Mill Creek Church

In Paul's letter, we see his loves and his affections. We see his deepest desires. We find what matters most to him. And his treasure is found in Christ. His heart is embedded in Christ, and so his joy is embedded in Christ as well. The question for me - where is my treasure?

Paul reminds the church that our role as believers is not to harshly judge the world or to retreat into our own Christian bubbles. Instead, we are called to live in unity, demonstrating God's love and pointing others to Jesus through our actions and words, to shine bright for Him.

In a world that often celebrates self-promotion and individual success, there's a countercultural path that leads to true fulfillment and joy. This path, exemplified by Jesus Christ, challenges us to rethink our priorities and embrace a lifestyle of humility and service.

Paul was not ruled by circumstances but by trust in the providence and faithfulness of God. This gave him peace, joy, and hope in all situations. He was focused on Jesus Christ—his redeemer and deliverer. As Christians, we must follow Paul's lead, choosing to focus on and trust in God rather than our circumstances.

Christians are called to be people of hope and joy, who give hope to the hopeless and inspire joy in the hapless. We have been filled with life-giving Spirit so that we might live to “breathe life” into the dispirited! To live with joy might mean we are "defiant" of our current circumstances. Paul's letter of joy to a group of Jesus followers gives us a great model to follow.

We are not made to do life alone and yet, in some of life's biggest battles, when it gets hard with family, parenting and marriage, we tend to struggle solo. Let us not run from vulnerability but embrace the opportunity to be honest with God and seek out the ones he has given us to be in our corner.

There is an incredible foundation available for our families – the unshakeable, unbreakable love of God. No matter how hard life gets, no matter how difficult our circumstances become, no matter how broken the world around us might be, when we follow Jesus, nothing can separate us from God's love.

Even our favorite super-heroes have the capability of failure given the correct circumstances. Building a family of Godly values is not immune to failure either. Considering some of the possible paths to failure can reveal God's directions to a strong foundation.

We all have them and family can be some of the greatest sources of joy and disappointment. There is no such thing as a "perfect" family, so how do we set a direction for health and stability? Jesus shares what it looks like to build the right foundation for our families and marriages that can stand the storms of life.

The empty tomb is a tale of surprise, disbelief, and ultimately, hope. For those who are unsure, who have doubts or questions, take heart. You're in good company. The very first witnesses to the resurrection had to grow in their belief too. God invites us to look again, to consider the evidence, to ponder the impact of this story .

There is profound depth to God's love, as demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. That love extends to all of us, even when we feel unworthy or distant from Him. God's love is not based on our actions or feelings, but on His unchanging character and plan for redemption.

God isn't interested in us going through the religious motions or presentations. He's concerned with the condition of our hearts. It's not enough just to hear His Word; even a hard heart can do that. What matters is what we do with it. How are we living it out?

Have you ever wondered why people sometimes make choices that seem to go against their own best interests? Why do we, at times, long for situations that we know aren't good for us? This paradox is not new to human nature, history reminds us how a lack of understanding might cause us to repeat it.

Dealing with the consequences of a hard and calloused heart is seen vividly in the story of the Pharaoh in the account of Exodus. If we are defiant toward God, sometimes God will simply let us experience the natural consequences of such defiance. If we are wrestling and fighting with God, sometimes God will let us “win.”

Taking personal responsibility for our struggles is hard but shifting blame doesn't solve our problems or bring us closer to God. Instead, He calls us to honest self-reflection and repentance. This process, while sometimes difficult, opens the door to healing, restoration, and a deeper relationship with God.

For many, it feels good to have a clean house or car. Or after a long day of working outside, a clean shower. But what about our inner lives and relationships? Let's invite God to do a deep cleaning of our hearts. Let's allow Him to replace our hard, unresponsive hearts with hearts of flesh – warm, alive, and receptive to His love and will.

One of the great promises of our faith is the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. But how can I know the will of God? Is it saying the right words, like a magic formula or spell? Is it only reserved for the hyper-spiritual? How will I know what God wants me to do?

Jesus never condemned wealth. He didn't say that having possessions was wrong, nor did he claim that poverty was more spiritual or that wealth was a sign of God's favor. What Jesus emphasized, time and time again, was a profound truth: The story of life is not about how much we have. The story of life is how we use what we have.

We have a complicated relationship with money. For many, it's a topic that brings up deep-seated feelings of guilt, shame, or anxiety – often stemming from our upbringing, cultural norms, or even religious teachings. But what if we could flip the script and develop a healthier perspective on our finances?

If our money could talk to us, what would it say? Maybe more amazing is the parallel between what our money might say and what Jesus DID say. Jesus viewed our wealth as a tool, a means not the end. If being a means to an end gives life meaning, to what ends do we want our lives to be a means?

The way of wisdom leads to life – abundant, purposeful, and meaningful. This isn't about following a set of rigid rules, but rather embracing a way of living that aligns with God's heart and purposes. Jesus invites us to that way but we must guard our hearts from distractions and keep our focus on Him.

Vision has to do with what we perceive. The biblical ideas of our eyes, vision, and focus relate to what we are attentive to. Where does our attention go in our thoughts and affections? This “focus” must be intentional, and to keep that focus we must develop habits for what to be attentive to, to get rid of the stinking thinking.

For Jesus, healthy vision wasn't just about the physical; it's about having a clear, focused purpose aligned with God's will and a generous heart that sees the world as He does. What shapes our ambitions, passions, and fears? Are we seeing the world and its challenges as God sees it?

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to lose focus on what truly matters. Just as athletes train with singular determination, we're called to fix our eyes on Jesus. Are there areas of your life where your focus might have become fuzzy or have there been distractions pulling you away from your spiritual journey?

Failure is an inevitable part of the human experience, even in our spiritual journeys. We're all going to fail in our walk with Jesus at some point. So how do we handle the failure? And maybe more importantly, how does Jesus approach us in those moments?

Mary's part in the Christmas story is strange and hard to believe but also inspiring. Her words are not just a sweet lullaby or a gentle hymn. They are a powerful proclamation of hope, a declaration of God's transformative power, and a vision of a world turned upside down by divine intervention. They are a picture of peace.

This Advent season, we work hard to embrace the uncomfortable: the waiting, the silence, the longing. True joy isn't found in the rush, but in the quiet assurance that God is in control. Joy happens 'in all this,' not 'because of this' and we are invited to trust, even when we can't see the whole picture.

The back story of Christmas teaches us that even in the darkest moments of doubt and silence, God is working behind the scenes. May we be encouraged to embrace seasons of waiting, recognizing them as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper trust in God's steadfast love. Even when we can't see evidence of God's work in our lives, may we trust that He never forgets His promises to us.

As the Advent season begins, we are reminded that we hope because of who God is, who God has always been, and who God continues to be. Our hope is not unrealistic. While we may live in a reality of brokenness and despair, and we know that things are not as they should be, we hope in God, who continually works to make things right and good and whole.

No one plans to be ungrateful. Being thankful is central to our faith but we can struggle like the wandering Israelites and habitually forget to be thankful. Gratitude is far more than praise and devotion. It is a resource that can make or break our attitudes, our spiritual life, and our Christian communities.

According to Jesus, his followers would look and act much differently than the world around them. To a group of people who had no standing in their world, he described as salt and light, two incredibly valued commodities. Why do we attempt to be extravagantly generous? Because we believe Jesus has purposefully placed us and what we do matters!

No one wants to be remembered as a greedy or selfish person. So, what do you do to live a more generous life? Jesus tells a shocking parable that shows us exactly what God expects when it comes to generosity, and the message is surprisingly liberating. Jesus calls you to start with what you have, not with what you don't have.

Our culture spins a clear picture of what you should do with your money: spend it (whether you have it or not). Not only does this lead to stress, debt and being overwhelmed, it also leads to unhappiness. God wants something FOR you far more than he wants something FROM you. So what's the path to freedom?

Maybe you find it hard to talk about money. Most of us do. Maybe your parents never talked about money, or fought over it. Besides, what you do with your personal resources is nobody's business, right? Jesus wasn't so sure. He often spoke about money in a deeply challenging way, as was the case with a wealthy young influencer. What he said to that rich young ruler can change your life too.

Now it's personal. Jesus says to those who follow him, “Rejoice and be glad when you are persecuted for my sake.” This one gives us no wiggle room for debate but instead confronts us with the serious consequence of following Jesus in the world: it will be hard. But as we do what's hard, there is a wonderful reward.

An essential characteristic of someone living in the kingdom of God is that they are seeking peace. The kingdom of God cannot be at war within itself. And as such, we must continually work for true peace among people. It's not enough to avoid conflict or ignore hard conversations but are called to actively pursue peace.

This world offers us many options for our hearts and wills to follow and embrace. Our faith might be important to us in certain crowds and moments. But change the crowd and then change the mask. Jesus says the way of his Kingdom is purity of heart, which means an undivided heart. Does Jesus have all of mine?

The idea of mercy is not celebrated as a characteristic of strength in our world. The heroes of pop culture are frequently either told to show “no mercy” or depicted doing so. Mercy is seen as an action of the weak, and in our society, we celebrate those who are strong. Once again, Jesus flips the script and shares that the citizens of his kingdom will be different.

In the Bible, the term righteousness has multiple different applications. It can describe our right standing before God, a life that is lived in a way that reflects God's righteousness in the world. It can also describe what Jesus addresses in the Beatitudes, which is a social righteousness, a righteous justice. Jesus wants us to know that it is good for us to work for the good of others!

The desires of this world revolve around power and authority and strength. Jesus turns these values upside down in the description of his kingdom and those who would be a part of it. Instead of power, Jesus says there is a promise for the meek. Who would want to be meek? That's just weak. But maybe it's so much more.

While most life experiences will differ greatly from person to person, even growing up in the same family, there are a few common shared experiences. One of those is pain. We know what it's like to feel pain. The pain of loss, defeat, broken relationships and more. What do we do with the pain? In his kingdom, Jesus says finding joy requires facing our grief.

The hope of the follower of Jesus is the hope of an eternal kingdom, yet it can be so easy to become enamored with the kingdoms of this world. Jesus flipped the script when speaking of his kingdom's values and its citizen's character. It is not until we recognize our complete dependence upon God that we realize the blessings that he brings.

This month's Real Life podcast welcomes the one and only Makenna Grace Beall for a special dad-daughter conversation just before Makenna starts her junior year at Indiana Wesleyan University. The conversation dives into a look at the life of a student-athlete, social media, the opportunity to travel to Kenya and the impact of seeing God work through the lives of some very special children. Makenna has a lot to share and we hope you enjoy this time together.

What we believe matters because belief translates to action. But what's the "right" way to believe? There are so many "brands" of Christianity, what are the true non-negotiables? Thankfully, the historical church gives us a wonderful tool that reflects the light of Scripture.

If God is my perfect heavenly Father who is all-loving, all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful, why does he allow bad things to happen to me? Why doesn't he remove those bad things when I ask him to in prayer? May we consider how our faith can grow when we remain steadfast to God's will during difficult times.

I know the Bible says Jesus forgives me, but am I really forgiven if I can't forgive my enemy? Harboring unforgiveness in our hearts can adversely affect our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Offering forgiveness to someone who has hurt us is a choice we make to let go of our resentment and the desire to enact revenge because of the forgiveness we have received from God.

If the church is supposed to be a place of love, trust, and acceptance, why don't I feel comfortable sharing my struggles or asking others in the church for help? Why can church people be so judgmental? 

It is helpful to admit we are limited in our understanding of God and his ways and will never have all the answers. Rather than deconstruct, I can embrace the mystery of a great God who loves me with confidence in him rather than my understanding. This is faith.

Loving community is a crucial part of our reconstruction process. A strong community will be built if we can create space in our lives and our churches to truly understand and connect with one another. It is this sort of authenticity that can sustain us through our wanderings, doubts, and hurts.

Struggling with doubt is a part of the human existence. But maybe we grew up in systems where a struggle with doubt was considered un-Christian. What do we do with them? God is the one who began the work in us and the one who brings it to completion. My relationship with Jesus is secure even when I am struggling.

Those who find themselves in a deconstruction journey have rarely begun it flippantly. Most have been faced with difficulties that would rattle the strongest of foundations. Too often our faith has been built on something other than the solid rock of God's truth. When the storms come, how will it hold up?