Trying To Earn What You Already Have
Most of us don’t realize how much of our life is shaped by one quiet question: Am I enough?
In this message, Pastor Mike Collins looks at a brief but pivotal moment in the Gospel of Mark—Jesus’ baptism—and explores why what God says there answers uncomfortable questions about how we define ourselves, what we believe God expects from us, and why so many of us feel driven to prove our worth.
This sermon touches on: The pressure to perform—for people, for culture, even for God
-Why identity and achievement are often tangled together
-The inner critic many of us live with
-A moment in Scripture that quietly reframes all of it
If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn your value—or wondered why rest feels so hard—this message invites you to listen closely.
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What Do You Do When Your Faith Feels Empty?
Spiritual dry spells happen to more people than we admit. Prayer feels flat. Scripture doesn’t land. God feels distant, even though you’re still showing up. In this episode of Groundwork, Mike Collins talks honestly about what spiritual dryness looks like, why it happens, and how to walk through it without panic, guilt, or pretending.
Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and the story of Elijah after the prophets of Baal, Mike explores how exhaustion, grief, unconfessed sin, depression, and even medical factors can all contribute to seasons where faith feels dry. Rather than offering quick fixes, this conversation provides practical, gentle handholds for recognizing what’s really going on beneath the surface and rediscovering a grounded, resilient faith.
This episode is for anyone who has wondered whether feeling distant from God means they’re doing something wrong—and for anyone who needs reassurance that dry seasons don’t mean God has stepped away.
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Winter Camp 2026
Some of the best, most life-changing memories you’ll ever make happen at camp—and this year’s Winter Youth Camp (Jan 30–Feb 1, 2026) is your chance to grab a whole new set of them. Think about wild games and tournaments, playing in the snow (hopefully!), great worship sessions, warm cabins, good food, strengthening old friendships and building new ones.
Cabins are assigned before we leave, so be sure to register early. Cost is $150, and the deadline to sign up is Jan 19th.
Don’t miss it. This is the kind of weekend you’ll talk about for years.
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It's Coffee Time!
Our Sunday sermons are designed to be the first words in a conversation, not the last. The discussion continues every Wednesday morning at Coffee Klatch on the NE corner of Foothill and Vineyard in Rancho Cucamonga. Join Pastor Mike and a group of eager Solid Grounders as we dig deeper into what God’s Word has to say to us.
RE-DISCOVER THE BIBLE - Join the SG family as we read the Bible from over to cover through end of the year, one bite-sized section at a time. Each book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with Scripture. Miss a day? No problem! Hop back in with the rest of us. We want this journey to help you experience the love and grace of Jesus, not bog you down with one more thing on your to-do list. You can pick up anytime. For a complete list of daily readings CLICK HERE.
Download the YouVersion Bible App, loaded with multiple Bible translations, study aids and custom Solid Ground features like sermon notes.
Big thanks to The Bible Project for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://bibleproject.com.
We practice the way of Jesus and we want you to be part of the journey.
Following Jesus is about more than attending weekend services. It’s about living life to the full, connected to Jesus and to one another. It’s about having a community of people to rally around us when we need it and a willingness to do the same for them. Navigate around our site to explore the variety of ways you can serve and be served as part of our faith family.