Sermon Series Resources

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): November 24

Study Resource: Prioritizing the Lord’s Affirmation: 1-Page Essay - Please take 5-minutes to read this brief essay and even use it as a devotional by also reading the scripture cited in the paper.

Video Resource: The Acts of the Apostles: An 8-Session Study - In a world that is unsure of where to find truth or purpose, the book of Acts stands apart. It reveals God’s plan for global redemption, his purpose for our lives, and the power he has given us to accomplish his mission. Join pastor Louie Giglio in this eight-session series as he walks through the story of the early church. Acts may have been written two thousand years ago, but God is calling us to be a part of that story today.

Video Resource: Living Generously: An 8-Session Study - When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume and wiped them with her hair, it was a remarkably generous and loving act – one that continues to inspire us today. In this eight-part series, Jonathan de Bernhardt Wood explores the simple yet powerful moment in which a friend and follower of Jesus displays the kind of astonishing generosity God Himself pours out on us.

Video Resource: Serving Challenge: A 6-Session Study - Serving Challenge is an adventure to serve like Jesus that will lead you to more personal fulfillment than you ever thought possible. The opportunity to serve like Jesus will come with a significant cost. It will mean sacrificing, losing, and experiencing challenges. But, despite all the costs, when you serve like Jesus, you will find true fulfillment, joy, happiness, and great reward.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): November 17

Study Resource: Concepts of Self and Unselfing: An Essay - Check out this 2-page essay on concepts of "Self" and "Unselfing" to keep Jesus centered in our lives.

Video Resource: UnSelfing: Self-Importance vs. Significance - Check out this 5-minute video and inspiration speech from Tim Tebow about "UnSelfing."

Video Resource: Free of Me: A Jesus-Centered Vision - We live in a culture that's all about self, becoming the best “me” I can be instead of becoming like Jesus. A me-centered message affects every area of our lives, so this 5-part series invites us into a bigger, Jesus-centered vision. A Jesus-centered mentality restores our freedom and inspires us to live for more and discover a purpose bigger than “project me.”

Video Resource: Raising Selfless Teens: A 4-Session Study - Raising teens is not for the fainthearted and even more so today when youth have endless freedom at their fingertips yet live confined while parents feel helpless. Anxiety and narcissism are now the tsunami of a generation which has never known life without iPhone in hand, internet, or social pages. Family members are constantly plugged in, but more disconnected than ever before while the family table becomes obsolete. The struggle is real keeping your teen safe.

Video Resource: Growing Selfless Tots: A 4-Session Study - As people fall deeper into the meta-verse it becomes even more crucial for parents to hold on to interactions of the human kind with their children. This four-part study series is based on the award-winning documentary selfless. Come along as we explore planting roots, how blue light is affecting the eyes, social media influencers, and the value of Growing selfless Tots.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): November 10

Study Resource: Strategies for Sharing the Gospel Truth - This is a 1-page document with practical strategies for sharing the love of Jesus with others.

Video Resource: Jesus’ Call: Fishers of Men - Check out this 10-minute video from The Chosen: Jesus calls Peter.

Video Resource: How NOT to Make Disciples: A Brief Video Clip - Check out this humorous, but all too insightful, clip from Francis Chan about how we sometimes fail to act when it comes to “fishing” and sharing the gospel.

Study Resource: Every Disciple Making Disciples: A Brief Study - David Platt talks about how the testimony of scripture and the history of Christianity shows that every follower of Christ is called to make disciples.

Study Resource: Intentional Discipleship with Your Kids - Between obligations at work and tasks or chores at home, it is often easy to overlook discipling our own children. Josh Griffin, High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, shares a few ways he and his wife try to actively disciple their children in the midst of a busy schedule.

Study Resource: One at a Time: Making a Difference - A study with Kyle Idleman: Nobody grows up dreaming of waking up, going to work, heading home, watching Netflix, scrolling through social media, and then doing it all over again the next day until their last breath. We all want to be used to change the world. We don’t want to spend our lives being time-wasters, or space-takers, or binge-watchers, or game-players, or even book-readers. We want to be difference-makers.

Video Resource: Fishers of Men: Brief Christian Rock Video - FISHER OF MEN: Featuring THE CHOSEN! | Falcone Rising | Christian Metal | Mark 1:16-20

Book Resource: Twelve Ordinary Men: A Book about Jesus’ Disciples - In this book, Twelve Ordinary Men, you will learn that disciples are living proof that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. As you get to know the men who walked with Jesus, you will see that if he can accomplish his purposes through them, he can do the same through you.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): November 3

Study Resource: Teach Us to Pray: An 8-Session Study - You are probably familiar with “The Lord’s Prayer.” Perhaps, you can recite it verbatim. Or perhaps you’ve recited it so many times that the words fail to make much sense to you anymore. In this 8-session series, pastor Ranjit David, explains how the Lord’s Prayer is much more than a model prayer. Instead, it is a declaration that establishes God’s reign in heaven and on earth.

Video Resource: Prayer & Scripture: A Video by Justin White - Watch this 9-minute video as Justin White discusses the significance of prayer and bible study in the life of a disciple.

Study Resource: Persistent Prayer: What the Bible Says - Please take time this week to study some of these bible verses highlighting the significance of a persistent prayer life.

Study Resource: Prayer and the Psalms: A 10-Day Devotional - The Book of Psalms bursts with prayers that model how to approach God in joy or sadness, praise or weeping. In this ten-day devotional, author Mary DeMuth guides us through a variety of psalms, encouraging us to approach God honestly and boldly in every circumstance.

Podcast Resource: The Lord's Prayer: A Bible-Project Podcast - In this podcast, we discuss the meaning and significance of the Lord's Prayer and what it means for followers of Jesus.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): October 27

Study Resource: Jesus’ Goodbye and Promised Return: An Essay - Jesus presented one of the most comforting passages in John 14:1-4 when He spoke to His disciples concerning their anxiety of His upcoming departure. His instruction, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” is a call for absolute trust.

Study Resource: Why Does the Ascension of Jesus Matter? - Article – The story of Jesus living, dying, and rising from death gets a lot of well-deserved attention, but we sometimes overlook another crucial, mysterious scene in the narrative. As the book of Acts begins, we’re told that after resurrection, Jesus is “taken up” or “lifted up” into the sky, where he disappears behind the clouds (Acts 1:9). 

Video Resource: The Spirit of Truth - The Advocate - The Counselor - Video – Study the theme of the Holy Spirit from the beginning to the end of the Bible. This video helps you get to know and understand who He is and what He does.

Video Resource: Hope in a Returning Jesus - It can be difficult to feel hopeful, but biblical hope means trusting in God's character and choosing our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Study Resource: Christ’s Work in the ‘Heavenly Places:’ An Article - Explore how Paul’s teaching on “the heavenly places” in Ephesians emphasizes Jesus’ reign in heaven, a doctrine that has incredible implications for how believers have been blessed in Christ and how they should understand their role in waging spiritual warfare.

Podcast Resource: Heaven Changes Your Life on Earth: A Podcast - Cameron Cole shares his heavenward story, how he envisions heaven, the biggest barriers to living a heavenward life, and more.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): October 20

Study Resource: Discerning Jesus' Truth in a World of Deception - Check out this brief essay on seeking and discerning Jesus' absolute truth.

Study Resource: The Disciple's Mind: Thinking Like Jesus' Disciple - This is a book recommended by Jeff Faull: Why should we devote time to becoming a better thinker? Is it to be the most interesting person in the room? To dominate the ideological opposition? To cultivate confidence? Or this: the better we think, the more we become like Jesus.

Study Resource: The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul - Recommended by Jeff Faull & Rob Thompson: This book is an easy and thoughtful read that challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around the Lord.

Study Resource: Critical Thinking with a Biblical Worldview - Take time this week to read this 1-page essay on thinking critically through a biblical lens.

Video Resource: God’s Lead: His Wisdom Leads to Joy - Check out this 7-minute video and article presented by the BibleProject team.

Video Resource: Proverbs Wisdom Series Video - Proverbs are a collection of wisdom from generations of godly people. Dig into this book made for a lifetime of reading and contemplation.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): October 13

Study Resource: Navigating Discussions on Homosexuality - This is a 2-page document with objections and scripturally based responses regarding homosexuality.

Study Resource: Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation: An Essay - This is an essay by Christopher Yuan with The Gospel Coalition.

Study Resource: Transgender Identification and Family: An Article - Parents dealing with any aspect of gender ideology can feel like David standing in front of Goliath with nothing but a sling and a stone. This is an article by Maria Keffler who is a co-founder of Advocates Protecting Children and the Arlington Parent Coalition. She has supported families and fought to protect children from unethical activism and dangerous policies around sexuality and transgender ideology.

Video Resource: Marriage in Gospel Focus: Tim Keller - This is a teaching by Tim Keller with The Gospel Coalition.

Study Resource: A Biblical View of Marriage - This is an essay by Christopher Ash with The Gospel Coalition.

Video Resource: The Key to Marriage Longevity: A Brief Video - This is a video with teaching from John Piper, Tim Keller, and D.A. Carson.

Study Resource: 4 Things God Says to Singles - This is an article by Vaughan Roberts with The Gospel Coalition.

Study Resource: Raising Jesus-Centered Kids: A 9-Session Study - How do we equip our kids to live authentic, meaningful, Christ-centered lives in a conventional world? In this 9-part series, you will receive specific and practical insight that will equip you to identify God's purpose for your role and provide you with principles and a process that will transform your parenting and provide you with new freedom and fulfillment as a parent.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): October 6

Study Resource: The Lord’s Compassion: What the Bible Says - Check out these bible verses that highlight our Lord’s compassion. These are good for your own bible study and to pray over as a way to experience and share true, biblical compassion.

Video Resource: Jesus’ Compassion: Healing a Leper - Check out this brief video from The Chosen, which presents a beautiful view of Jesus's compassion.

Video Resource: Compassion of God: A Bible-Project Video - What does it mean for God to be compassionate? In this video, we take an in-depth look at the Hebrew word for compassion, rakhum.

Podcast Resource: Compassion - The Womb of God: A Podcast - God describes himself as "compassionate." But what does that mean? The answer might surprise you. The Hebrew word for "compassion" is closely related to the word for "womb," and in this episode the team discuss the Bible's depiction of God's compassion.

Study Resource: What is Baptism? A Brief Video by Jeff Faull - This is a 5-minute video summary by our Senior Minister, Jeff Faull, addressing the question: What is baptism?

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 29

Video Resource: What is Baptism? A Brief Video by Jeff Faull - This is a 5-minute video summary by our Senior Minister, Jeff Faull, addressing the question: What is baptism?

Study Resource: Do Not Worry: A Practical Interpretation and Study - What does Jesus mean when he tells his followers not to worry? This guide from the Bible-Project walks us through reading 5-verses of scripture (Matthew 6:25-30), a brief video with insights, and a brief audio component with interpretation.

Study Resource: Matthew 6:25-34 - Do Not Worry: A Reflection - Check out this 1-page reflective essay on compelling verses from Matthew 6.

Video Resource: Seek First His Righteousness: A Brief Video - Explore what righteousness means in the Bible and how it applies to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and understand what it means to do right by God and others. This is produced by the Bible-Project.

Study Resource: A Biblical View of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs - We can often view theoretical constructs in developmental psychology through a biblical lens. As such, you might enjoy this essay offering A Biblical View of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 22

Study Resource: The Jesus Platform: Transformative Faith Essay - Take a few minutes to read this essay based on the sermon and study guide this week.

Video Resource: Where is Your Faith: Brief Devotion by Tim Keller - This is an 8-minute video devotional and reflection on faith by Tim Keller.

Study Resource: Faith Foundations: A 10-Session Study - 10 Essential Christian Truths: Whether we’ve been Christians for years, discovered faith in Jesus recently, or are still wondering what it’s all about, we share similar questions about why and how to live out our faith. We wonder: What are we made for? What does it look like to know God deeply? Why are we called to reflect his light to those around us—and how do we do that?

Video Resource: Faith in Hostile Times: A Video Series - Are you overwhelmed by the godlessness sweeping across our world and flooding every corner of cyberspace? Are you disillusioned that the most vitriolic voices in debates are sometimes those of people calling themselves Christians? In this five-part series, Berni Dymet explores how Jesus engaged with and responded to people who were hostile toward Him. In Jesus’ example, we find a way to hold tight to the truth, while speaking it in love.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 15

Study Resource: The Money Trail Essay - Take time to read this 1-page sermon and scripture based essay.

Video Resource: Matthew 6:19-23: True Wealth and Generosity - Watch this 6-min video from the Bible-Project that explores key bible verses where Jesus talks about how our relationship to wealth and possessions affects our relationship with God.

Study Resource: The Eye Is the Lamp of the Body: An Article - Explore Jesus’ metaphor for our relationship to wealth in this article by the Bible-Project.

Video Resource: Wealth and Worry: A Brief Video - Watch a short video that explains what Jesus means in Matthew 6:25-34 when he says not to worry and discover the solution he offers.

Podcast Resource: What Kind of Treasure is in Heaven: A Podcast - The third section of the Sermon on the Mount's main body opens with a call to examine how we think about our stuff. Jesus makes it clear that how we relate to our money and possessions reveals how we relate to God. Explore the differences between our earthly values and the values of God’s Kingdom.

Video Resource: Hands and Feet of Jesus: 2-min Video - Take time to view this 2-minute video calling us, as disciples, to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and dying world.

Video Resource: The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn - A book recommended by our Senior Minister, Jeff Faull. Bestselling author Randy Alcorn introduced readers to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity with the release of the original The Treasure Principle in 2001. Now the revision to the compact, perennial bestseller includes a provocative new concluding chapter depicting God asking a believer questions about his stewardship over material resources.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 8

Study Resource: Matthew 23:25-28: Practical Steps for a Clean Cup - A Brief Essay: In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus addressed the Pharisees' preoccupation with outward appearances exposing their hypocrisy. He emphasized the need for internal cleanliness over external appearances. Jesus’ criticism highlights a compelling truth: what matters most is not the outward display of righteousness but rather the inner state of the heart.

Book Resource: The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul - The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. This book is an easy and thoughtful read that challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around God.

Book Resource: Anatomy of the Soul: Spiritual Practices - Recommended Book: Discover the surprising pathways for transformation hidden inside your own mind. Integrating new findings in neuroscience and attachment with Christian spirituality, Dr. Thompson reveals how it is possible to rewire your mind, altering your brain patterns and literally making you more like the person God intended you to be.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): September 1

Video Resource: Unoffendable: Truth About Anger and Forgiveness - Check out this compelling 18-minute video with Brant Hansen about anger and forgiveness from a biblical worldview.

Book Resource: Unoffendable: Embracing Forgiveness - Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. This is a fascinating and easy read about forgiveness as followers of Jesus written by Brant Hansen. In Unoffendable you will find concrete, practical ways to live life with less stress, including: (1) Adjusting your expectations to fit human nature, (2) Replacing perpetual anger with refreshing humility and gratitude, and (3) Embracing forgiveness and beginning to love others in unexpected ways.

Study Resource: Forgiveness and Bitterness: A Brief Study - Chuck Swindoll, author, radio broadcaster and Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX, talks about what forgiveness means, and what it does not mean.

Study Resource: Forgiveness: A Bible Project Podcast - The BibleProject team review Matthew Chapter 18 to address Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): August 25

Study Resource: Togetherness: Intimacy vs. Isolation - Check out this 1-page essay on discipleship in community.

Study Resource: Gospel Community: A Brief Study - What is biblical community and how is it developed? Spence Shelton describes the purpose of community and two ways to be more intentional in our relationships.

Study Resource: Authentic Community: An Article - The original idea for connection in groups came from God himself. God exists in community. After all, God always has been, and always will be, three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created us in his image. When we gather in community, we reflect his nature. Small groups are not just the latest program fad in churches. Groups and authentic community come from the very essence of God (Rick Lowry).

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): August 18

Study Resource: Discerning Jesus' Truth in a World of Deception - Check out this brief essay on seeking and discerning Jesus' absolute truth.

Study Resource: Absolute Truth & Relative Truth: The Difference - This is an article: As our society becomes more and more “enlightened” we appear to be slipping further away from how we define and understand truth.

Book Resource: Following Jesus in a Politically Divided World - Jeff Faull, our Senior Minister, recommends this book as a resource to supplement "The Jesus Platform" sermon series.

Sermon Study Guide (pdf): August 11

Study Resource: Love in Chaos: Good News for a Divided Culture - A 6-Sessions Study – We don’t have to look far to see division in our world. And in many ways, we are confused, angry, and disillusioned by all the chaos we’re experiencing. How should Christians respond to the chaos? What does it look like to live faithfully in these strange and challenging times? Join bestselling author Bob Goff in this six-session series as he helps us answer these questions. Learn what it looks like to follow Jesus and obey his commands even in a time of chaos.

Study Resource: God’s Love: 1 John 4:7–12 Scripture & Commentary

Video Resource: Agape/Love: Biblical Love - A 5-minite video: Biblical love refers to more than just a feeling. It's about caring for someone regardless of their response, and it's modeled perfectly by Jesus.