What if gratitude could become a way of life—even on the hard days? Pastor Matt explores how seven ancient festivals from the Old Testament point us toward seven powerful reasons to live with overflowing thankfulness every day. Discover how Passover, First Fruits, Pentecost, and four other feasts all foreshadow Jesus and reveal what we have in Christ: forgiveness, new life, resurrection hope, empowerment, cleansing, and God's constant presence. Whether life is amazing or difficult right now, this message offers practical ways to cultivate lasting gratitude through faith.

In this concluding message of the "I AM" series, Pastor Matt reviews the seven statements of Jesus that reveal His divine identity: the bread of life, light of the world, the door, good shepherd, resurrection and life, way/truth/life, and true vine. Each statement offers a unique invitation, collectively calling us to respond to God's invitation to relationship through Christ. Pastor Matt celebrates that 26 people surrendered to Jesus and 12 were baptized during the series.

Pastor Matt then transitions to explain discipleship as the process of transformation where followers grow to be more like Jesus in character and conduct. This leads to the launch of the church's annual Christmas offering—an 11-week generosity campaign with a goal of $155,000 to support kingdom-building initiatives locally (like Union Gospel Mission), nationally (church plants), globally (missionaries), and on college campuses. He encourages everyone to participate according to their ability, emphasizing that "a little adds up over time" and that together they can accomplish more than individually.

Pastor Matt wrapped up the church's "I AM" series by reviewing how Jesus revealed His divine identity through seven statements in the Gospel of John. Each statement—Bread of Life, Light of the World, Door, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and Life, Way, Truth and Life, and True Vine—offers a unique invitation to relationship, collectively inviting us back into relationship with God through Christ. The sermon emphasized that discipleship isn't a tiered system but the natural state of every follower of Jesus, who should be "following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus."

Pastor Matt then launched our annual Christmas offering campaign with a goal of $155,000, supporting local partners like Union Gospel Mission, national church planting efforts, global missions, and campus ministries. This 11-week generosity initiative aligns with Jesus' final command in Acts 1:8 to be witnesses "in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," while also supporting Vision 2028—the plan to start a new work by our 50th anniversary.