Thursday Night Messages

Fall 2020 • Faith, Hope, and Love: Hope • Erin Gillum

In a bleak year full of worry and a pandemic with seemingly no end in sight, Erin reminds us of what hope is, who our hope is in, and how we can cling onto hope today.

November 5th, 2020

Fall 2020 • Faith, Hope, and Love: Faith • Neil Walker

What exactly is "Faith," and how do you grow in it? Neil kicks off a new series on Faith, Hope, and Love by looking at two individuals in the "Hall of Faith" found in Hebrews 11, and points us in the direction of growing in faith.

October 29th, 2020

Fall 2020 • Global Grads

Those in Christ are a family, united by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this short segment, we get to hear from our "extended family"- USC Christian Challenge alumni who live around the world- and learn how their time at USC shaped their lives and continue to impact the way they live.

October 22, 2020

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Repentance • Eric Siryj

Eric examines the lives of King Saul and King David and how they reacted when a prophet points out their sin. In the seventh and final message in the series, he delineates worldly sorry from Godly sorrow and gives us some tips on developing a repentant heart.

October 15th, 2020 

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Intentional Rest • Neil Walker

Why are we anxious? How do we find true rest? Neil takes us through the causes of restlessness and points us in the direction of real peace. He also gives some practical tips on achieving it in this sixth installment of the series.

September 30th, 2020

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Seeking Advice/Mentorship • Jeremy Walker

Jeremy is joined by Jeep, Karlene, Steven, Jenna, and Jon in this fifth installment of the series. The panel shares why finding Godly mentors is so important to them and share stories of what happens with and without good advisors.

October 1st, 2020

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Gratitude • Elliot Edwards

In these turbulent times, why should we be grateful? In the fourth installment of the series, Elliot from Seabreeze Chruch in Huntington Beach reminds us that gratefulness centers our hope in an unchanging God.

September 24th, 2020

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Prayer/Practicing God's Presence • Enoch Chow

In our third installment of the series, Enoch walks us through the discipline of prayer, why it's important, and how we should approach it.

September 17th, 2020

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Verse Memorization/Meditation • Seth Gatchell

"You develop good habits then good habits develop you." Seth continues the series on habits by sharing both how and why he memorizes scripture, as well as sharing a starting point to begin memorizing from.

September 10th, 2020

Fall 2020 • Creatures of Habit: Daily Time in the Word • Erin Gillum

"You develop good habits then good habits develop you." Erin kicks off a new series on developing lifelong habits by looking at the life of Jesus and His regular habit of spending unhurried time with His Father. She addresses two areas of caution that can take away from quality quiet time, as well as tips on how to begin spending time alone with God.

September 3rd, 2020

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

Worship is our response, personal and corporate, to God, for who He is and what He's done, expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live. Everyone assigns supreme value to something, but God is the only thing of ultimate value. Paul describes a life of worship in Romans 12:1 when he instructs us to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God". We were designed for many things but created for worship.

 

January 16th, 2020

 

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

Everyone centers their life around something, whether consciously or not. As Christians, our life should be centered on our God-given purpose, which is discovered through a relationship with God. God’s purpose for us is three-fold: He wants us to know Him, love Him, and glorify Him. Once we discover our purpose, we will find courage, passion, and perseverance!

 

January 23rd, 2020

 

Spring 2020 • A Life of Worship: Thoughts • Jeremy Walker

Behavior modification is not the same as inner transformation, and God wants to transform our hearts! We worship God with our thoughts when we follow his way of life because we've come to know and trust his way is best and preferred. If you want to live a life of worship you need to change the way you think, not just the way you behave.

 

January 30th, 2020

 

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