By Rodney Arnold

The word pictures of Jesus give us something on which to build our lives. Sometimes His parables unravel our perceptions of God. At other points they increase our hope and renew our image of His Kingdom. He seems completely at ease with the open-ended questions, the critique of faith, and the broad imagery which His parables give. Using two everyda…

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet paints a vivid picture of the kingdom of heaven as a royal wedding banquet—lavish, prepared, and ready. The King has set the table, the feast is prepared, and now the invitation goes out. This is not just a meal; it’s a moment of decision. The question is, will we accept the invitation, and will we carry that invi…

In a world where quick answers and instant gratification are the norm, Jesus tells a disruptive parable about a persistent widow and an unjust judge. But this isn’t just a story about nagging God. It’s a call to steadfast, eschatological prayer: the kind of prayer that cries “Thy Kingdom come” even when nothing seems to change. Through the widow’s …

If there’s anything we can expect from Jesus, it’s honesty. He tells people they have “little faith” while affirming others who have “great faith.” He calls out hypocrisy in those worried about being religiously correct, and He speaks straight to those who don’t seem to care about God at all. At the close of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells a s…

Jesus paints a stunning picture of the Father’s heart through the story of the prodigal son—not just a tale of rebellion and return, but a radical revelation of God’s compassionate love. When the son who squandered everything finally comes home, the father doesn’t meet him with anger or shame. He runs—runs—to embrace him, robe him, and restore him.…

Luke 14:25-33 challenges us to count the cost of following Jesus. Discipleship isn’t casual—it demands total surrender. Jesus calls us to lay down everything, even what we hold most dear, to truly follow Him. This passage asks: Have we counted the cost? Are we willing to give Him our all?By Pastor Tim Veenstra

We're often content with appearances, but Jesus calls us to something deeper: true spiritual life. In Revelation 3, the church in Sardis had the reputation of being alive but was spiritually dead. This message is a wake-up call to shake off apathy, remember the gospel, and return to a life marked by repentance, power, and purpose. It’s time to wake…

Examples of faith and faithfulness, like we see in Ruth and her family, are awe-inspiring. They remind us how incredible people actually are and how ordinary people can make phenomenal impact. Looking on, we wonder how they do what they do and how they risk what they risk. But we're not intended to be spectators of faithfulness. Rather we're create…

This powerful promise from Scripture finds a living example in the story of Ruth. When she humbly approached Boaz and asked him to be her kinsman redeemer, she stepped out in faith—boldly yet respectfully requesting what was both within God's provision and Boaz’s power to give. Ruth’s story reminds us that sometimes what we need most is already wit…

As those created in the image of God, we're not just shaped by His hands, we're shaped to reflect His heart. One of the most profound ways we mirror our Creator is by living out hesed—the rich, covenantal love God continually shows us. Hesed is more than kindness; it’s a deep, loyal, and sacrificial love that never gives up, even when it’s undeserv…

Oftentimes, we look at Jesus and ask or even wish that He fulfill our personal agenda. Jesus is not as interested in our agenda for Him, as he is in His agenda for us.By Dr. Chris Bounds

The story of Ruth is built on the key themes of loyalty, boldness, and generosity. But laced in and out of those confidence-building themes are the realities of tragedy, famine, and disobedience. In the first chapter of Ruth, the people who would become her family and Ruth herself face many factors outside. They, just like us, are faced with the qu…

In Colossians 1:15-23, we’re given a breathtaking vision of Jesus Christ—one that lifts our eyes beyond the ordinary and into the Holy of Holies. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the One by whom and for whom all things were made. In Him, all things hold together. This passage invites us to see Jesus not merely …

You may be carrying a heavy load this Easter season. The stresses of life, worries about finances, mental health battles, pressures at work, and on and on... But there's good news! Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, and He offers salvation, rest, joy, and peace to anyone who comes to Him. It's gonna be okay because Jesus is alive!…

Sometimes we don’t understand what God is doing—and that’s okay. In John 12, even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t fully grasp what was happening. The crowds cheering at the Triumphal Entry had no idea their Messiah was riding in not to conquer by force, but to lay down His life. Confusion and unmet expectations swirled all around. But Jesus was sti…

In 1971, a man from central Indiana penned the lyrics of a gospel song called, "Because He Lives." When Bill and Gloria Gaither first sang the lyrics, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow," they were echoing the belief and hope of centuries of Jesus followers. Because of Jesus, we have hope that things are actually gonna be okay. But how does Jes…

It's the season finale of Digging Deeper! Pastors Andrea, Tim, and Peter discuss the message from Sunday and explore Jesus' parables on how we should live as His followers. How do we live with assurance of our salvation without taking advantage of God's grace? Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Saying "yes" to the little …

Praying with eyes open means being fully aware of the needs around us and responding with compassion and action. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus teaches that serving others—especially the hungry, thirsty, stranger, sick, and imprisoned—is a direct reflection of our service to Him. The passage reminds us that faith is not just about words or rituals but …

Pastors Andrea, Tim, and Peter discuss Acts 17—how to share the gospel boldly and speak Jesus to those around us. Did you know that 56% of Indiana residents haven't been to church in the last year? There's opportunity for us to differentiate Jesus from other "gods." Let's not miss the moments when we can share the good news and love of Christ with …

We love the expressions and exploration of a child learning to talk. We crave hearing from the person with whom we’re falling in love. But on the other hand, we get tired of too many words. We describe some people as "chewing our ears off" or "babbling on" or "flapping their gums." We were made to communicate, and followers of Jesus are called to t…

It's Fanning the Flame week! Pastors Andrea, Tim, Lindsay, and Isaac share their takeaways from this week of special services. We've gathered for four nights to worship, pray, and learn together as the Body of Christ, and this week has been a powerful, heavenly encounter. Our Digging Deeper hosts discuss the invitation to participate in the Lord's …

We’re all called to be water-walkers. We’re not called to the comfort of the boat, but a life on mission—walking on the water with Jesus and doing the impossible. --- Whether smuggling Bibles, feeding lepers, or working amongst a Muslim people group, Mick Veach’s commitment to share the love of God has taken him all over the world. As the Global Pa…

Every person's heart is constantly trying to fill itself with something other than God. The trouble is it never works. Nothing in this world is ever enough. Jesus offers us a different path to a blessed life: the path of the pure in heart! --- Brad Bullock grew up in a non-Christian home, but his life was radically transformed as a teenager when he…

Just as for Gideon, God’s presence with us is the key to victory. --- Geoff Eckart lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Arianna and their three daughters. He’s the lead pastor at Daybreak Church in Hudsonville, MI, and the founder and CEO of Never The Same, a national youth ministry organization with a vision to see new generations transformed in Ch…

By Dr. Tim Elmore

We were created to enjoy rich community with others, but how can we as Christ-followers dive deeper in relationship with each other? In the midst of a solitude and loneliness epidemic, followers of Jesus have a roadmap in the Bible of how to “one-another.” --- Dr. Tim Elmore is the founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, a nonprofit organization create…

Revisit Sunday's message with Pastors Andrea, Tim, and Peter. The Holy Spirit wants to speak to us, but do we take time to listen for His voice? How can we train our ears to hear from Him? Tim and Peter share practical ways you can practice listening for the Holy Spirit's leading in your own life.By Pastor Andrea Reimer, Pastor Tim Veenstra, Pastor Peter Damaska

Praying with ears open is about more than just speaking to God; it's about creating a space to truly listen. In our prayers, we often pour out our hearts, but it’s equally important to pause and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. When we open our ears to God's voice, we invite His guidance and direction into our lives. The Holy Spirit speaks …

Pastors Andrea, Tim, and Peter are back in the recording studio for another series of "Digging Deeper." Listen as they discuss Sunday's message from our new teaching series, "The Go of the Gospel." We often think the way we see things is the correct or "right" way. But will we allow Jesus to transform the way we see things to better share the good …

We have the benefit and pleasure of reading the stories of the first followers of Jesus. Through the pages of Scripture, we see them as they rise and fall. We watch as Jesus interacts, teaches, and sends them to represent Him in the world. As we examine them, we wonder: "Will they see the world as Jesus hopes they will see it? Will they see how to …

In Matthew 16:21-26, Jesus shifts the focus of His ministry, revealing to His disciples that He must suffer, die, and be resurrected. Jesus then calls His followers to take up their cross and deny themselves to truly follow Him. This is an invitation for any follower of Jesus into a radical way of life—one that disrupts comfort and security. To fol…

God’s presence has a profound way of disrupting the fear that often holds us back from sharing our faith. He can transform our hesitation into boldness. When we trust in His power rather than our own limitations, we find courage to speak, knowing that He equips us for every moment. In His perfect love, fear is cast out, leaving space for us to conf…

Righteousness can be described as a vehicle for God's love. It's the transport mechanism of God's mercy and justice. God acts in just and good ways as He moves toward us. It's who He is, what He does, and we are better because of it. Not only that, we are to be a reflection and continuation of His right actions in the world. But what happens when w…

In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, sometimes the secret to greater success lies in doing less. By focusing on what truly matters and eliminating distractions, we create space for God to do His best work in and through us. Embrace simplicity, cut down attachments, and watch how much more Kingdom impact will come. Less truly is more whe…

Regular checkups are important, whether for your car, your health, or your relationships. They help ensure everything’s working well, fix what’s off, and keep things running at their best. Today, let’s do a church checkup. Do you understand what the church is meant to be, how it should function, and your role in it? Are you actively contributing to…

Do you have someone in your life who just seems to drain the joy out of you? Someone who tests your patience to the limits and makes you pray for their relocation. We all have “those people” in our lives, but what if God has a purpose for keeping them there? Maybe He’s using them to do something transformative in us.…

Not only is it important to develop our relationship with God, we must also take note of the ways we've developed a relationship with not-gods, what the Bible calls idols. It doesn’t matter who we are, how we're raised, or where we're from, we all have the power to create competing gods in our lives. But God, by His grace, has given us the ability …

We’re all works in progress on the journey we call life. Where’s your journey taken you previously? Where do you find yourself currently? What’s your desired destination in the future? The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the churches in Corinth, challenges apprentices of Jesus not to be aimless or lose focus. Instead, train hard, live with great pur…

Few would be willing to part with what's most precious to them in life. For a parent, can there be anything more precious than their child? Now, imagine the deep emotion of the Father as He gave His one and only Son, Jesus. He gave. As we conclude this series on generosity, we must ask ourselves: “Is there anything we're withholding from God when H…

The story of Jesus' birth is familiar and is the reason we celebrate. We wish you a Merry Christmas! But, although It's familiar, we don't want to overlook this story. Not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we welcome His generosity, looking at His life in order to live generously toward others like He has for us.…

When you think about the future, how do you feel? Anxious? Confident and expectant? Or perhaps somewhere in between? It's entirely human to feel uneasy about what lies ahead; the uncertainties of tomorrow can often be overwhelming. However, we can find inspiration in the remarkable example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who generously entrusted her …

What's your reputation? What are you known for by other people? In the Christmas story, we're introduced to a man named Joseph with a reputation for being a righteous man. In obedience to God, Joseph puts his reputation on the line for Christ and His Kingdom. Does God call on all His followers to give their reputations for His purposes?…

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, once wrote, "Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." There are only so many hours in a day, weeks in a year, and years in a lifetime. How will we steward the time the Lord has given us? What might it look like for you to be generous with the time you've been given?…

The heart of God is summed up in the word GIVE! From Genesis to Revelation, there’s a constant stream of God’s attribute of being a "giver." We are most like our Father when we practice generosity in every area of our lives.By Pastor Dave Engbrecht

We weren't created to live alone. We need each other. In a world filled with brokenness and abandonment, there are burdens too weighty to carry alone. It takes a village to raise a child. Who will be the village for children in the foster system or for children waiting for adoption? Who will be the village for families who answer the call to care f…

We know recovering from a physical injury takes time and attention. Similarly, to get back to normal after a relationship breakdown requires intentionality and healing. Likewise, to feel right again after committing sin often involves a season of humility and restoration. Thankfully, it's in those sensitive, soft areas where the hope of Jesus makes…

Our mission is to meet Jesus' call for all believers in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to make fully committed disciples. Today, we celebrate the goodness of God through the Let's Give It All Away offering and sharing stories of Kingdom impact through our local, regional, and global partners!…

At the close of his letter, the Apostle Paul sums up everything he has been communicating to the churches in Ephesus and the larger Asia Minor area. He gives a clear, repetitive message to the community of faith: “STAND.” There will be opposition from the enemy, so the response of the Church is to STAND. We're to put on the full armor that God make…

If there was anyone in history who “called it like they see it,” we would agree the Apostle Paul fits the description. He is adept at describing Jesus, grace, human relationship, and deep truths about God’s love for His creation. His writings often give clear contrasts between the best and the worst in our world. But more than simply pointing out w…