By Guest Author | Anita Harrison: The story of the Prodigal Son Is one of my favorites. It is so rich in meaning. For a long time, I missed much of the meaning by not knowing the customs of the people in the time that Jesus walked the earth. When you understand the culture and context, the meaning becomes so rich....

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: Doe, a Deer, a Female Deer...Now that I have your attention, take a minute to read these words from David: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is ...

By Christy Hubbard: We have been studying the parable of the Prodigal Son over the last few weeks. I love this story because it's so relatable. As a prodigal daughter in my younger years, I am thankful The Father welcomed me home with open arms....

For a long time, I believed that God was chronically disappointed in me.I knew that He loved me, but the heavy weight of shame and condemnation I felt over never quite being good enough led me to believe that there was still work to be done. I couldn’t accept His love for me until I felt like I had proven that I was worthy of it. Which, in case you were wondering, never happened. To quote Pastor A...

By Pastor Aaron Kennedy: '“ And when you pray , make sure you forgive the faults of others so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.”' -- Matthew 6:14-15 Man, that’s a tough verse. I’ve read it and spoken it a thousand times. I must tell you, it’s one that says what it means and means very simply wh...

By Steve Miller: When it comes to the story of the Prodigal Son, am I the only one who identifies more with the older brother than the prodigal? Sure, I’ve had seasons of doing my own thing and getting into trouble, but for the most part, my life has been about following the rules and doing what I’m told, much like the older brother in the parable....

By Theresa Golden: The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is one of the most well-known parables in the Bible. It’s a story of rebellion, regret, and redemption. But the prodigal son isn’t the only one who has wandered from God’s path. ...

By Elliotte Pearson (Elder): Pastor Aaron has said many times, “church is for you, but not about you.” I would take that a little further to say that the Gospel is for you, but it’s not about you. We are not the center of the Gospel, and too often, we will read the Gospels like it is about us. ...

By Jake Haggard: For years, I read the story of the Prodigal Son and found myself identifying with one of the brothers. As a child, I was familiar with the dynamic of sibling rivalry, the longing for attention and sometimes feeling that one was loved more than the other. ...

By Guest Author | It’s me, I’m the prodigal. How often have I squandered my inheritance, chasing a life on my own terms, believing I had all the answers—only to find myself lost, hungry, and alone? I lived for the moment, seeking freedom, yet in the end, I was left longing for love, purpose, and a place to belong....

By Whitney Bailey: What should I do when I'm feeling stressed, overwhelmed, triggered, or spiraling? It's often easier to recognize when someone else is struggling, but when it comes to ourselves, we might feel trapped in a hamster wheel and find it hard to step off. The effort to break free from this cycle can feel like more than we have the energy to handle. ...

By Guest Author | Rachel Edwards: "You can't pour from an empty cup." This is a phrase I'm sure you’ve heard before, and it’s something I often encounter as a teacher. I need to take care of myself first to be able to show up for my students in the best way possible. Fortunately, I’m writing this devotional on the first day of my Spring Break, which gives me the opportunity to rest and refill my c...

By Guest Author | Ashley Piner: Paul shares a wealth of valuable information throughout 1 Corinthians. He talks about the importance of unity within the church, the functions of the body of Christ, how the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts to build up the Church, the need for reverence and order in worship, and one of my favorites — 1 Corinthians 13 — where he teaches that love is the greatest ...

By Pastor Mike Adkins: In our current message series, we’ve been studying 1 Corinthians, and many issues we see within the church of Corinth stand to teach us a needed lesson about the source of all spiritual gifts. ...

By Pastor Scott Conner | “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” Acts 18: 9-10 This promise from God comes to Paul in a vision during his first visit to Corinth when he establishes the church in that city. ...