The Familiar Stranger, Part 5: If God Lives in Me, Why Am I Struggling? | PAUL CROUTHAMEL

Life with the Spirit, Part 3: Temptation Doesn't Have to Win | CHAD BADER

Everyone faces temptation. Whether it's anger, anxiety, addiction, comparison, or the feeling that something else will satisfy us more than God, the struggle is real. In this message, Chad Bader, missionary in Guatemala and longtime Seven Marks partner, explores why temptation isn't a sign of failure, why sin always promises more than it delivers, and how the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live differently. This isn't about trying harder. It's about learning to walk with God one decision at a time. If you've ever wondered why you keep fighting the same battles, this message offers hope and practical steps for moving forward.

Life with the Spirit, Part 2: Winning the Battle in Your Mind | PAUL CROUTHAMEL

What if the biggest battle you're facing isn't around you, but inside your own mind? We all wrestle with anxious thoughts, insecurity, comparison, fear, and the stories we tell ourselves. In this message from our Life with the Spirit series, we discover that real transformation doesn't happen by trying harder. It happens as the Holy Spirit renews the way we think and leads us into greater freedom, peace, and hope. Whether you've been following Jesus for years or you're simply exploring faith, this message offers practical encouragement for anyone who wants to break free from unhealthy thought patterns and experience God's presence in everyday life.

Life with the Spirit, Part 1: Trying Harder Isn't Working | PAUL CROUTHAMEL

Most of us know what it's like to want change but keep ending up in the same place. We make promises to ourselves. We try harder. We rely on more discipline, more effort, and more willpower. Yet the habits, struggles, and patterns we want to leave behind often find their way back into our lives. In this first message of Life with the Spirit, we explore why real transformation isn't found in trying harder. It's found in learning to walk with God's Spirit. The Christian life was never meant to be powered by self-improvement. It's a daily invitation to experience God's presence, find freedom from old patterns, and become the person He created you to be.

The Familiar Stranger, Part 6: Gifted by the Spirit | AYREN NELSON

Most people spend their lives asking questions like: What am I good at? Why am I here? Does what I do actually matter? In this final message of The Familiar Stranger, we explore how the Holy Spirit uniquely gifts ordinary people and invites them into something bigger than themselves. The Bible teaches that every follower of Jesus has a role to play, not for personal recognition, but to help others flourish and to reflect God's heart to the world. Whether you're trying to discover your purpose, wondering how God might want to use your life, or simply curious about the Holy Spirit, this message offers a practical and hopeful vision for life with God.

The Familiar Stranger, Part 5: If God Lives in Me, Why Am I Struggling? | PAUL CROUTHAMEL

Most of us know the gap between who we are and who we want to be. We want more patience, more peace, more self-control, more courage, and a deeper sense of purpose. So why do we often feel stuck? In this message, we explore one of the most important promises Jesus made about the Holy Spirit. If God's power is available to us, what keeps us from experiencing it? And what does it actually mean to live a life empowered by the Spirit? Whether you're new to faith, skeptical of church, or have followed Jesus for years, this conversation invites you to consider what it might look like to move from simply wishing for change to becoming the person God created you to be.