Who We Are - Kingdom First - Matthew 6:33

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This week we closed out our "Who We Are" series with a message called Focused on the Kingdom — and it might be the one that ties everything else together.

We started with a story about hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park — walking upstream, against the current, the whole way. Here's the thing: you don't get to see the beauty of that canyon without fighting that current. There's no shortcut. The reward is upstream, not downstream.

That's what following Jesus feels like too. Every day, we're pulled toward comfort, control, and whatever's easiest — our own little kingdoms. But Jesus calls us to something bigger: His Kingdom, not ours.

Here's the truth we sat with this week:

When we fully surrender to and pursue His Kingdom, we will not be able to build our own.

We looked at what the Kingdom actually is — God's people, in God's place, under God's rule — and then asked how we actually seek it, both vertically (surrendered to the King, trusting Him instead of gripping tightly to control and worry) and horizontally (loving our neighbor, living out "on earth as it is in heaven" right where we are).

And we were reminded: this isn't just a personal call. As a church, we want to help seek and build His Kingdom — not merely our own castle. That's why partnerships, church planting, and missions matter to us. That's part of why we're moving to two services on November 1. It's all the same posture — making room, giving ourselves away, because His Kingdom is worth more than our comfort.

We never fully "arrive" at total surrender in this life. But like that hike — you don't stop just because the current's still pushing back. You keep walking. Because His Kingdom is still moving, and we get to move with it.

A few questions to sit with this week:

• What are you white-knuckling right now instead of trusting God with?

• Who's one person near you that His Kingdom needs to reach — through you?

Grateful to walk this out together.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Who We Are - Open Hands - 2 Corinthians 9:8

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday we continued our Who We Are series by looking at two more of our core values: Radical in Generosity and Eager to Serve.

We started with the story of the Toledo War — when Michigan gave up the city of Toledo to Ohio and received the "worthless" Upper Peninsula in return. At the time, everyone thought Michigan lost. Nearly 200 years later, that "consolation prize" has produced far more than Toledo ever would have. The world's math was wrong the whole time — and that's exactly how generosity and service look from the outside, too.

We looked at the widow who gave two small coins — everything she had (Mark 12) — and the man who found treasure so valuable he joyfully sold everything to get it (Matthew 13:44). Then we watched Jesus himself kneel and wash His disciples' feet (John 13), the lowest task of a servant, given freely by the greatest among us.

The big idea: generosity and service aren't how we get loved — they're how loved people respond, because loved people, love people.

We also shared some exciting news: starting November 1, South Creek is moving to two Sunday services. We ran out of chairs this season, and we don't want that to be a barrier for anyone walking through our doors. This isn't about building something bigger for us — it's about making room for more people to encounter Jesus here. We'll share the full vision and details next week.

Where is God inviting you to open your hands? Who is He calling you to serve?

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Who We Are - Together In Love Luke 5:17-20

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This weekend we continued our "Who We Are" series, moving into two more of our core values that are deeply connected: Gracious in Love and Committed to Community.

We opened with a personal story — a season right after college that started in the warmth of real, consistent friendship, and then shifted into a new church and a new season where that same kind of community wasn't there in the way we expected. It's a familiar ache: feeling alone even while being "plugged in" somewhere. But toward the end of that season, something shifted — not because the community became what we wanted, but because we realized it was already full of people showing us gracious, kind love all along. As Bonhoeffer put it, loving our dream of community more than the real community in front of us can actually keep us from experiencing it. God, in His kindness, often gives us what we need rather than what we want.

From there we looked at two truths that hold this whole message together: we were made in community, by community, and for community (Genesis 2:18) — and yet nearly 1 in 5 American adults report having no close friends today, a number that's roughly doubled since the early 1990s. We were built for connection, and as a culture, we're starving for it.

We saw what that looks like lived out in Luke 5 — a group of friends so determined to get a paralyzed man to Jesus that they tore open a roof to lower him into a packed room. Jesus "saw their faith" — not just the man's — a reminder that sometimes God moves in our lives because of the faith and prayers of the people carrying us, not just our own. We need to be committed to community because we need friends who will carry us to Jesus.

Then we turned to Exodus 34, where God reveals His own character as "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" — long before Jesus ever walked the earth. That's who God said He was. And in John 8, we saw that God in the flesh: Jesus meeting a woman dragged before a crowd, alone and exposed, and extending grace to her face-to-face, unearned and unconditional. Condemnation and shame cannot survive where there is grace and love.

We closed with Colossians 3:12-14 — "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness... and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together" — and this reminder: loved people, love people. We only have love to give because we were loved first.

Two questions worth carrying into this week:

• Who are the people in your life that you would carry — and who would carry you?

• Who is the one person you feel God has placed in your life that He wants you to show that gracious love to?

We weren't made to do this alone — and we weren't made to earn our way into love. Both are gifts, given in relationship.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Who We Are - Praying With Purpose Luke 11:5-8

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

We continued our "Who We Are" series this week, moving from being rooted in Jesus into what that rootedness actually looks like in practice: persistent prayer.

We opened with the story of Colonel Sanders of KFC — pitching his fried chicken recipe to restaurant after restaurant, hearing "no" over a thousand times before one finally said yes. There's power and purpose in persistence — and Jesus told us to bring that same refusal-to-quit into our life of prayer: "Keep on asking... keep on seeking... keep on knocking" (Luke 11:9-10).

We defined prayer simply: communion and communication with God — not a monologue we perform, but a dialogue we enter into. We speak, and we listen. And in fact, prayer is often the very first spiritual practice of anyone who follows Jesus — how we got in, and how we stay in.

We looked honestly at what gets in the way of praying (we get distracted, discouraged, demotivated, disconnected), then walked through three things persistent prayer can change:

• Circumstances — through the stories of the friend at midnight (Luke 11) and the persistent widow (Luke 18), we saw that we serve a God who can, and sometimes does, move our circumstances. But even when he doesn't, prayer always changes our hearts.

• Others — Paul's prayer for the Colossians reminded us that persistent, specific intercession for the people we love matters (Colossians 1:9-12; James 5:16). We also talked about what this looks like not just individually, but as a church — praying together, persistently, for one another and for what God is doing among us.

• Us — ultimately, the point of prayer isn't to get things from God, it's to get more of God (Matthew 6; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 5:14-15).

We closed with a question worth carrying into this week: What's the prayer you feel like God wants you to not give up on?

Don't stop knocking.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Who We Are - Rooted In Jesus Luke 6:43-45

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

If you were with us Sunday, you know we kicked off our new series, Who We Are — a look at the seven core values that shape South Creek — starting with the one everything else depends on: Rooted in Jesus.

We talked about our mission (to love people and lead them to new life in Christ) and our vision as a church community rooted in Jesus, persistent in prayer, gracious in love, radical in generosity, eager to serve, committed to community, and focused on His Kingdom. But we started with the first value on purpose — because if we're not rooted in Jesus, the rest are doomed to fail. If we miss Jesus, we miss everything.

A few things we sat with together:

• Everyone is being shaped by something, whether we realize it or not. The only real choice we get isn't whether we're rooted — it's what we're rooted in. Comparison, achievement, others' approval, shame — they all produce real fruit, just not the kind that lasts.

• Jesus said a tree is known by its fruit (Luke 6:43-45). You can call yourself rooted in Jesus all you want, but eventually what's actually rooted in you will show. Show me the root, and I'll tell you the fruit.

• In John 15, Jesus doesn't just call us to be rooted — he calls us to abide, to remain, connected to him like a branch to a vine. "Apart from me you can do nothing." That's not a value alongside the others; it's the source everything else grows from.

• Paul tells us in Colossians 2 to let our roots grow down into Christ and our lives be built on him — not so we don't get pulled off course by empty philosophies, but because in Christ we are already complete. Knowing who we are isn't the finish line; it's what makes real, intentional action possible.

Here's where we landed: root yourself in Jesus. Know who you are. Practice the way. That's what this whole series is going to be about — but it starts with one question we didn't try to answer for you Sunday, because it's one only you can answer:

Where is your life rooted?

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Boat Stories - The Fire - John 2:1-19

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

f you were with us Sunday, you know we brought our Boat Stories series to a close — and fittingly, it ended right back where it started, with Peter and a boat.

We looked at John 21:1-19, the story of Jesus meeting Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection. Peter had already seen the risen Jesus — more than once — and yet we find him doing something surprising: going back to fishing. Back to the old life, the old identity, the thing that felt safe and familiar after failure.

A few things we sat with together:

• Jesus doesn't wait for Peter to fix himself first. He's already got a fire going and breakfast cooking before Peter even brings in the catch — and it's the same kind of fire, the same Greek word, as the one Peter was warming himself at the night he denied Jesus three times. That's not a coincidence. Jesus stages this restoration at the exact place Peter's worst moment happened.

• Three times Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" — matching the three times Peter denied him. But he doesn't just forgive Peter in that moment, he commissions him: "Feed my sheep." Restoration comes with a future, not just a pardon.

• The last time Peter hauled in a catch this size, back in Luke 5, the net began to tear. This time, it holds. Even in the middle of a story about failure, there was something worth noticing — real growth had happened in him too.

Here's where we landed: this story won't let you believe you have to clean up the pattern before you're welcome back at the fire. Grace shows up before we are cleaned up. Failure is never final — Jesus keeps inviting us to follow him again and again. And that's really what this whole series has shown us, from the storm to the sinking to the shore: Jesus meets us exactly where we are, with exactly what we need.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Boat Stories: The Walk Matthew 14:22-33

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

We have been walking through our Boat Stories series — and this week took us out onto the water with Peter.

We looked at Matthew 14:22-33, the story of Jesus walking on the sea in the middle of the night, and Peter's brief, wobbly walk out to meet him. It's a story a lot of us grew up on as a lesson in boldness — "get out of the boat like Peter." But this week we asked a different question: what if the story was never really about grading Peter's performance at all?

A few things we sat with together:

• Jesus's words to the terrified disciples — "Take heart, it is I" — echo the very name God gave Moses at the burning bush. This wasn't just Jesus saying, "it's me." It was a claim about who he is.

• Peter's request, his walk, and his sink all happen fast — and so does Jesus's response. Matthew uses the word "immediately" three times in this one story, which is unusual for him. Grace doesn't make you wait for it.

• Whether Peter's initial ask was bold faith or something closer to testing God, and whether his cry to be saved took great faith or almost none — Jesus met both the same way. The hand came out before the correction did.

Here's where we landed: this story isn't asking you to figure out if you're a "walker" or a "sinker" this week. It's inviting you to see who was standing on the water in the first place — a Savior who is powerful, persistent, and present exactly when it counts. You may sink. The promise was never that you won't. The promise is that you won't drown.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Boat Stories: The Storm Mark 4:34-41

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday we continued our Boat Stories series by looking at one of the most vivid moments in the Gospels — Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4. But as we walked through the text, we discovered the real question at the center of the story wasn't about a storm at all. It was about a heart.

Jesus and His disciples were caught in a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. The waves were crashing over the sides, the boat was filling with water, and the disciples — several of them professional fishermen — were convinced they were about to die. And Jesus was asleep. A few feet away, in the middle of the chaos, completely at peace.

When they finally woke Him, they didn't ask, "Can you help us?" They asked, "Do you not care that we are perishing?"

That question turned out to be the heart of the message. When the storm hits, most of us don't actually doubt God's power. We doubt His heart.

We saw that care most clearly in His presence — He was already in the boat before the storm ever started, and His care was never only going to be measured by whether the wind stopped. We saw it in His authority — when He finally spoke, He didn't pray over the storm, He simply commanded it, and it obeyed. And we saw it in His question back to the disciples afterward: "Have you still no faith?" Not whether they had any left, but whether they'd actually reach for what was already theirs.

One of the key truths we took away was this:

His care isn't proven by whether the storm stops. It's proven by the fact that He's already in the boat.

Jesus didn't wait for calm water before He showed up. He got in the boat before the wind ever picked up — and He stays, whether the storm ends the way we hope it will or not. It's the same pattern we saw with Peter the week before, just wearing a different set of clothes: Jesus meets us exactly where we are, with exactly what we need.

If you missed Sunday's message, we'd encourage you to catch up online and join us this week as we continue our journey through Boat Stories.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

Boat Stories: The Catch

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday we launched our new series, Boat Stories, by looking at one of the most familiar miracles in the Gospels, the miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5. But as we walked through Peter's story, we discovered that the greatest catch that day wasn't the fish. It was a fisherman.

One of the most encouraging discoveries in this passage is that Luke 5 wasn't Peter's first encounter with Jesus. Before Jesus called Peter to leave his nets, He had already met him, spoken a new identity over him, and even healed someone in his family. Long before Peter fully surrendered, Jesus was patiently pursuing him.

That's often how Jesus works in our lives too.

Many of us think our relationship with God begins the moment we decide to follow Him. But often, when we look back, we realize He had been at work long before we recognized it. He was placing people in our lives, opening doors, stirring our hearts, and patiently drawing us closer to Himself.

One of the key truths we took away was this:

Jesus didn't love Peter because of his calling. Jesus called Peter because He loved him.

That same truth is still true today. Jesus doesn't wait until we have everything together before He loves us. He meets us exactly where we are and lovingly invites us into something greater than we could ever imagine.

As we continue this series, we'll see this pattern again and again:

Jesus meets us exactly where we are, with exactly what we need.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Baptism Sunday as we celebrated lives being changed by Jesus. There is no greater reminder that He is still pursuing people today.

If you missed Sunday's message, we'd encourage you to catch up online and join us this week as we continue our journey through Boat Stories.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

A Season In The Minors: Malachi

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, we wrapped up our Season in the Minors series by looking at the final book of the Minor Prophets, Malachi.

Malachi reminds us that Israel's greatest problem wasn't that they had abandoned God. They had simply begun treating Him as ordinary. Their worship continued, but their hearts had drifted. They offered God less than He deserved because they had lost sight of who He truly was.

The same danger exists for us today. It's possible to become so familiar with God that we stop standing in awe of Him. When we lose sight of God's greatness, our worship, our obedience, and our devotion all begin to suffer.

Throughout the series, we've seen the same invitation repeated in different ways. God is continually calling His people back to Himself.

As we concluded the series, we were reminded of three lasting lessons from the Minor Prophets:

• Remember His love.

• Give Him your whole heart.

• Walk faithfully with Him.

The greatest hope of the Minor Prophets is that they all point beyond themselves to Jesus. As Hebrews tells us, God spoke through the prophets in many different ways, but He has now spoken most clearly through His Son. Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father, the Great King who came to rescue wandering worshipers and invite us back into relationship with Him.

As you go through this week, take a few moments to ask yourself:

Have I begun treating God as ordinary, or am I still living in awe of the Great King?

And remember:

If we miss Jesus, we miss everything.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

A Season In The Minors: Haggai

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday we continued our series, A Season in the Minors, by looking at the message of the prophet Haggai.

After years in exile, God graciously brought His people home. They had every intention of rebuilding the temple, but as life became busy, their priorities slowly shifted. They rebuilt their homes, pursued stability, and put off what mattered most. The temple remained unfinished.

The problem wasn't that they didn't know what God wanted. They simply kept saying, "Not yet."

That challenge still speaks to us today. Spiritual drift rarely begins with rejecting God. More often, it begins with delaying Him. As we said on Sunday, delayed devotion leads to deadly distraction.

Haggai called God's people to "consider your ways." Their lives felt empty because their hearts had become disordered. We were reminded that a disordered heart always produces a disordered life. When we place anything ahead of God, even good things, we eventually discover they can never satisfy the deepest needs of our souls.

The good news is that God doesn't leave us there.

The people responded to God's Word, and as they obeyed, God made them a wonderful promise: "I am with you." That promise ultimately points us to Jesus, the true temple, through whom God came to dwell among us. We don't rebuild our lives to earn God's presence. We rebuild because, through Jesus, God has already come near.

As you head into this week, ask yourself:

What have I been saying "later" to that God is calling me to do today?

Maybe your next step feels small, but don't underestimate what God can do through one act of faithful obedience. Return to Jesus. Rebuild on the Rock.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

A Season In The Minors: Micah

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This Sunday, we continued our series, A Season in the Minors, by looking at the book of Micah.

Micah spoke to people who looked spiritually healthy on the outside. They had worship, sacrifices, and the temple. Yet beneath the surface, they had forgotten God’s faithfulness, neglected justice, and assumed God would bless them no matter how they lived.

Micah reminds us that God is not looking for religious performance. He is forming people who reflect His heart.

Micah 6:8 says:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

This is not a call to earn God’s love by trying harder. It is an invitation to return to Him and walk with Him.

The good news is that we do not have to transform ourselves by our own effort. Jesus came as the Shepherd-King Micah promised. He forgives our sin, heals what sin has broken, and makes possible what we could never do on our own.

This week, consider these questions:

• Where have I forgotten God’s faithfulness?

• Am I confusing God’s patience with His approval?

• What would it look like for me to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God this week?

• Where do I need to abide in Jesus instead of relying on my own effort?

God has not called us to perform for Him. He has invited us to walk with Him.

-Pastor Aaron

A Season In The Minors: Amos

Pastor Aaron Perry

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Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday in our A Season in the Minors series, we explored the book of Amos. Amos was a shepherd and farmer whom God called to deliver a message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of prosperity and success.

At first glance, everything appeared healthy. The economy was strong, the nation was secure, and religious activity was thriving. Yet Amos revealed a sobering truth: what we celebrate on the surface cannot hide what God sees underneath.

We looked at four key movements in Amos:

The Problem: God's people had become satisfied with His blessings and forgotten His heart. As Hosea 13:6 reminds us, "When they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me." Forgetfulness will almost always lead to unfaithfulness.

The Warning: God sees where our hearts really are. Israel continued their religious activities, but their worship had become disconnected from the way they treated others. God was not impressed by worship that never transformed the worshiper.

The Invitation: "Seek me and live" (Amos 5:4). God's desire was not destruction but restoration. The call of Amos was not simply to do more religious things, but to return to God with their whole hearts.

The Hope: God restores what returns to Him. Even in a book filled with warnings, Amos ends with hope and restoration. God's final word is not judgment, but redemption.

One of our key takeaways was this: God wants to transform the real you, not the version of you that you want everyone else to see. That transformation does not begin on the exterior. It begins on the interior, and it begins when we return to Him.

As we continue through the Minor Prophets, may we remember that in every season, God is inviting us to return to Him.

-Pastor Aaron Perry

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