Faith Family Church

The Other Side Of Yes

I'm Fine, Not Really

Fear is one of the most effective weapons the enemy has ever used against a believer. Not because it is powerful. But because it works. It distorts your perspective. It damages your memory. It disturbs your peace. And it will torment you if you let it stay.In week 3 of the Summer Psalms series, Pastor Josh opens up Psalm 27 and shows us that fear does not have to win. David was surrounded on all sides. Arrows flying. Enemies closing in. And yet out of that place, he wrote some of the most confident words in all of Scripture. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?This is not the confidence of a man who is pretending the battle is not real. David never denied the difficulty. He just refused to let the difficulty define his conclusion. And the conclusion he landed on was this. I remain confident.Pastor Josh gives us three practical, faith-filled tools to overcome fear and step back into the peace and confidence God has always intended for His people. Pursue God's presence. Rehearse past victories. And expect God's goodness in the land of the living.Because here is the truth: Fear magnifies problems and minimizes God. But faith does the opposite. And this message will show you exactly how to get back there, no matter what you are facing right now.If fear has been stealing your sleep, your joy, your peace, or your confidence, this message was made for you.

If you have ever felt like God was distant despite doing all the right things, this message is for you. In the second week of the Summer Psalms series, Pastor Mike LaBerge explores Psalm 13 and addresses a profound question that every believer eventually faces: What do I do when God feels distant? This is not just a theoretical issue; it's a real, raw experience that David expressed in one of the most vulnerable psalms in all of Scripture.“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” This question isn’t from someone who has given up on God; it comes from someone who loves God enough to be honest with Him. Pastor Mike demonstrates that this level of honesty is not a sign of weak faith; rather, it is the beginning of genuine faith.This message provides two powerful tools. First, it helps you assess what you are truly feeling and why. Have you drifted away from God, or is He trying to mature you through a challenge that cannot be rushed? Second, it offers practical ways to address those feelings through honesty, remembrance, and developing a rhythm that reconnects you with God.The truth is that God does not move away from us, but we have an incredible capacity to drift. The good news is that all it takes to return is a simple turn back to Him.

Life has a way of applying pressure that no amount of distraction can relieve. And if you are honest, the thing you reach for first when that pressure hits says everything about where your trust actually is.In this first message of the Summer Psalms series, Pastor Grant Hoyle opens up Psalm 61 and takes us into one of the most raw and honest prayers in all of Scripture. David is not sitting on his throne when he writes this. He is on the run. His son has turned against him. His closest friends have abandoned him. The kingdom God gave him is collapsing before his eyes. And yet out of that place of complete overwhelm David writes one of the most faith filled prayers ever recorded.This message is not about having the right words when you pray. It is not about sounding spiritual or impressive. It is about learning what David learned in the middle of the worst season of his life. That real prayer begins with honest surrender. That pressure reveals where we run, but prayer leads us to the rock. And that remembering what God has already done is the most powerful medicine for a heart that is overwhelmed right now.If you have been faking strength while you are actually falling apart, this message is for you. If you have been reaching for every distraction available rather than bringing what you are carrying to God, this message was made for you. And if you need to be reminded that the same God who has carried you through every hard season before is the same God who is carrying you through this one, this message was made for you.

What if the reason you have been struggling to live the Christian life is not that you need to try harder, but because you have been trying to do it alone?In this message from The Essentials series, Pastor Josh opens up John 14 and introduces us to the one Jesus called the Helper. The Holy Spirit. The person of the Trinity that most believers know the least about and need the most. This is not a message about weird religious experiences or things that make you uncomfortable. This is a message about the most practical relationship available to every believer. A helper who will guide your decisions, strengthen you when you are weak, give you boldness to share your faith, keep you from sin, produce fruit in your life, and show you the path when you do not know which way to go.Jesus said those who believe in him will do even greater things. But He never said they would do them alone. He sent a helper. And that helper is available to you right now.If you have ever felt like Christianity was more of a struggle than a source of power, this message will change everything about how you see your walk with God.

What does it actually mean to live by faith?Not just believe in God from a distance, not just say a prayer when things get hard and hope for the best, but actually build your entire life on the foundation of who God is and what He has promised.In this message from The Essentials series, Pastor Josh takes us into Hebrews 11, often called the Hall of Faith in Scripture. It is full of real people just like you and me who trusted God when they could not see the answer, who obeyed when they did not understand the plan, who gave when they did not have enough, and who thanked God before the breakthrough came. And who kept their faith even when things did not turn out the way they expected.If you have been stressed, worried, or wondering where God is in the middle of what you are going through this message was made for you.

Somebody modeled a faith in front of you that made you wonder if what they had was real.In this Mother's Day message from The Essentials series, Pastor Josh takes us into 2 Timothy and reminds us that the faith Timothy carried did not originate with him. It was passed on by two women who simply refused to keep their faith to themselves.And that is exactly what God is calling all of us to do.This message is for the mom who wonders if her faith is making a difference in her kids. It is for the person who did not grow up in a godly home and wonders if the cycle can actually change. It is for anyone who has been keeping their faith private when it was always meant to be shared.Because a shared faith is a strong faith. And your story might be the very thing someone else needs to hear.

You were never meant to do this alone.In this message from The Essentials series, Pastor Josh tackles one of the most misunderstood truths in the Christian life. We live in a world that has never been more digitally connected and never been more deeply lonely at the same time. And the answer to that loneliness is not another app, another follow, or another scroll. It is the church.Not a building. Not a Sunday morning routine. A family.Pastor Josh takes us into Acts chapter 2 and shows us what the very first church looked like when it was born. Three thousand people in one day. Devoted to teaching. Devoted to one another. Connected in a way that no technology could ever replicate. And he makes the case that this kind of connection is not optional for a believer. It is essential.You can pray on your own. You can worship on your own. But you cannot build a strong faith on your own. Because faith was never meant to be independent. It was meant to be shared.If you have been doing the Christian life in isolation, watching from the outside, wondering if you really belong, or coming to church for years without ever really connecting, this message is for you.You belong here. And your faith will never be the same once you find your place in the family.

What are you building your life on?In this powerful message from The Essentials series, Pastor Josh takes us to Matthew 7 and reminds us that every single one of us is building something. A life. A family. A legacy. And what we build on makes all the difference when the storms come.The Bible is not just a book with good ideas. It is the Word of God. It is living. It is active. And it is the only foundation that will hold when everything else shakes.Pastor Josh walks us through what the Bible actually is, where it came from, why it can be trusted, and most importantly how to get it into your everyday life so it starts working in you. Because there is a big difference between knowing the Word and living the Word.If you have been putting off reading your Bible, struggling to understand it, or wondering if it is actually relevant to your life right now, this message is for you.The storms of life are coming. Build on the rock.

Most of us pray... but if we're honest, we're not really sure why.Is it just something Christians do? Does it actually change anything? And if God already knows what we need, what's the point?In Week 2 of The Essentials, Pastor Grant Hoyle tackles one of the most honest questions in the faith: Why pray? And the answer might surprise you.It's not about the right words. It's not about being loud or religious enough. It's about alignment. When you step into prayer, you stop fighting against where God is trying to take you and start flowing with Him.Jesus didn't just teach us what to say. He showed us what prayer actually does. It's where you transfer the weight off your shoulders and onto His. It's where heaven and earth connect. And it's where everything starts to shift.If you've ever prayed and wondered if it was doing anything, this one is for you.

What does it actually take to build a faith that works every single day?Not just on Sunday. Not just when life is going well. But a faith that holds up when the storms come, when life gets heavy, and when everything around you is pulling you in a different direction.In this message, Pastor Josh kicks off our brand-new series, The Essentials, with a look at the four foundational building blocks that every believer needs to grow a faith that is strong, consistent, and genuinely making a difference in their life.Drawing from Matthew 7, Pastor Josh unpacks the parable of the wise and foolish builder and challenges us to stop drifting spiritually and start building intentionally. Because just like a road trip, a financial plan, or anything else worth doing, the spiritual life has essentials. And when we ignore them, everything suffers.In this message, you will learn about the four essentials of a faith that truly works.Power to live on. The Christian life was never meant to be lived in your own strength. Discover how to plug into the power of God and stop running on empty.People to do life with. Faith was never meant to be lived alone. Find out why community is not optional and why the relationships you build in the local church will be some of the most important of your life.Principles to live by. In a world full of noise, opinions, and influencers, there is only one source of truth. Learn how to get God's word into your life in a way that actually transforms you from the inside out.Purpose to live for. You were not saved just to sit. God has something specific for you to do, and this message will help you start moving toward it.Whether you have been walking with Jesus for decades or you are just getting started, this series will meet you right where you are and give you the tools to build something that lasts.

The grave is empty. Death did not win. And nothing will ever be the same!When Jesus said it is finished, He meant it. Every sin, every shame, every sentence that was ever held against us, finished. Done. Gone.And the proof is an empty tomb.

On the night before everything changed, Jesus walked through the Kidron Valley, climbed the Mount of Olives, and entered a garden called Gethsemane. The word Gethsemane itself means "olive press." And it is there, at the place of pressing, that Jesus shows us something we desperately need to understand.Pressure is not punishment. Sometimes God presses because He is trying to release something valuable in you.In this message, Pastor Josh walks us through Luke 22 and the garden of Gethsemane to show us how Jesus surrendered under the weight of the greatest pressure ever known to man. He took the cup filled with every sin ever committed, and He drank it willingly so that you would never have to.If you are in a season of pressure right now, this message is for you.You will discover that surrender is not weakness. It is the most powerful decision you will ever make. And on the other side of your surrender is the strength, the peace, and the clarity you have been searching for.Jesus walked into that garden struggling. He walked out surrendered. And because He did, so can you.Scripture References: Luke 22:39 47 | 2 Corinthians 5:21 | Hebrews 4:15 | Psalm 62:8 | Proverbs 3:5 6

What do you do when God gives you a promise, but nothing around you confirms it?In week 2 of On The Way, Pastor Grant walks through the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to show us what endurance actually looks like when the waiting gets hard. The promise isn't meant to remove your crisis. It's meant to build endurance within it.If you're in the middle of something that looks impossible, this message is for you.

Every journey starts with a decision. And when Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, He wasn't taking the easy route. He saw every step of what was coming, and He chose to walk it anyway.In this first message of our brand new series ON THE WAY, Pastor Josh unpacks one of the most pivotal moments in the ministry of Jesus. Luke 9:51 tells us He "steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem," knowing full well what awaited Him. No detours. No u-turns. Just a fixed focus on the road ahead.The truth is, human nature pulls us toward comfort over calling, power without sacrifice, and following without real cost. But Jesus modeled something different. He showed us that the most meaningful things in life are rarely found on the easy road.If you've been waiting for a sign to go all in, to settle your direction, choose purpose over comfort, and take your next step of obedience, this message is for you.This series is designed to prepare your heart for what resurrection really means when you've walked the road that leads there.

Every relationship has a price tag. The question isn't whether you'll pay it. It's whether you'll pay it now or pay it later.In Week 4 of our Let's Talk... series, Pastor Grant gets real about what it actually costs to build relationships that last, and why so many of us are letting the most important connections in our lives slowly fade without even realizing it. From marriage to friendship to your walk with God, no relationship thrives without intentional investment.In this message, you'll discover the three costs every relationship requires:Time because proximity and presence aren't the same thing.Commitment because loyalty isn't a feeling or a post. It's a pattern of behavior proven by action, not words.Courage because faith without courage is really no faith at all.Whatever relationship in your life feels distant right now, this message is for you.

Conflict is inevitable in every relationship, but it doesn't have to be destructive. In Week 3 of our Let's Talk series, Pastors Josh and Kara Joines tackle one of the most important skills for healthy relationships: learning how to fight fair.Whether you're married, dating, or navigating any relationship, this message will equip you with biblical tools to handle conflict with grace, communicate without tearing each other down, and actually come out stronger on the other side.In this message, you'll discover:✅ Why conflict isn't what destroys relationships (it's how we handle it)✅ The wrong enemy, wrong motives, and wrong tactics we use when fighting dirty✅ How to control your response instead of reacting in anger✅ The power of confronting with love and listening carefully✅ Why forgiveness is the key to protecting unity in every relationshipThe health of your marriage isn't determined by how often you fight. It's determined by how well you repair. And when you learn to process conflict God's way, you don't just survive disagreements, you grow closer through them.Key Scriptures:Philippians 2:1-2, Ephesians 6:12, James 4:1-2, Proverbs 14:29, Ephesians 4:26, Matthew 5, 1 Peter 4:8Don't let unresolved conflict steal the blessing of unity in your relationships. Watch this message, apply these principles, and discover how to fight fair, love well, and build relationships that last.

Is your marriage running on the wrong fuel?In Part 2 of ☎️ Let's Talk..., Pastor Josh breaks down one of the biggest myths in relationships: that couples "fall out of love." The truth? You don't fall out of love. You run out of fuel.Using 1 Corinthians 13 and the Greek words for love, this message reveals why feelings alone can never sustain a marriage and what it looks like to build your relationship on agape, the unconditional, covenant love that never fails.You'll discover the three warning signs that a marriage is running on the wrong fuel (disappointment, decay, and disconnection), why your spouse is your partner, not your provider, and how to change your source so you can love your spouse all the way to the finish line.Whether you're newlywed or have been married for decades, this message will challenge you, encourage you, and give you practical steps to fuel your marriage with something that won't run out.

What if the key to a thriving marriage isn't what you think? It's not about sex or money. It's about communication. Only 40% of married couples rate this area as excellent, yet the vast majority of healthy couples get it right.In this powerful message, we explore the 5 levels of communication that every marriage needs:Coordination - Staying on the same page dailyConflict Resolution - Growing stronger through disagreementsConnection - Being fully present with each otherPersonal Revelation - Sharing your heart, hopes, and fearsIntimate Affection - Being fully known without fear of rejectionDiscover the 5 T's for Effective Communication: ✅ Tone - Let your words be gracious and life-giving✅ Time - Invest proactively, personally, and privately ✅ Trust - Build a foundation that creates safety and empathy ✅ Truth - Speak honestly in love, not harshly or hollowly ✅ Team Spirit - Embrace oneness and appreciate your differencesMarriage has a 100% success rate when done God's way. If you're facing frustration in communication, there's hope! God created marriage for success, not failure. Whether you're struggling or thriving, these biblical principles will help you build the safest, strongest relationship on earth.Remember: The best relationships aren't built on big gestures, but on small, consistent responses. You're in this together. One flesh, one team, one beautiful journey.

God isn’t just giving you a new word for this year. He is inviting you into a new way of living. In this message, “A New Thing: A New Plan,” we wrap up our A New Thing series across our Baytown, Crosby, and La Porte campuses and lean into this truth: A New Thing requires a New Plan. Most people do not miss their goals because they do not want change. They miss them because they never decide how that change will happen. Good intentions are common. Intentional living is rare. From Isaiah 43, we see that God is already doing a new thing, but we have a part to play. We do not drift into spiritual maturity, financial freedom, or healthy relationships. We train for it. In this message you will learn why God is a planner and why you should be too, the difference between trying and training in your faith, how to name the life you are training for by starting with identity, how to identify the barriers holding you back, and how to choose simple, God-honoring practices in your spiritual, financial, and relational life. If you are tired of trying harder and ready to start training with purpose, this message will help you build a God-centered plan for your next season.

Most people believe their life has a purpose, but very few feel like they are actually living in it. That gap between believing and truly discovering your purpose is where frustration, restlessness, and feeling stuck often live. In this message from the series ☁️ A NEW THING, Pastor Josh shows from God's Word that you are not an accident. You are God’s handiwork, created on purpose and for a purpose. You will learn the difference between your job and your calling, how confusion, comparison, and counterfeit versions of success can distract you, and how God can use your past, your gifts, and divine appointments to point you toward what He made you to do. You will also see the five foundational purposes God has for every believer and how His specific will for your life flows from them. You do not have to guess your way through life. In Christ, you can discover who you are and what you are living for. Lean in, take notes, and invite God to do a new thing in your perspective, your direction, and your purpose.

God is doing a new thing in your life, and one of the keys to stepping into it is the people you walk with. In this message, Pastor Josh shares the third essential for experiencing a new thing from God and shows how the relationships around you are shaping your perspective, your habits, and your future more than you realize.Using Isaiah 43:18–19 and wisdom from Proverbs and the New Testament, you will learn why perspectives are produced through partnerships, how to recognize unhealthy patterns, and how to pursue godly friendships that sharpen your faith and help you grow. You will be encouraged to let God redeem the relational landscape of your life, to initiate life-giving connections, to set healthy boundaries, and to invest in the kind of community that pulls you closer to Jesus.Lean in with an open heart and let the Holy Spirit speak to you about your inner circle. Walk with the wise, believe for healing where there has been hurt, and trust that God is bringing the right people into your life for this new season.

relationships, finances, and even our spiritual lives. It’s easy to want change, but experiencing it often feels out of reach.We'll examine how God invites us to experience true transformation. Drawing on powerful verses like Isaiah 43:18-19, we’ll discover that God is doing something new in us and through us, and that we can access the power to walk in step with the Spirit.As we dig deeper, we’ll gain insight into the importance of being connected to the true source of our strength—Jesus Christ. It’s essential to shift from a place of control and anxiety to one of surrender. Only then can we allow God's grace to flow freely in our lives.True change comes not from our own willpower, but from surrendering to His divine strength.

Have you ever realized you were seeing life the wrong way, only after your vision changed? In this message, Pastor Josh shares a story from childhood about getting glasses at 7 and suddenly discovering a world that had been clear all along. The world didn’t change, but his vision did. In the same way, so many of us are walking through life with blurry spiritual vision, not even realizing we’re not seeing things God’s way.From Isaiah 43, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and other key scriptures, you’ll discover how our beliefs are shaped by pain, hurtful words, and protective patterns, and how those misbeliefs quietly drive our choices, relationships, and reactions. Pastor Josh dives into the difference between being conformed to the world’s way of thinking and being transformed by the renewing of our minds, painting a powerful picture of true inner change using the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.This message will help you recognize the thoughts that don’t line up with God’s truth, reject the lies you’ve believed, and replace them with what God says about you. It’s an invitation to let God reset your thinking, heal your perspective, and lead you into the new thing He wants to do in your life.If you’re tired of feeling stuck in the same cycles and you’re ready to see, think, and live differently, this message is for you. Lean in, let God speak to your heart, and allow Him to begin a fresh work of transformation in you today.

It is a new year, and God is doing a new thing! :raised_hands: No repeats of last year.This is the year to stop staring at what was and start perceiving what God is springing up right now. What blocks the new are struggles, strongholds, and attachments that drain us and keep us stuck.But, real change is inside out, crock pot - not microwave, and it starts with a renewed mind and fresh power from the Spirit. This year, let's step into a new perspective, new partnerships, a real plan, and a God-given purpose that fuels every day.

This Christmas at Faith Family, we were reminded that Jesus didn’t stay distant. He stepped into our world. He is the Light of the world. And the darkness cannot overcome Him.The Light of Hope is here. ✨

Are we living for the parade and missing the purpose? This message invites you to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas and life through Mary’s story in Luke 1. God chooses ordinary people on purpose, and purpose is received by grace, not achieved by effort. Feeling unqualified can be a sign that God is at work, and His Spirit is the power that activates purpose within you. Purpose always moves outward to bless others, and it begins when you simply say yes.

In this message, Pastor Grant dives into the profound story of a woman caught in adultery and her encounter with Jesus. As we explore this narrative, we'll see how the crowd's harsh judgment contrasts with Jesus' mercy. He doesn't ignore her sin but offers her forgiveness and a chance for a new beginning. This demonstrates that true peace comes from being reconciled with God, even amidst our struggles.Real peace isn't simply the absence of chaos; it’s about confronting our sinful nature and relying on God’s grace. Jesus shows us that acknowledging our faults is the first step toward healing and reconciliation.

Special guest Dr. John C. Maxwell shares on the power of perspective to change our relationships, generosity and lives in powerful ways.

* Life is full of tests—moments designed not to punish, but to reveal what’s truly in our hearts. From everyday decisions like patience and humility to major areas like finances and relationships, God’s testing us to shape us into who we’re called to be. Like Israel before entering the promised land, these seasons of testing are vital for our growth and preparation.In this message, we’ll explore the biblical foundation of tests—God’s purpose isn’t to harm but to develop trust, obedience, and character in us. We’ll see how every test serves as a confirmation of what’s already inside, and how passing them positions us for blessings and fruitfulness.Key Highlights:* The Purpose of Testing: God tests us to develop patience, humility, and trust—especially when it comes to our finances and priorities.* God’s Invitation to Test Him: Malachi 3:10 challenges us to "test" God through tithing—revealing His promise to bless and open the floodgates of heaven.* Understanding Tithing in Perspective: Whether under the law or grace, giving willingly and cheerfully aligns our hearts with God’s kingdom.* The True Test of Our Hearts: It’s not just about what we know but about what we do—our attitude, obedience, and trust matter most.* Three Critical Areas of the Test: Heart, Stewardship, and Priority. Your financial choices are reflections of what’s truly important to you.* Living Open-Handed: Every day is an opportunity to choose generosity over greed, trust over worry, and obedience over hesitation.* Turning Tests into Testimonies: When we trust God, even in tough times, we open the door to His blessings, purpose, and future.This isn’t just about money—it’s about aligning your entire life with God’s plan. It’s about trusting His promises, living with purpose, and letting your faith move from belief into action.

Guest speaker Charlotte Gambill wraps up our 6-part series called CIRCLES with a message on the most life-changing book ever — the Word of God! God's Word isn't just ink on paper but a living, active force that can transform your entire circle — your identity, your direction, your protection, and your elevation. Explore how the Word of God helps us see ourselves clearly in the mirror, brighten the darkness as our lamp, equips us in battle as our sword, and always points us higher as our ladder.Whether you're feeling lost, under attack, or simply need a fresh perspective, this message will inspire you to lean into God's truth, fight with His Word, and rise above life's challenges. Remember, God’s Word is alive — and it’s speaking to YOU today.