As the number two ruler in all of Egypt, Joseph’s dream has finally come true. When his brothers come to get food from Egypt, Joseph could have had full revenge for how they treated him. But Joseph realized that his brothers didn’t control his destiny. God does. Resting in that, Joseph gave a gift to his brothers and himself. Forgiveness.…

When Joseph was forgotten in prison by the two men he helped, he had to feel overlooked. But he wasn’t, at least not by God. God was waiting for the perfect moment to have Joseph released from prison so that He could put him in the ideal position to carry out His will. God’s timing is PERFECT, even when it’s much slower than ours!…

Once again, Joseph finds himself in a pit. This time, the pit is a prison. But Joseph discovered that he wasn’t alone. Even when life works against us, our God is WITH us! Even in the lowest of places, God blessed Joseph and caused him to prosper. God will have His Hand upon us in our dark places, too!…

This message will encourage us to reflect deeply on God's love. It’s easy to say, but do we truly believe it—especially when we face difficult situations? This is our faith—the belief that God’s goodness remains constant, even when circumstances don’t make sense.Di ShartelChurch

We welcome Kevin Dugay, Campus Pastor at Mid-America Christian University!Di ShartelChurch

When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he shunned her advances, even though it could have been personally and financially prosperous for him. Integrity and commitment to God were more important to Joseph than favor with another person or financial gain. Joseph paid the high price of integrity and discovered that it was worth it all to be rewa…

Everywhere Joseph went, he had success. That’s because he gave himself fully to what was at hand, believing God was with him. Achieving our divine destinies doesn’t usually come in huge, single leaps. They are successes built upon successes. To do that, we must commit to being the best we can be, WHEREVER we are. Treating every opportunity as a gif…

When Joseph got thrown into the pit and then sold into slavery, I doubt that he had any idea that God was using these things to get him to where he needed to be. The way WE think our path should be and the path God takes us on is often very different. This message will look at trusting God, not just with the dream, but with the PROCESS of achieving…

Is there any pain greater than being betrayed by someone you trusted? But even betrayal can’t stop us from achieving our divine destiny. This message will look at how we deal with betrayal and grieve the loss but let it become a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block.Di ShartelChurch

Most of the problems we encounter in life are problems we create for ourselves! Bad attitudes. Stupid decisions. Pride. Joseph was no different. Joseph alienated his brothers by telling them he would rule over them one day. His pride and jumping the gun in God’s design for his life caused him serious problems. This message will examine how we handl…

God has amazing plans for us! We too often settle for a life of meaningless activity and low goals. But God has a dream for us! He has plans for us to make our lives meaningful and impactful. We may be young or old, but as long as we’re breathing, God’s not done with us!Di ShartelChurch

In Matthew 20, Jesus shares the parable of the vineyard workers. In this parable, we see that the landowner is generous and pays the workers evenly. We also see how the workers respond. This Sunday, we will look at this parable and how we can relate it to our lives.Di ShartelChurch

In Psalm 39, David reminds us how fleeting life is. Many of us struggle with procrastination, but there are some things that we shouldn't put off. In this week's message, we will look at some facts about life & time and things that we shouldn't put off.Di ShartelChurch

Guest Speaker, Stephanie Greenwald will walk us through Psalm 23 and how we can apply it to our lives.Di ShartelChurch

If you were before Jesus and he asked, "What do you want me to do?" How would you answer? How you answer this question reveals a lot about the state of your soul. Join us as we see how one man answered this question and how we can respond as well.Di ShartelChurch

David’s last words to Solomon were a reminder to be faithful to the Lord. David had experienced both the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. His words of wisdom to Solomon are a wonderful reminder that life goes better when we listen to the Lord! This message will challenge us to live and people after God’s heart so that we…

The immortal words that Jesus spoke are incredibly powerful. Having accomplished the work God the Father sent Him to do, He spoke His last words and died. Those words give us hope and life and set us free. This weekend, as we celebrate freedom in our country, we will look at the freedom that is ours through Jesus Christ, our Lord.…

God made a promise to Joseph when he was young. It took 25 years and a lot of ups and downs, but God finally fulfilled that promise. As Joseph dies, he reminds his brothers and family that God will help them just as God helped him throughout his life. And that’s God’s promise to us!Di ShartelChurch

The Israelites had been up and down and back and forth with God. Joshua witnessed it firsthand as they wandered through the desert and fought into the Promised Land. Now, as he prepares for his death, he challenges them to leave their weak-faith lives and commit wholeheartedly to the Lord. Joshua challenges them and us to live lives of intentional,…

On this Father’s Day, we’ll look at how to use our positions and power in a God-honoring way. In a world where many seek to flex their muscles and control those around them, Jesus calls us to serve, lift, and empower. One of the most attractive traits of those we want to draw near to is feeling safe with them. They are approachable, tender, and gen…

If there is one relational principle we get backward, it’s this one. When someone hurts our feelings or does something offensive to us, we do everything but the one thing Jesus tells us to do: Go to them. This message will look at recalibrating our dysfunctional ways of handling hurts. We’ll explore how to have hard, honest conversations with those…

thanRelationships were God’s idea. He created us and designed them for our well-being. It only makes sense that from time to time, we need to step back and ask the question if we are building our relationships on His Word or upon Our Wants. Nothing will get us off track quicker than not having Christ as the Cornerstone of our relationships.…

Have you ever seen an old car that’s been restored? They’re beautiful! Fresh paint, trim, seat covers, and a car you were ready to take to the junkyard becomes one you don’t want to part with. The same is true in our relationships. Sometimes, we forget that the simple things, the little things, attract people to us or repel them from us. This messa…

The most powerful story in the world is the one we tell ourselves. It’s also the most powerful part of our relationships. The stories we tell ourselves about other people and ourselves are often lies that the Enemy uses to divide us. He takes our past wounds and struggles and tries to make it the lens through which we view today. Healthy relationsh…

Relationships were God’s idea. He created us and designed them for our well-being. It only makes sense that from time to time, we need to step back and ask the question if we are building our relationships on His Word or upon Our Wants. Nothing will get us off track quicker than not having Christ as the Cornerstone of our relationships.…

The Resurrection not only gave us a new life and a new power, it also gave us a reason to live: To share the news that Jesus is ALIVE! We all know that Jesus is what this world is looking for and we know that Jesus is the cure for the ills of our society. But sadly, we keep that news to ourselves instead of sharing it with those who need to hear. J…

God’s Spirit not only works in us, He works THROUGH us! The Resurrection unleashed the power of the Holy Spirit to do amazing things through the disciples. People were saved. People were healed. God gave His people boldness and favor and they carried out His work. That same Spirit that worked in them is in US today. Let’s rise and let God’s Spirit …

All of us are born with certain talents. Along the way, we develop various kinds of abilities as well. But when God’s Spirit comes to dwell in us, He adds to that list by giving us spiritual gifts! Those might be an enhancement of what we already have or something altogether new. But with the gift comes a calling to use those gifts in service to th…

The Resurrection gave us a common Big Brother in Christ and the Spirit unites us together into one family. We have others to help us, care for us, and encourage us. We have place where we belong. We also have a group to contribute to and share our lives with. Young or old, married or single, we are all a part of God’s amazing family and have a plac…

The grace that Christ made possible on the cross is amazing. Our sins can be forgiven and our slate wiped clean. But the Resurrection reminds us that we also have a chance to bury that old way we lived and truly be different people. Let’s rise up and claim the new lives God wants us to live!Di ShartelChurch

The Resurrection was the final “proof” that Jesus was who He claimed to be: God in the flesh. It was what gave the disciples the motivation and power to continue the ministry He began here on earth. It is also the “hook” that we can hang our faith on. Like Thomas, the Resurrection challenges us to rise and believe!…

This story of Jesus reminds us of the investment God has made in us and what we are to do with that investment. God has a place and a purpose for each of us. He wants to work THROUGH us as much as He wants IN us. With the Spirit of God working through us, we can accomplish anything that God calls us to. One day, God will ask us what we did with wha…

Many of us have never discovered the difference between “saying our prayers” and really praying. Jesus uses this story to push us to discover our power and privilege in coming to God with our requests. This message will focus on how to CLING to God—how to seek Him passionately and wholeheartedly. The bells of heaven ring when God’s people pray!…

God gave up everything to make us His. What are we willing to do to fully possess the life He wants us to have? This week we'll look at the "pearls" we have to be willing to sell to fully embrace our "Pearl of Great Price."Di ShartelChurch

This parable reminds us of the incredible intrinsic value that God has put upon each of us. Though we may not see it, and it may not even be obvious to others, God sees it. This message will look at rediscovering our worth and the amazing price tag God has put upon every one of us.Di ShartelChurch

We quit too soon. We give up too easily. Those facts are true for many facets of our lives. This parable will teach us the power and wisdom of patience. Just because everything or everyone is not responding the way we think they should, don’t throw in the towel. Much can be accomplished by the ones who are willing to put up with a few weeds.…

This amazing parable looks at the work that God wants to do in our lives. Jesus compares us to a garden that a farmer is planting in. And here’s the incredible piece: We get to decide what kind of garden we want to be! This message will look at how we prepare and protect ourselves for God’s work in us.…

We don’t just need the help of God to get out of the rut we’re in. We need His help every single day! Moses and the people leave Egypt only to be chased by Pharoah’s army and have nowhere to go. But God parted the sea. The journey from Egypt to Canaan would be a long and hard one, just as the road to deep change is. But what they were able to count…

When Moses and Aaron go to Pharoah to carry out God’s orders, it doesn’t go as they planned. Instead of Pharoah giving in, he made it worse on God’s people. That’s often the way it is when we approach deep change. Often to make our lives better, we have to first let them feel worse. Pulling out the “weeds” that keep us from growing and becoming is …

As God asked Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, fear gripped his heart. It seemed like an impossible task, but it wasn’t the size of the task that was the problem. It was the size of the fear. God can do anything—but we have to push through our fears to take hold of God's promised freedom. Everyone WANTS to change, but only the COURAGEOUS m…

The people enslaved in Israel realized they could never be free on their own. So they did what we ALL need to do. They cried out to God. Admitting our need for God’s help in our lives seems to be the hardest part of the deep change that we’re longing for. But if we will cry out, God will answer!Di ShartelChurch

As Egypt ramped up the oppression on God’s People, they began to realize they were in deep trouble. They probably asked the same question we often ask when we’re struggling. “Where is God in all this?” The answer: Working! God was busy at work preparing for the future and raising up a leader to get them out.…

Sometimes we have to take a step back to begin the journey forward. Israel came to Egypt during a famine. But rather than go back to the land God promised them, they settled in the foreign country and stayed. Getting comfortable in a place where God doesn’t want you is dangerous. This message will look at the need to take an honest look at where we…

It often feels like we are walking into the unknown. We don't know what lies ahead or what's around the corner waiting for us. The same is true for the Israelites as they left Egypt. In this message, we learn from the Israelites as they followed this Unknown Path, placing their trust in God.Di ShartelChurch

It was love that prompted God to send His one and only Son. It was love that Jesus came to proclaim to the world. It is love that God wants to instill in each and every one of our hearts. But it is also love that God wants to flow through us! The world hasn’t changed much in 2000 years. What the world needs now is what the world needed then. Love.…

There is a peace we think about at Christmas, like the quiet of soft snow falling in the night. But the peace that the Christ-child came to give was a deeper peace—a peace that had nothing to do with what was going on around us. It is a peace WITHIN us. That's a peace only Jesus can give.Di ShartelChurch

The angels’ message to the Shepherds is the same to us: We have Good News of Great Joy! This message will look at the shepherd's encounter and discover how we, too, can experience this joy for ourselves.Di ShartelChurch

The world was dark when Jesus came. It was a world that felt abandoned and lost. Most people had stopped looking for the Messiah. Many had stopped hoping as well. But not the Magi. They saw the star and knew what it meant. God had come at last! This message will look at the hope that we find when we embrace the Jesus who has come.…

Thankfulness GIVES. A heart of thanks prompts us to want to share, bless, and return to God what He has done for us. When we practice a lifestyle of “thanks giving,” we become conduits of God’s goodness and generosity. This message will challenge us to do more than SAY thanks. It will challenge us to GIVE thanks.…

Anyone can praise God when everything is going well. But how about those times when God is doing what you want Him to do? How about when tough times come, problems arise, or life gets hard? Can you praise God, THEN? This message will look at thankfulness in the hard times. The most meaningful praise we give God is not when we’re at the peak but it’…