Pastor Matt Hodge (Discipleship Pastor) - ​​​​​2 Timothy 3:10–17 ( 2 Timothy 3:10–17; Romans 1:18-20; 2:14-15; Hebrews 1:1; 4:12-13; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29-32; Luke 22:27 & 44; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 2:1-12; Acts 1:16-17; 17:10-12; 24:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:10-13; Isaiah 55:6-11; John 6:66-69; Titus 1:1-4)

Why does the Bible matter—and why should it have authority in our lives?

In this opening lesson of the Open the Book series, we tackle the foundational question every believer must answer: Why the Bible? Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:10–17, this lesson explores what Scripture is, where it comes from, and why it is essential for faith, life, and godliness.

If you’ve ever wondered why Christians open the Bible, trust it, and build their lives upon it, this lesson lays the groundwork. The Bible doesn’t just contain God’s Word—it is God’s Word. And that’s why we Open the Book.

Series description:

Lesson 1 - Notes

Pastor Tony Liuzzo (Lead Pastor) - ​Genesis 28-29 (Genesis 28:10-22; 29:1-2 & 11-28; Hebrews 13:5; Galatians 6:7-9)

Regret is one of the hardest feelings in life. You usually don’t feel it while you’re making the mess—you feel it afterward, when you look back and see the impact of your choices. By then, you can’t rewind. You can’t undo what’s been done. The truth is, our actions always have consequences—not just sometimes, but every time. Jacob tries to run from the mess he created, but you can’t really run away from your problems when you’re the source of them. Distance doesn’t erase responsibility. But here’s the surprising part of the story: Jacob encounters the grace of God along the way. God’s grace is His presence and love showing up even when we don’t deserve it. And Jacob encounters that grace in the last place he expected. Why? Because God is good—even in our mess.

Series description:

Have you ever heard someone say, “My life is such a mess”—or maybe you’ve said it yourself? The truth is, life didn’t start out this way. Somewhere along the road, things got complicated. Choices were made. Words were spoken. Wounds were created. And now we’re left carrying regret, family drama that only seems to grow worse, and patterns of decisions we wish we could undo.

The problem is, these things don’t simply disappear. They stack up. They linger. And over time, life can begin to feel heavy—almost unbearable.

Here’s the good news: the Bible is filled with stories of people whose lives were just as messy. We’re talking about broken families, terrible decisions, and lifelong regrets. One of those stories is the life of Jacob. And while his life is marked by deception, conflict, and consequence, that’s not where his story ends.

That’s the beauty of Jacob’s story—he doesn’t stay in the mess. There’s a turning point. There’s healing. And his journey becomes more than just his own story; it becomes a powerful picture of what God can do with our messes when we surrender them to Him.

So let’s be honest. Let’s get real. And let’s discover how the power of God can bring transformation—even in the middle of our mess.

Pastor Tony Liuzzo (Lead Pastor) - ​Genesis 25 (Romans 6:12; 7:18; 12:21; James 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Genesis 25:21-28; 27:1-4, 6-8, 18-24, 30-36 & 41-44; Psalms 51:5; Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 16:24; 19:30)

Have you ever heard someone say, “My life is such a mess”—or maybe you’ve said it yourself? The truth is, life didn’t start out this way. Somewhere along the road, things got complicated. Choices were made. Words were spoken. Wounds were created. And now we’re left carrying regret, family drama that only seems to grow worse, and patterns of decisions we wish we could undo.

The problem is, these things don’t simply disappear. They stack up. They linger. And over time, life can begin to feel heavy—almost unbearable.

Here’s the good news: the Bible is filled with stories of people whose lives were just as messy. We’re talking about broken families, terrible decisions, and lifelong regrets. One of those stories is the life of Jacob. And while his life is marked by deception, conflict, and consequence, that’s not where his story ends.

That’s the beauty of Jacob’s story—he doesn’t stay in the mess. There’s a turning point. There’s healing. And his journey becomes more than just his own story; it becomes a powerful picture of what God can do with our messes when we surrender them to Him.

So let’s be honest. Let’s get real. And let’s discover how the power of God can bring transformation—even in the middle of our mess.

Pastor Tony Liuzzo (Lead Pastor) - ​Luke 2:10 (Luke 1:31 & 33; 2:8-14; Acts 5:38-3; Isaiah 9:6; Romans 6:23; 10:9)

Christmas truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year! And we know why—because we are celebrating the birth of our Savior. Even though the world around us may celebrate a holiday they don’t fully understand, they still feel the wonder and warmth that Christmas brings. That wonder goes all the way back to a quiet night in Bethlehem, when angels appeared and announced to a group of shepherds, “good tidings of great joy.” That same message still echoes through our world today! Every time we sing the songs, gather with loved ones, enjoy the lights, or exchange gifts, we are experiencing the message of joy that entered the world through Jesus Christ. He is the source of the celebration—and the reason Christmas continues to fill our hearts with great joy. Do you hear the world celebrating Christmas? That is the echo of hope that was born on that holy night!

Pastor Tony Liuzzo (Lead Pastor) - ​Luke 1:28-35 (Luke 1:28-35 & 46-49; 2:19; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Matthew 1:21)

One of the traditions we enjoy at Christmas is setting out a nativity scene. We love the imagery—it reminds us of the very first Christmas. In the nativity, Mary stands smiling behind baby Jesus, Joseph looks on as a proud father, and the newborn Christ is wrapped neatly in swaddling clothes, resting perfectly in the manger. The animals, of course, gather around in peaceful stillness. But the truth is, the first Christmas didn’t look perfect at all. Mary could tell you that while our modern nativity scenes are beautiful, the reality she lived was far from picture perfect. And the same is true for us today. We smile in family photos, but those pictures rarely reveal the burdens, fears, pain, and heartbreak hidden behind our smiles. The good news is that Jesus was born for exactly those things—our pain, our fear, and our brokenness. He is the peace and joy that changes everything. Our lives may not be picture perfect, but we have the gift of Jesus, and He brings us hope.

Pastor Aaron Roberts (Worship Pastor) - ​​​​​Matthew 2:13-23​; Hosea 11:1-11​; Jeremiah 31:8-9​ & 12-16​ (Matthew 2:13-23​; 26:42; Hosea ​1:1; 11:1-11​; Jeremiah 31:8-9​ & 12-16​; Exodus 4:21-23; John 1:46; Isaiah 49:7; 53:3; Psalm 22:6; Daniel 9:26; Hebrews 4-5 & 9; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Romans 8:14-17)

Matthew 2 contains three prophecies, all considered fulfilled in the events surrounding Herod’s attempted murder of the baby boy Jesus.

This week we investigate the origins and meaning of these prophecies and what they reveal about the nature of God’s true Son, Jesus.

Series description:

Lesson 3 - Notes

Pastor Aaron Roberts (Worship Pastor) - ​​​​​Matthew 2:1-12​; Micah 5:1-6​ (Matthew ​1:1; 2:1-12​; 4; Micah​ 1:1; 5:1-6​; 2 Samuel 5:1-2; 7:12-16; 8; 1 Samuel 5; 13:14; 16:1 & 11; Acts 13:22; 2 Peter 1:4; John 10:11-18; 15; Revelation 19:11-16; Hebrews 13:20-21)

Matthew 2 contains the story of the wise men, and a prophecy foretelling the birth of a ruler in Bethlehem. But why is this story here at all? And what does it tell us about the person and ministry of Jesus Christ?

This week we ask what it means that Jesus is a Shepherd King, and how it should shape the way we view his working in our lives.

Series description:

Lesson 2 - Notes

Pastor Tony Liuzzo (Lead Pastor) - ​Philippians 3:13-16 (Matthew 9:36; John 4:35; Philippians 2:5-8; 3:13-17; Colossians 1:18; 3:2; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Revelation 3:19; Romans 12:1 & 11; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Luke 6:38)

What comes to mind when you hear the word “RUN!”? It’s not a suggestion—it’s an action. Don’t stand still. Don’t hesitate. Move forward. Take action. Paul used this imagery often when describing the Christian life. He challenged the church to press on, refuse spiritual complacency, and pursue Christ with purpose. Wherever you are in your walk with God, Scripture reminds us: there is more. God is calling you to step up, push forward, and embrace the mission He has placed before you. So ask yourself: Are you running the race—or just watching from the sidelines? Are you ready to lean in, step up, and step into more?