Magnify Church - Rockford

Many people take pride in being independent, and if you called them “sheep” it would be an insult. Yet in Biblical times, being a sheep with a good shepherd meant that you did not want for anything. Don Denyes continues our summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms and explores how following our Good Shepherd gives us rest, refreshment, restoration, and direction.

Life is a journey with pitfalls and trials along the way. As we continue our Summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms, Don Denyes looks at God as our Sun and the blessings He offers for those who trust Him.

Where do you turn when your world is shaken? Some turn to media, food, or other worldly comforts and pleasures to escape. This week we kick off our Summer series, Worship and Wonder: Pictures of God in the Psalms. Don Denyes looks deeper into Psalm 62 and shares where we can find security, safety, and stability in times of trouble.

If someone was to observe your life, what would they see? Stu Quackenbush asks that pretty sobering question in our last teaching in Luke as we close out our Storytellers series, and encourages us that our actions and words tell a story. What story do you want your life to tell?

Sin has a way of holding us down and keeping us from receiving the grace of Jesus. Don Denyes continues our Storytellers series with another of Jesus’ encounters in Luke, that reminds us of Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost, even those the world deems unworthy.

Helen Keller once said, “Better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing.” Don Denyes looks at another of Jesus’ interactions with a crowd in Luke to remind us to have a heart that seeks Him. He cares and has the power to transform our lives!

Have you ever gone grocery shopping and decided you didn’t need a cart? Then remembered the most important thing that wasn’t on your list? It’s hard to pick something up when your arms are already full. Don Denyes looks at two encounters in our Storytellers series that contrast the ways people approach Christ and encourages us to lay down lesser things to receive what Jesus has for us.

Most days do you feel like you can tackle life on your own, or do you regularly hit your knees in prayer? Don Denyes looks at another parable in Luke that contrasts two people’s prayers, as he invites us to see our desperate need for the Savior.

What prayers have you stopped praying? Are there things you’ve brought to God for years that you feel like He still hasn’t answered; or maybe He hasn’t answered the way you had hoped He would? Stu Quackenbush continues our Storytellers series in Luke with a parable that encourages us to not lose heart as we bring our heart’s desires to the Lord in prayer.

Do you find yourself asking God more often for what you want, or thanking Him for what He has already given you? Don Denyes jumps back into our Storytellers series in Luke with a story that highlights a characteristic that should mark our lives.

How can we live in a world of chaos, suffering, and disillusionment with hope, joy, and peace? The closing paragraphs of Luke’s gospel start with the disciples in the chaos and disillusionment of Jesus’ death and end with them filled with joy and worship. What makes the difference? In our last week of The Greatest Story series, Ben Phebus unpacks these paragraphs and points our hearts to the answer.

Have you ever heard a story too good to be true, then found out that it WAS true? This Easter Don Denyes shares the best part of The Greatest Story. What seemed like nonsense to a band of discouraged disciples, set the world on fire with the hope of the resurrection!

When Jesus entered Jerusalem it was to shouts of praise! The people called Him King and cried out, “Hosanna! Save us!” How quickly their shouts turned to “Crucify Him!” This week, Don Denyes looks at this stark change and invites us to focus not on the crowd, but on our Savior and the love He displayed for us on the cross.

How much would you endure to help someone? In part two of The Greatest Story, Stu Quackenbush explores the excruciating reality of the coming hours for Jesus, as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had every reason to walk away, but He didn't. He faced it all for you.

The final week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion began with crowds welcoming Him as a king. Don Denyes kicks off a 5-week Easter series exploring the significance of this moment as Jesus turned His focus to what lay ahead.

As our culture continues to become more and more socially isolated, the biblical model of community seems more and more foreign. Don Denyes continues our Storytellers series with three of Jesus’ teachings that invite us to pay attention to ourselves so we can better serve and love others.

Living like Jesus means living counterculture. Everywhere you look people are stepping over each other to get ahead, competing with their neighbors to have the best stuff, and cutting corners to achieve the “easy life.” Don Denyes looks at another story Jesus shared with His disciples that helps us better understand what He means that “The first shall be last.”

God wants our hearts! We sometimes go through the motions, but miss the point. Ben Phebus looks at an interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees in Luke and reminds us that loving God and loving others, isn’t just about following rules. It first requires humility and repentance.

It’s hard to look in the mirror and see our faults and shortcomings. Yet to truly grow as a Christian, we need to humbly confess our sins, repent, and accept the love that God so freely gives. Stu Quackenbush examines the response of the older brother in the second half of The Prodigal Son story to help us see what it takes to truly know the love of the Father.