When life feels unfair and your prayers hit a wall, what do you do? We dig into the story of a mom who refused to give up when everything went quiet. She doesn’t have all the right words or background—just raw desperation and stubborn faith. Jesus doesn’t shame her; He pushes her deeper until her belief becomes real, not borrowed. It’s a story about holding on when you want to walk away, trusting that even a tiny bit of hope—a “crumb”—can change everything. When life goes silent, don’t shut down. Lean in. Keep asking. Let the pressure forge something real inside you. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
The “bleeding woman” in Mark 5:25–34—a nameless person with twelve years of pain, medical dead ends, financial strain, and social isolation—reaches for Jesus in desperate faith and is instantly healed. Jesus stops, draws her into the open, and calls her “Daughter,” showing that He doesn’t just fix problems; He restores identity. Real faith moves before the miracle, refuses to be defined by circumstances, pursues Jesus, and believes God can do immeasurably more—right in the middle of our mess. (Talk by Josh Daubert)
Kicking off “Nameless Faith,” we zoom in on the Roman centurion — a man whose name we don’t get, but whose faith amazed Jesus. He’d tried everything, hit a wall, and still believed Jesus could heal from a distance with just a word. That’s the heart of real faith: not treating Jesus as a helpful teacher when life wobbles, but trusting Him as Lord with actual authority. Your past, your drift, your distance—none of it disqualifies you. God’s word won’t fail. Learn His promises, trust them in your situation, and let your faith outlive your name. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
Life on “autopilot” makes us drift, so 1 Peter 4:7–11 calls us to live on purpose: serve with urgency because time is short, serve with love that shows up in actions, serve through the gifts and passions God already put in you, and serve for one reason—to point people to Jesus. We weren’t designed to warm the bench but to do good that helps others and glorifies God. So ask what you’re doing for God and for people—then do it today, not someday. (Talk by Josh Daubert)
Baptism Sunday is all about saying “yes” to God’s invitation and celebrating new life. Acts 8 shows us that God always moves first—pursuing, stirring, and setting things in motion. Our role? Simply respond. Sometimes faith is slow and steady, sometimes it’s a bold leap, but baptism is the moment to go public and declare, “I belong to Jesus.” It’s not about perfection, it’s about taking the next step—and cheering on others who do the same. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
We were built to belong. Stuff, status, and busyness can’t replace people. Real community makes us stronger, helps us grow, and holds us up when life gets heavy—like a braided cord that won’t snap under pressure. The challenge? Get off autopilot, find your people, and be that person for someone else. (Talk by Josh Daubert)
Our lives are cluttered tables—piled with stuff that never really satisfies. Fasting clears the space so God can fill it. It’s not ‘if’ but ‘when’ you fast—Jesus expected it to be part of our rhythm of soul care. We’ll try all kinds of diets to fix our bodies; why not fast to strengthen our souls? (Talk by Joshua Ott)
Just like muscles need steady nutrition to grow strong, our souls need the steady intake of God’s Word. A Sunday “shake” isn’t enough to face life’s pressure and lies. Jesus Himself relied on Scripture when He was weak and tempted, showing us that truth is more powerful than opinion, feelings, or the voices around us. The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s alive, active, and meant to fuel, guide, and strengthen us every single day. If Jesus needed it, so do we. Don’t just sip once in a while—make God’s Word part of your daily rhythm. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
Jesus didn’t just step away from the crowds to chill, find a distraction, change the pace, or empty Himself — He got away, found solitude, and prayed. Breaking the insane pace of life is important. It’s good to find time to rest, but don’t go silent. Prayer — honest conversation with God — is a vital part of caring for your soul. Have those honest conversations with Him often. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
Life doesn’t just move fast—it stacks. We carry around pressure, responsibilities, and expectations until we’re exhausted. In Mark 1:29–39, we see that even Jesus made time to pause, withdraw, and reset. When the demands piled up, He didn’t hustle harder—He sought solitude with God. Practicing solitude isn’t selfish or lazy; it’s spiritual obedience. It’s how we drop the boxes and find clarity, peace, and strength. Build intentional soul care into your rhythm—because if Jesus did it, we definitely need it. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
Psalm 19 reminds us that God reveals Himself in two powerful ways: through the world around us and through His Word. Nature is the universal book that shows off God’s existence—His creativity, power, and presence. But it's the Bible that makes God personal—it gives Him a name, shows us His character, and reveals how we’re meant to live. From the skies that shout His glory to the scriptures that guide our hearts, this Psalm invites us to stop, look up, and lean in. God is speaking—are we listening? (Talk by Don Baker)
How the way we see ourselves—our self-image—can be completely transformed by our identity in Christ. A lot of us deal with negative self-talk, feeling like we’re not good enough, like we don’t belong, or like we have nothing to offer. But 2 Corinthians 5 reminds us that in Jesus, we’re given real worth, a place to belong, a purpose to live for, and gifts to use. When we start to believe what God says about us—that we’re loved, chosen, and made new—it changes everything. We’re not broken beyond repair. We’re His masterpiece, made to live with confidence and impact as part of His family. (Talk by Don Baker)
In seasons of silence, when God feels distant and our prayers seem to hit a wall, Psalm 13 gives voice to the pain of waiting. David models what it looks like to wrestle with emotions while still holding onto faith. Through a raw cry, a desperate ask, and an unwavering hold on God’s unchanging character, we see a pathway for walking through the “in-between” seasons—those frustrating gaps between promise and fulfillment. This talk invites us to cry out honestly, lean into God dependently, and hold on to His goodness, even when nothing around us makes sense. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
We tend to forget the best part of a story—the ending. And while how a story starts matters, how it ends matters more. The middle doesn’t define the finish. In Jesus’ parable, the story ends abruptly—left open on purpose. Why? Because we’re the ones who finish it. The questions it leaves us with are powerful: Which brother are you? What’s keeping you from the celebration? Can you embrace grace—for others and yourself? How will your story end? And what kind of church are we becoming? (Talk by Joshua Ott)
The older brother is a character that’s often missed or overlooked—but he’s actually the key to the story. Jesus uses him to show that you can be in the house, close to the Father, and still be lost. Proximity doesn’t equal intimacy. You can look the part, but religion without relationship is still rebellion. Don’t miss out on the joy and grace God wants to give because your heart isn’t aligned with His. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
Sometimes one word can mean two opposite things—like “buckle” (to fasten or to collapse) or “clip” (to cut or to connect). The word “prodigal” is the same. It can mean recklessly wasteful or extravagantly generous. In Luke 15, we see both: a son who wasted everything and a father who gave everything. As Tim Keller points out, this story is really about the father—our God—who is radically generous with grace and love. So the question is: which kind of life are you choosing? One that chases empty things or one defined by a Father who calls you His own? (Talk by Joshua Ott)
The lost son hit rock bottom—and finally woke up. In a moment of painful clarity, he saw his condition for what it was and realized, “I don’t belong here.” That self-awareness was the first step home. While some of us learn the hard way, we don’t have to. If we truly saw the kindness of the Father and the difference between the emptiness of everything else and the fullness He offers, we might turn back sooner. The son got honest, confessed where he’d gone wrong, and even though he didn’t fully grasp the Father’s love—he got up and went. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
We often say, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish"—but sometimes a rough start sets the tone for the whole journey. This story didn't begin well, and the real beginning wasn't the moment the son left home—it started much earlier, in the quiet places of his heart. A little dissatisfaction, some comparison, maybe romanticizing life away from the Father or wrestling with unspoken frustration. Those internal struggles built up until they led to a choice. The drift always begins inside—long before we ever take a step. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
The parable of the lost coin hits differently—because the coin didn’t run off, it was simply misplaced. It didn’t rebel; it was just lost in the house. Like us. Sometimes we find ourselves feeling lost—not because we’ve left God, but because we’ve misplaced things like our identity, purpose, or security. And just like the woman searching for the coin, God doesn’t stop looking. He’s not just in the business of finding the lost—He’s all about restoring what’s been misplaced. Your story, your worth, your place still matter to Him. (Talk by Joshua Ott)
It doesn’t make sense to leave 99 sheep to chase one that wandered off—but that’s exactly what Jesus says the Good Shepherd does. In response to the judgmental muttering of the religious crowd, Jesus tells three parables—simple, relatable stories with deep spiritual truths. And they all aim at one thing: our hearts. In the first story, a sheep doesn’t rebel—it just drifts. Distracted, unaware, and vulnerable—just like us. But the Shepherd notices. He sees the one that no one else sees. He pursues. That’s the kind of love Jesus has for you. It might not make sense to us, but it makes perfect sense to a God whose love goes further than we can imagine. (Talk by Joshua Ott)