Dr. Scott McKee opens our new church-wide journey, “Loving Like Jesus,” by asking a piercing question: What is your dominant life principle? Scripture’s answer is clear—“Follow the way of love” (1 Cor. 14:1). Pastor Scott lays the foundation for forty days of growth with three big truths: we love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19); love is an action, not just an emotion (“Let us not love with words… but with actions,” 1 John 3:18); and love becomes real as a habit—“keep on loving” (Heb. 13...
Oct 12, 2025•17 min•Season 19Ep. 1
Dr. Scott McKee concludes our “Living the Five” series with a tender and challenging word on Audacious Generosity—rooted in the God who loves and holds us. Beginning with the wonder of meeting his newborn grandson, Pastor Scott explores how unearned love naturally opens the hand: “I am loved, I am held.” From there he takes us to 2 Corinthians 8, where Macedonia’s “overflowing joy + extreme poverty” yields “rich generosity,” and contrasts it with the modern myth that more income creates more giv...
Oct 06, 2025•21 min•Season 18Ep. 5
Rev. Terence Gray continues our “Living the Five” series with Global Reach—the conviction that God loves people of every nation and neighborhood, and that the church crosses barriers because Christ first crossed them for us. Opening with a true “find my iPhone” rescue, Pastor Terence asks: if we’ll go to great lengths for a phone, how far will God go for a person? Rooted in Genesis 12’s promise that “all peoples on earth will be blessed,” he casts a vision of our world as a global village and ca...
Sep 28, 2025•26 min•Season 18Ep. 4
In this week’s Living the Five series, Mark Ordus, Director of WardStudents, unpacks the call to Extra-Mile Hospitality through the lens of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. With humor and cultural touchpoints—from Saved by the Bell to Chick-fil-A—Mark helps us see how natural it is to form tribes and circles of belonging, yet how radical Jesus’ teaching was to a people accustomed to drawing lines between insiders and outsiders. In a world where division feels sharper than ever, we’re remind...
Sep 21, 2025•26 min•Season 18Ep. 3
In week two of our Living the Five series, Dr. Scott McKee turns to the value of Thoughtful Theology, exploring what it means to love God with all our mind. Drawing from Jesus’ words in Mark 12 and Deuteronomy’s Shema, Pastor Scott shows why Jesus’ addition of “mind” is a radical and essential call for disciples today. Through Scripture, theology, and everyday illustrations, we learn five key insights: that theology is for everyone, not just scholars; that thinking is not opposed to faith but st...
Sep 14, 2025•20 min•Season 18Ep. 2
On Kickoff Sunday, Dr. Scott McKee begins our Living the Five series with a focus on Healthy Families, showing how God designed the family as His primary place for nurture and discipleship. Pastor Scott walks us through the story of Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 24–27), revealing both the beauty of covenant love and the pain of favoritism, comparison, and dysfunction. From this story, we learn what every child—and every person—needs in order to thrive: the four essential ingredients of blessing—mea...
Sep 07, 2025•26 min•Season 18Ep. 1
Rev. Terence Gray concludes our Revelation series with a message of deep hope rooted in God’s promise to make all things new. Humanity is restless and homesick, longing for a world that feels whole—but Scripture reminds us that in Christ, God is restoring His place, His people, His presence, and His peace. From Revelation 21–22, Pastor Terence shows how God’s great restoration project is already underway: the broken will be healed, the throwaways redeemed, and every tear wiped away. While suffer...
Aug 24, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1
Mark Ordus, Director of Student Ministries at Ward Church, continues our Revelation series with a powerful look at chapters 17–20. In a world that often feels like it’s spiraling out of control, Mark reminds us that sin has always been present, from the Roman Empire to today, and the temptations we face are nothing new. Through vivid imagery of the beast and the harlot, Revelation reveals the culmination of everything opposed to God—yet it also proclaims that the Lamb will triumph because He is ...
Aug 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1
Dr. Scott McKee continues our journey through Revelation with a look at chapters 15–16, where God’s justice and wrath are poured out through seven bowls upon those who stubbornly oppose Him. Drawing parallels to the Song of Moses in Exodus, Dr. McKee shows how God’s judgment—though often avoided in modern preaching—is celebrated in Scripture as good news for the oppressed, a setting-right of all that is wrong. From ancient Armageddon imagery to the reality of present-day persecution, we are remi...
Aug 10, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1
Rev. Terence Gray unpacks Revelation 12–13, where the kingdom of God collides with a counterfeit kingdom led by the dragon—Satan—and his two beasts. Through vivid biblical imagery, we see how Satan works through political power, cultural influence, false philosophy, and idolatry to oppose Christ and lure people away from the truth. Pastor Terence challenges us to recognize the “mark of the beast” not as a technological code but as an ideological allegiance—allowing our thinking and actions to be...
Aug 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1
Rev. Terence Gray continues our Revelation series by walking us through the sobering imagery of the seven trumpets—warnings of judgment, glimpses of spiritual decline, and an urgent call to take refuge in Christ. From natural disasters to economic collapse, from false teaching to spiritual darkness, the trumpets paint a picture of a world unraveling. Yet even in the midst of judgment, God’s mercy is clear—restraining full wrath and extending grace. Pastor Terence invites us to confront the fear ...
Jul 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1
Rev. Nicole Unice continues our Revelation series by inviting us not into explanation, but into experience. Preaching from chapters 4–7, she walks us through John’s sweeping vision of God’s throne, the Lamb who was slain, and the unsealing of the scroll that unleashes both worship and weeping. Through dazzling imagery, thunderous praise, and the sobering realities of war, famine, and death, Pastor Nicole reminds us that this apocalyptic literature isn’t meant to be decoded like a puzzle—it’s mea...
Jul 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1
Continuing our Revelation series, Dr. Scott McKee explores the seven letters to the churches in chapters 2 and 3—a personal and prophetic message from Jesus to communities facing persecution, compromise, and complacency. Focusing on the churches of Ephesus, Pergamum, and Laodicea, Pastor Scott highlights Christ’s blend of affirmation and correction: a call to rekindle first love, resist compartmentalized faith, and reject lukewarm spirituality. These ancient letters still echo today, inviting us...
Jul 13, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1
Rev. Terence Gray kicks off our summer series on Revelation with an invitation to see this often-misunderstood book not as a confusing end-times riddle, but as a multi-dimensional message of hope. With clarity, humor, and pastoral warmth, Pastor Terence unpacks the key genres and interpretations of Revelation, reminding us that while symbolism and mystery abound, the main theme is profoundly simple: God wins. In a world that keeps shifting the definition of success, this truth anchors us. We don...
Jul 06, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1
In this energizing and heartfelt message, Rev. Terry Robinson challenges us to live the Christian life in 3D—through the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, and the Great Concern. With warmth, humor, and biblical clarity, Pastor Terry paints a vision of faith that is not flat or theoretical but vibrant, relational, and transformative. Drawing from Jesus’ call to love God and neighbor, to make disciples, and to serve the least among us, he reminds us that real faith is not about $3 worth of ...
Jun 29, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1
Rev. Sean Carroll delivers a powerful message on the “theme music” of God—five core attributes revealed in Exodus 34: compassion, grace, patience, steadfast love, and faithfulness. Just as a film score helps us anticipate the arrival of a beloved character, God’s signature shows up in our lives and the world around us, pointing us to His presence. Tracing the character of God from Moses on Mount Sinai to the person of Jesus Christ, Pastor Sean reminds us that God's grace breaks generational patt...
Jun 22, 2025•30 min•Ep. 1
As Ward Church prepares to host the 45th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Dr. Scott McKee concludes the Firm Foundation series with a deep dive into the essential beliefs that unite us. Drawing from both scripture and history, Pastor Scott explores nine core doctrines that have guided the global church for centuries: the authority of scripture, the full divinity and humanity of Jesus, humanity’s need for salvation, the atoning work of Christ, His resurrection, His promise...
Jun 15, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1
As Ward Church wraps up another program and fiscal year, Dr. Scott McKee reflects on what makes this church distinct—not the flashy or obvious, but the often-overlooked strengths that define its character. In this message, he lifts up three quietly powerful aspects of Ward’s identity: a deepening heart for individuals with special needs, a long-standing and relational commitment to the city of Detroit, and a spirit of hospitality that opens our buildings—and hearts—to our neighbors. Tracing our ...
Jun 08, 2025•29 min•Ep. 1
In week three of Firm Foundation, Dr. Scott McKee takes us on a sweeping journey through 2,000 years of church history to remind us of the rich legacy we inherit as followers of Jesus—and as part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. From the bold reforms of Martin Luther and John Knox to the founding of Ward Church in Detroit during the Great Depression, Pastor Scott traces the faithful witness of those who came before us and invites us to stand on their shoulders with gratitude and courage. ...
Jun 01, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1
In week two of Firm Foundations, Dr. Scott McKee explores Jesus’ bold declaration: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Drawing from Matthew 16, Pastor Scott reminds us that the Church isn’t a human invention—it’s Jesus’ idea, his body, and his plan for redeeming the world. In a culture that often dismisses or doubts the Church, we’re called to remember who the Church belongs to, who builds it, and how powerful it truly is. Ward Church, like every local church, ...
May 18, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1
On Mother’s Day, Dr. Scott McKee launches the new Firm Foundations series with a message centered on grace—God’s unmerited favor that meets us not in our strength, but in our weakness. Drawing from the Apostle Paul’s thorn-in-the-flesh story in 2 Corinthians 12, Pastor Scott reminds us that grace isn’t just a promise of heaven, but a present, sustaining power in our everyday struggles. Through personal testimony, biblical reflection, and a moving parable, we’re invited to embrace our thorns as u...
May 11, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1
On Star Wars Day, Dr. Scott McKee delivers a meaningful message on the real, personal, and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit—no sci-fi required. Reflecting on his own story and the biblical account of young Samuel, Pastor Scott reminds us that God still speaks today: through Scripture, through others, and through the still, small voice within. Whether you’re ten or sixty, God may be prompting you in ways big and small—if you’ll pause to listen. In a world full of noise, the challenge is to ma...
May 04, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1
The week after Easter can feel like a return to the ordinary, but Rev. Nicole Unice invites us to see it differently. Continuing in the spirit of resurrection, she explores John 20 and the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples after the tomb was empty. In a world still weighed down by fear, fatigue, and failure, Jesus breathes peace and new life into His followers—and into us. Through stories, Scripture, and practical wisdom, Nicole challenges us to live as forgiveness people, filled with t...
Apr 27, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1
On Easter Sunday, Dr. Scott McKee concludes The Lord Our Shepherd series with a powerful reflection on the final verse of Psalm 23: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” In a world filled with fear, uncertainty, and shifting foundations, Easter offers unshakable security through the risen Christ. Drawing from the full arc of the psalm, we’re reminded that the Good Shepherd not only guides, protects, and pursues us—He also promises His eternal presence. Through stories, Scripture, and ...
Apr 20, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1
In this final episode, Small Groups Director Sarah de Jong is joined by Pastors Terence Gray and Sean Carroll to reflect on the concluding verse of Psalm 23: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Together, they unpack the richness of the Hebrew words tov (goodness) and hesed (mercy, steadfast love), exploring how these truths can anchor us even in life’s darkest storms. The conversation touches on God’s unrelenting...
Apr 17, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1
This week, we continue our journey through Psalm 23 with a powerful message on verse 5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Rev. Terence Gray unpacks the rich biblical imagery of hospitality, honor, and intimacy with God—moving us from green pastures to the banquet table of a gracious Host. With warmth and depth, he explores what it means to be welcomed by God, challenged us to ask where we may be withholding the oil from ...
Apr 13, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1
This week, the imagery in Psalm 23 takes a dramatic turn—from pastures and valleys to a royal banquet table. Small Groups Director Sarah de Jong leads a rich conversation with Pastors Scott McKee and Terrance Gray as they unpack the meaning behind “You prepare a table before me... You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Together, they explore God as the ultimate host—lavish, intentional, and present even in the presence of our enemies. From divine hospitality to the deeper symbolism of a...
Apr 10, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1
In this week's sermon, Dr. Scott McKee explores one of the most misunderstood yet powerful lines in Psalm 23: “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” With wisdom, humor, and pastoral insight, Dr. McKee reflects on God’s loving discipline, our tendency to wander, and the deep comfort found in a Shepherd who both protects and corrects. From viral sheep videos to biblical truths, this sermon invites us to see discipline not as punishment, but as the loving guidance of a faithful God. Whether yo...
Apr 06, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1
Discipline and comfort—two words we rarely associate, yet Psalm 23 brings them together in a powerful way. In this week's discussion, Small Groups Director Sarah de Jong hosts a thoughtful conversation with Pastor Scott McKee and Pastor Terrance Gray on the meaning behind “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Together, they explore how God’s authority, correction, and protection all serve to guide us, shape us, and ultimately offer peace and strength. Whether you’re a sheep in need of dire...
Apr 03, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1
What does it mean to trust God in our darkest valleys? This week, Dr. Scott McKee explores one of the most personal and powerful lines of Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” With heartfelt vulnerability, Dr. McKee shares reflections from his own journey through serious illness and reminds us that valleys—whether of grief, illness, or fear—are never the destination. They are places of God’s presence and provision. Thr...
Mar 30, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1
