"God deserves our first and our best not our last and our leftovers."

Our 11|28 Teaching Team and Church Board member, Natalia Roman-Galarza, continued The Generous Life series on Sunday. Natalia does a deep dive into the generosity of the boy whose meal fed thousands. Leaving us to ask ourselves what systems need to be put in place for our giving to be a priority.

"Funding the work of God is worth putting on repeat."

Mike looks at the parable of the Good Samaritan as well as the reality of those who traveled with Jesus. In both instances they funded the mission, they gave generously towards the healing and hopeful work that was needed.

"Genuine generosity begins with a change of heart."

Mike Francisco shares how he grew up with an understanding that you give to the church, you save, and then you can spend what's left. But the realities of life as you get older don't fit so neatly together like they did as a kid and we end up cheating either what we give to the church or what we save. Luke 19 helps us understand that an encounter with Jesus can change our hearts, and generosity flows out of a changed heart.

Everything God desires to do through you, He will do out of the overflow of what he’s doing in you.

CoPastors Mike and Colleen Francisco brought the second part of this series asking the question "what's next". As 11|28 Community celebrates three years since first launching in 2021, it's time to step into more. It's time to take next steps and to expand our partnerships beyond Here in Oak Creek into places that are Near and Far as well.

"you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

We're all asking the question "what's next". What's next for my family? What's next at my job? What's next in my marriage? What's next with my church?

Mike Francisco and the 11|28 board have been asking that question for our three year old church all year long. Mike shares what's next HERE in Oak Creek (Jerusalem) and the potential to impact our community more.

I wasn’t gonna have my last homecoming, I wasn’t gonna have my last winter formal, wasn’t gonna have any of my last anythings because of Covid. I was definitely feeling very down and lonely. Also, everything was virtual. I obviously didn’t feel connected because everything was through FaceTime and I don’t see the person right here in front of me just through like an iPad screen or computer. I was just like very iffy on everything, not really feeling connected during that last year with Covid.

Aylani Roman has grown up with 11|28 over the last few years. She was in her last year of High School as the team began to form and played an important role working with young kids! Even now as she's out on her own, Lani is connected and serves with kids in the nursery. If you've dropped your kids off on a Sunday at our nursery area, you've probably met Lani.

"I remember that Tuesday evening that I was just like I have nobody. I don’t know who my friends are, nobody’s answering and I was sitting in a jail cell and I said I have nobody. You literally don’t have much in a jail cell, but I had this little concrete table and at that moment, when I said I had nobody, I looked and I was like I do I have a Bible and I know I still have God. And that's where this all started"

You may remember a month back when we shared our shortest episode ever. Mel Olson shared the short version of her story on August 24th at our Baptism and Reunion party with our partner church Lakepoint and Revive. We said we'd love to get Mel back to share the fuller context of her story, and here it is. Mel is still living with a lot of unknowns as she waits on court dates, housing opportunities and potential jobs but one thing is certain, she's not alone.

If we're going to love like Jesus, we've got to forgive like Jesus.

Colleen explores the love and forgiveness of Jesus as He hung on the cross, praying for those who hurt Him. There are two simple things we should do when someone hurts us, simple to remember but hard to actually do. Colleen shares her own personal journey over the last week of learning to love like Jesus.