What if the way you've always thought isn't the way you have to keep thinking?

We all develop patterns of thinking shaped by our experiences, relationships, and the voices we've listened to throughout our lives. Some of those patterns help us grow. Others keep us stuck.

In Part 1 of our new series, Mastermind, Pastor Scott Neal shares his personal journey with destructive thought patterns and explores what it means to renew our minds.

Drawing from Romans 12:2, we discover that not every thought deserves our attention, that changing our patterns takes intentional practice, and that the way we've always been doesn't have to determine who we become.

Scripture: Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 1:7

Series: Mastermind | Part 1 Speaker: Pastor Scott Neal

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Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

We often assume that following Jesus means always feeling confident, always believing, and never struggling with doubt. But what if those moments of fear and uncertainty are actually a normal part of growing in faith?

In Part 3 of Scary Faith, Pastor Scott walks through Peter's experience of walking on water in Matthew 14 and reminds us that faith isn't something we can force, fake, or manufacture. Like trust in any relationship, faith develops over time as we get to know the One we're trusting.

Whether you're experiencing a season of confidence or struggling to believe, this message is a reminder that even a little faith is still faith.

Scripture: Matthew 14:22–33

In this message:

-Why faith and doubt often exist together

-What Peter's experience teaches us about trusting Jesus

-Why we can't force ourselves to have greater faith

-How God meets us in our fear and uncertainty

-Why even a simple prayer of "Lord, save me" is enough

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Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

What do you do when life changes in a way you never expected, and God doesn't give you an explanation?

In this message from our Still Standing series, we look at the story of Job and what suffering can teach us about life, God, and ourselves. Job never received all the answers he wanted. Instead, he learned that faith doesn't require having every mystery solved.

If you're carrying disappointment, wrestling with questions, or trying to figure out how to move forward after life changed, this message is for you.

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Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?

Most of us have something we've been putting off. A dream we haven't pursued. A conversation we've avoided. A step we know we need to take. And often, the reason we haven't moved forward is fear.

In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan faces an impossible situation. Outnumbered and uncertain of the outcome, he makes a bold decision based on two words: "Perhaps the Lord..."

He didn't have a guarantee. He didn't know how things would turn out. But he was willing to move forward in faith.

In this message, Pastor Scott Neal challenges us to reconsider what real faith looks like. Being afraid doesn't mean you lack faith. Sometimes the greatest acts of faith happen when we're scared and choose to move anyway.

Here's the question: What is fear keeping you from doing?

This week, take time to get quiet, ask God to speak, and identify one small step you can take in faith.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:1–7 | Hebrews 11:1

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Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

What happens when doing the right thing costs you something?

In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a choice: bow to the king's statue or risk their lives. Their response reveals something powerful about faith. They had already decided what they stood for before the pressure came.

In this message, Pastor Scott explores how the values we establish today shape the decisions we'll make tomorrow. While we may never face a fiery furnace, we face pressure to compromise our integrity, relationships, and faith in ways we don't always recognize.

Through Daniel 3 and Micah 6:8, we're challenged to consider what we're willing to stand for, even when doing what's right comes at a cost.

Here's the question: Are you willing to do what's right even if nothing improves?

Whether you're standing strong, feeling the pressure to compromise, or already struggling with decisions you've made, there's hope and grace available to you.

Scripture: Daniel 3, Micah 6:8

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To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

What in your life is worth fighting for?

We can spend so much of our lives trying to avoid struggle that we forget some things are worth the fight. Your character is worth fighting for. The people God has entrusted to you are worth fighting for. And when life gets difficult, your faith is worth holding onto.

In Part 3 of STILL STANDING, we look at what resilient people understand about fighting for what matters. Following Jesus doesn't mean avoiding every storm or making it through life without scars. Sometimes faith means standing your ground. Sometimes it means being honest about what needs to change. And sometimes it means crying out for help and allowing someone stronger than you to pull you back up.

Fight for the person you're becoming. Fight for the people entrusted to you. Fight to hold onto your faith.

STILL STANDING: How to Endure What You Never Expected Part 3 | Forest Park Church

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To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

Some of the weight exhausting us isn't just what happened to us. It's what we've continued carrying because of what happened.

Over time, rejection, shame, betrayal, insecurity, painful relationships, and experiences we never chose can become like bricks we carry everywhere we go. Eventually, we can become so accustomed to the weight that we don't even realize how much it is affecting the way we live.

In Part 2 of STILL STANDING, we look at what it means to release unnecessary weight and Jesus' encounter with a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years.

Jesus asks him a powerful question: “Do you want to be made well?”

Then He tells him to stand up, take his mat, and walk.

You cannot change what happened yesterday. But you can change your relationship with your past and the direction you walk tomorrow.

STILL STANDING How to Endure What You Never Expected Part 2

Forest Park Church Elizabeth City, NC

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To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive

What happens when life takes a turn you never expected?

We make plans, try to make wise decisions, and hope life will unfold a certain way. But circumstances change. People make choices. Loss happens. Sometimes we find ourselves living a story we never would have chosen.

In Part 1 of Still Standing: How to Endure What You Never Expected, we talk about what it means to develop real resilience. Not pretending the pain didn’t hurt. Not covering it with spiritual clichés. Not trying to become exactly who you were before.

Biblical resilience means learning to absorb what happened, adapt to what has changed, and keep moving faithfully toward life.

You may not be able to change what happened yesterday, but how you respond today will help shape who you become tomorrow.

Through Hebrews 12, James 1, and the life of Paul, we see that endurance isn’t something that suddenly appears when we need it. It is formed as we continue taking the next faithful step, even when life looks nothing like we expected.

The goal isn’t to finish life untouched or without scars.

The goal is to finish faithful.

Still standing.

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To support our ministry and help us continue to reach people in Elizabeth City, and around the world click here: http://www.forestparkchurch.com/give/

Our mission: Help people follow Jesus one step at a time.

Stay Connected with FPC _______________________________ Website: http://www.forestparkchurch.com Forest Park Church Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/forestparklive Forest Park Church Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/forestparkchurch Forest Park Church TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forestparkchurch Scott Neal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scottnealonline Scott Neal Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/scottnealfpc Scott Neal Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/scottneallive