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?

The Kind of People God Welcomes

Date: August 16, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

When you think of “sinners” who might be excluded from God’s kingdom, does anyone come to mind? If so, you may be entering dangerous territory. The Pharisees were certain of their own seat at God’s table, convinced that the tax collectors and prostitutes had no such place. But Jesus came precisely for the people the religious crowd wrote off. He welcomes the broken, the fallen, the forgotten with open arms the moment they repent and turn to Him. God’s grace reaches farther than our judgments, and we may be surprised by those who are on heaven’s guest list!

Whose Voice Are You Following?

Date: August 9, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

We live in a world crowded with voices, each promising a shortcut or easy path that too often leads us into dangers we cannot face alone. Because we are prone to wander, it is vital that we listen to the one voice we can fully trust. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does not merely tell us which way to go; He walks ahead of us, drives back our enemies, and keeps us safe in His loving care. Do you know this Shepherd? Are you listening for His voice and following Him home?

The Tragedy of Willful Blindness

Date: August 2, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Someone once said, “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” It’s easy to agree with that until it turns and points directly at us. Most of us walk through life convinced we can see things clearly, but everyone has blind spots—places where pride, traditions, or assumptions keep us in the dark. Having our spiritual eyes opened requires a work of the Holy Spirit, humbly asking God to shine the light of His truth into our hidden corners. Only He can open blind eyes. So the question isn’t whether we can see. It’s where we might be refusing to.

Mercy for the Accused

Date: July 26, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

If we measure our goodness against the sins of others, it’s easy to pass judgment. But if we measure ourselves against the holiness of God, we’re not the judges we imagined ourselves to be. We’re the accused! When a sinful woman was brought to Jesus, He refused to condemn her, because her sentence would be paid in full on the cross. Since we’ve all been shown that same mercy, shouldn’t we be just as quick to extend it to others? Only the one without sin has the right to throw stones, and none of us qualify.

The Thirst Only Jesus Can Satisfy

Date: July 19, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

When we’re physically thirsty, we know that a cool glass of water will quench that need. But when we’re spiritually dry, we often look in all the wrong places, trying one thing after another to quiet the longing inside us. Eventually, we realize that the things we pursue simply cannot fill the ache within. Then we hear Jesus speak these life-giving words: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” Have you ever laid aside everything else and come honestly to the One who alone can satisfy your deepest yearning? Jesus offers more than temporary relief; He offers the living water of forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Come to Him today, and let Him refresh your soul.

Faith Beyond the Mountaintop

Date: July 12, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

We’ve all had mountaintop encounters with God where the world fades away and His presence is so real that we want to stay there forever. Those are moments of sheer glory, but if we’re not careful, we can spend our lives chasing the next spiritual peak instead of learning to trust and worship Him in the valley. The truth is, faithfulness isn’t formed on the mountaintop. It is forged in the ordinary routine of daily life. So keep your eyes fixed on Him, your ears attentive to His voice, and your feet committed to following Him through the highs and the lows.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Date: July 5, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. Some dismiss Him as a myth. Others see Him as nothing more than a great teacher, a humanitarian, or a revolutionary. Still others place Him alongside figures like Gandhi, Confucius, or Socrates. But Jesus asks a far more personal question: “Who do you say that I am?” It is the most important question you will ever answer, because your response shapes not only how you live today, but where you will spend eternity. Have you confessed Him as your personal Savior and Lord, or are you still delaying life’s most important decision?

Living by Faith – Part 1

Date: June 28, 2026 | Speaker: David Cannon

Scripture teaches that faith is the only means through which God’s grace is available to us. We even read how it’s impossible to please God without faith. Needless to say, faith is crucial, and God says his righteous people will live by faith. So, what does it mean to live by faith? Join us as we take a look at what Scripture says about faith and how living by faith might look for us today.

Starving in a Land of Plenty

Date: June 14, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

How is it possible to live in the most well-fed nation in history and still be starving? Surrounded by abundance, we carry an emptiness nothing in this world can fill. So we chase after the next thing, convinced that just one more success, relationship, or experience will finally calm that gnawing ache, but it never does. The hunger in our souls is actually pointing us to the One who created us, and He invites us to come to Him and discover what we’ve been searching for all along. Only a real relationship with Jesus can satisfy. Everything else just leaves us wanting more.

The Miracle of Surrender

Date: June 7, 2026 | Speaker: Phil Pike

There are times when the need in front of us far exceeds our resources—the bill, the grief, the calling that seems miles beyond us—and we’re forced to admit that what we have is not enough. But those are the very moments we discover the tender heart of Jesus, who sees our hidden struggles. He invites us to bring Him whatever we have, no matter how inadequate it feels, and watch as He blesses it in ways we never could on our own. The question is not whether what we have is enough, but whether we’re willing to trust Him and place it in His hands. When we reach the end of our sufficiency, we discover that God’s provision has only begun.