What Suffering is Designed to Do

Date: July 2, 2017

Topics: Courage, Faithfulness, God's Love, Justice, Suffering, Temptation, Trust

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Human reasoning would have us believe that if God really loved us, He would protect us from all pain, heartache and suffering. It is vital, then, that we do not face the hardships of life with human reasoning, but rather, with the mind of Christ. What attitude did Christ have when He endured all the physical and emotional suffering that came His way, and what can we learn by having that same attitude?

Living in Resurrection Victory

Date: April 5, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead isn’t merely an event to be remembered, it is a living power meant to transform our daily lives. When Jesus walked out of that tomb, He deposited three staggering realities into us: a hope that cannot be shaken, an inheritance that cannot be lost, and a power that cannot be defeated. The same conquering force that defeated death now lives inside every true believer. We are not spectators watching resurrection power from a distance; we are the body through which that power moves! The question isn’t whether you believe the resurrection happened; the question is whether you’re actually living like it did?

The Unavoidable Claims of Jesus

Date: March 29, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Jesus claimed to be one with God, to hold power over life and death, and to deserve equal honor with the Father. He even declared that if you reject Him, you are calling God a liar. These are the words of someone who is either delusional or divine. Such radical claims don’t allow us to remain neutral. We must answer the unavoidable question: What will we do with Jesus? He cannot be admired from a distance or added as an accessory to our lives. In the end, there is no middle ground: we either bow in belief or turn away in blindness.

When Physical Healing Isn’t Enough

Date: March 22, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

When a crushing physical or emotional burden has weighed us down long enough, it can eventually rob us of all hope. The joy we once knew gets drowned out by a sense of despair, and the only prayer left in us is a desperate cry for God to make it stop. But true freedom is not merely relief from pain. It is a heart that has learned to love and worship God even when the circumstances refuse to change. The greatest miracle may not be a restored body, but a renewed perspective that treasures Him above every answered prayer.

Children of Light: Love vs. Hate

Date: March 15, 2026 | Speaker: David Cannon

From the very beginning of creation, God desired to bring forth life out of darkness, so He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. This separation is representative of two opposing kingdoms; one to which His children belong, and one to which His enemies belong. Scripture tells us that God is light, and there is no darkness in Him, and those who belong to Him are children of light. Join us as we look at some of the attributes of each kingdom, and the separating choices each person will face as a reflection of the kingdom to which they choose to belong.

Why God Uses Unlikely People

Date: March 1, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

In a world fixated on credentials and achievements, Jesus deliberately selected twelve ordinary, flawed men—impulsive, proud, skeptical, even a traitor and a thief—to carry His gospel to the ends of the earth. He saw their faults and chose them anyway. This should radically reshape the way we evaluate ourselves. Through their stories, we recognize our own brokenness, and we’re reminded that God delights in using unlikely people so that His power can shine through their weakness. What He did with those unlikely disciples, He longs to do with us, if only we’ll say yes to His call.

Breaking the Rules to Do What’s Right

Date: February 22, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

We sometimes mistake religious performance for a relationship with God, convinced that if we just check enough boxes, we’re doing what He desires. The Pharisees kept all the rules, yet their hearts were far from Him. Jesus repeatedly crossed their man-made boundaries, not in rebellion, but to remind us that God cares more about what’s right than what’s merely religious. The world isn’t looking for people with all the answers; they want to see people who actually look like Jesus. May we have the courage to love like He does, even when the religious establishment won’t, because doing what’s right sometimes means breaking the rules.

Where Will Your Road End?

Date: February 15, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

We often drift through life on a thousand small choices without ever stopping to ask where those choices are taking us, until one day we wake up and find ourselves in a place we never wanted to be. Jesus warns that there are two paths before us that lead to very different outcomes. The wide road is popular, comfortable, and demands little, but it ultimately ends in destruction. The narrow way is costly and humbling, requiring complete surrender to Jesus as Lord, but it is the only path that leads to life. Choose wisely. One day we will stand before Jesus and either be welcomed into His presence, or we will hear the terrifying words: “Depart from me. I never knew you.” Which road are you on?

Exchanging the Gavel for Grace

Date: February 8, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Have you ever noticed how quick we are to point out the sins of others, while conveniently ignoring our own? Jesus compares that to a huge plank jutting out of our eye while we fixate on the tiny speck in someone else’s. He calls us to deal honestly with our own sin first, inviting Him to expose and remove our blind spots. Only then will we see clearly enough to help another person. After all, when we stumble, we long for grace, not harsh judgment, so Jesus urges us to treat those who have fallen with that same generous measure. Are you wiling to lay down the gavel and show grace instead?

Overcoming Worry in an Anxious World

Date: January 18, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

We live in the wealthiest, most abundant nation that has ever existed, yet we are the most anxious generation in recorded history. Anxiety is at an all-time high. The solution isn’t striving harder not to worry; it’s remembering these three foundational truths: we have a Father in heaven, this Father genuinely cares for us, and He has promised to provide what we need. When we live consumed by worry, we’re not just stressed—we’re actually telling our heavenly Father that we don’t believe He will take care of us. Trust is not the absence of problems, but a deep-seated confidence in the unfailing character and goodness of God. As we seek His kingdom first, anxiety loosens its grip, not because life gets easier, but because we trust the One who holds tomorrow.

The High Cost of Cheap Treasure

Date: January 11, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Imagine a grown man on a beach bragging about his towering sandcastle, only to watch the rising tide wash it all away. We’d call that foolish, yet we often live the same way—investing ourselves into accumulating earthly treasures as if they’re permanent. Jesus warns us about the danger of placing high value on things that will not last. More importantly, He reveals the truth that whatever we treasure most will capture our hearts and direct our lives. It’s fine to have possessions, but ask yourself: are you building sandcastles, or investing in the kingdom that will never end?