Have you ever kept serving God long after you stopped enjoying him? In Revelation 2, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus, a church with an incredible resume. They worked hard, endured hardship, tested false apostles, and refused to tolerate evil. But Jesus holds one thing against them: they have forsaken the love they had at first. Not forgotten, forsaken. This message names three signs your love may be cooling: people feel like interruptions, you serve God but no longer enjoy him, and time with him has become a duty instead of a delight. Jesus doesn't just diagnose; he gives the cure. Remember, repent, and return. Not more work, but first works, aimed back at the Person they were always for.
Hearing Jesus - Week 2
When life gets hard, where do we look? Most of us reach for something to escape, distract, or numb the pain. In Revelation 1:9-20, John is exiled on Patmos, writing to seven churches that are suffering too, and he calls what they share in Jesus patient endurance. This message walks through John's vision of the risen Jesus and three connected ways to foster spiritual endurance: we need to see Jesus as he is, know that Jesus sees us as we are, and see that Jesus is with us wherever we are. Drive-thru spirituality won't hold when suffering hits, so we are invited to slow down and meet with Jesus now, so that when the hard season comes, we already know where to look.
Hearing Jesus - Week 1
Have you ever thought it would be easier right now not to follow Jesus? Or found yourself quietly bending your faith to fit your desires or your culture? The first Christians to receive the book of Revelation faced both temptations, living at a time when faith could get you killed and always got you excluded. In Revelation 1:1-8, the opening of this letter, prophecy, and apocalypse, Jesus speaks to people tempted to give in or give up. This message shows three ways to keep going: look behind the curtain and take what you see to heart, receive God's grace and peace, and worship the God who holds both ends of the story in his hands.
When God Seems Absent - Week 9
When God Seems Absent - Week 8
What do you do when you need God’s direction but aren’t sure what he wants you to do? Maybe you’re facing a decision about work, family, a relationship, or your future—and God seems frustratingly quiet. In Genesis 46:1–4, Jacob reaches a threshold of his own: Should he leave the promised land and go to Egypt? His story shows us that God doesn’t always give his people the same directions, and he doesn’t always give us the specific answers we want. But he gives us something better than a map. In this message, Henry Williams explores how to seek God’s direction, remain willing to recalculate, and trust the promise that wherever we go, God goes with us.
When God Seems Absent - Week 7
Where is God when life doesn’t make sense? Is everything predetermined, or is everything somehow up to us? In Genesis 45, Joseph finally reveals himself to the brothers who sold him into slavery—and then makes an astonishing claim: through everything that happened, God had been at work. In this message, Jonathan Haage explores the mystery of God’s providence: God knows the whole story, works through genuine human choices, and is powerful enough to bring good even out of evil without calling evil good. Joseph’s story gives us an anchor when we can’t see what God is doing. And ultimately, it points us to Jesus and the cross, where we see most clearly that evil never gets the final word.
When God Seems Absent - Week 6
What do we do when God’s plan doesn’t make sense? Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, and prison while continuing to trust that God was good and in control. But in Genesis 44:18–34, the story takes an unexpected turn. Judah—the brother who once helped sell Joseph into slavery—offers to become a slave himself in Benjamin’s place. God is changing Judah and moving forward a plan far bigger than anyone in the story can see. In this message, Danny Martin explores how God works through unexpected people and circumstances to accomplish his purposes. Ultimately, Judah’s story points us toward Jesus and reminds us that Christian faith isn’t merely trust in a plan. It’s trust in a person—even when we cannot see what he is doing.
Outdoor Summer Baptism - August 16th
Thanks for joining us for baptisms at the University of Northwestern!
To follow along with our service, download the Service Guide below.
How to Make the Most of Your Life
Life moves fast. The years, milestones, and seasons that once seemed far away have a way of arriving before we know it. So how do we make the life we’ve been given really count? In 1 Peter 4:7–11, Peter reminds Christians that “the end of all things is near”—and then shows us how that reality should shape the way we live today. In this message, Levi Case explores four simple but challenging practices: pray with a clear mind, love one another deeply, practice hospitality without grumbling, and use your God-given gifts to serve others. We don’t make our lives count by squeezing more into them, but by living them for the glory of God through Jesus Christ.
When God Seems Absent - Week 5
What happens when the sins you've tried to bury suddenly come back into the light? In Genesis 42:1–28, Joseph's brothers unexpectedly come face-to-face with the guilt they've carried for more than twenty years. Their story reminds us that God doesn't uncover sin to shame us—he uncovers it to heal us. In this message, Jonathan Haage explores how God awakens our conscience, calls us to honest confession, and invites us to trust his mercy even when conviction feels painful. Whether you're carrying regret, struggling with guilt, or wondering if God could truly forgive your past, this sermon points to the healing and freedom found in Jesus Christ.