Passion Creek Church

Jesus spends the last of his time on earth with his disciples and a sense of urgency. In the days leading up to the cross, he gives his disciples everything they need to know before he leaves. But he starts on the night of Passover by doing the most menial and humiliating thing a Jewish Rabbi could do: he washes his disciples' feet. By doing this task, Jesus shows his disciples two things. First, he shows them that his ultimate purpose in going to the cross is to wash us spiritually clean. Like washing feet, his death on the cross would be a humiliating act that actually gives us freedom from the sin that stains us. Second, Jesus gives us an example to follow. By following Jesus' example, we too can model self-sacrifice and humility in a way that allows us to become 4th soil disciples in the 4th quarter.

Prayer is so important because it allows us to delight in God's presence, discern His heart, and depend on His power. But prayer is so powerful because it actually directs God's hand. When we pray, prayer moves our heart and will to align with God's heart and will. But it also moves God's hand to directly interfere into the affairs of humanity. And yet few of us actually believe this. Some of us fall into the trap of fatalism, falsely believing God has already set the future and our prayers won't actually change anything. Others of us fall into the trap of naturalism, falsely believing that prayer is less important than action. But throughout the scriptures, God does change his mind in response to his peoples' prayers. In Exodus 32, after receiving the 10 Commandments, Moses prays on behalf of the Israelites and God relents. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha prays for the eyes of his servant to be opened to the reality of God's power through prayer. If you track the theme of prayer throughout the biblical story, one thing becomes abundantly clear: prayer moves the hand of God to action. It's our prayers, usually on behalf of others, by which God advances His Kingdom to push back the darkness in the world around us. Put simply, God responds when we pray. By praying bold prayers that just might move God's hand to action, we practice turning our inward-focused minds, hearts, and bodies into outward-acting agents of God's kingdom.

In the middle of teaching on prayer, Jesus tells us to ask, “Give us today our daily bread,” “forgive our sins,” and “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:11–13). These requests span a spectrum: from the mundane, to the messy, to the monumental.Daily bread reflects ordinary needs we often overlook—food for the day, a safe commute, help with our to-do list. “Forgive our sins” gets messy, confronting our failures and the challenge of forgiving others. “Deliver us” points to overwhelming needs—healing from deep wounds, restored relationships, freedom from bondage. Yet Jesus makes no distinction. Bread, forgiveness, deliverance—all are gifts from a generous Father.If God truly is our Father, He wants us to ask—for small things and big things. Because asking reveals humility. It takes honesty and vulnerability to admit we need help, that we rely on His power. Prayer expresses this dependence. When we bring God the mundane, the messy, and the monumental, He responds. Not always how or when we expect. But Jesus reminds us: “Who among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9–11).

If the goal of prayer is to delight in God's presence and develop deeper communion with Him, few of us want to settle for a one-sided relationship. At some point in our prayer journey, we'll want to actually hear from Him. This is what Scripture calls discernment. And while prayer is about delighting in our personal relationship with God by sharing our hearts with Him, it's also about learning His heart for us and for those around us.When we pray to discern God's heart, we're asking to know God's will. But we're also asking that God would form and shape us into the kinds of people who are actually capable of accomplishing it. This means discerning God's heart is less about finding the right path when faced with a decision and more about tuning our hearts and desires to God's heart and desires. This is partly what Jesus means when He tells His disciples to pray, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done…” (Matt. 6:10). Discerning God's heart is about surrendering our will to God's. We want His will, not ours, to be done in our lives, in the lives of those around us, and in our world. Praying this way is about alignment. We want to bend our desires to God's desires. And not just for ourselves.We want to develop the heart God has for those around us as well. We want to hear from God, we want to respond to His voice, and we want to become people who carry out His will.

It's pretty significant that the one time we're told the disciples ask Jesus to teach them something, they say, “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). After everything they saw Jesus doing—preaching, performing miracles, healing, casting out demons—what caught their attention was the devotion and commitment Jesus seemed to have when it came to prayer.When Jesus answered his disciples' request, the first thing He told them to do was address God as a Father. “Our Father in heaven…” as the prayer goes. Many of us know it by heart, but this was a radical move on Jesus' part. In a culture full of both reverence and uncertainty about the divine, Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples a very simple, yet radical truth: God is knowable. He's not simply “up there” in the clouds, nor is He passively waiting for us to approach Him with the right words, mantra, or sacrifice. God is near, and we can talk to Him the same way a child would talk to their father.The starting point of prayer is delight. We can't develop the kind of prayer life Jesus had until we get our heads and hearts around the truth that God wants to be near us in prayer more than we want to be near Him. To truly delight in God requires a proper theology, a patient consistency, and a practicing community.

When Jesus teaches on the deadly sin of Lust in Matthew 5, he's addressing a dep- rooted problem in the human heart: the desire for excess at the expense of others. Most often, Lust happens when our sexual desires override our capacity to love and serve others, but Lust can be identified in more ways than just sexual desire. Anytime we use and manipulate other people for our own pleasure or gain, we Lust. But through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can slowly replace Lust with the fruit of Self-Control. By choosing to give up control instead of gaining control over others, and by learning to redirect our desires, we can slowly become people capable of truly loving those around us.

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. By rising from the dead and walking out of the grave, Jesus defeated the three main enemies of humanity: sin, Satan, and death. It's good news for all of us, but only if we're willing to accept it. In Matthew 11, Jesus responds with judgement towards those who consistently reject Him and His miracles. But by the end of the chapter, Jesus extends an invitation for those willing to repent. By laying down our pride and putting our hope in Jesus, we find Him gentle, lowly, and willing to give us rest.

Fickleness might not be one of the seven historically recognized deadly sins, but it is prevalent in our community and it is deadly. All of us shy away from difficult conversations, give up at the first sign of discomfort, and loosen our commitments when we're inconvenienced. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before his crucifixion, Jesus models what faithfulness looks like. By bringing our pain, fears, and discomfort to God in honest prayer, we allow him to hear us and align our hearts with his will. This is how we allow the Spirit to bear the fruit of faithfulness within us.

All of us are familiar with anger. It's usually our first reaction when our pride is hurt, our wills are obstructed, or when we're wounded by others. And this isn't necessarily a bad thing. God himself gets angry towards sin, wickedness, and injustice. But unlike God's anger, ours isn't often righteous. Instead, it festers within us and warps our ability to truly love others. Anger, properly understood, is actually a sign that something deeper is going on within us. By learning to examine our anger before reacting, confessing our anger to the God, and allowing Him to meet us in our anger, we can slowly make space for the Spirit to replace our anger with the fruits of kindness and goodness.

At first glance, the sin of Sloth doesn't seem all that bad. Most of us who live hurried, busy lives could probably use a little more Sloth to help us slow down. But Sloth isn't just slowing down or being lazy. According to the scriptures, it's the combination of two sins that have plagued humanity from the beginning of time: avoidance and apathy. We give into the sin of Sloth when we choose to avoid difficult conversations, choices, or promptings from the Spirit, and we experience apathy as we slowly lose our love for God and for others. But by the grace of God, we can resist Sloth when we practice Patience. When we choose to endure hardship, engage in difficulties, and lean in to discomfort, we dig the roots of Sloth from our hearts and allow the Spirit to turn us into people marked by hopeful patience.

Of all the deadly sins, envy is one of the most damaging and undetectable. We casually look down on those who are more successful than us, we ignore the bitterness that takes root in our hearts towards others, and we slowly begin to see the people God has called us to live in community with as enemies rather than family members. But as dangerous and elusive as envy is, the gospel gives us a way out. In James 3, James gives practical instructions to those struggling with envy: “if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and deny the truth… the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.” (Ja. 3:14, 18). We can make space for the Spirit to grow the fruit of Peace in our lives by practicing gratitude and honor. When we give thanks for what we have, we learn contentment. When we choose to honor instead of envy others, we experience peace.

Most of us probably wouldn't consider ourselves “gluttons.” But when we look at how we spend our free time, how we respond to boredom or hardship, or what we do for “rest,” we likely find ourselves giving into excess and impulse. By definition, this is gluttony: consumption without contentment. To find happiness or satisfaction, we often chase cheap impulses, or what some call “pseudo-joys.”But this problem isn't new. Jesus calls it out when the crowds followed him after they ate the five thousand loaves and fish that he gave them. “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” Instead Jesus reminds the crowds, and us, that He is the Bread of Life that satisfies our deepest desires. This is the fruit of joy.By practicing both fasting and feasting, we can slowly train ourselves to resist gluttony and instead embrace the true joy that Jesus offers us.

Most of us probably wouldn't consider ourselves “gluttons.” But when we look at how we spend our free time, how we respond to boredom or hardship, or what we do for “rest,” we likely find ourselves giving into excess and impulse. By definition, this is gluttony: consumption without contentment. To find happiness or satisfaction, we often chase cheap impulses, or what some call “pseudo-joys.”But this problem isn't new. Jesus calls it out when the crowds followed him after they ate the five thousand loaves and fish that he gave them. “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” Instead Jesus reminds the crowds, and us, that He is the Bread of Life that satisfies our deepest desires. This is the fruit of joy.By practicing both fasting and feasting, we can slowly train ourselves to resist gluttony and instead embrace the true joy that Jesus offers us.

At the top of the list of the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is love. But as simple and cliché as it sounds, love is one of the most difficult fruits to embody. And what most often prevents us from loving others well is greed. One of the seven deadly sins, and one of the most difficult sins to free ourselves from, greed prevents us from loving others and serving God sacrificially. We express our greed either by hoarding our resources, ignoring those in need, or controlling what we get in return for our generosity. To combat the greed that naturally grows inside of our hearts, we must learn to submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit. By acknowledging our weakness, and by pursuing self-sacrifice, we allow God to grow the fruit of love within us.

At the top of the list of the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is love. But as simple and cliché as it sounds, love is one of the most difficult fruits to embody. And what most often prevents us from loving others well is greed. One of the seven deadly sins, and one of the most difficult sins to free ourselves from, greed prevents us from loving others and serving God sacrificially. We express our greed either by hoarding our resources, ignoring those in need, or controlling what we get in return for our generosity. To combat the greed that naturally grows inside of our hearts, we must learn to submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit. By acknowledging our weakness, and by pursuing self-sacrifice, we allow God to grow the fruit of love within us.

At first glance, the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 seems either like an impossible checklist or an arbitrary virtue list. But Paul's instruction to “walk by the Spirit” so we can bear fruit actually goes back to the Garden of Eden. God commands his people to be fruitful, and he promises to help them do it. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, he sends us his Holy Spirit to do in us what we can't fully do ourselves — bear fruit. The fruit of the Spirit isn't a random list of things we should try better to embody. It's a picture of what a life yielded to the Spirit can look like. To help us submit ourselves to the work and pruning of the Holy Spirit, we observe Lent. By fasting, abstaining, or just saying “no” to things that pull our hearts away from God, we allow his Spirit to bear fruit in us that we can't produce on our own.

At first glance, the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 seems either like an impossible checklist or an arbitrary virtue list. But Paul's instruction to “walk by the Spirit” so we can bear fruit actually goes back to the Garden of Eden. God commands his people to be fruitful, and he promises to help them do it. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, he sends us his Holy Spirit to do in us what we can't fully do ourselves — bear fruit. The fruit of the Spirit isn't a random list of things we should try better to embody. It's a picture of what a life yielded to the Spirit can look like. To help us submit ourselves to the work and pruning of the Holy Spirit, we observe Lent. By fasting, abstaining, or just saying “no” to things that pull our hearts away from God, we allow his Spirit to bear fruit in us that we can't produce on our own.

One of the sharpest and most consistent criticisms God gives against His people throughout the scriptures is the sin of neglect. As God's people, the Israelites were chosen as a nation among nations to bring God's light to a dark world. God's people were always supposed to care for the poor and marginalized, and to bring the good news of God's Kingdom to the lost around them. But rather than care for them, they often neglected them.In Isaiah 58, God's people wonder why their prayers and fasts haven't been acknowledged by God. God's response is that they fast in vain; their focus is only on themselves while they neglect those in need around them. Instead, God describes a holy and honoring fast as one that leads to care for their neighbors.When we fast, we have an opportunity to direct our attention and our prayers away from ourselves and toward others. We use our bodies to cry out to God on behalf of those who have needs in our cities, communities, and neighborhoods. In our hunger, we identify with those who don't have food in abundance like we do. We align ourselves with the poor and needy among us. From those with deep physical, relational, and emotional needs to those who have the ultimate spiritual need: reconciliation with God through the power of the gospel.

One of the sharpest and most consistent criticisms God gives against His people throughout the scriptures is the sin of neglect. As God's people, the Israelites were chosen as a nation among nations to bring God's light to a dark world. God's people were always supposed to care for the poor and marginalized, and to bring the good news of God's Kingdom to the lost around them. But rather than care for them, they often neglected them.In Isaiah 58, God's people wonder why their prayers and fasts haven't been acknowledged by God. God's response is that they fast in vain; their focus is only on themselves while they neglect those in need around them. Instead, God describes a holy and honoring fast as one that leads to care for their neighbors.When we fast, we have an opportunity to direct our attention and our prayers away from ourselves and toward others. We use our bodies to cry out to God on behalf of those who have needs in our cities, communities, and neighborhoods. In our hunger, we identify with those who don't have food in abundance like we do. We align ourselves with the poor and needy among us. From those with deep physical, relational, and emotional needs to those who have the ultimate spiritual need: reconciliation with God through the power of the gospel.

Fasting is hard because it's a form of self-denial. We suddenly become aware of our weakness, frailty, and imminence. It's a reminder that our bodies need sustenance to survive, and without food, we'll eventually die. But just like our bodies need food for life, our souls need God. David knew this well when he fasted and pleaded with God in Psalm 69. As he denies his body food, he learns to confess his needs before God and redirect his trust back towards Him. Like David, we too are powerless to accomplish our deepest desires and weak when it comes to uprooting the deepest sins in our lives. We all have needs that only God can meet — prayers we need answers to, sins we can't overcome, and decisions we need God's will revealed for. To help us redirect our trust in God and to confess our needs, we fast.

Fasting is hard because it's a form of self-denial. We suddenly become aware of our weakness, frailty, and imminence. It's a reminder that our bodies need sustenance to survive, and without food, we'll eventually die. But just like our bodies need food for life, our souls need God. David knew this well when he fasted and pleaded with God in Psalm 69. As he denies his body food, he learns to confess his needs before God and redirect his trust back towards Him. Like David, we too are powerless to accomplish our deepest desires and weak when it comes to uprooting the deepest sins in our lives. We all have needs that only God can meet — prayers we need answers to, sins we can't overcome, and decisions we need God's will revealed for. To help us redirect our trust in God and to confess our needs, we fast.

In Psalm 63 David is a King on the run. His wealth, power, and possessions have all been stripped away and he finds himself in a desert, fleeing for his life while his own son tries to kill him. And yet, in this season of pain, David's deepest longings are satisfied by God's presence. Though most of us today won't experience our lives endangered in a desert, we will find ourselves in seasons of desert pain at some point or another. But unlike David, our impulse to avoid pain prevents us from experiencing satisfaction in God as we often seek comfort in our “cheaper desires.” To help us refocus our attention to God, train ourselves to find true satisfaction, and experience more of our union with Him, we practice fasting.

In Psalm 63 David is a King on the run. His wealth, power, and possessions have all been stripped away and he finds himself in a desert, fleeing for his life while his own son tries to kill him. And yet, in this season of pain, David's deepest longings are satisfied by God's presence. Though most of us today won't experience our lives endangered in a desert, we will find ourselves in seasons of desert pain at some point or another. But unlike David, our impulse to avoid pain prevents us from experiencing satisfaction in God as we often seek comfort in our “cheaper desires.” To help us refocus our attention to God, train ourselves to find true satisfaction, and experience more of our union with Him, we practice fasting.

As we begin our fasting practice, we must first come to terms with the reality that most of us have a low view of our bodies and how they relate to our spirituality. Like the rest of the western world, followers of Jesus tend to either worship their bodies or treat them like an evil with desires that need to be controlled. And there's some truth to this. Our bodies are both broken and redeemed. But rather than worship our bodies, punish them, or ignore them, the way of Jesus offers us an alternative. To help us reconnect our spirituality to our bodies, and to help us learn to say “no” to our cheap desires, we practice fasting.

As we begin our fasting practice, we must first come to terms with the reality that most of us have a low view of our bodies and how they relate to our spirituality. Like the rest of the western world, followers of Jesus tend to either worship their bodies or treat them like an evil with desires that need to be controlled. And there's some truth to this. Our bodies are both broken and redeemed. But rather than worship our bodies, punish them, or ignore them, the way of Jesus offers us an alternative. To help us reconnect our spirituality to our bodies, and to help us learn to say “no” to our cheap desires, we practice fasting.

To become the 4th soil, we need to become people with both courage and clarity in sharing the gospel. But most of us are too consumed by fear, shame, and confusion, and our attempts at becoming effective evangelists fall short. We fear losing friendships and facing rejection, we're ashamed of the offensiveness of the way of Jesus, and we're confused by what the gospel actually is. Timothy, Paul's pastoral protégé, dealt with many of the same problems. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul gives an encouraging reminder to Timothy and to us: the power of the gospel comes from God who saves us from death and gives us new life. While it's God who ultimately saves people, it's our job to sow the seeds and trust in the power of the gospel.

To become the 4th soil, we need to become people with both courage and clarity in sharing the gospel. But most of us are too consumed by fear, shame, and confusion, and our attempts at becoming effective evangelists fall short. We fear losing friendships and facing rejection, we're ashamed of the offensiveness of the way of Jesus, and we're confused by what the gospel actually is. Timothy, Paul's pastoral protégé, dealt with many of the same problems. In 2 Timothy 1, Paul gives an encouraging reminder to Timothy and to us: the power of the gospel comes from God who saves us from death and gives us new life. While it's God who ultimately saves people, it's our job to sow the seeds and trust in the power of the gospel.

We live in a pivotal moment of our culture. Societal upheaval, corruption, and fear create the potential for another major shift in our society, either toward ruin or renewal. And while the world around us gives in to panic and distraction, the call for the church remains the same: endure hardship. In 2 Timothy 4, this is the command Paul gives to Timothy and his church as they wrestle with the same issues we wrestle with today. Like soldiers, farmers, and athletes, the church's job is to stay committed to our task, be aware of the season we're in, and commit to finishing the race God has called us to. Here at Passion Creek, our aim is to become the 4th soil by enduring hardship through the practice of prayer.

We live in a pivotal moment of our culture. Societal upheaval, corruption, and fear create the potential for another major shift in our society, either toward ruin or renewal. And while the world around us gives in to panic and distraction, the call for the church remains the same: endure hardship. In 2 Timothy 4, this is the command Paul gives to Timothy and his church as they wrestle with the same issues we wrestle with today. Like soldiers, farmers, and athletes, the church's job is to stay committed to our task, be aware of the season we're in, and commit to finishing the race God has called us to. Here at Passion Creek, our aim is to become the 4th soil by enduring hardship through the practice of prayer.

We are living in the 4th quarter—a time of urgency and opportunity to consecrate our lives and become the fourth soil. Drawing from Mark 4, the call is to resist distractions, align ourselves with God's Word, and bear lasting fruit. Today, we focus on the chokehold of deceitful desires and how self-control, powered by the Holy Spirit, frees us to live as God intended.Modern culture has shifted from a “should” society to a “could” society, glorifying self-indulgence while leaving us more broken and dissatisfied. Through the lens of scripture, we see the destructive power of unchecked desires—whether in Esau trading his birthright for stew, or Paul's warning in 2 Timothy 3 about people becoming lovers of self and pleasure over God. Desire, though not inherently evil, becomes destructive when disordered or directed away from God.Paul's exhortation to exercise self-control teaches us that spiritual maturity requires both mastery and mystery. While we actively train ourselves to resist sin (mastery), we rely on the Spirit's power to transform our hearts (mystery). Fasting emerges as a key practice to cultivate this balance, helping us reorient our desires toward God and find true fulfillment in Him.

We are living in the 4th quarter—a time of urgency and opportunity to consecrate our lives and become the fourth soil. Drawing from Mark 4, the call is to resist distractions, align ourselves with God's Word, and bear lasting fruit. Today, we focus on the chokehold of deceitful desires and how self-control, powered by the Holy Spirit, frees us to live as God intended.Modern culture has shifted from a “should” society to a “could” society, glorifying self-indulgence while leaving us more broken and dissatisfied. Through the lens of scripture, we see the destructive power of unchecked desires—whether in Esau trading his birthright for stew, or Paul's warning in 2 Timothy 3 about people becoming lovers of self and pleasure over God. Desire, though not inherently evil, becomes destructive when disordered or directed away from God.Paul's exhortation to exercise self-control teaches us that spiritual maturity requires both mastery and mystery. While we actively train ourselves to resist sin (mastery), we rely on the Spirit's power to transform our hearts (mystery). Fasting emerges as a key practice to cultivate this balance, helping us reorient our desires toward God and find true fulfillment in Him.

We live in an urgent time. With the church in decline, deconstruction increasing, and people abandoning their faith in droves, followers of Jesus need to know how to navigate this cultural moment. And Jesus offers us an answer. In Mark 4, he tells a parable about a man who plants seeds in four different types of soil. Most of the seeds are fruitless, except in the 4th soil. Our goal at Passion Creek is to become this fourth soil. We want to be a church that hears God's Word, receives it, and bears fruit. We do this by resisting the worries of this age, deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things, and instead reorient ourselves around God Himself.

We live in an urgent time. With the church in decline, deconstruction increasing, and people abandoning their faith in droves, followers of Jesus need to know how to navigate this cultural moment. And Jesus offers us an answer. In Mark 4, he tells a parable about a man who plants seeds in four different types of soil. Most of the seeds are fruitless, except in the 4th soil. Our goal at Passion Creek is to become this fourth soil. We want to be a church that hears God's Word, receives it, and bears fruit. We do this by resisting the worries of this age, deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things, and instead reorient ourselves around God Himself.

Every Christmas, we embark on the journey of Advent, reflecting on the hope, peace, joy, and love brought by Christ's first coming and ultimately brought to the full at His second coming.But love—especially God's love—can be the hardest to understand and accept. This teaching explores God's profound love through the four Gospels, using a poem, a prophecy, a purpose statement, and a parable.

Every Christmas, we embark on the journey of Advent, reflecting on the hope, peace, joy, and love brought by Christ's first coming and ultimately brought to the full at His second coming.But love—especially God's love—can be the hardest to understand and accept. This teaching explores God's profound love through the four Gospels, using a poem, a prophecy, a purpose statement, and a parable.

In this Advent message from Luke 2, we explore how chronic anxiety has gripped our society, robbing us of playfulness and joy. Drawing on insights from Luke's account of the shepherds, Pastor Trey VanCamp reveals that joy is not just an emotion but a motor—a driving force that sustains us in the tension of the “already, not yet” of God's Kingdom. By embracing joy as both a miracle and a muscle, we can navigate life's challenges with hope and resilience. This teaching encourages us to “rejoice always,” grounding our joy in Christ and looking forward to His ultimate return.

In this Advent message from Luke 2, we explore how chronic anxiety has gripped our society, robbing us of playfulness and joy. Drawing on insights from Luke's account of the shepherds, Pastor Trey VanCamp reveals that joy is not just an emotion but a motor—a driving force that sustains us in the tension of the “already, not yet” of God's Kingdom. By embracing joy as both a miracle and a muscle, we can navigate life's challenges with hope and resilience. This teaching encourages us to “rejoice always,” grounding our joy in Christ and looking forward to His ultimate return.

In this episode, we dive into the first Sunday of Advent, exploring the profound theme of hope. Through the stories of Zechariah, Herod, and Mary, we reflect on how biblical hope isn't mere wishful thinking but a tangible, future-oriented anticipation rooted in God's promises. From Zechariah's skepticism to Herod's fear and Mary's faithful response, we see how hope challenges and transforms us.Journey with us as we uncover how Advent invites us to embrace both celebration and waiting. We'll reflect on the tension between our present struggles and the ultimate restoration promised by God. Whether you're wrestling with doubt, longing for control, or striving to live faithfully in the waiting, this episode encourages us to reorient our hearts and lives around the unshakable hope found in Christ.Key Takeaways:- How the stories of Zechariah, Herod, and Mary offer different responses to hope. - The meaning of Advent as a season of both waiting and celebration. - Practical ways to live with hope, drawing strength from God's promises for the future. Join us as we step into the Advent season, grounding ourselves in the transformative power of hope.

In this episode, we dive into the first Sunday of Advent, exploring the profound theme of hope. Through the stories of Zechariah, Herod, and Mary, we reflect on how biblical hope isn't mere wishful thinking but a tangible, future-oriented anticipation rooted in God's promises. From Zechariah's skepticism to Herod's fear and Mary's faithful response, we see how hope challenges and transforms us.Journey with us as we uncover how Advent invites us to embrace both celebration and waiting. We'll reflect on the tension between our present struggles and the ultimate restoration promised by God. Whether you're wrestling with doubt, longing for control, or striving to live faithfully in the waiting, this episode encourages us to reorient our hearts and lives around the unshakable hope found in Christ.Key Takeaways:- How the stories of Zechariah, Herod, and Mary offer different responses to hope. - The meaning of Advent as a season of both waiting and celebration. - Practical ways to live with hope, drawing strength from God's promises for the future. Join us as we step into the Advent season, grounding ourselves in the transformative power of hope.

Our church gathers every Sunday at 9:15a & 11a at Queen Creek Junior High.20435 South Old Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZhttps://passioncreek.church/sundays/

Our church gathers every Sunday at 9:15a & 11a at Queen Creek Junior High.20435 South Old Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZhttps://passioncreek.church/sundays/

The last third of the book of Acts shows Paul in chains. After being falsely accused of starting a riot and desecrating the temple, Paul will face imprisonment, two assassination attempts, a shipwreck, and then house arrest. And yet, Paul knew all of this would happen. The Spirit consistently warned him that going to Jerusalem would lead him straight into hardship, but he's still told to go anyway. Paul's submission to the will of God models for us what it looks like to allow our goals, plans, and outcomes to be formed by Jesus alongside our habits, schedules, and lifestyles. By surrendering our will to God's will, we too can build courage in the face of adversity and faithfulness in the midst of suffering.

The last third of the book of Acts shows Paul in chains. After being falsely accused of starting a riot and desecrating the temple, Paul will face imprisonment, two assassination attempts, a shipwreck, and then house arrest. And yet, Paul knew all of this would happen. The Spirit consistently warned him that going to Jerusalem would lead him straight into hardship, but he's still told to go anyway. Paul's submission to the will of God models for us what it looks like to allow our goals, plans, and outcomes to be formed by Jesus alongside our habits, schedules, and lifestyles. By surrendering our will to God's will, we too can build courage in the face of adversity and faithfulness in the midst of suffering.

In Acts 20, Paul models what a church pastor should be by speaking directly to the elders in Ephesus. He tells them how he's pastored, inviting them to follow his example in humility, service, vulnerability, and courage. He also warns them that, should they neglect their calling, the people they shepherd will be vulnerable to wolves. For us today, being a part of a church means submitting ourselves to the guiding and guarding of the spiritual authority placed over us. It also means we are on guard against Satan and his schemes as he threatens to sabotage the church with deceit and manipulation. By maintaining a posture of humility and by fixing our gaze on Jesus, we can become fruitful people who resist the schemes of the Enemy and bring the goodness of the gospel to the world around us.

In Acts 20, Paul models what a church pastor should be by speaking directly to the elders in Ephesus. He tells them how he's pastored, inviting them to follow his example in humility, service, vulnerability, and courage. He also warns them that, should they neglect their calling, the people they shepherd will be vulnerable to wolves. For us today, being a part of a church means submitting ourselves to the guiding and guarding of the spiritual authority placed over us. It also means we are on guard against Satan and his schemes as he threatens to sabotage the church with deceit and manipulation. By maintaining a posture of humility and by fixing our gaze on Jesus, we can become fruitful people who resist the schemes of the Enemy and bring the goodness of the gospel to the world around us.

In the second half of Acts 19, Paul starts a riot. After confronting the false idols and spiritual powers in Ephesus, some of the local businessmen revolt. While Paul escapes and the church in Ephesus grows, just a few years later Paul has to write to them reminding them to continue following the way of Jesus intentionally rather than being formed by the idols of Ephesus unintentionally.Today, our temptation is much the same.To avoid being formed and shaped by the idols of our city and culture, we must intentionally allow ourselves to be formed into the image of Jesus by examining the stories we hear, the habits we practice, and the relationships we surround ourselves with.

In the second half of Acts 19, Paul starts a riot. After confronting the false idols and spiritual powers in Ephesus, some of the local businessmen revolt. While Paul escapes and the church in Ephesus grows, just a few years later Paul has to write to them reminding them to continue following the way of Jesus intentionally rather than being formed by the idols of Ephesus unintentionally.Today, our temptation is much the same.To avoid being formed and shaped by the idols of our city and culture, we must intentionally allow ourselves to be formed into the image of Jesus by examining the stories we hear, the habits we practice, and the relationships we surround ourselves with.

There are two major encounters with the power of God in Acts 19. The first involves some of John the Baptist's disciples who have heard about Jesus but haven't experienced the fullness of His presence. Paul meets them, prays over them, and they get saved. The second involves some Jewish sorcerers who hear about Paul performing miracles and attempt to wield the power of God for their own gain. Their attempts fail, the real power of God prevails, and revival sweeps across Ephesus. Although we don't live in a city as obsessed with magic and spirituality as Ephesus, we still need power today. And like the disciples of John and the Jewish sorcerers, most of us are missing something. We either neglect the presence of God altogether, or we try to manipulate the power of God for our own gain. But by naming the fears, distractions, and sins that separate us from God, we can experience His real presence and power in our lives today.

There are two major encounters with the power of God in Acts 19. The first involves some of John the Baptist's disciples who have heard about Jesus but haven't experienced the fullness of His presence. Paul meets them, prays over them, and they get saved. The second involves some Jewish sorcerers who hear about Paul performing miracles and attempt to wield the power of God for their own gain. Their attempts fail, the real power of God prevails, and revival sweeps across Ephesus. Although we don't live in a city as obsessed with magic and spirituality as Ephesus, we still need power today. And like the disciples of John and the Jewish sorcerers, most of us are missing something. We either neglect the presence of God altogether, or we try to manipulate the power of God for our own gain. But by naming the fears, distractions, and sins that separate us from God, we can experience His real presence and power in our lives today.