Advertise on podcast: Verve City Church: Weekly Messages

Many of the images we associate with hell owe as much to centuries of art, literature, and imagination as they do to the words of Jesus. That's not really anyone's fault: fantastical images make for great television and filmmaking, so they keep being perpetuated. What we actually find in the New Testament is so at odds with what we expect that it almost feels provocative. Is hell a literal place? Does judgment depend on its existence? Can it be true that after suffering for billions of years, one might be no closer to the end of their suffering? Did Jesus even mean the same thing by “hell” that we mean when we use the word? Or have we misunderstood what Jesus was trying to convey to us?

What images come to mind when you hear the word "heaven?" Walking on clouds? Streets of gold? Gates of pearl? Perhaps Saint Peter offering you an entrance exam? Our "heavenly" imaginations have been shaped by all kinds of inputs over the years. So what did Jesus actually teach about heaven, resurrection, eternal life, and the Kingdom of God? And what if the hope he offered was considerably bigger than simply “going to heaven when you die”?

Few things bother us quite like watching someone else get something we don’t think they’ve earned. We keep track of who worked harder, who sacrificed more, who followed the rules — and we expect the outcome to reflect it. Jesus once told a story about a group of workers who put in very different amounts of work but walked away with exactly the same pay. Spoiler alert: not everyone was happy about it. This week, we’ll explore what this deliberately unfair-feeling story reveals about generosity, comparison, and why someone else getting more doesn’t have to mean that we received less.

We love dividing the world into categories: good people and bad people, people who get it and people who don’t, people God must be pleased with and people who clearly need some work. This week, we’ll discover why grace may be much bigger, more surprising, and more communal than we usually imagine and what that means for the kind of people Jesus is inviting us to become.

Our culture is remarkably good at teaching us to want the next thing. Another purchase. Another achievement. Another experience. Another version of ourselves. Jesus once told a tiny story about a man who spent his life searching for valuable things...until he found one thing so valuable that it changed the value of everything else. This week, we’ll explore what happens when we stop asking what we want next and start asking a much bigger question: What do I actually want most?

We tend to associate significance with what is visible, measurable, impressive, and growing. We look for God in dramatic moments, successful organizations, extraordinary people, and unmistakable spiritual experiences. Jesus points instead to a woman making bread. Perhaps the Kingdom is already at work in ordinary acts, ordinary people, ordinary relationships, and places we have learned to overlook.

We're headed to a galaxy far, far away for the last week of At the Movies to see The Last Jedi. Hear this shortened version of the message about keeping hope even when it feels hard.

This Sunday, we’re taking flight with Top Gun: Maverick! Join us as we discuss clips from the movie and explore what it means to lead the way to show someone that they can follow.

We're At the Movies! Due to copyright laws, we cannot livestream our full services. If you can, head to campus for the 9am or 11am service to see today's full message, snack on free popcorn, and enjoy the exciting experience in our lobby.  In case you can't make it to campus today, here's a shortened version of the message we put together to give you a taste of the main event.

It's week two of At the Movies! 🎬 Did you miss Project Hail Mary on campus? Catch this shortened version of the message for a snapshot of the main event. We're At the Movies through Sept. 6, 2026. View the full lineup and plan your visit at vervecity.church/movies/

We're At the Movies! In case you were unable to make it to campus for Up, here's a shortened version of the message we put together to give you a taste of the main event. We're At the Movies through Sept. 6, 2026. View the full lineup and plan your visit at vervecity.church/movies/

At some point in life, the question changes. It’s no longer “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It becomes, “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” In this Vision Sunday message, we explore why that question matters, why Jesus’ invitation is about far more than simply believing the right things, and what kind of church we hope Verve City is becoming. What if the most important thing about your future isn’t what you accomplish, but who you become?

Moses spent his life moving toward the Promised Land, yet never entered it himself. It's one of the most surprising and poignant endings in Scripture. If life hasn't unfolded the way you hoped, if some dreams remain unfinished, or if you're learning to trust God with outcomes beyond your control, this final chapter of Moses' story may be exactly what you need.

Even great leaders have limits. At one point, Moses was carrying so much responsibility that he nearly collapsed under the weight of it all. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like everyone is depending on you, this forgotten story offers a better way. You were never meant to carry everything alone.

When God finally called Moses, his first response wasn't confidence. It was excuse after excuse. Moses doubted himself, questioned his abilities, and tried to convince God to send someone else. If you've ever felt unqualified, overwhelmed, or unprepared for what life is asking of you, discover why God's presence matters more than your preparedness.