We were made for relationships, we were made to love. But the counterfeit version is love that’s based on achievement. The good news of Jesus is we are loved because of somebody else’s achievement. And because of what He has done, we are sons and daughters of His. A message by Dr. Joel C. Hunter.
We are often tempted to try to earn the approval of people, when God’s approval is what we need. Yet, we don’t need to strive for His approval. There is nothing we can add to what He has done for us. It is through the sacrifice of Christ that we are made holy. A message by Pastor Vernon Rainwater.
An addiction to cynicism and sarcasm is often the result of an inability to trust or a fear of being disappointed. While there is a special place for caution and critical thinking in life, there is little room for cynicism. In fact, it robs us of the joy to be found in love and in hope. Are your attempts to guard yourself against disappointment actually consigning you to disappointment? A message by Dr. Joel C. Hunter.
What happens when we define success outside of God’s grace? We get trapped in comparing ourselves to others and measuring our lives up against a flawed and destructive standard - striving for something that never quite fulfills. In this message, Dr. Joel C. Hunter asks us: Is winning really worth it?
After contemplating in worship the humble nature of our Servant King, Dr. Hunter takes a look at what a need for power can do to a person and their relationships. Scripture says that God gave man dominion, but is that the same as dominating or exploiting others for our own gain? Unlikely. Here, we dig deeper - exploring why we crave power and why our maneuvers to get it shouldn’t be quite so Socially Acceptable?.
After a laid-back and folksy worship set, Dr. Hunter talks to us about our inclination to look for easy, immediate solutions to our problems. He reminds us that taking the path of least resistance in life - avoiding conflict or just going through the motions - is not God’s desire for His people. God knows what He’s doing ... so, the question becomes: Are we okay if/when His process takes time?
We spend a lot of energy trying to protect ourselves and our habits. Oftentimes, that leads us to being judgmental of others, pointing out their flaws in an attempt to deflect attention away from our own shortcomings. While this is often a subtle behavior, it is not without significant consequence. Following an inspirational worship set, Dr. Hunter talks about our inclination to cast blame and why such reaction inhibits intimacy and prevents meaningful relationships.
On a difficult weekend - the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks - we leaned heavily into the hope to be found in Christ. Acknowledging the reality of tragedy and pain in our lives, the worship set and message explored how we can actually take comfort in how God’s plan for our lives is far greater than our comfort.
In a service where we’re reminded in worship that God deserves all the glory, the message from Dr. Hunter exposed our tendency to create unworthy idols - even in (and especially in) our religious rituals and machinations.
