have been anointed by the Holy One” — the Spirit’s presence gives real knowledge. What the “knowledge” is: not mere facts about Jesus, but truth about who Jesus really is—and the Spirit opens eyes to Jesus as precious, worthy, and central. The core lie exposed (v.22–23): distort or deny the Son, and you lose the Father; true confession of the Son means true fellowship with the Father. Key directive (v.24–27): abide—let what you heard “from the beginning” (apostolic truth) abide in you. A major principle: don’t pit Spirit against Word—the Spirit works through the Word, not around it. A strong pastoral turn: don’t only take comfort in the gospel; take refuge in the gospel—daily dependence, not complacency. Practical application: Adopt “game time” urgency: stop assuming you’re neutral; you’re being targeted by lies. Live with alertness, not drift. Test the Jesus being preached: not “do you believe in Jesus?” but “which Jesus?”—distortions are often subtle, not outright denials. Measure your dependence: do you think you needed God (past tense) or you need God (present tense)? That posture reveals spiritual health. Make Word-abiding normal: build daily patterns where Scripture is not a backup plan but the main refuge—because protection against lies comes by knowing truth. Stay in the church with truth: separation can clarify, but isolation makes deception easier. Pursue truth and fellowship together. Refuse “comfort-only Christianity”: if “I’m forgiven” produces disengagement, you’ve turned comfort into complacency. Let comfort fuel refuge—run to Christ. Can I lose my salvation? The Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints Rescuing the Gospel - Erwin Lutzer What it Means to be Protestant - Gavin Ortlund Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

This sermon lands on 1 John’s first explicit imperative: “Do not love the world.” John isn’t condemning God’s creation or people, but warning against worldliness—the seductive system of values that makes sin feel normal and holiness feel strange. This text presses a personal question: if the world feels more worldly, is it possible we’ve become more worldly too? John confronts the fantasy that we can “have both”—love God and love the world—showing that divided loyalties create spiritual compromise, foolish investment in what’s passing away, and even a quiet loneliness inside the church. The call is to “break up with the world” so we can recover fellowship with God and the sweet fellowship that grows among believers who share the narrow road together. Main Point: To profess Christ and love the world is unacceptable and foolish. Message Highlights: The first clear command in 1 John: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” Clarifying “world”: not creation/people (God loves the world), but worldliness—an anti-God value system shaped by the “ruler of this world.” A working definition of worldliness: anything that makes sin seem normal and holiness seem weird. Why not love the world? Three incentives in the text (1 John 2:15–17): Loving the world is incompatible with the Father’s love (“the love of the Father is not in him”). The world and its desires are passing away—it’s a bad investment. Doing God’s will abides forever—eternal durability beats temporary payoff. John confronts “you can have both”: you can’t serve two masters; a profession without a matching practice exposes a disconnect. Three categories diagnosing worldliness (v.16): Desires of the flesh (sinful cravings) Desires of the eyes (coveting what you see) Pride of life (status/possessions/livelihood identity) Three signs you may love the world: Craving its approval Chasing its rewards Fearing its end A key tension-point: holiness talk triggers “legalism” defenses, but John insists you can have good things with God—just not over God. A striking connection: spiritual “affairs” (trying to love God and the world) produce double loneliness—and weak church fellowship often correlates with weak shared resistance to worldliness. The narrow road implication: the path is narrow, so true travelers are close together—shared pursuit deepens bond. Practical application: Audit your loves: Where are your strongest cravings—approval, comfort, image, money, ease, experiences? Identify what you “need” to feel secure or significant. Name your “over-God” risks: Not “can I have this?” but “has this become over God?” (calendar, sports, money, entertainment, reputation). Break up patterns, not just behaviors: worldliness begins in the heart—repent at the level of desire, not only the level of actions. Choose visible “different”: take one concrete area where you’ve drifted into normalizing sin or treating holiness as weird, and re-align your practice with your profession. Pursue fellowship through shared holiness: don’t wait for community to happen accidentally—bond forms as you walk the narrow road together, resisting the same pressures with the same hope. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

In this episode, Michael, Jake, and Sam revisit yesterday’s message on 1 John 2:12-14, as Michael called it John’s “halftime speech”. After several weeks of weighty “tests” found in 1 John 1:1-2:11, (holiness, obedience, love), John pauses to strengthen weary saints who are tempted to quit, negotiate with sin, or spiral into insecurity. Instead of giving more commands, he gives identity-shaping realities—forgiveness, fellowship, and victory—so believers keep fighting for joy and against sin with confidence in Christ, not confidence in self. Highlights from the message: John’s stated purposes so far: “That our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:4) and “So that you may not sin” (1 John 2:1) The tests can feel unsettling—on purpose: Unsettling can be God’s kindness exposing false security. But genuine believers can also feel discouraged or shaken by the weight. A shift from commands to reminders: John repeats realities rather than issuing new imperatives. Repetition builds confidence for the fight. Three audiences (children / fathers / young men): likely spiritual maturity emphases, but the truths apply to all genuine believers. Little children: “Your sins are forgiven” and “you know the Father.” Forgiveness is “sent away” and rests on account of Jesus, not personal performance. Fathers: “You know him who is from the beginning” → deep, experiential knowing of Jesus. Maturity is not just information; it’s a life marked by having “been with Jesus.” Young men: “You have overcome the evil one” (repeated) You are strong because the Spirit is in you and the Word abides in you (weapon for the fight). Motivation isn’t “try harder” or “earn grace,” but forgiveness, fellowship, and overcoming in Christ—confidence in Jesus’ victory fuels perseverance. Main Point: Motivation for the battle comes from confidence in the victory of Jesus. Practical application: When you sin: don’t spiral into earning-mode—run to Christ with confidence; keep fighting from forgiveness, not for forgiveness. When you feel alone: anchor in the reality that you know the Father—fellowship with God sustains perseverance. When evil feels overwhelming: remember the victory is settled—“you have overcome” because Christ has overcome. When you’re tired: don’t rely on natural grit—lean into the Spirit’s strength and pick up the Word as your weapon. Church culture aim: become a people who remind each other—especially the struggling—“we don’t live as defeated people; we fight from Christ’s victory.” Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

In this episode Jake, Matt, and Sam dig deeper into 1 John 2:7-11 and the love test: the claim to “walk in the light” must be matched by a real, Christ-shaped love for others. But the tension is that both the Bible and the world talk about love—often with very different definitions. This episode helps clarify what Christian love actually is, why it’s inseparable from truth, and how love isn’t something believers merely try harder to produce—it’s something we reflect because we’ve first been loved by Christ. Highlights from the message: Main Point: Receive the love of Christ to reflect the love of Christ. The love test: Claiming to be “in the light” while hating a brother exposes a disconnect—“still in darkness.” Old commandment / new commandment: Not new in existence (“love one another”), but new in quality—love as Jesus loved (John 13:34). Love and truth belong together: The world often defines love as affirmation or feeling, but biblical love “rejoices with the truth.” Jesus’ motive in love (John 11): Even painful delays can be love when the goal is deeper belief and greater joy in Christ (“so that you may believe”). A working definition: Love is the sacrificial work of helping others find satisfaction in God through Christ. Light produces love: As the “true light” shines (God revealed in Christ), believers are changed—we love because he first loved us. Love is reflective: Like the moon reflecting the sun—when love dims, something is blocking the light. Practical application: Check your definition of love: Don’t start with cultural assumptions and fit Jesus under them—start with Christ and let him define love. Measure love by eternity, not comfort: Christian love aims at eternal good, not merely temporary approval or peace. Fight “eclipse” blockers: Competition, resentment, slander, jealousy, and bitterness often reveal we’ve lost sight of what we have in Christ. Re-anchor in the gospel daily: The fastest way to grow love is not willpower, but being freshly overwhelmed by Christ’s patience, mercy, forgiveness, and inheritance given to you. Let love validate discipleship: John 13:35—how we love each other is meant to make Jesus visible. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

In this episode, Danny, Jake, and Sam dig deeper into 1 John 2:3-6 and how we can know we’re truly in Christ without slipping into pride, fear, or complacency. It is essential to know that there is a tension between confidence and humility in the Christian life. John calls believers toward assurance, not shallow comfort or spiritual guesswork. We explore how Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s ongoing work together produce a faith that is both secure and deeply joyful—and why obedience doesn’t earn salvation, but powerfully confirms it. Highlights from the message: Main Points: 1) Genuine believers are both dependent on Christ and obedient to Christ. 2) Assurance comes from believing in the justifying work of God and experiencing the sanctifying work of God. Assurance, not insurance: John wants believers to know they belong to Christ, not merely rely on a past decision. Don’t remove the supernatural from conversion: Salvation is more than forgiveness—it includes real, internal transformation by the Spirit. Propitiation is Christ alone: Jesus fully satisfied God’s wrath; our obedience adds nothing to that finished work. Justification and sanctification belong together: A past, completed work and a present, ongoing work are both part of God’s saving plan. Obedience doesn’t save—but it reveals: A growing love for God expressed in obedience fuels confidence that God has truly changed us. Security vs. assurance: Believers can be eternally secure and yet lack the joy and comfort that come from living in close fellowship with God. Practical application: Examine fruit, not perfection: Look for growing love for God, not sinless performance. Rest in Christ’s work: Let confidence flow first from what Jesus has done, not what you’ve done. Pursue obedience as response, not leverage: Obedience grows from a changed heart, not fear of losing salvation. Confess sin quickly: Sin doesn’t cancel security, but it does erode joy and intimacy with God. Cultivate assurance intentionally: Assurance grows as we depend on Christ’s grace and walk in step with the Spirit. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

In this episode, Jake, Matthew, and Sam dig deeper into 1 John 1:5–2:1 and the uncomfortable-but-loving reality John addresses: there can be real Christians and self-deceived professing Christians sitting in the same room. John writes to strengthen true believers with confidence—and to unsettle false confidence where a “faith” exists without repentance. We talk through what it means that God is light, why walking in the light is a pursuit of holiness (not pretending to be sinless), and how the gospel gives believers both a battle plan against sin and a safety net when they fail—because we have an Advocate: Jesus Christ the righteous. Highlights from the message: Big Idea: Genuine believers both seek to avoid sin and confess sin in the pursuit of fellowship. God is light—morally perfect, with no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). John addresses an internal church issue: people who claim fellowship with God while walking in darkness (1 John 1:6). Two ditches to avoid: Embracing sin while claiming Christ (false confidence). Denying sin entirely (self-deception) (1 John 1:8–10). A key mark of a genuine believer: pursuing holiness + practicing confession (1 John 1:7, 9). The gospel doesn’t give permission to sin—it gives power to fight sin and grace to confess sin. The aim isn’t behavior modification—it’s fellowship with God, which produces real joy. When we fail, we aren’t left to despair: we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). Practical application: Conduct a “sin response” audit: When you sin, do you hide, minimize, justify—or confess and fight? Confess to God specifically (not vague): name it, agree with God about it, turn from it. Bring sin into the light with trusted believers (James 5:16): not to be forgiven, but to be helped and healed. Make a real plan to fight sin: cut off access, set boundaries, replace patterns, seek accountability—don’t be passive. Pursue God, not just “sin management”: aim for closeness with God—because fellowship is the engine of holiness and joy. Preach the gospel to yourself: when you fall, run to Christ—not away from Him. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Hear 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

This week on Beyond the Message, Jake, Ian, and Sam recap the kickoff to our 1 John series with verses 1-4 in chapter 1. John’s opening aim is surprisingly clear: joy. Writing as an aging apostle and “father” to the churches, John addresses real threats inside the church—false teaching, growing worldliness, and a drift in devotion. But he’s not swinging for behavior modification. He’s aiming for something deeper: fellowship with the Father and the Son, and the kind of shared life in Christ that makes joy full. John validates the real, embodied Jesus (“heard…seen…looked upon…touched”) and then calls the church into true koinonia—partnership, shared devotion, shared truth—not merely religious socializing. The warning is sober: lowering the bar of doctrine and discipleship doesn’t create a healthier church; it creates weaker fellowship and diminished joy. The invitation is better: real Christian fellowship is the pathway to real, lasting joy. Highlights from the message: 1 John is written with a fatherly, pastoral tone - John’s boldness flows from deep love—“my little children”—and his concern for the church’s future. Bad doctrine is the “scenic route” to bad living - John addresses false teaching not as an abstract debate, but because wrong beliefs eventually shape real behavior. John opens by punching holes in false teaching about Jesus - He insists Jesus is both eternal (“from the beginning…with the Father”) and incarnate (“heard…seen…touched”). Worldliness is a live threat to the church- Sin is normalized; holiness feels strange. This drift doesn’t just break rules—it kills joy. John states his motive plainly: complete joy (1 John 1:4) - The letter isn’t “shape up” moralism; it’s an invitation into deeper joy through deeper fellowship. Fellowship is not primarily social - Koinonia is shared partnership in truth and devotion, not merely being friendly, attending events, or hanging out. Joy is communal and contagious - John says “our joy,” not just “your joy”—a devoted church strengthens one another’s joy; lukewarmness weakens it. Lowering the bar of fellowship weakens the church and confuses the world - At best it dilutes the sweetness of true fellowship; at worst it deceives people about being right with God. A devoted church is not anti-evangelistic—it’s evangelistic - Like Acts 2, deep devotion + deep fellowship becomes a platform for gospel credibility and real spiritual fruit. Practical application: Audit your “fellowship” expectations Do you think fellowship = social time, good vibes, and niceness? Or fellowship = shared truth + shared devotion + shared life in Christ? Move your relationships toward koinonia Ask in CG / friendships: “What’s the target we’re aiming at together?” Then take one step: pray together, confess sin, open Scripture, pursue obedience together. Treat “lukewarmness” as a joy issue, not just a discipline issue When you feel dull toward God, don’t only ask “What should I stop doing?” Ask: “What am I seeking joy from that isn’t Jesus?” Let doctrine do its intended work Don’t treat theology as trivia; John ties doctrine to discipleship. Read 1 John slowly, asking: What is true about Jesus? What does that require of my life? Choose one “worldliness” pressure point and name it What makes sin feel normal for you right now (media, habits, spending, bitterness, secret sin)? Name it, confess it, and bring another believer into the fight. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: 1 John - The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible 1-3 John - Knowing The Bible 12 Week Study 1,2, & 3 John For You - God’s Word For You Don’t Follow You Heart 1-3 John ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

In the second week of our annual Rhythms series, we focus on prayer—not just as something Christians should do, but as a repeated practice that forms us into people who actually trust God. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray by re-centering on God’s name, God’s kingdom, and God’s will. In this week’s message we walked through the ACTS framework—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication—showing how prayer becomes both a family practice (kids included!) and a window into what we truly rely on when life gets hard. We examined why prayer often feels difficult, how a “small view of God” shrinks our prayer lives, and why the gospel gives us confidence to draw near: Jesus is our High Priest, and God invites His people to approach the throne of grace for mercy and help. Message Highlights: Main Point: Our prayer life reveals who, or what we actually trust. Rhythms are repeated practices meant to become “normal” over time - we aren’t aiming for Sunday-only religion, but a lifestyle of communion with God through the week. Prayer feels hard for many Christians—so the question becomes “why?” - Some don’t pray at all; many feel they “should pray more.” The disciples’ question—“Lord, teach us to pray”—gives us a pathway forward. Jesus teaches prayer as God-centered before it becomes need-centered - “Hallowed be Your name… Your kingdom come…” reorders our hearts before we ask for anything. ACTS provides a helpful structure without becoming a law - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication offer training wheels for a healthier prayer life. Adoration re-centers our hearts on who God is - God is worthy of worship regardless of circumstances; prayer begins by turning attention from self to God.(Psalm 33:6-11, Psalm 145:1-7, Isaiah 6:1-5, Psalm 103:1-5, Romans 11:33-36) Confession flows naturally from adoration - Seeing God’s holiness exposes our lack—and confession isn’t to earn belonging, but because we belong to Christ.(1 John 1:5-10, Psalm 51:1-12, Psalm 32:3-5, Daniel 9:4-9, Ezra 9:6-7) Thanksgiving fights entitlement and anxiety - Everything we have—physically and spiritually—is a gift. Gratitude reminds us we are stewards, not owners.(Exodus 4:11-12, Ephesians 1:3-6, Colossians 1:15-23, 1 Chronicles 16:8-12, Psalm 107:1-2, Psalm 136:1-3, Colossians 3:15-17) Supplication is welcomed, but best flowing from a rightly ordered prayer - We ask boldly because Jesus sympathizes with our weakness and invites us to the throne of grace.(Psalm 86:1-7, Matthew 7:7-11, Ephesians 3:14-19, Philippians 4:4-7) Your prayer life reveals what you actually trust - Where we run when stressed—calendar, substances, control, comfort—exposes functional trust more than stated beliefs. Practical application: Use ACTS as a weekly “reset” (especially when prayer feels scattered) - Even 5–10 minutes can be structured: Invite kids into prayer as participants, not spectators - Let them pray simply, out loud. This disciples them by practice, not theory. Watch what you run to first when stress hits - Use that moment as a diagnostic: What am I trusting right now? Then redirect: talk to God. Strengthen your view of God to strengthen your prayer life - Two fuel sources emphasized in the sermon: Pray like Hebrews 4 is true - Approach God with confidence—not because you’re strong, but because Jesus is your High Priest and grace is available in the time of need. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: Praying the Bible A Praying Life A Simple Way to Pray Prayer Praying like Monks, Living Like Fools Inductive Bible Study How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth Reading the Bible Better Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

As we kick off our annual Rhythms series, we dug into why Bible reading isn’t just a churchy habit—it’s one of the primary ways God forms a church full of people who abide closely with Jesus. In John 6, the crowd wants Jesus for what He can give—but Jesus presses them to see who He is: the Bread of Life, the only source of true and lasting life.  In the message, we learned about the “hard saying” that caused many to walk away, and why Peter’s response is the turning point: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” We explored what it looks like to crave Scripture not out of guilt, but because we’re convinced Jesus is life—and His Word gives and sustains that life.  Message Highlights:  Main Point: Jesus is life and his words sustain life.  A church people love is built on people who abide in Jesus - Programs, preaching, and ministries matter, but the “secret sauce” is a church full of people who love and stay close to Christ.  The real issue isn’t knowing we should read the Bible, but wanting to - The question isn’t “Should Christians read Scripture?”—it’s “How do we get to the place where we crave it?”  John 6 exposes why many follow Jesus: not for Jesus, but for benefits - After the feeding of the 5,000, the crowd pursues Jesus mainly for bread, not because they want Him.  The “hard saying” is ultimately about Jesus’ identity and authority - Jesus claims to be the Bread of Life with ultimate authority—offensive then and offensive now.  Jesus doesn’t soften offensive truth—He holds the line - He doesn’t apologize, backpedal, or rebrand the truth. He presses deeper.  The Spirit gives life through the words of Jesus - Jesus’ words are “spirit and life”—they give life (salvation) and sustain life (ongoing nourishment).  Two responses to Jesus: walk away or worship - Many leave; Peter stays because there’s nowhere else to go—Jesus has the words of eternal life.    Practical application:  Diagnose what you’re really after when you come to Jesus - Are you following Jesus for what He can give (comfort, ease, solutions), or for who He is (Life Himself)?  Expect the Bible to confront you before it comforts you - If you only read Scripture when it feels agreeable, you’ll treat Jesus like a consultant instead of a King.  Pursue a “Peter” posture: “Where else would I go?” - When life is tired, anxious, lonely, or even going well—train your reflex toward the Word because it’s life.  Build cravings, not just goals - If you struggle to want the Word, consider practices that reshape desire:  Let communion reinforce the point: Jesus is the Bread of Life - Communion is a repeated reminder that our life is sustained not by what we can produce, but by Christ’s body and blood given for us.    Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore:  Praying the Bible A Praying Life A Simple Way to Pray Prayer Praying like Monks, Living Like Fools Inductive Bible Study How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth Reading the Bible Better   Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now! 

This week on Beyond the Message, Michael Rhodes and Jake Each recap yesterday’s Advent message from John 3:16, which shows us God's love is evident, extravagant, extensive, exclusive, effective, and endearing. We unpack the sermon's main points and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. In the final week of our Advent series, we slowed down to reflect on what Christmas reveals about the love of God. John 3:16 is familiar—but far deeper than a “comfort verse.” In Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, we learn that God’s love is not vague sentiment or generic approval. It is seen, costly, wide-reaching, and saving—and it demands a response. In this verse we see six biblical descriptions of God’s love—evident, extravagant, extensive, exclusive, effective, and endearing—and explore how the Spirit’s work of new birth leads to real belief, real transformation, and real worship. We also see two distortions of God’s love in this verse: legalism (“God only loves good people”) and universalism (“God loves everyone no matter what”), and how the gospel corrects both. Message Highlights: Main Point: God's love is evident, extravagant, extensive, exclusive, effective, and endearing. God’s love is evident.God doesn’t merely claim love—He shows it by sending Jesus. The love of God is tangible and historical, revealed in the person of Christ. God’s love is extravagant.The gift reveals the depth: God gave His only Son, and He gave Him for undeserving sinners who were perishing. God’s love is extensive.God’s love reaches the “world”—across borders, backgrounds, and categories—offering salvation to whoever believes. God’s love is exclusive.The verse doesn’t teach universal salvation. There is a real dividing line: belief leads to life; unbelief leads to perishing. God’s love is effective.God’s love doesn’t merely invite or inspire—it accomplishes salvation. Christ’s work is sufficient, finished, and securing. God’s love is endearing.God’s love produces fruit. The Spirit gives new life, which leads to belief, which shows itself in coming to the light—living differently because we’ve been loved. Practical application: Don’t measure God’s love by your circumstances—measure it by Christ.When life feels chaotic or your sin feels loud, return to the “evidence”: the manger, the cross, the empty tomb. Ask which distortion you drift toward: legalism or universalism. Legalism says: God loves good people—so I must earn it. Universalism says: God loves everyone no matter what—so belief and repentance don’t matter. The gospel says: God truly loves sinners, and His saving love is received through Spirit-wrought faith. Let familiarity stop being a shield.If “God loves you” has become a shrug, ask God to soften your heart again. This is not junk-drawer comfort; it’s the center of reality. Look for the fruit of new birth—not just the language of belief.In this passage, belief shows up as coming to the light and doing what is true. Ask: Am I living in the light—or hiding in the dark? Come to communion as a renewed hearing of God’s love.The bread and cup are not just remembrance—they are God’s repeated declaration: “I love you,” grounded in Christ’s body given and blood shed. Biggest Story Advent The Christmas Promise Advent Family Devotional Good News of Great Joy Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

This week on Beyond the Message, Ian Crosby and Michael Rhodes recap yesterday’s message from Romans 8:32, which demonstrates that God always provides for his plan—God has already given us His greatest gift, his own Son. We unpack the sermon's main points and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. When life feels marked by waiting, disappointment, or unmet desires, it’s easy to wonder if God is withholding good from us. But the truth is that God’s generosity is sacrificial, gracious, loving, and purposeful, and the cross permanently reshapes the way we interpret what God gives—and what He withholds. The season of Advent reassures us that God is not stingy but faithfully provides everything we need to accomplish His redemptive purposes in our lives. Message Highlights: Main Point: Jesus is the ultimate proof that God always provides for his plan. God’s generosity is sacrificial - God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us—showing that true generosity costs something. God’s generosity is gracious - Salvation is not earned but freely given; the greatest gift we receive comes by grace alone. God’s generosity is loving - The Father gave His beloved and only Son so we could be reconciled to Him. God’s generosity is purposeful - God promises to give “all things” necessary to carry out His redemptive plan—not everything we want, but everything we need. Jesus is the ultimate proof of God’s provision - If God has already given His Son, we can trust Him with everything else. Practical application: Identify where you’re tempted to believe God is withholding - Ask honestly: Where have I assumed God is stingy rather than purposeful? Replace “If I just had…” with “I already have Jesus” - Let gratitude for the gospel reshape expectations and contentment. Trust God’s plan in unmet desires - Recognize that what God withholds may be as loving as what He gives. Practice contentment during a season of excess - Let Advent form you into someone who rests in God’s generosity rather than chasing more. Anchor faith in what God has already given - When doubts arise, look again to the cross as proof that God always provides what is needed. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: Biggest Story Advent The Christmas Promise Advent Family Devotional Good News of Great Joy Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

This week on Beyond the Message, Sam Anderson and Ian Crosby recap yesterday’s message from Philippians 2:3-11, exploring how the humility of Christ leads to the worship of Christ. We unpack the sermon's main points and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. The humility of God is revealed in the birth of Jesus. The eternal Son willingly laid aside privilege, took on flesh, and became obedient even unto death for our salvation. This message helped us see that humility not merely as a personal virtue to admire, but as the very pathway through which God’s glory is revealed and our lives are transformed. We explore how Christ’s humility calls us to a posture of worship, obedience, and self-giving love in everyday life. Message Highlights: Main Point: The humility of Christ leads to the worship of Christ. Jesus’ birth reveals the humility of God — the all-powerful King willingly became a servant. Christ’s humility did not end at the manger but led Him to obedient suffering and the cross. True humility is self-giving obedience to God for the good of others. The road of humility ends not in loss, but in exaltation and God’s glory. Practical application: Slow down this Advent season to marvel at Christ’s humility before trying to imitate it. Ask where obedience feels costly — humility always leads to action, not just attitude. Reorient daily life toward God’s glory rather than self-advancement or comfort. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: Biggest Story Advent The Christmas Promise Advent Family Devotional Good News of Great Joy Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

This week on Beyond the Message, Matthew Morken and Danny Daugherty dive into Matthew 1:1-17, where we see that God’s purposeful sovereignty over Jesus’ birth proves that we can trust God’s purposeful sovereignty over our lives. We unpack the sermon's main points and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. In yesterday’s message, we saw how the genealogy of Jesus isn’t a boring list of names—it’s a breathtaking picture of God’s sovereignty and grace. Danny pointed us to how Jesus’ birth proves God’s control over history and His power to redeem even the darkest parts of our stories. From the patience to wait for His timing to the hope that He’s working through our mess, Matthew 1 shows us a God who writes perfect stories with imperfect people. Message Highlights: Main Point: God’s purposeful sovereignty over Jesus’ birth proves that we can trust God’s purposeful sovereignty over our lives Jesus’ genealogy shows God directing history with precision — no randomness, no “maverick molecules.” God keeps His promises to Abraham and David exactly when and how He intends, even when it looks delayed or impossible. Jesus’ family line is filled with sin and brokenness, revealing a God who works through messy stories, not around them. The birth of Jesus proves God is sovereign over both time and human brokenness. Practical application: Trust God’s timing in the areas of your life that feel slow, confusing, or out of control. Bring your own sin, regrets, and family brokenness into the light—God is able to redeem and use what you think disqualifies you. Practice patient, hopeful faith this week: surrender one area where you’ve been trying to control the timeline. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore: Biggest Story Advent The Christmas Promise Advent Family Devotional Good News of Great Joy Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

 In this episode, Sam and Jake discuss yesterday’s sermon from Daniel 11:2-12:13 — we are called to care about wisdom, purity, and to trust in the resurrection. We unpack the main points from the sermon and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. As the book of Daniel closes, God reminds His people that He’s sovereign over history, over evil, and over every future moment still to come. This episode explores how prophecy isn’t meant to satisfy curiosity—it’s meant to fuel courage. We’ll talk about what it means to live faithfully when the world seems upside down, how to stand firm when deception and pressure grow, and why hope in resurrection gives us endurance in every trial. Message Highlights: Main Point: Care about wisdom. Care about purity. Trust in the resurrection. God reveals the future not for speculation but for sanctification. Believers are called to “know your God” and stand firm amid deception and compromise. Prophecy prepares believers to endure suffering with hope. The end of evil: not a battle, but a breath from Christ’s mouth. The final promise—rest, resurrection, and reward for those who remain faithful. Practical application: Know your Bible: Discernment grows from knowing God’s Word, not popular voices. Guard your purity: Let trials refine, not ruin, your faith. Endure with hope: Suffering isn’t wasted—it’s purifying you for glory. Live for eternity: This world isn’t the end; you have a place secured with Christ. Trust His timing: The story ends with Jesus’ victory—so walk faithfully until He returns. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore Daniel For You Evangelism as Exiles Thriving in Babylon The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Daniel ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

In this episode, Sam and Jake discuss yesterday’s sermon from Daniel 10-11:1 — we saw in the text that we have to be in awe of God to be at peace in this world. We unpack the main points from the sermon and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. Daniel expected the end of exile to mean the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but God revealed something far bigger—the coming of a Messiah who would end sin, establish righteousness, and fulfill every promise. In Daniel 10-11:1, we see how God redirected Daniel’s hope and how He still calls us to lift our eyes from earthly fixes to eternal realities. We see how misplaced hope drains faith, how Christ redefines fulfillment, and how God’s sovereignty in prophecy fuels trust in every season. Message Highlights: Main Point: Be in awe of God to be at peace in this world. Daniel’s discouragement mirrors ours: unmet expectations and unseen progress. God’s heavenly response: a vision of Christ’s glory and power. The reality of spiritual warfare—fuels courage, not fear. The comfort of being “greatly loved” in a world of anxiety. How to live with peace and courage when life feels out of control. Practical application: Reinforce God’s greatness: When your problems grow big, magnify your view of God. Remember spiritual reality: There’s always more happening than you can see. Draw courage from love: You are greatly loved—let that truth strengthen your heart. Walk by faith, not sight: Fix your eyes on what’s unseen, not on temporary troubles. Live ready for battle: Be strong, take heart, and trust that God’s victory is sure. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore Daniel For You Evangelism as Exiles Thriving in Babylon The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Daniel ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

 In this episode, Michael and Jake discuss yesterday’s sermon from Daniel 9 — similarly to Daniel our hope can be off and in need of an adjustment; we need to remember to put our hope in Christ, not the lesser things that can tend to captivate our hearts. We unpack the main points from the sermon and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. Daniel expected the end of exile to mean the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but God revealed something far bigger—the coming of a Messiah who would end sin, establish righteousness, and fulfill every promise. In this episode, we explore how God redirected Daniel’s hope and how He still calls us to lift our eyes from earthly fixes to eternal realities. We discuss how misplaced hope drains faith, how Christ redefines fulfillment, and how God’s sovereignty in prophecy fuels trust in every season. Recommended Resources: Daniel Commentaries Daniel: The Triumph of God's Kingdom The Preacher's Commentary - Vol. 21- Daniel Exalting Jesus in Daniel (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries) The Message of Daniel: His Kingdom Cannot Fail (The Bible Speaks Today Series) With the Clouds of Heaven: The Book of Daniel in Biblical Theology (Volume 32) Recent Articles Study the Bible Carefully Tools to Help You Study God’s Word Message Highlights: Main Point: Put your hope in Christ. Daniel’s prayer met by revelation—God answers with far more than Daniel expected. The 70 weeks prophecy: complexity with a clear center—Christ. God’s precision in prophecy proves His power and faithfulness. The difference between hoping for restoration from God and resting in redemption through Christ. Our modern hopes often need the same “Daniel-style” correction. Practical application: Audit your hope: What are you most excited about changing—and does it point to Christ or comfort? Anchor in fulfillment: Christ didn’t come to improve Babylon but to end sin and bring righteousness. Trust His timing: God’s plans unfold perfectly, even when the calendar feels confusing. Let prophecy fuel worship: Every fulfilled promise in Scripture proves God keeps His word. Redirect zeal: Be more passionate about the Redeemer than about rebuilding the ruins. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore Daniel For You Evangelism as Exiles Thriving in Babylon The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Daniel ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

 In this episode, Sam and Jake discuss yesterday’s sermon from Daniel 9 — we see that the purpose of our troubles are to draw us back to God. We unpack the main points from the sermon and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. Daniel 9 provides us with one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture—a prayer that begins in the Word, flows from brokenness, and ends in worship. We explored how Daniel’s response to Israel’s exile models the kind of prayer that can awaken a drifting church. Daniel encourages us to turn from half-hearted religion, confess sin honestly, and cry out for mercy and revival—for God’s glory, not our comfort. Message Highlights: Main Point: The purpose of our troubles are to draw us back to God. Exile is discipline, not disaster—it is a loving way God awakens His people. There is a difference between “fix it” prayers and “form me” prayers. The Word should drive our prayers, not just our needs. True confession involves owning sin personally and corporately. The goal of prayer—God’s glory above our relief. Practical application: Pray with the Word: Let your Bible reading prompt your praying; turn God’s promises into prayers. Pray with passion: Set aside comfort and convenience to seek God wholeheartedly. Pray with reverence: Our sin is ultimately against a holy God—the offense is against him, and the grace as well entirely and totally flows from him to us, undeservedly. Pray with contrition: Realize and confront our depravity with God’s holiness. Pray for mercy and forgiveness: Admit what you deserve and ask God to act out of His grace. Pray for God’s fame: Make His glory, not your relief, the goal of your prayers. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore Daniel For You Evangelism as Exiles Thriving in Babylon The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Daniel ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!

 In this episode, Sam and Michael discuss yesterday’s sermon from Daniel 8 — and that we can do what God asks now by trusting what God will do later. We unpack the main points from the sermon and go beyond yesterday with additional insight into the text. Daniel’s vision of rams, goats, and a madman—and what it means for followers of Jesus today. Michael unpacks how Daniel 8 reveals God’s total control over history and reminds us that even when evil rages, its days are numbered. We explored how to live faithfully and quietly in a world that often feels upside down—grieving evil without losing hope, working diligently while waiting for the King who will set all things right. Message Highlights: Main Point: We can do what God asks now by trusting what God will do later The strange imagery of Daniel 8 reveals God’s sovereignty, not confusion. God both knows and decrees the future. Medo-Persia, Greece, and Antiochus Epiphanes: a real historical tyrant—and a preview of evil’s pattern. Daniel’s model of faithfulness: lament deeply, then get up and serve. The evil days are numbered—hope in God’s ultimate victory. Practical application: Lament with hope: Let evil trouble you, but not paralyze you. Stay faithful: Keep “going about the King’s business”—living holy, loving, steady lives. Trust God’s limits: Evil has an expiration date; live like you believe it. Rely on the Spirit: God hasn’t left you guessing—he’s given His Word and His Helper. Look to Jesus: The perfect sacrifice who conquered sin, death, and every future tyrant. Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore Daniel For You Evangelism as Exiles Thriving in Babylon The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Daniel ESV Scripture Journal Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!