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Hey CBC! I’m excited about this Sunday! My very first pastor, the man who introduced me to the Lord when I visited a high school youth group, is joining us at CBC this weekend! Pastor Jason will unpack Psalm 78:1–7 and explore what it means to be ready to share the legacy of faith we’ve received. God’s truth isn’t meant to stop with us. We’re called to pass it on, telling the next generation about His faithfulness so they, too, can put their hope in Him! Join us this Sunday as we discover what it looks like to live out our faith and faithfully pass it on to the generations that follow. The truth we’ve received is a truth worth sharing!

Are you ready? In our school’s athletics office, a sign on the secretary’s desk reads, “Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.” A classic workplace idiom that is way too real for us coaches. In this week’s parable from the Olivet Discourse, Matthew 25:1–13, the groom is a long time coming, and several bridesmaids run out of oil for their lamps. When they ask the others to share, they discover that some things simply can’t be borrowed at the last minute! Jesus uses this parable to remind us that His return is certain, but its timing is unknown—and we must be ready. Church attendance, a Christian family, and even a lifetime of religious activity cannot substitute for a genuine faith in Christ. Join us this Sunday as we unpack this challenging parable and wrestle with some important questions: Should the bridesmaids share? Why is the groom delayed? And most importantly, are you ready for the return of Christ?

Few words carry more weight for a child playing hide-and-seek than the words, “Ready or not, here I come!” Yet tomorrow is coming for all of us, whether we’re ready or not! This week, we begin a new series on the Olivet Discourse, Jesus’ teaching from the Mount of Olives during Holy Week. As He spoke with His disciples, Jesus challenged them to be ready for what was to come. Join us this Sunday as we lean into Jesus’ words and discover what it means to live ready in Christ for the future that awaits us!

This week we’ll have our final message in our Practices Series, where we’ve explored the practices that help shape us into disciples who are faithfully following Jesus! This week, we’ll focus on generosity from Matthew 25:31–46 and the call we have to be compassionate and generous with our time, treasures, and talents. As followers of Jesus, generosity isn’t simply about what we give—it’s about becoming people who see the needs around us and respond with the compassion of Christ. This will be our final message in the Practices Series, and it will also begin to transition us into our next series on Readiness, where we’ll dive into Jesus’ teaching in the Olivet Discourse. I’m excited to keep diving deeper into God’s Word with you all!

Get excited! This Sunday is a Baptism Sunday! We’ll celebrate a baptism at the beach after church, as well as another baptism during our service. As we get back into our Spiritual Practices series, we’ll look at the significance of obedience and baptism through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26–40. One of the remarkable things about Philip’s story is how physically, spiritually, and emotionally available he was to both the Holy Spirit and the Ethiopian eunuch. He was ready to respond when God prompted him to take his next faithful step. Join us this Sunday as we’re challenged to consider our own availability and preparedness to serve Christ—and to ask: What is the next faithful step Jesus is asking me to take?

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 What does it really look like for Christians to live well together? Paul gives us a practical guide: honor one another, care for one another, live joyfully, pray continually, listen to the Holy Spirit, and practice discernment. Join us Sunday as we discover how God calls us to “get along” as the family of God—and become the kind of church where people truly care for one another.

Are you trying to be “good enough” for God? In Galatians 2, Paul reminds us that our relationship with God isn’t based on our performance—it’s based on faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. We’ll discover what it means to: • Stand for the truth of the Gospel • Let go of religious performance • Find a new identity and power in Christ • Live fully in God’s grace “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20 Come discover the freedom of living by faith instead of trying to prove yourself.

What is your plan for discipleship and spiritual growth? Over the past several weeks, we’ve explored spiritual practices that shape us into the people God has called us to be. Andy Stanley says it this way: “Direction, not intention, determines our destination.” As a coach, I often remind my teams: What we put in is what comes out. Hard work. Encouragement. Discipline. Practice. What we consistently put in eventually shows up in how we play. The same is true spiritually. What we put into our minds and hearts shapes who we become.This Sunday, we wrap up our Practices series by looking at the practice of Scripture reading. In 2 Timothy 3, we’ll see that God’s Word doesn’t simply inform us, it shapes, teaches, corrects, and equips us. What are you putting in? And who is it shaping you to become? Join us Sunday as we finish the series together!

Our everyday practices shape who we are becoming. Last week, we looked at how community gives us the strength to keep going. This week, we’re exploring the other side of the coin: the spiritual practice of silence and solitude. Jesus routinely paused to spend time with His Father before and after major moments in His ministry. Join us this week as we discover how His rhythm of rest can help us navigate our way-too-hurried lives!

We are shaped by what we practice, what we are committed to, the influences we allow to speak into our lives, and the worldviews we embrace. Often, these practices and influences develop unintentionally—but over time, they shape who we become. In our upcoming series, we’ll be encouraged to examine the practices that are shaping our lives and consider whether any need to change. Each week, we’ll explore a spiritual practice we see throughout Scripture and discover how these practices can help us become more like Jesus. Last week, we began with Psalm 5 and the practice of morning prayer, starting our day by turning our hearts and attention toward God. This week, we’ll turn our attention to community in Hebrews 10:19-25 and the powerful role we play in encouraging one another toward love and good deeds. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo endeavor. God uses His people to strengthen, challenge, encourage, and shape us. Join us this Sunday as we unpack the meaning and significance of community and discover how practicing life together can help us become the people God has called us to be.

August 23rd is CBC’s annual Missions Sunday. Glen Miller with Hands of Hope (Africa) and David Deiner with Two by 2 Global (Eastern Europe) will be sharing about their ministries. Expect a great time and learn about some of the exciting things God is doing around the world through our CBC missionaries.

It has been said, “When you’re born, you look like your parents. When you die, you look like your choices.” In many ways, we are shaped by the choices we make and the habits we develop. This week, we’ll conclude our summer Psalms series by looking at Psalm 5, where David shows us the importance of developing a daily habit of turning our eyes, and our prayers, toward God each morning. Join us as we unpack this inspiring Psalm and discover how it calls us to begin each day by meeting with the Lord. This will be our final Psalm of the summer as we transition into a fall mini-series exploring spiritual practices that help us become more like Jesus.

Psalm 118 begins with a powerful command: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.' In fact, that phrase is repeated five times in this one chapter! Why? Because the Psalmist knew we forget, and he knew that gratitude builds a character that cannot be shaken. This week, we are diving into Psalm 118 together to reflect on God's goodness and how it should develop thankfulness within us! Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

The longer I walk with Jesus, the more I notice how easily I default to turning inward and living for myself. We all do it, both in our personal lives and our communities. But Psalm 2 disrupts this posture. It calls us out of self-serving rebellion and invites us back into a life of truly serving Jesus. Join us this Sunday as we dive into Psalm 2 and allow God’s Word to examine our hearts. Can’t wait to see you there.

What is repentance? It's a word many of us have heard countless times, but if we asked ten different people to define it, we might receive ten different answers. Is repentance simply feeling sorry? Is it confession? Is it turning away from sin? Is it changing your behavior? This Sunday, we'll begin by looking at what the Bible actually means when it calls us to repent, building a shared biblical understanding before opening one of the clearest pictures of repentance in all of Scripture, Psalm 51. Together, we'll watch David respond to one of the darkest moments of his life and discover what genuine repentance actually looks like. Along the way, we'll see the seriousness of sin, the beauty of God's mercy, the hope of forgiveness, and the incredible invitation God gives every sinner to come back to Him. We'll also consider how repentance is not merely the beginning of the Christian life, but an ongoing part of following Christ as He continues to shape us into His likeness. We'll conclude our morning by celebrating Communion together. As we remember Christ's body and blood given for us, we'll have the opportunity to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and rejoice in the finished work of Jesus, the One who welcomes repentant sinners with abundant mercy, steadfast love, and amazing grace. If you'd like to prepare ahead of time, I encourage you to slowly read Psalm 51 before Sunday. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart and to help you see both the depth of your need and the greatness of His mercy. I can't wait to worship with you this Sunday.