In Focus Church

Just because God is faithful when you're faithless doesn't give you an excuse to be faithless.

The Gift of God's Discipline

What if discipline was a gift, not a burden?

God's discipline isn't about punishment but love and growth.

Like a parent teaching a child, God trains His children in godliness to protect and preserve their lives.

In your struggle against sin, remember: Christ's sacrifice was far greater.

Don't lose heart when God corrects you – it's a sign of His love and acceptance.

He's refining you, not to break your spirit, but to reveal your true identity in Him.

View God's discipline through the lens of His perfect love, not past experiences.

Trust His process, even when it's challenging.

Need prayer or want to speak to a pastor? Send us a DM.

God is a covenant-keeping-God who loves you and loves me and does all that He does out of that unchanging character.

NEVER FORGET THIS TRUTH:

There's nothing that you can do to make God love you more, and there's nothing that you could do to make God love you less.

God loves you.

Our circumstances do not change God's love for us, but they should change the depth of our love for Him.

Today marks 19 years of leading IFC for Pastor Brent & Karla 🤍

Let’s honor them in the comments and let them know how grateful we are for their faithfulness and ministry!

THE PATH TO A CONTENT LIFE

God knows our needs before we ask. He can do more than we imagine. Isn't that comforting?

Even when our prayers aren't perfect, He understands.

When we align our lives with God's timing (Kairos), not just clock time (Chronos), we're in a whole new ballgame

It's not about having more time, it's about trusting Him.

Worry often means we've stopped trusting. But the moment we trust God again, we step into the eternal. We don't need more of anything else because we have Him.

Remember, when your heart truly trusts in the Lord, you're tapping into something timeless.

Our God is eternal, and in His presence, all our needs are met.

God didn't create us to serve time. We were created to worship and serve Him only.

Don't let pain and suffering ever tell you what God is thinking about you.

WHY DID GOD CREATE HUMANS?

God created Adam and Eve not out of necessity but as a profound expression of His love, making us unique among all His creations.

As Scripture says, "God is love." He wanted beings who could truly experience His incredible love in a way no other part of creation could.

Adam and Eve were the first to receive God's perfect love. But God didn't stop there.

He gave us purpose, too. Instead of forming everything Himself, He left raw materials for us to work with. He blessed us with amazing minds to create and innovate.

Look around – we've built cities, invented technology, and transformed the world. From AC to smartphones, we're using our God-given creativity to shape our environment.

God's love empowers us to co-create with Him, fulfilling His grand design for humanity.

DON'T MISS OUT ON CHRIST'S GIFT

We often resist admitting our flaws or need for forgiveness.

It's tempting to project confidence and independence, avoiding any sign of weakness.

But this mindset, while seemingly empowering, actually limits our freedom.

It blinds us to our actual needs and keeps us from experiencing the liberation that comes with forgiveness.

Here's a thought: true freedom comes when we admit we need forgiveness.

It's not about looking weak—it's about being authentic. Jesus offers the gift of forgiveness freely.

Ready to drop the act and embrace real life with Jesus?

The real Jesus is going to be a little bit inconvenient because there's always stuff that I have to be willing to give up to encounter who He really is.

DO THIS WHEN YOU FEEL OFFENDED

Often, when we feel offended, it's crucial to not react quickly. Instead, pause and seek God's guidance. You're not alone in your feelings.

We vent, sometimes hurting others with our words. But once spoken, words can't be taken back.

By letting God guide you, you learn to respond thoughtfully.

Ask God to help you process your feelings and give you His perspective.

Reading the Bible helps; it’s powerful and transformative.
Memorize verses to recall in tough times, just like Jesus did.

Set godly expectations by seeking God before reacting.

This way, you see offenses from His viewpoint, preventing them from growing and overshadowing His plans for you.

When we begin to love and ask God for love, we begin to see life and situations and people from the perspective of Jesus.

TWO LESSONS FROM THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON

1. Love Over Judgment

The father didn't mention his son's mistakes. He just loved him.

We often excel at discipline but struggle with love.

Jesus is teaching us to prioritize love over judgment.

2. Sacrificial Redemption

The story reflects God's actions through Jesus.

The son deserved punishment, but the father intervened, symbolizing God's sacrifice.

Jesus stands between us and the law, offering life instead of death.

A Father is always willing to sacrifice His most prized possession for His children.

IS YOUR LOVE GROWING FOR THESE PEOPLE?

Christians, our love for God should overflow into love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This means loving those we live with and beyond.

Our love must be real and visible. People should see something unique in our relationships.

A multi-generational, multi-ethnic church showcases the gospel's power.

1st John 4:20 calls us liars if we claim to love God but don't love other believers.

John 13 commands us to love one another as Jesus loved us. This love shows we're His disciples.

One pastor said, "The gospel of Jesus makes us treat each other like royalty."

Our love for God should reflect in our love for others. As our love for God grows, so does our love for each other.

You can't have a love for God and not have a love for people.

DON’T PUT YOUR FAITH TO WASTE

Our faith is not a passive possession but an active process that grows through our interaction with the Word of God.

As we ingest the truth of God, we need to hear, read, and meditate on His Word.

And as we do that, we will discover the truth about God, about us, about God's past exploits and promises for the future.

As we dive into His Word, faith begins to take root and grow within us. Why? Because the object of our faith begins to grow larger.

But faith can't just be something we observe, it has to be something we act upon.

Unless we exercise our faith and put it into use, it's just something big that has no effect.

God owes us nothing, yet he extends His compassion to us all.

When you do what God has called you to do, you will pay a price for it. But we can trust in a faithful God who will fulfill His promises toward us, and we will have whatever we need or lack.

WHAT DOES THE TITHE MEAN?

The essence of tithing is simple:

First, best, constant.

God's formula urges us to give wholeheartedly.

By starting with that initial 10%, we're compelled to put our priorities in order.

Tithing isn't just about money; it's a spiritual exercise that challenges our selfish desires and nurtures a spirit of giving.

Placing God first in our finances means placing Him first in our lives.

As Jesus wisely said, "Where your treasure is, that's where your heart is also."

A unified church is an unstoppable force.

HOW CAN WE KNOW WE’RE MAKING AN IMPACT?

According to Scripture, Jesus is seen the most clearly in our love for one another.

What does loving like Christ look like?

We love one another in a countercultural way.

We love one another through the different generations and ethnicities.

When we love each other that way, overcoming divisions that would typically separate us, people see that we love one another.

When they see our example of love, they will know that God loves them.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION

Jesus commands us to share the gospel by living it out. How?

It's really simple:

You know the needs of those around you. Go meet them.

Be like the Good Samaritan - offer support and love where it's lacking.

Pray for healing and deliverance, following Jesus' example.

It's about God's power, not yours.

Stay close to Jesus, trust His plan, and be open to His work in every interaction.

Doing as Jesus did should lead us to want to be with Him even more.