Five Great Qualities of a Friend | Marcus Mecum | 7 Hills Church

What makes a great friend—and what makes a great church?In life, the people around you will either lift you higher or hold you back. Paul knew this well. In his final letter, he listed his friends, his enemies, and everything he learned in between. He found gratitude even for the ones who left him—because they revealed the ones who would never leave.In this message, discover five qualities that define every great friendship and every strong church:1. They lift you up – they make you better just by being around them.2. They let you out – they see the potential in you and help you step into it.3. They let you in – they create a space where you belong.4. They level you out – they keep you grounded when life gets out of balance.5. They look you up – they remind you that your story isn’t over yet.Because real friends don’t just show up when it’s easy—they show up when you’re ready to give up. And the best kind of friend? The one who points you back to purpose.Scriptures Referenced:2 Timothy 4:9–22Acts 9:17–18Acts 9:30–31Acts 11:26True friends lift you, lead you, and love you enough to remind you—you’re not done yet.

Sometimes the things that hold us back aren’t visible, they’re habits, mindsets, or priorities that have taken up space where purpose should live.What wrong spirits have you allowed in your life? Nehemiah’s boldness to evict the wrong spirit is a call to every believer: protect the store rooms of your heart and keep the covenant strong.God keeps His promises with His hands, but our covenant response is through obedience. God calls us to honor Him in three ways:-  Through tithing-  By keeping the sabbath-  By putting Him first in our relationshipsWhen we honor these, we honor God, and we see His blessings in every area of life.Protect what’s holy. Evict what doesn’t belong.Scripture References:•  Nehemiah 13:1–13 NIV•  Malachi 3:10–12 NIV•  Exodus 20:8–11 NIV•  Matthew 6:21 NIV

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and what God has for you is your perspective.Zacchaeus wasn’t just short in height — he was short on vision. He wanted to see Jesus, but the crowd blocked his view. Instead of settling, he climbed higher. That decision changed everything.In this message, we’re reminded:•  Money can never satisfy•  Nothing can disqualify you•  Only Jesus can purify youScriptures Referenced•  Luke 19:1–10 — Zacchaeus climbs to see Jesus•  Ecclesiastes 5:10–11 — Money can never satisfy•  Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing can disqualify you•  Luke 16:13 — You can’t serve two masters•  Malachi 3:10 — Bring the whole tithe into the storehouseClimb higher. Don’t let the crowd, your past, or your pride block your view of Jesus.

When God gives you a door, it’s up to you to walk through it. 🚪As a church this Vision Sunday we’re asking, “God, what doors do You want us to walk through?” and believing that prayer unlocks the impossible.When we pray, we’re not using our last resort — we’re taking our first step. 🙏This is the season to pray into possibility, to fuel the vision with faith, and to amaze Jesus with our faith.Scriptures•  1 Corinthians 16:9 - “Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”•  Mark 5:35-42 - The story of Jairus’ daughter •  2 Samuel 11:1–2 – David’s distraction on the balcony instead of being at war.In This Message•  God opens doors, but it’s our choice to walk through them.•  Jesus was amazed by both faith and lack of faith — let’s be a people who amaze Him with belief.•  God’s vision works through generations — our faith today builds the church of tomorrow.•  Prayer isn’t a last resort — it’s the first step into possibility.

Forgiveness isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision.In The Beauty of Forgiveness, Pastor Marcus Mecum delivers a timely and heart-checking word about the call to forgive without condition.When Jesus said to forgive 70x7, He wasn’t giving us a number… He was removing the limits. Forgiveness isn’t optional for the believer. It’s a command that sets you free, even more than the person you’re forgiving.If you’ve been building walls…If you’ve been robbed of peace…If you feel trapped in bitterness…This message will help you:•  Receive God’s forgiveness in full•  Learn how to forgive others without conditions or expectations•  Tear down the walls of hostility that divide relationships•  Recognize the trap of emotional reasoning over Scriptural authority•  Walk in the freedom and beauty that comes through graceKey Scriptures:•  Matthew 18:21–22 — “70x7” forgiveness•  Luke 17, Matthew 5, Ephesians 4, 2 Timothy 1•  Leviticus 13, Ephesians 2 — The wall of hostility torn downThe cross represents unconditional forgiveness. You can’t give what you haven’t received. And you can’t receive what you’re unwilling to extend.

Sometimes it feels like God has gone silent. You’ve prayed, you’ve shown up, you’ve done the right things… and yet it feels dark. In this message, Savannah DiBenedetto reminds us that being in the dark doesn’t mean God has lost you. It means He’s at work.Scripture: Exodus 33:7-23In This Message⁃  The “dark places” are not abandonment, but protection and preparation.⁃  When life is shaking, God may be removing what can’t go with you or bringing things together for your good.⁃  Faith means trusting God even when you can’t see Him moving.⁃  God’s glory is revealed in His timing. Stay in the cleft until He says move.Whether you’re a young person, a parent, a leader, or a business owner—God IS with you. Even in the dark, His hand is on your life, and His faithfulness never fails.

Every generation has faced tragedy, but every generation has also carried a voice that refused to be silenced. From Stephen’s bold witness in Acts to Paul’s transformation on the road to Damascus, God has always raised up a new voice to carry His truth forward.This message is a call to the next generation: to rise with courage, to stand for Christ, and to let your voice be heard. The blood of the martyrs is not wasted, it becomes the seed of revival. Even in heartbreak, God is raising up a generation that will not bow, that will not be silent, and that will not compromise.Scriptures:•  Acts 7:54–60 (NIV)•  2 Corinthians 12:15 (NKJV)•  Revelation 12:11In This Message•  The devil wants to silence the church, but God is raising up bold voices in the next generation.•  Saul became Paul: proof that God can transform even the most unlikely into a world-changing voice.•  Every tragedy carries purpose, God never wastes pain, He uses it to shape the future.•  We must serve God in our generation so it’s clear what we stood for.•  The testimony of the next generation will overcome the enemy.🔥 God is calling a generation to step forward—will you be one of the voices He raises up?

In this powerful message from Guest Pastor Charles Nieman, we dive into Revelation 1 and discover God’s design for two offices that were created to work together: kings and priests.Kings – Men and women of influence, called to provide provision for the vision.Priests – Called to cast vision that blesses not just ourselves, but others.When kings and priests work together, God’s kingdom moves forward. This message unpacks how we are all called to live Christ-centered lives… not career-centered or wealth-centered lives. Every one of us has a valuable purpose, a mission, and a house to build that stands for something eternal.📖 Key Scriptures:•  Revelation 1•  Matthew 16:24•  Romans 10:9•  Matthew 7:24-27🙌 Be encouraged to live with purpose, advance the Kingdom, and use your life to bless others.

🏃‍♀️ Just like in the Olympic relay, the exchange zone matters. When the baton is dropped, opportunities are lost, and generations can miss the chance to encounter God’s power.In this message, Pastor Evan Cromer challenges us to grip the baton of faith and declare: “Not on my watch!” We can’t grow complacent, we can’t water down the truth, and we can’t let sin slow us down. The baton in our hand is sacred and how we run affects not only us, but the next generation.In This Message-  Dropped batons = missed opportunities.-  Faith must be passed on with strength, not complacency.-  Church should challenge, inspire, and strengthen your faith.-  Step out in radical faithScriptures-  Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)-  Judges 2:7-10 (NKJV)-  1 Kings 10:1-9 (MSG)🔥 Let’s hold tightly to our faith, honor the sacrifices of past generations, and make sure the baton is passed strong to those who come after us.

God hides big truths in small things. 🕷🦡🦗🐜In Proverbs 30, the spider, the rock badger, the locust, and the ant each carry a picture of how to walk with faith, strength, and wisdom.When life tears down your web, when storms shake your foundation, when the enemy tries to isolate you, or when winter comes, these small creatures point us back to the wisdom of God.In This Message⁃ Spider | Determination: Faith holds on and rebuilds, no matter what comes your way.⁃ Rock Badger | Habitation: Make your home in the Rock — Jesus is the only foundation that stands.⁃ Locust | Unification: Alone we are weak, but together we are mighty for the harvest.⁃ Ant | Preparation: Prepare today for eternity — your future depends on what you build now.Scripture⁃ Proverbs 30:24–28 NKJV⁃ Matthew 14:29 (Peter stepping out on the water)⁃ Matthew 7:24 (building on the rock)