Some topics are off-topic for polite conversation. They’re too polarizing and divisive. They’re topics that make people uncomfortable. They’re the topics that make you sweat, especially in church. And we’re going to talk about them. We’re talking about sexual identity, LGBTQIA+, depression, the church, and Gen Z... all the sermons that will make you sweat. That’s because there’s something worse than an awkward conversation. It’s when we don’t have the conversation at all. And if we don’t talk about them in church, we risk losing God’s perspective.

We’re all shaped by our culture. But Christians are to live within a counterculture. A culture that didn’t originate on earth but originated in heaven. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom and therefore are to be most profoundly shaped by heaven’s culture. Heaven’s culture shapes our identity (children of God), and our values (grace and truth). And our authority (the words of Jesus). And if we are firmly rooted in our heavenly Kingdom culture, that means that the church is THE place to talk about anything. Even the stuff that makes you sweat.

Every culture has an identity formation process. It’s how we get a sense of who we are and what we value. What’s peculiar about modern identity is how deeply it is tied to a person’s sexuality. As a culture, we haven’t carefully considered this approach's implications. In this message, we’ll discover that although God cares deeply about your sexuality, it was never meant to be the foundation of your identity. A gospel based creates a platform that makes it safe to address the taboo topics in our lives.

Jesus wanted his church to be known by love, but love is often the last thing that a gay person experiences in the church. It takes incredible courage for a gay person to attend a conservative, Bible based church. In this message we’ll explore the relationship between God and the gay community. We’ll also explore the role of the church in the gay community.

One of the biggest challenges in the conversations with and about the Trans community in the church is that many times, people don’t understand one another. When people use different definitions of words, we talk right past one another. The challenge is that the linguistics around this topic are multiplying, making it incredibly difficult to have an honest conversation with someone. In this message, we’ll learn about the basics of Transgender. Then we’ll look at relevant Bible verses that speak to these topics and see what the Biblical authors had to say in their generation. Finally, we’ll talk about the relationship of the Trans community with the church.

Discover valuable insights to navigate the multifaceted struggle of depression, encompassing chemical, spiritual, and emotional aspects. This video is tailored for anyone, regardless of their religious identification, who is grappling with depression. Explore a new tool to incorporate into your life, complementing existing efforts to alleviate depression and find joy. For Christians, navigating depression may pose unique challenges due to expectations of constant rejoicing. Rest assured that even faithful believers experience dark valleys. Find hope in the Bible's guidance, which offers solace and principles to cope with and overcome depression. Join us to explore these valuable resources and embark on a path toward healing.

If God is good, why does he allow bad things to happen, especially to good people? For many people, this question is the beginning of the end of faith. Or, it’s a question that never allows faith to begin at all. If God were good, wouldn’t bad things only happen to bad people and good things would only happen to good people? So why do bad things happen? And more importantly, how can you believe in a God who lets bad things happen?

Everything that we’ve talked about in this Hot Topics series so far is being worked through and lived out by the next generation. So, who is Gen Z? What are they like? And what can we, as the church, do to support and guide them as they become the next leaders of our world? Join us as we wrap up Hot Topics by talking about all things Gen Z.