When it comes to faith, how can we tell what’s real? In a world full of noise, labels, and surface-level religion, Scripture reminds us that it’s not our words or our image that reveal our faith—it’s our fruit. This Pentecost and Confirmation Sunday, we’ll explore how the Holy Spirit transforms our lives from the inside out. Drawing on gardening imagery and a modern-day plant ID app, we’ll reflect on how love, joy, peace, and other Spirit-given fruit become visible signs of God’s work in us. Join us as we ask not just what do I believe?—but what is my life growing?

Before we could walk in grace, we were carried by law, structure, and tradition. In Galatians, Paul invites us to imagine faith as a journey—from rules that guided us safely through our early steps, to the freedom and maturity of a Spirit-led life in Christ. But letting go of that guidance doesn’t mean it was wrong. It means we’ve grown.Join us as we reflect on the ways religious frameworks shaped us, how they sometimes still hold us, and what it means to live freely in God’s grace without resenting the structures that once helped us believe. This message offers compassion for our past and courage for the next step of our spiritual journey.

In our exploration of Paul's letter to the Galatians, we uncover a profound message about the nature of salvation and grace. The central theme revolves around the contrast between earning salvation through works and receiving it freely through God's grace. We're reminded that our worth isn't determined by our actions, beliefs, or social status, but by God's unconditional love for us. This message challenges us to shift our focus from striving to earn God's favor to resting in the assurance of His grace. The parallels drawn between our modern-day attempts to define 'true' Christianity and the early church's struggles with Jewish law highlight how timeless this issue is. As we reflect on this, we're invited to examine our own faith journey. Are we trying to earn our salvation, or are we allowing ourselves to be transformed by the liberating power of God's grace?