First Champaign-urbana

Nothing will stop the tenacious love and drive one mother has for her son. She will cross countries via plan, bus, and van - all to be reunited with her child. We agree, there’s nothing quite as powerful when a Father and child are reunited once again.

He’s everyone’s favorite elf! Full of joy, holiday spirit, lots of sugar, and nothing ever seems to get him down. And while he might be a little disillusioned, Buddy the Elf shows us all the unique power and joy of a child-like faith.

The Mid-life crisis is defined as: an emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that occurs in early middle age. Basically, it’s someone trying to hear from God about their purpose in life. Maybe you or someone you know is or is about to enter into that stage of life. Some solve it with career changes or new toys. but what if we told you there is a much more impactful way to Hearing From God, and how He desires you to leave an impact beyond yourself.

Have you ever seen the video of the cat who thinks it’s a duck? That’s the power of our community. The people we are around the most has the ability to transform our beliefs, actions, and sometimes even our identity. In week 3 of Hearing From God, we look to the most transformative way we hear from Jesus.

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone, and then you catch yourself not actually listening - just waiting for you turn to talk? If we’re honest, we’ve all done that before. Not only that, we would all probably agree it’s not the best way to have a relationship with someone we love. This week, we dive into the a way of Hearing From God that develops our love and trust for Him.

Every communication between two parties requires intentionality on both sides. In the most basic function, someone has to speak, and another has to listen! And while some things can get lost in translation, hearing clearly from someone is best when we listen directly to their voice. In week one of Hearing From God, we look to the most clear way to hear God’s voice.

At some point when we were all younger, we were introduced to the power of compound interest. Whether through the original Indian parable or the “magic penny,” there’s a power behind investing early, and often. The same goes with our finances as disciples of Jesus because we can steward God’s resources for a purpose that lasts.

What’s bigger - 9 or 10? No, this isn’t a trick question or start of a joke… sort of. While we know 10 is bigger than 9, in the Kingdom of God - 9 reigns over 10. There is something about a tenth that matches the heart of God we are all called to emulate. So, let’s see where this idea of a tenth comes from and what to do with it.

Did you ever butt your way into a conversation that didn’t involve you and you were met with - “Hey! Mind your own business!” Well, when it comes to talking about God and money, almost all of us feel that way. Yet, God and the Bible understand that money is important and a very big part of our lives. In week 1 of this series, we look to see how God sees money, our hearts, and how they connect.

From The Bachelor to Love Is Blind, our society is infatuated with people chasing after “the one.” However, marriage is so much more than just finding Mr. or Mrs. Right, right? What if the focus was less on hoping to not fall out of love, and more about choosing the things for a strong relationship?

We know children are a gift. However, they don’t come with a manual; and not to mention they’re all different! If you’re a parent, new parent, soon-to-be parent, or hope-to-be one, knowing how to parent well is a daunting role. We know it requires a lot of pre-decision - but in what ways is best?

It’s one of the most Googled questions of all time: What should I have for dinner? Vitally important, right? It’s researched closely with questions about love, the meaning of life, and knowing God’s will. When it comes to pre-deciding to live as a disciple, it’s not just a good question, rather foundation to know and follow.

Whether those habits are good, bad, or somewhere in-between, our habits are what we consistently do - usually without thinking. So, looking at what you consistently do, what would you say is the trajectory of your life? health? Marriage? And most importantly, spiritual growth?

Time for a reality check: Your favorite candidate will win or lose based on how our country votes this November. However, the church can win or lose based on our behavior between now and then. While your vote on a ballot matters, how we act as disciples matters even more.

Sams or Costco? Coke or Pepsi? Cubs or Cardinals? There are a lot of opinions out. And despite most of them, we still live at peace with one another. So, why is it as soon as the conversation turns Red or Blue, does all that seem to go out the window? For Week 1 of United, we look at the one thing to keep in mind that should help all disciples remain focused on the main thing.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a sheep? Well, look out because Jesus is calling us out as sheep in this one! Do we share any common characteristics with sheep - and, if so, what does that mean for us and how we live our lives?

Of your five senses - which would you least want to lose? Statistically, 70% of people say the ability to see would be the worst sense to lose. For this week’s passage, we look at a fairly popular story where someone gets the ability to see for the first time and the transformation(s) that happen as a result.

It’s one thing to get a nickname… it’s another thing to dub yourself! So, what if someone you knew labeled themself as the GOAT? You’d probably think they're either delusional or completely full of themselves, right?!?! But - what if they were right?

As we go through school, we learn new things all the time. From new equations to new historical figures, our minds are adjusting to fresh information. However, what does it take to change your mind? In fact, when was the last time someone changed your mind about something important? In our series through the Gospel of John, we look at how Jesus went about changing people’s minds - and hearts - about Himself.

Riddle: I can only live where light is, but I die if the light touches me - what am I?... A shadow! The power of light is known to us on a daily basis. It regulates our sleep, provides food for our food, keeps us warm, allows us to see, and more. So, if someone claimed to be able to do all that - would you believe them?