Well-known author Patrick Lencioni says, “Core values [ought to be] deeply ingrained principles that guide all of a company’s actions; they serve as its cultural cornerstones.” We think this is a helpful way to think about Core [...]

When I attended the first potluck at my church—I was half nervous, half excited, standing beside someone’s world-famous green bean casserole. Turns out, feeling at home in a church is less about paperwork and more about the stories we share over [...]

The other day, as I locked up our little church after a powerful Sunday morning, I found myself wondering—yet again—about something in my faith I thought I’d settled long ago. Funny how questions keep showing up, even when you’re the pastor. If [...]

If someone handed me a dollar every time they asked, “So, what kind of music do you play at Horizon City Church?”—let’s just say we’d have a church organ by now. Personally, as a lifelong music lover and your local pastor, my answer is always a [...]

We were never meant to walk alone. From the very beginning, God designed us for connection—not just with Him, but with each other. Yet in today’s fast-paced and often fragmented world, many of us find ourselves longing for something deeper than [...]

Have you ever walked into a place and felt like you belonged, even before you knew a single name? That’s how I first felt walking into a church years ago, after a wild detour involving spilled coffee and a mismatched pair of shoes. Finding a [...]

Last Sunday, as I stood in front of our little congregation, a simple, almost childlike question stopped me in my tracks: ‘Can I really connect with God?’ It’s one of those questions we whisper in our hearts but rarely admit aloud. [...]

One rainy Sunday morning, I nearly opted for pajamas and livestream over braving the cold to join my congregation—tempting, isn’t it? Let’s get real: the convenience of online church is hard to beat. But have you ever considered what’s missing [...]

One Sunday morning, my own toddler found her way under the coffee table in the church lobby, cramming an entire donut in her mouth while our greeter tried (and failed) to negotiate her out. That scene perfectly sums up why I believe the church [...]

Last Thursday morning, before the Florida sun crept over the lake, I found myself sitting with coffee and more questions than answers. It wasn’t the first time prayer felt more like an awkward conversation than a sacred moment—but over the [...]

I found myself, not long ago, attending a funeral. As a pastor, I have the privilege and honor of walking with families in their highest of highs and their lowest of lows. At this particular funeral, I found myself wondering, What comfort could [...]

Whether you are a new believer or you have been a Christian your whole life, it’s easy to be intimidated by the sheer size and the thin, rustling pages of your Bible. Understanding the Bible seems like a difficult task. I have been [...]

I have had a lot of questions about baptism during my many years in ministry. What is the importance of it? What is significant about it? Do I need to be baptized? Baptism is not just a church ritual, but it is a defining moment in the life of [...]

I’ll never forget the first time my faith smacked into my daily routine—literally while waiting in a line at the DMV. It’s wild how the teachings of Jesus (which sound so noble in a Sunday sermon) suddenly become super awkward when you’re [...]

If you’ve recently visited our website or worshiped with us on a Sunday morning—first of all, welcome. Whether you’re new to the area, new to church, or just exploring what it means to follow Jesus, we’re genuinely glad you’re here. At Horizon [...]

I used to believe Sunday service was the heartbeat of our church—until I sat in a living room with six people and realized what real church family could look like. In this post, let me take you behind the scenes: the laughter, awkward silences, [...]

Walking into a church for the first time—especially if you haven’t been to church in a while, or ever—can feel intimidating. Maybe you’re new to the area, curious about faith, or looking for a fresh start. You might have a few questions [...]

I once volunteered to greet folks at the church door. Turns out, my enthusiasm (and slightly off-key singing) made more of an impression than any welcome packet ever could! In a church plant like ours, every set of hands—and quirks—matters. [...]

I’ll never forget the Wednesday evening I sat with a mug of lukewarm black coffee, looking out the window as the rain streaked blue across the glass. That week, three members of our little church plant had lost jobs and one family was facing a [...]

A few years ago, I found myself staring at an oddly joyful statue of a pelican in a junky Florida thrift shop. The owner said, “It’s a symbol on every old post office because someone once thought it meant hope.” It struck me as a [...]

Let me start with a confession: I am a Christian Hedonist. Not because it sounds edgy or provocative, but because it captures the deepest truth about how we glorify God: By enjoying Him forever. Christian Hedonism is not a trendy twist on [...]

The leaky roofs don’t ever come at a convenient time. There is never a moment of struggle or hardship that is welcomed with open arms. During those struggles and leaky roofs, in the middle of frustration and questions and maybe even doubt, [...]

Hebrews 10 is like a “giant theological squid”—tentacles reaching into every doctrine from sanctification to covenant theology, sacrifice, priesthood, the Trinity, and more. And the more I’ve studied Hebrews 10, the more it [...]

Last week, after scrolling a little too long on TikTok (again—don’t judge me), I stumbled on a heated debate about street preaching, public faith, and why no one wants to talk about hell anymore. It got me thinking about how, even in a [...]

Last Tuesday, while rummaging through my old emails, I found a message from a friend I used to do ministry with. Memories of endless coffee refills and late-night debates about faith flooded back—but this time, a pit formed in my stomach. His [...]

Have you ever looked at a discipline moment in life and thought, ‘Why me?’ If so, you’re in good company. I used to cringe at the word ‘discipline’—always imagined it meant stern lectures or time-outs (and as a dad, I can [...]

As I reflected on my own spiritual journey, I realized how easy it is to settle into a routine of basic beliefs—like sipping milk as if it were enough. I recall a distinct moment in my life when I transitioned from a faith rooted solely in the [...]

My wife and I moved from Minnesota to Orlando in 2023, with the intention of planting a church in the fall of 2024. When I started telling people in Minnesota that I was moving to Florida, nearly everyone brought up the infamous internet trope: [...]

When I sat across from a grieving family, wrestling with the unanswerable after an unexpected tragedy, I realized the question ‘Why does God allow suffering?’ isn’t just philosophical, it’s personal. With two decades of [...]

On a rainy Thursday, I realized something: generosity isn’t just about the stuff we hand out; it’s a glimpse into what’s happening deep in our hearts. As the pastor of a brand-new church plant, I see generosity every week—meals delivered [...]

As we saw in our sermon on Hebrews 9, this chapter stands as one of the most theologically dense passages in the Bible, addressing the fundamental differences between the Old and New Covenants. The key distinction lies in their ultimate purposes [...]

In our contemporary society, church attendance has declined and YouTube sermon streaming has seemingly become an adequate substitute. However, weekly worship gatherings still matter—maybe now more than ever.   Are Numbers Everything? Why [...]

Last week, me and my wife were sitting in our backyard. Between sips of coffee and chasing my kids around, I found myself thinking about the word ‘grace.’ It’s thrown around a lot in church, but as I watched the sun come up, I [...]

The Orlando region is the most visited region in the world, and that’s mostly because of the mouse named Mickey. Over the last few years, Orlando has attracted 70+ million visitors each year. In addition, Orlando has attracted more than [...]

There’s plenty of gospel-preaching churches in our community that are not necessarily Reformed. We’re not seeking to disparage those churches. However, we understand and appreciate that there may be some Christians in Winter Garden [...]

Since the 1990s, Winter Garden has morphed from being a small quaint suburb to now being one of the most visited communities in Central Florida. It has become one of Orlando’s “hot spots.” I’ve been around the Winter [...]

Winter Garden, Florida has become one of the most popular suburbs in the Orlando metro region. It’s got big city amenities and small town charm. Winter Garden’s slogan is, “Where Good Things Grow.” Well, that’s [...]

Horizon West isn’t its own city—it’s an unincorporated region of Orange County that is part of the broader Winter Garden area. But, honestly, Horizon West  has morphed into being its own thing, and it’s awesome! And the [...]

I’ve been connected to the Southern Baptist world since 2017. I’ve got lots of Southern Baptist friends. I graduated from a Southern Baptist school. And I’ve been influenced by various Southern Baptist authors and pastors since [...]