A Better Word

These days, we throw around the word “family” loosely. We use it to describe all kinds of relationships––best friends, team mates, and sometimes even co-workers! Somewhere along the way, the word got stretched. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals Jesus’s surprising claim about who truly belongs to The Family of God. 

In the Gospels, one group shows up again and again—usually frowning, objecting, and plotting against Jesus––the Pharisees. What was their problem with Jesus? Pastor Nick Gatzke examines back-to-back interactions involving heads of grain, a withered hand, and a holy day. Discover how Jesus handled the Pharisee’s objections and what it means for us today. 

Like them or hate them, rules exist for a reason and every family has them. But when we forget the reason for the rules, the rules themselves can start running the family! Pastor Nick Gatzke turns to a biblical confrontation over rules, when Jesus was challenged for breaking the Sabbath. 

Pastor Nick Gatzke explains why Jesus had a bad reputation for hanging out with people the rest of society rejected, specifically sinners and tax collectors. While we may not think we’d be so critical, data overwhelmingly shows we’re no different. Most of us prefer to hang out with people who are similar to ourselves. Find out why. 

People form lasting opinions of others within seconds. No matter how much time passes, some people just can’t seem to shake the way others see them Pastor Nick Gatzke introduces us to a man whose reputation made him one of the most hated men in town, and we’ll find out how Jesus approached him. 

When Jesus showed up in the first century, people couldn’t ignore Him. His words carried weight, His miracles defied explanation, and everyone wanted to know what would happen next. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us to a shocking scene when four friends lowered a paralyzed man in front of Jesus; and His response was not what they expected. 

Most people don’t like being told what to do. From a toddler who says “no” before he can barely talk to a grown adult who bristles the moment someone questions their choices. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes a closer look at why so many people resist authority and what their reaction reveals about the human heart. 

We all know people who have some level of authority in their field––a doctor who walks into the ER and people move or a coach who says a word and the whole team responds. That kind of authority is earned. But Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals why Jesus’ authority is in a completely different category. 

Most of us have worked for a boss who has the title but can’t get anyone to follow.  Pastor Nick Gatzke continues our series in the Gospel of Mark by introducing us to the leader of a movement who captured everyone’s attention and spoke with the unparalleled authority. Jesus would be the one to follow. 

Pastor Nick Gatzke turns to the first chapter in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus delivers a message that demands a response. His public ministry began with the bold declaration that the Kingdom of God had come. Discover how people reacted to Jesus’ ministry and his message. 

Most of us don’t have a problem saying, “I’m sorry.” The hard part is repenting and actually changing our patterns of behavior. It quickly becomes clear that there’s a difference between an apology and repentance. Pastor Nick Gatzke explains the difference and what it really looks like to repent. 

There are key moments in history when someone steps onto the public stage and changes the way we see the world. John the Baptist was one of those voices. He cried out “make way for the king!”... and soon everything changed. Pastor Nick Gatzke launches a series from the Gospel of Mark, where a new king is announced. 

Most of us go about our day without too much conflict. But beneath the surface, whether we know it or not, there’s a battle waged against us. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals the origins of this spiritual warfare and what victory looks like, from the earliest pages of the Old Testament all the way to Revelation. 

We love to root for the underdog—the outnumbered, the outmatched, the one who has no business winning—and yet somehow does. It’s an instinct that runs deep throughout history and the pages of the Bible. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals the unexpected, supernatural victories that belong to God’s people. 

The Bible is the most popular and best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 to 7 billion copies sold and distributed. But how often do we open these Bibles and read The Word of God? Pastor Nick Gatzke reminds us of the remarkable power of The Word of God to transform your life. 

There are countless voices competing for your attention. Your phone, news feed, inbox, neighbors, and even your own thoughts at two in the morning are all speaking into your life. But which of these voices matters? Which one can you trust? Pastor Nick Gatzke clarifies the comparative value of the Word of God. 

The world has never had a shortage of smart, hardworking people. It’s also never had a shortage of people who are smart, hardworking, and deeply unhappy. If intelligence and effort aren’t enough, what are we missing? Pastor Nick Gatzke shares practical, biblical guidance about true wisdom and how we live. 

Some people just seem to navigate things well. They don’t panic when things fall apart. They make good decisions under pressure.  There’s a word for that. It’s not intelligence, talent, or even experience. It’s wisdom. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals what the Bible says about wisdom and where to get it. 

There’s an old saying: “you can’t take it with you.” It’s one of those truths that we agree with, in theory, but never quite gets all the way down into how we live. Pastor Nick Gatzke returns to a powerful parable to find out what our money says about what we value. 

Most of us have a complicated relationship with money. We know we shouldn’t want it too much, but we’re not entirely sure what “too much” looks like. Pastor Nick Gatzke presents an often-overlooked parable that challenges us to think about what we have, what we want, and what will happen in the end. 

Most of us have had the experience of starting something over––a relationship that needed to be rebuilt from scratch, a job that turned into a complete career change, or even a room that needed a makeover. Pastor Nick Gatzke describes the ultimate fresh start and the God who is both the creator and the re-creator. 

In many ways, the world we live in is wonderful. But there’s brokenness, heartbreak, and sin everywhere. So we long for the day when everything is made new. Pastor Nick Gatzke traces one of the biggest themes in all of Scripture––from Genesis all the way to Revelation––the story of creation and re-creation. 

In Christian circles, you might hear someone express the desire to be “blessed.” People say it about their marriages, their careers, and their bank accounts. But what does it mean? Pastor Nick Gatzke takes a closer look at what blessings actually look like and whether God’s version matches ours. 

Have you heard of prosperity Gospel?  Somewhere along the way, a lot of us picked up the idea that faithfulness to God leads to comfort, health, and financial reward. But is this idea biblical? Pastor Nick Gatzke pulls this assumption apart to expose the real blessings that come from God. 

When was the last time you walked into a room where you felt welcomed and a sense of total belonging? There’s something wonderful about that feeling. Pastor Nick Gatzke returns to the story of God’s people in the Old Testament to discover more about the place where you belong. 

Something happens the moment you put on a uniform or stand under a flag. You’re no longer just representing yourself. You are part of a people. That sense of belonging shapes how you think and how you act. Pastor Nick Gatzke traces the origins of a group who are identified as The People of God.

There’s a difference between someone who says, “I’ll always be there for you” and someone who puts it in writing, makes it binding, and actually shows up. One is a feeling. The other is a commitment. Pastor Nick Gatzke explores the power of God’s enduring Covenants and Promises. 

One of the most remarkable things about God is that he didn’t have to create us— and yet he did. He’s entirely self-sufficient, still he wants to be known by us. Pastor Nick Gatzke begins a brand-new series exploring how God relates to mankind. Discover what God’s Covenants and Promises teach us about God and us.

If you had God’s power what would you do with it? End global conflicts? Cure disease? Or maybe just fix a few things in your own life? Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us back to the Tower of Babel, at a moment when mankind believed they could accomplish anything. But God had a different plan.

Have you noticed how quickly a group of people can unite around the wrong idea? Suddenly something that should have never gotten off the ground feels unstoppable. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us back to the Tower of Babel where an entire civilization came together to make a name for themselves. What could go wrong?

Have you experienced a season of life where you were waiting for something to change or for a situation to resolve? Pastor Nick Gatzke explores the 150 days Noah and his family floated in the floodwaters, waiting to find out what God would do. Noah’s experience reveals a profound lesson about the character of God.

It’s easy to say we believe in a God of love, but most people don’t like to talk about a God who judges sins. Pastor Nick Gatzke is taking us back to a sobering moment, a day described in Genesis when God looked at his own creation and said, “enough”.

Have you ever done something, then immediately wished you hadn’t? Maybe you said something you couldn’t take back and in that moment you felt the weight of regret. Pastor Nick Gatzke explains why this struggle is not a symptom, but the diagnosis.

Think about the people in your life who you'd describe as truly close.  Not just an acquaintance, but someone who walks through life with you. It’s a special bond. Pastor Nick Gatzke opens Genesis 5, where one man is described differently than everyone else around him. The Bible says Enoch walked with God. Find out more.

We don't like to think about death, but it’s something every person will have to deal with, eventually. Pastor Nick Gatzke opens a long list of names, numbers, and one unavoidable ending that shows up again and again. So what does the Bible say about how we should live in light of our mortality?

Have you ever watched someone dig themselves into a hole, keep digging, then somewhere along the way, they stop even trying to climb out? Pastor Nick Gatzke shares the story of the first family to reveal how quickly we humans can dig ourselves into a hole of sin.

There's a phenomenon in open water that swimmers have learned to respect: the undercurrent. You can't see it, and you can barely feel it, but it’s moving slowly and steadily... carrying you further and further away from where you intended to be. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals how sin operates the same way.

When things go wrong, most people spend enormous time and energy trying to fix the symptoms of the problem. We manage behavior. We start over. We search for answers. But no matter how hard we try the problem doesn't go away. Pastor Nick Gatzke explains why this struggle is not a symptom, but the diagnosis. 

Have you ever looked back on a decision and realized later the full weight of what it cost you? Not just in the moment, but ongoing loss? Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals how a single act of disobedience set off consequences that are still echoing in every corner of human life. 

Have you ever felt the pull toward something you knew was wrong and gone for it anyway? That impulse didn’t start with us. It started in a garden. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us back to Genesis 3, to understand what he calls “the worst day in human history.” 

Most people walk into marriage hoping it will make them happy. If it stops making them happy, however, they wonder if they chose the “wrong person”. But Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us back to Genesis chapter two, to discover that God’s design for marriage is built on something far stronger than feelings.

Ask ten people what they think about marriage... and you’ll probably get ten different answers. Some will light up. Some will go quiet. Some will change the subject. But no matter what they say, everyone has an opinion. Pastor Nick Gatzke takes us back to the beginning to get God’s perspective on marriage. 

The world has a lot of ways to measure your worth––by your achievements, your appearance, or even your social connections. But Genesis tells a completely different story. Pastor Nick Gatzke asks a question that goes deeper: Where does your worth come from? Discover biblical answers to life’s most important questions.

Think about the people who shaped who you are––the way you laugh, the way you work, the things you care about. Most people can point to someone whose fingerprints are all over their lives. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals that who you are goes deeper than your family tree. 

If you’ve ever made a last-minute call to a neighbor to borrow a cup of sugar or searched online for “how to” anything, then you know we all need help from time to time. Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals that God is the one exception! In the beginning, God needed nothing to create the world. 

The universe stretches beyond our ability to observe and into the unknown. It is so much bigger than we can comprehend with our human minds, and the God who created it is even greater. Pastor Nick Gatzke begins a series in Genesis to reveal the God who made the universe. 

Deep down we all long to discover what we’re supposed to be doing with our lives––not just a job or a hobby––but a genuine sense of purpose that makes everything else make sense. Pastor Nick Gatzke explores The Great Commission and gets specific about our purpose in life. 

Have you ever been handed a responsibility and had absolutely no idea what to do next? Maybe it was a job or a new role and you were left wondering: Now what? Pastor Nick Gatzke reveals a special assignment you and I have been given, as he explains our role in The Great Commission. 

Have you ever experienced a season of life when everything felt like it was working against you, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t fix it? Pastor Nick Gatzke returns to 2 Corinthians, where the Apostle Paul begs God to end his suffering. Find out what God did and how Paul reacted. 

We spend a lot of energy trying to look like we have it all together. We rehearse confident answers and post highlight reels of the good times. But Pastor Nick Gatzke explains why God sometimes allows challenges to come into our “perfect” world and mess things up!