Thriving Hills Church Podcast

The story of the Wise Men (also called Magi) in Matthew chapter 2 is rich in far more than just tradition, but in application for our everyday lives. While their image has been a staple on greeting cards and in Nativity scenes, the real story of these mysterious people begins well before their encounter with Jesus and speaks to us long after. What can we learn from them? How can this story help us today? Check it out as Pastor Chris shares the power of seeking Jesus.
Notes
Matthew 2:1-12 ESV
The wisest thing we can ever...

The Christmas Story found in Luke chapter 2 is more than an ancient tale; more than tradition meant to be kept alive at a certain time each year. It is good news - of great joy - meant for all people, everywhere. Listen in as Pastor Chris sets the backdrop, introduces the characters, and conveys the meaning behind the message the angels brought that night.
Notes
God didn’t shout His love from heaven. He came near, and showed it in the earth.
Luke 2:8-14 ESV
Good news.
Romans 1:16 NLT
We don’t need to s...

Now more than ever, our world needs to see the fruit of God’s Spirit modeled in the lives of genuine believers. This fruit is the evidence of what’s going on inside of us, and is the proof of who we are in Christ. When our lives feel out of control, we need the fruit of self-control to help us get back on the right path for our lives. Self-control is the fruit of God’s power working in us, helping us to do what we should do - and really want to do - rather than what we sho...

What is the fruit of gentleness? It is widely misunderstood, and yet, sorely needed in our world today. Jesus described Himself as gentle in Matthew 11:29 (NIV), and yet the Bible also tells stories of Him flipping tables, casting out demons, rebuking the devil, and declaring great truths in the face of fierce opposition. Some of these stories don’t match our definition of the word “gentle,” and yet, that is exactly who Jesus is. Pastor Chris unpacks this today in a way that can help you and bring you closer to God, so that you can grow the fruit of gen...

Worship Pastor GiaVanni Himes shares an important message on growing the fruit of faithfulness in our lives. In a world where people are often quick to move in the face of challenge and controversy, faithfulness stays.

Today, our guest speaker shares with us how we can let the fruit of goodness grow in our lives.

Pastor Alan Bostick, Emilie Hunt, and Heather Snyder share about people who have made an impact in their life.

The fruit of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) isn’t something we can learn, but a byproduct of who we are. When we are producing this kind of fruit in our lives, then we know that what is going on inside of us is consistent with the Biblical values that our world so
desperately needs today. God wants this to happen in our lives, so we can enjoy the full life He intends for us and share it with others. Rather than hardening our hearts in an effort to protect ourselves, Pastor Chris shares how we can begin to p...

The fruit of patience is often misunderstood. It is not meant to help us deal with the annoyances of life - it is actually meant to help us endure the trials, struggles, and mistreatment we all face with a Christ-like attitude. This is important so we can mature properly and grow
through our challenges, rather than just survive them and wait for the next one to come along. Today, let’s lock eyes with Jesus, so we can live the rich and fruitful life we were created for!
Notes
Galatians 5:22 KJV
James 1:4 MEV
Wait fo...

If you want to get closer to God, it’s not something you can learn how to do - it
takes an all-in commitment to becoming someone new. It won’t happen overnight, but day by day and choice by choice, you can make the decision to grow deeper and live fuller in the life you were always meant to live - a life that is rich and fruitful.
Notes
Peace isn’t the absence of problems, it’s the presence of God.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
The Bible is the most powerful, relevant, and practica...

If you want to get closer to God, it’s not something you can learn how to do - it takes an all-in commitment to becoming someone new. It won’t happen overnight, but day by day and choice by choice, you can make the decision to grow deeper and live fuller in the life you were always meant to live - a life that is rich and fruitful.

Notes

“Fruit of the Spirit”

- Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

“God is love”

- 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16 ESV

John 15...

If you want to get closer to God, it’s not something you can learn how to do - it
takes an all-in commitment to becoming someone new. It won’t happen overnight, but day by day and choice by choice, you can make the decision to grow deeper and live fuller in the life you were always meant to live - a life that is rich and fruitful.
Notes
Week One: Love
Galatians 5:16-23 NLT
Galatians 5:4 KJV
You can’t learn fruit. Fruit grows when the roots are healthy.
John 3:16 KJV
Ma...

Pastor Chris sets the table for a new series starting Sunday by explaining the reason and occasion behind it.
Notes
John 15:8 NIV
John 13:35 TPT
2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
Be sincere.
Galatians 6:2 NIV
Walk in Christ’s authority.
Acts 20:27 NLT
Remember God is watching!
Luke 8:17 NLT
Matthew 6:4,6,18 KJV

When someone says, “I have decided to follow Jesus,” what does that mean? What
does it look like? Are we supposed to live our faith publicly and boldly, or should we keep it to ourselves? Sometimes, we want to live a life of faith and doing good, but we struggle to stay with it over time. What can help? PC talks about this today.
Notes
Most people come to faith in Jesus because of relationships.
Romans 10:14 MSG
Very few people stick with their faith without Godly relationships.
Proverbs 27:17 ESV
1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
Luke...

So much going on in the world. So much uncertainty. Big decisions to make. How can we avoid being sucked into the media machine, and rightly discern God’s will for our lives?

Notes

This world is not our home.

Philippian 3:20 NLT

1 John 2:15-17 NLT

Colossians 3:2-3 NIV

Galatians 6:2 NIV

We over-spiritualize God’s will.

We are asking for an open door, but living with a closed Bible.

James 1:5 NIV

We overanalyze God’s will.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

P...

How does God lead us in our lives? At Thriving Hills Church, we believe that it is God’s will for every person on Earth to thrive in life through a relationship with Jesus Christ. In that relationship, we believe it is possible to know what God’s will is for our lives and to be led by the Holy Spirit in what we do - but what does that look like?
Notes
God’s will doesn’t always come in a whisper from heaven, but often through wisdom on earth.
Open Doors
1 Corinthians 16:8-9 NIV
...

How can we ensure that we get to where we’re really supposed to be in life? With
so many options, so many choices, and so many opinions, how can we really be sure if we are finding God’s will for our lives, and not just messing things up? Pastor Chris teaches how finding God’s will for our lives is more than locating a dot on the map, but is actually a series of choices we make today.

Notes
The will of God is more about who you are becoming than what you ar...

Pastor Adam Drinkard brings a great message on the importance of prioritizing the presence of God and the pursuit of a relationship with Him.

We all have big decisions and important choices to make in life, and many times the answers are unclear. Have you ever wished someone would just tell you what to do? While most times we won’t have certainty, we can have clarity, confidence, and direction - even when we’re not sure.

Notes

Romans 12:2 KJV

God’s sovereign will.

Isaiah 46:10 NLT

Proverbs 19:21 NIV

The devil can mess with your plans, but he cannot stop God’s purpose.

God’s moral will.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT

...

Have you ever wanted to ask God for something so big and so bold that you could barely say it out loud? Learn what can happen when we Dare to Ask God for the impossible.

Notes
You don’t have to settle for the mundane. You can participate in the miraculous!
Mark 9:14-23 NLT
2 Kings 5:1-14 NLT
James 1:22 TPT
What would make you walk away?
Real friends won’t let you walk away.
A.C.T. - Analyze, Consult, Think.
Get to the water!
If you get...

Have you ever faced an impossible situation? Have you ever had to muster faith for something that scared you? Have you ever been in a place where faith in God wasn’t just one option, but your only option? Learn what can happen when we choose faith over fear and Dare to Ask God for the impossible.

Notes
Storms we choose.
Storms we chase.
Storms that come.
John 16:33 NIV
Matthew 5:45 ESV
Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV
Mark 4:35-41 ESV
God is with you in the storm!
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Ephesians 2:10 NL...

Have you ever wanted to ask God for something so big and so bold that you could barely say it out loud? Learn what can happen when we Dare to Ask God for the impossible.

Notes
Mark 5:22-42 NIV
Recognize
Reject
Replace
Joshua 10:13, 1:8 NIV
John 15:7 ESV
Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
Malachi 4:2 KJV

Pastor LaShayna McCourt shares with us an important message on taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus.

Have you ever wanted to ask God for something so big and so bold that you could
barely say it out loud? Learn what can happen when we Dare to Ask God for the impossible.

Notes
Hebrews 4:16
James 4:2
Hebrews 11:6
Joshua 10:7-14
1 John 5:14-15

Worship Pastor GiaVanni Himes shares with us how God has already prepared everything we need for us to move past the natural fears we have and do what He has called us to do.

Pastor Adam Drinkard gives us a great message on how learning to receive God's love and grace can put us in position to step into our purpose.

Pastor Chris teaches there is a difference between the temporary, fleeting joy that is based on our circumstances and the abiding joy we can have in Christ, even on our hardest days. How is that possible? What do we need to do? Find out in the message today.

Notes

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

God is still in control even when life seems to be falling apart.

Job 42:1-2, 10, 13, 15-16 NIV

God will work it out even when it seems hopeless.

Genesis 2:21-23 NIV

God deserves our praise...

2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NIV

We are all Built to Build.

1 Corinthians 3:10 NIV

You are built to surrender to God.

John 16:23 NIV

Psalm 40:7-8 KJV

Matthew 26:39 NIV

You are built to see things differently.

Matthew 9:36 NIV

Mark 10:45 NIV

You are built to rescue others.

You are built to build in this generation something that will last for generations to come.

It’s summer at Thriving Hills, and we are taking a look at the practical things that
can either add joy to our lives, or take it away. One of the primary ways our influence in a person’s life is shown or given is through the power of our words. We tend to become what the most important (and influential) people in our lives say we will become. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Even our Father in Heaven modeled the importance of our word...

It’s summer at Thriving Hills Church! A time that should be fun, laid back, and full of time spent enjoying beautiful weather and the people closest to us. Unfortunately, there are lots of things that can come along and steal our joy without us even realizing it. This month, let’s reclaim our joy and enjoy all that God has given us.

Notes

Finding Joy in the Journey

Song of Solomon 2:15 KJV

Small bothers left unresolved can ruin something beautiful and valuable.

John 10:10 NIV

Sometimes what we s...

Have you ever wanted a “do-over?” Have you ever messed up and wished you
could have a soft reset on the situation? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them to others. What if that reluctance on our part is hindering our own fresh start? In this series, we look at the Biblical prophet Jonah - a man who needed a second chance himself and found it in the most unexpected way. The good news is, God loves giving second, third, and fiftieth chances; and showing us time and again that He never gives up on u...

This week we continue with our series on the book of Jonah, as Evangelist Bob Newton from Powerhouse Ministries in Iowa joins us.

Have you ever wanted a “do-over?” Have you ever messed up and wished you
could have a soft reset on the situation? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them to others. What if that reluctance on our part is hindering our own fresh start? In this series, we look at the Biblical prophet Jonah - a man who needed a second chance himself and found it in the most unexpected way. The good news is, God loves giving second, third, and fiftieth chances; and showing us time and again that He never gives up on u...

Worship Pastor GiaVanni Hines shares an encouraging message with us.

Have you ever wanted a “do-over?” Have you ever messed up and wished you could have a soft reset on the situation? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them to others. What if that reluctance on our part is hindering our own fresh start? In this series, we look at the Biblical prophet Jonah - a man who needed a second chance himself and found it in the most unexpected way. The good news is, God loves giving second, third, and fiftieth chances; and showing us time and again that He never gives up on us.<...

Pastor Josiah Beougher from Unco Church in Newark, Ohio, is our guest speaker.

Jesus has been attached to many agendas throughout history, both good and bad;
yet His teachings have persisted across generations and cultures because they cut to the core of the human experience. To some, He is a nuisance who won’t go away; and to others, He holds the key to meaning and purpose in life. Even people who scoff at religion, the Church, and Christianity in general are fascinated and even enamored with Jesus. As we celebrate Easter Sunday, let’s find out together the answer to the question: “Who is Jesus?”

Notes
Luke 23:44-46
...

Jesus has been attached to many agendas throughout history, both good and bad; yet His teachings have persisted across generations and cultures because they cut to the core of the human experience. To some, He is a nuisance who won’t go away; and to others, He holds the key to meaning and purpose in life. Even people who scoff at religion, the Church, and Christianity in general are fascinated and even enamored with Jesus. As we approach Easter, let’s find out together the answers to the question: “Who is Jesus?”

Notes

John 6:63-71 ESV

Jesus has been attached to many agendas throughout history, both good and bad; yet His teachings have persisted across generations and cultures because they cut to the core of the human experience. To some, He is a nuisance who won’t go away; and to others, He holds the key to meaning and purpose in life. Even people who scoff at religion, the Church, and Christianity in general are fascinated and even enamored with Jesus. As we approach Easter, let’s find out together the answers to the question: “Who is Jesus?”

Notes

Luke 10:25-37 NLT

This week Pastor Chris had a message especially prepared for the parents and families of the children who were being dedicated. Drawing on an unexpected moment in his own parenting years ago, “PC” encourages us in how to navigate unexpected questions.

Notes

Matthew 11:2-5 NLT

Don’t be afraid to ask.

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV

James 1:5 NLT

Remember the facts.

“Drive it with data.”

Accept the invitation of Jesus.

Matthew 11:28-29 NLT

Proverbs 22:6 KJV, NLT

Pastor Alan Bostick shares a message tonight.

Jesus has been attached to many agendas throughout history, both good and bad; yet His teachings have persisted across generations and cultures because they cut to the core of the human experience. To some, He is a nuisance who won’t go away; and to others, He holds the key to meaning and purpose in life. Even people who scoff at religion, the Church, and Christianity in general are fascinated and even enamored with Jesus. As we approach Easter, let’s find out together the answers to the question: “Who is Jesus?”

Notes
Mark 8:27-29 NLT
...

Jesus has been attached to many agendas throughout history, both good and bad;
yet His teachings have persisted across generations and cultures because they cut to the core of the human experience. To some, He is a nuisance who won’t go away; and to others, He holds the key to meaning and purpose in life. Even people who scoff at religion, the Church, and Christianity in general are fascinated and even enamored with Jesus. As we approach Easter, let’s find out together the answers to the question: “Who is Jesus?”

Notes
“More Than Words...

In the final installment of this series, Pastor Chris talks about the effects of technology on our relationships and the struggles we can experience. This is something that we can all relate to on some level, so how do we navigate it? 

Notes 

John 13:34-35 NIV 

Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT 

Matthew 18:20 NIV 

Be present. 

Romans 12:9-10, 13 NLT 

Be engaged. 

1 Peter 4:8 NLT 

1 John 3:18 NLT 

In a technology-driven world, relationships matter.

In a culture that increasingly challenges relationships and sexuality, the ancient and timeless truth of the Holy Bible is that our bodies belong to God. There are many lies in the world today, perpetuated by the enemy and permeating into every area of our culture, which challenge long-held beliefs and eventually lead many to emotional and relational destruction. Today, Pastor Chris reminds us that sex is not casual, it is not to be taken lightly, and it does not define who we are as people. When we choose to follow God’s plan for our bodies, our sexuality, and ou...

Pastor Charlene Bunner shares with us on relationships.

Relationships are critical to our success, our happiness, our peace, and ultimately, our quality of life. God designed us to “Do life together.” But relationships don’t always go great
or yield the kind of fruit we were hoping for. Pastor Chris shares how we can work to ensure that the relationships that matter most in our lives are healthy and productive.

Notes
Matthew 22:37 NIV
Proverbs 13:20 ESV
Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Purpose.
Amos 3:3 MSG
Problems.
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
Productivity.
Deuteronomy 32:30 NIV

All relationships have conflict sooner or later; it’s just a fact of life. Our goal is not to escape it, but to do it God’s way by learning how to have healthy conflict. Healthy conflict resolution can actually cause great growth and personal satisfaction as we experience relationships the way that God designed us to - to sharpen one another, to help one another, and to build each other up.

Notes
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV
All relationships have conflict.
Great relationships have healthy conflict.
Healthy conflicts are safe.
“Don’t raise yo...

Relationships can be difficult and sometimes painful. What God designed to be the greatest source of comfort for our lives often becomes a source of frustration, hurt, insecurity, and even aggression. The truth is, God has great purpose for relationships in our lives; and relationships are the context in which He blesses us the most. So, how can we remedy this? How can we get back to good relationships when we’ve had some pretty bad ones; and how can we build good relationships if we lack them currently? 

Regardless of what has happened in our lives, we...

Relationships are complicated. Relationships get messy. Relationships can build
you up, fill you with confidence, and bring you great joy and success; and they can also break your heart and even beat you down and break you. No matter who you are, the person you are today has largely been shaped by the relationships in your life; and the person you will be five or ten years from now will largely be determined by the relationships you have right now. Truly, the quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.

The Bible...

Three of our upcoming communicators share with us on the topic of relationships.

This week, Pastor Chris brought a message for “Vision Sunday” by reminding us of the vision of the church and the vision God has for our lives. One of the most important things we can have is clarity and vision for our lives. Many of us are aiming at something – but it’s not God’s vision for our lives. What is the bullseye when it comes to our faith? And how do we hit it?

Notes:

Proverbs 29:18 KJV

“Helping people thrive in life through a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV

N...

Jesus commands His followers to be baptized in water, following His example found
in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:29-34. In its simplest form,
Christianity is a continuous journey best summed up by the words of Jesus found 21 different
times in scripture: “Follow me.”
Notice
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Revelation 22:17 ESV
Matthew 4:19 NKJV
Following Jesus will make you.
Following Jesus will humble you.
Mark 10:32 NKJV
Following Jesus will amaze you.
Matthew 28:19 ESV
Following Jesus will change you.
Water Baptism doesn’t make you a follow...

Our worship pastor, GiaVanni Himes, shares a timely word with us.

All of us were created by God to make a difference in the life of another person, and we believe He has a place for you where your unique abilities and passions can do just that. Our lives make more sense when we find, develop, and live out the purpose we were
created for. How might your life be different a year from today if you devoted the next 365 days to getting closer to God and walking the path that He has marked out for you?

Notes:
We are God’s elect, not His exempt. Duration: 00:39:12

This year at Thriving Hills Church, we are going to learn how we can thrive in our everyday life through a relationship with Jesus Christ that transforms our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Applying God’s Word to our disciplines, our relationships, and our everyday thought life really can have a transformational impact on our lives and even impact generations to come. Join us this month as we set out to Thrive in ‘25.

Notes:
John 12:24 ESV
John 12:25, 26 ESV
Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV
Luke 9:23 ESV
Crowd: Come and see.
John 1:46 ESV
Family: Come...

Pastor Josiah Beougher shares a timely message with us today.

Notes: 
Jeremiah 32:6-10 ESV
The Steps of Faith:
Sign it 
Seal it
Share it
Value it
Jeremiah 32:14-15 ESV
Future Favor is in the Field
"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." - Saint Augustine
Psalm 5:12 ESV

Merry Christmas from Thriving Hills! 

Notes: 
Matthew 1:18-23 ESV 
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV 
Matthew 1:23 NLT 
God didn’t shout His love from heaven, he showed it in the earth.

Life throws us all off-balance sometimes. Things happen seemingly out of nowhere that catch us off guard and we don’t know what to do. We don’t always have the answers we need, and that can leave us feeling very uneasy and looking for some stability. Whenever we are off-balance, we are most likely to fall; and you always fall in the direction you are leaning. So then the question becomes: Which way are you leaning?
Notes:
John 14:27 ESV
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Matthew 25:23
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
High Road Leadership by John C. Maxwell
...

Have you ever thought about why we celebrate Christmas? Not what we celebrate, but why we celebrate the way we do? Everybody has their own traditions and different cultures do different things; but there is something powerful with a deeper meaning that happens when we celebrate something that can cause us to view life through a different lens.

Notes:
Isaiah 9:6 KJV
Joshua 4:6-7 KJV
Psalm 78:4 NLT
John 3:16 KJV
Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV
Tower of Babel - Genesis 11
“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” C.S...

Notes:
Genesis 46:1-4 KJV
God knows you personally.
Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV
God knows His plans for you.
Psalm 37:23 KJV
God knows your purpose.
Psalm 34:8 KJV

The Bible has many accounts of instant healing. Perhaps you even know somebody who got a miraculous healing. But what about the rest of us? And what if the healing we need isn’t a physical healing, but something deeper; like a spiritual healing or an emotional healing? What if it's relational healing? And what if something you’ve been trying to fix can’t be fixed at all - what if it needs healed?

The miracles Jesus performed were often embedded with “Easter Eggs” to speak to us in layers and on different levels. Today we open up th...

We all have some “sacred cows” in our lives; belief systems and personal practices that may be irrational, outdated, unhelpful, and even counterproductive to what we say we’re trying to accomplish. Yet we cannot seem to let them go or even allow them to be challenged - even when holding on to them is hurting us. As we lead into Thanksgiving, we are looking at some common “thieves of thankfulness” that we probably aren’t even aware are impacting our lives more than we realize. Is Jesus important? Or is He first? Let’s tip some cows together.

Notes...

We all have some “sacred cows” in our lives; belief systems and personal practices that may be irrational, outdated, unhelpful, and even counterproductive to what we say we’re trying to accomplish. Yet we cannot seem to let them go or even allow them to be challenged - even when holding on to them is hurting us. As we lead into Thanksgiving, we are looking at some common “thieves of thankfulness” that we probably aren’t even aware are impacting our lives more than we realize. Is Jesus important? Or is He first? Let’s tip some cows together.

Notes: Duration: 00:32:05

We all have some “sacred cows” in our lives; belief systems and personal practices that may be irrational, outdated, unhelpful, and even counterproductive to what we say we’re trying to accomplish. Yet we cannot seem to let them go or even allow them to be challenged - even when holding on to them is hurting us. As we lead into Thanksgiving, we are looking at some common “thieves of thankfulness” that we probably aren’t even aware are impacting our lives more than we realize. Is Jesus important? Or is He first? Let’s tip some cows together.

Notes: Duration: 00:41:47

This week begins a brand new chapter in our story; the next season of our journey as a church and as a people. We believe that God has turned our hearts toward our community, and we are excited to share with you the new name and the vision that accompanies it.

New service times locally: 9:00 & 10:30 am Sundays, 6:30 pm First Wednesdays. 
Why are we changing our service times?
We want to make it as convenient as possible for people to connect with God. 
Why are we changing our name?
Because God is giving us ne...

Pastor Adam Drinkard shares with us a powerful and timely message about the importance of showing Biblical honor.

There is a world we cannot see that is influencing the world we can see; and in the Bible we see some pretty crazy things that low-key sound like science fiction. Are they real? What do they mean? And how can this help us in our lives today? This week, we look at a time and place when God used a Medium to literally bring a man back from the dead; and in this story we can find hope for our own lives.

Notes:
1 Samuel 28:3-19 NLT
1 Samuel 15:10-29 NLT
Abraham: Genesis 15
Romans 11:29...

There is a world we can’t see that is influencing the world we can see. Supernatural forces are often working “behind the scenes” to orchestrate what happens in our everyday lives. How do we navigate that? Isn’t that kind of freaky? Am I safe? Today we look at one of the most overlooked and impossible moments in the Bible: when Jesus was crucified, and His death caused a bunch of dead people to come back to life, get up out of their tombs, and walk into the “holy city” of Jerusalem.
Notes:
Matthew 27:50-53 ESV
2 Timoth...

There are some things in the Bible that we don’t understand; some things that don’t make sense to our natural minds. Many times, it is because there is a world we can’t see that is influencing the world we can see. When the spiritual world begins to impact our natural world, how do we navigate that?

Notes:
Genesis 3:1-5 ESV
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
John 10:10 KJV
Paul Harvey “If I were the devil” 1965 2 Peter 2:20 ESV
1 Peter 5:8 KJV
James 4:7 AMP

We need to follow the Holy Spirit instead of expecting the Holy Spirit to follow us. If we want God’s best for our lives, we need to learn what it means to be “led by the Spirit.”

Notes:
Romans 8:14 NLT
Galatians 5:16 NLT
John 16:7 ESV
God is in you!
John 14:26 ESV Helper, Teacher, Reminder 
John 16:13 ESV Leader
We need to follow the Holy Spirit, instead of asking Him to follow us.

What does it mean to, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit?” What is “The baptism in the Holy Spirit?” It can be intriguing for some, but scary or weird to others. Pastor Chris shows us today how this baptism is all part of the Christian experience, and an important part of the journey God has for our lives.

Acts 2:38-39
Baptism in Christ - 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27 Water Baptism - Acts 2:41, Matthew 10:32-33

Baptism in the Holy Spirit - Acts 8:14-17, 1 John 5:7-8 Be filled with the Spirit - Ephesians 5:18
Remove the barriers - Hebrew...

The Holy Spirit is a mystery to many people. He is often misunderstood, and poor representations and incorrect teachings have made some people want to avoid Him altogether. But scripture is clear that we don’t even have the full picture of God without Him. Who is the Holy Spirit? What does he do? In this message, we look at the spiritual gifts He gives and what they mean for our lives today.

We open up a month-long journey of getting to know the third person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit, and how He wants to work in our lives. We are going all in to get past our fears, prejudices, and misperceptions, and see what the Bible actually has to say about the One scripture refers to as our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate.

Notes:
We need the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1-2
A breath of fresh air.
Ruwach, Pneuma
Wind is unseen - John 14:16-17 Wind is unpredictable - John 3:8 Wind is powerful...

Our Founding Pastor, John Boggs, joins us with some encouragement today that God is still God, no matter what.

God desires more than just followers; He invites us to meet with Him face to face, as a close friend. Sometimes He may feel distant and far away, but we can draw close to Him and experience His presence in a new and fresh way.

Message notes:
Exodus 33:11
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 MSG
1 John 3:8
Isaiah’s Encounter - Isaiah 6:1-3 
God wants to reveal Himself to me. 
Isaiah 6:4-7
God wants to cleanse me. Isaiah 6:8-9
God wants to use me.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When God touches me, He’ll use...

God desires more than just followers; He invites us to meet with Him face to face, as a close friend. Sometimes He may feel distant and far away, but we can draw close to Him and experience His presence in a new and fresh way.

Message notes:
Exodus 33:11
1 Corinthians 2:3-5
Moses’ Encounter - Exodus 3:1-6.
Who am I? (Exodus 3:11-12) Overcome Condemnation (Titus 3:4-5)
Who are you? (Exodus 3:13-14) Overcome Doubt (Jeremiah 32:17 NASB) What if they? (Exodus 4:1) Overcome Fear (Romans 1:16)
I have never. (Exodus 4:10-12) Overcome Reluctance (Hebrews 11:6) What is the Ho...

God desires more than just followers; He invites us to meet with Him face to face, as a close friend. Sometimes He may feel distant and far away, but we can draw close to Him and experience His presence in a new and fresh way.

Message notes:
Exodus 33:11
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 MSG
We need power, not just words. (1 Corinthians 2:3-5)
We need an encounter, not just an explanation. (John 9:17, 25) We need presence, not just practice. (Romans 8:11 MSG) Jacob’s Encounter - Genesis 32:24-30.
A new strength. (Isaiah 40:29-30)
A new identity. (Isaiah 43:18-1...

Pastor Adam Drinkard is our guest speaker this week. 

Special guest Pastor Chad Guined joins us with an encouraging message.

Charlene Bunner, Jaakob Hunt, Mike Calavitta, Alan Bostick, and GiaVanni Himes share with us today from the book of 1 John.

There is a lot to smile about if you know where to look, and we can help you find it! Don’t let the cares of life keep you from enjoying life. Stay joyful, stay hopeful - Stay Positive!

Cynicism and negativity may be the easy choice sometimes, but they’re never the best choice. If you seek what is good, you’ll see what is good. God is a positive God and He speaks the language of faith - the language of optimism and positivity. This is the way we were created to think and to speak...

Description:
There is a lot to smile about if you know where to look, and we can help you find it! Don’t let the cares of life keep you from enjoying life. Stay joyful, stay hopeful - Stay Positive!

Cynicism and negativity may be the easy choice sometimes, but they’re never the best choice. If you seek what is good, you’ll see what is good. God is a positive God and He speaks the language of faith - the language of optimism and positivity. This is the way we were created to think and to...

Our Father’s Day message!
There is a lot to smile about if you know where to look, and we can help you find it! Don’t let the cares of life keep you from enjoying life. Stay joyful, stay hopeful - Stay Positive!

Cynicism and negativity may be the easy choice sometimes, but they’re never the best choice. If you seek what is good, you’ll see what is good. God is a positive God and He speaks the language of faith - the language of optimism and positivity. This is the way we were cre...

There is a lot to smile about if you know where to look, and we can help you find it! Don’t let the cares of life keep you from enjoying life. Stay joyful, stay hopeful - Stay Positive!

Cynicism and negativity may be the easy choice sometimes, but they’re never the best choice. If you seek what is good, you’ll see what is good. God is a positive God and He speaks the language of faith - the language of optimism and positivity. This is the way we were created to think and to speak...

There is a lot to smile about if you know where to look, and we can help you find it! Don’t let the cares of life keep you from enjoying life. Stay joyful, stay hopeful - Stay Positive!

Cynicism and negativity may be the easy choice sometimes, but they’re never the best choice. If you seek what is good, you’ll see what is good. God is a positive God and He speaks the language of faith - the language of optimism and positivity. This is the way we were created to think and to speak...

There is a lot to smile about if you know where to look, and we can help you find it! Don’t let the cares of life keep you from enjoying life. Stay joyful, stay hopeful - Stay Positive!

Cynicism and negativity may be the easy choice sometimes, but they’re never the best choice. If you seek what is good, you’ll see what is good. God is a positive God and He speaks the language of faith - the language of optimism and positivity. This is the way we were created to think and to speak...

We will never get our priorities right until we get the principles right. The issue is not as much organization as it is spiritual. In this message, Pastor Chris gives spiritual insights into a very common problem for people of all walks of life.

Notes:
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
John 6:38 ESV
Choose mission over position. Exodus 17:9-13 NIV
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Choose motivation over expectation. Matthew 22:34-38 MSG
Luke 6:31-32 MSG
Choose legacy over temporary. Hebrews 11:13-16 MSG
Psalm 84:10

Would you be willing to ask God to uncover the things that are potentially holding you back in life - the things that perhaps are keeping you from trusting Him more? We know that prayer moves the heart of God, but some prayers move Him more than others do. Bold prayers, daring prayers - prayers that give God space to do what He wants to do, and exposes us to the need to grow and mature - are the kind of prayers that will move God and move you, as well. If you’re ready to see God work in...

Have you ever heard it said, “It will all turn out the way it’s supposed to?” Or maybe, “Everything will work itself out?” While these can be (to a certain degree) comforting, sometimes we forget that we have a role to play in the outcome of events here on earth. Other times, maybe something has happened that has caused us to stop praying, or to stop believing that our prayers will have any effect on the outcome of the things we are concerned about. Maybe we just believe that God won’t answer a prayer from us.


Her...

Are you convinced that the Bible is true? Do you have doubts? Do you have questions? There are those who think that questioning the validity of the Bible is heresy; that you must be evil, arrogant, or rebellious. But even Jesus said that his student Thomas was “blessed” because he had seen proof that Jesus was who He said He was.

God is not offended by our questions. He welcomes them, actually. He doesn’t answer them every time (and that can be annoying); but God is not bothered or threatened by our questions. And if the Bible...

This is our Water Baptism service, where we celebrate being buried with Christ in baptism and being raised to a new life in Him! For more information on how you can be baptized, call 330.749.3607 and leave your name and phone number and we will contact you.

Obeying.
Matthew 28:19 ESV
Acts 2:41 NLT
Acts 8:12 ESV
Acts 2:38 NIV
You don’t have to understand to be obedient.
Proclaiming.
Baptism doesn’t make us saved, it’s a sign that we are saved. Celebrating!
Romans 6:3 MSG

Followers of Jesus were never meant to live in this world without the everyday help of The Holy Spirit. Often misunderstood, The Holy Spirit did not come merely for certain outward expressions or manifestations that amaze people; but He came to change our hearts toward other people and God. He came to show us what we cannot see on our own. Simply put, The Holy Spirit has come to help us.

Notes:
Acts 2:1-12 NIV
John 14:16 KJV
The Holy Spirit comforts us.
John 14:27 NIV
John 14:26 NIV
The Holy Spirit reveals truth...

These days it’s easy to see life the way we want to. We can filter our images, pick the news we want to hear, and listen only to the viewpoints that agree with us. When we do that, we start to distort our view of the world. The same thing can happen to our view of God. We reshape our perception of Him into what we want to believe, or what we want to think about others. Jesus came to bring us the truth about God and His plan for us, and it doesn’t always sound like what...

These days it’s easy to see life the way we want to. We can filter our images, pick the news we want to hear, and listen only to the viewpoints that agree with us. When we do that, we start to distort our view of the world. The same thing can happen to our view of God. We reshape our perception of Him into what we want to believe, or what we want to think about others. Jesus came to bring us the truth about God and His plan for us, and it doesn’t always sound like what...

These days it’s easy to see life the way we want to. We can filter our images, pick the news we want to hear, and listen only to the viewpoints that agree with us. When we do that, we start to distort our view of the world. The same thing can happen to our view of God. We reshape our perception of Him into what we want to believe, or what we want to think about others. Jesus came to bring us the truth about God and His plan for us, and it doesn’t always sound like what...

These days it’s easy to see life the way we want to. We can filter our images, pick the news we want to hear, and listen only to the viewpoints that agree with us. When we do that, we start to distort our view of the world. The same thing can happen to our view of God. We reshape our perception of Him into what we want to believe, or what we want to think about others. Jesus came to bring us the truth about God and His plan for us, and it doesn’t always sound like what...

First Wednesday Service with our Worship Leader Giavanni Himes bringing the message. 

What’s Your Headline? 

It can be hard to sift through all the information at our fingertips, and filter it in a healthy way. Is it even possible to stay positive in today’s culture? This message reminds us that even in a complicated world, we can shift our perspective. Even if we can’t change our circumstances, we can change our perspective. What’s your headline? 

Notes:

Colossians 3:1-3

You can’t always change your circumstances, but you can change your perspective. 

Numbers 13:27-33

Philippians 1:12-14

1 K...

Notes: 

“The purpose of the rules is to bring you in to the game.” Richard Foster 

“When you know who you are, then you’ll know what to do.” Craig Groeschel 

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. Psalm 24:1-2 NLT 

Stewardship: The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. (Merriam-Webster) 

Yes, I...