This week, our Lead Pastor Nate wraps up our teaching series, “The Good Life,” by looking at Jesus’ most perplexing words in His happiness manifesto: “Happy are the persecuted” (Mt 5:10). How could this possibly be? Could it be we’ve so squeezed out any element of suffering from our definition Read more
Our Lead Pastor Nate continues teaching through our series, “The Good Life,” by looking at Jesus’ words, “Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” In this message, Nate explores a common place of tension – the workplace – and what it might mean to be Read more
Our Lead Pastor Nate continues teaching through our series, “The Good Life.” In the middle of Jesus’ head-scratching happiness manifesto, Jesus says, “Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” It’s important that we realize *how* this works. If we don’t realize how it works to be Read more
Mercy is not the currency of our culture; shame and unforgiveness are. Shame and unforgiveness are used as the tools to effect change for those not in our “tribe,” whether that be a political tribe, a religious tribe, or any sort of idealogical tribe. We get away with our use Read more
How can it be that those who hunger and thirst for God’s justice will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6)? A simple look at our world – its injustices, suffering, and brokenness – would seem to indicate those longing for God’s justice would be dissatisfied. Where are You God? In fact, some Read more
Misplaced confidence can be a dangerous thing. It can take you places… the wrong places. In Matthew 5:5, Jesus says, “Happy are the humble.” To be humble doesn’t mean to lack confidence; to be humble means to properly place your confidence. Our Lead Pastor Nate takes a look at the Read more
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” What could Jesus have meant by these words in his strange happiness manifesto? In this message, our Lead Pastor Nate explores some possibilities and takes a look at a few reasons God’s people should mourn. Could it be the first Read more
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). In other words, blessed are the spiritual beggars who admit their need for Jesus, for theirs is the presence, power, and life of Jesus. Listen as our Lead Pastor Nate Ray continues our teaching series Read more
It’s a strange thing when you get what you want and you’re still not happy. A lot of us know happiness for a moment, but still find ourselves searching for transcendent happiness that runs deeper than any given moment. Pastor Derwin Gray calls Matthew 5:1-10 Jesus’ “happiness manifesto.” Listen as Read more
Nothing unites like a common enemy, but that type of unity always has an expiration date. It seems we’re more divided than ever. Yet, Jesus’ story invites us into something different. Jesus unites people who would otherwise be divided, for the healing of the world. Listen as our Lead Pastor Read more