I’ve been thinking a lot about a question we don’t ask nearly enough: What does it really mean to be a Christian? George Barna’s recent research reminded me that while many people call themselves Christian, very few actually hold to the core biblical beliefs that define a Christian worldview. This Sunday, we’ll start looking at three of those beliefs: that absolute moral truth exists, the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches, and Satan is a real being.  Where to begin? In a world where people often say, “That’s your truth, not mine,” we need to remember that God alone defines what is right and wrong, and His truth never changes based on our feelings or culture. We’ll also dig into why we can’t trust human reason or personal happiness alone to guide us. History and Scripture make this clear: even our best intentions can be flawed because of sin. We’ll touch on examples from philosophy and history, and more importantly, we’ll see what God’s Word says about how our hearts and minds need His guidance. The Bible provides a firm foundation, a moral compass we can trust, and a standard for life that remains constant, unaffected by the latest trends. We’ll also be examining our own lives. Are we building on God’s truth, or are we relying on our own opinions and cultural influences? We’ll talk about practical ways to live out a biblical worldview, recognizing that sin, Satan, and spiritual battle are real, and that God equips us to stand firm.

This Sunday, we conclude our study of 1 Peter, where he ends with the most fitting exhortation once again: be humble and entrust yourself to God’s care. Humility is the key to a healthy church because without it, unity suffers, and without unity, the world sees us as just another divided, ineffective group.  Pride separates, but humility recognizes our need for one another. As we discussed last Sunday, Jesus Himself set the ultimate example, humbling Himself even to death, and the more we imitate Him, the stronger our unity becomes. True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. It is prioritizing others, submitting, forgiving, and living selflessly. Peter moves from humility to trust, urging us to place our anxieties upon God because He is sovereign. This is a reminder that God is in control of all things, and we can pause in our stress, disappointment, or conflict and hand over our burdens. The call is to make your anxiety God’s problem. But trusting God also means recognizing the reality of opposition: the devil prowls like a roaring lion, claiming territory and seeking to devour. We are called to resist him, firm in our faith, using the armor God provides. Finally, Peter reminds us that suffering is temporary in light of eternity. After we endure trials, the God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. We see this fulfilled in the life of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who, even while being stoned, prayed for his enemies and witnessed Christ ready to receive him. The message is clear: faithful endurance glorifies God, strengthens His church, and secures eternal reward. Let us humbly depend on Him, stand firm in faith, and encourage one another until He calls us home.

This Sunday, we are nearing the end of our series in 1 Peter, a letter that has guided us through the challenges of living faithfully in a world that often opposes God. We’ll reflect on the first half of chapter 5, where Peter encourages church leaders to shepherd with humility and integrity, and calls all believers to follow God’s appointed leadership with trust and joy. As we explore these truths, we’ll see how the roles of leader and follower work together to strengthen the church, and how God uses each of us in His plan. I’ll also be highlighting Hebrews 13:17, reminding us that our leaders watch over our souls and that our attitude toward them - whether joyful, respectful, and trusting or grumbling and resistant - directly impacts the health and joy of our church family. We’ll draw lessons from the story of Israel in the wilderness, their struggles with trust and submission, and how God’s people can learn to respond in humility, bring their concerns respectfully, and grow together in faith. As we prepare our hearts this week, I encourage you to reflect on your place in the church. Are you stepping into your role, whether as a leader, a follower, or a servant, with trust, humility, and joy? I look forward to gathering with you this Sunday to celebrate God’s faithfulness, learn from His Word, and encourage one another to live faithfully in our community and in the world.

This week, we are approaching the final section of Peter’s letter, where he addresses how Christians are to live in a hostile world. Peter’s focus is on enduring suffering for righteousness’ sake while keeping our hope fixed on the eternal glory God has prepared for us. He reminds us that everything we do - our words, actions, and service - should glorify God, pointing others to His greatness and character. Living for God naturally draws opposition, and Peter warns that trials and ridicule are part of the Christian journey, designed not to harm us but to refine and strengthen our faith, much like gold being purified in fire. Peter gives practical encouragement for facing these trials. Believers are to rejoice in sharing Christ’s sufferings, understanding that what appears as shame or loss in the world is actually a sign of belonging to Him. He reminds us of the example of the early apostles, who were whipped, insulted, and even died for preaching the gospel, yet rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ’s name. I think of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose courage, prayer, and vision of Jesus standing at God’s right hand demonstrate how God’s Spirit, the Spirit of glory, gives strength, sustains His people, and confirms their ultimate vindication, even in the darkest moments. Finally, Peter clarifies that suffering for Christ is blessed, but suffering for sin or misdeeds carries no honor. He urges believers to embrace the name “Christian” with Godly pride, recognizing that it signifies being part of a diverse and unified body of Christ. He explains that God’s judgment begins with His people to purify and prepare them, and that enduring trials faithfully point to the greater accountability of the world. Our response, then, is to entrust ourselves to the faithful Creator, who is sovereign over all life and circumstances, and to continue doing good, confident that God is at work for His glory.

What would change if you knew you only had one week left to live? Would you spend more time with God? Mend broken relationships? Focus on what truly matters? Peter writes to wake us up, not to scare us. We are reminded that our lives are short, and history is moving toward God’s ultimate plan: the return of Jesus. This week, we’ll explore what it means to live with urgency, clear thinking, and a heart fully aligned with God. We’ll look at how self-control and sober-mindedness affect our prayers and our relationships. Anxiety, anger, and selfishness cloud our hearts and hinder our connection with God, but when we cultivate clarity, we can love one another earnestly, forgive past offenses, and serve others with joy. Peter shows us that love covers sins and that hospitality and service are powerful ways to strengthen the body of Christ. Finally, we’ll discover how to use the gifts God has given each of us. From teaching and serving to encouraging and leading, every gift is meant to bless others and glorify God. When we align our abilities with God’s purpose, His glory shines through everything we do. I’m looking forward to discussing how we can live intentionally, serve faithfully, and glorify God in every part of our lives!

This Sunday we will continue our journey through 1 Peter and look at what it means to suffer for doing what is right. Peter tells us that when we experience rejection, criticism, or even ridicule because of our faith, it is not a sign of weakness but rather evidence that we’ve made a clean break with sin. Christ Himself suffered in the body to accomplish God’s will, and we are called to arm ourselves with that same attitude. Suffering in the Christian life is not wasted; it shows our loyalty to Christ and our willingness to live for God’s will rather than for human approval. We’ll see how Peter points back to our old way of life and reminds us that enough time has been wasted there. When we say “no” to the patterns of the world and instead say “yes” to God, people will notice. Some may misunderstand us, label us, or even mock us, but Peter lifts our eyes to the greater reality: God is the ultimate judge, not people. Their disapproval may sting in the moment, but His approval is eternal. Death itself cannot cancel the hope we have in the gospel, for even those who have gone before us in Christ are alive with Him forever. This passage is both sobering and deeply encouraging. It reminds us that following Jesus will cost us something in this world, but it also assures us that our suffering has purpose and our hope is secure. As we gather this Sunday, we’ll be encouraged to live boldly, even when it’s costly, knowing that we are anchored in Christ. I hope you’ll join us, and I pray this message strengthens your resolve to live for the will of God with courage, joy, and hope!

This Sunday we will continue our journey through 1 Peter and look at what it means to suffer for doing what is right. Peter tells us that when we experience rejection, criticism, or even ridicule because of our faith, it is not a sign of weakness but rather evidence that we’ve made a clean break with sin. Christ Himself suffered in the body to accomplish God’s will, and we are called to arm ourselves with that same attitude. Suffering in the Christian life is not wasted; it shows our loyalty to Christ and our willingness to live for God’s will rather than for human approval. We’ll see how Peter points back to our old way of life and reminds us that enough time has been wasted there. When we say “no” to the patterns of the world and instead say “yes” to God, people will notice. Some may misunderstand us, label us, or even mock us, but Peter lifts our eyes to the greater reality: God is the ultimate judge, not people. Their disapproval may sting in the moment, but His approval is eternal. Death itself cannot cancel the hope we have in the gospel, for even those who have gone before us in Christ are alive with Him forever. This passage is both sobering and deeply encouraging. It reminds us that following Jesus will cost us something in this world, but it also assures us that our suffering has purpose and our hope is secure. As we gather this Sunday, we’ll be encouraged to live boldly, even when it’s costly, knowing that we are anchored in Christ. I hope you’ll join us, and I pray this message strengthens your resolve to live for the will of God with courage, joy, and hope! Until Sunday, be the light!

This Sunday, we’ll continue our series on how our faith shapes the relationships in our lives, turning our focus to a topic that touches many of our hearts: marriage. Specifically, we’ll explore what it looks like for a Christian woman to live faithfully when married to a husband who does not yet know Christ. Using 1 Peter 3 as our guide, we’ll discover practical wisdom for living out the gospel in ways that are deeply countercultural, both in the first-century Roman world and today. This is not a message about winning arguments or pressuring anyone into faith, but about letting our lives shine as a testimony to His grace.We’ll also talk about the difference between outward adornment and inner beauty. In a world that often measures worth by appearance, status, or social influence, Peter reminds us that the "imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" is what God treasures most. This is a wife’s uniqueness that truly influences hearts, strengthens marriages, and reflects Christ to those around her. Together, we’ll see how cultivating faith, trust, and humility has a profound, lasting impact on our families.Finally, we’ll explore the call for mutual honor and respect within marriage. Peter elevates the role of both husband and wife in spiritual partnership, reminding us that Christian marriage is rooted in God’s grace, not societal expectation or fear. Wives are empowered to live courageously in their faith, and husbands are called to treat their wives with understanding and honor, recognizing them as co-heirs of God’s eternal promises. My prayer is that this message will encourage all of us, whether married, or single, to trust God as we reflect His goodness in our lives. In doing so, we will experience the blessing that comes from living faithfully in all His ways.

This Sunday, I’ll be preaching from the second half of 1 Peter chapter 2, a passage that radically reshapes how Christians are called to live in the world, and especially in the face of unjust treatment. Peter writes to believers who were being slandered and mistreated simply for following Jesus, and rather than encouraging them to retaliate or withdraw, he calls them to live honorably so that their good conduct might lead others to glorify God. The challenge in this text is to live righteously, not just when life is fair, but especially when it’s not, because when we respond to hostility with Christlike character, we bear silent but powerful witness to the gospel.We’ll explore how our faith transforms two major areas of everyday life: our relationship with government and our relationship with employers. In each case, Peter urges us to respond with humility and respect, not because the person in authority is always right, but because honoring the structure of authority reflects our trust in God. This is especially powerful when authority is abused or when the system is unjust. Peter isn’t excusing mistreatment, but he is saying that when we endure it with patience and faith, like Jesus did, we participate in something deeply Christlike. Jesus didn’t retaliate when reviled; He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly, and we are called to follow in His steps.This message is essential in today’s cultural climate, where outrage and vengeance are normalized. But Scripture calls us to something higher. Whether you’re frustrated with the decisions of politicians, facing injustice at work, or struggling in silence, your response has eternal significance. You might not be able to change your circumstances, but you can choose to honor Christ through them. And when you do, you reflect Jesus to a watching world, and you never suffer unseen. Your endurance matters to God, and sometimes, it becomes the very means by which someone finds Him.

This Sunday, we’re stepping into 1 Peter 2 and continuing our journey through this powerful letter. Peter begins by showing us how love for one another is not just a command, it’s the visible evidence of Christ at work in us. But he doesn't stop there. He warns us of five destructive behaviors: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These things sabotage our community and damage our witness. They are not simply bad habits; they’re soul-level toxins that erode trust and fracture unity in the body of Christ. If we’ve tasted the goodness of God, we should crave the things that nourish us spiritually - His Word, His Spirit, His people, and prayer.Peter then paints a beautiful picture of who we are becoming together. Individually, we’re like newborns growing in grace; collectively, we are being built into a spiritual house. Jesus, the cornerstone, is the foundation for it all. Even though the world may reject Him, and us by extension, God sees His Church as chosen and precious. Each of us plays a role in this sacred structure, and we’re all priests called to offer our lives in worship. There’s no hierarchy here, just one Savior, one Spirit, and one mission.In a time when the church is often criticized for its flaws, Peter reminds us that we’re not just a gathering, we’re being shaped into something eternal. This calling comes with a responsibility: to live honorably, love sincerely, and shine brightly in a dark world. I look forward to unpacking this with you and challenging us all to consider what kind of “spiritual house” we’re helping to build. Come prayed up and hungry for the Word.

This Sunday, we’re digging into a powerful and foundational question: Why should we trust the Bible? In a world full of skepticism and shifting opinions, many wonder if Scripture is just another ancient book or if it really is the living and enduring Word of God. In 1 Peter 1:22–25, we’ll explore how God’s Word not only brings new life, being “born again of imperishable seed,” but also transforms how we live and love. Peter shows us that our obedience to the gospel isn’t just personal; it spills out into sincere, sacrificial love for others. That’s the mark of a life changed by the gospel!We’ll also answer important questions about how the Bible came to be, why certain books were included or excluded, and how we know the New Testament carries the same authority as the Old. You’ll see that Scripture isn’t just trustworthy because of historical consistency or fulfilled prophecy (though there are plenty of examples of this!), but because it was written by authors “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” That means when you open the Bible, you're not reading man’s thoughts; you’re hearing the very voice of God, speaking eternal truth.As we reflect on these things, I want to encourage you to respond practically. Where is God calling you to love others deeply? How is His Word shaping your worldview, your priorities, and your everyday choices? Whether it’s serving, giving, encouraging others, or digging deeper into Scripture yourself, don’t let the living Word stay on a shelf. Let’s be a church that not only believes the Bible is true but lives like it.

Church family, this Sunday we come to a single verse that has the power to reframe your entire perspective on life: “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13). It’s easy to get stuck looking at the hood of the car rather than the road ahead. We are distracted by the immediate problems, deadlines, or notifications. But Peter lifts our eyes to the horizon and calls us to live with a mindset that is alert, sober, and anchored in the coming grace of Jesus. This isn’t vague theology, it’s deeply practical. The battle begins in the mind, and Peter challenges us to gird up our thoughts, to be mentally and spiritually ready for the life God has called us to live.We’ll explore how the hope of Jesus’ return should change how we live today, specifically in how we pursue holiness and reverence. Holiness isn't about perfection; it’s about living set apart for God. And reverence means honoring the weight of what Christ has done for us. Peter reminds us that we were ransomed, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ. When we see the price of our salvation clearly, it should shape every decision, every desire, every moment of our lives. This passage asks us to live backwards: with eternity in view, living today in light of the heavenly glories that are yet to come!

This Sunday, we’re stepping into a passage that powerfully affirms the trustworthiness of Scripture and the uniqueness of our salvation. In 1 Peter 1:10–12, we’re reminded that what we now see clearly, Jesus as the promised Messiah, was once only glimpsed through the prophetic puzzle pieces of the Old Testament. The prophets searched and inquired, longing to understand the grace that was to be revealed. But we have something they didn’t: the full picture. We see the face on the box - Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, fulfilling what was foretold centuries before.This message isn’t just about head knowledge or historical interest; it’s about strengthening our confidence in the truth of Christianity. We don’t believe in Jesus primarily because it’s useful or comforting (though it certainly is); we believe because He is the truth. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the compelling pieces of evidence that what we believe is grounded in real events: events that were predicted, witnessed, and preserved. When people dismiss the Bible as “just a man-made book,” this passage pushes back hard. The Spirit of God spoke through human voices to reveal divine truth, and that truth culminates in Jesus.Come prepared to have your faith strengthened as we look at specific Old Testament prophecies and how they point in exact detail to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. I hope that you’ll walk away not only encouraged, but in awe of the God who orchestrates history, fulfills His promises, and invites us into a salvation that even angels long to understand.

This Sunday, we continue in our series through 1 Peter. It’s an encouraging letter written to ancient Christians facing hostility and pressure for their faith. In many ways, their world mirrors our own. Especially for the next generation, following Jesus today often means standing alone in a culture that demands conformity. Many young believers are caught in the tension between faith and social acceptance. Social media fuels this fire. Peter doesn't shy away from this conflict; he speaks directly into it. We'll be looking at what it means to rejoice in salvation even while walking through grief, and how trials, far from being pointless, are the very means by which our faith is refined and proven genuine. I’ve spent some time this week reflecting on my own journey with suffering and what God has taught me through it. So this is where we’re headed Sunday - a deeper look at how God meets us in our trials, not to shame us, but to shape us, not to fail us but to form us. I hope you’ll come ready to hear from God and encourage one another. Invite someone who’s walking through something hard. You never know how a word from 1 Peter might speak into their life.

It is so good to be back with you after a time away. These past three months on sabbatical have been deeply refreshing for my soul, but I have missed you: your faces, your love, and your faith. Absence has made this heart grow very fond. I’ve returned with a full tank and I’m ready to boldly speak God’s truth, and I can't think of a better way to rejoin you than by starting a new study together in the book of 1 Peter. This letter was written to Christians who were feeling like outsiders in the world, and I think that speaks to where many of us find ourselves today.Peter begins not by comforting the early believers with shallow platitudes but by grounding them in a greater truth. They are elect exiles. Chosen by God, set apart by the Spirit, and called to obey Jesus. Though they’re misunderstood, rejected, and even persecuted by the world around them, their identity is secure. That tension between being loved by God and rejected by culture isn’t something to run from. It’s a calling to live differently. Peter doesn’t want us to blend in; he wants us to stand out, not with arrogance, but with holiness, humility, and courage.If you’ve ever felt out of place because of your faith, this letter is for you. The Christian life will create tension in a world that doesn’t share our hope. But our hope is living and rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, who has given us an eternal inheritance that cannot be touched by suffering. So wherever God has placed you, whether in a family that doesn’t understand your faith, a job where values collide, or a world that increasingly sees Christians as strange, know this: you are not forgotten. You are chosen, you are sent, and you are held by a God who is writing a far bigger story than what we can see.

When you look at all that is going on in the world today, don’t you sometimes wish that Jesus would just come back soon and bring an end to all that is wrong and ungodly? Have you ever prayed that Jesus would come back and fix it all? Is it wrong to pray for that? As we open God’s word this week, we will get Jesus’ answer. In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus encourages His disciples to pray about the future with a parable about a widow who keeps asking an unfair judge for help. She's being treated badly and wants the judge to use his power to help her. We're pretty much like that widow. Our only real source of help is God, just like the widow's only real source of help is the judge. She keeps coming back again and again until the judge finally gives her justice just to get her to stop bothering him. And this is where understanding the parable gets strange. On the surface it seems as though the point of the parable is that if you can wear out an unjust human judge, then you may stand a chance of wearing out God so that He answers your prayers just to get you “off his back.” But that can’t be true, can it? Join us as we untangle this strange parable and unlock what could bring a new dimension to your prayer life.

I'm going to say something that might shock you: Many of us — maybe even you — are far more prideful than we realize. You may be thinking, “Ryan, who do you think you are? You don’t know me.” But take a moment and really think about it. None of us want to admit that deep down inside of us may exist something that says, “I don’t need God” or “my way is better than His way.” Yet, that is what we are saying when we sin and decide to go against what God wants for us. When we sin, we consciously or subconsciously are telling God that our way is better than His, and this is pride. If we take an honest look at ourselves, we may realize that pride exists in many of us — to greater or lesser degrees.   This weekend we will dive into the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector where we are called to look inward at the posture of our hearts to see where pride exists. However, at the same time, in this parable we are shown what true humility looks like and invited to turn away from our pride and live as the humble sons and daughters who are bought by the blood of Jesus Christ and saved from our sins. I would love if you would join us this weekend at Illuminate as we journey through this parable together. See you then! 

There is a verse in the Bible that gives a remarkable promise—so remarkable that it can hardly be misunderstood. The promise I’m referring to is found in James 1:25: “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this one shall be blessed in what they do.” That’s pretty straightforward, wouldn’t you say? Now, if you go back to the beginning of the context of that promise, it starts in verse 19: “…be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger… in humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to deliver your soul.” Did Jesus have anything to say about how we respond to truth?

Have you ever heard a child say, “But that’s not fair”? How did you respond? Have you ever thought that yourself? We’ve all witnessed something that doesn’t seem consistent with the “law” of fairness. Maybe something good happens to someone we don’t believe deserves it. Or perhaps something bad happens to someone who doesn’t seem to have done anything to deserve such a negative outcome. I’m looking forward to being back with you at Illuminate this Sunday as we learn from Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1–16) that God’s kingdom is built on grace—not karma.

C.S. Lewis once said, “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.” Isn’t it interesting that, perhaps, the two most difficult phrases to utter are: “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.”   In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus responds to a question from Peter about the extent of forgiveness. Jesus answers with the parable of the unforgiving servant in order to illustrate the necessity of forgiveness. The parable highlights that because God has forgiven us much, we should extend forgiveness to others, even when it's difficult or seems impossible.   As we prepare to share in the Lord’s Table this Sunday, Jesus’ words are strong reminders of God’s mercy and compassion in sending His Son to the cross on our behalf, and how that can and should motivate us to handle the difficult relationships in our lives.   I’ve come to learn that God is never more like God than when He forgives, and we are never more like God than we forgive. That says two things to me. First, we can find the forgiveness we are looking for and need in Him. Secondly, we can truly open our hearts to forgiving others when we understand how much we have been forgiven.