Genesis Church Phoenix

We long for peace—peace in our homes, peace in our minds, peace in our world. But peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of a Person. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, doesn’t just offer temporary calm—He brings wholeness, restoration, and reconciliation with God and others. Peace, then, came on Christmas, and it still comes to hearts open to Him.

Many people today carry wounds from distant, absent, or inconsistent father figures. But Isaiah tells us the Messiah would be called Everlasting Father—a picture of constancy, compassion, and care. Jesus reflects the heart of God perfectly: protective, nurturing, and always present. This title reminds us that we’re not spiritual orphans. In Christ, we are deeply loved children of a Father who never lets go.

The child born in a manger is not just weak—He is Mighty God. That phrase almost feels like a contradiction, until you realize the paradox of Christmas: power wrapped in vulnerability, the divine swaddled in cloth. Jesus came not just to inspire us, but to fight for us. When life feels overwhelming—when the weight of the world is too much—we remember that the One who holds all things together is the same One who holds us.

Pastor Justin McKennon- Life is full of questions—about relationships, decisions, identity, and direction. But Isaiah reminds us that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor—our guide who not only understands our struggles but walks with us through them. His counsel is personal truth rooted in grace. As we begin our walk through the Advent season, we’re invited to bring our confusion, pain, and uncertainty to the One who listens, understands, and gently leads us home.

Paul pivots from politics to personal responsibility, reminding us that the Christian life is summed up in one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s the only debt worth having. It’s a love that isn’t passive—it wakes us up, sobers us, and motivates us to live as marked by it’s purposes. This week’s message calls us to shed apathy, live with urgency, and let love be our defining trait in a watching world.

Pastor DJ Uithoven Paul closes this section like a machine gun of holiness—rapid-fire instructions for radical love. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good, bless those who persecute you, live at peace, conquer evil with good. This isn’t a checklist—it’s the character of Christ. This message challenges us to let mercy move from theology to lifestyle, from belief to behavior.

In light of God’s mercy and grace, how should we live? Paul says: offer yourselves. Worship becomes a daily choice to lay our lives down and use our gifts for others. This message explores what it means to be transformed—not just informed. You were made to serve, shaped for purpose, and gifted to build up the Body.

God’s plan isn’t just bigger than we think—it’s better. Paul reveals a mystery: even in Israel’s stumbling, God is working a redemptive plot twist that ends in mercy. He weaves together disobedience and grace, rebellion and rescue, into a story that’s more beautiful than fair—it’s merciful. And instead of tying it up with a tidy explanation, Paul bursts into worship. This week’s message reminds us that we don’t have to solve the mystery to trust the One behind it. Even when we don’t understand the twists in the story, we can be confident that grace will have the final word.

God’s mercy doesn’t just restore—it expands. Paul uses the image of an olive tree to describe how Gentile believers are grafted into God’s story by grace. But there’s a warning too: don’t get cocky. Pride forgets the root. This week explores both the humility and the honor of being included in God’s family. We didn’t earn our place—but we do have a part to play.

Paul starts with a bold declaration: God has not rejected His people. Even when it looks like hope is gone, God always preserves a faithful remnant. Paul points to Elijah’s despair to show that even prophets get discouraged—but God’s promises stand. This message speaks to anyone who has ever felt forgotten or wondered if their story is over. God is still writing, still calling, still faithful.

Kristen Lunceford- Fear is loud. Doubt is ever-present. And negativity spreads fast. But God gives us tools to protect our minds and anchor our thoughts in truth. This week, we’ll look at how to build a peace-filled mindset, using scripture as a filter instead of fear as a forecast. You can’t always control what you hear—but you can choose what you hold on to.

Most of our stress comes from trying to control things we were never meant to. We worry, manipulate, and strive—hoping to guarantee an outcome. But control is an illusion, and peace is found in surrender. This week, we’ll talk about how letting go—of expectations, timelines, and outcomes—isn’t giving up, it’s trusting God more.

We’re tired—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. And our exhausted state is causing our minds to run wild. This week, Jesus invites us to step out of the exhausting hustle and into His rhythm of grace. We’ll explore how choosing rest is actually an act of faith that leads to peace.

We all worry—about our families, our finances, our future. Sometimes anxiety whispers; sometimes it screams. But God invites us to something better: a peace that goes beyond understanding. This week, we’ll learn how to turn our worries into prayers and discover that when we invite God into our anxiety, He brings a peace that’s deeper than any quick fix.

If grace is within reach and salvation is for everyone, then the news simply must be shared. Paul connects the promise “everyone who calls” with the need for preachers—and asks: how will people call if they’ve never heard? This second message turns outward: salvation isn’t just personal—it’s missional. We who’ve experienced grace have become its messengers—using our words to lovingly tell God’s story of redemption.

Pastor DJ Uithoven- Paul carves open the difference between self‑centered zeal and heart‑centered faith. In a culture that prizes religious performance, the gospel flips the script—righteousness isn’t something you earn, it’s something you receive. Salvation isn’t far off—it’s right here, in your heart and your lips. This message highlights the radical accessibility of God’s grace: you don’t have to climb, qualify, or clean up first. It’s available now, through simple yet profound faith in Jesus.

Grace is the most beautiful truth in the world—and sometimes the hardest to accept. Paul explains that while the Gentiles found righteousness by faith, Israel stumbled over the very One who came to save them. Why? Because grace doesn’t play by the rules of religious effort. This week, we’ll explore how easy it is to trip over grace when we’re trying to earn what God freely gives—and how freedom comes when we stop striving and start trusting.

When life feels out of control, it’s tempting to question God’s plan—or even His fairness. Paul doesn’t dodge that tension. Instead, he reminds us that God is the Potter, and we are the clay. He shapes with intention, not randomness, forming lives with both justice and mercy. This week, we’ll reflect on what it means to trust a God who is both sovereign and good—even when we don’t see the whole picture. In the hands of the Potter, even our questions can lead to deeper faith.

Is God unfair? Paul knows we’re thinking it. After all, if God chooses whom to show mercy to, doesn’t that feel… arbitrary? But Paul flips the script—reminding us that mercy, by definition, is never owed. It’s a gift. A God who gives mercy freely is not unjust—He’s unbelievably kind. In a world obsessed with fairness, this week’s message invites us to breathe deeply and receive what none of us could earn: the mercy of God.

God’s promises haven’t failed—they’ve always been fulfilled through mercy, not biology. Paul reminds us that being chosen by God was never about bloodlines or effort, but about His mercy. We are part of His story not because we earned it, but because He loved us first.