Champion Forest Baptist Church - Sundays: Recent Episodes
Champion Forest
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Psalm 62 in a message called "When the Ground Beneath You Shakes." Life brings moments that unsettle us: a difficult diagnosis, a broken relationship, a job loss, or prayers that seem to go unanswered. David wrote this Psalm out of his own experience with enemies, distress, and God's apparent silence.Jarrett shows how the Psalms of Jeduthun reveal three common sources of shaky ground and how our typical escapes, numbing, busyness, entertainment, even wealth, cannot hold us steady. Instead, David gives three faithful responses: wait on God in silence, trust Him at all times, and pour out your heart in prayer. Through the moving story of a friend who loved his wife faithfully through dementia and death, we see what it looks like to stand on the Rock when everything else gives way.
Dr. Brent Taylor teaches from Exodus 20:7 in a message called "Don't Lose Weight." The third commandment warns against taking the Lord's name in vain, and Dr. Taylor explains that this means far more than avoiding certain words. God's name has weight and worth, and treating it lightly empties it of its meaning.This message asks us to examine how we speak about God, pray in His name, and represent Him in daily life. Do our words and actions add to the weight of God's name, or do they treat it as something common? The call for God's people is reverence, care, and a life that honors the holiness of who God is.
Join Emory Cothen at Champion Forest as he continues the Life Lessons series with a powerful message from Romans 4:19-21. Drawing from Abraham's unwavering faith, the courage of early martyr Perpetua, and his own journey of a broken leg that redirected his calling, Cothen asks: Are you fully convinced that God is able to do what He has promised? This message challenges believers to move beyond circumstance-driven living and embrace a faith that is filled to the brim with confidence in God's character and promises.
Kal Kilgo teaches from Psalm 90 in a message called "True Satisfaction." Moses wrote this psalm in a season of deep personal loss, yet he turned to the everlasting God in prayer. Kal walks through how Moses faced the reality of human frailty, our lives are like grass that flourishes in the morning and withers by evening, without losing hope.The message exposes the enemies that steal our satisfaction: pride, greed, comfort, control, comparison, and bitterness. These temporary pursuits cannot carry the weight of our deepest longings. Only God's steadfast love can. Kal invites us to pause before we pray, to consider who we are speaking to, and to ask God to teach us to number our days so that we might live in His fullness. True satisfaction is not found in easier circumstances but in a love that remains steady through every trial.
Connor Bales teaches from Romans 8:16-18 in a message called "Suffering is not Singular." Every believer will face hardship in a world fractured by sin, but the Bible is not silent on how to navigate it well. Paul tells the church in Rome that the Holy Spirit helps believers in seasons of suffering and that present difficulties cannot compare with the glory to come.Pastor Connor shares honestly from his own family's journey with two daughters who have a rare genetic diagnosis, explaining how God has used suffering to shape his faith and unlock purpose he could not have known otherwise. He encourages believers to stop comparing their pain, stop expecting a one-and-done resolution, and instead steward suffering with eyes fixed on God's promises and the hope of eternity.
Retired Major General Doug Carver teaches from Joshua 1 in a message called "Life Lessons." On this July 4th weekend, he brings firsthand experience from deploying to Iraq, surviving missile attacks in a bunker, and walking alongside wounded warriors like Greg Gadson and Travis Mills. Through these stories, he shows how God's promise to Joshua is for every believer facing an impossible task.God sees us in our darkest moments and promises never to leave or forsake us. Doug reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear but confidence that God is at work. Whether our challenge is visible like combat wounds or hidden like strained relationships or health struggles, we can trust that God who began a good work in us will bring it to completion. Jesus endured the cross so we would never be ultimately abandoned, and He intercedes for us still.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from 2 Timothy 4:6-8 in a message called "Fight to the Finish." Paul's final inspired words were written from a Roman prison as he faced imminent death, yet they overflow with confidence and hope. He had fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith, and he wanted Timothy to do the same.Jarrett explores what motivated Paul to persevere through suffering and what enables believers to finish strong today. He warns against six common barriers that derail Christians and offers three practical commitments: live with the end in mind, expect life's challenges rather than being surprised by them, and remember the people watching your life. The message points us to Jesus as both the reason and the reward for finishing faithful.
Daniel Ritchie teaches from Romans 15:1-7 in a message called "Believers are Builders." Daniel shares his own story of being born without arms, the father who fought for his life in the delivery room, and the student pastor who shared the gospel with him as a broken teenager. He reminds us that Jesus is the hero of our stories, not ourselves.From Romans 15, Daniel unpacks three truths: believers are builders who step into others' weakness, believers are built up by the Word of God for daily endurance, and believers live with Jesus as the hero of their lives. He challenges us to move beyond a once-a-week spiritual meal and to let Scripture shape how we respond to a discouraging world. When we are built up by God's Word, we have something to give to others.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from 2 Corinthians 4 and Romans 8 in a message called "Fighting Through Suffering." Suffering touches every life, and the question of why can derail our faith if we let it. Jarrett shows from Scripture that suffering runs on two tracks: the glory of God and the refinement of our faith. God's glory rests on us in the middle of suffering, not just after it ends, and our faith is tested and matured in ways nothing else can accomplish.Suffering also brings gifts we could not receive otherwise: God's power when we are weak, purpose that reaches beyond ourselves, and perspective that looks to unseen eternal realities. Jarrett closes with four certainties from Romans 8 that anchor us in hardship: God is not condemning you, God is praying for you, God is working for your good, and nothing can separate you from His love. The path through suffering is to hold fast to what we know rather than be consumed by what we do not.
Mark Lanier teaches from Isaiah 1:17, Deuteronomy 10, and Jeremiah 22 in a message called "Fighting for the Weak." God's people are called to more than sympathy for the vulnerable. We are called to active advocacy, to seek justice, correct oppression, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.Lanier brings his experience as a trial lawyer to show how Scripture's legal language calls us to fight, not merely pity. From the social media addiction case he argued against multi-trillion-dollar companies to the opioid litigation in Ohio, he illustrates what it looks like to go to the mat for those who cannot fight for themselves. Because we bear God's image and because Christ died for us while we were still weak, we carry His commission to see, defend, and love those the world overlooks.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from John 14 in a message called "Fighting for Truth." Truth matters because it leads us to Jesus, who is the embodiment of truth itself. Jarrett shows that truth is not up for a vote. It is absolute, narrow, and ultimately found in a person.The fight for truth rages in the mind, where Satan deceives, the sin nature craves lies, and the world system saturates us with false values. Believers must actively fill their minds with God's Word, guard their minds with wisdom and discipline, and train their minds for godliness through practices like prayer and meditation. The outcome is significant: setting the mind on the Spirit produces life and peace, while setting it on the flesh leads to death.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Jude 22-23, Luke 19:10, John 3:16, and Luke 15 in a message called "One More." Three billion people in the world have never heard the name of Jesus, and hundreds of thousands live near the church without knowing Christ. The lost matter deeply to God, and He calls His people to fight for them.Jarrett gives three practical ways to join this rescue mission: pray for the lost by name, plant seeds of the gospel through unconditional love and hospitality, and plead with urgency for them to be reconciled to God. He shares how God answered 17 years of prayer for his brother, how a pastor's friendship and hospitality led to Rosaria Butterfield's conversion, and how Desmond Doss kept praying "God, give me one more" as he rescued soldiers behind enemy lines. Every believer has a mission field and a "one more" to pursue.
Steven Morris teaches from Matthew 4:1-11 in a message called "Fighting Temptation." Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and faced three specific temptations: to provide for himself, to test God's protection, and to gain power through compromise. In each case, the devil questioned what God had already spoken and offered a shortcut. Jesus answered every lie with the truth of Scripture.This message is a reminder that temptation is serious, common, and often disguised as something good. Steven encourages us to prepare with God's Word, get specific about our vulnerabilities, and remember that our identity as children of God is the foundation for resisting the enemy. When temptation comes, we do not grit our teeth and try harder. We run to Jesus, who sits on a throne of grace and gives help in our time of need.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from 1 Samuel 1 in a message called "A Mother's Surrender." Hannah lived in a spiritually dark time, personally barren, publicly mocked by her rival, and misunderstood by her own husband. Still, she kept making the journey to worship and took her deepest pain directly to God.Jarrett shows how Hannah addressed God as "Lord of hosts," the all-sovereign ruler over every seen and unseen power, and asked specifically for a son, promising to give him back. The same Hebrew word means both "asked" and "lent," capturing the heart of her surrender. Samuel became a great leader, but his story began with a mother who prayed and released.This message calls parents, grandparents, and anyone who loves a child to the fight of prayer and the freedom of surrender. Our children belong to God first. When we release them with open hands, we are freed to worship and trust the One who holds them better than we ever could.
Jarrett Stephens concludes the series "So What: Why the Resurrection Matters" with a message from Matthew 28 and Acts 1 called "Jesus Sends on Mission." The empty tomb does more than secure salvation. It sends every follower of Jesus into the world as a witness.Jarrett shows how the resurrection gives us three things for this mission: the presence of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of his return. He tells how a Sunday school teacher reached a teenage D.L. Moody in a Boston shoe store, and how ordinary believers planted churches that now saturate that same city. The scope is global, but the starting point is local. Our Jerusalem is wherever we live, work, and play.
Emory Cothen teaches from John 21:15-19 in a message called "Jesus Brings Restoration." After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus meets him at the Sea of Tiberias with deliberate grace. He asks Peter three times if he loves him, commands him three times to feed his sheep, and calls him to follow again.This passage shows that Jesus does not leave us in our failure. He forgives completely, restores fully, and sends us forward with new purpose. Emory reminds us that we are forgiven for a reason and restored to serve others out of love for Christ, not from duty or as a backup plan. Whether you are struggling to forgive yourself or wondering if God can still use you, this message points to the restoring power of the risen Jesus.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from John 20:19-29 in a message called "Jesus Gives Peace." Thomas missed seeing the risen Jesus and demanded proof before he would believe. Rather than rebuking him, Jesus met him with grace, spoke peace over him, and invited him to see His wounds.Jarrett shares his own history of struggling with doubt and explains the difference between honest doubt and dangerous unbelief. Jesus still meets doubters today through His word and through the evidence of His sacrifice. The message offers practical help for anyone wrestling with questions about faith: name your doubt, wrestle with it rather than avoiding it, and share it with trusted believers in community.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Luke 24:13-35 in a message called "Jesus brings Understanding." After the crucifixion, two disciples walked away from Jerusalem confused and disillusioned. Jesus met them on the road, opened the Scriptures from Moses to the prophets, and made himself known in the breaking of bread.Jarrett warns against three dangers in seasons of confusion: isolating yourself, giving in to discouragement, and quitting on Jesus. He reminds us that Jesus brings understanding primarily through his Word, often over time, and in the fellowship of his people. The resurrection proves that God is for us and that there is hope even when we cannot yet see how God is working.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from John 20:1–18 in a message called "Jesus is Hope." On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection not as a distant event but as a living hope that meets us personally. Mary Magdalene, a woman with a broken past, was the first to encounter the risen Savior and the first to hear him speak her name.Jarrett shows how Jesus brings hope from our past, no matter what shame we carry. He brings hope in our present, calling us by name in our grief and despair. And he brings hope for our future, because his physical resurrection secures eternal life with God. Hope is not wishful thinking. It is a person, and his name is Jesus.
What does it look like to celebrate what God has done without losing sight of why it matters? In this message from Nehemiah 12, Pastor Jarrett Stephens walks through Celebration Sunday at Champion Forest and reminds us that true success is not just about reaching a goal, but about coming through the journey stronger in faith, deeper in unity, and more surrendered to the Lord.As the church reflects on the NEXT Initiative, this sermon points back to God’s faithfulness through every prayer, every sacrifice, and every step of obedience. It is a message about consecration, joy, and giving God all the glory for what only He can do. Whether you have been part of this journey from the beginning or are just now tuning in, this sermon is a powerful reminder that when God’s people attempt something great for His glory and devote it back to Him, He fills them with great joy.
What happens after the walls are rebuilt?In Nehemiah 8–10, the people of Israel discover that the greatest rebuilding was not physical but spiritual. The walls of Jerusalem had been restored in just 52 days, yet the real work was only beginning. Hearts needed renewal. Lives needed repentance. God’s people needed to return to His Word.In this message, Pastor Jarrett walks through the powerful spiritual revival that unfolds when the people gather to hear Scripture, confess their sin, and recommit themselves to living holy lives. Their response shows us a timeless truth: rebuilding what matters most always begins with a renewed commitment to God.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Nehemiah 5–7 in a message called "Worthy of Our All." On Commitment Sunday of the NEXT Initiative, he shows that sacrifice is not the point by itself. What makes sacrifice significant is the motive behind it.Nehemiah refused to exploit the people as governor. Instead, he fed 150 men daily at his own expense for twelve years. The people, though poor, gave together toward the work. Because of their sacrifice, a wall ruined for a hundred years was rebuilt in fifty-two days. Their enemies recognized this could only happen with the help of God.Jarrett connects this to Champion Forest's own history of sacrificial campaigns and shares fresh stories of equal sacrifice from the church today. He reminds us that sacrifice without worship is empty. When the glory of God and the good of people shape our giving, our sacrifice becomes an act of true worship.
In Staying Committed, Pastor Jarrett walks through Nehemiah 4–5 and 6:1–14 to show how God’s people can remain faithful when opposition, discouragement, and internal conflict threaten to derail the work God has called them to do. Using the picture of the sword and the trowel, this message reveals how Nehemiah led with prayer, courage, and perseverance, refusing to be distracted by attacks from the outside or division from within. This sermon challenges us to guard our unity, trust God in the face of resistance, and stay fully committed to the good work He has placed before us as we take our NEXT steps together.
In The Call to Action, Pastor Jarrett walks through Nehemiah 2–3 to show how God moves His people from burden to obedience and from prayer to action. As Nehemiah steps out in faith, plans wisely, faces opposition, and rallies God’s people to rebuild together, we are reminded that great works for God require courage, unity, and willingness from everyone to play their part. This message challenges us to trust God’s providence, resist discouragement and negativity, and rise up together to do the good work God has placed before us.
In The Start to Something Great, Pastor Jarrett introduces the book of Nehemiah by showing how God uses ordinary people with surrendered hearts to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Walking through Nehemiah 1, this message highlights God’s providence, Nehemiah’s burden for broken people, and the power of prayer that precedes faithful action. As Nehemiah weeps, fasts, and prays over the ruined state of Jerusalem, we are invited to ask what breaks our hearts, to trust that God is at work behind the scenes, and to prepare ourselves to step forward in faith as God begins something new among His people.
This NEXT season begins with Vision Sunday, where we seek the Lord for what He is calling Champion Forest into next, and continues in the Book of Nehemiah, where God used one man’s burden, prayer, and bold faith to rebuild a city and renew a people. From broken hearts that lead to prayer, to courageous steps of faith, to every person playing their part, Nehemiah’s story helps us see how God moves through His people to accomplish His purposes. Together, we will focus, stand firm through opposition, and give God all the glory for what He builds next.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Luke 10:25-37 in a message called "Loving Our Community." A lawyer asked Jesus who qualified as his neighbor, hoping to justify himself. Jesus answered with a story about a Samaritan who stopped to help a wounded stranger when religious leaders passed by.Jarrett walks through why the priest and Levite had understandable reasons for avoiding the man, yet Jesus shows that true neighbor-love means compassion that moves to action. He connects this to Martin Luther King Jr.'s final speech and the call for "dangerous unselfishness." The message ends with practical ways Champion Forest members can serve their community, from mentoring students to feeding the homeless, and asks whether our neighbors would miss us if we were gone.
Jarrett Stephens teaches from Matthew 28:18-20 in "Making Disciples," the first week of the Priorities series. Jesus' Great Commission is not just a mission for the church but a calling for every believer: as we go about ordinary life, we make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to follow Jesus.Jarrett walks through what it looks like to be a disciple, a learner who walks closely with Jesus through His Word and prayer. He shares his own practical habits, from finding a consistent time and place to using a reading plan, keeping a journal, and praying Scripture over specific people and situations. The goal is not rigid discipline but a growing relationship with Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and extended to others.
This particular sermon by Pastor Jarrett focuses on the name “Wonderful Counselor” given to the Messiah in Isaiah’s prophecy. He explains the historical and spiritual context of the prophecy, and how Jesus fulfills it as the ultimate source of hope, light, joy, and peace.