Do you have any friendships you can really count on — the kind of friendships you might call your “lifelines?” God designed us to have friendships we can trust, but God also knew we’d need some help figuring out how to build friendships that are lifelines for each other. In this 2-week series, we’ll look at the kind of friendship Jesus models for us: friendship that lets us be real and gives us a chance to grow.

If someone asked who you are, what would you say? Maybe you’d say your name. Or maybe you’d say, “I’m a musician. A basketball player. A friend. A daughter or son. I’m a human!” Those things might be true, but have you ever felt like you’re still figuring out who you are, what you’re good at, or why you’re here? In this 4-week series, the stories of Jesus and John the Baptist, and the words of Paul, will help us see why discovering who Jesus is helps us discover who we’re meant to be. Not only is Jesus is distinct from anyone who has ever lived, but God made us distinct too, with distinct gifts we can use to serve God and others, and unique distinctions that are worth celebrating.

If someone asked who you are, what would you say? Maybe you’d say your name. Or maybe you’d say, “I’m a musician. A basketball player. A friend. A daughter or son. I’m a human!” Those things might be true, but have you ever felt like you’re still figuring out who you are, what you’re good at, or why you’re here? In this 4-week series, the stories of Jesus and John the Baptist, and the words of Paul, will help us see why discovering who Jesus is helps us discover who we’re meant to be. Not only is Jesus is distinct from anyone who has ever lived, but God made us distinct too, with distinct gifts we can use to serve God and others, and unique distinctions that are worth celebrating.

If someone asked who you are, what would you say? Maybe you’d say your name. Or maybe you’d say, “I’m a musician. A basketball player. A friend. A daughter or son. I’m a human!” Those things might be true, but have you ever felt like you’re still figuring out who you are, what you’re good at, or why you’re here? In this 4-week series, the stories of Jesus and John the Baptist, and the words of Paul, will help us see why discovering who Jesus is helps us discover who we’re meant to be. Not only is Jesus is distinct from anyone who has ever lived, but God made us distinct too, with distinct gifts we can use to serve God and others, and unique distinctions that are worth celebrating.

If someone asked who you are, what would you say? Maybe you’d say your name. Or maybe you’d say, “I’m a musician. A basketball player. A friend. A daughter or son. I’m a human!” Those things might be true, but have you ever felt like you’re still figuring out who you are, what you’re good at, or why you’re here? In this 4-week series, the stories of Jesus and John the Baptist, and the words of Paul, will help us see why discovering who Jesus is helps us discover who we’re meant to be. Not only is Jesus is distinct from anyone who has ever lived, but God made us distinct too, with distinct gifts we can use to serve God and others, and unique distinctions that are worth celebrating

Christmas is almost here! Which means there’s a lot for us to look forward to — sometimes impatiently. But you know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? It’s true for Christmases now, but it was true on the very first Christmas as well. You see, the day Jesus came to earth wasn’t a sudden surprise. It was the first step in a long-awaited plan. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear the Christmas story from the perspective of the prophets in the Old Testament, who foretold and then waited for the good things God had in store. Christmas is a reminder of what the prophets proclaimed: that God has always had a plan, that Jesus completes God’s plan, that God’s plans bring joy, and that God’s plans require sacrifice.

Christmas is almost here! Which means there’s a lot for us to look forward to — sometimes impatiently. But you know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? It’s true for Christmases now, but it was true on the very first Christmas as well. You see, the day Jesus came to earth wasn’t a sudden surprise. It was the first step in a long-awaited plan. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear the Christmas story from the perspective of the prophets in the Old Testament, who foretold and then waited for the good things God had in store. Christmas is a reminder of what the prophets proclaimed: that God has always had a plan, that Jesus completes God’s plan, that God’s plans bring joy, and that God’s plans require sacrifice.

Christmas is almost here! Which means there’s a lot for us to look forward to — sometimes impatiently. But you know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? It’s true for Christmases now, but it was true on the very first Christmas as well. You see, the day Jesus came to earth wasn’t a sudden surprise. It was the first step in a long-awaited plan. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear the Christmas story from the perspective of the prophets in the Old Testament, who foretold and then waited for the good things God had in store. Christmas is a reminder of what the prophets proclaimed: that God has always had a plan, that Jesus completes God’s plan, that God’s plans bring joy, and that God’s plans require sacrifice.

Christmas is almost here! Which means there’s a lot for us to look forward to — sometimes impatiently. But you know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? It’s true for Christmases now, but it was true on the very first Christmas as well. You see, the day Jesus came to earth wasn’t a sudden surprise. It was the first step in a long-awaited plan. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear the Christmas story from the perspective of the prophets in the Old Testament, who foretold and then waited for the good things God had in store. Christmas is a reminder of what the prophets proclaimed: that God has always had a plan, that Jesus completes God’s plan, that God’s plans bring joy, and that God’s plans require sacrifice.

Being a good friend is easy! As long as you make time to hang out, remember their birthday, and answer their texts, you’re eligible for the Great Friend Award . . . right? Friendship might feel easy when life is easy, but it gets more complicated when your friends are hurting or struggling. What should you do? What should you say? What should you not say? When our friends need help, there are no easy answers, but in this 4-week series, we’ll follow the lead of a few people who’ve been there. Through the stories of Job, Ruth, Naomi, Elijah, and Eli, we’ll see how God invites us to “be with” people when they’re grieving, lonely, in need, or feeling hopeless, and how God is already with them.

Being a good friend is easy! As long as you make time to hang out, remember their birthday, and answer their texts, you’re eligible for the Great Friend Award . . . right? Friendship might feel easy when life is easy, but it gets more complicated when your friends are hurting or struggling. What should you do? What should you say? What should you not say? When our friends need help, there are no easy answers, but in this 4-week series, we’ll follow the lead of a few people who’ve been there. Through the stories of Job, Ruth, Naomi, Elijah, and Eli, we’ll see how God invites us to “be with” people when they’re grieving, lonely, in need, or feeling hopeless, and how God is already with them.

Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. In times of loss, grief, pain, or doubt, it’s normal to have questions — and it’s okay to ask them. If you’ve ever tried to make sense of your circumstances, or wished life didn’t have to hurt so much, or wondered why God won’t fix what you’re going through, you’re not alone. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear about a few people from Scripture who know exactly what it’s like. With Esther, David, Peter, Amos, and John, we’ll explore hard questions you thought you weren’t allowed to ask, like “When people are hurting, where is God? When I’m hurting, does God leave me? If God is good, why do bad things happen? And when life hurts, is God listening?“

Being a good friend is easy! As long as you make time to hang out, remember their birthday, and answer their texts, you’re eligible for the Great Friend Award . . . right? Friendship might feel easy when life is easy, but it gets more complicated when your friends are hurting or struggling. What should you do? What should you say? What should you not say? When our friends need help, there are no easy answers, but in this 4-week series, we’ll follow the lead of a few people who’ve been there. Through the stories of Job, Ruth, Naomi, Elijah, and Eli, we’ll see how God invites us to “be with” people when they’re grieving, lonely, in need, or feeling hopeless, and how God is already with them.

Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. In times of loss, grief, pain, or doubt, it’s normal to have questions — and it’s okay to ask them. If you’ve ever tried to make sense of your circumstances, or wished life didn’t have to hurt so much, or wondered why God won’t fix what you’re going through, you’re not alone. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear about a few people from Scripture who know exactly what it’s like. With Esther, David, Peter, Amos, and John, we’ll explore hard questions you thought you weren’t allowed to ask, like “When people are hurting, where is God? When I’m hurting, does God leave me? If God is good, why do bad things happen? And when life hurts, is God listening?“

Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. In times of loss, grief, pain, or doubt, it’s normal to have questions — and it’s okay to ask them. If you’ve ever tried to make sense of your circumstances, or wished life didn’t have to hurt so much, or wondered why God won’t fix what you’re going through, you’re not alone. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear about a few people from Scripture who know exactly what it’s like. With Esther, David, Peter, Amos, and John, we’ll explore hard questions you thought you weren’t allowed to ask, like “When people are hurting, where is God? When I’m hurting, does God leave me? If God is good, why do bad things happen? And when life hurts, is God listening?“

Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. In times of loss, grief, pain, or doubt, it’s normal to have questions — and it’s okay to ask them. If you’ve ever tried to make sense of your circumstances, or wished life didn’t have to hurt so much, or wondered why God won’t fix what you’re going through, you’re not alone. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear about a few people from Scripture who know exactly what it’s like. With Esther, David, Peter, Amos, and John, we’ll explore hard questions you thought you weren’t allowed to ask, like “When people are hurting, where is God? When I’m hurting, does God leave me? If God is good, why do bad things happen? And when life hurts, is God listening?“

Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. In times of loss, grief, pain, or doubt, it’s normal to have questions — and it’s okay to ask them. If you’ve ever tried to make sense of your circumstances, or wished life didn’t have to hurt so much, or wondered why God won’t fix what you’re going through, you’re not alone. In this 4-week series, we’ll hear about a few people from Scripture who know exactly what it’s like. With Esther, David, Peter, Amos, and John, we’ll explore hard questions you thought you weren’t allowed to ask, like “When people are hurting, where is God? When I’m hurting, does God leave me? If God is good, why do bad things happen? And when life hurts, is God listening?”

When Jesus was on earth, he had a lot to say about love, but not everyone loved him. Instead, Jesus’ opponents hated him, attacked him, and saw him as extreme — dangerous — revolutionary — a radical. And they had a point! The things Jesus taught about loving God and loving others challenged the status quo and changed the world forever. That’s pretty radical. In this 4-week series from the book of James, we’ll look at four ways Jesus invites us to love according to his revolutionary example. These ideas might seem simple, but when we choose to listen more than we speak, refuse to play favorites, watch our words, and fight for peace, we’ll see just how radical Jesus’ teachings really are.

When Jesus was on earth, he had a lot to say about love, but not everyone loved him. Instead, Jesus’ opponents hated him, attacked him, and saw him as extreme — dangerous — revolutionary — a radical. And they had a point! The things Jesus taught about loving God and loving others challenged the status quo and changed the world forever. That’s pretty radical. In this 4-week series from the book of James, we’ll look at four ways Jesus invites us to love according to his revolutionary example. These ideas might seem simple, but when we choose to listen more than we speak, refuse to play favorites, watch our words, and fight for peace, we’ll see just how radical Jesus’ teachings really are.

When Jesus was on earth, he had a lot to say about love, but not everyone loved him. Instead, Jesus’ opponents hated him, attacked him, and saw him as extreme — dangerous — revolutionary — a radical. And they had a point! The things Jesus taught about loving God and loving others challenged the status quo and changed the world forever. That’s pretty radical. In this 4-week series from the book of James, we’ll look at four ways Jesus invites us to love according to his revolutionary example. These ideas might seem simple, but when we choose to listen more than we speak, refuse to play favorites, watch our words, and fight for peace, we’ll see just how radical Jesus’ teachings really are.