Here is the problem: According to the World Health Organization, 40% of 10,000 people surveyed reported suffering from burnout in 2023. Burnout is a recognized psychological condition that results in physical and emotional fatigue, where we feel tired and lack motivation. It closely resembles depression.

Analyzing the Problem:

· Is time our problem?

· What about money? Inside of us is this desire for meaning and for life that is only truly filled by knowing and being known by God. In our pursuit of trying to fill this desire we instead chase pleasure, plenty, and power.

1 John 2: 16

· The division in our hearts is one of restlessness and exhaustion. One half of our heart says "I'm tired and I need rest," while the other half says, " I am restless and I want more."

· We know we need to rest, but we don't want to.

In Exodus 13 and 14, God frees the Israelites from the bondage of endless exhaustion. In the chapters that follow, God institutes something called Sabbath ("stop" in Hebrew)

· Later in Amos 8:5 god criticizes Israel for their hatred of rest.

· Israel had one eye on the rest and the other on the clock. This desire for more contributes to our lack of desire to rest. How many times have you felt guilty about taking a break? How many of you sit down only to think about all of the things you need to be doing?

When you continuously run stop signs, you will eventually get into a wreck.

We go and do without restraint in hopes of finding meaning and life. The way to find life is not through doing more but by doing less.

Solution:

Jesus presents us with an invitation to his Gospel of rest. His invitation to rest extends to us today.

Matthew 11: 28-30

· This invitation is to a spiritual rest and a way of life. A rhythm or way of doing life that trusts that God knows my need for rest and will do more in my absence than I could do working overtime.

· When Israel found itself stuck in a cycle of labor and exhaustion, God gave them an exit (Exodus). That Exodus for us is taking time away from the cycle and resting, delighting, and worshipping.

· Jesus gives us an exit. That exit involves resting from our spiritual works AND working into our lives a rhythm of physical rest.

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

Luke 10: 38-42

1. Martha was right.

"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." Resting is about trusting God with what we need to do so that He can give us what we need.

2. Mary chose the better over the good.

This country is great, and the opportunities are good, but Jesus is better.

3. Martha's works could be taken away, but Mary's rest was eternal.

Our stuff can be taken from us, Jesus can't. Never trade the eternal for the external

Why is community important? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how focusing on community can help you level up to the next stage of spiritual growth.

Community is togetherness. It's gathering around a common faith and relying on one another for help, support and guidance—both naturally and spiritually. It's doing life together.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote the country a letter and said, "As I finish my tenure as Surgeon General, this is my parting prescription, my final wish for all of us: choose community."

Reports show that Americans are lonelier than ever. The American Psychiatric Association reported in 2024 that 30% of US adults say they have experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week, and 30% of young adults say they feel lonely every day.

Community is not connectivity, assembly, or being friendly.

We have confused community with connectivity. The connectivity of the digital age is convenient, but it is a counterfeit of true community.

We have also confused community with being friendly. Community is based on being authentic, not just being nice to one another.

We have also confused community with assembly. True community requires that we engage with one other, not just gather together.

In scripture, the word for community in Greek is koinonia - fellowship, association, sharing, joint participation, intimacy.

Acts 2:42 NIV "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

The invitation to follow Christ, is an invitation into community, because other people have been invited, too. Jesus saves individuals, but we grow in groups.

Things that kill community:

Mistrust – our past wounds cause us to view others through a lense of suspicion.

Perfectionism – everything and everybody should be perfect.

Being Fake – unwillingness to be real, vulnerable and accountable.

You need community.

1. It helps you.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT

2. It matures you.

You don't get better by being comfortable. Strength comes from stretching.

1 John 4:19-21

You can't love God and not love His kids.

Learning to love people teaches you about God because that what He does.

3. It heals you.

James 5:16 NLT

Many Christians are forgiven of their sin, but they are not healed from it because they have refused to embrace community.

How Do We Level Up Through Community?

1. Hang out.

Make time to be with other people.

Acts 5:42

Jesus had groups of 3 (close friends), 12 (spiritual family), 70 (ministry), 120 (acquaintances), & 500 (the church).

Hebrews 10:25 "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

2. Help out.

You can grow spiritually by investing in others.

Galatians 6:10

Serve your city and serve your church family.

Galatians 6:2

Independence and dependence aren't healthy - we are called to interdependence.

Are you using community to level up?

Ready to take things to the next level? In this series, we talk about things that help us grow spiritually. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally encourages us in prayer and fasting.

What is prayer?

Prayer is communication with God.

Prayer is the intersection of three things:

1) Being with God

2) Talking to God

3) Listening to God

What is fasting?

Fasting is the practice of not eating food in order to amplify your prayer.

You can't be filled if you're already full, so fasting is making room so you can communicate with God more effectively. It's denying the flesh in order to advance the spirit.

Fasting turns deciding into discerning.

How to level up though prayer:

1. Pray without distraction.

Luke 5:16 ESV "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Let's be honest, many of us are used to asking Google instead of asking God.

You can't do important things when you're distracted by insignificant things.

Good things become bad things when they distract us from God things.

John Ortberg – "For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it."

2. Pray like you know God.

Have you ever asked yourself, if God already knows everything, why do we have to pray? Because prayer fulfills His desire for relationship with you, and because relationships are founded on communication.

Prayer is not getting God to do something for you, it's getting to know God.

Hebrews 4:16 NIV "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Prayer should be personal, not transactional.

3. Pray like you'll make a difference.

James 5:16-17 NLT

"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!"

Your prayers are so important that they actually affect the outcome of history.

Think of this: If prayer changes things, not praying changes things too. So why don't you pray as much as you could?

You'll only talk to God if you believe He's listening.

4. Pray a lot.

Luke 11:5-8 NLT

Your prayers never bother God. But do you know what does bother Him? Us, absent of relationship, wanting to use Him as our genie.

5. Pray, then listen.

John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice."

Sit with God after talking to Him and learn to be led by Him.

How would your life be different if you committed to prayer and fasting?

Are you using prayer and fasting to level up?

Think of change and transition in your life as turning points. Most trips require a series of turns to get to where you're going. That's what change is – changes are the turning points that lead you to your destination. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares what the Bible says about navigating change.

1. Change is inevitable.

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

You have to give something up to get something new.

You can never walk in all God has for your future if you're still holding onto what He gave you in the past.

Life is relay race. It doesn't matter have fast you run—you won't win the race if you don't learn how to pass the baton from change to change.

2. God wants to walk you through the changes in your life.

Joshua 1:9 ESV "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

If you tend to be hostile to change, recognize your tendency and take it slow. We slow down to take turns.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

3. Change is necessary to get you to where you need to be.

Jesus had to go through crucifixion in order to experience resurrection.

Luke 5:37-38

Protecting what you have is the enemy of acquiring what you need.

4. God wants to give you His perspective on the change you're experiencing.

You can't apply God's solution to a problem until you see God's perspective on it.

Ephesians 1:18 NIV "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people."

Perspective is tied to location. The closer you are to God, the more you'll see things the way He does.

5. Maybe you have a particular role to play during this time of change.

Esther 4:14

What if you're not a victim of change but a victor through change?

6. Changing requires choosing.

Get to choose how you respond to change. Choose trust, God can be trusted.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

Change is painful. But it's not as painful as staying stuck where you aren't supposed to be.

"Change is inevitable; Growth is optional" – John Maxwell

You can either grumble through change, or grow through change.

What if you decided now that the inevitable change you will face in 2025 will be used for your personal growth?

Are you growing through change?

What is the greatest gift that you could receive from God? What is it that you really want? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares about the greatest gift: God's presence.

This Christmas, God doesn't just want to give you what you think you want, but what you really want.

Not only does God want you to know who He is. He wants to be with you. You were created for communion with God.

Matthew 1:23 NIV

Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

When it came time for the announcement, God did something very strange and announced the birth of Jesus to two unlikely groups:

1. Shepherds.

Luke 2:8-10 NLT

Why shepherds? 1) Because God came for everyone, not just the wealthy and educated and 2) they were willing to share the news.

Luke 2:17 NLT

God speaks to those who will share. If you feel like God isn't speaking to you like He used to, ask yourself what have I done with what God has already said?

2. Wisemen.

Matthew 2:1-2 NLT

Why magi? 1) They helped verify the birth of the messiah through objective observers and fulfillment of prophecy. 2) Because God came for everyone, not just the Jews.

There is only one path to God – Jesus. But Jesus will travel many paths to find his lost children. Jesus spoke the language of astrology to reach out the pagan wisemen. Can you find God through astrology? No. But God can find you there.

How can we receive the gift of God's presence?

1) Invitation.Habakkuk 2:14 NLT For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.

Awareness is the key to experiencing God's presence.

Revelation 3:20 NLT [Laodecia] "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."

Imagine waiting on a guest to arrive that you hadn't invited.

2) Preparation.You can create a favorable environment for your guest so they'll stick around, and they'll want to come back. Scripture talks about grieving the Holy Spirit and quenching the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV; 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV

If you want the Holy Spirit hang out at your place, you've got to clean it up. Proverbs 1:7

"Fear" in Hebrew includes the idea of wonder, amazement, mystery, astonishment, gratitude, admiration, and even worship.

If you'll fear God everywhere you go, you'll see God everywhere you go.

How do you walk around with something important? By keeping it in mind with every step you take.

3) Habitation. John 15:4

Abide = remain in, dwell, stay with. Not visitation, but habitation. Make living in God's presence a lifestyle.

God entrusts us with the measure of His presence that we are willing to diligently guard.

Are you walking in the gift of God's presence?

What does God want to give you this Christmas? In the message Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how God doesn't just want to give you what you THINK you want, but what you REALLY want.

One of the things God wants to give you this Christmas is purpose. The Christmas story is all about purpose.

1 John 3:8 NASB

Life seems pointless when you're purposeless.

You were made for meaning and you were planned for purpose by a Creator who intentionally crafted you.

Psalm 57:2 NLT

You can't determine your own purpose because you didn't make yourself!

Your Salvation is not only about having a future home in heaven but having a present purpose on earth. Your ultimate destination is Heaven, but you have purpose here and now, not just there and then.

What is your purpose?

1. Get to know God.

God created you for connection with Him. John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

Eternal life is not just a destination, it's answering the invitation to know a person.

Its not just a place, it's a process.

2 Peter 3:18 "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

2. Get to know your spiritual family.

God fashioned you for family.

Luke 10:27-29

You can love God by yourself, but you can't love others by yourself.

Matthew 6:9-13 – it's "us" and "we", not "I" and "me".

We're saved as individuals but we grow in groups. Christian growth is a group project and only immature believers believe by themselves.

3. Get to work.

God created you to contribute.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Every Christian is a minister as is called to three things:

1) Be in Christ, 2) doing good things 3) according to God's plan

We don't work to get saved, but once we're saved, we get to work.

1 Cor 15:58 "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

Service is God's pathway to your purpose. You won't be happy until you're helping.

We get to be a small part of God's big plan.

Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Do you know your purpose? Are you excited or are you just existing?

Are you walking in the purpose God has given you?

This Christmas, God doesn't just want to give you what you think you want, but what you really want. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how God wants to give you peace.

Luke 2:14 NKJV "Glory to God in highest, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men.

What is peace?

1. Peace does not come from inactivity.

1 Peter 3:11 NKJV (Psalm 34:14) – "...seek peace and pursue it" NLT: "Search for peace, and work to maintain it." 4 words: seek, pursue, search and work.

Peace won't come by doing nothing. If the world has to stop in order for you to have peace, you'll never have peace.

John 16:33 NLT "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Peace is not the absence of problems but the learned skill of remaining unaffected by them.

2. Peace does not come from being in control.Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord, don't trust in yourself. Control is trusting in your ability to fix things. But control is an illusion because we are not qualified to fix everything.

3. Peace is a person.

John 14:27 ESV "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

God is not trying to give you your peace, He's trying to give you His peace.

How do we receive peace?

1. Plan for peace.

Prov 21:5 NLT "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance

If you try to everything, you won't enjoy anything."

Take time away from the peace-drainers and give it to the peace giver.

2. Practice peace.

Phil 4:6-7 ESV "Be anxious for nothing, but in all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

An unthankful heart turns into an entitled heart, and an entitled heart never has peace because it can't be satisfied.

3. Protect your peace.

Colossians 3:15 NLT "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts."

Protecting your peace is difficult because other people want yours when they run out of theirs.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation."

God has already done his job by giving peace. Now we must do our job by receiving that peace.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.

"Nose up, toes up" – don't let anyone steal your peace.

Are you living in the peace God has given you?

What is your spiritual wishlist?

Did you know that you can live life unoffended?

In this message, Pastor Tim Martin shares how you can life an unoffended life.

When offenses come, you can choose not to be offended. Every day we have choices.

James 1:2

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

You predetermine that you will not be offended.

Offense is a sister to unforgiveness.

How do you deal with offense? If someone offend you, go to that person and reconcile with that person.

Unforgiveness or offense is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick.

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.

Matthew 6:14-15

If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Colossians 3:13

Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Carrying offense is the same as holding unforgiveness toward another.

Forgiveness is contagious.

When you share your offense with others, people get mad because you are mad.

Don't spread offense.

Consider whether you are offended at God. Have you blamed God for something?

You need to understand that there are some things you will never understand.

If there is a loss that you have experienced, or something happened that you don't understand, know that God has got it. He is with you.