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?

What defines authentic manhood? Not societal stereotypes of machismo or self-serving independence, but something far more profound and purposeful. In this Father's Day message, Brandon Gillum cuts through cultural confusion to reveal God's blueprint for men as revealed in Scripture.

The statistics are sobering: fatherlessness stands as the primary contributor to our society's most pressing problems. When fathers abdicate their responsibilities, families and communities crumble. Yet when men embrace their calling, particularly their spiritual leadership, the impact is extraordinary—a father's commitment to faith results in a 94% likelihood that his entire family will follow his example.

Through a compelling examination of Genesis, Brandon unpacks three fundamental truths about what a man is not (an animal, a boy, or a woman) and three divine callings every man receives: meaningful work to enjoy, a will to obey, and relationships to nurture and protect. The message reveals how the original sin in Eden wasn't Eve's action but Adam's passivity—his failure to protect when threat appeared.

What makes this message particularly powerful is its balance of conviction and hope. While unflinchingly addressing the crisis of male passivity, it offers redemption through Christ, the "second Adam," who succeeded where the first Adam failed. Jesus demonstrates the ultimate expression of manhood by sacrificially placing himself between those he loves and destruction.

Whether you're a father, husband, single man, or someone who loves and supports the men in your life, this message provides profound insights into God's design for masculine identity and purpose. It's a rallying cry for men to rise above cultural confusion and embrace their God-given responsibility to lead, protect, and love with courage and conviction.

The world bombards us with bad news daily, from political divisions to social unrest. But what if there's a transformative truth that rises above it all? In this powerful opening message of "The Champion" series, we dive into Romans 8, exploring how Jesus has won our freedom and what this victory means for our daily lives.

Romans 8 reveals three profound dimensions of our freedom in Christ. First, we've been freed from death to life – no condemnation remains for those who belong to Jesus. Using powerful legal language that would have resonated deeply with his Roman audience, Paul declares the complete acquittal that Christ secured for us. Though we were genuinely guilty like the woman caught in adultery (not innocently accused like Will Bridgman), Jesus stepped in to take our condemnation.

Second, we've been freed from sin's control to experience true freedom in Christ. The law, like a medical test, could diagnose our spiritual sickness but couldn't cure it. Jesus did what the law couldn't – he fulfilled it perfectly and became our cure. Now we don't serve God trying to earn his love; we serve because we've already received his love.

Finally, we're on a journey from brokenness toward wholeness. The fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – represents everything our hearts truly desire. Like Hosea pursuing his unfaithful wife Gomer, God continues to seek us whenever we wander.

No matter what challenges you face, remember this liberating truth: you've got 99 problems, but Jesus ain't one. Join us as we explore the champion who has already secured our victory and invites us to live in the freedom he provides.

What does it take to change the world? Not a grand gesture or viral moment, but something far more powerful: ordinary faithfulness. In this concluding message on the Book of Ruth, we witness the remarkable grand finale of a story that began in tragedy but ends in triumphant redemption.

The final chapter reveals Boaz's masterful negotiation at the town gate, where he secures the right to marry Ruth and redeem Naomi's family line. What seems like a happy ending to a love story suddenly transforms into something far more significant when we discover this ordinary couple would become the great-grandparents of King David, establishing the lineage that would eventually lead to Jesus Christ.

This revelation unlocks the profound truth at the heart of Ruth's story: God does extraordinary things through ordinary acts of faithfulness. Ruth and Boaz never knew they were establishing a royal dynasty - they were simply being faithful with what was before them. Their story teaches us three powerful lessons about how God redeems our stories for His glory.

First, God fights our impossible battles when we reach the end of our strength. Like Ruth and Naomi waiting while Boaz negotiated at the gate, there are situations beyond our control where God specializes in doing what only He can do. Second, God uses our disasters as building blocks for something beautiful. The very tragedies that brought Ruth to Bethlehem became the foundation for her greatest blessing. Finally, God is always doing more than we can see or imagine with our faithfulness.

What impossible battle are you facing today? What disaster feels like it might break you? Could it be that God is weaving these very circumstances into something beautiful you can't yet see? The invitation from Ruth's story is clear: stay faithful, take the next right step, and watch God redeem your story for His glory.

What are you still refusing to surrender? In this powerful message from the Book of Ruth, Pastor Chris delves into the profound concept that "redemption comes through surrender" as he examines Ruth's humbling encounter with Boaz at the threshing floor.

The story reveals Ruth's recognition of her need for redemption – a mirror to our own spiritual condition. Though virtuous, she understood she couldn't save herself, just as we cannot earn salvation through our own efforts. When Ruth laid at Boaz's feet, she demonstrated the very essence of surrender – ceasing to resist and submitting to authority. This beautiful picture illustrates how we must approach Christ, our ultimate Redeemer.

Pastor Chris vulnerably shares from his own life experience, recounting his journey through addiction and the critical difference between implementing systems versus truly surrendering to God's transformative power. "Behavioral modification will not redeem you," he explains. "Only Christ can." Whether you're battling addiction, struggling with parenting, or facing major life transitions, the message remains consistent – the Holy Spirit doesn't force His way where He isn't wanted.

The narrative takes a powerful turn when we see Boaz's generous provision following Ruth's surrender. Six scoops of barley symbolize God's faithfulness when we finally release control. For some of us, surrender might mean changing career paths, adjusting family priorities, or simply establishing consistent spiritual disciplines. For others, it might be taking that first step toward salvation.

If you've been wrestling with God over something you refuse to release, this message offers both challenge and hope. Don't continue carrying burdens Christ wants to redeem. Identify your next step of faith – whether it's baptism, joining a community of believers, or bringing that private battle into the light. Your redemption awaits on the other side of surrender.