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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What if the thing you’re worried about… is something God isn’t worried about at all? A lot of us grew up believing that strong faith attracts God—and weak faith pushes Him away. So we spend our lives checking our sincerity, measuring our consistency, and wondering if we’re faithing hard enough for Jesus. But what if that whole framework is off? This sermon is for the person who takes Jesus seriously—but quietly wonders if they’re doing good enough. For the person who wants to be faithful, but isn’t sure their faith measures up. For anyone who’s ever left church asking, “Am I okay with God?” 💥 “Weak faith doesn’t repel God. It attracts Him.” 💥 “Self-examination without assurance doesn’t lead to repentance—it leads to discouragement.” 💥 “Faith doesn’t save because it holds Jesus—faith is trusting that Jesus holds you.” No emotional manipulation. No altar-call pressure. Just the steady promise of what God has already done for you in Christ. Read the full message and breathe again.

Most Christians don’t struggle with belief. They struggle with connection. If you’ve ever wondered why your faith feels thinner than it used to… why patience runs out by Tuesday… why love feels more like effort than overflow… This sermon isn’t about trying harder. It’s about staying connected. 👉 “You can’t live a full-time faith on a part-time connection.” 👉 “Fruit doesn’t come from effort—it comes from connection.” 👉 “Abiding isn’t work. It’s rest.” In this message, we talk about why living faith is so rare—even in us—and why the answer isn’t guilt, discipline, or spiritual hustle, but staying close to Jesus. If your faith feels dry, distracted, or exhausted… this one’s for you. Read. Think. Breathe again.

We talk about love all the time—but we usually mean like. We love chocolate. We love our favorite song. We love people who are easy to love. But that’s not what Jesus means when He says, “Love one another.” In this sermon, we flip love right-side up and ask what it actually looks like when love costs us something, shows up in ordinary life, and gets handed to people who didn’t earn it. As it turns out, “The fruit of the Spirit is not for you—it’s for the people God puts in your life.” And that changes everything about faith, work, family, and the way we treat each other. Most of us understand the assignment, we just refuse to do it. This message digs into the Fruit of the Spirit, Lutheran theology of vocation, and why “We know the assignment. We just refuse to do it.” It’s honest, a little uncomfortable, and deeply freeing—because the Gospel reminds us that “You are not the source. You are not the goal. You are the delivery system.” You don’t need more love in your life—you need to give it away.