Weekly Messages

Our lives are always devoted to something. The question for us all is this: to what or whom are we devoted? Our answer to the question determines everything. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Achan hid what belonged to God under his tent. What are some things we’re tempted to “bury” in our own lives—things we keep for ourselves instead of surrendering to God? What would it look like to bring those things into the light? Israel suffered because of one man’s hidden sin. What does this story teach us about how our personal choices—good or bad—affect our families, churches, and communities? God transformed the Valley of Achor (Trouble) into a Door of Hope. How does this point us to the gospel? Where have you seen God turn places of judgment or failure in your life into opportunities for restoration?

In this message, Pastor Marvin Walker reminds us that God isn’t distant from our mental and emotional struggles. From Job’s honest lament to the man among the tombs in Mark 5:1-20, we see that Jesus moves toward those who feel broken, not away from them.   It’s okay to not be okay, but you don’t have to stay alone. Discover how Jesus restores minds, renews hearts, and invites us to feel, tell, act, go, and live in His healing presence. -- • When have you felt like the man among the tombs, distant, misunderstood, or isolated, even while trying to follow Jesus?   • Why do you think Jesus crossed the sea just to meet this one man? What does that tell you about His heart toward those who are struggling mentally or emotionally?   • Which of the five choices: Feel, Tell, Act, Go, and Live, is hardest for you right now? Which comes most naturally? Why?   • When someone you care about is “not okay,” how can you be a faithful friend who’s present, not just helpful?

What if the walls in your life aren’t waiting for your strength, but your surrender? -- QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION How might seeing worship as a “weapon” change how we face challenges or spiritual battles? How can we encourage one another to keep walking in obedience, even when it feels repetitive or fruitless? How does remembering God’s past faithfulness help us face present “walls”?

Before we can step into God’s promises as a people, He calls us to pause and prepare so we are ready to receive all that He has in store for us. -- QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION Consecrate: What’s one practice, rhythm, or value that once set you apart as a follower of Jesus but has quietly slipped away? How could you begin to reclaim it this week? Celebrate: When you look back on your journey, where do you see God’s faithfulness most clearly? How does remembering that fuel your faith for what’s ahead? Choose: In what area of your life do you need to stop asking God to “be on your side” and instead align yourself with His side?

Sometimes God asks us to take the first step before we see the way forward. When He does, we must trust that the God who goes before us has already prepared the way. -- QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION Where in your life right now do you sense God calling you to trust His presence and follow even when the path feels unfamiliar? How does it change the way you face challenges, knowing that God never calls you to walk a path He hasn’t already gone before you to prepare? What are some ways we can create spiritual “memorials” in our families, friendships, or church community to remind others of God’s work and encourage them to trust Him?

God delights in working through the unlikely and the overlooked to accomplish His plans reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of His grace. -- QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION Where are you tempted to let fear have the final word in your life? What would it look like to cling to God there? How have you seen God redeem a broken part of your past and use it for good? Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, ends up in the lineage of Jesus. What does her story teach us about the kind of people God chooses to use—and how does that encourage you about your own story and calling?

Like Joshua, to step into God’s promises, we must be strong and courageous. His presence–with us and within us–makes strength and courage possible. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What truths about God’s character (Exodus 34:6–7) help you trust Him even when you don’t fully understand His ways? Can you share a time when you had to trust God’s character in a confusing or challenging season of your own life? Are there specific practices (daily reading, journaling, Scripture memory, group study) that help you stand firm on God’s promises? Where do you want to grow in this area? How can we, as a church family, remind one another of God’s presence in both ordinary life and God-sized challenges?

Sometimes we try really hard to change things by our own power, to look good in front of others or earn God’s love. It’s exhausting! Paul reminds us that God has already saved us and given us His power, even though we did not deserve it. Now, we have the exciting opportunity to embark on the adventure of living a little more like Jesus each day.  -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What is one area you have seen God change your life? How can you thank Him for it this week? What is one way you can put your mind on Christ and things above starting this week?  Are there any sins in your life that you need to put to death?  What is one way you can put them to death this week? What is one way you can put on Christ’s love towards people around you this week? 

Discover how God is moving in young hearts and how we, as the Church, have a vital role in raising up the next generation! -- Who in your life has influenced your faith the most, and how can you be that kind of influence for someone else?  Are there areas in your life where you say one thing about your faith but live another? How might that inconsistency affect those around you? What specific ways can you support the next generation over the next school year?

We all suffer from spiritual amnesia. When our souls forget, we preach truth to ourselves until our hearts catch up. - QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION Reflect on a time when you had to choose faith over feelings.How can self-preaching become a spiritual discipline in your life? Which “benefits” of God from Psalm 103 stand out most to you right now—and why might your soul need to remember them today? How might your decision to bless the Lord despite your circumstances impact someone else’s faith this week?

Let’s score a “100” God’s way this school year! - QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION What does it look like for you to “make a joyful noise” in your current season of life? How does that challenge or encourage your view of worship? In what areas of life are you most tempted to define yourself by what you do instead of who you belong to? How can remembering your identity in Christ reshape those areas? Which of these four reminders—Worship over Worry, Identity over Achievement, Gratitude over Grumbling, or Faith over Fear—do you most need to focus on this week, and why?

The Church is a sent people. We are all sent, right where we are. - Questions for Reflection & Discussion Where in your everyday life do you sense God calling you to “go” and make disciples? What might it look like to be more intentional in that space? How does Jesus’ authority (“All authority in heaven and on earth”) shape your confidence and approach to living on mission? What’s holding you back from stepping more fully into the mission of making disciples, and how might Jesus’ promised presence help you move forward?

We examine the final chapter of Acts, a remarkable conclusion that intentionally leaves the story open-ended, inviting us to step into the ongoing mission of God’s kingdom. 

Wherever you are, you're on assignment. What does it look like to live like it? -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Where in your life is God calling you to show unusual kindness—the kind that costs something, the kind that’s not expected or earned? Have you been carrying the weight of labels—either from others or from yourself—that don’t line up with what God says about you? What would it look like to let God define you this week? What might change if you stopped viewing your current situation as a detour and started seeing it as your assignment? What’s one way you can stay on mission right where you are?

Even in life’s fiercest storms, God is not absent—He is present, speaking, and faithful to deliver. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What storms—past or present—have made you question God’s nearness, and how did He show up in them? In what ways do we try to hold on to “lifeboats” instead of fully trusting God’s Word? How might obedience—especially in difficult circumstances—be the key to experiencing God’s deliverance in your life?

Have we lost sight of what freedom truly means—and what it’s for? -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Paul didn’t stay silent before Felix, Festus, or Agrippa—he spoke truth with clarity and courage, even when it was risky. Where might God be calling you to speak truth, even if it costs you influence, comfort, or approval? What holds you back? Paul used his Roman citizenship not to escape suffering, but to advance the mission. How are you using the freedoms you’ve been given—your voice, your vote, your time, your platform—for the kingdom of God? Paul remembered which kingdom he represented, even while standing trial. As you reflect on your life, your priorities, and your decisions—are they shaped more by earthly identity or heavenly citizenship?

What God calls leaders to embody, He calls His people to reflect. This is not just a charge for leadership—it’s a calling for all who follow Jesus. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion In what specific ways does your life align—or not align—with the gospel you profess to believe? What would it look like for you to “finish your course” with courage in this season of life? How can you personally help build up the church body with grace-fueled vigilance?

Time is short, people matter, and eternity is real—so let’s wake up, lean in, and live like we’ve been raised to life. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion Consider how urgency and intentionality show up (or don’t) in your conversations with family, friends, or coworkers. What would change if you knew today might be your last opportunity to speak the truth or hear it? Like Eutychus, drift can happen even when you’re in the right room. Are there places where you’ve become passive or numb? What step do you need to take to “shift your seat” and re-engage with Jesus? Resurrection power creates ripple effects. Who in your life might need the hope you carry? How can you run toward the fallen like Paul did and speak life into their story?

The gospel calls us to confront our idols, remove them from the throne of our lives, and replace them with the One who is greater. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What’s an idol—either obvious or hidden—that you’ve sensed the Holy Spirit inviting you to confront? How has it shaped your priorities or sense of worth? How do you typically respond to resistance—either from others or within yourself—when Jesus challenges something you’ve clung to? What does it practically look like to “put off the old self” and “put on the new self” in your current season of life? Where is God inviting you to live from your identity in Christ instead of something counterfeit?

We cannot pretend when it comes to faith—the enemy isn’t fooled, and neither is God. -- Questions for Reflection & Discussion What does it look like in your life to be truly available to God—not just praying for His help, but yielding your plans, timing, and control to Him? In what ways have you been tempted to “use” God for outcomes rather than pursuing a deeper relationship with Him? Is there anything in your life you need to “burn”—something that’s holding you back from full surrender to Jesus?