FC Weekly

When Comfort Still Leaves Us Empty

Clayton Whitson • Assimilations Pastor
September 20, 2026

3 Minute Read

You can have more and still feel strangely empty.

That was the tension in Sunday’s message from Haggai (you can relisten here). God’s people had returned from exile, but the work of worship had stalled. Their own houses were being built, their own comfort was being protected, and yet life still felt thin — planting much but harvesting little, eating without satisfaction, earning wages that seemed to disappear.

Haggai’s word is not just about a temple project. It is about misplaced love. When God is pushed to the margins, even good things become hollow. Comfort cannot do what communion with God was meant to do.

And the call back is not transactional. God is not selling blessing in exchange for obedience. He is inviting His people to return to the life His presence makes possible. Our habits, generosity, worship, and obedience become openings where grace reshapes our hearts.

So this week, think carefully about your ways. Not with shame, but with honesty. Where have your actions been leading your affections? What small act of obedience could help re-center your life around God again?

He is not trying to take life from us. He is calling us back to the only place life is found.

You are loved,
Clayton and the Team

Ways to Engage

Formation Course starts this Sunday evening. Still a couple of seats available; registration is required. Starts TONIGHT - SEPTEMBER 20 - Register here.

Podcast / Sermon questions Ever have a question about the sermon? You have a chance to land your question right in Pastor Matthew's inbox, which he will answer on his Podcast. Also, he will cover more information that he didn't get to include in the Sunday message! You’ll find links to ‘ask a question‘ AND to the podcast right on our homepage!

Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

This week we looked at cultivating devotion to God. Read Haggai 1:2-11. What observation(s) is the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you?

What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you? Where did you sense the Holy Spirit convicting you and inviting you to make changes or repent?

In what ways does Haggai's message challenge our modern views on consumerism and materialism?

How can we cultivate a deeper hunger for God in a culture that often emphasizes individualism?

Read James 4:5-10. What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you?

What specific actions will you take to realign our priorities in favor of God’s interests over our own comforts?

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September 20, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

FC Weekly

You can have more and still feel strangely empty. That was the tension in Sunday’s message from Haggai (you can relisten here). God’s people had returned from exile, but the work of worship had stalled. Their own houses were being built, their own comfort was being protected, and yet life still felt thin — planting much but harvesting little, eating without satisfaction, earning wages that seemed to disappear. Haggai’s word is not just about a temple project. It is about misplaced love. When God is pushed to the margins, even good things become hollow. Comfort cannot do what communion with God was meant to do. And the call back is not transactional. God is not selling blessing in exchange for obedience. He is inviting His people to return to the life His presence makes possible. Our habits, generosity, worship, and obedience become openings where grace reshapes our hearts. So this week, think carefully about your ways. Not with shame, but with honesty. Where have your actions been leading your affections? What small act of obedience could help re-center your life around God again? He is not trying to take life from us. He is calling us back to the only place life is found. You are loved, Clayton and the Team Ways to Engage Formation Course starts this Sunday evening. Still a couple of seats available; registration is required. Starts TONIGHT - SEPTEMBER 20 - Register here. Podcast / Sermon questions Ever have a question about the sermon? You have a chance to land your question right in Pastor Matthew's inbox, which he will answer on his Podcast. Also, he will cover more information that he didn't get to include in the Sunday message! You’ll find links to ‘ask a question‘ AND to the podcast right on our homepage! Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group) This week we looked at cultivating devotion to God. Read Haggai 1:2-11. What observation(s) is the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you? What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you? Where did you sense the Holy Spirit convicting you and inviting you to make changes or repent? In what ways does Haggai's message challenge our modern views on consumerism and materialism? How can we cultivate a deeper hunger for God in a culture that often emphasizes individualism? Read James 4:5-10. What is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you? What specific actions will you take to realign our priorities in favor of God’s interests over our own comforts?

Clayton Whitson

Assimilations Pastor

August 23, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

FC Weekly

It is easy to mistake discontentment for vision. That was one of the tensions in Sunday’s message from Habakkuk 2 (you can relisten here). We live in a world full of goals, upgrades, options, and curated pictures of “more.” But not every vision for more is from God. Sometimes it is just comparison with promises that will never be fulfilled. Habakkuk gives us something better. He shows us that God is the right place to take our pain, questions, disappointment, and complaints. Lament brings our trouble toward God. It does not deny the ache, but it refuses to let the ache become the loudest truth. And then God gives vision—not first for a bigger life out there, but for a more faithful life right here. More of Him. More contentment. More rootedness. More courage to resist the restless pull of comparison and stay faithful where He has planted us. So this week, fight for contentment. Practice real friendship. Choose rootedness over endless options. Ask God not only what you want to accomplish, but also what kind of person He is forming you to become. You are loved. Clayton and the Team Basics Join us for Basics—a two-week class where we explore being rooted in God’s family, grow as an apprentice of Jesus, and discover your place at Faith Church. Meet us during the 10:45 service on the first two Sundays of the month in the Garage Door Room. RSVP today! Formation Course The Formation Course is the ideal starting place to catapult you toward a healthy life of faith. This ten-week journey equips you to live as an apprentice of Jesus: to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. Along the journey, you’ll receive fresh inspiration, strength for your soul, and simple practices that help you integrate what you’ve learned into your daily rhythm. The meetings will start on September 20 and take place on Sunday evenings. You will need to register, as seats are limited. Talk it over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your group). This week we looked at God’s vision for us to experience Him more. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you? Read Habakkuk 2:1-6. What observation(s) is the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you? What does your vision for more of God look like? What kind of person are you wanting to become? What one or two areas do you want to see changed? Why does living with godly vision matter? What are the dangers of living with discontentment in your life? Read 1 Timothy 6:6-12. What are some things the Holy Spirit is highlighting for you? In the sermon, we heard that fighting for contentment is fueled by spiritual friendships and rooted in stability. Which one do you want to strengthen in your life? How can you begin strengthening that?

Clayton Whitson

Assimilations Pastor

September 13, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

FC Weekly (Weekly Email)

Have you noticed how quickly anxiety can start to feel normal? That was one of the tensions in Sunday’s message from Daniel 2 (you can relisten here). The most powerful man in the world could not sleep; the best wisdom of Babylon could not help him, and the whole court was suddenly frantic. Then there was Daniel ... not untouched by the crisis, but steady inside it. Daniel did not panic, flatter, insult, or grasp for control. He responded with tact and courage. He asked for understanding. He prayed with his friends. He trusted that “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” I found that deeply encouraging. We live in anxious kingdoms (politics, paychecks, work, school, etc) that cannot last, and it is easy to echo the fear around us. But God is still forming His people to become a different kind of presence: humble, prayerful, wise, courageous, and compassionate. So this week, when anxiety rises, let it become an invitation to prayer. Anxiety is usually tied to feeling helpless. Prayer is a response of faith and power. Pray with others. Pray for others. Ask God for wisdom. Step away from the frantic need to control everything, and remember the Kingdom that cannot be shaken. You are loved, Clayton and the Team Formation Course The Formation Course is the ideal place to start your journey toward a healthy life of faith. This ten-week journey equips you to live as an apprentice of Jesus: to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. Along the journey, you’ll receive fresh inspiration, strength for your soul, and simple practices that help you integrate what you’ve learned into your daily rhythm. The meetings will start on September 20 and take place on Sunday evenings. You will need to register, as seats are limited. Giving Challenge Through tithing and generous giving, we honor God with what he has entrusted to us and learn to trust him with what we need. As we practice generosity, the Holy Spirit loosens our grip on money and forms in us a heart that reflects Jesus' generosity. As you pray about your response to the Heart for the House challenge, ask God what step of trust he is inviting you to take. You can give here. Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group) This week we looked at the favor of God bestowed on His people. Read Daniel 2:1-24. What observation(s) is the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you? What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you? Where did you sense the Holy Spirit convicting you and inviting you to make changes or repent? What does Daniel's approach to anxiety and uncertainty teach us about trusting God's wisdom? What is the danger of not trusting God? Describe what your life’s actions and attitudes look like when you are not anxious. In what practical ways can we become that non-anxious presence in our daily lives? Read James 1:1-8. What are some important truths in passage? How can you integrate them into your own life?

Clayton Whitson

Assimilations Pastor

September 3, 2026 • 2 Minute Read

#Faith4TodayPodcast Episode 84

A Sweet Tooth for Scripture In Ezekiel 2–3, God gives the prophet an unusual instruction: eat the scroll containing His words. Ezekiel does and he finds it “sweet as honey.” It’s a powerful picture of what Scripture is meant to be in our lives. God’s Word is not merely information to collect, analyze, or reference when we need an answer. It is daily nourishment. It is something we receive, digest, and allow to shape the way we think, decide, pray, and live. Ezekiel ate the scroll before he was sent to speak God’s words to others. That order matters. Before we correct, encourage, lead, teach, or offer wisdom, we need to let God’s Word work on us first. We do not need to have every truth perfectly mastered before we can share it. But we should be willing to let Scripture search our hearts before we use it to examine someone else’s. God’s Word is a mirror before it becomes a magnifying glass. When we slow down to read Scripture prayerfully, aloud, and in community, it begins to reshape our imagination. It gives the Holy Spirit truth to bring back to our minds in moments of temptation, uncertainty, conflict, and decision. It anchors us when the world offers louder voices and easier paths. Jesus modeled this in the wilderness. When He faced temptation, He answered with the Word of God. Scripture was not abstract knowledge to Him; it was a weapon, a source of strength, and a reminder of His Father’s truth. The same invitation is open to us. Don’t let the Bible become an occasional spiritual snack. Open it daily. Sit with it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what God is revealing about Himself and how He is inviting you to respond. God’s wisdom has no shelf life. His Word is living bread for today. So this week, take a little more time with Scripture. Read slowly. Let it convict you, comfort you, and nourish you. 🤟🏼 Pastor M.

Pastor Matthew Hunt

Lead Pastor

August 27, 2026 • 3 Minute Read

Update: Leadership Roles

I am writing to announce two leadership transitions within our Church: Jaret Thorpe has decided to resign from his staff position. Gregg Motley will step down from his role as a Local Elder at the end of September. Transitions involving valued leaders can initially feel challenging; however, such changes are not inherently negative and can be very healthy. Both decisions reflect prayerful discernment, wise counsel, and humility in pursuit of God’s vision for greater spiritual growth. These are decisions of a healthy nature. Jaret has served on staff since May 2018, becoming full-time in 2023. His responsibilities included administration, facilities, and youth ministry (YTH). I have watched him grow and flourish as a follower of Jesus, ministering and caring for others. We have been blessed by his gifting and gritty faith. He and his family plan to remain active in our church community; even continuing involvement in YTH as a volunteer group leaders. Jaret’s final day on staff will be September 6. Gregg Motley has served as a trusted member of our eldership team since April 2021. His decision is supported by all local elders, who affirm his need to prioritize other commitments within the county. Gregg’s wisdom and experience have been instrumental in crafting some key ministry realities for our church. He's a mobilizer, encourager, and mature in his devotion to God. We are grateful that they both will continue to worship and serve in our congregation. Please extend your appreciation and honor to these men for their years of service. Faith Church is senior pastor-led, supported by local elders and sustained by staff and volunteers working in partnership to bring faith to life. Our Ministry Team culture invites every attendee to serve as a minister within the family, deploying their gifts on mission. During this season, I encourage you to consider joining a ministry team. FACILITIES MINISTRY TEAM - Our Facilities Ministry team supports the maintenance, organization, repair, and setup of our campus spaces. They minister typically during the week. The team is now led by Pastor Clayton. YTH MINISTRY TEAM - Are you passionate about seeing teenagers supported, known, understood, and loved while encouraging their allegiance to King Jesus? We invite you to consider partnering with others to lead a small group each Wednesday. Brittany Dare will coordinate the YTH Team as she transitions into her new role as NextGen Director (serving ages 6 weeks through 12th grade), with my interim support. Please email (hello@faithchurchks.org) or text us (620-604-9280) so we can help you to take the next step toward joining one of these teams. Additionally, we ask for your prayers. Please pray for these men and their families as they begin a new chapter, and pray for our teams, staff, and elders as we steward the ministry entrusted to us. Spiritual maturity is evidenced by making healthy decisions and transitions rooted in vision rather than hurt. I am grateful that we can navigate these changes with vision, conviction and celebrate others throughout the process. Much Love, Pastor Matthew P.S. If you have questions or wish to speak with someone, please email me - matthew@faithchurchks.org.

Pastor Matthew Hunt

Lead Pastor