Gateway Church Austin

When our friends or acquaintances are going through a hard time, most of us struggle to know what to say. Too often, we fall back on well-meaning clichés to try to cheer them up, but they often do more harm than good. For example, a common phrase we’ll offer is "God will never give you more than you can handle." While we probably mean for that phrase to encourage others to trust God, is this old saying even true?

When times get tough for people around us, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what to say. We often resort to trite sayings like "God never closes a door without opening a window," hoping to offer comfort and a sense of direction in times of uncertainty or disappointment. But since sayings like these are often misattributed to God and His Word, is the saying even true? When God does seem to close a door, how can we make sure that He’s the one guiding us to our alternate destination?

Scrolling through photos on your phone or computer often brings a few surprises. Some photos churn up memories that aren’t so pleasant to think about. Just like the annoying acquaintance who photobombs every photo, there are things in our life that always seem to show up, seldom welcomed. Whether it’s others reminding you of past mistakes, the family that can’t trust that you’re sober now, your own self-condemnation over secret sins, or the sins themselves — they photobomb our lives. What if you could delete them all with one fell swoop? God has given us a way, through His son Jesus.

New drivers are taught to check their blind spots because they can’t see everything around them in their mirrors. Not only do we often misjudge how others see us, but it’s also all too easy to have misperceptions when it comes to how we see ourselves. How do we start to recognize the blind spots in our lives and move closer to how God views us?

We all grew up afraid of something as children, perhaps monsters in the closet or spiders crawling outside. But generally our parents would make us feel safe. Now, as adults, we have to encounter a whole new set of monsters, like relational conflict or financial ruin. But God offers us a totally different perspective, one where we are more than conquerors. Will we run and quake with fear, or will we find boldness in the security that God offers us?

Have you ever used a filter to project an image that was different from reality? In life, we can end up seeing the world through a filter that actually distorts reality and hurts our ability to live in the fullness of all God intended. God is the only one who sees reality fully, so how do we remove these negative filters and see the world from His perspective?

The Church isn’t a building or a program; it’s people. And surprisingly enough, it’s primarily run by volunteers. God gives us gifts, and we can use them in great ways, especially to serve others both inside and outside the church. How will you use the gifts God’s given you to get involved?

Above all else, we are to love one another, but this turns out to be a lot more difficult than it sounds. Everyone nods in agreement that they want to love one another, until it gets difficult. How do we practice love that is other-centered and not self-centered?

Relationships are a wonderful thing. We find companionship, comfort, wisdom, strength, intimacy, and so much more with other people…until conflict happens, that is. But when others hurt or anger us, we sometimes feel excused from loving them if that means speaking the truth with gentle grace, which God has commanded us to do. So is it worth it to push through our fear, hurt, and anger to pursue reconciliation in our relationships? How does God want this process to look in our lives?

Despite the fact that most of us may not like change, and even resist it, there’s probably something in our lives we want to change. Change doesn’t come easily, and trying hard can only accomplish so much. If you really want to see changes in your life, you have to train for it and be challenged by the people closest to you. So what does spiritual training and challenging others in love really look like?

God is for us—not against us, and He wants us to be for each other, not tearing each other down. We all want this kind of encouraging environment, but it takes effort to create and sustain it. How should we be encouraging and building up the people around us as God intended?

God allows us to be His partners in helping people find life and freedom in Christ. He often does this through the Church, but churches are made up of imperfect people, and people tend to be both a church’s greatest asset and greatest liability. How do we build others up when we so often need to be built up ourselves?

God wired men and women completely different in some areas. He created men and women to process things very differently. Check out this week's message to learn how to understand the opposite sex better.

Author, speaker, and President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment DeVon Franklin shares his experiences as a Hollywood producer in, "The Hollywood Commandments: 10 Commandments for Life-Changing Success.

Just like a child knows the voice of his/her father, we were made to know God’s voice. Although God is faithful to speak, perhaps you find it difficult to pinpoint what God wants to share with you because you’re not sure what to listen for or because you’re not truly listening at all. How can we recognize God’s voice and respond to what He is whispering to us?

"If you woke up this morning and you're still breathing, your story's not over!" - Laurie Short.

We all face mountains in our lives—huge barriers that impede our freedom and joy and seem impossible to overcome. But what if there was hope? What if there was a promise that we could move those mountains and experience freedom like we never thought possible? What kind of faith does it take to see our mountains moved?

Although Star Wars is intended to look futuristic, each episode starts with, “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away,” letting us know that it takes place in the past. And for most of us, there’s an appeal there because we often glorify our past and get stuck there. But getting stuck in the past can be dangerous. How can we let go of our past and look to things more life-giving?

Executive Pastor Robb Overholt shares how being a father continues to teach him lessons about how our Heavenly Father show His love for us.

In His final days on earth, Jesus gave something called the Great Commission, a command for all Christ-followers to spread God’s teachings to all the people of the world. For many, this is a daunting expectation, but God’s Great Commission also comes with comfort, as He says he’ll be there for all who step out on faith and “go.” Will you trust God and go as He asks you?