South Hills Santa Clarita

We all have certain ideas of what family is and how it’s supposed to work. We pick them up from all sorts of places—the way we grew up, the friends we have, the shows we watch, and the influencers we follow. The trouble is, often the way we think things ought to be isn’t the way they really are. Ever wondered if your family is doing it right or maybe even wrong?  What if the issue isn’t the individuals in your family, but the expectations you have of your family? Is there such a thing as a healthy family? And if so, how should a healthy family function?  Now, the New Testament authors talked a lot about family in ways that were revolutionary in their culture and still feel just as revolutionary in ours today. Our hope for this month and series is to help everyone identify and overturn the common lies we tend to believe about family and improve how we feel about and function in ours. Is that something we can all benefit from?

We all have certain things we care about more than others. Everyone’s got their own goals, dreams, interests, and obsessions. But we each tend to value whatever makes us feel valuable. The catch is—most of us have had moments where we finally got our hands on whatever invisible trophy we’d been angling for and realized it just wasn’t worth the journey. The GOOD THING we’d been obsessed with became a BAD THING because it stole focus from a BETTER THING. Which is devastating. So, how do you prevent a lesser pursuit from becoming your top priority? What would it look like to organize your life around the pursuit of a more fulfilling set of trophies? What would those even be? What might it look like to truly adopt God’s priorities? Find out this Sept. at South Hills.

We all have certain things we care about more than others. Everyone’s got their own goals, dreams, interests, and obsessions. But we each tend to value whatever makes us feel valuable. The catch is—most of us have had moments where we finally got our hands on whatever invisible trophy we’d been angling for and realized it just wasn’t worth the journey. The GOOD THING we’d been obsessed with became a BAD THING because it stole focus from a BETTER THING. Which is devastating. So, how do you prevent a lesser pursuit from becoming your top priority? What would it look like to organize your life around the pursuit of a more fulfilling set of trophies? What would those even be? What might it look like to truly adopt God’s priorities? Find out this Sept. at South Hills.

We all have certain things we care about more than others. Everyone’s got their own goals, dreams, interests, and obsessions. But we each tend to value whatever makes us feel valuable. The catch is—most of us have had moments where we finally got our hands on whatever invisible trophy we’d been angling for and realized it just wasn’t worth the journey. The GOOD THING we’d been obsessed with became a BAD THING because it stole focus from a BETTER THING. Which is devastating. So, how do you prevent a lesser pursuit from becoming your top priority? What would it look like to organize your life around the pursuit of a more fulfilling set of trophies? What would those even be? What might it look like to truly adopt God’s priorities? Find out this Sept. at South Hills.

Most of us don’t start conversations with explosive intent, but the current political landscape often leaves us entangled in a web of surprise encounters, blow-ups and relational disasters. Instead of drawing up elaborate plans to outsmart our perceived opponents, what if we rediscovered the love and unity possible; even in the midst of the most chaotic environments and extreme differences? What if politics didn’t have to cost us relationships? What if we could stop feeling overwhelmed and anxious by the pundits and commentators? Join us this August as we learn how to navigate the Political Powder Keg.

Most of us don’t start conversations with explosive intent, but the current political landscape often leaves us entangled in a web of surprise encounters, blow-ups and relational disasters. Instead of drawing up elaborate plans to outsmart our perceived opponents, what if we rediscovered the love and unity possible; even in the midst of the most chaotic environments and extreme differences? What if politics didn’t have to cost us relationships? What if we could stop feeling overwhelmed and anxious by the pundits and commentators? Join us this August as we learn how to navigate the Political Powder Keg.

Most of us don’t start conversations with explosive intent, but the current political landscape often leaves us entangled in a web of surprise encounters, blow-ups and relational disasters. Instead of drawing up elaborate plans to outsmart our perceived opponents, what if we rediscovered the love and unity possible; even in the midst of the most chaotic environments and extreme differences? What if politics didn’t have to cost us relationships? What if we could stop feeling overwhelmed and anxious by the pundits and commentators? Join us this August as we learn how to navigate the Political Powder Keg.

Most of us don’t start conversations with explosive intent, but the current political landscape often leaves us entangled in a web of surprise encounters, blow-ups and relational disasters. Instead of drawing up elaborate plans to outsmart our perceived opponents, what if we rediscovered the love and unity possible; even in the midst of the most chaotic environments and extreme differences? What if politics didn’t have to cost us relationships? What if we could stop feeling overwhelmed and anxious by the pundits and commentators? Join us this August as we learn how to navigate the Political Powder Keg.

If there really is a thoughtful Creator who designed the world to work a certain way, most of us would want to know what that way is. And some people claim to. They're convinced they've heard from God. They know how God thinks, and what God wants--and not just generally, but from them personally. Some people believe God wanted them to blast someone online, boycott a company, or bomb a building. And other people believe God wanted them to adopt a child, give to charity, or make an apology. All of them did it because *God told them to But did He? Or are some of these people crazy? Does God actually speak to people, and if so, does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Or is "hearing God" a metaphor? And if so, for what? Is it just something people say to give credibility to what they already want to do? How does anyone tell the difference between their wants and God's will? Is it something we can all learn how to do, or just the super spiritual?

If there really is a thoughtful Creator who designed the world to work a certain way, most of us would want to know what that way is. And some people claim to. They're convinced they've heard from God. They know how God thinks, and what God wants--and not just generally, but from them personally. Some people believe God wanted them to blast someone online, boycott a company, or bomb a building. And other people believe God wanted them to adopt a child, give to charity, or make an apology. All of them did it because *God told them to But did He? Or are some of these people crazy? Does God actually speak to people, and if so, does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Or is "hearing God" a metaphor? And if so, for what? Is it just something people say to give credibility to what they already want to do? How does anyone tell the difference between their wants and God's will? Is it something we can all learn how to do, or just the super spiritual?

If there really is a thoughtful Creator who designed the world to work a certain way, most of us would want to know what that way is. And some people claim to. They're convinced they've heard from God. They know how God thinks, and what God wants--and not just generally, but from them personally. Some people believe God wanted them to blast someone online, boycott a company, or bomb a building. And other people believe God wanted them to adopt a child, give to charity, or make an apology. All of them did it because *God told them to But did He? Or are some of these people crazy? Does God actually speak to people, and if so, does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Or is "hearing God" a metaphor? And if so, for what? Is it just something people say to give credibility to what they already want to do? How does anyone tell the difference between their wants and God's will? Is it something we can all learn how to do, or just the super spiritual?

If there really is a thoughtful Creator who designed the world to work a certain way, most of us would want to know what that way is. And some people claim to. They're convinced they've heard from God. They know how God thinks, and what God wants--and not just generally, but from them personally. Some people believe God wanted them to blast someone online, boycott a company, or bomb a building. And other people believe God wanted them to adopt a child, give to charity, or make an apology. All of them did it because *God told them to But did He? Or are some of these people crazy? Does God actually speak to people, and if so, does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Or is "hearing God" a metaphor? And if so, for what? Is it just something people say to give credibility to what they already want to do? How does anyone tell the difference between their wants and God's will? Is it something we can all learn how to do, or just the super spiritual?

If there really is a thoughtful Creator who designed the world to work a certain way, most of us would want to know what that way is. And some people claim to. They're convinced they've heard from God. They know how God thinks, and what God wants--and not just generally, but from them personally. Some people believe God wanted them to blast someone online, boycott a company, or bomb a building. And other people believe God wanted them to adopt a child, give to charity, or make an apology. All of them did it because *God told them to But did He? Or are some of these people crazy? Does God actually speak to people, and if so, does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Or is "hearing God" a metaphor? And if so, for what? Is it just something people say to give credibility to what they already want to do? How does anyone tell the difference between their wants and God's will? Is it something we can all learn how to do, or just the super spiritual?

There’s a sort of reverence and otherness around the Bible; a sense that it’s unlike any other book. I can’t think of any other book that people encase in leather, emboss their name in gold on the front of, display prominently in their home, and pass down to the next generation.  Nobody is doing that with their copy of Safe Harbor by Danielle Steel or their copy of the Firm by John Grisham or even their copy of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I bring up a kid’s book because the Bible obviously isn’t a kid’s book, but there is a massive effort to introduce it to kids. There are coloring pages & figurines & comic book versions. Many of us have a sense that these stories matter; that they’re important for kids to understand and ought to be committed to memory. And most of us actually do know some of the stories. We just don’t always know what they mean or how they fit together.  The Bible is less a book than a library of books. It was written by over 40 authors in 3 languages over the course of 1400 yea

There’s a sort of reverence and otherness around the Bible; a sense that it’s unlike any other book. I can’t think of any other book that people encase in leather, emboss their name in gold on the front of, display prominently in their home, and pass down to the next generation.  Nobody is doing that with their copy of Safe Harbor by Danielle Steel or their copy of the Firm by John Grisham or even their copy of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I bring up a kid’s book because the Bible obviously isn’t a kid’s book, but there is a massive effort to introduce it to kids. There are coloring pages & figurines & comic book versions. Many of us have a sense that these stories matter; that they’re important for kids to understand and ought to be committed to memory. And most of us actually do know some of the stories. We just don’t always know what they mean or how they fit together.  The Bible is less a book than a library of books. It was written by over 40 authors in 3 languages over the course of 1400 yea

There’s a sort of reverence and otherness around the Bible; a sense that it’s unlike any other book. I can’t think of any other book that people encase in leather, emboss their name in gold on the front of, display prominently in their home, and pass down to the next generation.  Nobody is doing that with their copy of Safe Harbor by Danielle Steel or their copy of the Firm by John Grisham or even their copy of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I bring up a kid’s book because the Bible obviously isn’t a kid’s book, but there is a massive effort to introduce it to kids. There are coloring pages & figurines & comic book versions. Many of us have a sense that these stories matter; that they’re important for kids to understand and ought to be committed to memory. And most of us actually do know some of the stories. We just don’t always know what they mean or how they fit together.  The Bible is less a book than a library of books. It was written by over 40 authors in 3 languages over the course of 1400 yea

Doesn’t it seem like since COVID, people get set off and sidetracked by almost everything? It feels like we spend more time and energy trying to prevent what we’re afraid of than pursuing what we’re passionate about. We all have hard things we have to go through, and hard things we want to do, but end up caving quicker than we’d like. It’s not like we give up right away. But when it gets painful and we have no support and it’s taking forever, we end up just doing what’s easy, not what’s best.  Ever wish you were more focused or had more follow through? Is it possible to be more durable and disciplined without becoming more calloused and uncaring? Because that feels like a bad trade. Maybe it is. Jesus overcame impossible odds and opposition, but also genuinely enjoyed His life and the people around Him. What can we learn from Him about how to do the same? Let's learn & apply.

Doesn’t it seem like since COVID, people get set off and sidetracked by almost everything? It feels like we spend more time and energy trying to prevent what we’re afraid of than pursuing what we’re passionate about. We all have hard things we have to go through, and hard things we want to do, but end up caving quicker than we’d like. It’s not like we give up right away. But when it gets painful and we have no support and it’s taking forever, we end up just doing what’s easy, not what’s best.  Ever wish you were more focused or had more follow through? Is it possible to be more durable and disciplined without becoming more calloused and uncaring? Because that feels like a bad trade. Maybe it is. Jesus overcame impossible odds and opposition, but also genuinely enjoyed His life and the people around Him. What can we learn from Him about how to do the same? Let's learn & apply.

Doesn’t it seem like since COVID, people get set off and sidetracked by almost everything? It feels like we spend more time and energy trying to prevent what we’re afraid of than pursuing what we’re passionate about. We all have hard things we have to go through, and hard things we want to do, but end up caving quicker than we’d like. It’s not like we give up right away. But when it gets painful and we have no support and it’s taking forever, we end up just doing what’s easy, not what’s best.  Ever wish you were more focused or had more follow through? Is it possible to be more durable and disciplined without becoming more calloused and uncaring? Because that feels like a bad trade. Maybe it is. Jesus overcame impossible odds and opposition, but also genuinely enjoyed His life and the people around Him. What can we learn from Him about how to do the same? Let's learn & apply.

Doesn’t it seem like since COVID, people get set off and sidetracked by almost everything? It feels like we spend more time and energy trying to prevent what we’re afraid of than pursuing what we’re passionate about. We all have hard things we have to go through, and hard things we want to do, but end up caving quicker than we’d like. It’s not like we give up right away. But when it gets painful and we have no support and it’s taking forever, we end up just doing what’s easy, not what’s best.  Ever wish you were more focused or had more follow through? Is it possible to be more durable and disciplined without becoming more calloused and uncaring? Because that feels like a bad trade. Maybe it is. Jesus overcame impossible odds and opposition, but also genuinely enjoyed His life and the people around Him. What can we learn from Him about how to do the same? Let's learn & apply.