When times get tough, where do we turn? How should we order our thoughts and actions when darkness arrives? Pastor Reyes reminds us that in the midst of darkness, our hope needs to be rooted in the goodness of what God has done in our lives. God will always redeem us; the Lord is good … [Read More…] Hope in Dark Times
On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. To some, this is a foolish pursuit. Why should we put our hope in Him? What does He offer us that’s secure and trustworthy? Don’t check your brain or your heart at the door, because the message of Jesus fully satisfies both. In this passage, … [Read More…] Hope Changes Everything
Palm Sunday begins a week of anticipation that culminates on Easter Sunday. It reminds us that Jesus was the coming king foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. But what kind of King was he anticipated to be? In this passage, we learn three character prophecies that Jesus fulfilled: He is … [Read More…] The King Is Coming
Everyone wants their lives to have a happy ending, but often that goal can be derailed by sinful patterns of behavior. In this final passage from our series, we learn important lessons from Samson’s life that can help us avoid tragic endings in ours. If we don’t choose humility in our lives, God will do … [Read More…] The Great Fall
What motivates you to action? If you find yourself driven by anger or pride, consider a warning from the life of Samson. In this passage, we find Samson acting out of rage, impulse, and arrogance. The consequences are clear for Samson’s life: the anger and arrogance of man does not produce the righteousness of God. … [Read More…] What Drives You
Samson’s story is one of wasted potential. What started off so well, quickly drifted into chaos. This drift is a warning for our hearts as well. People don’t naturally gravitate towards holiness; we need to guard our hearts lest we slide towards godlessness. In this passage, we learn that if we aren’t fighting to go … [Read More…] Slipping Spirituality
We face an ongoing temptation to relax God’s laws when they seem too difficult to obey. In this passage, Jesus gives us two examples of how people can be guilty of this: adultery and divorce. Ultimately, we learn that the heart of the law reveals the heart of God, and our response to it reveals … [Read More…] The Heart Test
Samson was a highly unusual character in the Bible. What made him so different? He was set apart to be specially devoted to God, just as Israel was meant to be set apart for God. As we learn about Samson’s life in this passage in Judges, we learn that God is a God of grace, … [Read More…] A Savior Is Born
Our long road through life is varied and unknown. The great hope is that at the end of the road, we will arrive at a phenomenal home waiting for us. The encouragement from this passage is found in the companionship that the Lord provides us on the road through life, until we reach our final … [Read More…] He Provides For My Home
We’ve all experienced milestones in our lives, moments that are special due to their achievements from hard work, obstacles that were overcome, or unexpected victories. King David was no stranger to victories, so the way that he builds depth into the image of the Shepherd in this passage is unique. Here, the Shepherd’s role shifts … [Read More…] He Provides For My Victory
