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It is so easy to become comfortable in our faith routines. To live life fully in the Spirit we need to take some risks and try new things.

The spirit of adventure that ought to be the hallmark of following Jesus should be adventurous. If your relationship with God as anything less than adventurous, then maybe you think you’re following the Spirit but have actually settled for something less.

Heaven and hell. What do we think about them? How can we understand them as reasonable, thinking people? Heaven or hell, which one do you choose? You see, we all have to make that decision somewhere along the way. Don’t leave it to chance! There’s not a lot we have control of in this world, but you do have control over where you go when you leave this world. You decide which of those places you want to be. You get to decide what happens to you in the future.

What’s the relationship between what you read in the Bible and what's being taught in science classes? Because they aren't the same. And the disconnect between science and religion has some scientists claiming to be atheists, and some Christians abandoning the sciences … or at least seriously questioning what the scientists are teaching. But there are many connecting points between what we learn in the field of physics and biology and geology, and what we learn in the area of theology and Scripture. Hopefully, a better understanding of scientific truths can help us end up saying, “Okay, these truths from physics help me understand my faith more clearly.”

As we are all unique children of God, he speaks to us in different ways. These are some of the ways: God speaks through Scripture, God speaks through nature and God's creation, God speaks through music, God speaks through His Spirit, God speaks through prayer. and God speaks to us through circumstances.

God, indeed, does have a plan for all of us. But it’s a game plan with lots of freedom, not a blueprint with every detail spelled out. Our job is not so much to find something; it’s to become someone, a reflection of His image and character in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

Today we begin a new series of sermons, “Questions for God.” Earlier we asked you: “If you could ask God just one question, what would it be?” And you came up with some great questions. Today we tackle a biggie: suffering and evil. This question, more than any other question, turns people away from God and away from the church. It’s a problem we all wrestle with, and without a satisfactory answer to this question, people say “If that’s how God is going to act, I want nothing to do with that God.” Christianity does have answers to real life questions. The Bible really is a guide to life. We choose to follow Jesus Christ because He is the only one who can give us the ultimate victory over life and over death. Choose to follow Christ because He is your Good Shepherd and He loves you more than you can imagine.

Pastor Steve took a road trip to interview Pastor Scott so the congregation can get to know him a bit before he comes. You saw the preview in church! Now, you can see the whole interview!

All ancient people recognized, as we do today, that there is a certain rhythm in our world. It’s the rhythm of the seasons that moves from springtime where there is new life, to summer where there is abundance, to fall where there is harvest, and finally into the winter where there is death. Winter is never the final word. Winter is not the end. And every day that we endure winter is a day closer to the next spring, and new life. Winter is never the last word. Springtime always comes after winter. And that’s what the Resurrection of Christ proclaims. Martin Luther wrote about it: “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”