March 28, 2023

Have You Decided?

Hey everybody,

It’s hard to believe, but the first quarter of the New Year is coming to a close. Can you believe it? 25% of 2023 is already behind us! It wasn’t that long ago that we were making decisions about what we wanted this year to look like, or stated more accurately, making decisions about what WE wanted to be like this year. Three months in is a good time to ask yourself, “How am I doing with following through on my decisions?”

So. How are you doing?
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March 20, 2023

Is My Faith Broken?

Hey everybody,

Last Sunday we kicked off our new series “Outraged” where we began a conversation about how to respond with grace in an age of outrage. Last week we talked about our counter-cultural mission…as Jesus sent the disciples into the world, He is sending us into the world. We aren’t being sent into the world to shame it, shout it down, or to demand our rights, we have been sent in the same way Jesus was sent. 
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March 13, 2023

Don’t Let Jesus Get In My Car

 

Hey everybody,

A few weeks ago, in a message about growing in humility, I mentioned allowing people to go ahead of you in traffic. The point was about valuing others as better than yourself, including when in your car.There was an audible response in the room to the idea of being like Jesus while driving. Afterward, I had several conversations with people who joked about how hard it was to integrate faith and driving. It turns out Christians can be as aggressive, rude, and distracted as drivers who don’t follow Jesus. Who knew?

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March 6, 2023

Reframe Your Problems

A Message from Pastor Jamey

Hey everybody,

Life is full of problems, isn’t it? My mom used to say that “Life is a series of adjustments.” We adjust to one problem as it comes our way, and then we adjust to the next one and the one after that. Depending on your problem, it can feel very overwhelming. Relational problems fall into that category. They can be draining. If you are in a marriage that is struggling or you have some strained friendships, you know how daunting that can feel. Read More

February 27, 2023

Cultivating Relational Health

A Message from Pastor Rob

 

Hi Everybody,

I’m an analytical guy and data makes me happy. I like to slice it, dice it, and put it in a pivot table (nerd-level spreadsheet). The results of the data are not always pleasant, but I like having cold hard facts. One of those cold hard facts my mind has been curating examples of as of late is from Galatians 6:7b: “You will always harvest what you plant” (NLT). This principle goes by many terms: sowing and reaping, cause and effect, karma, law of reciprocity, and the Golden Rule, to name a few. One of my favorite “instant karma” moments is when a driver passes cars recklessly and soon finds themselves reaping those benefits in the company of our boys in blue. Most seeds take a little longer to produce, and therefore may be harder to notice.  Read More
February 21, 2023

Where Would You Turn?

 

Hey everybody,

A couple of weeks ago, a friend contacted me with a crisis on their hands. Their younger sibling was going through a mental health crisis that was very difficult and confusing. I provided a listening ear, offered prayer, and suggested that if they thought the person might harm themselves to call the suicide and crisis lifeline at “988.” They were appreciative, but I would guess that they were also a little frustrated. Read More

February 13, 2023

A Faster Way To Become More Like Jesus

 

Hey everybody,

I know it feels like we all just celebrated Christmas and the New Year, but it’s time to gear up for the next big moment on the calendar, and that is Easter! Because the date of Easter changes every year, I like to get out ahead of it and let everyone know when it is. This year, Easter is on April 9th.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s not even March yet! If Easter isn’t till April 9th, shouldn’t I wait another month or so before sounding the alarm? The reason I’m talking about Easter NOW is because the season of Lent starts Ash Wednesday, which is THIS month, February 22nd.

I grew up in upstate New York, and most of my friends were Roman Catholic, and every Lent, they would give something up. I didn’t understand WHY they did this, but they did, every year. I did not make a habit of observing Lent until about ten years ago or so. In this article, I want to explain why observing Lent is a good idea, and I will tell you what I plan to do for Lent, and I will challenge you to consider joining me in this season leading up to Easter.

Why Lent? Read More

February 6, 2023

Stop With The Evangelism Already

Hey everybody,

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “evangelism”?

Is it Billy Graham? A street preacher with a bullhorn? An unwanted intruder knocking on your door on Saturday morning?

If you were to look at synonyms for “evangelism” you see words like “propaganda, proselytism, or crusade.” Not words that we would normally associate with something positive.

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January 30, 2023

First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions

A Message from Pastor Jenifer

 

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a church member. She had put out a request for someone to reach out to her. I recognized her name because she had started attending a group one semester ago. I discovered that she, like so many others, had been a part of the 80% that occasionally came to Believers, but didn’t engage anywhere else, until she did.
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January 23, 2023

Free To Be Kind

Hey everybody,

 

We are already halfway through the first month of the New Year. And while we had a little snafu this past week with the distribution of our grocery gift cards, everything is now working the way that it needs to. We’ve already distributed $20,000 worth of food to our community through gift cards; another $40,000 will be going out this coming week – $20k through our local partners and $20k more in gift cards through those who call Believers home.I’m excited to hear the stories that come out of these acts of kindness and love flowing through our community. Be sure to share YOUR story using #GreatGroceryBuyDown on social media!

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