Campfire Stories - The Good Samaritan

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

March 8, 2026

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

Luke 10:28

1.) Ours is distant.

A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:31

2.) Ours is busy.

So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:32

1.) Slow down and get close.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Luke 10:33

2.) Get practical.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Luke 10:34

3.) Get generous.

The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper …

Luke 10:35

All we need is love.Refining Love:

The Sower - Campfire Stories

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

March 1, 2026

The Kingdom of God is a mystery.
He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Matthew 13:11

The story of the Kingdom is really good news.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Matthew 13:16-17

Our response to the story matters:

A. Hard hearts.

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatched away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Matthew 13:19

B. Shallow hearts.

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Matthew 13:20-21

C. Crowded hearts.

The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Matthew 13:22

D. Open hearts.

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:23

Action Step: I commit to follow Jesus for the first time today.

Practices of a Healthy Marriage

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Q 1 What is the most important foundation for marriage?

A friend loves at all times …

Proverbs 17:17

… This is my beloved, this is my friend, …

Song of Songs 5:16b

Q 2 How do you keep your marriage fresh?

Q 3 Why didn’t you quit when things got hard?

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Matthew 19:4-6

Q 4 How do you resolve conflict?

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

James 1:19

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Q 5 What spiritual practices support your marriage?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

What about divorce?

February 15, 2026

Jean Holm, Syracuse Site - Site Pastor

God’s Vision for Marriage and Singleness collides with our brokenness.

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.

Matthew 19:8

So, can I get divorced?

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They said, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

Matthew 19:3

Some Pastoral Thoughts on Divorce:

1. God is a divorcee.

I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery.

Jeremiah 3:8

2. Kids, contentment and covenant.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Exodus 19:5-6

3. Jesus is the fullness of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have in not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

John 4:17-18

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28

God’s Vision for Marriage and Singleness

February 8, 2026

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Matthew 19:12

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:35

So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.

1 Corinthians 7:38

A. Relocate your security.

At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

Ruth 1:14

B. Receive healing and get out of debt.

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

Ruth 1:20

C. Live for a purpose.

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.

Ruth 2:11

Singleness is a calling …… Or a First-Class status.Owning First-Class Singleness:To the Non-Singles: Recognize, honor and befriend single people.

21 Days of Prayer – Week 4

January 25, 2026

Ely Tania Tavarez, Youth and Espanol Pastor

1. To grow in our faith.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

James 1:2-3

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

2. To become a testimony to others.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7

Action Step: I will place my trust in God, even in the midst of the test.

I Don’t Want to Take the Test!

21 Days of Prayer – Week 3

January 18, 2026

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:12

Our debts enslave us.

The evils deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.

Proverbs 5:22

Getting out of debt:

1. Recognize and tell the truth about your debt.

As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him … “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

Matthew 18:24-26

2. Cancel the debt you hold against others.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

3. Receive God’s grace.

The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 18:27

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Colossians 1:9-10

Compassion Meditation Prayer

May you be happy, may you be free. May you be loving, may you be loved. May you know the fulfillment of what God has planned for you. May you experience God’s deep, profound love for you. May Jesus Christ be formed in you. May you know his peace that passes all understanding. May all good things be yours. May Jesus’ joy be in you and may that joy be complete. May you know the Lord in all his goodness and compassion. May you be protected from the evil one amidst every temptation that comes your way. May the Holy Spirit fill and permeate your entire being. May you see his glory. May you be forgiven of every sin. I forgive you of every wound and hurt with all my heart. May God’s goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life.

• William Meninger - Trappist Monk

21 Days of Prayer

January 4, 2026

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

Prayer is a lifeline.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray … “

Luke 11:1

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 1:14

Prayer starts from a relationship with God as Father.

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Matthew 6:9

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6

Common misconceptions about God as Father:

1. He’s angry.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who as him!”

Luke 11:13

2. His love for me is based on my performance.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Luke 15:22

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Recognizing God as Father changes everything.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:16

Action Step: I will join 21 Days of Prayer.