by Church @ 434 | Apr 25, 2026 | Connect @ 434 Series
Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a complete story in only six words. His response was devastatingly brilliant. What if we applied the same challenge to our spiritual lives?
This video kicks off a new series, “Word Up,” where we learn to boil down the complexities of our lives and faith into a single, powerful focus. Tonight, we start with six words. You’ll be guided through a simple but profound exercise to craft a “six-word memoir” that captures where you are right now.
Discover how this practice can ignite your “actual imagination,” bring clarity to your spiritual condition, and prepare you to find the one word that will define your growth for the year ahead.
#SixWordStory #HemingwayChallenge #SpiritualFormation #CreativeFaith #KnowYourself #PersonalGrowth #Christianity
by Church @ 434 | Apr 24, 2026 | Bridge to Truth, Sacred Space, Sacred Wonderings, The Grind and the Glory
We’ve sanitized worship. We’ve made it clean, comfortable, and convenient. But the Bible presents a different picture. Step into the outer court of the tabernacle and stand before the altar of burnt offering—a place of blood, fire, and smoke. A place where forgiveness wasn’t just a feeling; it was a messy, costly, and intentional act.
This message contrasts the visceral reality of Old Testament sacrifice with our often-casual approach to God. By understanding what it truly meant to approach a holy God, we expose a critical weakness in modern faith: our tendency to serve God only when it fits our schedule. This is a call to move beyond a “drive-thru” faith and rediscover the power and purpose that only comes through genuine, costly sacrifice.
#Tabernacle #Altar #OldTestament #Leviticus #Sacrifice #HolyGod #Worship #SacrificeVsConvenience #CostOfDiscipleship
by Church @ 434 | Apr 23, 2026 | A Walk Through the Carpenter Shop
Life can feel overwhelming, a constant stream of choices with unknown consequences. But what if all those decisions could be simplified and clarified by making just one choice first?
In this session from The Carpenter Shop, we learn that like a parent guiding a child, God has laid out two clear paths for us: one that leads to life, and one that leads to destruction. Drawing from the wisdom of Deuteronomy and Joshua, we uncover how the single act of choosing to follow Him brings clarity, purpose, and blessing to every other area of your life. It’s time to stop being overwhelmed by your choices and start making the one that truly matters.
#Purpose #Christianity #PowerOfChoice #Faith #Jesus #BuildYourLife #SpiritualGrowth #FaithJourney #DecisionMaking
by Church @ 434 | Apr 22, 2026 | The Clash
Do you ever feel like the Christian life is a call to the impossible? To stand firm when everything is shaking, to keep serving when you’re hurting, and to believe your work matters when you see no results? You’re not alone. In this special episode of The Clash, pastors Jeff Dixon and Dr. Chris Whaley tackle this very feeling by dedicating the entire show to unpacking the powerhouse verse of 1 Corinthians 15:58. Join them as they explore the true meaning of what it means to “stand firm,” revealing how Jesus’ resurrection is the power source for your impossible calling. Discover how to shift your mindset from being a “volunteer” to a “vessel” for God’s work, understand the crucial difference between faithfulness and feelings, and hold onto the encouraging truth that your labor in the Lord is NEVER in vain. If you’re tired, discouraged, or wondering if you can keep going, this conversation will give you the spiritual fuel to embrace your “impossible” purpose with renewed confidence.
#Encouragement #Purpose #Jesus #StandFirm #UnmovableFaith #CallToTheImpossible #ResurrectionPower #NeverGiveUp #DontTapOut
by Church @ 434 | Apr 21, 2026 | Found in the Shadows
We often believe that holding a grudge punishes the person who hurt us. But what if the greatest damage is happening somewhere else entirely? In this episode of “Found in the Shadows,” Jeff Dixon reveals the startling truth that unforgiveness doesn’t just damage our relationships with others—it drives a wedge between us and God.
Journey to the foot of the cross and hear Jesus’s radical words, “Father, forgive them,” to discover the limitless model of grace we are called to follow. Learn how to step out of the dark shadow of bitterness and into the light of a restored, powerful relationship with God.
#Unforgiveness #FoundInTheShadows #ChristianLiving #Forgiveness #LetGoAndLetGod #SpiritualGrowth #Faith #RelationshipWithGod #TheCross
