Genesis Church Phoenix

If you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on. The melody and the singing make you think it's a sad song, until you listen closely to the lyrics. Instead, Hurts is a song of encouragement, hope and an anti-suicide anthem simply aimed at teenagers. You know what? It actually works! Many people have contacted the band to tell them how the song changed their lives. The song talks about connection, and our need to realize that everyone goes through the tough stuff - so we shouldn't give up! That's pretty good news, but not quite the real Good News. We are going to look at several responses of desperate people in history and how they sought out hope and meaning in their lives and how it's similar, or different, from R.E.M.'s message to hurting teens.

In Paul's final words of Roman 8, he very poetically asserts that there is nothing in all the world or in the unseen world that can separate us from Him. In Christ, our salvation and position is secure. And, come what may, in the end, God wins and we are the beneficiaries.

No matter the circumstances of our lives, we can be assured that nothing will be wasted and that all things—even those that may look bad—will work out for good in the end. This promise allows us to endure suffering and pain while still clinging to hope.

In spite of our freedom and new life in the Spirit, we all understand and experience the suffering that is this world. We, along with all of creation, groan for things to be set right. It's a “holy discontentment” with our current circumstances, moving us to simultaneously join with God in ushering the Kingdom of God into our world and looking forward to a day when all things will be set right, once and for all.

Many will ask, “Where does God want me to go? What does God want me to do?” Our hope is a quick and simple answer. But, the Holy Spirit leads us, not as slaves who just take instruction, but as children. It guides us not by rules, but by relationship. Being led by the Spirit requires the pursuit of a relationship with God first.

The same Spirit that hovered over the waters, empowered the prophets, and raised Jesus from the dead, is the same Spirit that lives in every believer. Allowing Him to control our lives leads to a new kind of living—one marked by the gifts and the fruits. To do this will require participation with Him and walking in the way of Jesus.

Join us as we dive back into the book of Romans with one of the most famous passages in all of scripture. Romans 8. Are you listening to the voice of compassion, or the voice of condemnation?

Join us on Easter as we celebrate and remember the miracle of Jesus' resurrection and how it has the power to change our lives.

Pastor DJ Uithoven- This is it, it's Easter week! Palm Sunday begins the final journey of Jesus moving towards his ultimate purpose here on earth and he's got a lot to say and do. Palm Sunday is the moment we see Jesus finally accept and promote the idea that he is the Messiah who has been long awaited. Amidst the celebration, Jesus pauses to bring our attention to something very important. Peace has come to town. Are you ready for it? Are you prepared to accept and chase God's peace in your life?

Roads are intended to bring us somewhere. We use them to get from point A to point B. Likewise, in Jesus' final weeks on earth, the roads he traveled were leading to a definitive moment in the history of humanity. During the weeks leading up to Easter, we will take a look at some of the key moments Jesus had traveling on these roads—leading to his eventual death and resurrection. Along the way we will learn how those moments fulfilled the mission of Jesus and what it means for us today.

In a hurried world we will need to reorient our lives to move at the pace of Jesus. This won't come naturally to us and will require a willingness to do things and become things that may be uncomfortable at first.

We have been trained in the art of hurry. It's not just what we do, it's part of who we are. To break this, we need to be retrained. Jesus modeled for us intentional methods we can implement and plan for in our lives that will do just that.

Pastor Justin McKennon - Life is found in running the race at the pace of Jesus. Not the pace of the world. Jesus seemed to balance both the urgent nature of His mission on earth with a desire to be present in every moment. In one instance, His presence and patience allowed the space for two miracles, not just one. Are we missing out on seeing the miracles of God because of our hurried pace in life?

Matthew 11:28-30 | Proverbs 21:5 John Ortberg famously said, “Hurry is not just a disordered schedule, it's a disordered life.” We have allowed hurry to be the engine behind our lives and it has led to malformation. We are more stressed and less productive. Our relationships are tattered. Our health is in shambles. But, what if we could reorder our lives to be less dominated by hurry? What might occur in our homes, our workplaces, our souls?

Romans 7:14-25 Taylor Swift famously said, "I'm the problem, it's me." In the final verses of Romans 7, Paul sings that same anthem. In one his most honest passages, Paul reveals an internal struggle we all have--we do what is wrong when we don't want to and we don't do what is right when we should. How do we break free from this? It starts with an assessment of ourselves and a deep look into the heart of Jesus.

Romans 7:7-13 While the law is good, Satan and sin have use it for it's own purposes. It has been twisted not to lead us to righteousness, but to reveal how sinful we are. This sort of deceit is the great tool of our enemy. And, he will use it to take what was intended for good and twist it for bad. Discerning this will take a deep reliance on the Spirit's work in our lives and a willingness to adjust our lenses to see how we have been deceived.

Romans 7:1-6 When we were united with Christ, a new way of living became available. No longer are we bound to sin and the law, but empowered by the Holy Spirit. This new way of living is our guide and tapping into it has endless possibilities for our impact in the world. The question is: how can we be people empowered by this new way of living--in tune with the Spirit and it's guiding power in our lives?

Pastor DJ Uithoven Romans 6:16-23 What's motivating you this week? Survival? A desire to be happy? Is there anything more available to us in life? Paul is going to show us his idea of a purposeful life this week as we wrap up chapter six in Romans. He will answer these questions for us--although it may be surprising how he says we will find purpose and hope in our lives. Today we look at how slaves to happiness have found freedom in becoming slaves to something life transforming.

Because the power of sin has been overcome in our lives, we can now experience freedom from its hold on us. This, however, is not accomplished by an act of willpower, but an act of surrender.

Romans 6:1-11 Because we are no longer “in Adam” and are now “in Christ” the power of sin has ended. This doesn't mean we will live and obey Jesus perfectly, it means the power sin once no longer dictates our lives. We are now united to Jesus and set free from the power of sin in our lives. We can overcome any temptation that comes our way and trust in the new identity we have in Him.

Romans 5:12-21 We were all born into sin through the act of our ancestor, Adam. His rebellion in the garden caused a ripple effect that has caused every human to be under the power of sin and death. In Adam, we are condemned. But, in Jesus, we are now made righteous and, instead of sin ruling, grace rules and gives us right standing with God.

The love of God is at the same time mysterious and knowable. As Paul continues in Romans 5, he will unpack how personal and intimate the love of God really is and how we can be a people who not only know it and receive it, but share it with others.

Join us as we talk over the vision that God has given us for Genesis in 2025 and beyond.

Because of the good news of Jesus, we are now at peace with God and can stand with confidence in joy of the future. In light of this, our view of suffering changes drastically. Instead of it leading to despair, it actually leads to greater hope and character. We no longer see suffering as a detriment to our lives, but as a way for our faith and hope to be refined.

Pastor DJ Uithoven- Christmas at the Movies has been a great way to spend the holiday season here at Genesis. It's been so fun to see the surprises and to consider how God is teaching us important things about our lives through beloved films. Maybe you are like me, beginning to ask the question of what is next? How do I carry contentment, faith, wonder and care for myself into 2025? We are going to look at one way God gives us to stay connected to Him in celebration and joy, every day, and week of our lives! And not just some lame, psuedo-party, but how to have true enjoyment alongside of God and others as we celebrate the gifts we are each given.

Clark Griswold was determined to have a “fun, old-fashioned family Christmas,” only to have his expectations dashed over and over again. Much like the Griswold Family Christmas, the very first Christmas took some unexpected turns. Though the Jewish people knew the prophecies of Micah and Isaiah, never could they have expected what God had planned. But, into the unexpected circumstances of Christmas came what we all needed most.

Nobody swoons over Christmas like Buddy the Elf; his sense of awe and wonder has captivated movie watchers for decades. What is so endearing about him is that we all desire that same awe and wonder around Christmas, much like the shepherds experienced. As they rested in their fields, a sense of awe and wonder came over them as they saw the star appear.

Kristen Lunceford- God pursued us in love, reconciling us to Himself through Christ. Now, as His ambassadors, we're called to pursue others with the same intentionality and grace, even and especially in the midst of conflict. Through this classic movie about a family finding their way back to each other, we'll see how the gift of reconciliation has the power to transform our relationships with God and one another. If the Christmas season is challenging for you this year because of tension in your relationships, you aren't going to want to miss this message.

Pastor DJ Uithoven- In the midst of our darkness and hopelessness, God needs to enter the world He created to bring back His light, hope and rescue. He could have chosen any form, any experience in human existence. We know now that He chose to be vulnerable, to arrive as the least for very good reason. This theme, though, will not be left behind at Jesus' birth. So much Christianity will reflect strength in check just like another hero from cinema history - John McClane. How does the bloody and battered savior of Nakatomi Plaza emulate Jesus? Yippee-ki-yay and Merry Christmas!

Philippians 4:12, Christmas in the 21st Century promises contentment but rarely delivers. The temptation to seek contentment in all of the “trimmings” of Christmas is so strong that we often leave the month of December broke and anxious. The Kranks realized this same issue and decided to skip Christmas altogether. But, they too, realize even that will never truly lead them to contentment. Like Luther and Nora discover, true contentment at Christmas requires a refocus on how to view the Christmas season and it's purpose in our lives.

Romans 4:9-17 Themes: Salvation | Promises of God | Faith What is needed for a person to be saved? Is there a recipe to ensure it happens? Paul breaks down assumptions made about being saved and pins it down to one thing: faith. No ritual or religious ceremony has the power to save us, only the Holy Spirit's work in our heart, leading us to faith in Jesus Christ. As a result, we don't just believe IN God, we BELIEVE God.

Romans 4:1-8 Themes: Faith Alone | Imputed Righteousness | Forgiveness Is being a good person the end goal of faith? Is it even attainable? As Paul launches into chapter 4, he addresses how a person is actually considered “good” before God. It is surprisingly not how most might imagine it. Goodness is not achieved, it's received. On our own, we could never become good enough to match God's standard of perfection. But, through Christ, we graciously receive the goodness He has to offer.

Pastor DJ Uithoven Romans 3:21-31 Themes: Forgiveness | Sacrifice | Cross | Faith Since religious practices and upholding the Law are unable to remedy our sin-problem and make us right with our Creator, God does what we can't do for ourselves. Only through Jesus are we made right before God. Through His perfect obedience of God's Law and His sacrifice on the cross are we able to experience freedom and forgiveness from our sin. Through faith in Him, and Him alone, we find salvation.

Romans 3:1-20 Themes: Humility | Grace | Forgiveness In light of our sinful state, God uses the Law to show us how sinful we have become. When we measure our lives against what God has asked of us, it becomes clear that none of us is righteous. Which means we will need something outside of ourselves to reunite us with God. We will need something (or someone) to save us.

Romans 2:17-29 Themes: God, the Father | Relationship | Life Change Some will try to achieve salvation through religion (the following of the Law). But, as Paul has personally discovered, chasing salvation through religion is an empty pursuit. Not only are we unable to follow the Law perfectly, but God doesn't expect us to. Instead, His desire is for us to experience a changed life through an intimate, dynamic relationship with Him.

Romans 2:5-16 Themes: Salvation | God's Holiness | Heaven/Hell While God remains patient and kind to us, there is a day of judgment coming. When that day comes all people will be judged according to what they have done with their lives—including what's occurred in secret. Those who have surrendered their life to Jesus will be given eternal life. Those who haven't will experience eternal separation.

As Paul concludes Romans 1, he addresses the various ways our sinful desires have disordered our lives and the world we live in, including our own self-righteousness. In the end, we are all in the same boat and are called to the only response that can lead to freedom and new life.

Romans 1:24-25 One critique of God is, “How could God allow such terrible things to happen in the world?” The truth, however, is that God simply gave us what we wanted. We have chosen sin and the worship of ourselves and the things of this world over Him. Instead of forcing Himself upon us, He lovingly allowed us to simply choose what we wanted most. He gave us over to our hearts' desires.

Romans 1:16-23 The good news of Jesus can't be fully understood until we understand the bad news. Yes, the good news tells us how to be made right with God. But, we must first understand that, apart from it, we are not in a right relationship with God. Because of sin, our minds and hearts have become corrupt, leading us to worship the things of this world instead of our Creator. And, no one is exempt from the penalty for our rebellion.

Romans 1:8-15 Before Paul dives into some of the most challenging passages in all of Scripture, he spends a moment to share his heart behind all of it. Paul is known as an apostle, a preacher, and an evangelist. But, at his core, Paul is a pastor. He is a follower of Jesus who loves and leads the people God has put in his care. Paul's motive for writing Romans is not out of spite or anger or his own ego—it is out of love. This posture is helpful in understanding that everything God speaks to us in Romans is from a place of love—not hatred or spite.

Romans 1:1-7 The book of Romans opens with a typical greeting and introduction from Paul. Paul very intentionally makes it clear who the entire book is about. It's not about him. It's not about the church in Rome. It's not about Jews or Gentiles. It's about Jesus. Every word Paul will share from chapter 1 to chapter 16 is about Jesus. From the very start, the book encourages anyone who reads it to keep this in view—all of life is about Jesus.

Pastor DJ Uithoven and Heather Gano- One of the first things God does after He creates Adam is create Eve. In doing so, He resolves that is not good for any human to be alone. Only when Adam and Eve are connected to each other does He call it good. We, like them, were created for and need each other. To be fully alive requires us to seek out connection with others who love and follow Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 / 2 Corinthians 9:6-7,11 As some of the wealthiest people to ever walk the face of the earth, we have been called to not only enjoy what we have been given, but to be increasingly more generous. The good life is not found by hoarding our wealth, but by giving it back to God's work in the church and to those who need it. To be fully alive requires us to prioritize generosity.

1 Peter 4:10 / John 13:14-17 The church and its mission to reach the world is sustained by the unselfish service of every person who follows Jesus. When we serve selflessly it not only brings hope to those around us but gives us a purpose bigger than ourselves. Only when we serve selflessly in the ways God has gifted us are we able to become fully alive in our faith.

Hebrews 10:24-25 Sunday has always been a big day in the life of the church. It has historically been the day when all the church gathers to worship, remember, and learn from God. It is, in many ways, the centerpiece of the Christian life. Everything flows from it. It is what keeps us grounded, connected, and faithful. And, it is what keep us fully alive as we step into our Monday.

In a world full of controversy and endless frustration, we look to the words of Jesus to remind us that our Love list is incomplete if our enemies aren't on it.

Pastor Jesse Bollinger joins us to continue in our Quotable series. This week we are talking about how Jesus urges us to stop living a life of deception, and instead pursue truth at every opportunity.

Jesus makes a statement in John 14 that has garnered a lot of dialogue and critique over the centuries. It's a bold claim that puts to rest any notion that Jesus is just "one of many" paths to God. But, while His statement is exclusive to Him, it is inclusive to all who will look to Him for salvation. How we understand and apply these words of Jesus is a matter of life and death for us and the world.

Jesus said many things during His time on earth. And though every word He said was important, some of those words have risen to the top of the most quoted. These sayings are brought up often—in conversation, in church, even in our culture. During the month of July, we will be taking a close look at some of those famous sayings with the hope of uncovering the depth of their meaning for our lives.

Kristen Lunceford is closing our Summer Jams series this week with a deep-dive into a three-time Grammy-winning song from 1988 that re-entered the cultural zeitgeist in 2023 and still has a lot of us singing along. If you've ever looked around at your circumstances and thought any place would be better than where you are, or if after last week's message you are fighting the urge to escape whatever “middle moment” God has you in, make it a priority to be at Genesis on Sunday. Bring a friend—and some running shoes if you have them—and get ready to run toward a hopeful, meaningful, purpose-filled future.

Few people experienced a middle moment in life like David in 1 and 2 Samuel. The time between being anointed king and being crowned king would amount to 15 years of pain and struggle and challenge. But, it was in those middle moments that God prepared, changed, and stretched David to become a king after His own heart. The middle moments of life can be the most challenging, but are critical for us to better know and trust God while experiencing the life change that comes through Him. The question is: what will we do with our middle moments?