Biblically-based MEssages for every season of life.

Overwhelmed and Exhausted? How to Trade Your Heavy Burdens for True Soul Rest
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Overwhelmed and Exhausted? How to Trade Your Heavy Burdens for True Soul Rest

Feel like August is the "Sunday of summer" and dreading the overwhelming stress of fall routines? You're not alone—nearly 4 in 10 adults face daily anxiety, constantly collapsing under the heavy weight of modern life. But there’s a big difference between being physically tired and deeply weary. In this deep dive into Matthew 11:28-30, discover why Jesus doesn't offer a quick-fix escape, but rather a "training yoke" to carry life's heaviest burdens with you. Learn how making prayer your first response instead of your backup plan can turn emotional exhaustion into lasting peace and true rest for your soul.

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Don't Let the Miracle Become a Memory: How to Keep Your Spiritual Momentum
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Don't Let the Miracle Become a Memory: How to Keep Your Spiritual Momentum

Have you ever returned from a powerful spiritual retreat, camp, or mountaintop experience full of energy, only to slip back into your old habits a week later? It's easy for a powerful miracle to slowly fade into a distant memory as the busyness of life takes over. In this exploration of Joshua 3 and 4, discover the biblical secret to capturing and keeping your spiritual momentum. Learn how to build practical "stones of remembrance" to help you recall God’s faithfulness, trust Him through the next life transition, and sustain your faith long after the emotional high has worn off in 2026.

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159 Years of Faithfulness: Why Generosity Is Just Saying Thank You
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

159 Years of Faithfulness: Why Generosity Is Just Saying Thank You

Discover the remarkable 159-year history of The Summit Church and how generations of faith, resilience, and God's unwavering provision have shaped its legacy in Lee's Summit. Explore why Christian generosity is fundamentally different from every other belief system—rooted not in obligation, but in a heartfelt response to the ultimate gift of grace. Learn how breaking free from financial anxiety and stepping up as a "Waymaker" allows you to be part of writing the next chapter of God's story

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Abiding: Why the Order of Things Changes Everything
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Abiding: Why the Order of Things Changes Everything

Are you feeling exhausted, empty, and trapped in a relentless cycle of striving, achievement, and burnout? If you are hoping your next promotion or vacation will finally make you feel settled, the problem might not be how hard you are working—it might be the order of things. Discover what it truly means to abide in Jesus, why proximity to Him changes everything, and how shifting your focus from performance to connection will yield a rich, fruitful life. Stop trying harder on your own and learn how to stay connected to the true vine today.

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When You've Failed and Think There's No Coming Back: What Jesus Asked Peter
Daniel Brown Daniel Brown

When You've Failed and Think There's No Coming Back: What Jesus Asked Peter

Have you ever made a mistake so severe that you felt like your story was completely over? Even when we fail the Lord or ourselves, our greatest regrets do not have to define our future. Discover how Jesus met Peter by a charcoal fire on the shore of Galilee to lovingly restore him after his three-fold denial. Learn why Jesus focuses on relationship over performance, how the place of your greatest failure can become the starting point for your healing, and why the God of second chances is ready to give you a fresh start today.

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Is Anything Worth More Than Your Soul? Finding the Right Direction for Your Life
Cigi Embry Cigi Embry

Is Anything Worth More Than Your Soul? Finding the Right Direction for Your Life

Are you living for the temporary gains of the world, or are you headed in the direction God intended for you? In a world filled with distractions, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters, but Jesus asks a piercing question that changes everything: "What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" Discover how to move beyond a human point of view, align your heart with God's purpose, and experience the rich, satisfying life that only comes from following Jesus. Stop settling for earthly bargains and learn how to secure the only thing that lasts forever.

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Why Are You Afraid? What Jesus' Question Reveals About Your Deepest Fears
Jim Preisig Jim Preisig

Why Are You Afraid? What Jesus' Question Reveals About Your Deepest Fears

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the "storms" in your life—whether they are health crises, financial struggles, or personal uncertainty? When Jesus asked his disciples, "Why are you afraid?", he wasn't shaming them; he was pointing to a deeper truth about the presence of God. Discover how to identify the "storm within the storm," understand why your greatest fears reveal your areas of least trust, and learn how to shift your focus from the raging waves to the One who is in the boat with you. Find out how to exchange your anxiety for a peace that truly surpasses all understanding.

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Who Do You Say Jesus Is? The Question That Changes Everything
Olivia Garino Olivia Garino

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? The Question That Changes Everything

Have you ever stopped to wonder if the "Jesus" you worship is the real one, or simply a version you’ve created to fit your life? We often project our own politics, values, and desires onto Him, but misidentifying Jesus isn't just a minor mistake - it impacts your salvation and your true identity. Explore why Jesus’s most famous question, "Who do you say I am?", remains the most important inquiry of your life and how answering it correctly shifts everything from your purpose to your eternity.

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     Faith That Overflows: Why Your Faith Is More Than Sunday   What do international soccer fans think when they visit America for the first time? Apparently, they can't get enough of Buc-ee's, Taco Bell, Waffle House, and Ranch dressing.
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Is your faith confined to a Sunday morning service, or is it shaping your life every day of the week? Discover how to move your spiritual journey from the "porch" of curiosity to the "kitchen" of active service. Learn how the early church model of devotion, community, and radical generosity can help you stop just "attending" church and start living a faith that transforms your neighborhood and the world.

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No Shortcuts to Growth: How Daily Devotion Transforms Your Faith
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

No Shortcuts to Growth: How Daily Devotion Transforms Your Faith

Becoming like Jesus isn't an overnight transformation—it’s a lifelong process built on daily habits. If you’ve ever wondered how to move your faith beyond a Sunday morning commitment, the early church in the book of Acts provides the perfect roadmap. Discover the four essential practices that lead to true spiritual formation and learn how small, consistent steps of devotion can reshape your character, your relationships, and your entire perspective on life.

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From Curiosity to Belonging: How Searching Souls Find Their Way to Jesus
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

From Curiosity to Belonging: How Searching Souls Find Their Way to Jesus

What if the most important aspect of your faith happens outside the church walls? Discover how the ancient story of Paul in Athens reveals that living out your faith in the "public square" of everyday life is the key to lasting impact. Learn how to move your faith from the neighborhood to the kitchen table and why one intentional conversation can change everything for those around you.

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How One Conversation Can Change Everything
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

How One Conversation Can Change Everything

What if the most important aspect of your faith happens outside the church walls? Discover how the ancient story of Paul in Athens reveals that living out your faith in the "public square" of everyday life is the key to lasting impact. Learn how to move your faith from the neighborhood to the kitchen table and why one intentional conversation can change everything for those around you.

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Blessed When It Hurts: Why Opposition Might Be a Sign You’re on the Right Path
Daniel Brown Daniel Brown

Blessed When It Hurts: Why Opposition Might Be a Sign You’re on the Right Path

Does it ever feel like the world is pushing back just because you're trying to do the right thing? We often assume that a "good life" should be free from struggle, but Jesus offers a radical, counterintuitive promise: resistance for the sake of righteousness is actually a sign that you’re living according to His Way. In this final installment of The Good Life, explore the reality of persecution in the Christian life and discover how to trade "worldly" security for a joy that transcends even the hardest circumstances. Learn how to reframe your struggles, fix your eyes on an eternal reward, and find comfort in the fact that you aren't walking this road alone.

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Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Why Following Jesus Means More Than Keeping the Peace
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Why Following Jesus Means More Than Keeping the Peace

In a world defined by division and "cancel culture," the biblical call to be a peacemaker is often misunderstood as mere passivity or avoiding conflict. But Jesus offers a radical alternative: a life of active reconciliation. Moving beyond the "bumper sticker" version of peace, discover the true meaning of the Greek term makarios and how embracing shalom—a state of total well-being—can transform your soul. Learn the three essential steps to moving from a "peace receiver" to an ambassador of Christ, and see how you can represent Jesus’s reconciling work in your home, workplace, and neighborhood in 2026.

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Are You Chasing the Wrong Things? What Jesus Says About Seeing God Clearly
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Are You Chasing the Wrong Things? What Jesus Says About Seeing God Clearly

Ever feel like your spiritual vision is a bit... foggy? Just like the "Mandela Effect" makes us confidently misremember pop culture details, our busy, distracted lives can make us misremember the heart of God. In this look at Matthew 5:8, discover why "purity of heart" isn't about being a flawless person, but about having an undivided heart in a world competing for your attention. Learn how to clear the lens of your soul from bitterness, pride, and busyness so you can stop chasing things that "sting" and finally start seeing God’s presence.

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The Better Way: Why Mercy Is the Secret to the Good Life
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

The Better Way: Why Mercy Is the Secret to the Good Life

Are you tired of keeping a mental scorecard of every missed birthday, forgotten favor, and loaded dishwasher? While the world tells us to demand justice and "cancel" those who fail us, Harvard’s Global Flourishing Study suggests that the keys to a good life—health, stability, and character—require something much deeper. Discover why Matthew 5:7 calls mercy the ultimate path to fulfillment. Drawing from the dramatic standoff between David and Abigail, learn how to stop weaponizing offenses and start practicing a "better way" that leads to inner wholeness and restored relationships.

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You Are What You Crave: What Your Deepest Desires Reveal About You
Jim Preisig Jim Preisig

You Are What You Crave: What Your Deepest Desires Reveal About You

Ever feel like you’re chasing success, money, or status but still coming up empty? Most of us are starving for something more than what the world’s menu offers. In this exploration of Matthew 5:6, discover why Jesus says the secret to a "full" soul is to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Learn how to trade the "empty calories" of temporary achievements for a deep, soul-level satisfaction that brings true joy and moves you toward a life of purpose. It’s time to stop settling for "just a little more" and find the kind of fullness that actually sticks.

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Meekness Isn't Weakness: The Surprising Secret to the Good Life
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

Meekness Isn't Weakness: The Surprising Secret to the Good Life

In a culture that rewards the loudest voice and the most aggressive stance, the word "meek" often sounds like an invitation to be a doormat. But what if true power isn't about dominance, but about strength under control? Drawing from the imagery of an ancient Roman warhorse and the radical promise of Matthew 5:5, discover why meekness is actually the ultimate display of self-mastery.

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Why Feeling Bad About Your Sin Is Actually Good News
Olivia Garino Olivia Garino

Why Feeling Bad About Your Sin Is Actually Good News

We usually think of "the good life" as a life without grief, but Jesus flips the script in the Beatitudes. If you’ve been carrying the weight of a past mistake or a recurring struggle, your discomfort might actually be a sign of spiritual mourning—the gateway to true comfort. By looking at the life of King David and the raw honesty of Psalm 51, discover how to move past the numbing cycle of worldly sorrow and experience a repentance that leads to genuine joy.

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The Good Life Starts with Admitting You Don't Have It All Together
Ryan Schreckenghaust Ryan Schreckenghaust

The Good Life Starts with Admitting You Don't Have It All Together

We’ve been told that success is defined by status, wealth, and the illusion of "having it all together," yet the gap between our pursuits and our happiness has never been wider. Jesus offers a radically different path in the Beatitudes: true fulfillment starts with being "poor in spirit." Discover the profound meaning of makarios—a satisfaction that transcends your circumstances—and learn how shifting from self-reliance to spiritual dependence can bring you peace in the midst of chaos.

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