Rush Hour

Send us Fan MailWe catch up on summer life at Rush Church, share key announcements, and then pivot to why paintball camp is about more than paintball. We talk about being anchored in faith, why spiritual highs cannot sustain you, and how daily habits help you hear God even when He speaks softly. • Summer updates and what’s been happening around the church • Rush 1.8 Independence Day park outreach needs and volunteer roles • Kids Jam volunteer signup process and why it matters for kids • Camp scholarship support for families sending kids to Christian camp • Jokes and icebreakers that reveal how we think and laugh together • Paintball camp overview and the “Anchored” theme for students • Mountaintop experiences versus daily faith practices • Elijah’s burnout and learning to listen for a gentle whisper • Practical ways to pray, read Scripture, and stay close to Jesus • Why faith cannot be a checklist and still be a relationship So sign up at the welcome desk, whatever you'd like to sign up for. If you want to volunteer, find the table in the foyer. Pray for our students that are there. www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe start with summer life at Rush Church, swap jokes and icebreakers, then turn to a big Bible question that changes how we see ourselves and other people. We dig into the image of God as a calling to represent God on earth, fulfilled perfectly in Jesus and meant to reshape our everyday work and relationships. • summer announcements including youth night, camps, Kids Jam, and community events • quick jokes and light banter that sets the tone • icebreakers on time travel and most-used emojis • common assumptions about the image of God as physical or personality traits • why an ability-based definition can devalue people with disabilities • image of God as vocation: humans as God’s representatives and ambassadors • ancient kings, statues, and how Genesis flips the “only the king matters” idea • why the Bible rejects idols: God’s living images already exist in people • Eden as a temple and the call to expand God’s order into the world • the fall as failed representation and Jesus as the perfect image bearer • ruling through love, humility, compassion, and sacrifice instead of exploitation • a practical ethic: treating people well as an act of honoring God So if you have a seventh through twelfth grader, send them here Sunday night. We need your volunteer help. Just type in Bible Project Image of God.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe talk through what it means to live in the world without letting the world shape us, using Romans 12 to keep our minds and choices centered on Jesus. We also get honest about the daily tension of conversations, approval, and culture, then land on a simple challenge: represent Christ with truth and grace without hiding or blending in. • Summer plans and what’s coming up at Rush Church • Fifth Sunday Backyard Kids takeover and what to expect • Pineapple Palooza volunteer needs and how to help • Youth cookout night and summer pause with pop-up events • Icebreakers that spiral into sandwiches and what counts as one • Defining “the world” as culture that pushes against God’s way • Romans 12:1-2 and the call to renew your mind • Two traps to avoid: isolation from people or blending into culture • Seeing the world as broken and in need of Jesus, not as the enemy • The danger of an us-versus-them mindset and why people are not the enemy • How humility, forgiveness, and serving others become a Christian witness • Practical ways to guard what you consume and reset your worldview daily • A better response to failure: learn, practice, and try again If you're interested, please sign up at the Welcome Center on Sunday or call on the office, let us know You can follow the Instagram page, Rush Church Students Also, we have a Facebook page, Rush Church Student Ministries Check the bulletin this summer www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe trade stories from prom, after-prom, and school events, then zoom out to the deeper why behind Rush 1.8 and our push to serve beyond the building. We connect scripture to practical outreach and remind each other that being salt and light shows up in everyday life, not just on Sunday morning. • upcoming Rush Church dates including Graduate Sunday, Fifth Sunday, Kids Jam needs, and Pineapple Palooza • prom and after-prom recap with the photo booth, obstacle course, and late-night laughs • Rally for the Cure at the middle school and high school, plus what it takes to serve for hours • why people may not feel ready to enter a church building and how outreach lowers that barrier • Jesus’ pattern of going to people and what that means for modern church outreach • Great Commission insight on “as you are going” and everyday discipleship • lost sheep language and why we prioritize showing up where the community already gathers • outreach tools like free cotton candy and conversations that open doors to faith • salt and light as a call to visible, consistent influence together Please sign up to help us. www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe share a quick Rush Church update from a packed week of events and summer planning, then pivot to a short devotional that brings the Armor of God into real life. We read Ephesians 6 and talk about truth, peace, faith, and salvation as daily habits that help us stand strong and show up for each other.• quick update on a busy week of community events and Rush 1.8 plans• Pineapple Palooza details and simple ways to volunteer• Graduation Sunday reminder and what we need to recognize seniors• Kids Jam glow theme, Amazon wish list, and why we’re investing in reusable supplies• paintball camp spot update and who can attend• youth Nerf war recap and why it led into the devotional• Armor of God overview from Ephesians 6:10–18• the battle not being against people but against unseen schemes like lies, stress, and temptation• armor as a daily mindset instead of a last-minute rescue• practical breakdown of each piece: truth, guarding the heart, peace, faith, protecting the mind, and God’s word• church community as a unit that stands together and has each other’s backsIf you have a graduate or you know a graduate, I need their information as soon as possible. We still need some people, we need some volunteers. Go read the passage, Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10, and pick one of the pieces of armor that you need to work on the most.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe answer listener questions that sound simple until you look closely, unpacking the difference between being saved and being redeemed and why that changes how we live. We also talk baptism and the Holy Spirit, then step back to explain how Rush Church is led and why strong, studied leadership helps a church stay healthy. • weekend plans and serving at prom and after prom • upcoming Rush 1.8 events and why volunteers matter • saved as rescue from sin and death • redeemed as being bought back and belonging to Christ • key Scriptures on redemption and ownership in Christ • baptism as a command and a public step of faith • biblical examples of receiving the Holy Spirit in different ways • Rush Church history, Restoration Movement roots, and being non-denominational • how elders, deacons, and ministry staff share leadership • why we value leaders who study, pray, and ask hard questions We need your help. Send me pictures and where they're graduating from, what's the next step in their life? Cody C at Rush Church. That's my email. Please ask questions. www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan Mailwww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan Mailwww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe catch up on Easter weekend wins and fails, spring schedules, and a few church updates before diving into one of the strangest Bible questions: where do giants and the Nephilim come from. We trace Genesis 6 through Job, Numbers, Peter, and Jude, then talk through a theory about demons as “unclean spirits” and what any of this means for real life faith. • Easter traditions, sunrise service, and kid chaos • Small groups starting, including scrapbooking • Summer student camp reminders and price increase date • Joke time, then an icebreaker about deleting foods • Pizza hate, spaghetti shade, and a newlywed strainer disaster • Why “giants in the Bible” points to Genesis 6 • Three main views of “sons of God” • Bene Elohim and why it reads like spiritual beings • Nephilim meaning, “fallen ones,” and the giants connection • Israel’s fear in Numbers 13 and the “afterward” question • Peter and Jude on angels who sinned and were chained • A theory on demons as disembodied Nephilim spirits • Why demons recognize Jesus and what that proves • Spiritual battle language in Paul and a defensive posture • A preview of future topics like denominations and church community Be sure you get more information at the welcome desk So you can sign up for that at Halsmill.orgwww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailEaster week lands differently when we slow down and trace the story from the donkey ride into Jerusalem to the empty tomb on Sunday morning. We talk through Holy Week highlights and why the resurrection of Jesus is the hinge point of Christian faith and everyday hope. • Easter weekend announcements, sunrise service details, breakfast plans, teen conference and summer camp signups • Favorite Easter traditions, family memories, and the candy debate • Palm Sunday and the triumphal entry, “Hosanna” meaning “save us” • How unmet expectations flip the crowd from praise to “crucify him” • Passover and the Last Supper, foot washing, and what it reveals about Jesus’ kingdom • Peter’s sword moment in the garden and what Jesus does next • The illegal trial, Pilate, Barabbas, and mob mentality • The crucifixion as a willing sacrifice and why it matters • The empty tomb, the evidence question, and Mary as the first messenger • Serving enemies like Jesus serves Judas, and the joy that follows resurrection hope Paintball camp signups are open at house mill.org. Let us know what you want to talk about next. www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailA quick mid-week bonus episode. It may seem like we are full of beans, but could that be a good thing?www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe talk through church updates, swap games and a wedding joke, then dive into the Bible’s “unseen realm” without losing the main thing: Jesus and the gospel. We explore how Scripture describes spiritual beings, the divine council, and spiritual conflict, and we share resources to study it with wisdom and restraint. • Student ministry updates, Ohio Teens For Christ details and camp sign-ups • Rush Church online store items and ordering window • Fifth Sunday kids ministry plans and Easter service schedule • Icebreaker favorites including Euchre, Zelda and classic video games • Why the spiritual realm shows up in Scripture and why we shouldn’t ignore “weird” passages • God’s divine council and what it means for God’s kingdom language • Elisha’s servant and a glimpse behind the veil in 2 Kings 6 • Daniel’s delayed message and the idea of unseen conflict • Paul’s framing in Ephesians 6 and the armor of God as daily posture • Deuteronomy 32, Babel and the concept of nations under spiritual beings • Psalm 82, Elohim and God judging the “gods” for injustice • How translation and original language study can clarify confusing passages If you have any questions about this, put it in our box, please. We’d love to take a look at it. www.rushchurch.com

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Send us Fan MailWe rethink common ideas about heaven and explore a biblical vision of a renewed creation, embodied life, and purpose that lasts. We share why eternity is not boring, how the church previews heaven today, and what hope does to our fears.• key announcements for trivia night with childcare and potluck• Easter sunrise, breakfast, and regular services plan• camps and student events signposting and sign-ups• popular images of heaven contrasted with Scripture• new heaven and new earth as city and garden• resurrection bodies recognizable yet glorified• worship as whole-life purpose, not only songs• eternity and fear, trust in God’s character• relationships transformed beyond marriage yet known• the ache for justice and the end of tears• the church as a present glimpse of future hopewww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe share church updates on Trivia Night, student trips, and our Kids Jam Glow theme, then shift into a lively retelling of Ruth and why ordinary days can hide extraordinary grace. We show how gleaning, the kinsman redeemer, and patient trust reveal God’s quiet work.• Trivia Night details, rounds, host and trophies• Student events for Ohio Teens for Christ and paintball camp• Kids Jam theme reveal and blacklight prep• New podcast gear and call-in capability• How our staff Bible study builds story-first reading• Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and return to Bethlehem• Gleaning laws that protect widows and the poor• Boaz’s field, safety, and favor• Kinsman redeemer and lawful redemption• Genealogy from Obed to David to Jesus• Seeing providence in small steps and waiting well• Invitation to share future topicsIf you have any suggestions or topics that you want to hear about, we still have the box. Be glad to hear those and put them in the box at breakfast on Sunday mornings. Or just email us or pull us aside and ask us what tell us.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan Mailwww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe move from chili trophies and Super Bowl chatter into John 15, asking how abiding in Jesus changes our pace, our priorities, and our peace. We trade fruit-checking for staying close to the vine and explore pruning as God’s path to deeper joy.• upcoming trivia night details and sign-up info• student ministry events and summer camp updates• reading John 15 on vines, branches, and fruit• abiding as remaining, dwelling, staying close• prayer, Scripture, worship, and community as practices• pruning as purpose, not punishment• real fruit vs taped-on fruit and burnout• Christ living through us and reshaped desires• listener suggestion box and Morning Rush questionsWrite us some questions or the boxWe’ve been starting this new thing on social media too, called Morning Rushwww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe share winter updates, student and kids ministry plans, and a simple way to make a growing church feel personal. The big push: launch small groups shaped by what you want to study, build, and enjoy, with leader training that keeps each group healthy.• paintball camp dates, limited spots, price timeline• Ohio Teens for Christ travel and format• SuperStart details and nursery reopening with named teacher• Super Bowl party focused on chili and pie contest• listener predictions and coffee wager challenge• cold plunge report and takeaways on energy and recovery• why small groups matter for connection and discipleship• types of groups: study, hobby, moms, family circles• how to propose, join, lead, or co-lead a group• leader training, sustainability, and quarterly all-group gatheringswww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe swap stories about bone-deep cold, weekend chaos, and why people chase ice baths, then turn toward sleepless nights, a vivid debt-free metaphor for grace, and practical ways to live a new normal with Jesus as our authority. We end with one simple challenge: surrender one more area today and let freedom shape your week.• cold plunge curiosity and quick energy claims• weekend highs and lows across sports and lock-ins• sleepless nights as a cycle of stress and control• debt paid analogy clarifying grace and freedom• living differently after forgiveness with new habits• obedience from love not guilt and desire to change• authority check across schedules, people, and Jesus• one-degree surrender to make change sustainable• reading Colossians, tough Old Testament perspective• church words made simple for real lifeCome and join us February 8th. We’ll be watching the big game. Even if you don’t like football, you can just enjoy hanging out with us.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe trade a life of constant reaction for a steadier way of living rooted in Jesus, moving from comfort-first habits to a “new normal” shaped by peace, surrender, and daily obedience. Along the way we share church updates, laugh about chili and pancakes, and press into habits that actually hold on Monday.• Winter Jam plans, Superstart updates, Super Bowl chili pie cook-off• the dancing chicken metaphor for a reactive life• what the world calls normal versus the way of Jesus• the rich young ruler and trading security for surrender• why Monday feels hard after Sunday and how to recharge• Mary and Martha and choosing the better portion• seek first the kingdom as a daily rhythm• practical ways to rest, read Scripture with intent, and persevereCome hang out with us on February 8, Sunday night—Super Bowl chili pie cook offwww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe return from break with church updates and a candid talk about peace, obedience, and the difference between joy and happiness. Stories from the parking lot to Acts show how small yeses shape a year of spiritual growth.• Superstart trip details for fifth and sixth graders• Winter Jam lineup, cost, and carpool plans• Sunday breakfast and coffee updates• Young families, young adults, and 55+ casual coffee• Holiday highlights and game night fun• What peace is and isn’t from Philippians 4:7• Obedience as the path to peace and joy• Small acts that train us for bigger callings• Bible reading plans and learning in communitywww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailA tenth-episode milestone meets the glow of Christmas lights as we swap stories from a student party—duckpin bowling, axe throwing, and the legend of Oreo fluff—before settling into the stillness of Luke 2. We read the shepherds’ account and look again at what happens when an ordinary night breaks open with light. Mary treasures; shepherds hurry; fear and awe braid together; and the angel’s promise reframes peace as something deeper than seasonal calm. We talk about why joy feels easy and peace feels costly, and how belonging to Christ grounds us when life doesn’t soften on schedule.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe laugh through church updates and holiday traditions, then shift into a clear-eyed look at the nativity, the incarnation in John 1, and why Jesus becoming fully human still changes how we live now. We end with a simple invitation to turn on the light and walk with hope.• Thanksgiving dinners and volunteer appreciation• Women’s tea highlights with music and charcuterie• Student Christmas party details and sweater contest• Christmas Eve candlelight service times and memories• Nativity misconceptions and historical context• The incarnation in John 1 and its meaning• Why Jesus’ humanity and divinity matter for us• Living as light in a dark worldMake sure you're there for Christmas Eve service if you can bewww.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailYou’ll hear about the week in church life—Thanksgiving dinner plans, a women’s tea that’s already buzzing, a youth Christmas party with duckpin bowling and axes, and our annual Star Wars day—because worship doesn’t float above real life. It stitches it together. From Romans 12 to Psalm 150, from guitars to quiet prayers, we’re learning to turn melodies into formation and lyrics into lived faith.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe unpack the boy with the loaves and fish and the widow with two copper coins to ask what generosity looks like when resources feel small. We sit with Hur in Exodus—holding up Moses’ arms—and talk about the power of second-chair leaders who make ministry work without seeking a stage. We revisit King Josiah, the eight-year-old who grew up to lead a national return to God by rediscovering Scripture, and we honor Shiphrah and Puah, midwives who feared God more than Pharaoh and protected life at great risk. Each story drives home a single refrain: availability beats ability. When we bring what we have—time, talent, courage, or a simple yes—God multiplies it.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe open the door to a raw, hope-filled conversation about failure, purpose, and grace—anchored in everyday church life and the stories of Adam and Eve, King David, Peter, and Judas.This is part one of our“Who’s Who in the Bible” mini-series, using a simple but piercing question to guide us: Do your failures outweigh your purpose?www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe unpack prayer as honest conversation—sometimes clumsy, sometimes raw, always real—and wrestle with the question: why pray if God already knows? Because prayer reshapes motives and aligns hearts. We talk about public vs private prayer, kid prayers that say the quiet part out loud, and the many ways God answers: yes, no, and wait. The goal isn’t polished performance; it’s presence.Then we move into fasting and solitude with practical guidance. Fasting isn’t a spectacle; it’s a way to remember dependence and tame comfort. Start small, plan ahead, keep it quiet, and trade a meal for Scripture and prayer. Solitude completes the triad: step away, slow down, and learn to listen when your mind won’t stop talking. Try a short centering phrase, a starry night walk, or a few minutes by the water. These practices aren’t about earning anything; they’re about making space for God to meet you in ordinary life—between the derby smoke and the cranberry sauce.If you loved this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge toward quiet, and leave a review with one takeaway you’ll try this week. Your words help others find their way to prayer, fasting, and a little more stillness.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailA fall calendar packed with community fun sets the stage for a conversation many of us avoid: what do we do with doubt? We open with Fall Fest details, a student-focused 5K, and a painfully funny tailgate coffee fail, then move into the heart-level questions that shape a resilient faith. Along the way, we reframe familiar stories—Moses’ calling, David and Goliath, Doubting Thomas, and Peter on the water—so they land in our modern lives with fresh clarity and comfort.We talk about how real study can turn the “Sunday school stories” into lived wisdom, and how the Old Testament is anything but dull once you see the fire, grit, and grace running through it. David doesn’t just model courage; he points to Jesus, the true champion who fights what we cannot. Thomas doesn’t get shamed; he gets invited to see. Peter doesn’t drown in failure; he’s lifted by a hand stronger than the storm. Those scenes anchor a simple truth: doubt isn’t the enemy when it leads us closer to Christ.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan Mail We sit with our senior minister, John Watkins, to talk about what really makes a church feel like family—and why the measure of a healthy church isn’t louder programs, but people whose lives look a little more like Jesus day by day. John shares his story of preaching close to home, the joy and weight of leadership, and the simple vision that shapes Rush Church: fear God, keep His commands, and let Christ’s character show up in our homes, workplaces, and friendships.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailWe preview Rush Church’s fall calendar—from Rushsylmania and student Bible study to tailgates, the Rush Run 5K, and a reimagined fall fest—then turn to a frank talk about identity, discipleship, and what makes following Jesus worth the cost. Stories of resistance, surrender, and real peace show how the “Christian” label becomes a lived way.www.rushchurch.com

Send us Fan MailCody, Ashlee, and Brittany talk all things RushChurch! Get to know the hosts of this podcast, learn about what RushChurch is all about, plus a conversation about why we should go to church.www.rushchurch.com