Reach Church - Everett

Jesus knew the disciples would suffer and experience heartache, especially in his absence. He wanted them to experience joy, and he promised it would be possible despite any circumstance. The same applies to all believers, too.

Jesus may not be present in the flesh, but he’s sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth. Through power and conviction, the Spirit of God is precisely the resource we need to stay faithful and live out the mission God invites us into.

In John 16 Jesus is all the more intentional to equip his disciples for his absence, and for the opposition they will face. He foretells the hardship to come, but makes it clear he will be with them every step of the way. He says the same to us today -- no matter how dark things get.

We’re called into community, but not for community’s sake alone. God’s plan for his people is connected to his mission. What’s the mission? Letting the Good News spill out into every nook and cranny. As a result, broken hearts are restored and God’s family grows.

Are you led more by your head or your heart? Often in following Jesus, we’re prone to prioritizing one over the other. But it’s not either/or. It’s both/and. When it comes to the Christian life, the Gospel should compel us to worship and worship should point us back to the Gospel.

This week, we had the honor of hearing from Curtis Hall who serves on the leadership team at Mercy Fellowship in Marysville. He shared on the topic of faith and how it can change our lives. When we believe the promises God has made to us, it changes how we live in our present circumstances.

This week, Pastor Sean set the tone for the new year by taking us through the three temptations of Jesus - how he was tempted, how he responded, and how we can learn from him as we endeavor to stand firm heading into 2021.

As we conclude a challenging year, several people from Reach share stories of how God has continued to be faithful.

He was given a name upon arrival, a name that would change the course of human history. At Christmas, we gather around the name of Jesus Christ - the Son of God - the Savior of the world.

If we want to know true love, we need to first understand that love originated in God. When we look to him alone as our source of love, we are able to give that love away to others.

Joy cannot be separated from the arrival of Christ and what it means for humanity. If you’ve been lacking joy in your life, perhaps it’s because you’ve lost sight of the God who embodies it. Perhaps it’s time you make room for King Jesus to reintroduce you to the joy that’s found only in him.

Peace is something everyone is fighting for, but few seem to be experiencing. Thankfully, peace is possible because one called “The Prince of Peace” arrived on this earth 2000 years ago.

This Sunday, November 29th, marks the beginning of Advent where we anticipate the arrival of Jesus. As we prepare our hearts and make room for King Jesus, this week, we focus on the first theme of Advent: hope. Hope isn’t focused on our circumstances - in fact, it’s often what allows us to thrive in the face of unwelcome circumstances. Biblical hope says “I was a slave to sin, but God set me free. Therefore, rather than trusting in other gods, in other people, or in myself, I will trust in him.”

Retrospective means “looking back on or dealing with past events or situations.” There are some things we’re all probably excited to leave behind, but a few things we should hang onto. Join us as we look back on 5 themes we’ve covered this year, all while looking forward at the next season God is leading us into.

You can't create peace for the whole world, but you can fight for peace in your world.

You’re not called to “be agreeable,” but rather, to pay attention and be intentional in how you engage your community. You’re a representative of Jesus Christ - when people see you, what does it say about Jesus?

If you’re postured to be a blessing, God can use you. If you’re postured to curse, everybody loses. Blessing and cursing reveal how we view other people. How you view other people is tied to how you view the imago Dei in them.

As we continue walking through Romans 12, we see Paul exhorting the church in Rome not to just receive the love of God, but to live that love. Often our culture expresses love as either sappy sentimentality or just a practical reality, but for the disciple of Jesus, love in action is authentic and comprehensive. This week we hear from Leland Rounds who has served as Lead Pastor at New Hope Foursquare in Bellingham, WA for the past 5 years. He recently transitioned to a position with the Foursquare North Pacific District in Portland. He and his wife Ashley have 2 wonderful kids and have been good friends with Pastor Sean’s family for years. Leland’s faithfulness to Jesus, love for his family, and hilarious personality make him a delight to hear from at Reach!

In the body of Christ there is unity, but not uniformity. We're united, but we're distinct.

If you’re going to be a blessing to others, you’ve got to get real with yourself.