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What does a healthy church look like? Pastor Matt leads us through an account of Paul to answer this question. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7, Paul praises the church in Thessalonica for modelling a healthy church community. They were dedicated to preaching the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike, they had an amazing willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to move and transform their hearts and lives and they came together as a family as God had intended for all those who believe in Him.

Hannah's story in 1 Samuel 1:1-20 is a powerful testament to unwavering faith in God, even in the midst of deep sorrow. She endured the heartbreak of infertility and the relentless mockery of her sister-wife, yet she never turned away from God—she ran straight to Him. Despite not knowing when or how her prayer would be answered, Hannah poured out her heart before the Lord, fully trusting in His provision. The morning after her desperate plea, she praised God, believing in His faithfulness before seeing the results. In response to her obedience and steadfast faith, God granted her a son—Samuel. And in an act of complete surrender, Hannah gave him right back to the Lord.<br><br>Through Hannah's journey, we see the heart of God for His children. He is near to us in suffering, He hears our cries, and His timing is always perfect.

Good Friday through Easter Sunday marks the pinnacle of God's plan for humanity through Jesus Christ. These days witness His sacrifice and resurrection, offering the promise of eternal life. As the sacrificial lamb, Jesus bore the weight of our sins and opened the way for us to have direct access to God.<br><br>In Luke 23:32-43, we see two criminals respond to Jesus differently. One mocked Him, blinded by his pain and unable to recognize the salvation Jesus offered. The other acknowledged his sin and Jesus' innocence, humbly asking, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” His faith demonstrates that salvation is available to all who repent and place their trust in Christ.<br><br>The two criminals show the choice we all face: to reject Jesus or to surrender to Him in humility and faith. Through His sacrifice, Jesus offers us grace, forgiveness, and eternal hope, making Easter a celebration of redemption and triumph.

Palm Sunday signifies the acknowledgment of Jesus as the promised Messiah, contrasting the initial welcoming of Him with the subsequent betrayal by those who had set expectations. This reflects the essential truth that God must be understood for who he truly is, not as we wish Him to be. The narrative of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11-32 illustrates this point, emphasizing the need for Christians to have a clear and accurate perception of God, who embodies both kingship and fatherhood. Jesus, often referring to God as Father, invites us to recognize His compassionate nature, especially in a world where earthly fathers may fail. The parables Jesus shares highlight His mission to seek the lost and bring them back to a loving relationship with God, who yearns for us to return home and experience true joy, contrasting the temporary pleasures of life that lead to emptiness. Ultimately, the message underscores the importance of understanding God's true character and the invitation to embrace His love and grace.

God is a family guy if you haven't noticed, he is all about his family growing close to him as well as to each other. We live in a culture where we are dealing with broken families, tensions, sorrows, being digitally addicted, chronically distracted and hyper self-focused. So how do we cure this? By surrendering to God's call to him and allowing his Spirit to transform our hearts. In doing so we as parents are setting a firm foundation for raising our children to… in their time to hear the call of Jesus on their hearts and join in relationship with him.<br><br>Psalm 127: 1-5 emphasizes that human efforts are in vain without God's blessing and guidance. It highlights the importance of relying on God for success in building a home, guarding a city, and working hard. The passage also speaks of children as a gift from the Lord, describing them as a source of strength and honor for their parents. Overall, it conveys a message of dependence on God and the blessings that come with a faithful life.

What do you do when a situation is hopeless? In Mark 5:21-43 hopeless people found hope. A father whose daughter had died, and a lady with bleeding that was not cured by the medical care in her day, were at the end of human options. In fact, people around them tried to keep Jesus from helping and even laughed at the mention of Jesus' intervention. However, when human resources are at an end, Jesus is just beginning. The faith of this woman, and the faith of the father of the deceased girl, was immeasurable. We may also boldly approach God with our requests knowing that He is a loving father. God knows our circumstances. But never forget that healing strength is not in "our faith." It is our faith in the power of Jesus. He is our Maker, our Master and our Redeemer. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

After sin entered into the world, God promised that He would once again restore order and perfection. The promise throughout the Old Testament is that a King would establish His kingdom on earth and have faithful subjects. The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, establishes that Jesus is not simply a good teacher or a nice man. The genealogy establishes that He is of royal blood. Jesus is the promised King. An overview of Jesus' family tree reveals many imperfect people; people just like you and me. Fortunately, Jesus can use anybody in His story. God, through the perfection of Jesus, is able to make us beautiful and holy. We are then Jesus' "official messengers" to tell the world "come back to God".

Nehemiah 8:1 "And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses." Imagine the beauty of a group of people coming together and asking Ezra to teach the Bible to them. People with a deep and authentic love for the Lord have been gathering together for thousands of years. Even today, we join together in confession of sin and communion to know God better and to praise Him. By His grace alone, we are saved from sin. Only through His mercy can we become the person that He wants us to be. Listen for Him. Talk to Him. Talk about Him. But above all get to know Him and praise Him!