During our second week of Advent, we read in Luke Chapter 2 about how the shepherds in the field were the first to hear about the birth of Jesus from angels. Ordinary, marginalized people were chosen to be the first to receive the news of the Messiah's arrival in Bethlehem. As we talked about the wonder and awe that the shepherds must have experienced, we were challenged to share the joy and wonder of our faith with others through personal stories, the way we live, and inviting others to experie...
Dec 09, 2024•33 min•Ep. 478
In this sermon, we kick off the Advent season with a message that focuses on the concept of being "willing." Pastor John highlights the story of Mary and Joseph as examples of having hearts sensitive to God's call and willing to do difficult things. He walks us through three key points: willingness is birthed from a heart sensitive toward the Lord, believers can do difficult things when following God's plan, and obedience is required to fulfill God's purpose.
Dec 02, 2024•36 min•Ep. 477
To wrap up our Upside Down series, Pastor Zach explores the concept of "strength in weakness" through the apostle Paul's writings, arguing that acknowledging and surrendering our weaknesses to God can lead to true strength. He shares his personal story, emphasizing that admitting we are not enough allows God's power to work through us, which is a key principle of the "upside-down" kingdom of God.
Nov 25, 2024•34 min•Ep. 476
In this message, Pastor John teaches about how generosity is a fundamental aspect of Christian living that often goes against our natural human tendencies. He explains that generosity is important for three main reasons: it guards our hearts from materialism, it helps people in need, and it makes the Great Commission possible. He emphasizes that in the New Testament, giving should come from a cheerful heart and a place of "want to" rather than "have to."
Nov 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 475
In this message, Pastor Eric emphasizes that true happiness comes from recognizing our spiritual poverty and complete dependence on God, not from our circumstances or possessions. We are encouraged to embrace our need for God daily and to put Jesus' teachings into practice, as this is the foundation for experiencing the abundant life He offers.
Nov 11, 2024•34 min•Ep. 474
In this message, we discuss how the kingdom of God that Jesus taught us about is an "upside down" kingdom that is not of this world. It presents the kingdom as an invitation to start over and be "born again," living a different way from the values and priorities of this world, focusing on goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit rather than worldly desires and power.
Nov 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 473
This message focuses on prayer as one of the key elements for making wise decisions. John breaks down prayer into four main components: how we pray, why we pray, what we pray, and where we pray. He emphasizes that prayer is accessible to everyone and doesn't require perfection or formality.
Oct 28, 2024•38 min•Ep. 472
This message focuses on the importance of choosing the right counsel when making wise decisions, emphasizing two key sources of counsel: Scripture and trusted advisers. John stresses that basing one's life on God's Word provides a solid foundation for decision-making while surrounding oneself with wise, trustworthy people can provide valuable guidance.
Oct 21, 2024•38 min•Ep. 471
In this message, John emphasizes the importance of seeking wisdom from God in decision-making. He highlights that unwise decisions can have long-lasting impacts on our lives. To make wise decisions, we are encouraged to ask God for wisdom, ensure our faith is solely in Him, and maintain an undivided commitment to Him. By doing so, we align our choices with God's will, which is inherently pure and good.
Oct 14, 2024•38 min•Ep. 470
This message focuses on embracing and applying the teachings from the Book of Colossians by responding intentionally through four key areas: prayer, lifestyle, words, and community. Pastor Zach encourages us to integrate these responses by being people of prayer, living wisely, speaking with grace, and participating in community, ultimately allowing the Holy Spirit to guide actions and deepen our relationships with Jesus.
Oct 07, 2024•35 min•Ep. 469
In this message, we look at Colossians 3, which focuses on the concept of renewal. Pastor John emphasizes the transformative journey of shedding our old sinful nature and putting on a new nature through the Holy Spirit. Key points include focusing on eternal matters rather than temporary earthly concerns, actively working to shed sinful behaviors, and allowing our new nature—characterized by love, mercy, and forgiveness—to become evident in our lives.
Sep 30, 2024•43 min•Ep. 468
This message focuses on the role of rules in Christianity. Pastor John emphasizes that while rules aren't inherently bad, they don't make us right with God or help us conquer sin - only faith in Jesus does that. He encourages listeners to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus rather than relying on rule-keeping, stating that true obedience and righteous living flow from a heart devoted to Christ.
Sep 23, 2024•37 min•Ep. 467
This message focuses on chapter 1 of the book of Colossians, emphasizing the concept of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Pastor John highlights five key aspects of reconciliation: purposeful identity, love for God's people, confident hope, changed lives, and love for others. He encourages believers to surrender any sinful nature and embrace the fruits of the Spirit while also inviting non-believers to be reconciled with God through faith in Jesus.
Sep 16, 2024•39 min•Ep. 466
In this message on the Unified church, we discussed three key areas where Christians should be unified: our understanding of Jesus, our commitment to the mission of spreading the Gospel, and our practice of love for one another. While Christians may disagree on various secondary issues, these core aspects should not be compromised. We need to prioritize unity grounded in love. This type of unity powerfully demonstrates Christ to non-believers and can transform our communities.
Sep 03, 2024•40 min•Ep. 465
This message focuses on the theme of compassion in the church. Pastor John talks about what it looks like to have compassion for the hurting, compassion for prodigals, and compassion for the world. He urges us to create a margin in our lives to help others, to welcome back those who have strayed with open arms, and to view the world with the same compassion that Jesus had.
Aug 26, 2024•44 min•Ep. 464
This message discusses what makes a healthy church, focusing on three key areas based on Jesus' messages to churches in Revelation. Pastor John emphasizes the importance of maintaining passion and love for Jesus (not losing one's "first love"), avoiding permissive teaching that condones sin, and guarding against complacency and pride. Throughout, he stresses the need for repentance in these areas to cultivate a truly healthy church.
Aug 19, 2024•40 min•Ep. 463
In this message, Pastor John explains that a prevailing church is devoted to spiritual growth and fellowship, cares for its members, and demonstrates maturity through unity and love. He challenges us to consider our level of involvement in the church and whether we are willing to move closer to the center of church life while acknowledging that church involvement can sometimes be messy and painful.
Aug 12, 2024•44 min•Ep. 462
In this message, our Online Campus Pastor, Mary Solis, focuses on the importance of deep relationships with others as part of our faith journey. She explains that God not only commands us to love others, but also designed us for meaningful relationships and has a purpose for us in connecting deeply with people. She encourages listeners to open up their lives to God first and then gradually to others, offering practical steps for building community within the church and beyond.
Aug 05, 2024•29 min•Ep. 461
In this message, Pastor Eric encourages us to move into a deeper, more committed relationship with Jesus. He emphasizes that following Jesus is for everyone and requires intentionality, particularly in spending regular time alone with God. The reward for following Jesus deeply is Jesus himself and the abundant life He offers, beyond just belief to a transformed way of living.
Jul 29, 2024•40 min•Ep. 460
In this message, we discussed the tenth commandment - "Do not covet." We explored how coveting affects relationships with others, ourselves, and God. We learned the importance of contentment, wisdom, and finding satisfaction in God rather than worldly possessions or comparisons to others. We should trust in God's provision and avoid jealousy and envy by focusing on our own spiritual growth and relationship with God rather than comparing ourselves to others.
Jul 22, 2024•36 min•Ep. 459
This message focuses on the ninth commandment and expands on the importance of using words to build others up rather than tear them down. Pastor Broc shares some of his personal struggles and outlines his steps to improve, including seeking counseling, dealing with root issues, finding a supportive community, and creating space for God to work on his soul. The sermon reminds us that uplifting speech can help others recognize their inherent worth as beings created in God's image.
Jul 15, 2024•42 min•Ep. 458
In this message, we unpack the eighth commandment: "Do not steal." Pastor John explains that stealing is not just about taking physical objects but stems from deeper heart issues of greed and fear. He emphasizes that the only remedy for these heart issues is surrendering to Jesus, cultivating contentment, gratitude, and generosity, and trusting God to provide rather than relying on our own efforts or possessions.
Jul 08, 2024•31 min•Ep. 457
This message unpacks the seventh commandment: "You must not commit adultery." We explore Jesus' teachings on faithfulness and purity of heart, emphasizing that unfaithfulness starts in the heart and that God's design for relationships is greater than our desires. Pastor Eric stresses the importance of fleeing temptation and pursuing righteousness while highlighting Christ's constant faithfulness to us despite our shortcomings.
Jul 01, 2024•40 min•Ep. 456
In this message, we explore the deeper meaning of the sixth commandment, "Do not murder," by examining Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5. Pastor John explains that this commandment goes beyond physical murder to encompass anger in our hearts, harsh words, and vengeful actions toward others. He emphasizes that as Christians, we should examine our hearts, adjust our behavior, and practice forgiveness in order to truly live out this commandment in our relationships.
Jun 24, 2024•36 min•Ep. 455
In this message, we celebrate Father's Day by unpacking the 5th Commandment, which says to honor our father and mother. We discuss what a father needs, focusing on honor, respect, care, prayer, and grace. We also acknowledge that while not everyone had a great father figure, forgiveness and grace can free us from bitterness and open doors for healing.
Jun 17, 2024•35 min•Ep. 454
This message emphasizes the importance of observing the Sabbath rest, not as a legalistic obligation but as a principle for maintaining a sustainable and healthy lifestyle physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Pastor John challenges us to evaluate if we are living over-scheduled and stressed lives and encourages us to be willing to slow down, dwell in God's rest, and for non-believers, to find true rest in Jesus Christ.
Jun 10, 2024•37 min•Ep. 453
In this message, Pastor Zach walks us through the Third Commandment, "Do not take the Lord's name in vain," emphasizing that it means more than just avoiding profanity. It calls Christians to bear God's name well by living in a way that glorifies and represents Him to others. He further explains that bearing God's name involves living an "unusual" life of love, integrity, justice, and holiness that stands out from the world around us.
Jun 03, 2024•35 min•Ep. 452
In this message, we unpack the Second Commandment, "You shall not make for yourself an idol." Pastor Robert emphasizes that this commandment is about more than just physical idols. He highlights that idolatry can also present itself in other ways - getting impatient with God's process, making good things required rather than following God's guidance, and adding man-made rules or requirements to the worship of God. We are challenged to examine our lives for areas where we may be exhibiting these ...
May 28, 2024•42 min•Ep. 451
In today's message, we talk about the First Commandment - "You shall have no other gods before me", and how we often put things like money and ourselves (our desires, careers, etc.) before God in our lives. Pastor John emphasizes that the Ten Commandments are not just rules, but guidelines for how to love God and love others, which Jesus summarized as the greatest commandments.
May 20, 2024•37 min•Ep. 450
We celebrate Mother's Day weekend with a message encouraging us to honor, respect, care for, and show grace toward the mother figures in our lives.
May 13, 2024•37 min•Ep. 449
