When you’re given a fresh bouquet of flowers, you willingly accept them! You may have had some flowers from before, but they got old, and these new ones came just in time, replacing the old ones. Did you know that Jesus is kind of like that fresh bouquet of flowers? Pastor Richie teaches today how Jesus brought something new, replacing the law that all the people were under. He brought a newness and hope for a future with Him! Jesus fulfilled the law, but He also brought something new.

There’s a difference between writing something down that you know, versus having it written on your heart, from memory. In either case, your mind is striving to keep track of something that’s important to you. Today, Pastor Richie is teaching about things that were in the past, with the law, versus things that were brought about in a new covenant, with Jesus. As you listen, you’ll realize that all the things written in the Old Testament were a foreshadowing of what was to come, with Jesus and His fulfillment.

There’s a term for “killing them with kindness.” Although God’s heart is not to kill anyone, wouldn’t it make a difference in this world if the church, as a whole, made an effort to do things for the community that expressed love and kindness, rather than hate and judgment? Pastor Richie is teaching today about God’s desire for the church to go out and show love and kindness, to bless others. You may not realize the impact you could have on a person, by doing things that are different than what they expect!

How much easier it would be to stay away from people you don’t relate to. If you just stayed on the other side of the room from those “sinners,” it would be better for you and for them! Is that what Jesus would want of you? Today, Pastor Richie shares that it’s valuable to connect with people in your community who might be different, but that you can show your love for Jesus and for them! A huge part of your life should be reaching out to those who are around you, and spreading God’s love and grace.

Forgiving is one of those character-building opportunities that shows the true nature of your heart. It’s not easy to forgive. It’s not easy to set aside the hurt and the past, for the sake of a healthy relationship with that person, moving forward. In today’s teaching, Pastor Richie is talking about doing the hard things in relationships, that then reflect that you’re a follower of Jesus. When a person’s heart has changed and they’re wanting to restore the relationship, it’s important to leave that door open!

Buildings that are built near the ocean many times have to have a foundation of concrete, even concrete walls so that they can withstand the storms. The foundation is established in such a way that it won’t be swayed or moved by the onslaught of water and wind. In the message today, Pastor Richie expresses that when you’re established by the foundation of Jesus, you’ll be able to withstand the storms and attacks of the enemy. So no matter what kinds of wind or waves come, God’s holding you firm.

As Pastor Richie continues his teaching series through the book of 2 Corinthians, he'll be encouraging you to keep your eyes focused on Jesus during times of trial. There's no one who could relate to your suffering more, than Jesus Himself. Between betrayals and emotional heartache, to physical beatings and torture, Jesus understands suffering. Jesus is your Great High Priest who can sympathize with your sufferings and weaknesses. Seek Him in prayer and ask for supernatural strength.

Although Paul was an Apostle, and he was used by God to write most of the New Testament, he was still just a man who needed to rely on the power of God. Today, Pastor Richie will be reminding you that even the Apostle Paul went through trials and hardships, but instead of staying defeated, he went forward in victory. In order to have a victorious Christian life like Paul had, you need to realize that you can do nothing apart from the Lord. Your own strength is never sufficient, you need to seek Him daily!

Maybe the disciples were stressed out from some of the confusing events they’d experienced earlier on the night Jesus prayed for God to find another way. Or maybe they just didn’t realize the weight of the moment they were living in. Whatever the case, Jesus had asked them to be awake and alert. As Pastor Richie will point out in today’s message, all of us are susceptible to this. We get lulled off into a kind of trance by the things of this world when Jesus wants us to be alert and busy with His work.

God’s calling doesn’t always line up with your ambitions or the causes you care deeply about. It’s easy to misinterpret those strong feelings as being the leading of the Holy Spirit, but that’s where you need to be diligent in prayer and study, seeking discernment as you follow Jesus in this life. As Pastor Richie will point out in today’s message, experiencing “success” in a certain pursuit doesn’t mean it has God’s stamp of approval. Seek Him diligently and He’ll make your paths straight.