Verve City Church: Weekly Messages

This week, the discussion revolves around the core of service in Christianity. Josh emphasizes that true greatness lies not in power, but in humble service, as exemplified by Jesus washing His disciples' feet. Personal anecdotes highlight how stories and connections shape our faith journey. Listeners are encouraged to embrace service sustainably while honoring those who have invested in their growth. Ultimately, the message is clear: pick up the towel, serve others, and recognize the powerful impact of humble acts in transforming lives.

Explore how Jesus invites everyone into a mission of transformation. Discover what 'greater works' really means and how aligning prayer with His character shapes our requests. Dive into stories of the lost, showcasing God's relentless pursuit and joy in redemption. Learn how one invitation can spark community change, and reflect on the importance of belonging at God's table. Join the challenge to live outwardly focused, impacting those around us with hope and faith.

Let's talk about the practice almost no one wants to do: memorizing Scripture. It sounds old-fashioned, like rotary phones and casseroles with Jell-O. But here’s the thing—when the bottom drops out, what comes to mind isn’t your favorite podcast quote. It’s something your soul remembers. A line of truth you tucked away long ago. The words we carry shape who we become. So we’re going to take this practice out of the dustbin of history and hold it up to the light. Not to show off but to stay grounded. Anchored. Loved. 

Spoiler: the Bible is not a book. It’s a whole bunch of them, bound together by duct tape and divine mystery. It’s poetry and protest songs, ancient emails and cosmic dreams, and if you read it like it’s all one thing, you’ll miss what makes it beautiful. This week, we learn to study the Bible like it’s a weird, beloved collection of stories and songs and not a vending machine of inspirational quotes. It’s messier than we thought but way more human. And, therefore, even more divine.

The Bible isn’t fast food. It’s slow bread. In a world of scrolling and skimming, we’ve forgotten how to pause with a single verse, sit in silence, and let it speak to us. This week, we’ll rediscover the ancient practice of meditating on Scripture, not as an escape from life but as a way of soaking in truth that transforms us. You don’t need a seminary degree to hear from God. You just need time, attention, and a willingness to listen. 

Many of us were taught that the Bible is something we have to defend against critics, culture, or even our own doubts. But what if we’re missing the point? In this opening message, we’ll explore why the Bible doesn’t need our protection — it needs our attention. Rather than smoothing over contradictions or anxiously proving its reliability, we’re invited to approach Scripture with humility and joy. This week, we’ll learn to stop defending the Bible and start delighting in it.

Yogi Bera famously quipped, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” There’s something about facing big choices that simultaneously piques our curiosity, while reminding us that we long for security and control. What can we learn from Paul’s dramatic encounter with the Lord on the Road to Damascus about what it looks like to choose Christ? 

What's next when your picture of God doesn’t match your experience? In the midst of processing their own disappointment and confusion two travelers encountered Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. Their story reminds us that our journey of faith isn’t about having it all figured out; it’s about walking with Jesus until our eyes are opened to something deeper, fuller, and more alive.

Some roads you never choose: pain, loss, betrayal. But you still find yourself walking them. Jesus did too. We’re talking about how His journey to the cross meets us in our worst moments and gives us something better than just survival; it gives us a way forward.

Buckle up for a summer series through four powerful stories in Scripture! From compassion on the Road to Jericho, to resilience on the Road to Calvary, discovery on the Road to Emmaus, and transformation on the Road to Damascus, these journeys remind us what it means to follow Jesus. Each week, we’ll journey through core elements of discipleship: spending time with Jesus, learning from Him, and becoming more like Him.For the first week of our series, we'll dive into a story that shows that knowing the right thing and doing the right thing are two different things. The story of the ambushed traveler rescued by a good Samaritan on the Road to Jericho reminds us that love is inconvenient, and offers a great road map for how the way of Jesus is radically counter-cultural.