Illuminate Community Church

1/4/26 - Joel - After the Shaking - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday, we’ll be spending our time in the small but powerful book of Joel. Though we know very little about the prophet himself, his message could not be timelier. Joel speaks to Judah in the middle of a national catastrophe, a locust invasion so severe that it collapses the economy, disrupts worship, and brings everyday life to a standstill. Rather than rushing to solutions, Joel presses a deeper question: Why is this happening? His conviction is that God often speaks through disruption, using moments we cannot ignore to reveal what we have been trusting in and what has been quietly shaping our hearts.

As we walk through chapters 1 and 2, we’ll see how crisis exposes spiritual complacency. Comfort, Joel shows us, can be spiritually numbing. When life is stable, prayer becomes polite, worship becomes routine, and dependence on God becomes theoretical. But when everything is shaken, illusions of control fall away, and honest self-examination becomes possible. God’s call through Joel is not merely to feel bad or perform religious acts, but to return to Him with all our hearts. “Rend your hearts, not your garments,” God says. This is an invitation to genuine repentance rooted in humility and trust in His gracious and merciful character.

We’ll also see that Joel’s message doesn’t end with judgment, but with restoration and hope. God responds to repentance with mercy, promising not only physical renewal but spiritual renewal through the outpouring of His Spirit, a promise Peter declares fulfilled at Pentecost in Acts 2. Joel then lifts our eyes to the coming Day of the Lord, when God’s justice and mercy will be fully revealed, and He will be a refuge for His people. My prayer is that this Sunday helps us see disruption differently, examine where comfort may have replaced dependence, practice quick and honest repentance, and learn what it truly means to live each day empowered by the Spirit of God.

12/28/25 - Obadiah - Don’t Play God for the Fool - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday, we’re kicking off an exciting new series on the Old Testament prophets. Many of us immediately think of prophets as those who predict the future, but in reality, God raised them up as truth-tellers. Their role was to speak into moments when His people were drifting spiritually, compromising morally, or trusting the wrong things. Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore individual prophets in the order they appeared, stepping into the ongoing conversation God has been having with His people for thousands of years. Each prophet challenges us with the same question: Will we listen, and will we respond?

We’ll begin with Obadiah, the smallest book in the Old Testament, just one short chapter, but it has tremendous weight. Obadiah delivers God’s message to Edom, a nation descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. When Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC, Edom not only failed to help but actively rejoiced in Israel’s suffering. God’s message through Obadiah exposes their pride, their betrayal, and the moral cost of standing aloof while others fall. I’m reminded of the haunting modern parallel in Johnny Cash’s song “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” which echoes the same warning: no one can escape God’s justice. But the prophecy is not only about judgment; it is also about justice and hope. God promises that, in the end, the kingdom will be His, and His people will be restored.

This ancient message speaks powerfully into our culture today. How do we respond when others stumble - friends, neighbors, and especially people we disagree with? Do we rejoice in their misfortune, or do we act with compassion? Obadiah challenges us to place our trust not in our cleverness, alliances, or social standing, but in the sovereignty of God. In a world where social media encourages gloating and superiority, this is a timely reminder that true faith responds with mercy, not judgment, and seeks restoration rather than advantage. I hope you’ll read ahead as we dive into Obadiah’s piercing, yet hope-filled word and discover what it means to live faithfully in God’s sight.

12/24/25 - Christmas Eve at Illuminate - Pastor Jason Fritz

12/21/25 - Advent Love - Pastor Jason Fritz

This week in our Advent series, we are reflecting on the love of God revealed in the gift of His Son. John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love is personal, sacrificial, and transformative. He gave what was most precious to Him so that one day we could be where He is. Therefore, the gift of Jesus is the most profound and useful gift we will ever receive.

Jesus came to bridge the gap between God and humanity. He became flesh so that we could understand God’s heart. Romans 8:32 assures us that if God did not spare His Son, He will graciously provide for all our needs. God’s love is not only for us to receive but also for us to share, flowing through us to bless others and extend His kingdom.

This Christmas, let's reflect on the love we have received and consider how we can share it with those around us. Where do you need to receive God’s love this season? Who needs to experience Christ’s love through you? Let’s conclude this Advent season with hearts ready to receive and hands prepared to share, living as a people transformed by the greatest love story ever told.

12/14/25 - Advent Joy - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday, we continue our Advent series focusing on joy, and it’s fitting, since “joy" is one of the first words used to announce Jesus’ birth: “I bring you good news of great joy.” A multitude of angels praised God, reminding us that true joy doesn’t depend on circumstances but on God’s presence, promises, and character. Even when life feels uncertain or difficult, joy is rooted in who God is and what He has done for us through Christ.

True to form, God brings this message in a way that no one expects. The shepherds were ordinary, overlooked people, yet they were the first to hear the angels’ announcement, showing that God’s joy is for everyone. Jesus said in John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” This joy grows as we abide in His love, obey His commands, and trust His guidance. Even in hardships and heartache, Paul reminds us that God’s love poured into our hearts produces hope that does not disappoint.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, I want to encourage you to anchor your joy not in the lights, gifts, or celebrations, but in the unchanging love of God made visible in the baby Jesus. Obedience to His word and remaining in His love are not burdens; they are the paths to experiencing His joy fully. Henri Nouwen beautifully reminds us, “Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved.” This week, let that truth guide your hearts and your steps. Let God’s deep, steady, unshakeable joy fill you, and may you share it freely with those around you.

12/7/25 - Advent Peace - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday, we continue our Advent series, and we’re looking at the beautiful promise of peace. To do that, we’ll travel back about 3,500 years to hear the prophet Isaiah’s words: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6–7). When Isaiah first spoke those words, peace was not the reality of his world. God’s people were anxious and under threat. Yet Isaiah pointed to a future peace that would not come through armies or politics, but through a child, the One who would be called the Prince of Peace.

As we open Luke chapter 2, we’ll see that Jesus entered a world every bit as chaotic as our own. Rome ruled with power, fear was constant, and even the king sought to kill Jesus upon his birth. Yet into that darkness, God sent light. The angels’ announcement, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased,” reminds us that Jesus came not to end political wars, but to restore peace where it was most needed: between God and humanity. The peace of Christmas is not a sentimental wish; it’s a spiritual reality that begins when we are reconciled to God through faith in Christ.

11/30/25 - Advent Hope - When Heaven Touches Earth - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season, a time of anticipation, reflection, and preparation as we remember Christ’s first coming and look forward to His return. Our sermon will focus on the theme of hope - not wishful thinking, but the confident expectation of God’s promises fulfilled. We’ll explore the story of Simeon, the righteous man in Luke 2 who waited patiently for the Messiah and finally saw God’s salvation with his own eyes. His example reminds us that hope is active, shaping how we live and respond to the world around us.

We’ll also see how hope transforms our daily lives, whether in our marriages, work, parenting, and friendships. Just as Simeon’s hope brought clarity and joy in the ordinary moment of seeing a baby in the temple, the hope we have in Christ gives us strength, perspective, and courage in the challenges we face every day. We’ll look at biblical examples, like the woman at Bethany who poured costly perfume on Jesus, and modern examples of faith lived with hope, to see how this assurance in God changes everything.

Finally, we’ll consider how this hope is more than a feeling. It is an anchor for our souls, firm and secure. Through Scripture, we’ll reflect on God’s promises, the gift of the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance, and the assurance that the best is yet to come. My prayer is that each of us will leave this Sunday renewed in hope, confident in Christ’s presence in our lives, and inspired to live in light of the great salvation God has promised.

11/23/25 - What It Means to be a Christian - Part 2- Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday, we continue our two-part series on What It Means to Be a Christian. Last week, we looked at the first three core beliefs that define a biblical worldview: the existence of absolute moral truth, the accuracy of the Bible in all its teachings, and the reality of Satan. It was an eye-opening study, highlighting just how many people who identify as Christians do not hold these foundational truths. As we reflected together, I was reminded that our faith is not merely about words or traditions, it’s about grounding our lives in the truths of God’s Word.

This week, we will examine the remaining three beliefs: that we cannot earn our way to heaven by being good, that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, and that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who still rules the universe today. These truths are not optional for those who follow Christ because they form the foundation of our salvation, our hope, and our daily walk with God. Through Scripture, example, and practical application, we’ll see why these beliefs matter and how they should shape the way we live, worship, and interact with the world around us.

I want to invite you to come with an open heart, ready to hear God speak. Whether you are new to Illuminate or you’ve been part of our church family for years, these truths have the power to transform your life. Come ready to reflect, respond, and recommit to trusting in God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Word that guides us. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue to build our faith on the rock-solid foundation of God’s truth!

11/16/25 - Behind It All - 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2:15 - Pastor Steve Johnson

Last week, we saw some eye-opening statistics showing that while many people call themselves Christian, very few actually hold to the core biblical beliefs that define a true Christian worldview. This Sunday, we’re going to dig into what’s at the heart of those beliefs—the very foundation of the Christian worldview: the Bible.

If someone were to ask you, “Why do you base your whole life on the Bible?” or “Why do you trust it?” you might answer, “Because it’s God’s Word.” But what if they pressed further and asked, “How do you know that? What makes the Bible different from the Qur’an, the Hindu Vedas, or any other religious or philosophical writings in the world?” A Hindu would say the Vedas offer the correct picture of truth and reality, while a Muslim would disagree and point to the Qur’an as the accurate one.

I think most believers would probably share their personal story or testimony as proof. But people of other faiths do the same with their own experiences. So just relying on your personal experience is not enough to prove your view of Scripture—especially in a culture that’s skeptical about what the Bible says.

Do you really have solid reasons to believe God has spoken through the Bible and that what it says is actually true? Why should you trust the Bible above everything else? You should be able to answer that. You should be able to say, “Here’s why my life depends on this Book, and here’s why yours should, too.” We’ll help you with a number of specific reasons.

We’ll talk about how we can keep building our lives on God’s truth instead of just going along with opinions or what’s popular in our culture and we’ll get practical about what it looks like to live out a true biblical worldview, “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

11/9/25 - What It Means to be a Christian - Part 1- Pastor Jason Fritz

I’ve been thinking a lot about a question we don’t ask nearly enough: What does it really mean to be a Christian? George Barna’s recent research reminded me that while many people call themselves Christian, very few actually hold to the core biblical beliefs that define a Christian worldview. This Sunday, we’ll start looking at three of those beliefs: that absolute moral truth exists, the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches, and Satan is a real being. 

Where to begin? In a world where people often say, “That’s your truth, not mine,” we need to remember that God alone defines what is right and wrong, and His truth never changes based on our feelings or culture.

We’ll also dig into why we can’t trust human reason or personal happiness alone to guide us. History and Scripture make this clear: even our best intentions can be flawed because of sin. We’ll touch on examples from philosophy and history, and more importantly, we’ll see what God’s Word says about how our hearts and minds need His guidance. The Bible provides a firm foundation, a moral compass we can trust, and a standard for life that remains constant, unaffected by the latest trends.

We’ll also be examining our own lives. Are we building on God’s truth, or are we relying on our own opinions and cultural influences? We’ll talk about practical ways to live out a biblical worldview, recognizing that sin, Satan, and spiritual battle are real, and that God equips us to stand firm.