Our decisions shape far more than we realize. Pastor Dave invited us to consider how many choices we make every day—and how often we drift instead of deciding. Drawing from Scripture and everyday life, he reminded us that God is always preparing a way forward, but stepping into something new often requires choosing a new posture. Pre-Deciding is about deciding now who we want to be later, letting faith—not impulse—shape the year ahead.

Christmas tells the greatest love story of all time—not one that ends in loss, but one where love conquers death. Pastor Dave reminded us that Christmas is the moment Heaven came down, not to condemn the world, but to save it. This story is personal. It’s about a God who loves broken people, meets us where we are, and offers a love we didn’t earn and can’t lose. And that love came for you.

How you describe God shapes everything. Pastor Dave invited us to sit with a simple but powerful question: “God is ______.” For many, that blank has been filled with words like distant, angry, or disappointed. But Scripture tells a different story. The fourth Sunday of Advent reminds us that God is not just loving—God is love. A love that is steady, faithful, and revealed most clearly in Jesus. And when we begin to see God that way, it changes how we see ourselves, others, and the world.

Joy doesn’t always arrive when life gets easier. Sometimes it shows up in the middle of loneliness, unmet expectations, and long nights that haven’t resolved yet. On Joy Sunday, Pastor Dave reminded us that biblical joy is not a feeling we wait for, but a choice we make—a decision to fix our eyes on Jesus even when circumstances don’t change. Because joy isn’t found in avoiding hardship; it’s found in the presence of the One who came near.

As Christmas draws closer, Pastor Dave invited us to consider what we are really longing for beneath the lists and traditions. Scripture points us again and again to peace—not as a feeling we manufacture, but as a gift God gives. In Isaiah, God promises shalom, shalom—perfect peace—for those who fix their minds on Him. This message reminded us that peace isn’t found in the absence of problems, but in the presence of the Prince of Peace, who comes near in the middle of a restless world.

As Advent begins, something in us starts to lean forward. Beneath the lights and familiar songs, a deeper longing awakens—the ache for real joy, the kind that doesn’t fade when the season ends. That longing isn’t an accident; it’s the echo of Eden still living in us. Advent reminds us that hope is not something we work up, but Someone who comes near. This season isn’t about escaping our lives or pretending everything is peaceful—it’s about making room for the God who steps into our weariness and brings joy to weary hearts.

Pastor Dave walked us through the surprising ending of Mark’s Gospel, where resurrection doesn’t begin with celebration, but with trembling and fear. Three faithful women come to the tomb expecting closure, only to encounter a Savior far more alive than they imagined. Their fear wasn’t failure—it was the shock of realizing that God was doing something bigger than their expectations. This message reminded us that you can be deeply faithful and still deeply shaken when Jesus calls you forward, and that resurrection doesn’t remove fear—it invites us to trust Him beyond it.

On All Saints Sunday, we explored Mark 9:30–32, where Jesus tells His disciples that He will be handed over, killed, and rise again—but they don’t understand. They wanted victory without a cross, glory without grief. This message reminded us that God’s plan still works, even when it looks like it doesn’t. The cross wasn’t a tragedy; it was the triumph of love. Faith doesn’t mean avoiding suffering—it means trusting God in it.

In Mark 8:1–10, Jesus feeds four thousand people in Gentile territory, showing that His compassion has no borders. The disciples had seen Him multiply loaves before, but when the crowd looked different, their faith faltered. Jesus reminds them—and us—that His mercy isn’t limited by background or belonging. What He did for Israel, He now does for the nations. The same question still echoes today: “How many loaves do you have?” Whatever we bring—our time, our gifts, our obedience—He multiplies for the sake of others. The Gospel isn’t running out; there’s more than enough to go around.

In Mark 6:30–44, Jesus feeds five thousand people with just five loaves and two fish—not to show off power, but to reveal His heart. The disciples saw scarcity; Jesus saw opportunity. He didn’t need their help, but He invited them into the miracle. The same is true for us: what looks like “not enough” in our hands becomes more than enough in His. Jesus doesn’t just provide for us—He provides through us, filling others even as He fills us. The miracle happens when we stop waiting for more and start trusting the One who is already enough.