Parkway Church

The 23rd Psalm deals with the realities of life. When you face difficult decisions, this psalm is for you. When you are losing heart, this psalm is for you. When you face enemies, this psalm is for you. When you have seen the face of evil, this psalm is for you. And since you will one day walk through the valley of death, this psalm is for you.  As a follower of Christ, you need and have the Good Shepherd.

Unstoppable worship isn't situational or circumstantial.  It's not based on what we are going through or a response to a current crisis. Unstoppable worship is a commitment to seek the Lord, share the Lord, and praise the Lord no matter what. It trains the heart to trust in and hope in the Lord.

As our nation celebrates our independence from a distant king, let's declare our dependence on King Jesus!

Sometimes we see the headlines and think, "Have people lost their ever-loving minds?" Violence after basketball games. Teen takeovers causing chaos and trouble in the streets. People not valuing life and treating people with dignity and respect. Wouldn't it be nice if we could simply power down, reboot, and start functioning properly again? Many of us have felt that way. We look around and long for revival, renewal, and a return to what is right. But Scripture reminds us that cultural change begins with personal change. If we want revival in our nation, it starts not with them but with me.  That's what we learn from Joel 2. Let's stop looking at what "they" are doing and return to the Lord with all our hearts.

Boundaries make life better.  That's what Solomon taught in Proverbs 4.  Discover the four protections we should all put in place to live God-honoring lives.

Every day, we are bombarded with headlines that shape how we see the world. In this message, we examine the ongoing conflict in the Middle East through the lens of Matthew 24 and discover what Jesus said about the signs of the times. Most importantly, we are reminded that God is sovereign, Christ could return at any time, and believers are called to live faithfully rather than fearfully.

Following Jesus comes with a cost, and He never hides it. In this message, we discover what it means to put Jesus first, carry our cross daily, and move from casual belief to intentional commitment. Learn why counting the cost leads to a life fully surrendered and why Jesus is worth everything.

You were not made to hide your faith. You were made to shine the light of Jesus in a dark world. In this message, we discover what it means to live boldly, overcome fear, and follow Jesus publicly, even when it costs something, because He is always worth it. 

Following Jesus is easy to start, but much harder to continue when it challenges what we want. In this message, we explore why some walk away when faith gets difficult and what it looks like to stay committed when others drift. Discover how real disciples choose Jesus daily and why He is always worth following, no matter the cost.

Following Jesus is not about convenience. It is about surrender, and it will cost you something. In this message, we unpack the real barriers that keep us from going all in, from comfort and timing to the things we struggle to let go of, and discover why following Him is worth everything. 

At all costs, follow Jesus, because His call changes everything. In this message, we explore how Jesus invites ordinary people into an extraordinary life, calling us to leave behind what we hold onto most and trust Him fully. Discover what it means to surrender completely and why following Jesus is worth more than anything you leave behind.

Shame keeps you stuck, whispering that your past defines your future. But God doesn’t expose your sin to condemn you, He brings it into the light to heal and restore. Freedom begins the moment you stop hiding and start believing what God says is true about you.

Comparison steals your joy by making you measure your life against someone else’s highlight reel. God didn’t create you to keep up; He created you on purpose with purpose. When you embrace who He made you to be, you stop competing and start living fully.

Sin promises freedom but always leaves us stuck, separated, and searching for a way out we can’t create on our own. Easter reminds us that Jesus stepped into our brokenness, paid the price we couldn’t pay, and made a way where there was none. You don’t have to stay trapped because the resurrection means freedom is already finished.

Is being tired just something you have to push through, or is there a way for your soul to be renewed? In Psalm 103, David speaks to his own weary soul, calling it to remember the goodness of God. When we are exhausted, we often forget His benefits, His forgiveness, His healing, and His faithful love. But renewal begins when we intentionally remember who God is and what He has done. When your soul remembers His goodness, strength returns, and worship replaces weariness.

Is fear something you have to live controlled by, or is there a way to live free from it? In Psalm 27, David is surrounded by real threats, yet he makes a bold declaration. “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?” His confidence is not in his circumstances but in God’s presence. When we fix our eyes on who God is and trust that He is with us, fear loses its power and faith takes its place.

Is sadness something you always live with, or is there a way to move through it? Sadness can feel heavy and constant, leading us to believe nothing will ever change. But Scripture shows us that God does not ignore our pain. He meets us in it, walks with us through it, and gently leads us forward. Because of His presence and His promises, sadness may visit us, but it need not define us or hold us forever.

Is joy something you chase or something you have? Most people spend their lives chasing better circumstances, hoping joy will finally catch up to them. But Scripture reveals that joy is not found in what happens around us. It is rooted in who lives within us. When we remember who God is, what He has done, and what He promises, we discover that joy is not something we pursue. It is something we possess.

As the Gospel spread, the church that was once unified around God's grace was tested.  Would they complicate the Gospel, or would they be clear and consistent?  We see and feel the same struggles today.  Is grace really enough?

What if God's love compels us to love beyond ourselves? What if God's love calls us to live the uncomfortable Christian life because He is calling us to demonstrate His love? That's exactly what happened in Act 10. Watch Pastor Mike's message and see how you can live with an unstoppable love.

As the influence and impact of the gospel grew, so did the opposition. When religious leaders attempted to silence Peter and John, a clear choice had to be made: obey those in power or remain faithful to what God had called them to do. Their response reveals what happens when conviction outweighs fear and obedience matters more than approval. 

God moments often begin with noticing needs and meeting them in the name of Jesus. Peter and John did not give what they did not have; they gave what they had, and God used it to change a life. This message calls us to let God interrupt our routine with compassion and action in Jesus’ name. You may feel like you do not have much, but in the hands of Jesus, what you have is more than enough.

You become what you devote yourself to, and the early church devoted itself to the Word, prayer, and people. Their devotion did not just change their schedules; it transformed their lives and created a community the world could not ignore. This week is an invitation to move from convenient connection to covenant community. If you want to grow, do not go alone; take a step toward the people and practices that shape real devotion.

What changes fearful people into fearless witnesses? Pentecost. When the Spirit came, ordinary believers were filled with power, and Peter, who once denied Jesus, stood up and spoke with courage. This message shows that boldness is not a personality trait; it is the overflow of prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit. God still opens doors, gives words, and empowers His Church to speak without shame.

New year, new goals, new pressure to “do better,” but Acts starts with a different plan. Jesus tells His followers to wait, because bold witness is not powered by willpower; it is powered by the Holy Spirit. If you are ready to move forward, it starts by trusting the Spirit to lead your next step.

The story of Christmas doesn’t end in Bethlehem—the King who came still reigns today. Jesus Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, rules with perfect authority and unending grace. As we look ahead, we celebrate that the song of heaven continues—because the King who came in humility will return in glory.

Christmas is more than a season to celebrate—it’s an invitation to adore. Like the shepherds and wise men, faithful hearts respond to God’s invitation with worship that flows from love and transforms ordinary life. Come and see how true joy is found when we don’t just sing about adoration—but live it.z

The angels’ song was more than music—it was the gospel proclaimed in the night sky: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.” Explore how heaven’s glory came wrapped in humility, revealing a Savior who brings peace to all who receive Him and experience how God’s glory still breaks into our ordinary world through the humility and grace of Jesus, our newborn King.

Christmas is a needed reminder that joy isn't dependent upon what is happening around us, but instead joy comes from what Jesus is doing in us. Joy is possible because joy and Jesus are a package deal.

Have you ever failed so badly that regret still haunts you? Peter did—he denied Jesus three times and wept bitterly. But when failure meets forgiveness, grace gets the final word. The resurrected Christ came back for Peter, proving that failure isn’t final when Jesus restores what’s been broken. The same look that broke Peter’s heart also healed it. Jesus meets us in our weakest moments to remind us that we are not disqualified—we are redeemed.

Ten men were healed by Jesus—but only one came back. When rejection meets gratitude, restoration becomes worship. The lepers had been outcasts, labeled and left behind, yet Jesus not only cleansed their bodies but restored their belonging. Gratitude isn’t automatic—it’s a choice. Healing may change your circumstances, but gratitude transforms your heart. Don’t just enjoy God’s blessings; return to the Giver in worship and thanksgiving.

Have you ever felt invisible—unseen, unheard, or forgotten? That’s how a blind beggar felt until Jesus stopped for him. When sadness meets hope, everything changes. Jesus hears the cries others ignore and brings light into the darkest places. Faith refuses to be silenced by discouragement, and the moment we cry out to Jesus, He stops and responds with mercy. The same Savior who was on His way to the cross still stops for you.

We live in a world quick to burn bridges, call out enemies, and cancel anyone who offends us. But when anger meets mercy, Jesus shows a better way. The disciples wanted to call down fire on those who rejected Him, but Jesus rebuked their rage and chose peace instead. Fire might win an argument, but it rarely wins a heart. Real strength looks like mercy—the kind that heals, prays, and chooses peace when vengeance feels easier.

Have you ever worn a label you couldn’t shake—a nickname, mistake, or memory that seemed to define you? Shame whispers, “This is who you are,” but Jesus whispers something better. When shame meets grace, He removes the labels we’ve carried and gives us a new identity. In His presence, our past doesn’t define us; His grace does.

When we take the bait and temptation hooks us, we have a choice to make.  Do we allow temptation and sin to drag us further away from Jesus, or do we turn to Him for forgiveness and renew the fight against temptation?  That all depends on how you see Jesus.  Know this:  Jesus gives mercy, grace, and strength.  He never turns us away, so we can spit the hook of sin and live in freedom.

We all face temptation, but we don’t all fight temptation.  That’s why the example of Jesus is so important.  Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness—appetite, pride, and power—but resisted through God’s Word and worship. We can fight temptation the same way. 

When tempted, never forget:  sin’s bait looks good but always hides a hook.  Sin always overpromises, underdelivers, and takes us further than we would ever want to God.  That’s why God always gives us another option - a way of escape.  The challenge is to recognize it and take it.

Temptation is like bait—it looks good but hides a deadly hook.  Let’s learn to identify where temptation comes from and spot it before it drags you down.

Even when frustrations feel overwhelming, God calls us to respond with obedience, not anger. Moses’ moment at Meribah reminds us that doing the right thing in the wrong way can keep us from experiencing God’s best. True faith surrenders our emotions to God, allowing His holiness to guide how we act, not just what we do.

God calls us to take steps of faith, trusting His promise and power over our own fears and limitations. Like the Israelites exploring Canaan, our job is to obey and explore, while God’s job is to deliver and provide. When we step out in faith, pray boldly, and focus on His power—not our fear—nothing is impossible for Him.

Complaining can pull our hearts out of step with God, making His provision, plan, and power seem smaller than they are. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, unchecked grumbling shifts our focus from trust and gratitude to discontent and craving. God calls us to replace complaint with faith-filled gratitude, keeping in step with His Spirit and shining as lights in a grumbling world.

When life feels like a wilderness—dry, uncertain, and uncomfortable—God is still guiding every step. This week’s message reminded us that His presence, like the cloud and fire for Israel, leads us in His perfect timing, whether He says “go” or “wait.” The call is simple but challenging: keep in step with His Spirit, trust His heart, and move only when He moves.

Jesus commands us to both go where He sends and tell others the good news boldly and lovingly. Going means stepping out of our comfort zones to engage with the people around us, while telling means sharing our personal faith story with courage and grace. We don’t do this alone—Jesus promises His presence and empowers us through the Holy Spirit. Living out the Great Commission means living missionally every day, both in our actions and conversations.

Healthy relationships grow when we speak the truth in love, just like Jesus did. Truth without love wounds, while love without truth withholds what’s needed for real growth. When we hold both together, we build others up, reflect Christ, and grow in maturity. Truth in love isn’t easy—but it’s how real change happens.

Jesus came full of grace and truth, not choosing one over the other but holding both perfectly together (John 1:14). Truth without grace becomes harsh and hurtful, while grace without truth becomes shallow and misleading. When we live with both, we reflect the heart of Christ—bold in conviction, gentle in love. Following Jesus means we don’t have to choose between grace and truth—we’re called to live with both.

At some point, most of us wrestle with the question: Am I good enough? We compare ourselves, regret past decisions, or feel the weight of trying to do everything right. The truth is, on our own, we will never measure up—but we were never meant to. Our righteousness isn't what we achieve. It's what we receive from Jesus.

Peace can feel elusive in today’s world. News cycles are filled with conflict, our schedules are overloaded, and our thoughts often race with fear, regret, or anxiety. But in Scripture, God reveals Himself with a powerful name—Yahweh Shalom, which means The Lord Is Peace.

Pain is something none of us escapes. Whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual, we’ve all carried brokenness in one form or another. But Scripture introduces us to Jehovah Rapha—“The Lord Who Heals.” This isn’t a distant title or abstract idea. It’s a name God gives Himself, revealing a deep truth about His heart: God heals.

We all have moments when we feel invisible, overlooked, misunderstood, or forgotten. We wonder if anyone really sees us or understands what we’re going through. But in Scripture, we encounter El Roi, “The God Who Sees.” He is not distant or indifferent. He sees, He hears, and He cares.

When God called Abraham to do the impossible, Abraham obeyed because He knew who God is. He knew God was Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. This name of God is not a one-time description of something God has done in the past, but a name that reveals His ongoing character, actions, care, and provision.