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This week’s message invites us to view immigration and borders through the lens of Scripture, holding together both compassion and conviction. At the center are two realities we carry in tension: every person bears the image of God and has inherent dignity and worth, and at the same time, the reality of sin means evil exists and must be restrained. We are challenged to look to God’s Word, we invite Him to shape our thinking, words, and actions. We’ll consider God’s heart for the vulnerable, his design for government and borders, and the tension between our role and the government’s role, all while remembering our ultimate allegiance to God’s kingdom. We’ll also recognize the opportunity for the gospel, as immigration brings people from gospel-restricted nations into our communities.

Guest Pastor Ed Stetzer explores what it means to be Christ's ambassadors in 2 Corinthians 5, challenging us to represent Jesus in a world that doesn't share our values. We discover that new life in Christ requires a new perspective shaped by the gospel rather than cultural voices that compete for our attention. We learn that God has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation, carrying his appeal to a searching world that needs what only Jesus can provide. We are challenged to examine whether we're more shaped by the world or the Word, and to live as ambassadors whose character makes the invisible Christ visible.

Pastor Aaron celebrates Easter by exploring the heart, power, and resurrection of Jesus through the story of Lazarus in John 11 and 20. We discover that Jesus meets us exactly where we are—offering truth when our faith wavers and tears when our hearts break—because he is not distant from our pain but enters into it. We learn that just as Lazarus couldn't raise himself, we are powerless to save ourselves, but Jesus holds the power to defeat sin and death through his resurrection. We are challenged to trust in the risen Christ who offers new life now and the certain hope that he will one day make all things new.

Pastor Jeff Manion concludes our Life and Where We Find It series by exploring Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. We discover that Jesus crosses every boundary to offer living water to those society overlooks and casts aside. We learn that the temporary fulfillment we seek in relationships, achievements, and possessions always leaves us thirsting again, but Jesus offers eternal satisfaction through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We are challenged to recognize that our deepest longings can only be met by Jesus, the living water who transforms us from the inside out.

Pastor Jeff Manion continues our Life and Where We Find It series by exploring Jesus as the true source of abundant life in John 10:10. We discover that the primary battle of the human heart is to see and adore Jesus for who he really is—the Creator, sustainer, and essence of life itself. We learn that God's gifts in creation should point us back to the generous Giver, but wealth and possessions compete for our hearts' trust. We are challenged to pursue the better "yes" of life in Jesus, finding our satisfaction in him so that lesser allures lose their appeal.

Pastor Jeff Manion begins our Life and Where We Find It series by exploring Jesus's declaration to be the Bread of Life. Through the crowd's pursuit of physical bread, we discover how easily we mistake temporary satisfaction for what our souls truly need. We examine how idols—whether achievement, approval, or relationships—promise fulfillment but always leave us empty, and how Jesus alone offers nourishment that doesn't run out. This message challenges us to identify and expose our idols and to replace them with the only One who truly satisfies.

Pastor Aaron concludes our Armor of God series by examining the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—and the vital role of prayer in Ephesians 6. We discover that unlike the defensive pieces of armor, God's Word is our offensive weapon, made powerful by the Holy Spirit for close spiritual combat. We learn that prayer isn't separate from the armor but activates and sustains every piece, enabling us to stand firm together in battle. We are challenged to memorize Scripture, so the Spirit has truth ready when temptation strikes, and to become prayer warriors who fight for others' faith like Jesus fought for Peter.

Pastor Aaron continues our Armor of God series by exploring the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation. We discover that the gospel provides sure footing in uncertain circumstances, faith extinguishes Satan's flaming arrows, and remembering our salvation protects our minds from the enemy's lies. We learn that spiritual warfare isn't meant to be fought alone but in formation with other believers who shield one another. We are challenged to stand firm in gospel truth, trust God's faithfulness rather than our own strength, and commit to growing alongside fellow believers.

Pastor Aaron continues our Armor of God series by examining the first two pieces of spiritual armor in Ephesians 6—the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness. We discover that truth serves as our foundation, holding everything together like a Roman soldier's belt, while righteousness protects our hearts from the enemy's accusations. We learn that knowing God's truth isn't enough—we must intentionally put on the armor through obedient living. We are challenged to ground ourselves in Scripture, rest in Christ's righteousness, and move from treating Jesus as good advice to recognizing him as true authority.

Pastor Aaron begins our Armor of God series by revealing the spiritual battle every believer faces in Ephesians 6. We discover that our struggle isn't against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil that attack through lies and disordered desires. We learn that God himself is the true warrior who fights for us, and through Jesus's victory on the cross, we fight from a position of triumph rather than uncertainty. We are challenged to recognize our enemy's tactics, put on the full armor of God, and battle from the confidence of Christ's completed victory.

Pastor Jeff continues our Groundwork series by examining Paul's instruction in Ephesians 4: "In your anger do not sin." We discover that beneath our anger lies unmet desires that have transformed into demands, setting us up for disappointment when people can't meet needs only God can fulfill. We learn that healthy relationships resolve conflict quickly rather than letting anger fester and give the devil a foothold. We are challenged to pause before reacting, move toward reconciliation today, and forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.

Pastor Jeff continues our Groundwork series by examining Paul's call in Ephesians 4 to put off falsehood and speak truthfully. We discover that lying destroys community while honesty builds the deeper connections we were designed for. We learn that our security in Christ's love frees us from hiding and pretending, enabling us to develop new habits of truthfulness that reflect our gospel identity. We are challenged to identify where we struggle with honesty and take practical steps toward speaking truth in love within the body of Christ.

Pastor Aaron continues our Groundwork series by exploring how the gospel transforms marriage according to Ephesians 5. We discover that God designed marriage between a man and woman to reflect the Trinity's partnership and serve as a mirror of Christ's love for the church. We learn that both husbands and wives have countercultural callings—wives to honor and respect, husbands to sacrificially love and serve. We are challenged to let our marriages become covenant relationships of promise-keeping that point a watching world to the ultimate covenant keeper, Jesus.

Pastor Aaron continues our Groundwork series by examining Paul's urgent plea in Ephesians 4 for believers to live worthy of their calling. We discover that gospel-shaped identity must lead to gospel-shaped living—marked by humility, gentleness, and patience as we bear with one another in love. We learn that unity already exists through our one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, but maintaining that unity requires intentional effort. We are challenged to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, remembering that we're all works in progress who need grace for the journey.

Pastor Aaron begins our Groundwork series by exploring how our identity in Christ shapes every relationship we have. We discover that Paul grounds the Ephesians in who they are before telling them how to live—we are adopted, redeemed, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We learn that when our identity is rooted in Christ rather than culture's loud messages, we experience clarity, humility, and unity in our relationships. We are challenged to let these truths reshape how we show up in every relationship—at home, in the church, and in the world.