Send us a text

Exiles
Seek The Peace Of The City | Part 1
Dr. Jessica Fernandez
October 26, 2025

When Israel was carried into exile in Babylon, their natural instinct was to resist, withdraw, or despair. But God gave them a surprising command: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city.” Even in a foreign land, God’s people were called to pray, to serve, and to bring life to their communities. As modern-day exiles, we are called to do the same—living not in fear or withdrawal, but as agents of God’s blessing where He has placed us.

________

Discussion Questions

1. Where has God “carried” you to right now that feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar? How might God be asking you to build, plant, or seek peace in that very place instead of trying to escape it?

2. Jeremiah 29 shows God’s people thriving in exile through everyday faithfulness like building homes, planting gardens, praying for the city. What does thriving look like for you in your current season?

3. God commanded His people to seek the peace (shalom) of the city that had harmed them. What would it look like for you to bring shalom, wholeness, healing, and hope, into your workplace, family, or community?

4. In what areas of your life do you tend to withdraw, assimilate, or fight back when faced with cultural tension? What might faithful presence, engaging without losing your identity, look like instead?

5. Jeremiah 29:11 is often read as a promise of comfort, but you taught that it’s actually a promise of steady faithfulness over time. How does seeing this verse in its proper context change the way you view waiting, suffering, or purpose?1. Where do you notice “masquerade” in your life (outside-in pressure to perform) versus “metamorphosis” (inside-out renewal)? What would cooperating with transformation look like this week?

2. Which part of the redemption arc most encourages you today—bougSeek The Peace Of The City

Send us a text

The Healing Self
The Integrated Self | Part 5
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 19, 2025

In “The Integrated Self,” we trace the journey from the flailing false self to a freer life of gospel humility, where we think of ourselves less and love more. With vulnerable stories from Pastor Keith’s own recovery and leadership missteps, this message shows how God weaves every broken aspect of our life into strength and purpose. Come discover practical steps to move from self-preoccupation to self-forgetfulness—and how Jesus makes us whole, not flawless.

Discussion Questions

1. Integrity Check: Where do you feel “fractioned” right now (home, work, inner life)? What would wholeness look like in that area this month?

2. Without Wax: What cracks have you been tempted to cover? What would it mean to bring them into the light before God and a trusted person this week?

3. False Self Audit: The false self is empty, busy, fragile. Which word names your current struggle and why? What typically triggers it?

4. Gospel Humility: C.S. Lewis said humility is “thinking of myself less.” Practically, what would that look like in your conversations, calendar, or social media this week?

5. Love as the Path: John shifted from competition to identity (“the disciple whom Jesus loved”). Where do you need to stop striving to be “MVP” and simply stand in being loved?

6. Kintsugi Lens: Name one “golden seam” in your story (a wound, failure, or weakness) that God could use to serve others. What next step will you take to offer it?

Send us a text

The Healing Self
The Valuable Self | Part 3
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
October 5, 2025

What if you could see yourself the way God does? Sunday’s message will help you reframe your self-worth through the Imago Dei: God’s image in you. We’ll explore how early wounds distort our view of God and ourselves. You’ll come away with practical steps for breaking free of self-defeating patterns, reclaiming dignity, and treating others (and yourself) as sacred. Come discover the God Who delights in and made you a unique reflection of Himself.

_________

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When you hear the phrase “made in the image of God,” what does that mean to you personally?

2. How have early relationships (family, parents, teachers, friends) shaped the way you view yourself, or even the way you view God?

3. Why is it so important to distinguish between denying selfishness and denying self? How has that misunderstanding caused harm for some Christians?

4. C.S. Lewis said, “You have never met a mere mortal.” How might this truth affect the way you see others, especially the marginalized, overlooked, and mistreated?

5. What lies have you believed about your worth, and what truths from God’s Word can you use to replace them?

6. Adoption in Christ means intimacy, security, and belonging. Which of these speaks most to you right now, and why?

Send us a text

The Healing Self
The False Self | Part 2
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 28, 2025

We all wrestle with the temptation to project a version of ourselves that hides our true fears, flaws, and struggles. As a result, many of us chase after approval, admiration, and accomplishments to fill the deep need of belonging. Pastor Keith shows how true freedom comes not through pretense, but by being fully known by God and anchored in His acceptance. Discover how to let down the mask and recover the true self God designed you to be.

_____________

Discussion Questions

1. Where do you notice yourself most tempted to “wear a mask” or live out of a false self?

2. Why do you think seeking admiration, appearance, or accomplishments can feel so rewarding but ultimately leave us empty?

3. How does it change your perspective to realize that God is never disappointed in you because He already knows you completely?

4. What “useful lies” have you believed about yourself, and how have they shaped your behavior?

5. How has genuine community (friends, family, church) helped you see the “real you”? What makes an authentic community both risky and essential?

6. What is one practical step you can take this week to live more vulnerably and authentically with God, yourself, or others?

Send us a text

The Healing Self
The Broken Self | Part 1
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 21, 2025

We live in a world that throws away what’s broken whether it’s dishes, electronics, or people. But God is different. He seeks out the broken, treasures the shattered, and transforms our cracks into something beautiful. Like stained glass, He takes the pieces of our story and makes them shine with His glory. If you’ve ever felt discarded, unwanted, or beyond repair, this message is for you: God does His best work through broken people.

____________

1. Have you ever felt discarded, overlooked, or “broken pottery”? How did that shape the way you see yourself or others?

2. Why do you think God values brokenness when the world rejects it?

3. Which “coping style” (stuffer, pretender, firefighter, manager) do you most relate to—and what are its costs?

4. In what ways can admitting our brokenness actually open the door to healing and freedom?

5. What would it look like in your life for God to take the “shattered glass” of your story and turn it into something beautiful?

Send us a text

Strong Women Strong World
Whataboutism | Part 10
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 14, 2025

Step-by-step throughout this entire series, we’ve been laying the foundation for Biblical, female leadership. We’ve looked at the two most commonly cited Scriptures (1 Corinthians 14.34-35 and 1 Timothy 2.12) that have been used to prohibit women from teaching or leading in church. What followed were 8 of the best examples of women who did in fact teach and lead, explaining their stories with the same detail Scripture affords each of them. As we wrap up the series, we’re going to examine a handful of other Bible passages that are often misunderstood and misapplied as it relates to women in leadership. These messages have been an opportunity for us all to let Scripture speak for itself, sharpen our study skills and celebrate how God has used women and men throughout history for His kingdom purposes.
_______________

1. At the close of the series, Pastor Keith addressed some of the other more frequently asked questions regarding women in leadership? Have you ever been asked any of these questions? Which questions challenged you most? Would you answer any of these questions in a different way?

2. To be able answer objections to our faith, we need to be good students of the Word. In 2 Timothy 2.15 (New Living Translation), Paul reminded Timothy, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” How do we become better students of the Bible? How do we find answers to questions we’re asked? What resources have you found most helpful?

3. Christianity, especially in its earliest days, enjoyed tremendous popularity with women. Many had never heard or experienced such a liberating message. To this day, women still make up the majority of professed Christians. What do you think draws women to the faith? Do you think the Church (as in the universal church or as it exists in the USA) is still valuing women like they were in the New Testament or are things changing? What has been your experience in church as a woman?

4. What impact, if any, has this message or series had on you personally? Do you feel better equipped to address the question of female leadership in the Bible? Which messages stood out to you most and why?

Send us a text

Strong Women Strong World
Huldah | Part 9
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
September 7, 2025


Over the many years I have been a pastor, I’ve often heard people say, “God only raised up women as leaders when there was no man to lead.” It’s such an ignorant statement and this Sunday’s message is proof of that. Huldah was a prophet in the Old Testament. She lived at the same time as two other well-known prophets - Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Yet God used her mightily to turn the nation back to Himself and not because there were no men speaking up for God. God used Huldah because she had the message the king and the people needed to hear. If you don’t know her incredible story, don’t miss this message.

Discussion Questions

1. Take some time to consider some of the parallels between the movie Hidden Figures and the women whose stories we’ve been learning about in this series. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different? Can you think of other historical examples where the achievements of women have been largely unacknowledged?
Why do you think this has been true in history? Why do you think the stories of women in the Bible are often not told well or with the same level of detail that Scripture records them?

2. When you think about the span of time that passed between Solomon’s generation and that of Josiah, 300 years seems like a long time but at the same time, it doesn’t seem that long to actually forget God’s Word, to abandon the Temple and stop celebrating the very feast that reminds you of why you are a people (Passover). What should we be learning from their failures? How might churches face the same threats externally and internally? Was anything in this account of how far God’s people had strayed shocking or surprising to you and why?

3. Huldah is a prophetess whose authority and trusted position is beyond dispute. She is the first one sought out for an answer from God. Everything she said is received without debate or pushback. She validates the book they found as the Word of God and then interprets the book for their present situation. What stood out to you most in the telling of Huldah’s story? Why do you think Huldah was unaffected and uncompromised by the corruption of Jewish society all around her? What can you learn from her example about being a thermostat instead of a thermometer? What spiritual disciplines do you engage in regularly to help protect you from corruption from within or without?

4. Take some time to look over the chiastic structure of the telling of Huldah’s story. Why do you think the writer of Chronicles chose to emphasize Huldah over Josiah? Why does her prophecy occupy center stage in this narrative?

5. Huldah left an unmistakable mark on history, Jewish history, Christian history and even American history. What are some of the things that stood out to you about Huldah’s legacy? Why do you suppose this woman, who inspired so many in history, and is the only woman to have gates in Jerusalem named after her, why is her story so relatively unknown today? What can you do to make sure others know about Huldah’s inspirational story?

Send us a text

Strong Women Strong World
Lydia | Part 8
Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
August 31, 2025


Lydia stands out in Scripture as both the first recorded European convert to Christianity and a model of faithful leadership. She turned her home into the earliest meeting place for the Philippian church. She also invested her resources and reputation in the spread of Christianity. As a businesswoman, she embodies the integration of faith, enterprise, and generosity, leaving a legacy as a trailblazer for women of influence in the story of the church.

_______________

Discussion Questions

1. In Pastor Keith’s introduction to today’s message, he mentioned how not only in Scripture are more women than men recognized for their financial support of Jesus and Paul but in practical terms, that still is the case when it comes to giving among Christ followers today. Why do you suppose this is? Has this been a factor in your present or past relationships?

2. There are those in the church who object to women in leadership inside and outside of the church. How would I answer those objections today? What did you find most compelling in the Biblical argument that Pastor Keith presented today? Who are some of the women today that you admire as strong leaders, especially in regard to their Christian witness?

3. Lydia represents a convert who had some level of knowledge of the Hebrew God, His laws, His promises, and His people. Besides Jewish people, the God fears were a group specifically targeted by the Apostle Paul and his entourage because of that baseline understanding. In light of that, who are the people who are easiest to reach today and what groups represent a greater challenge? Why do you feel that way?

4. The two best evidences of the genuineness of Lydia’s conversion were her immediate willingness to publicly identify with Christ in baptism AND to welcome these strangers into her home (hospitality – love of the stranger). How well does the American church show these two pieces of evidence today? If you feel like the church is lacking in one of these areas, what do you think needs to be done to change that?

5. There are two themes running through the book of Acts. One is the transition from being an exclusively Jewish faith to becoming a more inclusive Christian faith. What are some of the challenges the church faced? How did they overcome the challenges? The other transition was from a centralized faith around the institution of the Temple to a decentralized faith built around the household (oikos). What are the challenges the church faced with this transition?

6. As we rapidly approach the conclusion of this series, where have you been challenged most? What have you learned that you didn’t know prior to this series? What new appreciation do you have for the female leaders of Scripture? How does any of this affect your daily walk with God?