12Stone Church

The Kingdom of God operates on principles that are entirely different from those of the world, and the church must be aware of this distinction to avoid conforming to the world's ways. While the world's kingdom leads to brokenness and regret, God's Kingdom offers healing and blessing. Jesus instructs the church to be in the world but not like it, showing compassion and humility to help people come to faith. This week's challenge encourages believers to embody a "pineapple" standard for personal conduct while adopting a "peach" approach—soft and approachable—towards others, making it easier for them to find Jesus.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

In a world filled with anxiety from financial instability, job stress, and personal struggles, it seems impossible to escape the constant worry that overtakes our minds and hearts. However, in the Kingdom of God, peace is meant to be the norm. While external stressors will always exist, our response to them can be transformed. As believers, we're called to seek God's Kingdom first, laying down our burdens and embracing His peace. To practice this peace, we can engage in prayer and journaling, focusing on God's promises and allowing the Prince of Peace to calm our anxious hearts. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Raising a family on Godly values can be challenging, but it's essential to keep God at the center. Regardless of your upbringing, God's purpose and design for family remain constant. Key reflections include understanding God's mission for families, finding your allegiance, identity, and calling in Christ, and connecting with a spiritual family for support. Joining a group can help you build a strong spiritual foundation for your family. Consider finding a group through 12stone.com/groups this week. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

How forgiveness is handled in the Kingdom is different than how it’s handled outside the Kingdom. We know the Kingdom of God has a King, a culture, and a calendar, but it also has a code. The world’s code tells us to “get even.” But the Kingdom Code of Conduct instructs us to approach life differently. For followers of Jesus, the Kingdom Code that governs relationships is forgiveness.  But sometimes forgiveness can be complicated. We need to forgive, and we need to be forgiven.  To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

The Kingdom of God is a love story set in the backdrop of war. A biblical approach to understanding spiritual warfare is necessary as a Christian to know how to fight against the devil’s schemes. A lot of people struggle to believe in Jesus, but it’s more difficult to deny the power of evil in this world. That is spiritual warfare! For some reason the idea of evil and supernatural forces of darkness makes us feel uncomfortable! It is important for us to learn how to fight these supernatural forces with Kingdom power and Biblical principles! God has already won the war, but we need to equip ourselves to know how to fight our battles!     To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

We are in a complex season as a country, marked by division and political segmentation. By focusing on the Kingdom of God, which Jesus emphasized throughout His ministry we can take steps to live wisely. Jesus proclaimed the nearness of God’s Kingdom, gave us authority to make disciples, and taught us to pray for its coming on earth as it is in heaven. Our responsibility is to commit to living out a Kingdom perspective in every aspect of our lives—relationships, careers, finances, and more—living to reflect Heaven’s reality here on earth.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

As we’ve learned in past weeks of our hymn series, hymns are used to pass faith from one generation to the next. "How Great Thou Art" is a hymn that follows a roadmap to show us many different attributes of God and His faithfulness. We know that God is love. We know that He is Truth, but sometimes we can forget about His power, His presence, and His promises. Our lives are filled with different seasons and circumstances where we get to see different characteristics of God in fresh ways.  This hymn reminds us of that!     To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Over the past few weeks, we have explored hymns that have influenced past generations. Today, we focused on a hymn that is shaping our generation and those to come, proclaiming the promise of new life in Jesus. It's easy to say yes to Jesus, yet many of us remain trapped in our old ways. Our sins imprison us, but Jesus has paid the ultimate price for our freedom, allowing us to find new life in Him. Key reflections from today include: recognizing that following Jesus transforms us into new creations, understanding that sin is a destructive force, not a trivial amusement, and realizing that our goal should be to draw closer to Jesus, not just to avoid sin. This week, spend time in prayer, confessing the worldly things that hold you back. Identify your personal "jail cell" and lay it at the feet of Jesus.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

In difficult times, finding true joy can be challenging, often leading us to either ignore our emotions or try to control everything to prevent bad outcomes. Neither approach is effective. Instead, we can learn from King David in the Psalms, who shows us a different path: he wrestles honestly with his feelings, speaks God’s truth over them, and eventually, his feelings align with the truth he believes. To experience true joy in tough circumstances, we must turn to God's truth and love, finding joy in who God is rather than in changing our circumstances.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

      To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Our hope for you is to understand that Church is not merely a physical building or a service you attend; it is a family to which you belong. You are the Church, embodying Jesus and forming a family around Him. While the works we do for God are important, our love for Him is paramount. God has started a good work in each of us and will continue to grow that work until we meet Jesus. The most important thing God desires is a personal relationship with you. As you move through the summer, consider making July a month dedicated to knowing God more deeply. Spend daily time with Him, not as a task to be checked off, but as an invitation to grow your relationship with Jesus. Reflect on the significance of loving God more than the works you do for Him, and pray for guidance on how to deepen your connection with Him. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

In the recent discussions on practices of healthy people, the focus has shifted to self-awareness. Self-awareness enhances our motivation to help others and fulfill our spiritual callings, whereas a lack of self-awareness leads to selfishness and self-sabotage. Key reflections highlight that self-absorption stems from a lack of self-awareness and that safe individuals maintain accountability within close relationships and practice self-sacrifice. Developing self-awareness is essential for building healthy relationships and requires personal reflection and external accountability. This week, you are encouraged to seek divine guidance to enhance self-awareness through daily prayer.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

A safe person is easy to describe and sometimes hard to find! They are mostly healthy— remember: no one’s perfect—and help you become who God created you to be. They can be spouses, friends, mentors, or family. Whether you have this person in your life or are still seeking them out, there are a few ways to prepare yourself and your relationships! Let’s talk about 3 practices for healthy relationships!   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Our lives are filled with diverse relationships, including friendships, family, and church connections, all designed by God. Corrupting these relationships leads to dysfunction and unhealthiness. The biblical story of Jacob and Esau illustrates the consequences of dishonesty in relationships. Safe people, who are crucial for healthy relationships, are honest, non-condemning, and authentic. They own their issues rather than deceive themselves or others. To foster honesty, we are encouraged to engage in honest conversations and pray for guidance, ensuring we and future generations benefit from healthier relationships.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Between the constant news updates and the habit of doomscrolling on social media, we often fail to recognize the joy being drained from our lives or falsely perceived in others. By stepping back from our screens and observing the world right in front of us, even amidst hardships, we can experience the “Joy of the Lord!” Achieving this requires us to invite God into our lives and walk the path back to joy. This journey may look different for each of us, as we are all uniquely designed and wired, but God's desire is for us to enjoy Him and His creation.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

The societal pressure to love work and the prevalence of being overworked often lead to exhaustion even after taking vacations. It emphasizes that this constant busyness is not what we are called to do. Instead, it highlights the importance of observing the Sabbath, a day dedicated to rest and delighting in the goodness of God. It points out that even God took a day to rest and enjoy the world's creation and encourages people to embrace this practice. The main focus is on understanding and practicing the Sabbath to find true rest in God.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Freedom and responsibility are interconnected. As young adults, Daniel and his friends, raised with Jerusalem's values, had to bring these roots to a new environment. They navigated their decisions in a worldly setting with their spiritual roots, choosing to honor God instead of succumbing to Babylon. Their example shows that our decisions have consequences. Key thoughts include the impact of different types of decisions, the importance of establishing wise routines, and seeking God when mistakes are made. The discussion emphasized the importance of mentors who guide us in faith decisions and encouraged expressing gratitude to them and praying for the next generation, particularly graduating seniors, to support them in their spiritual journeys.    To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

As we navigate a world filled with distractions, it's hard to determine what deserves our limited time, resources, and attention. This week, we examine how Daniel prioritized an eternal perspective, helping us discern what's essential and how to live with an eye toward eternity.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Being rooted in something shapes your life's direction, affirmation, motivation, and strength; however, sticking to familiar roots can drift us towards pride and chaos. Thankfully, when we surrender our hearts and become rooted in God, His faithfulness guides us.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram

Everyday we have to decide who or what we put first in our lives. What we choose is what we honor. We are called to serve God and to worship Him alone, but what do we do when things get complicated? How should we respond when culture expects us to put other things before God? How do we know if we should relax, refuse, or remove ourselves from a culture that is not rooted in biblical truth? Throughout this week’s message, we dive into these questions by studying how Daniel and his friends faithfully refused Babylon’s cultural ideals, remained rooted, and worshiped God alone.   To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: GIVE   STAY CONNECTED:  YouTube Facebook Instagram