STF YA

In this week’s message, Danny walks through Romans 8:5–11 and shows us a sobering truth: we do not naturally drift toward life, we drift away from it. Left to ourselves, we move toward self, control, and spiritual emptiness. But through the Spirit, God redirects us toward life and peace. This sermon unpacks the two mindsets Paul describes—the flesh and the Spirit—and reveals how your inner direction shapes your entire life. If you’ve felt stuck, exhausted, or like you’re striving your way through faith, this message is a reminder that God never asked you to row harder. He invites you to raise the sail and let His Spirit carry you. If you want more information follow us on Instagram @stf_ya or join us on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM.

Have you ever felt like something shifted between you and God after you messed up? Like you said something, did something, or went back to something, and now you’re not sure where you stand with Him? In this week’s message, Danny walks through Romans 8:1–4 and shows us a truth that most of us say we believe, but don’t actually live like: There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Not less.
Not later.
Not if you do better next time. None. Danny breaks down what this means for your standing before God, why trying harder will never fix what sin broke, and how Jesus didn’t remove condemnation, He took it. If you’ve been relating to God like a judge, this message will help you start relating to Him like a Father. If you want more information follow us on Instagram @stf_ya or join us on a Tuesday night.

This week, Danny Hardy closes out the Rotten Tomatoes series with a message that hits uncomfortably close to home: self-control. Why do we keep doing the very things we said we wouldn’t do again? Why is the gap between knowing what’s right and actually doing it so hard to close? And what does real self-control actually look like when life gets loud, emotional, and costly? In this final message, Danny walks through Luke 23 and shows us that self-control isn’t just about resisting temptation—it’s about staying when everything in you wants to leave. Through the trial of Jesus, we see a Savior who had every opportunity to escape, defend Himself, or walk away… and chose not to. Not out of weakness, but out of strength under control. This message unpacks what self-control really is, what it looks like under pressure, and how we begin to walk it out in real life. From the everyday struggle of distraction and impulse to the deeper moments where obedience feels costly, this sermon brings clarity to one of the most difficult—and most necessary—fruits of the Spirit. If you’ve ever felt the tension between what you know and what you do… If you’ve ever wanted to walk away when staying felt too hard… If you’ve ever wondered how to actually live this out… This message will meet you right there—and remind you that the same Jesus who stayed for you is the one who empowers you to stay with Him. Follow us on Instagram @stf_ya for updates, resources, and Tuesday night gatherings.

This week, Danny Hardy unpacks one of the most misunderstood traits in our culture—and one of the clearest marks of Jesus: gentleness. Why do we say things we instantly regret? Why do we feel the need to prove our point, even when it costs us the relationship? Why does being “right” still leave things broken? In this episode, Danny walks through a real, relatable moment in his own marriage to show how easily our strength—our opinions, our truth, our conviction—can do damage when it’s not under control. Through Galatians 5, Proverbs, and a powerful moment from the life of Jesus in Luke 22, we see that gentleness is not weakness—it’s strength, surrendered. It’s the ability to say what’s true without tearing people down. It’s choosing restoration over being right. It’s learning how to carry truth the way Jesus did. If you’ve ever replayed a conversation in your head… If you’ve ever thought, “I wasn’t wrong, but I wish I said it differently…” If you’ve ever struggled with your tone, your reactions, or your need to win… This message will challenge you to slow down, soften your approach, and become the kind of person people feel safe around. Because at the end of the day, people may not remember what you said—but they will remember how you made them feel. And the people in your life don’t just need your truth. They need your gentleness. Follow us on Instagram @stf_ya for updates, resources, and Tuesday night gatherings.

This week, Michael Rivera steps in with a message that hits right where most of us live — the tension between who we want to be and what we actually produce. Why is it so easy to hide parts of our lives? Why do we keep going through the same cycles, even when we know better? And how do you stay faithful to God when your life doesn’t feel fruitful at all? In this message, Michael walks through the cycle we all fall into, seeing, desiring, taking, and hiding, a pattern that’s been present since the beginning but still shows up in our everyday lives. From the subtle ways we chase validation to the deeper struggles we try to keep hidden, he exposes how hiding doesn’t just mask our brokenness… it keeps us stuck in it. But this isn’t just about calling out the problem — it’s about offering a better way. Through Scripture and real-life examples, Michael contrasts the cycle of sin with a new rhythm: struggling and sharing instead of taking and hiding. Because the truth is, many of us don’t feel fully loved… simply because we’re not fully known. And what we hide, God can’t heal. If you’ve ever felt stuck, ashamed, or like you’re not measuring up spiritually, this message will help you see that faithfulness isn’t about perfection — it’s about refusing to hide and choosing to step into the light. God has something greater for you — but it’s found on the other side of honesty, community, and surrender. Follow us on Instagram @stf_ya for updates, resources, and Tuesday night gatherings.

This week, our Communications Director Brie Fernandez teaches on one of the most misunderstood fruits of the Spirit: goodness. Most of us think goodness means staying on the “good side” of the line, avoiding obvious mistakes, not being the villain in the story. But in Galatians 5, Paul reframes the entire conversation. The Christian life isn’t about trying harder to avoid bad behavior; it’s about walking by the Spirit so that the character of God begins to grow within us. In this message, Brie explores the difference between manufactured goodness and Spirit-formed goodness. Through the imagery of fruit, the life of Jesus, and the powerful picture of Psalm 23, she shows that goodness isn’t something we duct-tape onto our lives through effort or image management. It’s something that grows naturally when we stay close to the Shepherd. From green pastures to valleys, from enemies to overflowing cups, Scripture reveals that God’s goodness doesn’t depend on our circumstances, it flows from His presence. If you’ve built your spiritual life around simply trying not to mess up, this message will challenge you to see something deeper: God isn’t just trying to make you less bad, He’s forming you to look more like Him. Follow us on Instagram @stf_ya for updates, resources, and Tuesday night gatherings.

This week, Danny Hardy challenges one of the most common habits in our culture and even in the church: being nice. But what if niceness isn’t what Jesus actually called us to? Why are we so quick to say things like “let me know if you need anything” but rarely step in to help? Why do we keep relationships polite but shallow? And what’s the difference between being nice and living with real, Spirit-formed kindness? In this episode, Danny walks through the powerful story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9, where a king does something no king in the ancient world would ever do. Instead of eliminating the family of the former king, David goes looking for someone to bless. What unfolds becomes one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of what true kindness looks like. Through this story, Danny shows how kindness takes initiative, moves toward brokenness, and restores dignity to people who feel forgotten, ashamed, or overlooked. And ultimately, the story points to something even bigger — the kindness of God that comes looking for us when we’re hiding in our own Lo-Debar. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like for the fruit of the Spirit to show up in everyday life, this episode will challenge the way you see compassion, relationships, and the kind of life Jesus is forming in His people. Follow us on Instagram @stf_ya for updates, resources, and Tuesday night gatherings.

This week, Danny Hardy takes us into one of the most overlooked but most necessary fruits of the Spirit: patience — not the “wait quietly” version, but the kind Scripture calls patient endurance. Why do the smallest delays wreck us? Why does waiting feel like suffering? Why does God grow some of the most important things in our lives slowly? In this episode, Danny unpacks why our generation’s pace is breaking our formation — and how the early church, the teachings of Jesus, and even the hidden life of trees reveal a better way. Through the story of the woman caught in adultery, Scripture’s wisdom on patience, and a picture of roots forming in the dark, Danny shows us that God isn’t being slow… He’s making us strong. If you’ve been frustrated, rushed, discouraged, or confused by God’s timing, this episode will help you see the slow work of God with new eyes — and learn to stay rooted when everything in you wants to move on. Follow us on Instagram @stf_ya for updates, resources, and Tuesday night gatherings.

What if the thing you think you need… isn’t actually what you need?In this week’s episode, Christian Santos challenges our definition of peace. We say we need more time, less traffic, more money, better circumstances—but what if that’s just our need for control dressed up as “peace”?Teaching from Galatians 5, Psalm 4, and Matthew 26, Christian walks us through the Garden of Gethsemane and shows us where real peace is born. Not in perfect environments. Not in quieter schedules. But in surrender.Peace isn’t a bubble. It’s a Person.Peace isn’t the absence of anxiety. It’s a submitted will.And sometimes the most powerful word in your spiritual life is: Nevertheless.If you’ve been chasing environmental peace while your soul still feels restless, this message will reframe everything.For more information follow us on Instagram @stf_ya or join us on Tuesdays at 97 Biscayne Ave, Tampa, FL 33606.

What if joy isn’t something you feel after life calms down… but something God gives you right in the middle of your anxiety? This week in our series Rotten Tomatoes: Let the Fruit Speak, Danny teaches on the fruit of joy from Psalm 94:17-19 — showing why so many of us wake up overwhelmed, stressed, and already behind, and how God meets us with joy right there in the tension. We break down what “anxiety” and “comfort” really mean in the text, why anxiety isn’t the opposite of faith, and how joy grows through God’s presence, His Word, His people, and His Spirit. You’ll hear practical rhythms, honest encouragement, and a reminder that joy isn’t something you fake — it’s something you practice… because joy isn’t your achievement; it’s God’s gift. For more information, follow us on Instagram @stf_ya or join us on a Tuesday night at 97 Biscayne Ave, Tampa, FL 33606.

What if the biggest threats to your spiritual growth aren’t out there… but in you? In this week’s episode, Danny unpacks the “fruit killers” Paul lists in Galatians 5:19–21 and connects them to Jesus’ teaching in John 15:1–8. Together, these passages reveal what chokes out spiritual fruit—and how remaining in Jesus leads to real transformation. If you want more information follow us on Instagram @stf_ya or join us on a Tuesday @ 97 Biscayne Ave, Tampa, FL 33606.

What if the part of God you understand the least is actually the One you need the most? In this week’s episode, Danny walks us through who the Holy Spirit is not a vibe, not an energy, but the personal presence of God with us and in us. This message unpacks how the Bible describes the Holy Spirit, why He matters for everyday life, and what it means to actually know Him. If you want more information follow us on Instagram @stf_ya or join us on a Tuesday @ 97 Biscayne Ave, Tampa, FL 33606.

Book Recommendations:1. Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age - https://a.co/d/33J7BND2. Outdated - https://a.co/d/9fAyFRL3. Mingling of Souls - https://a.co/d/aPJ9PPD

Have you ever felt like life was moving way too fast… and you were missing something important? In this episode, Danny walks through a powerful story in Luke 8 where Jesus is interrupted — not once, but twice — and shows us that what we call a delay, God might be using as a divine assignment. Whether it's a conversation that lingers, a change of plans, or a moment that doesn’t seem productive, don’t rush past it. It might just be an invitation to see what God is doing. Check it out — and learn how to slow down, look up, and step in.

We don’t need to be preachers to make an impact — just people who care enough to invite. In this week’s episode, Danny Hardy walks through the story of Jesus’ first followers and shows how powerful it can be when ordinary people extend a simple invitation. If you’ve ever felt unsure about sharing your faith or inviting someone to church, this is the encouragement you didn’t know you needed. Come and see what happens when we live with bold, intentional faith.

Have you ever found yourself distracted by the endless scroll or caught up in the noise of life? In this week’s episode, Danny dives into 1 Thessalonians 5 and looks at how Paul challenges us to stay alert, focused, and hopeful in a world that often distracts us from what really matters. How do we guard our hearts from the things that don’t deserve our attention? If you’ve been feeling spiritually sleepy or just overwhelmed by life, this episode is for you. Tune in as we explore practical ways to live awake and anchored in the midst of it all.

Have you ever been with someone in deep pain… and had no idea what to say? Grief is something we all encounter, but few of us know how to handle—especially when it’s not tied to a funeral, but to a breakup, a lost dream, or a silent season of disappointment. In this week’s episode, Danny Hardy walks through what real grief, real hope, and real comfort look like from 1 Thessalonians 4. Whether you’re in the middle of loss or walking with someone who is, this conversation will help you hold onto hope in the middle of the hurt. Check it out!

What do you do when life gets hard? When the pressure rises, the plans fall apart, and your faith feels shaky—how do you respond? In this week’s episode, Danny Hardy walks through 1 Thessalonians 3 and unpacks what it means to have a steadfast faith in the middle of trials. From being strengthened in suffering to leaning on community and staying rooted in prayer, this message is for anyone who's ever felt the heat of life and wondered where God is in it. Let this one strengthen you—check it out!

Have you ever been waiting for something that is important? How did you wait? How are you waiting right now? If we aren't careful, we will allow the waiting to poison us. In this weeks episode, Danny Hardy breaks down how we conduct ourselves in the waiting. The waiting season, but also waiting for Jesus to return. Check it out!

Feeling tired? Feeling burnt out? Maybe the phrase that resonates with you is your pace of life is crushing your soul... In this weeks episode, Danny shares why rest with God is so important but also shows us how we can practically find rest in God.

Does your friendships look like the world around us or do they look more like Jesus? It is hard to have friendships that challenge you, that are vulnerable, and point you to Jesus. In this week's episode, Jay Mike and his best friend Seth King, sit down and have a conversation about friendships that go against the grain.

The world around us wants to project on us what it looks like to live a meaningful life. This is contrary to what Jesus shared in one of his famous moments in his sermon on the mount. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14 In this weeks episode, Danny Hardy opens up our new series "Against The Grain" to show us that as followers of Jesus, we are to take the narrow road. Enjoy this week, and tune in every week as we dive in to what scripture says to live Against The Grain.

Have you been going through the motions? In this weeks episode, Danny Hardy our YA Pastor, challenges us to lean in to what God has for you and what He is doing. Many of us choose the comfortable life, what is easy, or avoid what we know is best. Make this year the year that you choose to lean in to whatever God has for you. See you next week!

The city of Tampa and the rest of the Bay Area has endured a very interesting and trying season. In this weeks episode, In the midst of a crazy time, we paused and reflected on how God is the good shepherd who guides us through all circumstances.

This summer we have been diving into the great commandment found in Luke 10:25-27. In this episode, Danny breaks down what it looks like to love yourself. It is hard to love someone as yourself, if you do not love yourself.

This summer we are diving into the passage in Luke 10, looking at what it looks like to Love God, Love yourself, and Love Others. In this weeks episode, Danny kicks off the series and shows what it looks like to love God in all situations.

What do you do when your belief system or worldview is shaken? Are you afraid to ask questions? Who do you go to to ask those questions? In this episode, Danny & Jay sit down with Pastor JJ (Senior Pastor At South Tampa Fellowship) and have a conversation about these vary things while processing through Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3.

What holds us back from dropping everything and following Jesus? Is it the fear of the unknown? Maybe not knowing the truth? Maybe even the pull of cultural influence in the world around us? In this episode, Ari (Our YA Coordinator) and Danny (Our YA Pastor) have a conversation about what it looks like to follow Jesus in the world we live in today by looking at a specific moment when Jesus called Matthew to follow him.

Do you ever feel stuck in the waiting? How do you usually act in while you wait? are you patient, or are you restless? The waiting can be exhausting and we can sometimes feel stuck because of some of the fears that come while we are in the waiting. In this episode, Danny shares some fears we have and some ways we can work through those fears to have courage to step into whatever we are waiting for when that time presents itself.

How do we have meaningful friendships in a stage of life where there are so many transitions happening in our life and in those all around us? In your 20's, it may be the first time in your life that "friends" are not handed to you. From elementary school to college, at some level, you have people around you that you have opportunities to have friendships with. But as you get older, if you do not like those you work with, then it may be difficult to find meaningful friendships. In this episode, Danny shares some truth from scripture and some helpful ideas to navigate friendships in the in-between.

Ever feel stuck in a transition in college, after college, and as you begin your career? Transitions can be difficult and confusing as we get older and it is even more difficult to find purpose when you feel stuck. In this weeks episode, Jay shares an encouraging and helpful message as we process how we live in the in-between college and career.

Have you ever felt like you are in-between a season, transition, moment, or a decision in your life? We tend to always be in-between something in our lives especially as young adults. This episode, Danny shares the framework of the sermon series, and guides us through the tension we may feel when we are in the in-between.

How is being persecuted a part of the "Good Life" according to Jesus? In this weeks episode, Danny shares what persecution is, and how we can stand firm in the midst of it.

What does it look like to be a peacemaker? How do we take on conflict resolution and not just ignore it? In this episode, Danny & Jay have a conversation centered around practical ways to walk out the good life by being a peacemaker.

What does it truly mean to see God? Pastor Chris Dotson shares a powerful message on the pure in heart and what it means for us to truly see God.

The good life can be described many different ways, especially by the world & culture we live in. The good life that we are focusing on is the good life according to the way of Jesus as He shared in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 by way of the Beatitudes. This episode, our Young Adults pastor - Danny Hardy - shares about how we have received mercy and what that means for us.

What are you hungry for or thirsty for? We all have an appetite for something, but what do your appetites tell you about yourself? In this episode, Danny shares how we can begin to develop an appetite for God, to truly hunger and thirst for righteousness.

What does it mean to be MEEK? This can be a concept that brings a lot of questions or simply we can be unclear about. In this episode Danny and Jay have a conversation that challenges us to live in such a way that represents Jesus in all that we do.

What do you do when you are at the end of yourself and there is no where else to turn? Many of us of done things, thought things, seen things, or even said things that are not glorifying to God. Have you ever mourned your sin? Have you ever sat in the magnitude of what breaks the heart of God? In this episode, One of our Church partners - Trevor Lovingood (Pastor in Denver, Colorado) - shares about getting to the end or yourself and giving what you have to Jesus. What would our lives, relationships, and the world around us look like if we did what Jesus asks of us?

Do you ever feel like you are going through the motions? How do we find gratitude in the mundane of life? In this episode, Jay shares some truth from scripture and thoughts that will help us find gratitude in the everyday life.

What do you do when life throws a curveball at you? What do you do when things do not make sense, or life is more difficult than you thought it would be? Do you pack it up and call it quits, or do you reposition yourself to have gratitude in the moments that do not make sense? In this episode, Danny shares how we can press on to have gratitude even in the midst of suffering.

How do we practice gratitude? In this episode, Chris Dotson (STF Teaching Pastor) shares with us what it looks like to practice and actively live out gratitude.

Do you find yourself being set free yet running back to what has held you in bondage? In this episode, Danny shares about how shame can keep us in bondage, when in reality if we are in Christ, we have been set free.

It's easy to believe the Gospel is true when everything is going our way, but do you believe the Gospel is true even in challenging times? In this episode, STF Communications Director and STFYA's very own Brie Fernandez vulnerably shares the struggles and temptations she has faced while walking with the Lord. She challenges us to honestly answer the question "Do You Believe the Gospel is Always True?"

Stop. Drop. Roll. You probably heard this phrase in elementary school when the local fire department came by to teach you about fire safety, but did you know that it can actually help you more clearly hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? In this sermon, Jay Mike takes us on a "journey" to explain how being more like penguins and taking the time to "stop, drop, and roll" will lead to greater discernment when searching for the voice of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord has been moving in our midst and moving through our worship! In this sermon, Shannon breaks down how we can live connected to Jesus through our worship. He calls us to walk with Him, work with Him and watch how He works... will you answer that call?

Are you paying attention to your attention? When it comes to us communicating with the Holy Spirit, the idea is often surrounded by confusion. In this sermon, Chris breaks down how we can spend intentional time in God's presence to communicate with the Holy Spirit.

What does it mean to walk intimately with the Holy Spirit? The walk begins when we recognize our own brokenness. In this sermon, Chris breaks down the formula Holiness + Brokenness = Intamacy and how that influences our daily walk with the Holy Spirit.

How do we position ourselves to preach the gospel in a post-modern world? It starts by understanding that the Gospel moves at the speed of relationships. In this episode, missionary Mike Taylor shares his story of saying "yes" to God and what it looks like to live life on mission.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus could say that it was better for him to leave us than for him to walk alongside us? The answer to that question is not found in focusing on Jesus' absence, but on what will be present in his absence. In this sermon, Chris walks STF YA through Holy Spirit 101, setting the baseline for our new series, "Scared of the Ghost."