This week, we continue our series on the wilderness with Ashok sharing from the powerful story of Hagar. Though often overlooked, Hagar’s journey reveals how God meets us in seasons of uncertainty, rejection, and waiting. As she encounters God in the desert, we’re reminded that the wilderness is not a place of abandonment, but often a place of revelation. Through Scripture and personal testimony, this message encourages us to trust that even when we feel unseen or unsure of God’s promises, He is the God who sees, hears, and faithfully provides.

In the Bible, the wilderness is a harsh and hostile reality. And yet throughout Scripture, God uses this location to meet and transform His people. Today, we all journey through “wilderness” types of experiences in our lives, and no matter how or why we find ourselves in those situations, God will meet us and transform us during as well---as long as we choose to trust Him in the process.

Discussion Questions:
1. After watching the sermon, when was the last time you were in a "wilderness" period in your own life? Are you in one right now?

2. Why do you think the wilderness is a place where God teaches his people dependence and trust? Have you experienced this dynamic in your own life?

3. Read Psalm 63, which David wrote while he lived in the wilderness on the run from Saul. How does your perspective on the psalm change when you think about that context?

4. How would a wilderness series fit into your life right now? What can you do to position yourself to get the most out of this series?

5. Take time to pray with your group, praying for God to encounter us, to meet our needs, and to transform us into the people He wants us to be. You can use Psalm 63 to commit the next 6 weeks to seeking the Lord, ahead of Easter.

This Sunday, Pastor Shea closed our Made for More series by calling us to step into action. Rooted in Ephesians 2:8–10, the message reminded us that while we are saved by grace, we are created with purpose and an assignment prepared by God. Pastor Shea challenged the church to identify and surrender three barriers that often hold us back—isolation, selfishness, and self-disqualification—and to move toward unity, surrender, and dependence on Christ. The message was a powerful invitation to keep Jesus first, allow Him to refine our hearts, and live fully activated in the purpose He’s placed on our lives.

This past Sunday, we celebrated The Testimony’s 2-year anniversary, thanking God for all He’s done—from starting on a patio to growing into a thriving church family. Pastor Shay reminded us that celebration is biblical worship, often happening around a table and in community, and encouraged anyone feeling discouraged or “in the wilderness” that God still has purpose for them.

The message focused on spiritual gifts—not as optional “extras,” but as essential tools God gives every believer to build up the church and reveal Jesus to the world. We were challenged to remember that gifts are for the common good, meant for edification not validation, and that the greatest goal is always love. Pastor Shay ended with a practical call to earnestly desire, ask God, and try using our gifts, so we can grow together in unity and be the church beyond Sunday.

This Sunday we continue our Made For More series with a powerful reminder about what it truly means to serve.

Serving isn’t just what we do—it’s about why we do it. We’ll explore the difference between healthy servanthood and serving from pressure, obligation, or burnout, and look at Jesus as our model: a Servant King who led with love, humility, and purpose. Whether you serve at church, at home, at work, or in your community, this message invites us to realign our hearts, rediscover our “why,” and learn how to serve from God’s strength—not our own.

This Sunday, Ashok launched our new series Made for More: Made on Purpose for a Purpose, reminding us that the church is not a place we attend but a body we belong to. Drawing from Romans 12, he emphasized that every believer has been intentionally designed with unique gifts that are vital to the whole body of Christ—both seen and unseen. Rather than limiting ministry to a Sunday gathering, we are called to live out our God-given purpose in the 98% of our lives beyond church walls. Ashok challenged us to identify our gifts, embrace our assignments, and courageously step into them so others can experience God’s love through us.

This past weekend, Pastor Shea cast vision for the new year around one powerful word: grandeur. Drawing from Ephesians 3, he reminded us that God invites us not just to observe His greatness, but to experience it personally—through the power at work within us. God’s grandeur isn’t meant to be safe or comfortable; it calls us beyond the mundane and into deeper trust, bold faith, and wholehearted obedience. As we step out of our comfort zones and hunger for the fullness of Christ, God builds our capacity to carry His presence and reflect His love to those around us. This year is an invitation to wake up, level up, and step where we’re called—into the great adventure of walking with God.

Pastor Keane from C4 Church brought our New Year kickoff message as Pastor Shea and Pastor Karla welcomed their new baby, marking a season of new life and fresh beginnings for our church. He reminded us that we are “in it for the long haul” and called us to step into 2026 with perseverance and faith.

Anchored in Isaiah 60:1–2, Pastor Keane challenged us to “Arise and Shine,” recognizing that while darkness exists in the world, God’s light is rising on His people. This year is a season of acceleration and overflow—God brings the growth, but we steward it by making room for deeper intimacy with Him. Using the Honolulu Marathon as an illustration, he encouraged us not just to start strong, but to run with endurance and finish well, creating space for others to follow.

Teaching from Genesis 4 (Cain and Abel), he emphasized the danger of comparison and unresolved anger, reminding us that sin is crouching at the door, but through Jesus we are empowered to rule over it. The invitation for the church was clear: draw closer to God, identify what’s holding us back, and respond with repentance and action, believing this will be a year of breakthrough, perseverance, and renewed spiritual life.