Waiting is one of life’s toughest challenges, especially when it extends beyond minor frustrations like traffic or long lines into deep, painful seasons of uncertainty—waiting for healing, purpose, restoration, or long-overdue answers. In this message from Pastor Lonnie, we are reminded that throughout Scripture, God often calls His people to wait—Abraham, Israel, Moses, the disciples, and all of creation groans and hopes as they wait. However, biblical waiting is not passive or resigned; it is an active, disciplined, expectant trust in God’s character and timing. Waiting on the Lord is the hardest work of hope because it demands that we cling to God when life doesn’t go our way and may never resemble what we envisioned. God often uses waiting not just to provide what we long for but to shape us into who He wants us to be. Through waiting, we learn perseverance, character, and a deeper, more courageous hope. Ultimately, we are encouraged to trust that what we are waiting for is worthwhile because the One we wait for is faithful.
This message from Pastor Lonnie will examine the idea that problems and trials are unavoidable and often crucial for spiritual growth. Pastor Lonnie will highlight Bible passages that illustrate how circumstances, including suffering, can serve a greater purpose. The Christian journey acknowledges the refining effect of challenges. With God's presence, even pain can become significant, and every hardship can act as a catalyst for transformation.
Jesus begins the Beatitudes with a profound truth: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). To be poor in spirit means recognizing our deep need for God, acknowledging our spiritual poverty, and fully depending on Him instead of ourselves. This attitude of humility and desperation for God leads to true happiness—not the fleeting kind based on circumstances, but the deep joy that comes from knowing and trusting in God. In a world that values self-sufficiency, Jesus invites us to surrender, embrace our neediness, and find our greatest fulfillment in God’s presence.
Embracing the Christmas spirit is about more than celebrating a season; it’s about living out the principles of hope, peace, joy, love, and faith every day. Reflecting on these messages will draw you closer to God and inspire others to experience the Christ of Christmas. Let the Christmas spirit transform your heart and actions, making a lasting impact on those around you and making the world we live in a better place.
Embracing the Christmas spirit is about more than celebrating a season; it’s about living out the principles of hope, peace, joy, love, and faith every day. Reflecting on these messages will draw you closer to God and inspire others to experience the Christ of Christmas. Let the Christmas spirit transform your heart and actions, making a lasting impact on those around you and making the world we live in a better place.
Embracing the Christmas spirit is about more than celebrating a season; it’s about living out the principles of hope, peace, joy, love, and faith every day. Reflecting on these messages will draw you closer to God and inspire others to experience the Christ of Christmas. Let the Christmas spirit transform your heart and actions, making a lasting impact on those around you and making the world we live in a better place.
Embracing the Christmas spirit is about more than celebrating a season; it’s about living out the principles of hope, peace, joy, love, and faith every day. Reflecting on these messages will draw you closer to God and inspire others to experience the Christ of Christmas. Let the Christmas spirit transform your heart and actions, making a lasting impact on those around you and making the world we live in a better place.
Generosity is about far more than money. Generosity is about taking your entire life - everything you are and everything you own - and using it to bless the people around you. Generosity is for everyone. You don’t have to be rich to be a giver. You don’t have to be a multi-millionaire to be generous—the requirements for generosity center on Identifying an opportunity, taking action, and trusting God to bless the act of generosity.
What prayer have you been praying that you fear God is not answering? Why are some prayers answered and others not? Is it just a roll of dice, luck, or coincidence? In this message, Pastor Lonnie will take us to a deeper understanding of the mystery of unanswered prayer and the silver lining there when we pray.
A profound challenge confronts us daily—how to live as Christians in a world that often feels anything but Christian. We live in times when society’s values frequently contradict biblical truths. So, how do we remain faithful to Jesus Christ when the world around us may seem indifferent, hostile, or simply uninterested? In this message, Pastor Lonnie details how living as a Christian in a non-Christian world is not easy, but it is our calling. We are to be salt and light, reflecting the love, truth, and grace of Jesus in all we do.
Disagreements are a normal part of life, whether in relationships, workplaces, or even within the church. How we handle disagreements says a lot about our Christian faith and character. In this message, Pastor Lonnie shows how the Bible gives us clear guidance on navigating conflict in a way that honors God and promotes unity.
In a world filled with diverse religious beliefs, Christianity stands out through its distinctive message of grace, forgiveness, and relationship with God. This message by Pastor Lonnie will explore five key aspects that make Christianity unique, focusing on the person of Jesus Christ as central to the faith.
There are thousands of ways in which we are disappointed and discouraged in life. An expectation didn't happen, or something we hoped would happen didn't quite make it, and we get frustrated with others and ourselves and even discouraged with God. But discouragement can become an opportunity to make life better. In this message, we will learn what the Bible says about maintaining a grip on hope and the four action items that can bring hope in times of discouragement.
In the Christian faith, human weakness reflects our vulnerability, limitations, and need for God’s grace. The Bible acknowledges that all humans have weaknesses, but it also offers guidance on how to respond to them in a way that glorifies God and strengthens our faith. In this message by Pastor Lonnie, you will learn about four action items that will help you gain strength when you are weak and vulnerable.
Each of us has a unique role, and every role is important for the church to reach its full potential. When we support one another and work together for the common good, we reflect the unity and diversity of the body of Christ, which brings glory to God and draws others to the faith. Consider how you can use your gifts to serve the body of Christ. Reach out to someone who may be struggling and offer them your support. As we commit to building a community that values and honors each person, a reimagined church that honors Jesus evolves before us.
Lonnie's talk at the new Center for Christian Learning, Leadership, and Fellowship dedication on September 8, 2024.
Life can be full of challenges, distractions, and competing priorities, leading us far from God. However, the key to navigating these challenges with peace, purpose, and direction is to keep our Christian faith at the core of everything we do. This message by Pastor Lonnie emphasizes that Jesus is not just a part of our lives; he is the foundation upon which our lives can be built. We align ourselves with his will, purpose, and strength by making him our foundation. The message will challenge us to examine our hearts, to remove anything that competes for first place, and to live each day with the assurance that with Jesus at the center, our lives are anchored, purposeful, and filled with his peace.
If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why does God allow pain, suffering, and human hurt in our world and lives? A perspective on this question can be found in three parables of Jesus that give us a glimpse of the value system that God is carrying on in our lives. It is found in a value system that can only reciprocate gracious love voluntarily. Without it, we are lost.
What will heaven be like? At his crucifixion, Jesus promised the criminal who was sentenced to death next to him that he would be with him in paradise. Picture this word. It is how we may imagine heaven and eternal life. We are not destined for some misty, disembodied experience in some faraway galaxy. Instead, we will live and find community with our creator and fellow creatures in a place of great beauty filled with color, sound, life, and meaningful activity. It will be like the dawning of the Garden of Eden.