Months ago, we prayerfully planned our summer series, Love Your Immigrant Neighbor, without knowing what would unfold in our own city. We couldn’t have predicted how much the needs of immigrant and refugee families would be in the spotlight this very week. But God knew. And in His kindness and sovereignty, He is inviting us to respond—not with fear or debate, but with compassion, prayer, and Christlike love.

What if Pentecost wasn’t just an event in the past—but a picture of who we are meant to be today?When the Spirit first moved in Acts 2, it wasn’t quiet. A rushing wind, holy fire, and voices—lots of them—proclaiming the wonders of God in over a dozen languages. That wasn’t just a miracle. It was a message. From the very beginning, the church was multilingual, multicultural, and global.It was never meant to be exclusive. It was always meant to be beautifully diverse.

This weekend was Q&A Sunday at Christ Community Church, a unique opportunity where Pastor Mark answered live, text-in questions from the congregation. No scripts. No prep. Just honest responses to real questions about faith, the Bible, and the world we live in. And the questions didn’t hold back.

From the very beginning, the heartbeat of God has been for the outsider. In Genesis 1:26-27, we are reminded that every person is made in the image of God. In Leviticus 19:33–34, God commands His people to treat the foreigner as a native-born and to love them as themselves. In Exodus 22:21–24, He warns against mistreating the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan—those who are most vulnerable.

Summer and fun go hand in hand. Just the mention of the season brings to mind campfires, cookouts, family road trips, and backyard games. And for many, it’s a time to pause and reflect, to lift our eyes and hearts beyond the routines of everyday life.

Twenty years ago, I could’ve told you it was in Nebraska—but not much more than that. I didn’t know what side of the state it sat on, what made it unique, or what kind of people lived here. But today? This is my home. It’s the hometown of my kids, the place we’re planting roots, and a city I’m proud to be part of.

In Good to Great, Jim Collins highlights a principle he calls the Stockdale Paradox—a mindset modeled by Admiral James Stockdale, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer imprisoned during the Vietnam War. After enduring eight brutal years in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” including more than 20 episodes of torture, Stockdale said what got him through was this paradox: an unwavering belief that he would prevail in the end, paired with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of his current reality.

Last summer, I got invited to play golf at a country club by a generous friend. I was honored—but I was also nervous. From the moment I pulled my beat-up Subaru with nearly 250,000 miles into a lot full of shiny luxury cars, I could feel it in my chest: I don’t belong here. That feeling only got stronger. My clubs were outdated. I didn’t know where to check in. A kind man reminded me to tuck in my shirt before playing. No one was rude, but I still couldn’t shake that inner voice whispering: “You don’t fit. You’re not one of them.”

Have you ever tried to cram into something too small? Like airplane seats in United Economy Minus... or jeans that fit four years ago... or a giant Radio Flyer wagon slide that wasn’t built for middle-aged adventurers? (Let’s just say it didn’t end well for me.) Isaiah 49 warns us against thinking too small — because our God is limitless.

This Easter, Minister Mark invited us to experience resurrection not through abstract theology, but through the eyes of a fictional disciple named Bart. In first-person storytelling, Bart brought us into the middle of the most transformational dinner party in history.

What makes God different? That’s the central question pulsing through Isaiah chapters 44–46, and the answer is just as relevant today as it was when Isaiah first penned these bold, spirit-breathed words. Across these chapters, one theme rings loud and clear: "I am God, and there is no other." Not a god among many. Not just the best option. The only one.

Have you ever felt stuck in a situation that felt too big to handle? Like you were facing something overwhelming—something impossible? Maybe it was a financial burden, a health diagnosis, a family issue, or a decision that felt way too heavy.

At Christ Community Church, missions have always been at the core of who we are. As part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, we are committed to seeing lives transformed as people in every nation, tribe, and language experience the hope of Jesus. This Missions Sunday, we take a deeper look at what it truly means to do missions well.

Are you tired? Not just sleepy-tired, but worn out by life? Maybe it’s the demands of parenting, the stress of bills, health struggles, or just the heaviness of trying to keep up in a world that never slows down. The message of Isaiah 40 is for those who feel worn out—and it offers real hope.