The View from the Cross: Seeing Others Through Resurrection Eyes
by Nick DeYoung on March 31st, 2025
Before his encounter with Christ, Paul viewed the world through a lens shaped by status, law, and tribe. He saw people according to their past, their performance, their appearance. But on the road to Damascus, something broke open. The resurrected Christ didn’t just confront Paul’s sin—He transformed Paul’s vision. Suddenly, the categories by which Paul had organized the world crumbled. Now, through the cross, he saw people not as enemies or inferiors, but as beloved image-bearers, potential brothers and sisters in Christ. Read More
Come to the Waters: From the Spring to the River
by Nick DeYoung on March 24th, 2025
Imagine a spring. Not a manufactured fountain, but a natural one—tucked into a hillside, untouched, bubbling up from deep within the earth. Its waters are cool, clear, and sweet. You kneel and drink. It's not a rush—it’s a whisper. Personal. Sacred. This is where many of us meet God for the first time. Read More
Fearless Trust in the Presence of God: Finding Courage in Psalm 27
by Nick DeYoung on March 17th, 2025
One of the most powerful ways we can actively wait on the Lord is through prayer. Psalm 27:7 reminds us of the importance of crying out to God, “LORD, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me.” When we seek God in prayer, we acknowledge our dependence on Him and invite His guidance into our lives. But prayer is not just about speaking; it is also about listening, trusting that God is working even when we do not see immediate results. Read More
Confession and Belief – The Path to Renewal
by Nick DeYoung on March 10th, 2025
Lent is a time of reflection, sacrifice, and renewal. When you hear the word Lent, what comes to mind? Perhaps it reminds you of fasting, prayer, or the tradition of giving up something like social media or sweets. But Lent is more than just a season of self-denial—it is an opportunity for spiritual transformation. It is a call to pour ourselves out before God so that we may be filled with His presence. Read More
The Transfiguration: Seeing Jesus for Who He Truly Is
by Nick DeYoung on March 3rd, 2025
Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.” Jesus is not merely one more in a line of great teachers—He is the ultimate revelation of God. The Transfiguration shows that Jesus stands above all others. He is not just a messenger of God; He is God Himself. Read More
From Dust to Glory: The Promise of the Resurrection
by Nick DeYoung on February 24th, 2025
Christianity does not merely promise a spiritual afterlife but a bodily resurrection—a complete transformation into eternal life with God. In 1 Corinthians 15:35-50, Paul answers a question that many still ask today: What kind of body will we have when we are resurrected? The biblical teaching on resurrection is often misunderstood. Many believe that after death, we become disembodied spirits floating in heaven, but Scripture paints a different picture. Our future hope is not just about “going to heaven” but about bodily resurrection in a renewed creation. To fully grasp the significance of this promise, we must understand three key truths: resurrection is not an escape but a transformation, resurrection begins now, and resurrection changes how we live today. Read More
The Transforming Power of Forgiveness
by Nick DeYoung on February 17th, 2025
Unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy chain around our necks, burdening us with emotions that God never intended for us to hold onto. The pain of betrayal, hurtful words, and broken trust can make it difficult to forgive, but when we refuse to forgive, we are the ones imprisoned. Instead of punishing the offender, we end up punishing ourselves, allowing anger and pain to take root in our hearts. Read More
The Resurrection: The Foundation of Our Hope
by Nick DeYoung on February 10th, 2025
The resurrection assures us that our past is forgiven. No matter our history, Christ’s victory over sin secures our redemption. Paul, a former persecutor, was made new. The same grace that transformed him is available to all who trust in Christ. Read More
Called and Equipped: Trusting God’s Plan for Your Life
by Nick DeYoung on February 3rd, 2025
Throughout scripture, we see that God’s calling is deeply personal. He calls individuals by name, knowing their strengths, weaknesses, and potential. Consider how Jesus called His disciples. He didn’t pick the most educated or influential individuals; instead, He chose fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary people. Their purpose was not defined by their status but by God’s divine calling. Read More
One Body, Many Parts: Living in Christ's Unity
by Nick DeYoung on January 27th, 2025
When we place our faith in Jesus, we are baptized by one Spirit into one body (v. 13). This means that all believers, regardless of background, ethnicity, or status, are united in Christ. As Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Read More
Empowered by the Spirit for the Common Good
by Nick DeYoung on January 20th, 2025
This truth invites us into a life of purpose and contribution, challenging us to see our gifts not as isolated talents but as part of God’s grand design. Whether you’re deeply involved in ministry or still searching for your place, this passage reveals that God has a role for everyone in His kingdom. It’s not about what you can’t do—it’s about what God can do through you. Read More
Revealed in the Water: The Identity, Mission, and Invitation of Jesus
by Nick DeYoung on January 13th, 2025
Jesus’ baptism inaugurates His public ministry and confirms His divine authority. It is not a private moment; it is a public declaration. Much like a coronation ceremony for a king, this act affirms that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God who will bring redemption to the world. Read More
Embracing the Mystery: A New Year, A New Revelation
by Nick DeYoung on January 6th, 2025
The concept of a "mystery" in Scripture refers to a divine plan or truth that was once hidden but has now been revealed by God. In this case, the mystery is the inclusion of Gentiles—those once considered outsiders—as full participants in God’s promises. Read More
The Final Say for Christmas
by Nick DeYoung on December 24th, 2024
The prophet Isaiah spoke words of hope, challenge, and promise centuries before the arrival of Jesus. These words ring just as true today, offering us three powerful truths to hold onto this Christmas: comfort for the weary, a call to prepare, and the glorious revelation of God. Read More
The Victorious King: Hope in the Promise of Advent
by Nick DeYoung on December 23rd, 2024
This prophecy declares that the Messiah, though entering the world as a humble child, will establish an eternal kingdom of peace and righteousness. This truth is especially poignant in today’s world, where uncertainty, fear, and chaos dominate our news feeds. Advent calls us to pause and remember that our ultimate hope is not found in earthly power or fleeting comforts but in the reign of Jesus, whose kingdom will never end. Read More
The Shepherd Messiah: A Comfort for Every Season
by Nick DeYoung on December 16th, 2024
When life feels overwhelming, we can find rest in the arms of our Shepherd. He carries us when we are too weak to carry ourselves. His care is not just for the strong or the capable but especially for the vulnerable, the weary, and the brokenhearted. Read More
Hope Restored: Finding Light in Life's Brokenness
by Nick DeYoung on December 9th, 2024
Isaiah 61 provides a profound declaration of the Messiah’s mission, a mission focused on bringing good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, and liberty to the captives. These ancient words reverberate with hope, reminding us that no matter how shattered life may seem, restoration is not only possible but promised. Read More
A Righteous Judge for a Hurting World
by Nick DeYoung on November 18th, 2024
Just as spring follows winter, the Messiah brings restoration where despair once reigned. We’ve all experienced seasons of waiting—times when we’ve prayed for renewal in our lives, families, or communities. Just as God fulfilled His promise to Israel, He is faithful to fulfill His promises to us today. Read More
The Rejected and Suffering Messiah - God Feels Our Pain
by Nick DeYoung on November 11th, 2024
Isaiah 53 challenges us to live out our redemption by embodying Jesus’ love, kindness, and humility. Our lives become a testament to His sacrifice when we pursue justice, extend compassion, and embrace the call to be lights in a dark world. Jesus’ suffering wasn’t an end; it was the beginning of God’s work of redemption in the world, a work that continues through each of us as we live out our faith. Read More
Embracing the Promises of the Messiah - God With Us
by Nick DeYoung on November 4th, 2024
In our own lives, the presence of God through Jesus is just as real. This truth assures us that no matter what we face, we are never alone. Whether in the middle of a personal crisis, an illness, or a season of uncertainty, we can take heart knowing that God is with us. He walks with us, sharing in our struggles and offering hope that cannot be taken away. Read More
Walking with God
by Nick DeYoung on October 28th, 2024
At the core of walking with God is abiding in His love. Enoch’s life with God was not transactional; it was relational, rooted in God’s love and Enoch’s response to that love. Read More
Walking Humbly in a Divided World: A Call to Live Differently
by Nick DeYoung on October 14th, 2024
As we bring our sermon series on Micah 6:8 to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what it truly means to walk humbly with our God. Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how God calls us to act justly and to love faithfulness, each of which is deeply rooted in our relationship with Him. Today, we arrive at perhaps the most challenging and countercultural part of the verse: walking humb... Read More
Loving Faithfulness in a Divided World: A Call to Live Out Mercy
by Nick DeYoung on October 7th, 2024
As we reflect on this call to love faithfulness, let’s take a moment to ask ourselves: Are there people in our lives from whom we have been withholding mercy? Are we willing to separate our need to be right from our responsibility to show compassion? In the midst of political tension, can we extend steadfast love to those who think differently than we do? Read More
A Call to Deep Faith: Reflecting Inwardly, Loving Outwardly
by Nick DeYoung on October 3rd, 2024
The Franciscan Blessing offers us a framework for living a deep and compassionate faith. It calls us first to look inward, to examine the places where we’ve settled for less than what God desires for us. It invites us to sit with discomfort, to confront the ways we’ve contributed to injustice, to allow our hearts to break for the suffering of others, and to believe that God can use us to make a difference. Read More
Recent
The View from the Cross: Seeing Others Through Resurrection Eyes
March 31st, 2025
Come to the Waters: From the Spring to the River
March 24th, 2025
Fearless Trust in the Presence of God: Finding Courage in Psalm 27
March 17th, 2025
Confession and Belief – The Path to Renewal
March 10th, 2025
The Transfiguration: Seeing Jesus for Who He Truly Is
March 3rd, 2025
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