Many of us learned from an early age to hide what we were feeling from other people. We got the message that showing our emotions made us look weak. In time, we became so skilled at hiding what we feel, we even learned to hide our emotions from ourselves. But hiding isn’t a sign of courage or strength. If we want to grow, we have to stop saying, “It’s fine,” and start being honest—with ourselves and others—about what’s going on inside.

Many of us learned from an early age to hide what we were feeling from other people. We got the message that showing our emotions made us look weak. In time, we became so skilled at hiding what we feel, we even learned to hide our emotions from ourselves. But hiding isn’t a sign of courage or strength. If we want to grow, we have to stop saying, “It’s fine,” and start being honest—with ourselves and others—about what’s going on inside.

We all believe exercise is good for us, but we don't always head to the gym or go on a run. To actually get in shape, we have to exercise. We have to get off the couch and do it. And isn't it easier when we have someone to keep us accountable? The same is true of our faith—we can only get so far on our own.

As children, many of us received a leather-covered book full of long words and difficult names we couldn’t pronounce. We were told everything in it was true and we should do our best to abide by its teachings. Then we grew up. What was oh-so-simple then is…well, it’s not simple. Perhaps that’s because we were taught Bible stories but not the story of the Bible.

We all see the world through filters. Culture, politics, religion, economy, education are frameworks that help us make sense of the world around us. But no filter is perfect. What do we do when others see things differently than us?

Let The Games Begin

We all love games, but playing games in relationships is dangerous. Approaching relationships as though someone has to win and someone has to lose is a bad idea. One game we tend to play in our relationships is The Change Game. There’s nothing more toxic to a relationship than secretly trying to change the other person. It feels awful. It doesn’t work. And it will eventually destroy the relationship. The good news is there’s a better way.

Are you ready for your best summer ever?

Long before there were Christian Scriptures, there were Christians—men and women whose faith began with an empty tomb. These eyewitnesses to the resurrection experienced an event so extraordinary that it changed their lives, and what they gave their lives to, forever. But now a generation is walking away from their faith as their confidence in the Bible is dismantled. They assume that as the Bible goes, so goes Christianity. Maybe it’s time we learned from the faith of those early eyewitnesses—faith that’s undeniable and ultimately, irresistible.

Jesus’ resurrection launched a series of events that introduced the world to his new covenant a new hope. But old ways don’t easily give way. Not then. Not now.

During the life of Jesus, no one thought he was irresistible. Why would you? For 30 years he was a typical carpenter. Your boy next door. The son of Joseph and Mary. There was nothing spectacular, nothing extraordinary, nothing irresistible about him.

Jesus introduced something brand-new to the world.

Not Judaism 2.0

Not the second half of a book.

And not just brand-new to the world, but brand-new……for the world.

And we see throughout the life of Jesus that he demonstrated something in his life that was undeniable. And he created a movement that was Irresistible

For far too long, the church has been known for what it is against. We want to be known for what we are for. We are FOR Gainesville, and that means we are for you.

Me and My Big Mouth

Open mouth...insert foot. Don’t we all wish we could avoid that scenario? Our words can get us into all kinds of trouble. But maybe we can learn to keep our big mouths in check.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

The grass is always greener on the other side may be an old cliché, but it lurks in every one of us. So, what do we do with our longing for greener grass?

Be Rich

One thing about being a large church is we can make a large difference. When we come together, when we’re generous, we can change our communities . . . and the world.

The American in the Mirror

Only one person can ensure that we end up somewhere on purpose. And that person isn’t in the House of Representatives or the White House. They’re in our house. In fact, we look at that person in the mirror every morning. The reality is that we face our greatest leadership challenge every morning when we face ourselves.

Scared to Death

It’s scary out there—no doubt about it. We'd all like to remove fear and uncertainty from our lives, but that's not always possible. Are we destined to live scared to death or can we discover a new way of dealing with anxiety and worry?

Pack Your Bags

When one season ends and a new one begins, we all wonder what comes next. That question can be exciting…and stressful. So, how do you best navigate life’s biggest transitions?

Imaginary You

We all want to be known for something. But what do you do when you don't measure up . . . even to your own standards? You’ll never become who you want to be until you are willing to face up to who you actually are. And the only way to do that is to stop worrying about being known for something, and allow yourself to be known by a group of someones.

Fully Alive

Fully alive. Sounds good, right? Maybe too good to be true? But what if fully alive is fully available?

Wish You Were Here

Whether it's your health, your relationships, your finances, or your faith, there's an area of your life in which you can't seem to make progress. But what if there was a way to get from where you are to where you want to be?