Solid Ground Church

There are moments when you know exactly what happened. You remember what was said. You have the facts.

And you’re right.

But what if being right still isn’t enough?

In this episode of Groundwork, Mike explores a subtle relationship trap that can turn certainty into conflict—and why sometimes the most important part of a situation isn’t nearly as obvious as we think.

Some seasons of discouragement are easy to explain. Others are harder to name.

You may look fine on the outside, keep doing what needs to be done, and still feel like something inside you has gone flat. When that happens, it’s easy to wonder whether you’re tired, stuck, drifting, grieving, or just not as strong as you thought.

In this episode of Groundwork, Mike Collins offers a biblical and practical way to understand those low seasons without panic or shame. If you’ve been feeling down and can’t quite explain it, this conversation will help you slow down, pay attention, and take a wiser next step with God.

Learn more about Groundwork:
https://sgbic.com/groundwork

Solid Ground Church:
https://sgbic.com

Need prayer or want to connect? Text us at 909.487.8855

Adult life can be full of people and still feel lonely.

You may have coworkers, neighbors, family, church acquaintances, text threads, and a busy schedule — but still wonder if anybody really knows what you’re carrying.

In this episode of Groundwork, Mike Collins talks about why friendship can feel harder as we get older, why small talk often doesn’t become real connection, and why being noticed isn’t the same as being known. He also reflects on biblical friendship, the different ways men and women often approach connection, and the small faithful steps that can help us move toward belonging.

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt alone in a room full of people — and for anyone who wants to become the kind of person who helps someone else feel less alone.

View the Groundwork playlist: https://sgbic.com/groundwork

Why do so many sincere believers still feel spiritually dry?

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus with genuine faith and honest questions. He knows the Scriptures. He believes the right things. Yet something isn’t connecting. Jesus responds with a phrase that has echoed for centuries: “You must be born again.”

But what if being born again isn’t about trying harder or becoming a slightly improved version of yourself? What if it’s about something deeper — something that reshapes not only your inner life, but your relationships, your belonging, and your purpose?

In this message, we explore why information isn’t enough to transform us, why faith can’t thrive in isolation, and why new life in Christ moves us beyond self-improvement into something far more substantial.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re managing your faith instead of truly living it…
If you’ve grown weary of trying to remake yourself…
If you’ve wondered whether your everyday life really matters in God’s story…

This conversation invites you to rediscover what it means to receive new life, belong to a spiritual family, and live with meaningful purpose right where you are.

Why does the internet reward outrage?

In this episode of Groundwork, Mike Collins and his daughter Ella explore “rage bait” — content designed to provoke anger because anger drives engagement. They unpack how algorithms amplify negativity, why outrage spreads so quickly, and how you can disengage without being consumed.

Your attention is sacred. What you linger on will shape you.

Many of us live with a quiet, persistent sense that we don’t quite measure up—not because anyone says it out loud, but because we’ve learned it over time.

In this new Groundwork episode, Pastor Mike explores why feelings of inferiority can seem so reasonable, where they come from, and why even knowing the truth about our identity in Christ doesn’t automatically silence them. Scripture doesn’t tell us to fight our feelings—it gives us a different authority to trust.

This conversation is for anyone who stays quiet instead of stepping forward, assumes others matter more, or has learned to keep themselves small to stay safe.

Groundwork is a long-form conversation about following Jesus in real life—honest, thoughtful, and grounded in Scripture.

▶ Groundwork playlist: https://sgbic.com/groundwork

▶ Solid Ground Church: https://sgbic.com

We live in a world that constantly pressures us to perform, achieve, and prove ourselves. From an early age, we’re told that being impressive is what makes us valuable. But when Jesus called his first disciples, he didn’t look for the most qualified or accomplished. He called fishermen—ordinary people who were simply willing to follow.

In Becoming Available, we explore Mark 1:16–20 and discover a powerful truth: God does more with people who are available than with people who are impressive.

This message looks at:

• Why Jesus doesn’t call the qualified—but qualifies the called
• How immediate obedience can change lives
• What it means to be interruptible in a busy, driven culture
• How availability creates space for divine appointments

Following Jesus isn’t about having it all together. It’s about being willing to say yes—sometimes at once—and trusting him with the rest.

There are seasons when faith feels real—but not very useful. We still believe. We still show up. But nothing about our everyday lives seems all that different.

In this message, Pastor Mike explores Jesus’ words about being salt and light and what they reveal about the purpose of faith. Jesus never called his followers to be impressive, loud, or performative. He called them to be useful—present, distinct, and shaped from the inside out. Together, we’ll reconsider what faithful living actually looks like in ordinary places: at work, at home, and in our relationships.

Rather than blending in or standing out for the wrong reasons, Jesus calls us to a way of life that quietly makes a difference. If you’ve ever wondered whether your faith is meant for more than private belief or public display, this message offers a grounded, practical vision of following Jesus in a way that actually works in real life.

What do you do when your faith doesn’t disappear—but it does go quiet?

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.

In a world that never slows down, it’s becoming harder to hear the voice that matters most.

In this message, Pastor Mike shares a personal story of pressure, pain, and burnout—and how God used it to teach him a deeper lesson about attentiveness. Drawing from 1 Samuel 3, we’re reminded that God still speaks, but listening requires stillness, humility, and a posture of trust. This message explores:

• Why busyness and hurry drown out God’s voice
• How pain and disruption can become invitations from God
• What it really means to pray, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
• How God calls us by name—and waits for our response

If you’ve felt overwhelmed, distracted, or spiritually dry, this message is an invitation to slow down, listen, and rediscover God’s gentle guidance. Join us in person or online each week.

For more information about Solid Ground Church, visit sgbic.com