In this episode, Colin introduces our Lenten sermon series, Wisdom in the Wilderness: Journey with the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Drawing inspiration from the early Christian men and women who withdrew into the desert to seek God in prayer and devotion, we explore what it means to enter the wilderness in our own time.

The desert mothers and fathers chose isolation not as punishment, but as preparation — a space to lean into God’s presence, to listen deeply, and to learn daily dependence on Him. The wilderness is a place where distractions fade and trust is formed.

Today, we live in a culture marked by constant interruption, low attention spans, and endless distraction. So it's important to intentionally seek solitude, prayer, and Scripture. Like the early desert monks, we must choose to step away and create space for devotion.

Lent invites us to strip back the clutter, to resist excess, and to see clearly again. It calls us into deeper worship — not to earn God’s love, but in response to it. Before we ever enter the wilderness, we are already beloved by God. And because we are loved, we journey into this season seeking Him with open hearts.

In this episode, we reflect on what it means to be deeply rooted in Christ. Drawing on Ezekiel 17 and Colossians 2:6–7, scripture reminds us that even what seems dry can flourish when rooted in God. As Paul writes, just as we have received Christ, we are called to continue walking in him — letting our roots grow deep and our lives be built on his foundation.

Being rooted deeply and reaching out widely are not two separate callings. God does not wait for us to have perfect roots before using us — the disciples certainly didn’t. Instead, growth comes through discipleship, transformation, perseverance, discipline, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

We’re invited to pause and ask: How are your roots? Where might God be calling you to return — or to step into something new — so that new life can flourish?

In this episode, Colin explores the gift of prophecy and how God continues to speak to His people today. Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit through which God shares His heart and His word, often spoken by ordinary people for the strengthening, encouragement, and comfort of us.

Colin unpacks a simple three-step process for understanding prophecy: revelation, interpretation, and application. God first reveals something to us — this might come as a lingering thought, an image, a scripture passage, or a sense of peace, often in very ordinary ways. We then interpret what God is saying through discernment, bringing what we sense back to Him in prayer. This requires patience, waiting, and trust, believing that God is at work.

Ultimately, the gift of prophecy draws us closer to God. It connects back to last week’s message and reminds us that God's desires to have relationship with us.