A Season In The Minors: Hosea

Pastor Cole Maxwell

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday, we began our new series, A Season in the Minors, by looking at the book of Hosea.

Hosea reminds us that God’s people have always struggled with spiritual drift. Israel wanted God’s blessing, but they also chased after other idols. And if we are honest, we can do the same. We may not bow before Baal, but we often look to money, comfort, approval, success, politics, relationships, or even ourselves for what only God can provide.

The warning of Hosea is clear: idols always overpromise and underdeliver. They offer temporary satisfaction, but they cannot give lasting fulfillment.

But Hosea is not only a book of warning. It is a book of invitation and hope. God says, “Return, Israel, to the Lord your God” (Hosea 14:1). The good news is that God’s love is greater than our wandering. In Jesus, God has made a way for wandering people to come home.

Wherever you are this week, hear the invitation again:

Return.

Have a great week friends, join us this Sunday as we dive into the book of Amos.

-Pastor Cole Maxwell

Children of Promise

Heather Webb, Executive Director

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, we had the privilege of welcoming Heather Webb, Executive Director of Children of Promise, who shared how God is making wholeness possible for children around the world through the ministry of child sponsorship.

Drawing from Scripture and stories from around the globe, Heather connected the biblical theme of Jubilee—God’s desire for restoration, freedom, and flourishing—to the mission of Children of Promise.

At the heart of their ministry is a simple but powerful mission:

Making Wholeness Possible.

Through what they call the Core Four, Children of Promise partners with local churches to provide children with:

Nutrition
Healthy bodies are the foundation for thriving lives.
Through sponsorship, children receive food and support that helps families stay together and gives children the opportunity to grow and flourish.

Education
Removing barriers creates new opportunities.
For many children, something as simple as school fees or a uniform can stand between them and an education. Sponsorship helps open doors to a different future.

Healthcare
Care can be life-changing—and sometimes lifesaving.
From basic hygiene supplies to critical medical treatment, healthcare support helps children experience hope and healing.

Discipleship
Children were made for more than their circumstances.
Through the local church, children are introduced to the love of Jesus and encouraged to discover God’s purpose for their lives.

Throughout her message, Heather reminded us that God's heart has always been for the poor, the vulnerable, and those on the margins. From the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus, to Isaiah’s prophecy, to Jesus’ declaration in Luke 4, we see God's desire to bring restoration and hope.

Jesus came to make wholeness possible.

And as His followers, we are invited to join Him in that work.

Whether through generosity, prayer, sponsorship, or simply being present in the lives of others, we each have opportunities to live out the spirit of Jubilee and participate in what God is doing both locally and around the world.

The question Heather left us with was this:

What does it look like for you to make wholeness possible?

May we continue to be people who reflect the heart of Christ by extending His hope, compassion, and restoration to those around us.

- Pastor Cole Maxwell

Hope That Never Fails: 1 Peter 5

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, we wrapped up our Living Hope series by looking at 1 Peter chapter 5 and Peter’s final encouragement to believers facing pressure, suffering, and uncertainty.

Using the story of Desmond Doss from Hacksaw Ridge, we were reminded what it looks like to stand firm when everything around you feels unstable. Doss repeatedly went back into danger with one simple prayer: “Lord, help me get one more.” In the same way, Peter reminds followers of Jesus, not to retreat when life gets difficult, but to remain faithful and hopeful because our living hope in Jesus never fails.

Peter leaves us with three powerful reminders:

• Stay humble
• Stand firm
• Remember God is still in control

One of the key reminders from this week was this:

Living hope begins with surrender.

Humility is not weakness, it is trust. Peter encourages us to cast all our anxieties on Jesus because He cares for us. We were never created to carry the weight of the world on our own.

We were also reminded that standing firm does not mean never struggling. It means refusing to let go of Jesus in the middle of the struggle. Suffering is real, but suffering is not ultimate. God is still writing the story.

A few key reminders from the message:

• Pride says, “I can carry it myself.” Humility says, “God, I need You.”
• Standing firm means continuing to trust, obey, and follow Jesus even when life hurts
• Pain has a timeline, but God’s goodness does not
• Our hope is not built on our ability to hold onto Jesus, but on His ability to hold onto us

So, when life feels chaotic:
• Stay humble
• Stand firm
• Remember He is in control

Jesus gives us a living hope because His love never fails.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Hope Under Pressure: 1 Peter 4: 1-19

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family

This Sunday in Living Hope, we looked at how Jesus gives us a hope that changes everything, including how we live with people, respond to conflict, and speak about our faith.

In 1 Peter 3:1–18, Peter reminds us that hope is not just something we believe internally; it becomes visible in the way we treat others.

One of the key reminders from Sunday was this:

“The gospel is often seen before it is heard.”

Peter challenges believers to live in a way that honors people, heals relationships, and points others to Jesus. In a world that often pushes retaliation, pride, and fairness above all else, Jesus calls us to something different.

“The world says fairness, Jesus says forgiveness.”

If God only gave us fairness, none of us would stand. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus took what we deserved so we could receive grace instead.

As we closed, we talked about three practical ways to live out this living hope this week:

• Model the gospel before you speak it.
• Choose forgiveness over fairness.
• Share what God has done for you.

You do not need perfect answers to point people to Jesus. People are not always changed by eloquent words; they are often changed by honest ones.

May we be people whose hope is visible in how we live, love, forgive, and serve.

See you Sunday as we continue our Living Hope series and look at what hope looks like when life gets hard.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Hope That Honors and Heals: 1 Peter 3:1-18

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday in Living Hope, we looked at how Jesus gives us a hope that changes everything, including how we live with people, respond to conflict, and speak about our faith.

In 1 Peter 3:1–18, Peter reminds us that hope is not just something we believe internally; it becomes visible in the way we treat others.

One of the key reminders from Sunday was this:

“The gospel is often seen before it is heard.”

Peter challenges believers to live in a way that honors people, heals relationships, and points others to Jesus. In a world that often pushes retaliation, pride, and fairness above all else, Jesus calls us to something different.

“The world says fairness, Jesus says forgiveness.”

If God only gave us fairness, none of us would stand. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus took what we deserved so we could receive grace instead.

As we closed, we talked about three practical ways to live out this living hope this week:

• Model the gospel before you speak it.
• Choose forgiveness over fairness.
• Share what God has done for you.

You do not need perfect answers to point people to Jesus. People are not always changed by eloquent words; they are often changed by honest ones.

May we be people whose hope is visible in how we live, love, forgive, and serve.

See you Sunday as we continue our Living Hope series and look at what hope looks like when life gets hard.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Hope in the Everyday: 1 Peter 2:11-25

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday, we continued our Living Hope series by asking a simple but powerful question:

What are you known for?

Jesus made a bold statement in John 13:34–35 — His followers would be known by their love. Not their opinions. Not their arguments. Their love.

And then, about 30 years later, Peter shows us what that kind of life actually looks like in 1 Peter 2:11–25.

Living hope produces a life that is undeniable in love and incorruptible in freedom.

Below are three key take aways from how we should represent this living hope.

1. Undeniable Love

Peter reminds us to “live such good lives” that others see it.
Our lives should make it hard for people to dismiss our faith.

At the same time, we acknowledged something important: Sometimes the reason people struggle with Jesus… is not Jesus. It’s us. A life that contradicts Jesus will never convince people to follow Him.

2. Incorruptible Freedom
We are free in Christ, but not to live for ourselves.
We are free to reflect Him.

Just because you can… doesn’t mean you should.

3. A Christlike Response
Peter ultimately points us to Jesus.

He didn’t choose bitterness.
He chose blessing.
He didn’t choose retaliation.
He reflected a gracious God.

So this week, let’s live this out in a simple, intentional way:

• Show undeniable love

• Walk in incorruptible freedom

• Respond like Jesus, with humility and grace

And ask yourself:

Who in my life needs to experience that kind of love from me this week?

The world will know Jesus by how we love, so let’s live in a way they cannot deny.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Hope Gives Us A New Identity: 1 Peter 2:4-12

Pastor Jerry Ausbrook

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, Pastor Jerry Ausbrook continued our Living Hope series by walking through 1 Peter 2:4–12 and reminding us of something powerful:

God is not just saving individuals, He is building something.

Peter describes us as living stones, being built into a spiritual house with Christ as the foundation. It is personal, but it is never meant to be private. We are connected to Jesus and to one another.

Three movements we see in the text:

Placed
God places us strategically.
Often, we do not realize it in the moment. But as we follow Him, we begin to see how He is shaping our identity in Christ and connecting us into His community.

Formed
God is forming us into people of light.
Not by our own effort, but through surrender. Scripture reminds us that in Christ we are a new creation, shaped with intention and purpose.

Sent
We are not just saved, we are sent.
God commissions us to live on mission, carrying His love, truth, and hope into the world around us.

At the center of it all is this truth from 1 Peter 2:10:
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Mercy is what binds it all together.
It is the “concrete” that connects the living stones.
We receive God’s mercy, and then we extend that same mercy to others.

Once we are placed in Christ, we are formed to become like Him, and then we are sent to reflect Him.

God is working in your life, even in ways you cannot see.
He is orchestrating more than you realize.

So the invitation is simple:
Respond to Him.
Trust Him.
Follow Him.

Join us this Sunday as we continue our Living Hope series.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Hope That Shapes How We Live: 1 Peter 1:13-21

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, we continued our Living Hope series by looking at how the hope Jesus gives doesn’t just shape what we believe, it shapes how we live.

In 1 Peter 1:13–21, Peter challenges us to be intentional, not passive. To be alert, to set our hope fully on Jesus, and to live lives that reflect that hope.

It’s possible to be sincere and still be headed in the wrong direction. Many of us don’t struggle to have hope, we struggle to place it in the right place. When our hope is misplaced, our lives will eventually feel off. But the good news is this: Jesus gives us a hope that changes everything.

We walked through three key ideas:

Awakened
To be awakened is to live with clarity in a world of chaos. If we’re not intentional, the world will shape where we place our hope. When our hope is misplaced, we become distracted, derailed, and ultimately misdirected.

Aligned
To be aligned is to move in the direction of your hope. It’s not just about what we believe, it’s about how we live. As Peter writes, we are called to be obedient and set apart. Alignment is not about intention, it’s about action. Our direction, not our intention, determines where we end up.

Anchored
To be anchored is to be grounded in what Jesus has already done. We don’t pursue holiness to be redeemed, we pursue holiness because we have been redeemed. Our hope in Jesus is not fragile, it is secure, firm, and steady, even in the middle of life’s chaos.

As we closed, we were challenged with a simple but important question:
Where is your hope set, and where is your life headed?

If you’re looking to live with that kind of hope, we’d love for you to keep walking with us in this series.

Join us this Sunday as we continue Living Hope.

-Pastor Aaron

The Living Hope: 1 Peter 1-9

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday we kicked off our new series, Living Hope, with a simple but powerful truth:

Jesus gives a hope that changes everything.

We started in 1 Peter 1, where Peter writes to people who felt scattered, out of place, and overlooked. And before he tells them how to live, he reminds them who they are.

Chosen.
Set apart.
Forgiven.

Because understanding who you are shapes how you think. And understanding whose you are shapes how you live.

So many of us spend our lives trying to change ourselves, fix ourselves, or prove ourselves. But the invitation of Jesus is different.

You don’t live for identity… you live from it.

And when that identity is rooted in Him, everything begins to change how you see yourself, how you face your future, and even how you walk through trials. God wastes nothing, not even your pain. What feels like it’s breaking you, He can use to form you.

This week, take time to reflect on this: Where have I been living like I’m overlooked, instead of chosen?

And remember: Stop trying to change your life and step into who Jesus has already called you to be.

We’re just getting started. This Sunday, we’ll continue in Living Hope and look at how this hope begins to shape how we live.

Hope to see you there.

-Pastor Aaron

Living Hope: 1 Peter 1:3-4

Pastor Aaron Perry

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South Creek Church Family,

I want to take a moment to simply say thank you.

Your generosity and faithfulness are making a real difference. Not just in numbers, but in lives. What God is doing in and through our church right now is something worth celebrating, and you are a part of it.

Already this year, we have seen four people take the step of baptism, publicly declaring new life in Jesus. And the best part is, more are on the way. Lives are being changed, and hope is being restored.

Because of your giving, we were also able to send a team of 12 to Guatemala. While there, they built two homes, installed two stoves for families in need, and led a VBS for over 100 kids. That is more than a trip. That is the love of Jesus crossing borders and transforming communities.

Here at home, we are seeing incredible momentum. Our average Sunday attendance has increased by about 10 percent since the beginning of the year, and we continue to reach new families each week. On Easter alone, we had over 400 people gather to celebrate the hope we have in Jesus. That is 400 stories, 400 opportunities, and 400 reminders that God is still moving.

This is what generosity does.

It fuels ministry.
It creates space for life change.
It allows us to love people and lead them to new life in Christ.

And here is what I believe with all my heart:
What God has done so far is just the beginning.

As we look ahead, there are more people to reach, more lives to impact, and more opportunities to step into what God is calling us to. I want to invite you to continue to live open-handed. Continue to invest in what God is doing here. Continue to be part of a mission that is bigger than any one of us.

Your generosity is not just sustaining the mission, it is expanding it.

Thank you for being a church that loves people well.
Thank you for being a church that is all-in on the mission.

Loved people, love people.

Grateful to be your pastor,

Aaron Perry 

Serving: Matthew 20:25-28

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Hey South Creek family,

This week we wrapped up our Rhythms of Grace series by looking at the practice of serving.

Throughout this series, we have been reminded:
Genuine growth is gradual.
And genuine growth is intentional, not accidental.

We ended with this truth:
Sometimes what looks ordinary is actually shaping something extraordinary.

Like Jerry Rice catching bricks as a kid, what happens in the unseen often shapes what God does through us later.

Jesus served us, so we joyfully serve others.

Serving is not just something we do, it is part of who we are becoming.

If you want the life of Jesus,
you must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.

And Jesus lived a life of serving.

Why Serving Matters

1. It changes our perspective
Serving shifts our focus from ourselves to others.
It helps us see the way Jesus sees.

2. It shapes our heart
Serving forms humility, compassion, and love in action.
You become like what you practice.

3. It advances the Kingdom
Serving is where heaven touches earth.
Small acts of love carry eternal weight.

The Tension We Cannot Miss
We do not serve to be saved.
But when we are saved, we will serve.

Serving is not the root of salvation.
It is the fruit of salvation.

As we close this series, do not just admire the way of Jesus. Practice it.

• Start small

• Start where you are

• Stay consistent

You do not find a life of service.
You build one, one small yes at a time.

If you want to follow a serving Savior,
you cannot live a self-centered life.

Serving changes how we see, shapes who we are, and advances what God is doing. 

Loved people, love people.

Scripture James 1:22.35

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This week in Rhythms of Grace, we talked about the practice of Scripture.

Have you ever looked into a really good mirror? At first, you like what you see.
But the longer you look, the more it reveals.

A good mirror does not distort reality, it reveals it. That is what Scripture does. Scripture was not given to merely inform us, but to form us

The goal is not to get through Scripture. It is to let Scripture get through to us.

One of the primary ways we learn from Jesus is through His Word.
If prayer is how we speak to God, Scripture is how God speaks to us.

What Scripture Does
Scripture is:
• Foundational, it guides our path
• Formational, it renews our mind
• Freeing, it leads us into truth and life

If we are not being formed by Scripture, we are being formed by something else.

What Scripture Is Not
• Not a self-help manual
• Not just history
• Not a weapon against people

Jesus did not use Scripture to burden people.
He used it to overcome lies.

Practical Ways to Start
• Start somewhere
• Stay consistent
• Ask what God is saying
• Do what it says

Consistency matters more than intensity.

Over time, the voices we listen to become the voices that shape us.

And most importantly: If we miss Jesus, we miss everything.

Let’s be people who don’t just read the Word but are shaped by it.

Generosity Matthew 6:21

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This week in Rhythms of Grace, we continued exploring the spiritual practices that help shape our lives as we follow Jesus. This Sunday we focused on the practice of generosity and how it teaches us to live open-handed toward God and others.

Jesus invites us into a different way of living. In Matthew 11:28–30, He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened… and you will find rest for your souls.” One of the ways we experience that lighter life is by learning to release the things we tend to grip too tightly.

In the message, I shared a simple illustration about how monkeys can be trapped by grabbing fruit inside a hollow coconut. The trap itself is not what holds them. Their grip does. All they would have to do to escape is let go.

In many ways, our hearts can work the same way. We can hold tightly to money, possessions, control, or security. But often the tighter we grip those things, the heavier life becomes. Generosity loosens our grip and teaches us to live open-handed.

One of the reasons generosity matters so much is because of what God does in us, through us, and for us when we practice it.

First, generosity changes something in us.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our hearts tend to follow what we value. When we practice generosity, it begins to reshape what we trust and what we treasure. It trains our hearts to trust God as our provider rather than trusting what we hold in our hands.

Second, generosity works through us to bless others.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul reminds us that God enriches His people so that they can be generous on every occasion. Through the generosity of God’s people, needs are met, ministry expands, and lives are changed. God often chooses to work through open hands.

Third, generosity does something for us.
Jesus warned that possessions can easily become masters. We cannot serve both God and money. Generosity helps break that grip. It restores perspective and reminds us that life is not built on what we accumulate but on our relationship with God. Generosity brings freedom, joy, and a healthier perspective on what truly matters.

Toward the end of the message we looked at Jesus’ parable of the treasure hidden in a field. When the man discovered the treasure, he joyfully sold everything he had to obtain it. The treasure changed how he viewed everything else.

When we clearly see the treasure we have in Jesus and His Kingdom, letting go of lesser things becomes joyful rather than painful.

This week, consider taking one small step toward practicing generosity:

• Start with gratitude
• Start somewhere
• Stay consistent
• Stay ready to bless others

Generosity is not ultimately about an amount. It is about the posture of our hearts.

The greatest act of generosity the world has ever seen was the cross. Jesus opened His hands and gave Himself for us so that we could receive the life we could never earn. Because He lived open-handed toward us, we can learn to live open-handed toward God and others.

Sabbath - Mark 2:27

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday we explored one of the most overlooked rhythms in the life of Jesus: Sabbath.

Interestingly, the message fell on my birthday. And one thing I have realized as I have gotten older is that certain things that once felt optional now feel necessary.

One of those things is stretching.When I was younger, stretching felt like a waste of time. You just showed up and started playing. Nothing hurt. You felt fine. But somewhere along the way that changed. Now if I skip stretching, my body reminds me pretty quickly. Things tighten up. Things get sore. Things hurt that probably should not hurt.

Stretching was never about earning the right to play. It was about protecting the body so it could function the way it was designed.

In many ways, Sabbath works like that for our souls.

It is not something we practice to earn God's love. It is a rhythm God designed to help us live the way we were created to live.

Sometimes the things we ignore eventually become the problems we cannot ignore.

God designed our lives with rhythms. When we ignore them long enough, something inside us begins to tighten. We become hurried. Restless. Spiritually dry.

Not because God moved away.
But because we stepped outside the rhythms He designed for life.

This is why we are in our Rhythms of Grace series. We are exploring the spiritual practices that shape our lives with Jesus.

Because genuine growth is gradual.
And genuine growth is intentional, not accidental.

One of the rhythms Jesus practiced was Sabbath.

Sabbath literally means to stop. It is the intentional rhythm of pausing our normal pace so we can rest, delight, worship, and remember that God is in control.

And at its core, Sabbath offers three beautiful gifts.

Rest.

God restores our bodies and minds. We were never designed for constant output.

Relief.

Sabbath frees us from the pressure of believing everything depends on us.

Reliance.

When we stop working, we practice trusting God again.

And that leads to the heart of the message:

Sabbath’s primary gift is not rest from work. It is rest in God.

From the opening pages of Genesis, to the Ten Commandments, to the teachings of Jesus, Sabbath was always meant to be a gift. It reminds us that our identity is not found in production or performance, but in belonging to God.

When we stop working, we are declaring something with our lives.

God, you are enough.
God, I trust you.
God, the world does not depend on me.

And when we begin to live in that rhythm, something beautiful begins to happen.

Our souls begin to breathe again.

Jesus once said:

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
— Matthew 11:28

Sabbath is one of the ways we learn to receive that rest. Try it for yourself. 

Sabbath reminds us that surrender is not losing. It is where true life begins.

Fasting - Matthew 6:16-18

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday in Rhythms of Grace, we leaned into the quiet but powerful practice of fasting.

A few years ago I stood in Sequoia National Park, looking up at trees that tower over 250 feet tall. Their visible strength is stunning. But what surprised me most was what you cannot see.

Giant sequoias have shallow roots, often only 6 to 12 feet deep. Their strength does not come from going deep in one place. It comes from spreading wide and staying interconnected.

What is unseen sustains what is seen.

Spiritual formation often works the same way. Quiet. Hidden. Slow. Fasting is one of those hidden practices that God uses to form us over time.

Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:Come to me. Take my yoke. Learn from me. Find rest.

Genuine growth is gradual. And genuine growth is intentional, not accidental.

Fasting is not about earning God’s attention. It is about giving God our attention. It is the practice of setting aside something good to make space for something greater, more of Jesus.

Why fasting matters
Throughout Scripture, God’s people fast when they are:
• Seeking guidance
• Repenting and returning
• Hungering for more of God

What we deny in the body can deepen devotion in the soul. Feasting fills the stomach. Fasting forms the soul.

If you are considering stepping into a fast this week, start simple:

Three things to decide
• What will you fast from
• When and how long
• Why you are seeking God

Start where you are, not where someone else is.

As a church, we also invite you to engage the Rhythms of Grace journal. It is designed to guide you intentionally through prayer, fasting, and formation during this season.

No matter who you are or where you have been, God is not waiting to expose you in the hidden places. He is waiting to meet you there.

Final thought

We do not fast to get something from God. We fast to get more of God.

Prayer - Matthew 6:5-13

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday we launched our new Lent teaching series, Rhythms of Grace, and it is already shaping into a meaningful season for our church.

Lent is an invitation to slow down, refocus, and intentionally make space for God. As we said this week, genuine growth is gradual, and genuine growth is intentional, not accidental.

Over the next six weeks we will practice rhythms that help us:

Be with Jesus.
Become like Him.
Do as He did.

This week we began with prayer and a simple reminder:

Prayer is intimacy, not information.
God is not looking for perfect words. He is inviting present hearts.

Jesus teaches us that prayer begins with relationship, not requests. We start with Our Father, we re-center on who God is, we align our hearts with His will, we bring our daily needs, we receive and extend grace, and we ask for His guidance and protection.

Here are a few ways to lean in:

Pick up a journal.
Our brand new Rhythms of Grace journals are available and designed to help you engage personally throughout this season. Be sure to grab one this Sunday if you have not yet.

Join the 3-Part Daily Prayer Rhythm.
For the next 40 days, we are inviting our church into a simple daily pattern:

• Morning: Identity before activity. Begin with the Lord’s Prayer.
• Noon: Pray for others. One name. Even just 60 seconds.
• Night: Practice gratitude. Name three things.

Remember, progress over perfection. This is not about performance. It is about presence.

Small daily rhythms create deep lifelong intimacy.

Let’s lean in together. This is going to be a great journey!

Gluttony John 12:1-8

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Most of us know what it feels like to carry more than we should.

Not tragedy. Accumulation.

One more purchase.
One more scroll.
One more bite.
One more yes.

None of it feels dramatic. It just slowly adds up. And one day you realize you are not starving. You are stuffed. But still empty.

Jesus speaks with startling clarity in Matthew 5:

“If your right eye causes you to stumble… cut it off.”
“If your right hand causes you to stumble… cut it off.”

Not because He is harsh. Because He is serious about freedom. What you refuse to cut off will slowly cut you off from God.

This week we talked about gluttony. Not just food. Excess. Gluttony is overconsumption driven by misplaced desire. It is appetite without trust. The problem is not that we enjoy things. The problem is when good things begin to rule us.

You can overconsume:

Comfort
Approval
Money
Control
Entertainment
Success

The issue is not hunger. The issue is mistrust.

In Exodus 16, God gave Israel manna daily. If they hoarded it, it rotted. Fear feeds gluttony. Trust starves it.

Jesus said in John 6:

“I am the bread of life.”

Daily bread requires daily trust.

We also looked at Lot’s wife. She was physically leaving Sodom. But her heart was still looking back.

You cannot walk into freedom while staring at excess.

Some of us do not need more self-control. We need surrender.

Then we saw Mary in John 12. She poured out a year’s wages at Jesus’ feet.

Judas called it waste. Jesus called it beautiful.

Gluttony tightens fists. Worship opens hands.

Hoarded manna rotted. Poured-out worship filled the house with fragrance.

You do not defeat gluttony by obsessing over appetite. You defeat it by redirecting desire toward Christ.

At the end of the service, we asked a simple question:

What do you need to cut off and leave at the cross?

Approval.
Comfort.
Control.
Comparison.
Spending.
Distraction.

You were not nailing yourself there.

You were laying down what has been crushing you.

More of ______ will never fill that void.

Only more of Jesus.

He is not trying to restrict your joy.
He is trying to restore your freedom.

And He is very, very good at setting people free who finally decide to let go.

Greed - Matthew 19:16-25

Pastor Cole Maxwell

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This week, we continued in our series Operation: Taming and Treating Temptation by tackling one of the most subtle and dangerous sins: greed. While we often only assume greed to be about money, we were reminded that greed is ultimately a heart issue—an intense and selfish desire for something that slowly begins to take the place of God. Greed isn’t always obvious, which makes it so dangerous. It quietly convinces us that more will finally satisfy, when in reality it only leaves us restless, empty, and distracted from our true need for Jesus.

In Matthew 19:16–24, we looked at the rich young ruler who wanted eternal life, but walked away when Jesus challenged him to surrender what he valued most. This powerful moment reminds us that following Jesus isn’t just about good behavior—it’s about wholehearted surrender. Greed becomes an idol when it keeps us from recognizing our need for Christ and trusting Him fully.

We want to challenge you to ask the question this week. “What is the one thing you’re unwilling to surrender to Jesus?”

Let’s cast aside the things that try to take Christ’s place in our hearts and live for Him this week, friends. 

- Pastor Cole Maxwell

Wrath/Anger - John 8:1-11

Speaker Chuck McCoskey

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Sunday, we talked about Wrath/Anger—often expressed as displeasure, hostility, rage, or resentment—is a powerful and sometimes vengeful emotion that can arise especially when a person feels slighted or their pride is wounded. Because of its intensity and the way, it distorts judgment, anger is described as one of the most fundamental problems in human life.

People commonly fall into several traps when dealing with anger. It can create a false sense of power or control, push us into isolation, convince us that we are always right, or make us feel responsible for fixing others. Sometimes we justify harmful reactions by labeling them as “righteous anger.”

Scripture offers guidance for managing anger, with passages such as Ephesians 4, James 1, Proverbs, Psalms 4, and Colossians 3 emphasizing self‑control, patience, gentleness, and the importance of not letting anger lead to sin or destructive behavior.

John 8:1–11 provides a model for responding to emotionally charged situations with wisdom and compassion. From this example comes the PPR Method for controlling anger:

• Pause — Step back before reacting.

• Pray — Seek clarity, humility, and guidance.

• Respond — Act with intention rather than impulse.

Together, these principles highlight a path toward healthier emotional responses and more peaceful relationships.

When you think someone is intentionally hurting you, anger rises naturally. But the moment you realize there was no intention—like discovering the boat was empty—the anger dissolves. Many people who hurt us aren’t acting out of malice toward us but out of their own unresolved pain, confusion, or trauma.

Seeing them as “empty boats” doesn’t excuse the harm, but it reminds us not to take everything personally. Their actions are often about their inner struggles, not about our worth.

- Chuck McCoskey, Recovery Ministry Leader

Envy vs Contentment

Pastor Aaron Perry

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As you know, we were unable to gather in person this past Sunday due to the weather. While we missed being together, I did share a short video message on envy and contentment, and you can watch it using the link below.

Here is the heart of it.

Envy is the belief that God has been better to someone else than He has been to me.
Envy erases the good and magnifies the missing. It trains our eyes to ignore what God has given and fixate on what He has not.

Contentment, on the other hand, is a settled trust in God that allows you to enjoy what He has given you without being controlled by what He has not.
Contentment is not pretending you do not want more. It is choosing to trust God right where you are.

We talked about three ways envy erases contentment:

• Comparison: Measuring our lives against someone else’s highlight reel.

• Control: Trying to force outcomes instead of trusting God’s timing.

• Counterfeits: Chasing substitutes that promise satisfaction but never deliver it.

And we closed with three “tudes” that help fight envy and protect contentment:

• Gratitude: Thanking God for what is already in our hands.

• Attitude: Choosing how we interpret and respond to our circumstances.

• Fortitude: Staying steady and faithful when life feels unfair or incomplete.

Envy shrinks our world. Contentment enlarges it. One makes us restless. The other lets us rest.

I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the short message and reflect on where God may be inviting you to trade comparison for trust.

We are praying the roads clear and we can all be back together very soon.