Where Are You When I Hurt?

I Have A Serious Friend Request

Loneliness is one of the most widespread struggles in our culture. People may be more digitally connected than ever, but many still wonder, “Am I alone?” In this message, we look at the mission Jesus gave His people and the call to bring life to a lonely and lifeless world. Jesus came so that people might have life to the full, and He sends His followers to make Him known. But He does not send us alone. The Great Commission is a co-mission. Jesus goes with us. The church is not a closed club. It is a community of people following Jesus together and living on mission for those who are not here yet. This message challenges us to build real relationships, welcome others, invite people in, and share the love of Christ with courage and compassion. Whether it starts with a conversation, a meal, a welcome on Sunday morning, or an invitation to VBS, each of us has a part to play in helping others find their way home. Discussion QuestionsWhere do you see loneliness showing up in your neighborhood, workplace, family, or church? Why do you think people can have many online connections and still feel deeply alone? What makes it difficult for you to invite someone into your life, your home, or your church? Who is one person God may be asking you to love, listen to, or invite this week? What would it look like for you to treat the Great Commission as a “co-mission” with Jesus?

Where Are You When I Hurt?

Life is messy. Relationships are messy. Following Jesus can be messy too. Scripture never promises that life will be all sunshine and rainbows once we follow Christ. In fact, Jesus told us plainly that we would face trials and sorrows, but He also told us to take heart because He has overcome the world. In this message from James 1, we look at how God works in the middle of hardship. Trials and temptations are not the same. Temptation pulls us away from God, but trials can become opportunities to lean into Him. God does not waste our pain. He uses hard seasons to grow endurance, remove what is unholy, and refine us until His image is reflected more clearly in our lives. Even when we feel beat up by life, we can choose to become better instead of bitter. We can bring our pain to the Father, trust Him in the fire, and remember that He is with us, working in us, around us, and through us. Discussion Questions 1) Where in your life do you currently feel “sucked up, washed down, and blown away”? 2) What is the difference between a trial that can draw you closer to God and a temptation that pulls you away from Him? 3) Why do you think it is so difficult to “consider it joy” when going through hardship? 4) What might God be trying to refine or remove in your life during this season? 5) How can your response to trials become a witness to God, to others, and even to yourself?

Am I Alone?

In “Am I Alone?”, we are reminded that following Jesus is not passive, isolated, or meant to stay stuck in the past. Jesus asks a simple but searching question in Matthew 9: “Do you really believe I can do this?” That question invites us to examine what we believe about God, what we believe about His work in us, and what we believe He can still do through His church. This message challenges us to become what we believe. God has not called us to quit, coast, or settle. He has called us to become more like Jesus and to live as people who are sent into our homes, our community, and the world. We are not alone. God has given us one another, and together we can step forward in faith. Discussion Questions 1) Jesus asked, “Do you really believe I can do this?” Where do you need to answer that question honestly in your own life? 2) The sermon said that coming to Christ is the starting line, not the finish line. What is one area where God may be calling you to keep growing? 3) What role are you currently playing in the life of the church: attending, growing, serving, leading, or being sent? 4) What past hurts, fears, or disappointments might be acting like a “lid” on what you believe God can do? 5) What would it look like this week to move from simply attending church to taking greater ownership in the mission of Jesus?

He's Not Done Yet

Mother’s Day is not simple for everyone. For some, it is a day of celebration. For others, it carries grief, loss, infertility, strained relationships, or painful memories. In Luke 7, Jesus encounters a widow from Nain who is walking behind the coffin of her only son. She does not ask Jesus for help. She does not make a speech. She is simply grieving. And Jesus sees her. This standalone message reminds us that God is present in the places we feel most alone, that Jesus sees people others overlook, and that God is able to redeem even what feels broken beyond repair. The miracle at Nain is not just a story about one mother and one son. It is a preview of the resurrection hope found in Jesus Christ. Discussion Questions 1) Where in your life do you most need to remember that God is already present? 2) What makes it difficult to believe that God truly sees you in your pain? 3) How does Jesus’ compassion toward the widow of Nain challenge the way you view your own grief or the grief of others? 4) What is the difference between God “fixing” something and God “redeeming” something? 5) Who is one trusted person you could invite into what you have been carrying alone?

God Wants to Work Through Us

What if the biggest thing holding you back from living out your faith… is you? This message challenges us to rethink how we approach calling, service, and obedience. God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for willing ones. Throughout Scripture, we see that it’s not about how much someone has been given, but what they do with it. We’re reminded that following Jesus means more than belief. It means action. It means trusting Him enough to step out, even when the outcome is unclear. The question isn’t whether God can use you. The question is whether you’ll say yes. Discussion Questions: 1) What is something you feel God may be nudging you to do right now? 2) What fears or excuses tend to hold you back from stepping out in faith? 3) How do you personally define success, and how does that compare to God’s definition? 4) In what ways are you currently using your gifts to serve others? 5) What would it look like for you to take one intentional step this week toward serving God more fully?