Land developers tell us there are three keys to ensuring a successful building project: location, location and... location! Jesus said exactly the same thing in his famous "message on the mount": a well-constructed life must be securely built on the best location possible - the solid rock of Jesus Christ.  Go beyond intellectual assent of faith towards a radical movement that names Jesus as Lord - asking God to empower us to LIVE THE LIFE: WISE BUILDERS.

Who are you watching? Life's best lessons are not taught but caught -and our time on earth is much too short to waste for lack of wisdom. In this week's message, Jesus cautions us to go for character over charisma, and to soak in as much as possible from people whose lives bear the fruit of great character. Join us in worship this weekend as we come together in community to reach forward into God’s powerful purpose. LIVE THE LIFE: mentors and influencers

ALMOST doesn’t count except in horseshoes and hand grenades – right? Jesus confirmed that very truth when he cautioned his followers never to take shortcuts to LIVE THE LIFE. When it’s all said and done, nothing short of a daily, devoted relationship with Jesus will cut it. Anything less is ALMOST CHRISTIAN. Join us this weekend in worship as we find deeper connections in faith and community – and discover new truths from Jesus’ vintage message, the Sermon on the Mount!

Jesus promised us "life to the full" but some of us are directionally challenged- looking for LIFE in all the wrong places. Matthew 7 calls us away from the couch of our mis-directed lives to an aggressive pursuit of the reality of this God-dream:  Ask -  Seek - Knock. Find your own way into connection and community at both our Ginghamsburg and Fort McKinley campuses this weekend as together we experience Jesus' life-giving words from his Sermon on the Mount, a powerful call to LIVE THE LIFE.

Humans love the blame game, but in Matthew chapter 7 Jesus calls us out for our judgmental ways. His message clarified that it's only as we first deal with our own stuff that we can effectively help others see their way clear to do the same. A fresh new call to Live the Life!  ...because you were meant for SO much more!

Why Care? Why Pray? Why Deny? Are we merely fulfilling religious requirements or truly finding a life to the full? True faith calls us into the deepest blessing possible through a generous, amazing, inconceivable relationship with the Giver of life...Losing My Religion: Why Give?

What is one problem about which you struggle to trust God? Are you ever plagued by the byproducts of trust issues, which are worry and anxiety? Jesus himself called his followers to exchange the habit of worry for the practice of confident faith in God's provision in all circumstances. Losing My Religion: Why Trust?

None of us escape life without experiencing tragedy of some sort. A relationship breaks, an illness prevails, a loved one dies- and our first instinct is to turn to the One we most want to trust and ask "why?" And when we open ourselves to the answer, God meets us -- in resurrection.

There are times in our lives when ordinary measures just don't bring it - when we realize that the power of God needs to shine through loud and clear. Jesus taught that attempting anything "impossible" actually begins with a form of denial- giving something up to acquire the greater good.

As Jesus walked on the earth, his relationship with his Father was so darn contagious that his disciples begged him to disclose his secrets. "Teach us to pray," they asked -and Jesus spoke a prayer to model how that conversation should look. Now as modern-day disciples, it's not the "want to pray" we lack, rather the "how to pray" that makes us crazy. Join us in worship this weekend as Pastor Mike breaks down The Lord's Prayer- and we discover fresh ways to connect to God. Losing My Religion: Why Pray? -week2

Perhaps there is no greater evidence of religion gone wrong than in the practice of prayer. Our erroneous pictures of God filter out any hope of the relationship we were meant to enjoy with our Creator. Join Mike Slaughter at the Main Campus for week2 of the journey to lose the religion -- and find the relationship. This week: Why Pray?

The challenge of the gospel is that we must BE it before people can BELIEVE it. When our spirituality becomes more duty than desire it's time to reassess. Get it right with God this summer as we go deep in this powerful series: LOSING MY RELIGION ~ confronting the hypocrisy within.

Nobody LIKES divorce -but humans are drifters. Left to our own devices we're known to break apart from those we once promised to love. After all, relationships are COMPLICATED! Yet whether single, married, divorced or engaged, YOU were meant to live in meaningful connection.

"Turn the other cheek?" Really? Jesus' "Enemies 101" talk seems unrealistic for life as we know it. Is Jesus trying to turn our world upside down, or could he be calling out a broken and confused world-and flipping it right side up?

When it comes to relationships it's easy to fall into laziness - getting through with the least amount of commitment possible - just hoping that others won't see through our inconsistencies. Yet in Jesus' sermon on the mount he was careful to point out that a promise made to others is actually a promise made to God. What's so hard about that? Well... IT'S COMPLICATED.

Created in the image of God, humans have the potential to experience powerful intimacy. Unchecked anger and lust, however, will totally eclipse all chance for healthy connections. Drawing from the Sermon On the Mount, Jesus calls us to make radical decisions regarding our own spiritual and emotional lives. Don't let God's richest life-possibilities pass you by.

Jesus said our love for God could never be any stronger than our love for other people, but don't you know, human relationships are HARD! Forgiveness must grease the wheels of our day-to-day interactions. Join Mike Slaughter at our Main Campus and Dave Hood at Fort McKinley for week two in this relationship series - and discover healing truth for your own life and relationships.

Jesus said to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. But love people? THAT'S a different story...IT'S COMPLICATED.

True faith is no private matter; it's a passion to "declare and not hold back" - to go beyond lifting holy hands to extending helping hands. Join Mike Slaughter on this signature weekend as he addresses God's call to the Church to restore, rebuild and renew: CHANGE THE WORLD.

Before we can expect to MAKE change in the world we must BE the change we wish to see. Personal transformation always precedes public transformation--and the need for both has never been greater.