Is it possible to find joy in a world where we daily face the pressures and problems from a fast-paced life? The Apostle Paul thinks so. As a prisoner for his faith, Paul penned the letter to the Philippians where he unpacks his description of a life that thrives--in spite of circumstances.

Everyone loves a good story. Stories capture the attention of both children and adults. Stories convey meaning in a way that mere definitions and explanations cannot. Through Jesus' ministry, he used a particular type of story--a parable--to describe the kingdom of God to his audience. Two thousand years later, these word-pictures haven't lost any of their power to evoke a response. Join us each week as we examine these powerful illustrations of truth.

The road of life is filled with adventure, twists and turns, and breath-taking scenery. And this road often leads us on unexpected detours--adversity, failure, even success--that cause us to question who's behind the wheel. As we examine the life of Joseph, we'll see that even when we can't see him, God is with us on the road trip. In fact, he's in the driver's seat.

Where do you expect to sense God's presence? We assume we'll find God in church. We assume we'll see God in the beauty of creation. But can we see hints of his presence in darkness, uncertainty or even scandal? The Christmas Story from the New Testament subtly reminds us that God can show up in unexpected places.

So many people look for God but cannot see him past the obstacles of their questions. Do you have trouble reconciling the reality of the God of the Bible with your observations of life? In this series, we'll consider some tough questions about God and life that require honest answers.

God speaks in many ways... Sometimes he uses Hollywood. This message series challenges us to allow God to speak into our lives with the help of some of our favorite movies. So help yourself to some popcorn during the service and open your heart for God to talk to you in a unique way.

"MY SPACE" | Napoleon Dynamite
"WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?" | A Beautiful Mind
"IS IT WORTH IT?" | Spider-Man 2
"A LITTLE MORE CONVERSATION" | Bruce Almighty
"WOULDA, SHOULDA, COULDA" | Walk the Line
"INCONCEIVABLE!" | The Princess Bride

In this series, we'll examine the stories of women from the Bible whose behavior would embarrass even the most desperate housewife! Each week, we'll discover what can be learned from their poor choices. But don't forget that their stories also give us an opportunity to learn something about who God is and how he interacts with us.

The world would be a better place if Christ-followers all lived life as Jesus lived. The church would be an attractive, powerful force on the earth, and would draw people by the droves. Even on a local level, Capital could change this city if our people all learned the secret of living like Jesus.

But that's just the problem... We can't. We read the passage in Matthew 5 where Jesus tells us to be perfect as his Father is perfect--but we're not. We read Paul's admonitions to walk in the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit--but we don't. And it's not for lack of trying. Most followers of Jesus really want to be the people he's called us to be. We do our best, but we consistently find that our best isn't good enough. So over the centuries, Christians have developed a theology of excuse that says, "We'll never be perfect. We have to wait for heaven." While that may be true in many ways, it has served to prevent us from seeing the reality of the life that Jesus has for us TODAY.

Can I really become a better person? Can I really stop being so selfish? Can I really learn to love my enemies? Can I really live life the way Jesus did?

In Chasing Wind, we examine the hard, sometimes contradictory reality presented in the book of Ecclesiastes. At first glance, the pessimism and paradox of Ecclesiastes doesn't fit well into our preconceptions of what life should be like for God's people. But as we consider the author's observations of life, we can actually find meaning in futility and joy in a complex world that isn't always fair.