Paul was burdened for the church as they did not walk in faith, obedience, morality, etc. In that, Peter noticed that the churches really didn't grasp their identity in Christ. Peter sets out here to remind the people of the church that they have a new life, and challenges them to walk in it. Peter exhorts the church why it is important to depend on, hang on to, and take most seriously our faith. In this, Peter likens us to "spiritual stones" being built up into a "spiritual house".

The American church is struggling in many ways. Too many people within the church have their own sets of eccentric preferences, comforts, yearnings to be entertained rather than exhorted, and they all too often seek messages to make them feel good rather than pay attention to what they need. A strong faith demands maturity, humility, exhortation, and among other things, boldness. In this message, Pastor Troy challenges every believer to examine themselves in light of this. Do you know your identity in Christ? Does your relationship with Christ make a difference in your life? Are you more afraid of people than you are of God? The reality is; every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). We need to start doing that now by taking our relationship with Christ more seriously.

Love is more than a complex emotional. psychological, and physiological state due to a connection being made. Love, when it is brought upon you by God is a powerful force. Sincere love is something is the most extraordinary. Why is that and where did it come from? In this message Pastor Troy Billow explains why God chose you out of the world to be separated for His will and purposes, and how love became the driving force to set this dynamic in motion. Jesus Christ CHOSE to love you. He did not have to do that, and we did not deserve that. But He chose to do it to the ultimate extremes, following through on the only way to redeem, sanctify, and purify us, so that in connection to Him, we have the wherewithal we need to have sincere love for one another.

With Guest Speaker John Beechy

There is a reason why God wants your heart. There is also something built within every human being that needs God, though they may fill that need with something else. Sin created a barrier between these two dynamics, however Jesus Christ was sent on a rescue mission to eliminate this boundary and bring you into relationship with God. In this message, Living Faith's own Gust Speaker John Beechy brings a message on a life that is transformed when you take the opportunity to receive Christ and have a relationship with Him. This, along with trusting Him, and depending on His promises begins a life that will become transformed the more you depend on Him. Like a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly, the metamorphosis of a person being spiritually awakened yields fruit that not only remakes a person, but also allows them to be salt and light in a dark world, and add "taste" to it.

This message asks a fundamental question; "are you walking in faith like an unassuming child?" In this passage, we see a situation unfold, in which two disciples, James and John, are arguing about which of them would be the greatest. Both James and John were zealous to serve, but in the process, a spirit of pride started to develop and foment, causing division. Jesus, knowing their thoughts and intentions, took a little child, had him stand beside Him, and told them that, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” While in this moment James and John were looking ahead to a position of prestige, with personal pride at the center. Jesus is looking for a heartfelt willingness to serve, with humility at the center.

Days after Jesus led His disciples into preaching the Kingdom of God, He took Peter, John, and James into the mountain to pray. Jesus made prayer a top priority (Acts 2:42) as it builds unity and attracts the attention of God (Matthew 18:20). As Jesus prayed, His countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistening. While this was occurring, two men, Moses (the giver of the Law), and Elijah (the most important/key prophet), the most prolific men in Judaism, were talking to Jesus, and in the midst of this conversation, the voice of God the Father broke through in the presence of the three disciples and told them, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” This sets in motion a number of dynamics, which in this message, are addressed by Pastor Troy Billow. This encounter also gives another dimension to what Paul talked about in Romans 3:19 where he mentioned that the Law and the prophets TESTIFY to the reality and purpose of Jesus Christ.

What exactly does it mean to "carry your cross"? Throughout Jesus's ministry and in the midst of his most profound miracles, Jesus challenged people to deny themselves. Jesus today challenges people to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Him. Why does Jesus ask such a thing and what does that mean for you? It is the active ingredient of discipleship. In I Peter 4:1, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, calls everyone to ARM YOURSELF with this attitude, which carries the ambition of "I am done with sin". Another way to look at it is; I am going to live my life like i am not ashamed of Him. Jesus gives motivation for people to apply this attitude so that when He returns in glory and majesty, you will be confident, happy and looking forward to this event, not sad, lacking in confidence, and ashamed.

Jesus asks a question at a key time. He asks, "who do the crowds say I am?" Jesus is fishing for perspective on the consensus of the people witnessing the things that He is saying and the things that He is doing. Then, Jesus asks His disciples on an individual plane, "Who do you say I am?" This is testament to who has access to the Kingdom of Heaven. You are a "door opener" to the Kingdom because, if you believe in Him, you have the keys to the Kingdom of God. In this message, Pastor Troy Billow brings the substantiated weight behind this question, because, after all, your place in eternity, and your role in bringing people into the Kingdom of God rests on how you answer the question, "Who is Jesus to you?'" as it will reflect whether you are answering it driven by the Spirit of God, or if you answering it based on a flawed human perspective that makes Jesus distant from your heart. This message drives home the seriousness behind how you respond to this question and why.

In this message, Pastor Troy Billow not only explains the account of Jesus's miracle of feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, but explains how Jesus taught His disciples a valuable set of lessons before He made them leaders. In this situation, Jesus healed sick people and was drawing a crowd. The disciples tried to put the kibosh on the attraction Jesus was making in the interest of getting some food and going to sleep. They told Jesus that if he continues on much longer then they will have to feed the crowd. So Jesus told the disciples to get them something to eat. With only five loaves and two fish, they exerted the impossibility of such a task. So, Jesus instructed the disciples to divide people up into groups of 50, thanked God for the food, and distributed it to the 5000 people. Jesus is having the disciples participate in what He is doing so that by Him doing what seems impossible, and having the disciples engage in what seems impossible, YOU can do what seems impossible through Him. You cannot rely on you. You have to rely on the power of God, the Holy Spirit, and for God Himself to actually step in. You have to spend time with Jesus (to rejuvenate and revive), and come to the realization that you NEED Him to take care of the matters that you cannot. Faith attracts God's attention and it is in these "curve ball" circumstances that God lays out an example for you to follow, so that He can step in and take care of what appears to be an impossible situation.

What happens when faith gets radical? In this message, Jesus gives His disciples the authority to drive out demons and cure diseases, but He adds this stipulation; take nothing with you and keep moving forward. The Gospel is not complicated. Jesus just wants us to trust Him, follow Him, and believe in Him. Jesus tells His disciples to take nothing for the journey because HE will provide for them, and if He provided for them in their day, He most certainly will provide for YOU today, as faith is what attracts and enables God to act and take care of you. Jesus wants you to keep moving forward, stay focused, and stay faithful until the situations and missions He sends you are complete. If people don't like it, keep moving. If people don't listen, stay faithful. In this message, Pastor Troy Billow explains how moving forward in faithfulness is the center of Kingdom Focus, and HOW Jesus taught us to accomplish this.