"Why Don't You Believe God Loves You?"

Why is it so hard to trust anyone?

Probably because every day we're surrounded by broken promises, hidden fees, scams, and disappointment. After enough hurt, cynicism starts to feel like wisdom. We become suspicious of everyone—even ourselves. And before long, that same skepticism begins to creep into our relationship with God. We wonder, "Surely His grace has a catch. Surely there's some fine print I haven't found yet."

But what if there isn't?

In this final message of our Comfortable Words series, we explore two of the most hope-filled promises in all of Scripture: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15) and "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

If you've ever wondered whether God could really forgive you, if you've struggled to believe His promises are actually meant for someone like you, or if you're simply exhausted from carrying guilt, this message is for you.

The Gospel isn't hiding any fine print. Christ has already paid the price. The verdict has been spoken.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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Frank HartComment
"For Everyone Tired of Holding It All Together"

Are you tired of feeling like everything depends on you?

Jesus doesn’t offer another system to manage or another standard to reach.

He says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

This is for anyone worn down by guilt, pressure, or the exhausting need to prove themselves.

Salvation isn’t another task. It’s a promise.

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Frank HartComment
"Can God Really Forgive Me?"

Do you ever wonder if God is getting tired of forgiving you?

You confess the same sins. You promise to do better. You fail again. Deep down, you wonder, "Sure, the pastor says I'm forgiven... but does that really include me?"

In this sermon, we explore one of Christianity's oldest traditions: the Comfortable Words—Scripture passages spoken after confession to silence an accusing conscience. Because when guilt won't stop talking, you don't need a motivational speech. You need the heavy artillery of the objective Word of God.

From 1 John 1:5–2:2, we'll discover why God's comfort isn't found in pretending our sin isn't that bad, but in believing our Savior is far greater than our sin.

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Frank HartComment
"Jesus Shared His Father With Us"

Why do so many Christians live exhausted, anxious, and constantly trying to prove themselves—even after they've been forgiven?

In this message, "Jesus Shared His Father With Us," you'll discover how one simple phrase from Jesus changes everything: "Our Father." When you understand what Jesus was really inviting us into, it transforms the way you pray, face fear, carry burdens, and experience God's love.

If you've ever wondered whether God is disappointed in you, distant from you, or merely tolerating you, this message is for you.

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Frank HartComment
"Who Gets the First Word?"

It studies you, predicts you, feeds your fears, rewards your outrage, and keeps you scrolling—but it doesn't love you.

The problem isn't that we treat our phones like a Bible. The problem is we treat our Bibles like a phone—scrolling for the parts we agree with and skipping the parts we don't.

In this message, we'll explore why the greatest threat to your faith isn't technology—it's the sinful desire to be your own authority. We'll talk about echo chambers, itching ears, self-made gods, and the life-changing difference between a God who agrees with you and the God who saves you.

Because the question that shapes your life isn't just what gets your attention. It's who gets the first word.

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Frank HartComment
"A Guide to Explaining the Trinity Badly"

This week we tackled one of the deepest and strangest mysteries in Christianity: the Trinity. One God. Three Persons. And as it turns out, Christians have spent about two thousand years accidentally explaining it badly.

“Creation can tell you there is a Creator, but creation alone cannot fully tell you whether that Creator is loving toward sinners. That’s why Jesus matters so much.”

We looked at John 17, where Jesus prays to the Father before the cross and gives us one of the most intimate glimpses into the very heart of God in all of Scripture.

If you’ve ever struggled to understand the Trinity, struggled to trust God in suffering, or wondered what God is actually like… this sermon is for you.

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Frank HartComment
"Why Am I Like This? Anger, Grace, and the God Who Comforts"

Most of us know what it feels like to love someone deeply… and still struggle to love them well. Maybe you’ve lost your temper with your kids, said something cruel to your spouse, overreacted to something small, or replayed a moment later thinking, “What’s wrong with me?”

In this sermon through Isaiah 66, we look at one of the most tender and surprising images of God in the entire Bible: a God who comforts His people “as a mother comforts her child.” But right alongside that tenderness is another reality we often avoid—God’s holiness, justice, and judgment against evil.

This message wrestles honestly with anger, shame, parenting, emotional chaos, self-control, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some lines that stuck with people: “Repentance without despair.” “Children borrow calm from their parents.” “Leave the justification to Jesus.”

If you’ve ever wondered why loving people can feel so hard… or if you’re exhausted from trying to hold yourself together through sheer willpower… this sermon is for you.

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Frank HartComment
"Who Are You"

Who are you… really?

Not your job. Not your hobbies. Not what people think about you.

When everything else gets stripped away—what’s left?

In this message, we wrestle with one of the biggest struggles in our culture: building our identity on things that can’t hold it. From sports to success to social labels, we keep trying to answer the question “Who am I?”—and it keeps shifting on us.

This sermon gets to the heart of that problem and offers something better.

“We keep handing our identity to things that were never designed to carry it.”

“You’re not the builder of your life… you’re being built.”

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly redefining yourself, trying to hold everything together, or wondering if you’re enough—this message is for you.

Because the good news is this: “You don’t need to figure out who you are—God has already told you.”

Listen in as we explore what it means to receive your identity instead of trying to build it—and why that changes everything.

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Frank HartComment
"You're More Ready Than You Think"

Following Jesus often feels like stepping into the unknown—awkward, uncertain, and definitely outside our comfort zone. But what if you’re more ready than you think?

This message explores how Jesus sends His people out, even in their hesitation, and invites us to take one simple step of faith.

“Jesus knew you’d hesitate—and He chose you anyway.”

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Frank HartComment
"Dress Like A Disciple"

Most of us think we’re doing pretty well spiritually… until we have to deal with actual people.

Like, it’s easy to be patient, kind, and forgiving—right up until someone is annoying, inconvenient, or just… exists a little too loudly.

In this message, we’re looking at what it really means to follow Jesus—not just in theory, not just in church, but in real relationships. Because like it or not...

“You’re not living as a disciple of Jesus if no one has access to your real life.”

We’ll walk through Colossians 3 and see that discipleship isn’t just about knowing more, behaving better, or being excited about Jesus—it’s about being formed into people who actually follow Him together.

And yeah… that’s where it gets messy.

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Frank HartComment
"Unsubscribe"

You can unsubscribe from almost anything with one click.

Can we treat people the same way?

“We want the benefits of family… without the inconvenience of people.” “Without friction, there’s no growth.”

We’ve been trained to think like consumers: What’s in it for me? Does this work for me? Should I find something better?

What if belonging isn’t about finding the perfect place… but learning how to stay?

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Frank HartComment
"When God Feels Gone"

What if the moment you thought everything was falling apart… was actually the moment everything was being made right?

In this message, we explore one of the most misunderstood moments in history—a moment that looked like loss, confusion, and absence… until it wasn’t. Why do we assume something is wrong when things change? Why do we think something is missing when God may be doing something better?

If you’ve ever felt like something important is “gone”—this message might change how you see it.

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Frank HartComment
"This is not what I was expecting"

Turns out adulthood does not involve all the very specific problems Saturday morning cartoons led us to believe. Honestly… kind of disappointing. But you know what does show up? A life that doesn’t go the way you expected. Palm Sunday was like that too. Everyone thought they knew exactly what Jesus was about to do… and they couldn’t have been more wrong. “They weren’t wrong about the Messiah coming. They were wrong about what He came to do.” They wanted a king to fix their problems. Jesus came to die for their sins. Not what they were expecting. Exactly what they needed. If you’ve ever looked at your life (or God) and thought: “This is not what I was expecting…” Yeah… this one’s for you.

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donna schulzComment
"Physical & Financial Capital"

This week, we wrap up our Five Capitals series with a message that gets uncomfortably practical: Physical & Financial Capital—your time, your stuff, your money, your presence. Yeah… that part. Before you start thinking, “Here we go, church just wants my money,” take a breath. This isn’t about guilt. It’s about something deeper. “The church doesn’t start with what we bring. It starts with what God gives.” From potluck tables to Apollo 13, this message explores how ordinary things—food, homes, conversations, generosity—become the “infrastructure” God uses to change lives. “Macaroni and cheese is the gooey infrastructure of the mission.” We all love generosity… until it costs us something. “We trust God with our eternity… but maybe not access to our bank account.” But what if the point isn’t pressure… it’s freedom? “We don’t give to be accepted. We give because we already are.” This message is about: living open-handed instead of afraid showing up instead of sitting out bringing what you have instead of waiting for more Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about money. It’s about the table. “They made a place for me at the table… and it changed my life.” Read, watch, listen, and maybe—just maybe—ask yourself: What are you bringing?

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donna schulzComment
"Intellectual Capital"

Most people assume the church runs on a few “professional Christians.” But that’s not how God designed it. What if the church actually runs on everything you know… everything you’ve learned… and everything you’re good at? (You.) This week we talked about Intellectual Capital—the knowledge, skills, and experiences God has already placed in your life and how He wants to use them for His mission. A few lines from the message: “Everything you know. Everything you’ve learned. Everything you’ve practiced over the years. That’s your kung fu.” “Some people know how to fix engines. Some people know how to build things. Some people know how to explain complicated ideas so they can actually be understood.” “The question isn’t whether you have something to bring. The question is whether you’re willing to bring it to the table.” This message is for you.

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donna schulzComment
"Relational Capital"

You can have 1,200 followers, three group chats, a full calendar… and still feel like nobody actually knows you. That’s the world we live in right now. More connected than ever. More lonely than ever. We don’t need another podcast, another hot take, or another perfectly curated church service. We need people. Real relationships. People who notice when we walk in the room. People who remember our name. Because here’s the truth: “Church stops feeling like an event and starts feeling like family the moment someone says, ‘Hey… I’m glad you’re here.’” This week we’re talking about Relational Capital — the relationships God uses to grow faith, build the church, and bring people to Jesus. Because the Gospel usually travels along the roads of relationship.

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donna schulzComment
"Spiritual Capital"

After this week's message someone told me, “The part about letting the Spirit work instead of doing it all myself… that’s where I’m stuck. I feel like a hamster on a wheel.” Maybe you do too. We hear, “Stop controlling. Let God.” But what does that mean? Do we just stop trying? Jesus never tells us to stop moving. He tells us to stop being the engine. There’s a difference between running from anxiety and abiding in trust. That difference changes everything.

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donna schulzComment
"Eleven Years—The Baton"

It’s our 11th birthday. Which means we’re officially old enough to think we know everything… and still young enough to need a ride. This week we’re talking about growth — not the kind that’s about numbers on a screen, but the kind that decides whether the Gospel keeps moving forward or quietly fades into the background. Paul writes 2 Timothy knowing he’s about to die. He doesn't make a five-year plan. No leadership conference. Just a final charge: Are we passing the baton… or just holding it? Are we running our race — or coasting? And here’s the tension: “Christ will preserve His Church. But whether we’re part of that mission is something we’ll answer for.” It’s hopeful. It’s direct. It’s a rally cry. Let’s run.

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donna schulzComment
"Romans Flyover MSOTB"

Romans is the book you read and then think, “Well… that escalated quickly.” It’s the book that calmly says things like, “None is righteous.” “You can’t fix this.” “Your best effort still isn’t enough.” Which is not usually how you start a motivational talk. Romans is also the book that says, “But now…” “There is no condemnation.” “Nothing can separate you from the love of God.” So if you’ve ever wondered: Why Christianity isn’t just self-improvement Why trying harder doesn’t bring peace Or why Paul sounds like he’s arguing with everyone at once This letter is for you. Today we’re doing a flyover of Romans—not because it’s simple, but because it’s essential. And fair warning: Paul is going to take apart everything we trust to make ourselves feel okay… before giving us something better.

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donna schulzComment