Thursday Night Messages

Spring 2020 • A Life of Worship: Values • Erin Gillum

Values are words of the heart. Erin continues the series by explaining that in order to live a life of worship we must value the things God values. Galatians 5:6 says that God values faith expressing itself through love. Erin encourages us to realign our values through time in God's word and life in community.

 

February 6th, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • A Life of Worship: Singing • Neil Walker

Neil explains that God wants us to worship with everything, including our emotions. Singing is a multi-dimensional expression of the Holy Spirit's control in our lives. Singing also reminds us who God is and helps us connect with others.

 

February 13th, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • A Life of Worship: Relationships • Eric Siryj

Eric reminds us that God does not adjust his love for us based on what we earn. Out tendency is to use a "points system" to evaluate our friends. A life of worship through relationships does not keep score, but loves others as God does through words and actions that bless others and a genuine heart that forgives.

 

February 20th, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • Conversation with Harold: Heart Attitudes at Home • Harold Bullock

Harold talks about how agape, love, is manifested in the way we relate to one another. With many students quarantining at home, he discusses how to trust God and continue living out our faith in our relationships with our parents and siblings.

March 26, 2020

Spring 2020 • A Life of Worship: Decision-Making • Ian Fitzpatrick

Decisions are stressful when we bear the load on our own, but God has ultimate potential and ultimate experience. If we align our decisions with God's will, He helps us bear the burden! Every decision we make is teaching or training us to think, act, and respond in a specific way. Our response, in living a life of worship, is to align our decisions with God's will.

 

March 5th, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • A Conversation with Max • Max Barnett

Max talks about his life and his walk with God. He shares on the importance of fervent, expectant prayer and a growing relationship with God.

April 2, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • Conversation with Bob: The Important of Community • Bob Anderson

Bob discusses the important of community, since we were created for it. Particularly in this age of COVID-19 and physical isolation, community must be intentionally sought out. While we can't be physically together, we can still live in harmony in Christ.

 

April 9, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • Conversation with Bevan: Small Days • Bevan Unrau

Beavan discuss the impact of the "small days" in our lives and how God uses them with the cumulative principle to build lives that produce "big days." Each day we have the choice to set direction and make progress.

 

April 16, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • Conversation with Seth: Making the Most of Your Summer • Seth Gatchell

Seth talks about how you can make the most of your summer. He discusses his experience with intentionally pursuing growth during his summers between semesters, and encourages us to do the same.

Find the handouts and resources online at uscchristianchallenge.com

April 23, 2020

Fall 2019 • At SC as it is in Heaven: Beyond Obedience • Neil Walker

Neil begins the At SC as it is in Heaven series with a compelling message articulating important perspectives on the Christian life. He reminds us that God does not want our compliance, He wants our hearts. Neil references selected verses from Mark 10 and John 4 to explain that a surrendered life is one motivated by God's love. Christianity is God inviting you into His story, asking you to yield rather than merge.

 

September 5, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • At SC as it is in Heaven: No Shortcuts• Eric Siryj

Eric continues the series with an articulate reminder of our inclination towards shortcuts in life. Matthew 7:13-14, Proverbs 28:20 and selected scriptures from Abraham's life in Genesis help us see God's instruction and faithful provision. Eric says, "God wants to transform you, day after day into the man or woman He has made you to be". He recommends that we take time to invest in a relationship with God and be where we are, leaning on God not ourselves.

 

September 12, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • At SC as it is in Heaven: Prayer • Erin Gillum

Erin continues the series with a powerful message on the importance of prayer. She begins by explaining that prayer was a pattern in Jesus' life (Mark 1:29-35). "What would happen if we decided that, like Jesus, we would habitually withdraw daily to give God our full attention?" Erin then walks through the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a model for us to follow as we pray. Three elements to remember: declare God's greatness, surrender your will, and acknowledge your dependence on him (provision, pardon, protection). Erin concludes with three helpful tips to strengthen your prayer life: find a time, pick a place free of distraction and find a friend to partner with!

 

September 19, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • At SC as it is in Heaven: Good vs. Ultimate • Jeremy Walker

Jeremy continued with Part 4 of the series by explaining the important distinction between "good things" in life and "ultimate things", or things that become so important to us that they seem imperative to our joy and sense of fulfillment. Jeremy warns us that because of the way we treat these "good things" we neglect the foundational and important things. "A good thing can become a bad thing when it becomes an ultimate thing". He suggests that we identify the good things we're prone to make ultimate things, and yield control of them through prayer. Jeremy also recommends that we determine what the bible says about our "good things" and pursue those. Lastly, he implores us to get to know Jesus well. Imagine the impact if we started to live this way!

 

September 26, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • At SC as it is in Heaven: Rest • Jeremy Walker

In part five of the series, Jeremy explains that we find rest on the path of God's ways. Jesus promises rest for our souls as we join Him in His yoke and good things come when we follow Him. Jeremy identifies four rhythms of rest in Jesus' life for us to learn from.

 

October 3, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • At SC as it is in Heaven: Forgiving as You've Been Forgiven • Neil Walker

Neil continues the series with a convicting message on the value and freedom of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a decision to cancel the debt of another. God expects us to forgive others by focusing on what's been done for us, not to us. Neil challenges us to identify who owes us, determine what they owe, cancel the debt, and close the case.

 

October 10, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • Genesis to Revelation: God's Heart for the World • The Traveling Team (Seth)

Don't be a standby Christian without a plan or purpose. God's purpose is to proclaim His name to the ends of the earth.

 

October 24, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • The Enemies of Your Soul • Neil Walker

The world, the flesh, and the devil all attack in different ways. Understand their subtleties and how to respond.

 

October 31, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • Don't Let This Happen to You: Serving • Eric Siryj

Eric begins the series "Don't Let This Happen to You" by sharing about the importance of serving others. We use our gifts to serve one another so that God will be glorified. Jesus wants serving to mark the lives of his followers!

 

November 7, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • Don't Let This Happen to You: Spiritual Dryness • Ian Fitzpatrick

Ian continues the series by explaining that spiritual dryness can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on our choices. Illustrative examples from the Nation of Israel, King David, and his own life to challenge us to choose to trust God despite our feelings and circumstances. As a result, we find peace, confidence, and strengthened faith.

 

November 14, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • Don't Let This Happen to You: Chasing After the Wind • Chris Dorn

Chris concludes the series by sharing from his own experience in the workplace and the life of King Solomon about the futility of chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4 says, "all toil and all achievement springs from one person's envy of another". Chris challenges us to ask, "What am I chasing?" and "Who am I doing this for?" as we remember Ecclesiastes 4:6.

 

November 21, 2019

 

Fall 2019 • Christmas Presence • Neil Walker

The gift of Jesus has significant implications for our lives. The incarnation makes God accessible, makes forgiveness possible, allows Jesus to empathize with us, and gives us a template for how to treat others. Don't miss out on the greatest gift this Christmas season: His presence!

 

December 5th, 2019

FDC 2019 • Authentic Christian: Part 1 • Bevan Unrau

Col. 3:1-4. Three decisions that Christians make: with Christ, where Christ, and when Christ.

 

October 11, 2019

 

FDC 2019 • Authentic Christian: Part 2 • Bevan Unrau

Col. 3:5-6. Five patterns that reduce our love of things.

 

October 12, 2019

 

FDC 2019 • Authentic Christian: Part 3 • Bevan Unrau

Col. 3:7-10. Two practices that help us love people.

 

October 12, 2019

 

FDC 2019 • Authentic Christian: Part 4 • Bevan Unrau

Col 3:15-17. Three powers that Christians have.

 

October 13, 2019

Spring 2019 • The Kingdom: Prayer • Eric Siryj

Eric talks through the importance of prayer and how to approach it rightly. He walks through the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6 and then a practical way to apply it using A.C.T.S. - acknowledge, confess, thanksgiving, and supplication.

 

January 17, 2019

 

Spring 2019 • The Kingdom: Living in the Kingdom • Neil Walker

Neil starts off the series focused on the Kingdom of God by taking a look at what exactly that is. He talks about how the Kingdom is accessible to any of us. He walks us through how entering this Kingdom is all made possible by what Jesus has already done, not by anything that we do.

 

January 24, 2019

 

Spring 2019 • The Kingdom: Heart of a Kingdom Citizen • Neil Walker

Neil walks us through Matthew 5:1-12 and breaks down each beatitude. He talks about how in order to see God more clearly, we need to follow Him more closely and ways that we can practically do this.

 

January 31, 2019

 

Spring 2019 • The Kingdom: Influence of a Kingdom Servant • Neil Walker

Neil walks us through Matthew 5:13-16 and talks about how everyone living in the Kingdom has significance and can have an impact. He shares how we are salt and light and gives practical ways to live that out instead of preventing ourselves from embracing our significance.

 

February 7, 2019

 

Spring 2019 • The Kingdom: The King’s Standard of Righteousness • Erin Gillum

Erin walks verse by verse through Matthew 5:17-20. She shares how checklists flatter, but it’s the heart that matters and our need for heart transformation. She digs into Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and what that means for our lives.

 

February 14, 2019