Keystone Habits + Sunday Morning Resources

TCC • January 7, 2022

We began a new series on Sunday on HABITS: Small steps, big change. I’ve been anticipating this series since I picked up a copy of a great book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. I get to unpack some of the theory behind habits in my message this Sunday. One of the key ideas behind habits is that there are habits that we engage in, without thinking about what we’re doing, like brushing our teeth or shaving. That’s how our brain functions to keep us from being overwhelmed by all the decisions we would be making each day if everything we did was new and untried. At the same time, there are certain “keystone” habits that we must purposefully choose to add to our lives if we are going to reap the fantastic benefits they offer.

The top keystone habit based upon surveys done by thousands of Followers of Jesus is Bible Engagement. Specifically engaging with the Bible at least four days per week. Mark Hadley, our Spiritual Growth Pastor, laid a great foundation for us on Sunday with his practical message on developing a habit of Bible Engagement. His own personal work in spiritual formation that was visible inspires us all to grow.

The fruit and results of this habit are staggering. Bible Engagement draws us more deeply into relationship with God and others, grows our confidence in God’s promises, and empowers us to make steps with God and fulfill His Kingdom purposes in our lives. Honestly, you can’t know God without knowing His Word.

But Bible Engagement also helps us in areas that aren’t necessarily spiritual. Surveys show that Bible Engagement improves marriages, relationships, mental health, careers, finances, character, and decision making. The Center for Biblical Engagement released the results of their survey of over 400,000 people, and they discovered that people who engage with the Bible regularly are less lonely, have fewer destructive thoughts, have reduced anxiety, abuse alcohol and substances less, and were less likely to struggle with issues of self-worth and value.

You can see the great benefits of this habit. Do you want to have these things be true for you? Let me encourage you to watch Mark’s message from Sunday. Here’s a link to watch it. After that, log on to our website and look for our Bible Reading plans section or just click here. Once you’ve decided to engage with the Bible consider joining a Life Group, where you can be with others like yourself who are seeking to engage with the Bible. Also, make sure to be at church (or watch online when you can’t be here in person) and make sure to listen intently and seek to hear what God is saying to you in His Word. When we sing, listen for the references to Biblical concepts and quotes and engage in a new way. Finally, learn to pray God’s Word back to Him and ask Him to help you develop this keystone habit. As Mark said on Sunday, “When you engage with God’s Word, you align with God’s heart.”

Here are some upcoming opportunities to SHARE LIFE and SPREAD HOPE to our family and community.

FAMILY SNOW DAY – Saturday, January 8. A few weeks ago, it didn’t look like this even could happen because of a lack of snow. Well, now after our snowpocalypse, we have an abundance. Join our families for a fun day. Please follow all safety signs as you enjoy the snow.

LIFE GROUPS are open NOW for the winter/spring semester. Make sure to stop by the SHARE LIFE table in the lobby and let us help you find a group that fits you! You can also find out more on our website.

THRIVE UNLEASHED – January 14-15. This is an amazing winter retreat for junior high and high school students. See the website to register.

BABES WHO BRUNCH – January 15, 11:00am-12:30pm. This is for young women to gather for relationship, a potluck-style brunch, a speaker who focuses on a specific topic that will help you grow, or a fun activity or craft. Please bring a brunch dish to share with everyone. Free childcare will also be available. Get ready to eat some brunch, have some fun, learn, grow spiritually, and make new friends!

THIS SUNDAY, we continue our series HABITS: Small steps, big change. Folks, I’m excited to walk through some of the core ideas behind the power of habits this week. If you want to make changes in your life, please make sure to be with us in person this week as we talk about Healthy Habits.

Here are the links you’ll need to prepare for Sunday’s Service:

Joyfully living everyday life on mission in intimacy with Jesus and others,

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Change Is Worked for, Not Wished For + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • January 23, 2026

The first step to true and lasting change is to change our minds, but it’s definitely not the only step. There’s a huge difference between thinking a new way and actually living a new way. That’s why information alone doesn’t transform us and why willpower alone tends to be insufficient to the task. If you’ve ever felt discouraged by the gap between what you believe and how you live, this week will put language to that struggle and point toward a pathway forward. We will also equip you with a tangible tool to help you take an honest look at how you’re currently being formed. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

How We Change Our Minds + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • January 16, 2026

Last weekend we talked about a simple but important truth: you are being formed. Not just by big moments, but by the steady rhythms of everyday life – what you give your attention to, the voices you trust, and the patterns you repeat. So, the question isn’t whether you’re being shaped, but what’s doing the shaping and where it’s leading you. As we discussed last week, we don’t want to live a life shaped by the pressures of the world, but by the transforming work of the Spirit from the inside out as He helps us renew our minds. Which raises an important follow-up question: how does that happen? How do we renew our minds so that we can know and live out God’s will for our lives? That will be the focus of this weekend’s conversation. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.

You Are Being Formed – The Question is By What? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • January 9, 2026

This weekend we’ll continue our How We Change series with a simple but important truth: you are being formed. Not just by the big moments, but by the steady rhythms of everyday life — what you give your attention to, the voices you trust, and the patterns you repeat. The question isn’t whether you’re being shaped, but what’s doing the shaping and where is it leading you? But there’s another way: a life shaped not by the steady pressures of the world, but by the transforming work of Spirit from the inside out. If you’ve been longing for real and lasting change, come join the conversation this weekend. Also, we’d love for you to join one of our Bible reading plans so we can read Scripture together as a community. You can choose a plan that takes you through the entire Bible, or a plan focused on the New Testament. Click here to join the plan of your choice. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry Can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Remembering God’s Faithfulness to Us This Year + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 26, 2025

As we come to the final Sunday of the year, we’ll pause to do something sacred: remember . Together, we’ll look back and reflect on the many ways God has been faithful to us, celebrating the stories, milestones, and blessings He has poured out on our church family over this past year. It’s a moment to give thanks and to recognize that every good gift truly comes from Him. We’ll also gather around the Lord’s Table and celebrate communion, our tangible reminder that while we are grateful for what God has done, the best is still ahead. Because of Jesus, we don’t just look back with gratitude, we look forward with hope. We have eternity with Him to look forward to. Year-End Gift As we close the year, we’re also inviting those who feel led to give one final financial gift to help us finish the year strong. Every gift — large or small — helps us care well for our church family, support our ministry partners, and honor the staff who serve so faithfully. Your generosity enables us to continue being a church marked by gratitude, faithfulness, and generosity. Click here to learn more about our Year-End Gift or to give now. I am incredibly grateful for all God has done in and through Twin Cities Church this year, and I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us in the New Year. See you Sunday. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry Can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Unwrapping Advent + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 19, 2025

This Sunday, we come to the final week of our Reclaiming Christmas series, and we’re turning our attention to a tradition many celebrate… and many others don’t understand: Advent. For some, Advent is a sacred rhythm — way to slow down, prepare their hearts, and anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth as well as look forward to His second coming. For others, it’s simply a countdown marked by tiny doors holding a daily dose of Christmas chocolate. And for some, it doesn’t factor into Christmas at all. But where did Advent come from? What does it actually mean? And how might reclaiming this ancient practice reshape the way we experience Christmas today? Join us as we unwrap the history, purpose, and surprising depth of Advent and discover how it can draw us closer to the hope, peace, joy, and love we celebrate in Jesus. Also don’t forget that Christmas Eve is only a few days away! We will gather for three candlelight services on Tuesday, December 24, at 2, 4, and 6pm. Invite your friends, your neighbors, and anyone who needs the light of Christ this season. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry Can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Who Got Their Claus in Christmas? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 12, 2025

Why do we give presents at Christmas? Why does Santa show up in living rooms, movies, and mall photos every December? And how did a generous bishop from the 4th century become the jolly icon of Christmas consumerism? This Sunday, we’re digging into the surprising story behind one of Christmas’ most beloved (and debated!) traditions. We’ll trace the journey from the first Christmas gifts in Scripture… to Saint Nicholas and his secret acts of mercy… to Santa Claus and the swirl of expectations that often define our holiday season today. But more importantly, we’ll explore what all of this means for Followers of Jesus now. How do we practice generosity without fueling entitlement? How do we parent wisely in a culture of over-the-top gift-giving? And what do we do with Santa — embrace him, rethink him, or retire him? It’s going to be an eye-opening, thought-provoking and, possibly tradition-reshaping conversation that you won’t want to miss. A quick pastoral note: because we’ll be taking an honest look at Santa’s history and role in our celebrations, if you’re a parent of young children and haven’t yet had “the Santa talk,” you may want to prayerfully consider whether to have them with you in the service or check them into Children’s Ministry and choose what to share afterward. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday,

Oh Christmas Tree + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • December 5, 2025

Ever wonder why we bring a tree into our living rooms every December? Is it just nostalgia or something deeper? This weekend, we will look at the ancient roots of our evergreen tradition. Join us as we discover why our Christmas trees might preach a better sermon than we realize. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Why Follow Jesus? + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • November 21, 2025

This Sunday, we are concluding our Walking With Jesus series. We will consider those moments when even Jesus’ closest followers had to wrestle with their expectations of who they thought He would be and decide whether they would keep following Him when the path became costly, confusing, or different than what they hoped for. Spiritual maturity means learning to trust and follow Jesus not just in the moments when He feels close or when He meets our needs, but also in the seasons when emotions fade, answers aren’t clear, and obedience requires surrender. We will also celebrate baptisms at the end of each service! Baptism is a powerful, public declaration of a person’s decision to follow Jesus wherever He leads, so come ready to celebrate with our brothers and sisters who are going public with their faith. And if you’ve sensed that God may be inviting you to take this step, we’ll make space for you to respond as well. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Walking WITH Jesus, not just doing things FOR Him + Sunday Morning Resources

By TCC • November 14, 2025

We live in a world that celebrates busyness disguised as faithfulness. But in Luke 10:38–42, Jesus gently reminds us that what He desires most isn’t our activity for Him, but our presence with Him. This Sunday, as we continue our Walking With Jesus series, Pastor Ron will help us unpack the story of Mary and Martha — two sisters who loved Jesus deeply but expressed it in very different ways. Through their story, we’ll discover how easy it is to get caught up doing things for Jesus while missing the invitation to be with Him. We will learn what Jesus really wants us to do (hint: it’s not more) as we grow in our intimacy with Him. Interested in getting baptised? We’ll be hosting a baptism class during the 9:00am service this Sunday, and another class on Tuesday at noon for those ready to take this step of faith and publicly declare their trust in Jesus. Here are some helpful resources to get you ready for the weekend: Message Notes and Study Guide Weekly Spotify Playlist Children's Ministry Student Ministry See you Sunday.