This message from Bishop Ed Akers explored Matthew 9:35-37, where Jesus looked upon crowds of sinners and saw them not through the lens of their sins, but as people who were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." We were reminded that sin doesn't just define people—it traps them, mangles their lives, and leaves them powerless. Just as Jesus was moved to action by compassion for the lost, we are called to extend the same grace and mercy. This message has profound implications for our spiritual life: it calls us away from political agendas and religious comfort zones into the harvest field, where souls are waiting to hear the good news that can set them free.

In this message Pastor Brent Powell explored what it means to truly hunger and thirst for God in a culture of comfort and complacency. Drawing from Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled," we were challenged to examine whether we're merely satisfied with surface-level Christianity or desperately seeking God's manifest presence. The message called us beyond casual faith to a place of holy desperation—where we contend in prayer not just for our own needs, but for the salvation of our families, cities, and nations. This hunger isn't about religious performance; it's about being so consumed with God's heart that we weep for what breaks His heart and pray until breakthrough comes.

This week's message from Pastor Brent Powell explored the transformative power of attention in our spiritual formation. We examined how what we consistently focus on ultimately shapes who we become. Drawing from Psalm 1:1-3, we discovered that our spiritual growth isn't accidental—it's cultivated through intentional, daily attention to God and His Word. The progression of walking, standing, and sitting with the ungodly versus meditating on God's law revealed how gradually we can drift when our focus shifts away from Christ. This message challenged us to examine what's truly discipling our attention and whether we're allowing the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or desires for other things to choke out the Word in our lives.

In this message Bishop Raul Ucab explored the biblical understanding of prosperity, emphasizing that true blessing comes not from pursuing material wealth, but from cultivating the fear of the Lord and maintaining intimate fellowship with Him. Drawing from Psalms 115:13-15 and Psalms 112:1-3, we learned that the "fruit of prosperity" (wealth, riches, and abundant blessings) is always connected to the "mark of prosperity" (fearing the Lord and walking with Him). The message challenged us to focus on our relationship with God rather than merely seeking His blessings, reminding us that when we prioritize holiness and intimacy with Christ, the fruits will naturally follow.

In this message Pastor Brent Powell builds off of last week's message on formation. Once you realized you are being formed the question becomes who or what gets to set the boundaries of your life? We live in a culture that equates freedom with no limits, no restrictions, no boundaries, and no one telling you what to do. But the irony is with more options than ever we are more anxious, exhausted, and distracted than ever. Galatians 5:1 tells us we have been set free by Christ and warns us to stand firm and not to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Take Christ yoke for it is easy and it is light.

This powerful message confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we are being formed whether we realize it or not. Drawing from Romans 12:2's call to be transformed rather than conformed, we're challenged to examine the hidden habits and routines that shape 40% of our daily actions without conscious thought. The sermon unpacks the tension between drift and formation—how we can either passively allow the world's patterns to press us into its mold, or actively surrender to God's transformative work through spiritual disciplines. The key insight centers on understanding that habits aren't just behavioral patterns; they're acts of worship that form our hearts.

This past Sunday, Pastor Brent reminded us of an important truth: while the manger may be empty, the light that entered the world on Christmas morning continues to shine brightly in our lives today. As we move beyond the tinsel and wrapping paper, we're reminded that Christmas wasn't just a moment in history—it was the beginning of an eternal reality that transforms how we live every single day.

In this message Pastor Brent explored how Christ came not just to shine His light upon us, but to shine His light within us and through us. We examined how Jesus calls us "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16), commissioning every believer—not just pastors or church leaders—to carry His hope, healing, and truth into our everyday lives. The message emphasized that revival isn't something we wait for; it's something we carry because the living God dwells within us. We were reminded that God desires to transform every area of our lives, not just parts we're comfortable surrendering, and that our identity as light-bearers flows from grace, not our own effort or worthiness.