Our theme this year is “ Growing in Christ ,” and growth requires more than good intentions—it requires connection. If time in the Word is how God speaks to us, then prayer is how we speak to God . And just like any relationship, if communication is missing, the relationship grows cold.that’s why prayer isn’t optional for a disciple. It’s a discipline we develop to grow our relationship with the Father. In Luke 18:1, Jesus taught that we “ought always to pray and not lose hea

Our theme this year is “Growing in Christ,” and growth is never accidental. Anything that grows—whether it’s a garden, a marriage, or a faith—grows because it is nurtured consistently over time. That’s why, for the month of March, I want to focus our bulletin articles on a simple but powerful theme: Spiritual Disciplines. These are the steady habits God uses to grow His people—things like being in the Word, prayer, worship, and service. They may not always feel “exciting,” bu

It’s easy to say  we love people. It’s easy to feel love when things are going well. But biblical love is more than words and more than intention— love shows up.  It steps into the mess. It takes time. It sacrifices comfort. It moves toward people instead of away from them. 1 John 3:16–18 says, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us… My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”  That’s about as clear as it gets. Jes

One of the biggest misunderstandings in our world today is the idea that love and truth are enemies. Some people act like if you love someone, you’ll never challenge them. Others act like if you speak truth, you can’t be loving. But Scripture refuses to separate the two. Biblical love speaks truth—and biblical truth is spoken in love. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to be “speaking the truth in love.” That verse is simple, but it’s challenging. It means truth matters. It means love m

Have you ever wondered what it truly means to become a part of the church? It’s more than just joining a club or attending a weekend service; it’s about a beautiful, life-changing journey guided by God Himself. When we look to the Bible, we see a clear and encouraging pattern of how we can enter into a relationship with Him and find our place in His family. While these are often called the "steps to salvation," they are really milestones of a growing heart, reflecting the sam

When most people think about love, they think about their feelings. The love Jesus calls us to is deeper than a feeling. Biblical love is a decision. It’s a choice we make because we belong to Christ. Jesus said in John 13:34–35 , “ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you… By this all will know that you are Mydisciples, if you have love for one another .” Notice that Jesus didn’t describe love as an idea or a mood, He gave it as a comma

Last Tuesday, I woke up to the news that a high school classmate of mine had passed away. This makes two that I have lost in the last five years or so. It made me think. Travis came from a loving family. Both his parents and brothers are faithful members of the Lord’s church. He grew up with me at Mobile Christian, and we were both in the youth group together. We played football together. On paper, he had everything one would think to live a full, faithful and productive life

Recently, I listened to one of my dad’s sermons entitled “Courage to Answer the Call.“ In it he said something that has stayed with me: “Do not look to your courage to find your identity in Christ. Look to your identity in Christ, to find your courage.” That sentence speaks to a struggle many of us face. We often think, “If I can just feel brave enough, then I’ll do what I know I need to do.” We wait for courage before we obey. We wait until we feel confident to serve. We wa

What a wonderful and powerful weekend EYC was. There’s something special about being surrounded by thousands of believers, singing together, hearing God’s Word preached, and watching hearts respond. Events like that can give us a real spiritual high—our faith feels strong, our focus feels clear, and we come home fired up to live differently. But if we’re honest, that fire can start to fade once we get back into normal life. School starts back. Work piles up. The routine retur

Hello.  My name is Ray Reynolds and I suffer from A.C.S.  This is commonly known as “After Christmas Syndrome.”  The gifts have been unwrapped.  My trash cans are full.  The leftovers are gone.  The tree is down.  The lights and ornaments have been put away.  Our friends and family have stopped calling, sending cards, and visiting for the holidays.  Another Christmas has come and gone.  I wonder how many of you are suffering from the post-holiday blues?!? What do we do now th

This time of year, we hear the phrase “peace on earth” everywhere. It’s printed on signs, sung in songs, and spoken in greetings. But if we’re honest, the world doesn’t feel very peaceful. Many families are stressed, schedules are packed, and hearts are heavy. So what does “peace on earth” really mean? The Bible reminds us that true peace isn’t found in perfect circumstances—it’s found in a perfect Savior. When the angels announced Jesus’ coming, they proclaimed peace because

We live in a world that is desperately searching for answers. People are asking big questions about life, identity, purpose, and eternity—but they’re getting a hundred different answers depending on where they look. We hear phrases like “live your truth” or “truth is whatever you make it,” but that’s not truth at all—it’s confusion. The question Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:38 still echoes today: “What is truth?” And the answer hasn’t changed. Truth is not a feeling. It’s no

This time of year, much of the world turns its attention—at least briefly—to the birth of Jesus. While there’s no biblical evidence that Jesus was born in December, we as Christians should embrace this season as an opportunity to talk about the greatest gift mankind has ever received: Christ Himself. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” God didn’t send Jesus to earth just to be celebrated as a baby in a manger. He sent Him to be our

With Thanksgiving this past week, many of us are thinking about the people who bless our lives—family, friends, mentors, and those who’ve walked with us through highs and lows. But one of the greatest blessings we sometimes overlook is our church family. In Philippians 1:3–5, Paul writes, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Paul loved the church in Philippi, not just because they supported him,

This blog is used with permission from Ray Reynolds Rap. Marriage isn't a destination—it's an incredible journey that demands regular, intentional maintenance  to thrive! Inspired by our current Sunday AM Bible class series with “The Middles” on strengthening families, we're focusing on the vital skills that keep a relationship vibrant, like sharpening communication, consistently filling those "love tanks," and creatively showing affection. This got us thinking: How can we he

When we talk about having a grateful heart, we usually start with the blessings we see around us—our families, our health, our jobs, our church. And those things are worth giving thanks for. But at the center of our gratitude—the foundation of everything we have and everything we are—is the cross. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” He’s talking about Jesus—the Son of God who gave His life for ours. The One who bore our sin, took

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s natural for us to start thinking about gratitude. But for Christians, thankfulness isn’t just a seasonal mindset—it’s a daily way of life. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” That’s a big statement. Give thanks in all circumstances, not just the good ones. Not just when everything’s going our way. But even when life is uncertain. Even when t

If there’s one thing the world is full of right now—it’s fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of standing out. But as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. Not recklessly, but boldly, with a faith that stands firm no matter what comes. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” That means we don’t have to be afraid. Not of speaking truth. Not of living out our convic

When we hear the word “evangelism,” we often picture missionaries overseas or preachers in front of a crowd. But the truth is, evangelism starts right where we are. In our homes, at work, at school and inn our everyday conversations. Evangelism isn’t just about preaching, it’s about sharing Jesus with others through the way we live, speak, and serve. In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus gives us our mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” That wasn’t a command just

Living out our faith isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to forgiveness. It’s one thing to talk about grace and mercy on Sundays but it’s another to actually offer it to someone who hurt you, disappointed you, or let you down. But Scripture doesn’t leave much room for debate. Colossians 3:13 tells us, “Bear with one another, and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” That last part hits hard: “as the Lord forga