Shiloh Family Church

06/04/2026

Acts 19:17-41

06/03/2026

Midweek Refuel tonight at 6:30pm on Shiloh Family Youtube and pages.

06/02/2026

Shiloh Church Family,

As we continue our journey through The Other Half of Church, one truth stands out with remarkable clarity:

Transformation grows best in the soil of joy.

When most of us think about spiritual growth, we think about learning more Scripture, praying more, serving more, or becoming more disciplined. While these are essential practices, Scripture and modern brain science point to something that is often overlooked:

God designed us to be transformed through joyful relationships.

The Bible repeatedly speaks of God's face shining upon His people:

"The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you." (Numbers 6:25)

What does it mean for God's face to shine on us?

Joy researchers describe joy as the feeling we experience when we look into the eyes of someone who is genuinely glad to be with us. In other words, joy is not simply happiness—it is relational connection. It is the deep assurance that says:

"I am happy to be with you."

This is the message God continually communicates to His children.

When Scripture says, "In Your presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11), it is describing more than God's nearness. It is revealing God's delight. The Father is not merely present with us; He is glad to be with us.

This changes everything.

Joy is not the absence of pain. Joy does not mean life is easy. Jesus Himself endured the cross "for the joy set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). In the midst of suffering, He remained connected to the loving gaze of His Father.

Likewise, we can experience sadness, fear, disappointment, and hardship while remaining joyful because joy comes from knowing we do not suffer alone. God is with us, and His people are with us.

One of the most important discoveries from this chapter is that our identity is formed through joy-filled relationships. When we know we are loved, welcomed, and delighted in, we become free to live as our true selves. We no longer need masks, performance, or pretending.

This is why healthy Christian community matters so deeply.

Our joy grows when we experience faces that light up when we enter the room. Our joy grows when we practice gratitude. Our joy grows when we remain connected during difficult emotions rather than isolating ourselves.

Conversely, joy leaks away through unresolved wounds, isolation, excessive screen time, and trying to manage life apart from authentic relationships.

As a church, we want to become a high-joy community—a place where people encounter not only biblical truth but also the relational love of God through one another.

Imagine a church where:

People are genuinely glad to see one another.
Small groups become places of deep connection and encouragement.
Struggles are carried together rather than alone.
Gratitude is regularly practiced.
People experience both truth and joy.
The love of Jesus is visible on our faces.

This is not a distraction from discipleship.

This is discipleship.

Joy strengthens our ability to endure suffering, regulate emotions, resist addiction, heal from wounds, and become more like Christ.

This week, take a few moments to remember experiences where you felt especially grateful and connected to God. Relive those moments. Thank Him for them. Notice His delight in you.

Then share that joy with someone else.

May we become a church whose faces reflect the face of Jesus—a people who communicate to one another:

"I'm glad you're here. I'm glad to be with you."

Because that is exactly what our Heavenly Father is saying to us.

With love,

Marty and Jaime

06/02/2026

It's giving Tuesday! Our giving reflects our gratitude for God's provision and grace, it is an act of worship. If you would like to contribute to Shiloh you can do so here. We so appreciate your generosity!

Convenient gifts anytime, anywhere. Give to Shiloh Family Church here.

05/31/2026

Welcome!
We're glad you could join us live, or whenever you got to it!

05/28/2026

New Book Study Group
Shiloh Church Family,

As we continue learning about spiritual transformation and authentic community, we want to invite you to take a practical next step by joining our new Shiloh Book Study Group

One of the greatest ways we grow is not just by hearing truth, but by living life together. A group like this creates space for real connection, encouragement, prayer, and discipleship throughout the week — exactly the kind of community we have been talking about as a church family.

This group will be hosted by Shell Swift at her home on Fridays from 6:30pm–8:30pm beginning June 5. The study will last 6 weeks.

Together, the group will be going through The Awe of God by John Bevere. In this powerful book, Bevere redefines the “fear of the Lord” not as terror, but as a deep and healthy reverence for God’s holiness. He explains how cultivating awe for God leads to deeper intimacy with Him, protects believers from drifting away, and becomes the foundation for wisdom, spiritual strength, and victorious living.

If you are longing for deeper connection with God and others, this is a wonderful opportunity to grow together in community.

If you are interested or would like more information, please email: [email protected]

We would love to have you be a part of this group. Space Is limited (8-10 people) so
rsvp soon

05/28/2026

Acts Chapter 19:1-16

05/27/2026

Shiloh Church Family,
This week in our journey through The Other Half of Church, we are exploring an important question:
Why doesn’t information alone change us?
Most of us were taught—either directly or indirectly—that spiritual growth mainly happens by learning more truth. We attend church, listen to sermons, study Scripture, read books, and gather more biblical knowledge. These things are valuable and essential.
But many sincere believers eventually discover something frustrating:
You can know truth and still struggle to live transformed.
A person can:�• Know a lot of Scripture�• Attend church faithfully�• Believe correct theology�• Listen to sermons for years
…and still wrestle with anxiety, anger, fear, loneliness, relational conflict, insecurity, emotional immaturity, or lack of peace.
Why does this happen?
Because God did not design us to be transformed by information alone.
We are not merely thinking beings. We are relational beings created in the image of a relational God. Throughout Scripture, transformation happens in the context of loving attachment—to God and to one another.
Jesus did not simply transfer information to His disciples. He lived with them. He loved them. He modeled joy, peace, connection, forgiveness, and relational maturity. He formed them through relationship.
In John 14, Jesus says something profound:�“Whoever loves me will obey my teaching.”
Notice the order:�Love comes first.�Obedience flows out of relationship.
This is one of the central ideas we are learning together:�Real transformation happens when truth is experienced relationally.
For many years, much of Western Christianity has emphasized the left-brain side of discipleship:�• Doctrine�• Information�• Bible knowledge�• Teaching�• Strategies�• Correct thinking
These things matter deeply. Truth matters.
But when relational and emotional formation are neglected, discipleship becomes incomplete. We may become informed believers without becoming emotionally mature, relationally healthy, or deeply connected to God and others.
This is what The Other Half of Church calls “half-brained Christianity.”
God designed our brains to be shaped through loving connection, joy, healthy relationships, and community. This is why Scripture places such a strong emphasis on loving God, loving others, encouraging one another, bearing burdens together, forgiving one another, and living as a family.
Transformation grows best in healthy relational soil.
This is why at Shiloh we continue emphasizing:�• Intentional relationships�• Church of 2 connections�• Identity in Christ�• Emotional health�• Spiritual formation�• Authentic community
The goal is not simply to know more about Jesus.�The goal is to become like Him.
In a world filled with information but starving for genuine connection, the church has an opportunity to become a different kind of community—a place where people are truly known, loved, strengthened, healed, and formed together in Christ.
Real discipleship is often slower and messier than we expect. But this is the way Jesus discipled people.
As we continue through this series, our prayer is that God would not only deepen our understanding, but also transform the way we relate to Him and to one another.
We are grateful to be on this journey together. If you are interested in connecting more with others contact Marty at [email protected] for ideas and opportunities.
Grace and peace,
Marty and Jaime

05/27/2026

Midweek Refuel tonight at 6:30pm on Shiloh Family Youtube and pages

05/26/2026

It's giving Tuesday! We are so blessed by the generosity of our family and if you'd like to contribute you can do so by clicking the link. https://pushpay.com/g/shilohfortuna You're investment declares to the spirit realm that God is real and your resource helps us to minister to people in our community.

Convenient gifts anytime, anywhere. Give to Shiloh Family Church here.