Mt. Carmel Luray: Recent Episodes
Mt. Carmel
Have you ever looked at what was happening in your life and asked, “Jesus, what are You doing?”
The disciples did too. But what looked confusing in the moment was often Jesus preparing them for what they could not yet see. Faith isn’t believing Jesus will always make sense—it’s learning to trust Him when He doesn’t.
Jesus called Mary's anointing "beautiful"—but the invitation of the text is not to be like Mary. It's to sit where Mary sat: at the feet of Jesus.
Mary treasured Jesus because she knew Jesus.
How many of us know about Jesus—but don’t truly know Him? Seeing the beauty of Jesus changes everything.
We come to treasure Jesus deeply as we come to know Him fully.
This generation.
Jesus says, "All these things"—including the Son of Man coming on the clouds—"will take place in this generation."
What if Jesus wasn't delivering a timeline for the future—but preparing His followers to remain faithful no matter what the future held?
And that's helpful to know—because Christians spend an awful lot of time asking, "When is Jesus coming back?" While Jesus spends an awful lot of time asking, "What will I find you doing when I do?"
The disciples thought Jesus was preparing them for the end of the temple.
He was—but not in the way they expected.
What looked like the destruction of the temple was actually the beginning of something far greater: God's presence would no longer be confined to a building, but would dwell in His people through the Holy Spirit.
When a widow with only two small coins emptied all she had into the treasury, Jesus turned everyone's attention to her—not because of her giving, but because of her living.
A widow who gives her last two coins is either completely foolish or absolutely convinced that her God will provide. Her total surrender and trust reflected the total surrender and trust Jesus would display later that week when He emptied Himself for His people.
This poor widow was far more than an example of generosity—she was a reflection of the King.
A man approached Jesus who understood how the kingdom of God worked: love God and love your neighbor. So Jesus told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
But near is not the same as in.
One must do more than understand the kingdom of God. One must acknowledge the King of God.
Because Jesus is more than one of David’s descendants—Jesus is David’s Lord. More than a human Son of David—Jesus is the divine Son of God.
Seven husbands. One widow. A crazy question.
"In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?"
Jesus revealed we cannot understand the resurrection age through the filter of this present age. And that's good news!
Because of His resurrection, death does not get the final word!
Most of us read the Good Samaritan and ask, "Am I the priest? The Levite? The Samaritan?"
But Jesus may have intended something very different. What if we're not supposed to see ourselves as the one offering help—but the one needing help?
The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus did not pass us by. Jesus became the wounded Man to rescue those who wounded Him. And because we have been shown mercy, He calls us to become people who show mercy.
Pentecost is about far more than a strange moment in Acts 2 where people spoke in tongues.
Pentecost is a massive convergence of Old Testament promises: a new and greater Sinai, the reversing of Babel, and the day the prophets longed for.
And it is all initiated by the Spirit of God descending from heaven to dwell within His people—revealing that the gospel is about far more than simply going to heaven when we die.
The Spirit desires to transform us, empower us, and partner with us in bringing heaven to earth right now—changing the way we understand salvation, kingdom, mission, and everyday life.
When Jesus was given the opportunity to publicly condemn one of the most corrupt governments in human history, He didn't go there. In fact, He almost seems dismissive.
Holding a Roman tribute coin, He says: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s—and to God what belongs to God.
Because Jesus recognized the greater danger is not merely living under a corrupt government—but giving that government an allegiance that belongs to King Jesus alone.
You can hold that coin—as long as that coin is not holding you.
Mother’s Day is not joyful for everyone. For many, it carries comparison, rejection, loneliness, disappointment, or the feeling of never quite being enough.
In Leah’s story, we discover a powerful truth: people may fail to see our worth—but Yahweh never does. And when our hearts finally awaken to the love, acceptance, and identity already offered to us in Christ, striving gives way to worship. “This time, I will praise the Lord.”
Jesus’ authority was never the real question—the response to it was. Most of us don’t lack clarity—we resist surrender. The call of discipleship is simple: say yes to the King and live under His authority.
We can build structures. We can gather crowds.
But without His presence—what do we really have?
From the beginning, Jesus has been pursuing one thing: to dwell with His people.
From the garden to the tabernacle to the temple to the cross to us—the story has always been the same.
And today, because of the Spirit, His presence is here—with us.
A fig tree that looked alive—but had no fruit. Withered.
A temple system full of activity—but lacking faithfulness. Ended.
Jesus brought the temple system to a full stop—becoming the final sacrifice and taking His place as our High Priest.
Now we are the temple—cleansed by the Holy Spirit—and as we abide in Him, what was once empty begins to bear fruit.
The lives of Jesus’ followers weren't transformed by the empty tomb—but by an encounter with the risen King. And the good news is that King Jesus is still encountering lives today.
They saw the 👑 King—but not clearly.
They celebrated His arrival—but misunderstood His mission.
They looked for strength—but missed surrender.
They wanted victory—but didn’t recognize how He would win.
Not on a war horse 🐎—on a donkey. 🫏
Not to defeat Rome—but to defeat sin.
Not through power—but through sacrifice. ✝️
Jesus still works in surprising ways—often quiet, often unexpected, often right in front of us. Are we seeing Him clearly? 👀
It’s possible to walk with Jesus—and still not see Him clearly. Because His kingdom doesn’t look like ours. It’s upside-down.
A kingdom whose King was enthroned with sinners on His right and left.
A kingdom whose Messiah was recognized by the blind and missed by the religious.
A kingdom where serving the least is the way to greatness.
A kingdom where beggars are rich and the wealthy are poor.
Maybe our prayer should be simple: “Jesus, give us spiritual sight to clearly see You.”
Jesus said the kingdom of God often looks upside down.
The world tells us to hold tightly to what we have—while Jesus invites us to open our hands.
Hands full of the world can’t receive heaven’s treasure. But open hands discover the joy of God’s kingdom—and the blessing of being His family.
This week at Plymouth Community Church, we explored what it means to live in the upside-down kingdom of Jesus.
Marriage matters—because it reflects Christ and His church. And marriage is hard—because it joins two imperfect people.
And when marriage breaks, the grace of Jesus is still greater than our brokenness.
In Mark 10, Jesus reminds us of God’s design for marriage—and the restoring grace He offers when life doesn’t unfold the way we hoped.
Salvation often gets reduced down to “Jesus forgave my sins so I can go to heaven.” That’s gloriously true—but it’s incomplete.
Salvation offers more than forgiveness—it offers a family.
God does more than bring us into His kingdom—He brings us into His people. Which means the idea, “It’s just Jesus and me,” doesn’t tell the whole story.
Heaven is part of our inheritance—and so are the people around us. And here’s what we often miss: We don’t just receive an inheritance—we become one.
God confronts evil—He will address whatever stands in opposition to His kingdom.
God conquers evil—at the Cross, Jesus opened the way into the kingdom of God.
Hell is the tragic end of continually rejecting the invitation to God’s kingdom and resisting the reign of King Jesus.
Fasting is not a formula that moves God. Rather, fasting moves us into a place of surrender under the reign of King Jesus.
When Jesus said to hunger and thirst after righteousness, He was giving us a way to live—and fasting helps form in us the same hunger for God that we have for food.
Ultimately, fasting is not about getting something from God—but about offering ourselves to God.
Today, as our nation remains fractured over immigration, law and order, elections, and cultural identity, we often assume the real battle is between opposing sides.
But Scripture presses us to ask a deeper question: what does God see when we argue, react, and take sides?
This message explores how pride shapes our responses, how the gospel confronts the heart, and what it looks like to live under the reign of King Jesus in the middle of cultural division.
Our view of God’s kingdom shapes our lives more than we realize—including the way we read Scripture. We can either sit fully confident in our own understanding—or allow the voice of Jesus to re-shape our expectations.
The glory revealed on the mountain is meant to transform how we live by faith in the valley.
In Mark 9, Jesus shows His disciples who He is—a greater Lawgiver than Moses—in preparation for where He is leading them.
A mountaintop moment with Jesus should shape how we live, trust, and follow Him in ordinary moments.
Many of us know the Bible well. We love Jesus. We genuinely desire to live faithful, committed, and sincere lives. And yet… something in us still wonders if there’s more.
In this message, we explore how the Holy Spirit transforms us, empowers us, and gently directs our lives—not to make us someone else, but to help us live as the new creations we already are in Christ.
This isn’t just about getting more of God—it’s also about giving more of ourselves to God. Open hands. Surrendered hearts. Willing obedience.
Rather than being defined by past failures or mistakes, we learn to be open to what the Spirit may be inviting us into next.
OPEN2026 #HolySpirit #NewCreation #FaithFamily #KingdomLife
New year. Same habits? Or new hearts?
Most of us don’t need another resolution—we need transformation. And real transformation doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from beholding Jesus and being changed by His Spirit—one degree at a time.
That’s why our theme for 2026 is OPEN. Open to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Open to His voice. Open to the kind of life-changing work only He can do—in us and among us.
What if church wasn’t just something we attended—but a place where we came ready to listen, pray, encourage, and respond as the Spirit leads?
What if the miraculous wasn’t something we only read about—but something we expected God to do in real lives, in real moments, together as a faith family?
This year, our prayer is simple: Ask expectantly. Listen attentively. Respond faithfully.
Come with open hearts. King Jesus is at work. 🔥🙏
OPEN2026 #HolySpirit #SpiritualTransformation #FaithFamily #BeholdJesus #KingdomLife #NotResolutionsButRenewal
Jesus was born—not only to die.
Jesus was born—so we could live the new life He offers, in the family He formed, and under His rule as King.
And this eternal life is found at the Tree of Calvary.
Jesus once cursed a fig tree—and it wasn’t because He was having a bad day. It was a living picture of a deeper story.
Throughout Scripture, Israel is described as God’s vine—planted, cared for, and called to bear fruit for the world. But when the vine failed, God didn’t abandon the story.
At Christmas, the promised Branch arrived—and that Branch grew into the True Vine.
And Jesus, the Vine, invites His followers to be branches—abiding in Him, allowing His life to flow to us, and producing fruit for others.
The message: Where we see a dead, cut-down stump, God sees new life. 🌱
TheTreesOfChristmas #TrueVine #AbideInMe #ChristmasHope #KingJesus #FaithFamily #PlymouthCommunityChurch
Christmas isn’t just the story of a baby in a manger.
It’s the story of a God who refused to give up on Eden.
In Eden, we lost access to the Tree of Life.
In the temple, we only saw glimpses of it.
At the Cross, the true Tree of Life hung on a tree of death.
And in the New Creation, the Tree of Life stands at the center of the world Jesus will restore.
This message walks through the entire story—from Genesis to Revelation—to show how Christmas is God stepping into our exile to bring us home.
TreeOfLife #TreesOfChristmas #TheGreaterStory #JesusIsLife #ChristmasAtPCC
Ever considered how the story of Jacob and Esau points us toward Advent?
The older should have been chosen—but wasn’t.
The younger should have been rejected—but wasn’t.
The betrayed should have been bitter—but wasn’t.
The offended should have struck back—but instead embraced.
It’s the gospel in miniature: the God who blesses where we least expect it, the God who forgives what we cannot fix, and the God who reconciles what we’ve broken.
This is the story that leads us to Christmas.
Advent #JacobAndEsau #UnexpectedGrace #PCCFaithFamily #KingJesus #TheGreaterStory #FamilySunday #JesusOurBrother #GraceInRealLife #ChristmasHope
Some people talk as if there are two versions of following Jesus:
👉 Christians
👉 Disciples
But Jesus never separated the two. He simply offered a choice.
"Whoever wants to save their life..." or "Whoever wants to be My disciple—which will cost you your life."
The choice is yours.
“Who do you say Jesus is?”
In Mark 8, Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah—the King. Not just a teacher. Not a mascot. Not a safety net. The One who conquers sin, death, and hell.
This week we looked at why that confession still changes everything— because when we see Jesus clearly as King, it reshapes how we live, how we love, and who we become.
What does it really mean to belong to a church family? In Acts 2, we see a Spirit-filled community shaped by worship, growth, unity, service, and mission.
This message unpacks PCC’s Covenant Commitment—a call to depend on King Jesus and one another as we live for His Kingdom together.
Faith doesn’t grow by accident. It’s formed through hearts that listen, love, teach, and remember.
In this message, parents and families are challenged to see discipleship as a daily calling—not just a Sunday activity. When our homes reflect the love and presence of Jesus, the next generation learns what it truly means to follow Him.
FaithFamily #Deuteronomy6 #ParentingWithPurpose #GenerationalFaithfulness #PlymouthCommunityChurch #KingJesus
Today we saw how even the numbers preach the gospel:
5 + 2 = 12 (Jesus feeds the 5,000 — Israel satisfied).
7 → 7 with 4,000 (Jesus feeds the Gentiles — the nations satisfied).
From Israel to the nations, King Jesus is more than enough to fill what we empty and meet every need. 🍞✝️
And just like the blind man who finally saw clearly, may we see Jesus for who He truly is — the Bread of Life for all people.
Mark6 #Mark8 #MoreThanEnough #FaithFamily #KingJesus
✨ Today was a special day in the life of our faith family as we ordained deacons at PCC. But the message wasn’t just for them—it was for all of us.
Every Christian is called to serve. 🙌
Every Christian should aim to qualify. 💡
Every Christian must keep their eyes on Jesus. 👀✝️
Leadership in the church is never about recognition—it’s about helping others remember Jesus, the greatest Servant of all.
May we be a faith family where the servants are hidden, and the Savior is seen. 💒
🌊 Storms in life will come. What matters is who shows up in the storm.
This week’s message reminds us that the greatest gift isn’t the absence of storms but the presence of the I AM.
When the disciples faced the wind and waves, they discovered something greater than calm seas: they discovered the glory of Jesus.
🙌 Watch the full message here and be encouraged to see His glory in your storm.
TheGloryInTheStorm #FaithFamily #AllHailKingJesus
What do you do when Jesus doesn’t meet your expectations? 🤔
John the Baptist—the one who introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God 🕊️—sat in prison wondering, “Are You really the One?”
Sometimes our prayers don’t get answered the way we hope. 💔 The sickness lingers. The relationship doesn’t heal. The road gets harder. But Jesus reminds us: He came to bring freedom from sin ⛓️✝️ and life with Him—not just to make our problems disappear.
This message looks at John’s doubts, Jesus’ response, and the hope that even in our brokenness, His grace is the golden glue that holds us together ✨.
FaithInTheFire #JesusIsEnough #GreaterStory
🍞🐟 What’s for lunch? In Mark 6, one boy gave his small lunch to Jesus—and watched it feed thousands.
This Family Sunday we learned:
1️⃣ Jesus prepares and provides so we can care for others.
2️⃣ Following Jesus may leave us tired, but it’s where miracles happen.
3️⃣ Jesus can multiply anything we place in His hands.
💡 So the question is: what do you need to place in Jesus’ hands today?
PCC #FaithFamily #WhatsForLunch #JesusIsEnough
Have you ever felt unqualified for what God was asking you to do? 🙋🏼♂️
The disciples knew that feeling well. Most of them were teenagers, brand-new to following Jesus—yet He sent them out to proclaim that the Kingdom of God had come near. 👑
Jesus reminded them (and us) that the mission doesn’t depend on our strength, but on His presence. He calls us to be with Him, walk together, and live open-handed—trusting that the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead lives in us today. 💪🏼
The question is: Will we go where He sends, even when we don’t feel ready? ❓
KingdomMessengers #GospelMission #FaithFamily
💭 How often do we put God in a box?
📖 In Nazareth, the people who knew Jesus best rejected Him. They couldn’t see the King—only the kid.
The Spirit still wants to reveal more of Jesus to us. But too often, instead of listening, we dismiss, criticize, or react harshly when Jesus is spoken of in ways that stretch our comfort.
What if the very thing we’re stumbling over is the very thing that could lead us deeper into knowing Him? What if Jesus has more to offer than you think He does?
👉 Don’t settle for the Jesus you think you know. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to the Jesus who is more.
💧 You can scrub, work, and try your hardest… but you can’t wash away the stain of sin.
Zechariah saw Israel’s high priest standing before God, not in spotless white—but in filthy garments. That’s how God sees every one of us apart from Jesus.
But here’s the good news: Jesus took our filthy garments, wore them to the cross, and gave us His robe of righteousness in exchange.
Now, because of His sacrifice, we can stand clean in the presence of God. 🙌
Be encouraged by the cleansing work of Jesus — the One who removes sin in a single day.
Forgiven #MadeClean #RighteousInChrist #LordsSupper #Zechariah3
We all know the story of Zacchaeus—the “wee little man” who climbed a tree to see Jesus. But what if there was more to the story?
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus from a tree, but Jesus wanted Zacchaeus—and the religious leaders—to see Him from the Old Testament: as Yahweh in the flesh.
This week’s message uncovers rich theology, personal challenge, and an invitation to be seen, called, and changed by Jesus—just like Zacchaeus.
🎧 Come climb the tree again—and see the Savior who still stops for the one who wants to see Him.
FaithFamily #Luke19 #Zacchaeus #JesusSeesYou #SeekAndSave #Transformation #SermonClip #PlymouthCommunityChurch
From storms and shame to silence and sorrow, the stories in the Gospel aren’t just history—they’re holy patterns. They show how Jesus works then and now:
• Divine interruptions become identity moments
• Fear gives way to peace
• Brokenness is met with compassion
• And what feels too late… is never too late for Jesus.
So maybe the invitation from Jesus today isn’t just to believe once—but to keep walking in belief. 🕊️
Even when the healing hasn't come.
Even when the news breaks your heart.
Even when it feels like He’s too late.
👉 Keep trusting. Keep walking. Keep reaching.
Jesus hasn’t changed.
And He’s still saying: “Keep walking with Me. Your circumstances have changed—but I haven’t.”
DontBeAfraid #JustBelieve #JesusStillHeals #FaithOverFear #KeepWalking #Mark5 #KingJesus #HolyPatterns
In Mark 5, a woman believed Jesus could heal her. But her healing didn’t come while she stayed at home believing. 🧎♀️
Her healing came when her faith moved her—through the crowd, to the hem of His garment.
And Jesus didn’t say, “Your reach healed you.” He said: “Your faith has made you whole.”
📖 James says: Faith without works is dead. That’s not just theology. That’s this story.
🔥 Faith is never passive. It reaches. It moves. It works.
We don’t earn healing or salvation. But when faith is real, it refuses to sit still. It fights through fear. It gets close to Jesus. And when it does—it receives more than it hoped for. 🛐
What’s one step your faith is calling you to take?
FaithWorks #ReachForJesus #Mark5 #GospelInMotion #JesusHeals #ActiveFaith #PlymouthCommunityChurch #DreamDisciple #KingJesus #FaithInAction
He lived among the tombs.
Naked. Violent. Possessed.
Everyone had written him off as a lost cause.
But Jesus crossed a stormy sea for one man.
He cast out a legion of demons.
He clothed him, restored him, and gave him… a story to tell.
💬 And that’s what Jesus still does.
The Son of God became an outcast—
so outcasts could become sons of God…
and witnesses of His mercy.
🎥 This powerful message from Mark 5 remind us:
With Jesus, there is no such thing as a lost cause.
TheLostCause #JesusSaves #TellYourStory #GospelHope #FaithFamily #Mark5 #KingJesus #PlymouthCommunityChurch
What if the storm in your life isn’t just chaos—but a classroom?
What if the fear you feel is actually leading you to faith in the One who commands the storm?
In this week’s message from Mark 4, we step into the boat with Jesus—and discover a Savior who doesn’t just calm storms…
He confronts evil, reveals His presence, and awakens awe.
🗣️ Be encouraged.
🔥 Be challenged.
🌪️ And let the storm lead you to the Savior.
StormSlayer #JesusCalmsTheStorm #FaithOverFear #Mark4 #PlymouthCommunityChurch #KingJesus #GreaterStory
Have you ever prayed for God to show up big—and wondered why He didn’t?
Jesus says the kingdom doesn’t come all at once… it comes like a seed. 🌾
Quietly. Slowly. Powerfully. And far-reaching.
From hard ground to mustard seeds, from Isaiah’s vineyard to Ezekiel’s tree—this message of Jesus’ parables in Mark 4 will help you see how the gospel is planted in your story and how King Jesus is still inviting all nations to find rest in His branches.
👉 Yahweh planted His Branch in Israel—and when Jesus came out of the ground, He became the Tree of Life to all nations.” 🤯🌍✝️
KingJesus #GospelSeeds #KingdomBranches #Mark4 #SermonClip #PlymouthCommunityChurch #DreamDisciple #TreeOfLife
😟 Ever worried you’ve committed “the unpardonable sin”? You’re not alone.
This week, we explored one of the most sobering—and most misunderstood—statements in Scripture. 📖
But when we keep Jesus’ words in context, clarity rises above confusion.
Jesus was speaking directly to religious leaders who had credited the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. ⚠️ Their hard-hearted rejection of the Messiah would bring judgment—not on individuals seeking grace—but on the entire old covenant system, which fell in 70 AD. 🏛🔥
This isn’t a warning that someone can fall beyond the reach of Jesus’ love. ❤️🩹 That’s impossible. Even Paul called himself a blasphemer—and still received mercy and grace. 🙌
This is a call to recognize Jesus for who He truly is—and to invite His Spirit to not just clean your life, but fill it. ✨🕊
#UnpardonableSin #GraceGreater #JesusIsEnough #FaithFamily #ContextMatters
🚨 What if Revelation 20 isn’t just about future prophecy…but about what Jesus already accomplished?
🔗 Satan bound.
💥 Demons cast out.
🌱A kingdom spreading like a seed becoming a tree.
In this week’s message, we saw how Jesus described a kingdom that grows slowly—like mustard seeds and leaven—and how His power to cast out demons shows the enemy's defeat is already in motion.
So…
❓Will you live like the kingdom is “not yet”…or “already here”?
🙌 Will you sit inside the circle with Jesus—or remain standing on the outside?
🏃♂️ Will you join the church on mission to reclaim what the enemy once owned?
This message could reshape your outlook—and refocus your role. Jesus isn’t waiting to reign—He’s reigning now. And He’s calling us not to wait, but to go.
KingdomLiving #AlreadyNotYet #JesusWins #InsideTheCircle #ChurchOnMission #GospelPower
What is God’s name? Is it God? The LORD? Jehovah? Yahweh? And what does it really mean to take God’s name in vain?
While taking God’s name in vain can include what we say—it’s primarily about how we live.
This message will not only help inform us about the name of God—but also help inspire us to live as the people of God.
May we carry His name with reverence, with joy, and with a heart to represent Him well. 💖
Yahweh #CarryHisName #LiveWithPurpose
Before Jesus sent the disciples out to preach and heal, He called them to be with Him. 💬 Why? Because being with Jesus always comes before doing for Jesus. 🙏💥
In Mark 3, Jesus shows us the order of Kingdom living:
1️⃣ Alone with the Father
2️⃣ In community with Jesus
3️⃣ Sent on mission with purpose
⚡ When we are with Jesus:
💖 Our hearts are filled
📌 Our priorities are ordered
🎯 Our purposes are renewed
🔁 Our lives are transformed
📱 Like your phone, your soul needs recharging too. 🪫 ➡️ 🔌 ➡️ 🔋 When was the last time you plugged into the Source? 🎥 Listen to this message and let Jesus realign your heart before you rush into your week.
BeWithJesus #Mark3 #TheMountainBeforeTheMission #PCC #KingdomPriorities #FilledUpToPourOut #DiscipleshipStartsHere #PresenceOverPerformance
🙋♂️ Ever had your motives questioned when you were just trying to help? Jesus did too.
In Mark 3, He enters a synagogue, offers healing to a man with a shriveled hand—and exposes the hard hearts of those watching. 💔✋
🔥 This message will challenge you to stop hiding your weakness and start bringing it to the only One who can heal it. Jesus still invites us to stretch out our hand—not our strength, but our need.
🎧 Listen now and let the Spirit examine your heart and offer healing only Jesus can give.
StretchOutYourHand #HeartCheck #Mark3 #HealingInJesus #PlymouthCommunityChurch 🙌
Have you ever felt like you’re just not measuring up? Like God’s waiting for you to finally get it all together?
💬 What if… He’s already pleased with the progress you're making? This week’s message is all about the kind of rest Jesus invites us into—not just physical rest, but soul rest.
Sabbath isn’t about perfection. It’s about grace. 🙌 💡
God called creation “good” before it was finished—and He says the same about you. Watch the message now and take a deep breath of grace.👇
TheHeartOfSabbath #GraceForTheIncomplete #RestInHim #PlymouthCommunityChurch #YouAreHisWorkInProgress
We often chase after things we think will finally make us feel whole—success, security, healing, relationships. But what if the thing our hearts crave most isn’t a gift from God… but simply God Himself?
In today’s message, we walk through the powerful story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1–2—a woman who longed for a child but discovered something far greater: the joy of being seen, known, and loved by her Creator. 📖
Through Hannah’s pain, prayer, and praise, we learn:
- Why true fulfillment comes not from what we receive, but who we pursue.
- How God often uses our emptiness to bring about His greatest purposes.
- That joy is not found in the gift, but in the Giver.
If you're longing for something more, wrestling with “not enough,” or struggling to trust God in a season of waiting—this message is for you. 👉
Listen and be reminded: You don’t need a genie or a magic wand—just an open heart and a God who sees you.
MoreThanAWish #HannahsStory #1Samuel #PlymouthCommunityChurch #JesusIsEnough #FaithInTheWaiting #GraceAndGlory
🎉🎈 10 Years of God's Faithfulness at PCC! 🎈🎉
🏛️ As we celebrate today, we remember that we didn’t make it here because we were flawless — ❤️🔥 we made it here because our God never fails! 🙌✨
Just like Israel:
➡️ We were created to point the world to Jesus. ✝️
➡️ We are the living temples where His Spirit dwells. 🔥
➡️ We carry His hope and His story into the world! 🌍🕊️
This special anniversary message is a reminder that the same God who brought us this far... isn't done yet! 🛤️🚀
Isaiah 43 — “The God Who Is Not Finished Yet”
He’s Still Rewriting Stories. ✝️
On Easter Sunday, we celebrated more than an empty tomb—we celebrated a risen Savior who’s still pursuing hearts and rewriting lives with His grace.
Peter’s story didn’t end with failure—and neither does ours. Jesus met Peter in the same place with the same calling, reminding him (and us): "I didn’t choose you because you have what I need. I chose you because I am what you need."
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve let God down, I pray this message reminds you: Jesus isn’t done with you. His invitation still stands—Follow Me.
TheGreaterStory #EasterSunday #PCC #HeIsRisen #GraceOverGuilt #ResurrectionRewrite
On the surface, the crucifixion of Jesus looked like mockery, humiliation, and defeat.
But Mark shows us something deeper—he writes not just a report, but a portrait… of a King being coronated. 👑
In a culture ruled by Caesar, Mark dared to say: This is the true King of the world. Jesus wore a crown, carried the instrument of sacrifice, and was exalted. Not as Caesar, but as Savior. ✝️
Catch the full sermon now—and discover how Jesus' death wasn't the end, but the beginning of His rule. Have you acknowledged the crucified King? 👑
TheCoronationCompleted #JesusIsKing #Mark15 #ResurrectionPower
🔥A smoking firepot. A flaming torch. A blood path. A promise made by God Himself.
This Sunday, we step into one of the most mysterious and beautiful moments in all of Scripture—God’s covenant with Abraham.
It’s more than a promise. It’s grace. It’s a foreshadowing that points to the Cross.
📖 Genesis 12, 15, 17 | A promise, a covenant, and a sacrifice. 👀 You’ll never look at the Cross the same way again. Don’t miss it. 🙏
Covenant #Genesis15 #FaithfulGod #ComeAndSee
Are we truly following God’s call, or just saying the right words? 🤔
Jesus tells a story in Matthew 21 about two sons—one who says no to his father but later obeys, and another who says yesbut never follows through. This parable isn’t just about family dynamics—it’s a powerful challenge to our faith.
✅ Are we living out what we claim to believe?
✅ Are we building our kingdom or God’s Kingdom?
✅ What does real obedience look like?
No matter where you’ve been or what your past looks like, the invitation to God’s Kingdom is still open. Will you step in?
📺 Watch the full message now! 👇 #FaithInAction #ObedienceMatters #KingdomLiving
Why does Jesus feast with sinners… but not fast like the righteous? This week we explore one of the most misunderstood questions thrown at Jesus—and how His answer reveals who He is, why He came, and how patches and wineskins have everything to do with your spiritual life. ✨
Jesus didn’t come to patch your life—He came to make it new.
📖 Mark 2:18–22
Did you know that mercy is more important than sacrifice? Jesus exemplified this in His interactions with sinners. Let's strive to reflect His love and compassion in our daily lives! #HeartOfTheLaw #Mercy #Jesus
What if prayer became less about lists and more about love? What if our prayers were more about celebrating all Jesus accomplished yesterday—and listening for our mission today?
Jesus spent time with His Father—not because He needed healing, forgiveness, or more stuff—but because He loved being in the presence of the One He loved.
Ever wonder what the Kingdom of God looks like? Just look at Jesus' ministry: outsiders become insiders, the imprisoned are set free, and the sick find healing. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven.
While the kingdom will not come in its fullness until Jesus returns, believers can experience Kingdom breakthroughs as we live surrendered to and empowered by the Spirit of Jesus.
A group of young fishermen left everything to follow Jesus. But was their decision really as impulsive as it seems? 🤔
📖 Luke 5 gives us the backstory—and when we see it, we realize: ✅ They already knew Jesus. ✅ They already heard He was the Messiah. ✅ They had already failed at becoming disciples once before.
And yet, Jesus chose them anyway.
Your past does not disqualify you. Your failures do not define you. Jesus is still calling you to follow Him. Will you?
Ready to be challenged on what the Gospel really means?
If Jesus was preaching the Gospel before He died, would He recognize a Gospel that only begins with Jesus died for your sins?
Let's explore how the Cross does not stand as the starting point of the Gospel—but as the turning point of the Gospel.
The temptations of Adam, Israel, and Jesus remain the same for believers today. Will the words of Yahweh be enough to trust the ways of Yahweh?
💧 Jesus’ baptism was about more than just water—it was about accepting God's mission for His life.
John the Baptist takes on the identity of an Old Testament prophet as He calls for everyone to prepare for the arrival of God's King. But John was instructing the people to get their hearts—not their homes—in order.
What does it look like to live as a faith family this year? Being committed to helping each other be with Jesus, give to Jesus, and love like Jesus.
We were created in the image of God—but we were not created to be God. Creation and Sabbath provide a way of life—and embracing our limits provide a way to God.
The story of Christmas is the story of the Son of God entering a world filled with chaos to identify with the overlooked outsider and the rejected foreigner. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to step into the chaos around us—and transform the world with the love of Christ and the power of His Spirit. #ChristmasMessage #Hope
Which grieves the heart of God most: a company leaving Christ out of Christmas—or Christians leaving Christ out of their lives?
✨ God is in the details! Just like in the story of Esther, where divine interventions shaped history, your life is part of a greater plan. Remember, every moment is purposeful—what will you do with it? #Faith #DivinePurpose
A Promised Seed, a divine council, human deliverers, and my obedience to the Spirit—how do these all intersect with the story of Christmas?
It begins by understanding that the Bible is a collection of accounts of Yahweh’s divine protection through chosen human instruments against the assassination attacks of the Promised Seed of Genesis 3 by every world empire empowered by fallen sons of God.
This reality makes Christmas a celebration of God’s faithfulness to His Word and to His people—and reminds believers that God’s kingdom is experienced when God’s people are obedient to God’s Spirit.
What good is it to believe in a God of miracles if we live as if He doesn’t exist? The fruit of our emotions reveals the roots of our beliefs. What we truly believe about God is displayed through our actions, attitudes, and responses to the circumstances of our lives.
We all have a story that needs to be told, but our stories need to be told within the greater story of Jesus—because He is the hero of all our stories.
Because we will all die one day, we must teach the next generation how to live for King Jesus today. Our calling as parents is not to provide a comfortable life for our children—but a way of life for our children.
Cosmic Geography! Divine Council! The Gates of Hell! Holy War!
You may never read your Bible the same way!
The Bible is an amazingly supernatural book that reveals the redeeming work of Jesus to be so much greater than what we initially believe! The pages of Scripture reveal His mission to reclaim the disinherited nations, to defeat Satan and the rebellious sons of God, to bind the dragon from deceiving the nations, and to send out disciples with the message that a new kingdom is here!
The parable of the prodigal son is about a perfect Father with both a rebellious and a self-righteous son. The perfect Son is not in the story—He is telling the story. And Jesus is writing our story too—reminding us that our worth to the Father is not found in what we do for Him, but in who we are with Him.
Is there a connection between God's favor on the physical nation of Israel and the spiritual warfare among heavenly beings?
How could Satan offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world—stating they had been delivered to him?
How does the Gospel—the life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and sending of the Spirit—reverse the curse of the three rebellions of Genesis 1-11?
In this teaching, the divine counsel worldview found in Deuteronomy 32 is explored—unlocking one's understanding of the storyline of Scripture.
Moses understood that leadership is not about wielding power—but about preparing future generations for their purpose. It is imperative to recognize God as the true source of our goodness and strength—because He will never leave or forsake us.
The story of Samson teaches us about strength, but the story of Jesus shows us true love and forgiveness. Who are we striving to be like? Let's choose Jesus!
Have you made the choice between life and death? 🕊️ Choosing to believe in Jesus is choosing life! His love and grace make all the difference. If you haven't made that choice yet, now is the time! #ChooseJesus #EternalLife
The revelation of Jesus' incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection changes everything for us! As we reflect on Deuteronomy, we see how Yahweh was preparing a greater inheritance for His people through the work of Jesus and the sending of the Spirit! May our hearts rest in the secret things that belong to the Father—and know we will be overwhelmed at the time of His grand reveal. 🙏 #JesusIsBetter #SpiritualJourney
In our quest for blessings, are we asking God to support our choices, even when they may not align with His desires?
Spiritual blindness can creep in when we see God's works but miss who He truly is.
Let's remember that true blessing comes from living within His design and trusting Him fully.
Those who love the blessings of God more than the God of the blessings will eventually transfer their joy from Someone to something. We must fight for our joy in Jesus by valuing His presence over His presents.
Elders must be humble teachers and courageous leaders because the call to lead the people of God is a call to willingly sacrifice, faithfully shepherd, and humbly serve the people of God—following the example set by Jesus.
On the mountain of cursing sat a copy of the Law that placed God’s people under His judgment and an altar that provided the means for God’s mercy to fall over His people.
New Testament believers are free from the covenant made at Sinai—and bound to the covenant made at Calvary.
It is important to not only read the Bible as God instructed—but also to read the Bible as God intended.
Through the giving of His law, Yahweh is doing more than just restricting the actions of His people. He is revealing His character, pointing to the Messiah, and ensuring His people never forget who they were and where they came from.
Some understand the Old Testament to portray a power-hungry God who seeks to control His people with multiple rules, laws, and regulations—while the New Testament portrays a merciful, gracious God who doesn't care how we live as long as we believe Jesus died on the Cross. Both are incorrect views of God.
We have one God—whose mercy and love are clearly portrayed through the good news He promised His people in both Testaments.
The third command is “Do not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain.”
Somehow that command has been reduced to the prohibition of saying, “God d—n” or “Jesus Christ” when one is upset or unhappy.
But if the name of God is Yahweh, if the Hebrew word for God is Elohim, and if the name Jesus would not be given for thousands of years—could that really be the intention of Yahweh by this third command?
What does it really mean to take the name of God in vain?
If our sin is not shielded by the mercy of God, we will stand justly condemned in our guilt. We need His mercy. Jesus is our Mercy Seat.
Testings reveal who and what we trust and treasure. As we learn to trust and treasure Jesus, we must teach the next generation to do the same.
Just as Yahweh tested Israel in the wilderness and in the Promised Land, we continue to be tested during times of need and times of plenty.
Are we passing or failing the test of recognizing our daily need for God, appreciating the material blessings of God, and treasuring the God of the blessings?
Learning the biblical context and culture is crucial to understanding the original intent of the biblical authors.
From the Old Testament to the New, the dramatic storyline of Scripture teaches that the kingdom of God is still expanding little by little as the four corners of the world come under the reign of King Jesus.
"Love God" is the greatest command because God knows His love is the only perfect love we will ever experience—and we will only experience His perfect love when we express our imperfect love to Him.
The wilderness of barrenness often awakens our hearts to the place of fullness we have in Christ.
God does not command us to love Him so He receives our love. God commands us to love Him so we are open to receiving His.
Following Jesus means living like Jesus—and the longer we follow Jesus, the greater our desire to know Him will grow.
Just as God instructed Adam in the Garden, Moses instructed Israel as they entered the Promised Land. However, our focus should not be on following the rules—but on following Jesus.
How is my life impacted by the fact that a Jewish man died, was buried, and rose from the dead 2,000 years ago?
The resurrection matters today because it proves Jesus can be believed, forces everyone to make a decision, and provides followers with purpose and hope.
Jesus needed to ride a donkey because He was determined to live in subjection to the Word of God. The life of Jesus is the way of life for His followers.
Yahweh’s work of salvation for Israel through the Passover Lamb in the Old Testament is directly connected to Jesus’ work of salvation for the world as the Lamb of God in the New Testament—because Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh.
Jesus did not rescue us so we could go to be with Him in heaven when we die someday.
Jesus rescued us so we could be with Him and experience His glory as we live today.
Unanswered prayers may be God refusing to give you what is second best. Unanswered prayers may be God acting on what He knows and you don’t.
Rightly responding to unanswered prayers requires one to believe in God's proven love, faithfulness, and character and to trust He will always do what is best for His children.
Why would Yahweh command Israel to completely destroy civilizations as they entered the Promised Land?
What do Satan, Adam, and Israel all have in common?
Tracing the giant clans, fallen angels, and sons of God across the storyline of Scripture reveals Jesus in an incredible way—and offers a fresh perspective of the spiritual warfare that surrounds us today.
Is there a difference between God being over all things and God determining all things? If God takes away someone’s ability to choose, how does God hold them responsible for their choices? Does God choose some people for salvation and others for destruction?
God does not force people into a spirit of rejection, but He does force people into a place of decision.
Deut. 2, Romans 9, Genesis 25, and Exodus 9 all fit together in understanding God's way of salvation.
Faith is not following when we see where Jesus is going. Faith is following when all we see is Jesus.
There is something greater than walking into church every Sunday and finding your place in the sanctuary. It’s walking in and knowing your place in the Body.
The kingdom of God takes the poor, rejected, broken, and hopeless—and brings them into His family where they become sons of God filled with wealth, acceptance, healing, and eternal hope.
The Messiah is called the Son of David for many reasons—one of them being that the kingdom reigns of David and Jesus were both revealed in stages. This helps us understand how Jesus rules on the throne today while evil is present in our world today. As believers trust the King while living in the messy, “already, but not yet” kingdom, others witness that He is a King worth trusting.
Why was it Good News to the world that Jesus the Messiah had arrived? Kings were born before. Kings have been born after. Why is the birth of this King good news to all people?
While Jesus fulfilled the biblical prophecies, He did not fulfill the personal expectations of the people—so they crucified Him. Yet, even today, when Jesus fails to meet our wants in the time and way we desire, we dismiss Him—looking to someone or something else for fulfillment.
As believers, we don’t give because Jesus needs what we have—we give to reflect who Jesus is.
Jerod Long applies five incredible truths of the Tabernacle/Heavenly Throne Room to the lives of believers today.
Through the blueprint of the Tabernacle, Yahweh was making a point that what matters most is not what appears on the outside—but what is found on the inside.
Only one can offer atonement for the sinful people of God—Jesus, the One who needed no atonement Himself. And Jesus becomes the Rock of our salvation who was torn, so we could behold the glory of the Father. But Jesus offers more than a quick glimpse—instead, He offers an eternal relationship!
The evidence that I have experienced God’s forgiveness is found in the way I offer forgiveness to others.
Because of Jesus, the Ten Commandments no longer serve as a mirror to show us who we are in our sins—but they become a portrait to reveal who we are becoming in Jesus.
Just as Yahweh moved into the Tabernacle and the Temple, the Holy Spirit moves in to dwell within His followers today and seals believers with the name of God—marking them as those who are under the authority of and in the possession of Yahweh. And once we are marked by Jesus, we cannot be marked by another—including the beast…
When God spoke the Ten Commandments or Ten Words, He was doing so much more than just giving the law to His people and requiring their obedience. Yahweh took a bride and placed His name on His people.
The foundation of the commandments of God is the covenant with God. Allow the covenant relationship to move you to celebrate whose you are—and let that reality shape who you are.
The Ten Commandments are more than rules to live by. They are marriage vows that define the character and values of Yahweh—and what He wants to be important to His bride.
If you are turning with nothing to Jesus, you will find His mercy to be everything you need. If you are turning for something from Jesus, you may leave disappointed—for Jesus is not simply the Dispenser of gifts. Jesus is the gift.
God uses the willingness of obedient believers to bless everyone as a means of displaying His good heart and bountiful ways.
The Ten Commandments are far more than some good rules to live by. They are marriage vows that define the character and values of Yahweh—and what He wants to be important to His bride.
The people of God are far from perfect, but Jesus is committed to walking with them. He works through broken vessels to bring healing and wholeness to His church.
How is it possible that a group of sinful people can gather together and sing of spending eternity in the presence of the perfect, sinless Creator of the world? How do sinners call the perfectly holy God their Father? How do those who deserve to face the eternal wrath of God experience present blessings—and await even greater blessings to come?
Only because the Christ, our Rock and King, suffered the consequences for the failures of His people.
Yahweh does not test His people to see if they are worthy of His gifts and grace—rather, He tests His people to see if they recognize Him as worthy to obey.
God is more concerned with our experience on the journey (becoming who we should be) than our arrival at the destination (getting where we are going). The echoes of Yahweh's salvation through the Red Sea point us to Genesis (new creation), the Gospels (new revelation), and Revelation (new devotion).
The firstborn is not about position—it is about mission. It is through the firstborn [bechor] that the values, morals, and lifestyle of a family are displayed to their world.
What does it mean that Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart? Did he lose his free will? Does God choose who responds to Him and who doesn't? The reality is that the work of God in our lives will either bring direction or devastation—it all depends on how we react to the revealing of God.
The ten plagues and seven phrases of the plagues reveal Yahweh as the Ruler and Redeemer of His perfect and complete world. The first three plagues reveal Yahweh exists. The second three plagues reveal Yahweh is active in the laws of nature and in the lives of His people. The third three plagues reveal Yahweh is a God with absolute power.
Our weapons of warfare are not our credit cards and our bank accounts. Our weapons of warfare are prayer, obedience, holiness, and a resolve to follow our King.
The Bible is far more than a book that instructs us on how to live. It is a book that introduces us to the One who gave us life.
The security of Gods' presence, the benefits of God's saving works, and a personal relationship with God are grounded in the Person of Yahweh.
Three of the strangest verses in the Scriptures show us the beauty and glory of the Gospel as Moses and Jesus both live out the Passover of God in their own lives.
God extends patience as we express our concerns, doubts, and worries—but there comes a time when God expects us to move in obedient faith. But God doesn't send us alone. He sends a Brother to be with us.
Why did Jesus have to die? Hadn't He proven Himself as the Son of God? Why did Jesus have to rise from the dead? Hadn't He paid the penalty for sin? The simple truth is that Jesus died to make a way, and He rose from the dead to prove He is the Way.
We will never experience the resurrection and new identity offered to us by Christ until we are willing to fully sacrifice our own life.
The Good News of the Gospel is that the I Am saw, heard, and knew everything about you—and He still came down to deliver you and to make Himself known to you—because He wants you to trust Him.
The Father did not respond to the cries of Jesus with rescue and salvation because it was the only way He could respond to our cries for rescue and salvation.
We don’t see what God is doing while we are walking in the wilderness. We only see what God has done when we look back at the wilderness.
When we understand what God has done FOR our children, we will be able to trust Him WITH our children.
Because of Jesus, one day all our working and weeping will come to an end—as His work offers eternal rest and His love wipes all tears from our eyes.
God did not save us so we could sit watching good things happen. God saved us to partner with Him in making good things happen.
Everything in our Bible is meant to point us to either Creation, the Fall, Redemption, or New Creation. When we read the Bible with ourselves at the center, we miss Jesus.
Understanding the Bible rightly requires one to keep in view the unfolding drama of God's redemption from Genesis to Revelation—and how our lives fit into the story our Creator and Redeemer is still writing for His glory.
When we try fitting God’s plans into our lives rather than fitting our lives into God’s plans, we focus on building our kingdom—rather than God’s kingdom.
Those who seek to find the Christ will discover that not only was Jesus given unto you—but also Jesus gave Himself for you.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among men—so that God’s glory could tabernacle inside of men.
Glorying in the Cross means I am dead to the world, alive in the Spirit, and living for others as Jesus lived—and died—for me.
Spirit-filled believers gently address sin, lovingly carry burdens, generously offer resources, and faithfully follow Jesus.
The fruit of the Spirit is not formed in us through spiritual action—but through spiritual connection.
Your love for a God you cannot see should be evident through works of love for a neighbor you can see.
We have been freed from the bondage of sin to freely follow Jesus, our Redeemer and Lord. If freedom is found in Christ, we will not find freedom apart from Christ.
Jesus doesn't call us to Himself so He can see our works. Jesus calls us to Himself so we can see His work.
The law condemns—the Gospel frees. The law says "do"—the Gospel says "done." The law is of the flesh—the Gospel is of God. As children of the promise, cast out the condemning voice of the law with faith in the promise of God and the Person of Jesus.
Those who have faith in Jesus as the Messiah or Deliverer of God are no longer slaves to sin or to the law. We don't live in sin apart from God—and we don't live by the law to earn God's favor. Our faith in Jesus makes us children of God and heirs to all that is His.
The law was meant to point and protect God’s people until Jesus had completed the work of redemption. Once the work was complete, Jesus sent the Spirit to guide, convict, and lead His followers.
As believers, our lives are not about displaying our perfection, but about displaying Jesus’ redemption.
Blessings are to be shared, not shielded—which means my faith in God is working in me in order to work through me.
The Gospel doesn’t say, “I believed in God to become a Christian—but now being a Christian is up to me.” No! The Gospel says, “I believed in God to become a Christian—and I continue to believe in God as I live and mature as a Christian.”
When our focus becomes what we do (or don’t do) for the Lord—we start looking to ourselves—and not Jesus—as the basis of our standing with God. But we received our right standing with God through faith—and we maintain our right standing with God through faith.
A believer who is living the crucified and resurrected life has died to his own passions and desires, has devoted his life to the glory of the Father, and has dedicated his labors to the advancement of the Kingdom—no matter the cost.
Following the Spirit doesn’t mean I live apart from the law of God, but rather I live in communion with the God of the law.
When it comes to being in right standing with God, someone can either stand alone on their good works or they can stand united in Christ’s good works. However, only one makes a person right with God.
In a sermon directed to the hearts of our children, we saw how the opening stories from Genesis are all connected to the greater storyline of Scripture—where everything is centered on the Person and work of Jesus.
Only the Gospel offers full deliverance from the burden of legalism and the deceit of hypocrisy.
The grace of God that reveals Jesus to you is never just about you. Paul's testimony in Galatians 1 describes how Jesus was revealed to him in God's perfect timing—in order for Jews and Gentiles across the world to be invited into the covenant family of God through faith in the risen Messiah.
To the one who has tasted the sweetness of God’s grace, sin becomes bitter. The Gospel of grace does not ignore the bitterness of sin, but rejoices in the sweetness of God's love.
The Good News of the Gospel declares that my faith in the Person and work of Jesus is the only way to God, my right standing with God, and my continued growth in God. Any combination of faith and works is not good news—and is not the Gospel of Jesus!
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul confronts a group of believers who have turned from the Good News of the Gospel to the Fake News of the Judaizers. He opens by reminding the church of his apostleship, Jesus' deliverance, and their purpose in the kingdom of God.
Aaron Weakley delivered the Sunday message from Psalm 115. He shared how the Psalmist clearly tells us that we reflect what we worship.
Through belief in Jesus, He becomes the Cornerstone of your faith. Through rejection of Jesus, He becomes a stumbling block. As the Cornerstone of the New Testament temple, He has fulfilled all the Old Testament representations of the law, relief, judgment, victory, and worship.
The risen Messiah isn't looking for perfect followers, but is looking to perfect His followers through His loving, faithful work and the power of His Spirit.
Jesus never came to return the glory of God to the temple of Jerusalem. Jesus came to reveal that He was the temple of God—and as the Son of David to build a new temple, the church, as the means of unleashing the glory of God to the world.
Jesus clearly revealed Himself as the Messiah during the final days of His life. The crowds followed, the praises shouted, and the worship lifted—but the people were looking for their Messiah to save them from Rome and establish the kingdom of Israel. They missed their Messiah—and so do we when we look for Jesus to be who we want Him to be and do what we want Him to do.
Through the ultra-dysfunctional family of Joseph, we are presented with one of the clearest pictures of the Gospel. God's grace was greater than their failures—and God's grace is greater than our failures, too!
By submitting to the Father, Jesus displays the glory of God, fulfills the Word of God, provides a way to God through the forgiveness of sin, and invites others to experience the glory of God and the love of God.
The covenant love of Christ is transforming love. But covenant love does not say, “I will love you when you change to my desires.” Instead, covenant love says, “With the love of Christ, I will love you in order to bring about the change Christ desires.”
Jeff Keaton, president of Renewanation delivers a powerful message sharing six reasons we must give our children and grandchildren a Biblical worldview.
In the sinless Eden environment of Creation, there was no command to love. In the sinless Eden environment of eternity, there will be no command to love. In a world wrecked with sin, however, we are commanded to love God and others—because sin leads us to love ourselves. Yet, Jesus seeks to restore the intimacy and fellowship of Eden until we are no longer commanded to love—we freely offer the covenant love of God!
Our Highlighting the Home series begins with the covenant of marriage. Marriage is not meant to be conditional, but covenantal—because our marriages are meant to both bring Eden to our families and to display the incredible covenantal love that Jesus to our spouse, our children, and the onlooking world.
Pastor Micah Griffith points our hearts to the wonderful news that King Jesus is coming!
"How long will you forget me, O Lord?" Have you felt forgotten or forsaken by God in these past few years? As David reveals in Psalm 13, our feelings lie—but God's Word provides the truth. He is present. He is powerful. He is faithful.
Jesus not only makes us beautiful, but He also allows us to participate in His transforming work to make others beautiful.
In reflecting on the faithfulness of Jesus, disciples of Jesus realize that our greatest calling is not to a position or a place, but to a Person: Jesus Christ.
The events of Matthew 17:24-27 are not meant to move our hearts to be better national citizens—but to move our hearts to be in greater awe of Jesus. By joining my payment with His, Jesus changed my identity from a subject of God to a son of God—and from a creation of God to a child of God.
Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, and He has anointed His followers with His Spirit—making us little "anointed ones" to live out the same calling of Jesus: to love God and to love our neighbors as we were loved by Jesus.
See! Behold! Look! Think about it! 1 John 3:1 instructs believers to look at the love the Father has lavished upon us through Jesus in order to become a child of God. Be amazed! Be astounded!
Jesus declared Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life. We celebrate the birth of Christ—aware that He was born to die. Yet, we can celebrate the death of Christ—aware that, through His death, we have life. And, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ—aware that He lives today, and we will one day go to Him!
Why did Jesus declare Himself to be the Light of the World in John 8? How does this proclamation work together with 1 John to bring assurance to believers?
Faith is not the evidence of being a child of God—faith is the avenue to becoming a child of God. And faith continues to be the avenue for spiritual growth and deepening one's relationship with God. It is obedience to Jesus (good works) that provides the evidence one has truly believed and their faith in Jesus is genuine faith.
God is love. God is light. His light reveals our sin, but we do not need to fear God—because God is love. As we confess the sins that are revealed, we are forgiven because of the blood of Jesus!
As the Apostle John seeks to provide assurance of eternal life to believers in the first century, he turns their attention to the fact that God is love and His display of love is Jesus. Whether one loves God or loves the world is part of the assurance of a relationship that provides eternal life.
In his first letter, the Apostle John defines God as life, light, and love in presenting the assurance of salvation to believers. Interestingly, John point to present obedience to the commands of God as assurance of salvation—not a past experience.
What if the purpose of Jesus showing up in the storm isn't simply to calm the storm—but to display the glory of God in the midst of the storm?
As we see when David cries out to the Lord from a pit in Psalm 40, our loving God moves. However, in Jesus, He doesn't just pull us out of the pit—He takes our place in the pit. When life gets messy, so does our God.
A life of generosity is a response to the radical grace of Jesus, a belief in the good provision of Jesus, and a desire for the glory of Jesus.
It is God’s responsibility to call His servants into spiritual leadership in His church. Elders respond to God's call with a faithful commitment to serve with a company of elders on behalf of the Body of Christ for the glory of God.
On Hometown Heroes Sunday, Evangelist and Chaplain Doug Gochenour shares a message on the freedom and hope our true hero, Jesus Christ, offers to all mankind.
Spiritual leaders in the church are simply mature disciples. But every disciple should be on the path to maturity.
Since Jesus is truth and wisdom (John 14, 1 Corinthians 1), we cannot be wise apart from God. However, since the Garden of Eden, Satan's repetitive deception is that the wisdom of God is foolish. The decision we each have to make then is whether we will receive or reject Jesus, the Great Teacher and True Wisdom.
How far are you willing to follow the King? Pastor Micah Griffith shares how the call of Jesus' disciples is to follow Him wherever He leads—no matter the cost.
Making disciples of all nations begins by making disciples where you are. Discipleship is not about trying to give people more of you—but more of Jesus!
Becoming a disciple of Jesus does not begin with what we do; discipleship begins with what Jesus has done. The greatest call of a being disciple is not to do something for Jesus, but to be with Jesus. It is in making disciples that followers of Jesus grow in being disciples.
Through the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper, Jesus was identifying with the rebellious people of God, the Passover Lamb, and God’s covenant with Israel—but He was also testifying Himself to be the Greater Israel, the Greater Passover Lamb, and bringing a Greater Covenant.
A Biblical church demonstrates, rehearses, and celebrates the Person and Work of Christ through baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is an initial act of obedience after salvation that identifies us with Christ and His Body. It is not a condition of salvation—baptism is an evidence of salvation.
On the day we celebrate our national independence as Americans, may we also celebrate our personal dependence on God. Every Christian needs to live dependent on God's Son, God's Spirit, and God's sovereignty.
Evangelism is teaching someone how to respond to Jesus—not to an invitation. We cannot separate the Person of Jesus from the Work of Jesus—He is both Lord and Savior. Without this clear understanding of Jesus, one will not have a clear message of the Gospel.
Evangelism is lovingly proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ with the prayerful hope God will complete His work of salvation. The confession made by Peter in Matthew 16:19 that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" is the foundation—the Rock—upon which the Church is built.
Biblical community is not about a church's devotion to one another—but to the Lord. The love and unity found in Biblical community is how believers grow in the Lord—and how unbelievers are drawn to the Lord.
Biblical community is not found by showing up at the same place at the same time for the same event. Biblical community is found by exposing your messy life, being embraced in Gospel love, and being invited into the messy lives of others.
Why do we pray if God already knows what we need? We pray, not because God needs help to accomplish His will, but because we need help from God to desire His will.
Prayer is far more than just asking and receiving. In prayer, we approach God—the most worthy, most powerful, most faithful Being in the world whose own character is goodness and love—with His own promises, and we call upon Him to come through on His own Word.
How can this first miracle of Jesus point us to His final moments on earth? In John 2, we look at how Jesus comes not simply to display the power of God, but also to display the Person of God—and His restoring nature.
How would your family describe your obedience to God's Word?
In Jeremiah 32, God tells the prophet to make a seemingly unwise investment in buying a parcel of land, yet Jeremiah immediately responds in obedience. Why? Because Jeremiah's worth of God—resulting in worship—led him to sacrificial and extravagant obedience to the Word of God.
Pastor Micah Griffith shares how the Word of God stands as the authority for the church of God.
Pastor Mike Nichols shares how worship to God is not simply a part of a scheduled portion of a church service on Sunday. Worship to God is the ultimate purpose of the church every day of our lives.
A wrong view of the church will lead to failed expectations of the church. So, what is the church? What is the purpose of the church? And how does the church accomplish its purpose?
The resurrection presents a huge problem for all people. If the claims of the resurrection are false, then followers of Christ are believing and following a lie. If the claims are true, then Jesus is the risen Lord and deserves all of our worship, obedience, and love. So which is it? If it is a lie, live for today—for there is nothing awaiting us on the other side of death. If it is truth, live for the kingdom of God today—believing the best is yet to come.
After entering the city of Jerusalem to the cries of Hosanna, Jesus enters the temple. Through Mark 11-13, Jesus unveils the true condition of the temple, its coming destruction, and how He will replace the temple and its leaders as the seat of power, authority, and glory. No longer is the glory of God behind the veil—rather, the glory of God is on the move across the world as new disciples of Jesus are made.
Using a strange miracle, Jesus teaches His disciples that a wrong view of God will lead to a wrong way of living. Many disciples of Jesus still struggle with this today. In Mark 8, we read as Jesus gives His disciples a more complete view of who He really is.
The work of God in our lives is personal—but never meant to be private. As the forgiveness, mercy, love, and grace of Jesus works in our lives, it should result in an overflow of the same to those around us. This morning, David Duley shares how the work of God in his life brought about the local ministry of Living River—caring for the fatherless homes of the community and pointing them to their true, ever-present Heavenly Father.
In Luke 4, Jesus reads an OT Scripture that pointed the coming Messiah. But the Jews who heard Him did not recognize the condition of their hearts, so they did not recognize the salvation of their Messiah. Until I recognize myself as a sinner, I will never recognize Jesus as my Savior.
Missionary Ron Davis provides a Biblical perspective on serving through suffering as he shares his journey back to the mission field in Poland—even after the tragic loss of his dear wife in 2019. You will be blessed by this message!
As we conclude our series from John 15 on abiding in the Vine, we address a simple, but important, question: What is the ultimate purpose for Jesus calling us to abide in Him?
In John 15:3, Jesus said to His disciples, "You are clean." How does this fit into the storyline of the Vine and the branches? It helps to know that this is actually the second time Jesus used these words to His disciples that night. What truth was Jesus teaching—and how does that apply to our lives today?
Jesus regularly speaks of fruit in John 15—where He introduces Himself as the True Vine, His Father as the Vinedresser, and us as the branches. But as we compare the True Vine of Jesus to the failed vine of Israel in Isaiah 5, the difference is not the presence of fruit, but the type of fruit present. What fruit is the Vinedresser looking for in the branches?
Pastor Brian and his daughter, Trinity, share together in this message about what it means to abide in Christ. John 15 clearly teaches Jesus' command to abide in Him, but exactly how does one abide in Christ? Using Jesus' own words, we will begin to piece together His calling to abide in Him.
The decision to abide in Christ is also a decision to accept the pruning work of the Vinedresser. Although the pruning of the Vinedresser is often painful, it is always purposeful—and that purpose is to make us more like Jesus.
In John 15, Jesus introduces Himself as the True Vine—knowing the vine of Israel had failed to love God and keep His commandments (as we find in Isaiah 5). Jesus also introduces His Father as the Vinedresser or Gardener who prunes the branches. In this message, we find that the ability to be a fruit-bearing branch begins with my connection to Jesus as the Vine, but also requires the attention of the Father as the Vinedresser. The Father—the Vinedresser—is working to mold us into the image of Jesus and is more committed to His branches being fruitful than being comfortable.
The call to abide in Jesus is call to examine the state of my union with Christ. Am I truly connected to Jesus or simply close to Him? Am I living for Jesus or living with Jesus? One reason Jesus commands me to abide in Him is because my natural instinct is to abandon (live independent of) Him. But Jesus doesn’t ask me to do anything for Him. Instead, He wants to do something with me.
Not only did 2021 begin last Friday, but a countdown to 2022 started as well. Will we get to the end of this year filled with regret or satisfaction? As we explore Second Timothy 4, we read the last letter ever written by the Apostle Paul, the most influential Christian to ever live—outside of Jesus. As Paul approaches death, what final words will he share with Timothy about how to live? And how do these truths apply to our lives today?
As one author stated, "Satan wants to use your past to define you, but God wants to use your past to refine you." Many people will be glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror, but should we simply forget about the past year as we prepare for a new one? What would God want us to do with such a difficult year? Pastor Brian leads us to John 21 to see how Jesus used Peter's past to refine him into a true and bold disciple of Christ.
Knowing Jesus is the King is not enough—we must surrender the throne of our heart to Jesus as King. And why wouldn't we want to serve a King like Jesus? He is a King who obeyed Another, gave up His treasures, went to battle and won the victory for His people—all by laying down His life for His enemies. What a deserving King!
While there are many gods, idols, and saviors to which my heart often turns, only Jesus is the Savior. Pastor Mike opens the Scriptures to remind our heart that God sent His Son Jesus to save His people from their sins.
We know that Christmas is the birth of the Son of God, but do we understand why Jesus came to earth? In today's message, we see God's master plan behind the Christmas story—filling the earth with the glory of God. Jesus not only shows us what living for God's glory looks like, saves us from our failure to live for God's glory, but Jesus shares God's glory with us. Christmas is all about the glory of God.
The red cup of Starbucks invites us all to write our own Christmas story—but it's not our story to write. Instead, it's our story to tell. How different would the Christmas story be if we had been the authors? As we journey to see God re-writing Mary and Joseph's story so long ago, we see their humble response—the same response we should have as God writes our stories today.
In the conclusion on our series through Esther, we see how the day of mourning for the Jews turned into a holiday of celebration and feasting—and many joined the covenant people of God. In a similar way, a day of mourning for the world, the day of death for Jesus Christ, turned into a holiday of celebration we call Good Friday and a feast we call Communion. And because of Good Friday, are all invited into the kingdom of God.
When Esther finally reveals herself as a Jew seeking intercession for her people, divine irony begins to unravel the plans of the kingdom of Satan. In this message, we see a beautiful revelation of the Person of Jesus all throughout a Book that doesn't even mention God. And while we desire for God to change our circumstances, God desires for our circumstances to change us. Will we become more transformed into the image of Christ—or will we resist God's transforming work?
Pastor Brian shares an in-depth look into the life of Haman, the representative of the kingdom of Satan in the Book of Esther. While he seemed to have everything a man could want, Haman spent too much time focused on the one thing he didn't have: worship and praise from Mordecai, the representative of the kingdom of God. Haman prepared a tree to impale Mordecai, but instead paraded Mordecai through the streets of the kingdom calling for others to worship him. One day, every knee--including Satan's--will bow to the true King of the world, Jesus!
As we return to the Book of Esther, Pastor Brian leads us to Esther's self-sacrificing proclamation of "If I perish, I perish." Standing outside the inner court of the king, we see the Christ-like decision of Esther to intercede on behalf of a condemned people.
Pastor Brian leads us back into the Book of Esther to look closer at the profile of Queen Esther--and how our hope cannot rest in Esther, but in the God of Esther. We see how God works behind the scenes to provide opportunities even today "for such a time as this." The repeated theme is that God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect purpose and plan.
Pastor Brian opens a series on the Book of Esther by highlighting that the most powerful man in the world at that time was nothing more than a "puppet king" -- allowing those around him to use his power as they pleased. This should encourage us, as Christians, to look beyond on our presidents and kings and look to our God who pulls all the strings.
Missionary Marc Buxton leads the Mt. Carmel family into the Book of Jonah to specifically look at the call of God in Jonah's life--and in our own.
Pastor Brian leads the Mt. Carmel family to see the complete and miraculous fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement in Jesus. Text in Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 9-10.
Jay Roy shares from John 4 of the impact just a moment with Jesus can make in our lives.
A deeper look into how Psalm 137 speaks into the racial tensions America is currently facing.
Typically, we read the Book of Ruth with an understanding that Boaz is the kinsman redeemer of Ruth. Could it be that there is more than one redeemer?
We look deeply into the words and story of Ruth to see the beauty of Jesus hidden within--all to bring glory to God!
2 Corinthians 3:18
The more I look at the glory of God, the more I look like the glory of God. What I behold, I become.
Our Mt. Carmel pastors discuss that the fruits of our lives are determined by the roots of our faith.