Do Life Different - An 11|28 Community Podcast

What if the Prodigal Son isn’t just about one lost son? In the final message of our Divine Stories series, Nick Galezewski takes us into Luke 15 and shows us the story of two lost sons and one extraordinary Father. One son runs away through rebellion. The other stays home but becomes lost in resentment and self-righteousness. And the Father? He goes after both. Whether you’ve wandered far from God or grown distant while staying close, the Father’s grace is calling you home. Nick reminds us t...

Who really is your neighbor? In a world divided by differences, Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan calls us to a radical, boundary-breaking kind of love. Pastor Ed Cook explores Luke 10:25-37 as we discover what it truly means to show mercy and compassion to those around us, especially to those who are different from us. In this message, you’ll learn: Why Jesus told this story in response to a question about eternal lifeHow our definition of “neighbor” can limit or expand our impactThe surpri...

In Part 3 of our Divine Stories series, 11|28 Board member, Nick Galezewski, explores one of Jesus' most well-known parables. While we often think this story is about abilities, Jesus was actually talking about something much deeper... faithfulness. God has entrusted every one of us with something valuable: our time, relationships, experiences, influence, resources, and spiritual gifts. The question isn't how much you've been given. If you've ever compared yourself to someone else, felt like ...

"Christ restores the least and sends them to reach the lost." After denying Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial, Peter carried deep shame and regret. Something we’ve all experienced in life. Jesus didn’t just forgive Peter; He also gave him purpose. “Feed my sheep,” Jesus told him, inviting Peter into the mission of the kingdom. Our failures don’t disqualify us they become part of the story God uses to bring hope to the world.

"Jesus came for the least and lost and the cross has no power over Christ" Easter begins on the cross where Jesus was crucified between two criminals, mocked by crowds, and seemingly abandoned. What looked like defeat was actually the clearest picture of God’s love for humanity. The climax of Scripture is at the empty tomb on Easter morning when Jesus proves he is the Christ, and no one is beyond his reach.

"Hope isn't fleeting when it's rooted in the person of love" As Mike wrapped up our Built Different series, we saw how Haggai points beyond his present moment to the future overthrow of evil, and fulfillment of God’s promise. We have the benefit of knowing that Jesus was and is the true and better King they were waiting for, the Messiah who defeats sin, death, and the grip of evil. As we look ahead to Easter and the resurrection, we’re reminded that the victory Haggai pointed toward h...

“Don’t give up, God keeps his promises” On Sunday Mike returned to the book of Haggai, where the rebuilt temple seemed small and unimpressive, especially compared to the glorious temple built under Solomon. The new build didn’t meet expectations, and discouragement was beginning to erode the people’s morale. Through Haggai, God reminded them of His promises about the future Kingdom and assured them that this seemingly modest work would one day become a place of transformation for the world....

“We don’t invite God into our relationships, we build them around Him” Pastors Mike and Colleen journeyed with Abram and Sarai through several chapters of Genesis. Their relationship was filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, betrayal, hurt, lies, trust, longevity, and God’s faithfulness. They journeyed the full spectrum of human love together. Building relationships around God is easier said than done, because people always seem to mess things up, circumstances change and life happen...