Our journey to become followers of "the Way" continues as we explore the third mark of discipleship: living to make it better. We unpack what it means to be spiritual contributors rather than consumers, fighting for unity, and using our God-given gifts to serve others.

• Making it better means living as a spiritual contributor, not a consumer
• Approaching service as an act of worship honors God with our very best
• Unity requires intentional effort as we naturally drift toward isolation
• Jesus provided specific steps for reconciliation in Matthew 18
• Every believer has received spiritual gifts designed to serve others
• We'll never accomplish as much separately as we can together
• Simple acts of kindness can become someone's miracle
• Everyday faithfulness matters more than dramatic heroics

If you want to know how you can make it better in your life, both inside our church and in our community, scan the QR code in your message notes. We want to help you make a difference because that's what God has called all of us to do.

The way of a disciple is living with all of Christ in all of life, demonstrated through how we see and serve people around us. When we love God first, we're empowered to see people through kingdom eyes rather than through the lens of our own needs.

• Looking at the parable of the Good Samaritan to understand what it means to be a neighbor
• Understanding that hurting people hurt people, but healed people bring healing
• Recognizing that people who seem "inconvenient" are part of our mission, not interruptions
• Learning from Jesus' example of stopping for the woman who touched his robe while on an urgent mission
• Discovering that true neighborly love is seeing opportunities to serve rather than waiting to be served
• Finding balance in how we help others: doing what we can, using what we have, and providing next steps
• Realizing that when we serve others, Jesus receives it as if we're serving him directly

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. God has not called any one of us to change the world, but each of us to walk into our world looking to make a difference.

We're beginning a brand new series called "The Way" about what it means to make disciples the Jesus way—exploring how followers of Christ are identified by their characteristics. The way of a disciple is defined by having all of Christ in all aspects of life, recognizable to others as being citizens of God's Kingdom.

• Before Christians were called "Christians," they were known as "followers of the Way"
• Jesus identified loving God as the greatest commandment, referencing Deuteronomy's guidance
• God's "love languages" include four specific ways we show Him love
• Loving God with complete allegiance means 100% commitment, not a halfway relationship
• Our primary identity as God's children should organize all other roles in our lives
• The third expression of love is through our decisions—representing God well to others
• Worship as the fourth love language means reorienting ourselves to God's goodness regularly
• People should be able to tell where we're from by how we express love for God
• Like finding a pearl of great value, discovering the Kingdom makes everything else secondary

The RLC Conference is coming up on August 23rd. Join us for a full day of digging deeper into God's word with many different topics about family, cultural issues, and discipleship. Register today at the Welcome Center!

What defines you? In a world constantly telling us to find identity in our accomplishments, relationships, or self-expression, Pastor Chris Durham delivers a powerful message on finding "Victory Through Identity" in the final installment of our Romans 8 series.

Our identity—who we truly are at our core—determines how we navigate life's battles. When we anchor our identity anywhere other than Christ, we build on shifting sand. But when we understand that we are children of God, accepted, secure, and significant because of Christ's finished work, we discover an unshakeable foundation that empowers us to face any challenge.

This message unpacks three transformative truths about identity from Romans 8:31-39. First, our identity in Christ is a gift we receive, not an achievement we earn. Jesus sits at God's right hand, interceding for us, placing His perfect identity in place of our flawed one. Second, when our identity is firmly established in Christ, we can bear all circumstances—trouble, persecution, danger—because nothing can separate us from His love. Finally, we fight from victory rather than for it, stepping into the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Chris candidly addresses symptoms of misplaced identity—being easily offended, inability to forgive, trying to be someone God didn't create you to be, and living with fear. He challenges us to recognize where we've anchored our identity in something other than Christ and invites us to step through the door to freedom.

Ready to experience victory through your true identity? This message provides practical steps to walk in freedom and stand against the enemy's attacks. As Pastor Chris reminds us, "Identity precedes activity"—we can't sustain godly living without first establishing who we are in Christ. Join us as we discover how to live from a place of victory!

What happens when your prayers falter and words fail you? Romans 8:26-30 reveals an extraordinary truth: the Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf "with groanings too deep for words," communicating your deepest needs in the language of heaven itself.

This message delves into our spiritual anatomy—body, soul, and spirit—and explores how these three essential components work together to form our complete being. Like an empty glove without purpose, our spirits await the hand of God to fill them and give them meaning. The heart serves as our desire center, constantly being filled with either worldly impulses or spiritual longings, ultimately determining which path we travel—the broad road to destruction or the narrow road to fulfillment.

We unpack the magnificent promise that "God works all things together for good for those who love Him." This isn't a guarantee that everything will be pleasant, but rather an assurance that even in our suffering, God remains sovereign and is actively working toward His good purposes in our lives. The divine "golden chain" of salvation—God's foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—reveals both His sovereign plan and our freedom to choose.

The apparent tension between predestination and free will dissolves when we understand that God, in His infinite wisdom and power, can maintain both His sovereign plan and our genuine choice. He predestined a way out for humanity before the foundation of the world, but each person must freely accept or reject it.

Join us in discovering the freedom found in the Spirit-filled life, where God's hand fills your spiritual glove with divine purpose and meaning beyond anything this world can offer.

Speaker: Brandon Gilliam

Paul's message in Romans 8:18-25 brings profound comfort to anyone navigating life's storms. While acknowledging the reality of suffering, he reveals a cosmic perspective that transforms how we view our struggles.

The passage begins with a stunning claim – that our current trials, however painful, cannot compare to the glory awaiting us. This isn't empty optimism but a fundamental reframing of suffering within God's redemptive timeline. What makes this perspective revolutionary is how it extends beyond humanity to include all creation, which "groans as in the pains of childbirth" waiting for liberation from decay.

This sermon explores the theological richness of Paul's childbirth metaphor – pain with purpose leading to new life. Just as Eden's fall corrupted both humanity and creation, turning meaningful work into toilsome labor, God's restoration plan encompasses everything. The weeds in our gardens and storms in our atmosphere point to a world longing for redemption alongside us.

For believers, this future hope isn't abstract. We've received the "firstfruits" of the Spirit, a down payment of our inheritance. The adoption metaphor proves especially powerful, highlighting how God deliberately chose us, giving us new identity, full inheritance rights, and unshakable security in His family.

This sermon delves into the Greek concept of "elpizo" – hope not as wishful thinking but as confident expectation that changes how we face challenges today. Through personal stories of struggle and divine intervention, we see how the Holy Spirit intercedes when we're overwhelmed, reminding us we're never alone in our battles.

Want to discover the hope that sustains through life's darkest moments? Join us as we explore how suffering produces perseverance, character, and ultimately a hope that never disappoints. Because in God's economy, "the end of a matter is better than its beginning."

The world bombards us with bad news daily, from global conflicts to personal challenges, leaving many of us searching for something genuinely hopeful to cling to. What if the greatest news isn't making headlines? What if it's quietly living inside you?

In this transformative message, we explore the often-overlooked treasure of salvation: the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Far beyond a one-time decision or a ticket to heaven, salvation opens the door to a profound relationship with God through His Spirit dwelling within us. This relationship transforms everything about our lives in three remarkable ways.

First, the Holy Spirit guides us through the process of sanctification—our journey toward increasing freedom. Like Israel's wilderness wanderings that seemed pointless but were actually preparing them for the Promised Land, our challenging seasons serve a purpose we may not immediately understand. The Spirit is constantly leading us toward wholeness, one step at a time.

Second, the Spirit continually affirms our adoption into God's family. This isn't a casual arrangement or second-class citizenship—it's full legal adoption with complete inheritance rights. We're not fearful slaves trying to earn approval; we're beloved children secure in our Father's love. When the enemy tries to make us doubt our salvation, the Spirit whispers reassurance that we truly belong.

Finally, the Holy Spirit gives us hope through the promise of glorification—that breathtaking moment when we'll be transformed to see God face to face. Even when everything around us seems to be falling apart, the Spirit reminds us that this world isn't all there is. Our current struggles pale in comparison to the glory awaiting us.

No matter what challenges you're facing, remember that two things can be true simultaneously: bad news exists, but "we are still so blessed." The Holy Spirit wants to speak directly to your situation today, whether you need to see purpose in your wilderness, be reminded of your secure place in God's family, or regain eternal perspective. What is He saying to you right now?

How do we find joy when the headlines are filled with chaos, conflict, and crisis? When social media brings an endless stream of bad news directly to our phones, where do we turn for hope?

Romans 8 offers us a revolutionary perspective—one that doesn't deny reality but transcends it. Through Paul's powerful words, we discover that Jesus has already won our freedom, and because of this victory, we are alive and empowered to walk in daily victory despite our circumstances.

This freedom begins with a transformation of our mindset. Before knowing Christ, we were "dominated by our sinful nature"—imprisoned by patterns of thinking that led to brokenness. But the Holy Spirit liberates us, opening prison doors and leading us to life and peace. Our identity is no longer determined by culture, politics, sexuality, or past trauma—we are God's beloved children, fully accepted, secure, and significant in Him.

The journey continues through regeneration—the miracle of being made alive and new by the Holy Spirit's power. This supernatural transformation means we're never alone in our struggles. When the worst news arrives, we don't process it by ourselves; Jesus is already there, walking with us through every valley and mountain.

Most astounding is God's relentless love. Like someone who gives their life savings to a person notoriously bad with money, then invites them home to teach them financial wisdom, God invests in us despite knowing our failures. He commits to untying all the knots we've tied ourselves into—before and after salvation.

When the world bombards you with negativity this week, remember you can acknowledge reality while still declaring, "God is still so good to me." Two truths can exist simultaneously: earthly trials and heavenly victory. As Revelation reminds persecuted believers, while chaos reigns on earth, Jesus remains firmly seated on His throne.

What private battle are you fighting today? Remember, you've already received the greatest miracle—salvation in Christ. Your identity is secure. There's bad news in the world—but that's not all that's happening. God is still good, Jesus still reigns, and through Him, you can walk in daily victory. Will you choose to see both realities today?