Marysville Christian Fellowship: Recent Episodes
Pastor Brad Wicks
Marysville Christian Fellowship is a church committed to teaching God's Word and leading people to Jesus.
A new season calls for renewed faith. In this special installation service for Pastor Paul Milligan as Lead Pastor of New Hope Church, Nathan Sheridan, Superintendent of the Kansas Assemblies of God Ministry Network, shares a timely message about building our lives on God's unchanging Word, serving with Christlike humility, and guarding our hearts as we step into the future God has prepared. As we begin this new chapter together, we're reminded that God faithfully leads His Church through every season.
Where do I fit in the Church? In Week 5 of The Church Jesus Builds, Pastor Paul explores 1 Corinthians 12 and reminds us that God has intentionally gifted every believer with a unique purpose. We were never created to compare ourselves to others, but to faithfully use the gifts God has entrusted to us. When every member serves, the whole Church grows, and Jesus is seen.
The Church Jesus Builds Lives Like Family explores God's design for His Church as more than a gathering. Through Acts 2:42-47, we'll discover how biblical community is built through devotion to God's Word, prayer, fellowship, and genuine relationships. Jesus didn't call us to attend church. He called us to belong to His family.
Jesus didn't simply call us to believe in Him. He called us to follow Him. In Week 3 of The Church Jesus Builds, Pastor Paul unpacks Jesus' Great Commission and challenges us to embrace the life of a disciple. Following Jesus is not about religious routine or perfect performance. It is a daily journey of becoming more like Christ and helping others do the same.
What does it truly mean to love God first? In Week 2 of The Church Jesus Builds, Pastor Paul explores Jesus' answer to one of the most important questions ever asked: Which command in the Law is the greatest? Jesus reveals that the foundation of a healthy church isn't found in activity or achievement, but in wholehearted love for God. This message challenges us to examine whether our service flows from genuine devotion or has simply become routine, and reminds us that when our love for Jesus comes first, everything else finds its proper place.
Jesus asked His disciples one question that still confronts each of us today: "Who do you say I am?" In the opening message of The Church Jesus Builds, we discover why Peter's answer became the foundation for one of Jesus' greatest promises: "I will build My church." This message reminds us that the Church belongs to Jesus alone. He is still building His Church, inviting us to trust Him, follow Him, and join in His mission of bringing hope to the world.
In Matthew 13:31–32, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed—small in size but full of incredible potential. Through the ministry of Project Rescue, we see this truth come to life as women and children are rescued from exploitation and given new hope in Christ. This message reminds us that God brings extraordinary transformation through faithful obedience and invites each of us to help plant seeds that can change lives for eternity.
In a culture that constantly shifts, how do we stand firm? Through the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, we're reminded that convictions are formed long before they're tested. Their bold declaration, "Even if He doesn't," reveals a faith rooted not in outcomes, but in God's character. This message challenges us to build our lives on God's Word, remain grounded in biblical community, and develop the private faith that produces public courage.
What gives us the strength to keep going when life feels overwhelming? In Ephesians 3, Paul reminds us that true strength is not found in ourselves but in God working within us.
This message explores how our souls are strengthened as we acknowledge our need for God through prayer, trust Jesus more deeply, and root our lives in His unfailing love. As we discover the vastness of God's love, wide enough for everyone, long enough to endure every season, high enough to lift us from despair, and deep enough to meet us in our lowest moments, we find the strength to persevere, forgive, worship, and remain faithful.
No matter what season you're facing, God's love is the foundation that gives us the inner strength to keep moving forward.
In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and offers her something far greater than physical water: living water that satisfies the deepest thirst of the soul. This message explores how God's compassion leads us to unexpected places, unexpected people, and unexpected transformation. As we examine this powerful encounter, we're challenged to consider where we've been searching for fulfillment and reminded that only Jesus can truly satisfy our deepest needs.
In this message, our newly elected Lead Pastor shares a powerful message from the book of Nehemiah about God's ability to rebuild what seems broken beyond repair. Looking at the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, we're reminded that restoration begins with honest assessment, faith-filled vision, and a willingness to partner with God in the process.
Whether facing broken relationships, wounded faith, unmet expectations, or difficult circumstances, this message offers hope that God is still in the business of restoration. The ruins are not the end of the story. They are often where God's rebuilding work begins.
After a major victory, Joshua made a costly mistake by acting without seeking God. Yet through humility and repentance, we see a powerful truth: our failures don’t have to define us when surrendered to a God who redeems.
This message centers on Joshua chapter 9 and the critical importance of seeking God's direction before making decisions. The passage reveals how the Israelites, fresh off significant victories, were deceived by the Gibeonites who disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land. The tragic mistake was captured in verse 14: they examined the evidence but did not consult the Lord. This teaches us that discernment requires more than observation and experience. We can be sincere, experienced, and still miss God's guidance when we rely on our own understanding. The message challenges us to examine areas where we've assumed instead of praying, where we've moved too quickly instead of waiting on God, and where fear rather than faith has driven our decisions. The call is clear: allow our God-talk to be louder than our self-talk. Whether we're facing decisions about relationships, careers, purchases, or ministry, we need to stop and ask for directions first. Prayerlessness often disguises itself as self-confidence, but true wisdom comes from depending on God rather than our own abilities or past successes.
This message takes us into Gospel of Matthew chapter 14 and the moment Peter steps out onto the water. It is not just about Jesus doing the impossible. It is an invitation for us to trust Him enough to step into it too.
We are reminded that pursuing God is not meant to be casual or convenient. It is something deeper. Something intentional. Something that shapes the way we live every day. Like searching for something you cannot afford to lose, our focus shifts from routine faith to real dependence. The disciples were told to go to the other side, which means they were always going to get there. Yet they still faced a storm. Being in God’s will does not mean life will be easy. Sometimes it means walking straight through resistance with Him. Peter’s response stands out. While the others heard “do not be afraid,” Peter asked for something personal. “If it is really you, tell me to come.” And Jesus did. That step out of the boat was not about confidence in himself. It was about trust in Jesus.
This message brings us back to a simple truth. We are not enough on our own, and we were never meant to be. When we let go of control and step into what feels impossible, we make room for God to move in ways we cannot on our own.
In Joshua chapter 8, Israel pauses in the middle of victory. Instead of moving forward to take more ground, they travel into uncertain territory to worship and renew their covenant with God. It is a moment that challenges our drive for constant progress and reminds us that alignment with God matters more than achievement for God.
At the altar, they offer burnt offerings as a picture of full surrender and fellowship offerings as a reminder of relationship with God in community. They also publicly read every word of God’s law, choosing to anchor themselves in His truth.
For us today, the altar is not a place but a posture. We are called to be living sacrifices, offering every part of our lives to God. That means honesty in bringing our struggles, surrender in releasing control, availability in saying yes, and obedience in following His Word.
We do not drift toward God by accident. Without intentional surrender and consistent time in His Word, we will drift away. Every day, we are being shaped. We will either live aligned with God or pulled by our own direction.
This powerful message takes us through the journey from defeat to victory in Joshua chapter 8, revealing profound truths about how hidden sin disrupts our relationship with God and how repentance restores what sin damages. We're confronted with the sobering reality that sin follows a predictable pattern: we see, we covet, we take, and we hide. This is the same pattern that began in the Garden of Eden and continues in our lives today. The contrast between Achan's destruction and Rahab's redemption reminds us that God's demand for holiness is absolute, yet His grace is available to all who respond in faith. What makes this story so compelling is that God leads Israel right back to the place of their previous defeat at Ai, not to shame them, but to show them what victory looks like when they walk in obedience. The same city that defeated them in their self-reliance becomes their conquest when they align themselves with God's ways. This isn't just ancient history, it's a mirror held up to our own lives, challenging us to examine what we might be hiding, what we're justifying, and what we're clinging to that keeps us from experiencing God's full blessing and presence in our lives.
This powerful exploration of Joshua chapter 7 confronts us with a sobering reality: sin never stays private. The story of Achan's hidden disobedience reveals how one person's secret compromise can impact an entire community. After the incredible victory at Jericho, Israel faced unexpected defeat at Ai because of hidden sin in the camp. This message challenges us to understand that our private choices have public consequences, affecting our families, churches, and communities in ways we might not immediately recognize. The progression of sin follows a familiar pattern: we see something, we covet it, we take it, and then we hide it. This cycle keeps us bound and separated from the fullness of the relationship God desires with us. The beautiful truth woven throughout is that God's conviction comes from love, not anger. He points out our sin not to shame us, but to restore us. The call to consecration and confession isn't about condemnation but about clearing the path for victory. When we're willing to deal with what God points out in our lives, we position ourselves to walk in everything He has promised. The greatest threat to our spiritual future isn't the enemy in front of us, but the compromise we allow within us.
The fall of Jericho presents us with one of Scripture's most powerful lessons about faith and obedience. As we journey through Joshua chapter 6, we encounter Israel standing before their first major obstacle in the promised land: massive fortified walls reaching 80 feet high, essentially an eight-story building surrounded by a ditch. From any human perspective, this city was unconquerable. Yet God had already declared victory before the first step was taken. What makes this account so compelling is God's unusual battle plan: march silently around the city once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day, blow trumpets, and shout. No weapons, no military strategy, just obedience. This teaches us that faith begins where our ability ends, and God's ways require trust, not logic. We often want God to explain everything before we take the first step, but spiritual growth happens in the waiting, in the repetitive obedience when nothing seems to be changing. Perhaps we're on day two or day five, wondering if we heard God correctly. The Israelites experienced six days of silence and no visible progress, yet they kept walking. Many of us quit before day seven, never experiencing the breakthrough that was just around the corner. The message is clear: we're not responsible for outcomes, only for faithful obedience. God alone brings the victory.
This Easter message reminds us that Jesus makes himself known to ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Through John chapter 20, we encounter three individuals whose stories reveal profound truths about encountering the risen Christ. Mary Magdalene, grieving at the empty tomb, discovers that in our deepest pain, Jesus sees us and calls us by name. Thomas, absent during Jesus' first appearance and struggling with doubt, learns that our questions don't push God away, but He welcomes them and invites us to bring our skepticism directly to Him. Peter, devastated by his three denials, experiences restoration where Jesus asks him three times about his love. The beauty of these encounters is that Jesus didn't appear to religious elites or those who had it all together. He came to the broken, the doubting, and the failing. This Easter, we're invited to see that Jesus isn't as far away as we think, that our doubts are opportunities for deeper faith, and that our failures are never the end of our story. The resurrection proves that God specializes in making all things new.
This sermon explores Joshua chapter 5, focusing on the critical moment before the battle of Jericho when Joshua encounters the commander of the Lord's army. The message emphasizes that unseen spiritual realities are greater than visible circumstances, and that God often calls us to see situations from His perspective rather than our own. Pastor Nathan challenges us to move beyond familiar comfort zones and surrender fully to God's purpose, especially during seasons of transition and uncertainty. The sermon stresses three key elements for developing spiritual vision: submitting to God's purpose, being in God's presence, and trusting God's promises. Through Joshua's example, we are encouraged to maintain consistent communion with God, allowing Him to shape our perspective rather than asking Him to bless our own agendas.
In the journey between miracles, we often find the most transformative moments of our faith. Joshua chapter 5 sits between two dramatic displays of God's power - the parting of the Jordan River and the falling walls of Jericho - yet it reveals a profound truth: God prepares His people spiritually before He advances them strategically. At Gilgal, an entire generation stood on the threshold of their greatest victory, yet God called them to pause, to surrender, to remember. This wasn't an interruption to their story; it was the essential preparation for it. The Israelites had left Egypt geographically forty years prior, but Egypt had not left them. They carried the shame and identity of slavery even as they stood in freedom. Gilgal became the place where God rolled away that reproach, where covenant replaced captivity, where a slave mentality transformed into the identity of God's chosen people. The memorial stones reminded them of God's faithfulness, the act of circumcision demanded radical obedience in vulnerability, and the Passover celebration anchored them in redemption. Before we can experience breakthrough, we must be willing to surrender at the altar. The battles we fear are often battles God has already begun to dismantle, but we must trust His preparation process even when it seems to delay our advancement.
This powerful exploration of Joshua chapter 4 reveals a profound truth about the human condition: we are quick to forget God's faithfulness. After witnessing the miraculous parting of the Jordan River at flood stage, the Israelites receive an unexpected first command in the Promised Land: not to prepare for battle, but to build a memorial. God instructs them to take twelve stones from the riverbed and create a lasting reminder of His intervention. This memorial serves three vital purposes: it's personal, reminding Israel of God's presence; it's generational, creating opportunities for parents to pass faith to their children; and it's missional, demonstrating God's power to all nations. The passage challenges us to practice intentional remembrance in our own lives. How often do we forget the prayers God has answered, the provisions He's made, or the ways He's sustained us through difficulty? We're encouraged to record our answered prayers, to collect our own memorial stones, because our greatest spiritual danger isn't external opposition, it's forgetting who our God is. When we remember His faithfulness in past seasons, we build courage for present battles and hope for future challenges.
What happens when God chooses the most unlikely person to demonstrate His grace and power? In Joshua chapter 2, we encounter Rahab. A Canaanite woman, a prostitute, someone who by every cultural and religious standard should have been counted out. Yet this is the woman who appears in the faith hall of fame in Hebrews 11, and even more remarkably, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1. Her story challenges us to remember where we came from before grace found us. It's easy to look around and think everyone else has it all together, but we're all looking at each other on this side of the cross. The real question is: do we remember our own family tree before Jesus rewrote it? Rahab's inclusion in God's story isn't just about her, it's about every one of us who has been grafted in by grace. Her faith didn't just save her; it changed her entire lineage for generations to come. This reminds us that the value God places on people is beyond our comprehension. When we forget where Jesus found us, we miss the opportunity to fully appreciate the transformative power of His mercy. Rahab's story invites us to ask: what areas of our lives could be forever changed if we took a step of faith today?
This powerful exploration of Joshua chapter 2 takes us into the story of Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho, and reveals profound truths about God's transformative grace. We discover that while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, doubting God's promises, their enemies in Jericho were actually retelling the story of God's miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. This irony challenges us to consider: Are we boldly testifying about God's faithfulness, or are we allowing fear and doubt to silence our witness? The message reminds us that our past does not define our future when we encounter God's grace. Rahab's story demonstrates that God breaks through every barrier: social status, gender, ethnicity, and sin, to offer salvation to anyone who will exercise faith in Him. Her transformation from a woman known by her sin to a woman honored in the lineage of Christ shows us that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. We're invited to examine our own hearts and ask: What areas have we not fully surrendered to God? What excuses are we holding onto that prevent us from experiencing His complete redemption? The story of Rahab destroys every justification we might have for staying distant from God, reminding us that He is committed to our future if we will simply trust Him.
Standing on the edge of promise can be both exhilarating and terrifying. In Joshua chapter 1, we find ourselves alongside the Israelites as they prepare to finally enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wilderness wandering. This isn't their first time at this threshold. A generation before, fear won over faith, and an entire generation died without seeing God's promise fulfilled. Now, under Joshua's leadership, the question isn't whether God will keep His word, but whether we will respond with decisive obedience. The message is clear: God's promises demand more than passive waiting. They require us to pack our bags, prepare our hearts, and step forward in faith. What's particularly powerful is the reminder that our obedience isn't solitary. God calls us to unified commitment, where no one gets to sit comfortably on the sidelines while others fight for breakthrough. The tribes who already had their land still had to cross over and fight alongside their brothers. This challenges our individualistic culture where we often disengage once our own needs are met. Perhaps we've been treating our faith community like a cruise ship rather than a mission team. The beautiful tension in this passage is that while our obedience matters deeply, the ultimate success of God's promises doesn't rest on our consistency, it rests on His faithful presence. We might stumble, but God has already factored our humanity into His calling, and His grace covers our fumbling steps forward.
The opening chapter of Joshua presents us with a powerful invitation to step into new territory with God. As we encounter Joshua at the threshold of the Promised Land, we're confronted with a profound truth: God's promises are activated by our obedience, not our understanding. The repeated call to 'be strong and courageous' echoes through this passage like a divine drumbeat, reminding us that courage isn't the absence of fear but the presence of God with us. What makes this message particularly compelling is its honest acknowledgment that moving forward often requires leaving the past behind, not dishonoring what God has done, but refusing to be held hostage by it. The Jordan River serves as a beautiful metaphor for the boundaries between promise and possession in our own lives. We can honor previous seasons without letting them dictate our future. The challenge before us is clear: Will we replace obedience with comfort? Will we delay what God has already asked us to do? This passage reveals that God's definition of success centers on alignment with His Word, not outcomes we can control. When we meditate on Scripture day and night, speak it over our lives, and carefully obey it, we position ourselves for the favor and blessing that come from walking in step with the Divine.
Pastor Brad in the sermon emphasizes the importance of changing one's thought life to align with a Christian perspective, focusing on Jesus and the eternal life to come. He encourages the congregation to see Jesus for who He is and to pray for this transformation of perspective
He also speaks about the necessity of putting to death earthly desires such as sexual immorality, impurity, and evil desires, which were part of the former way of living before coming to faith in Christ. Pastor Brad highlights that living a life of joy in the knowledge and hope of Jesus requires turning away from sin and investing in what brings eternal joy, such as sexual purity and generosity
Furthermore, Pastor Brad urges the congregation to set their minds on things above, not on earthly things, as their life is now hidden with Christ in God. He explains that focusing on the eternal future with Christ provides a foundation for joy, even amidst life's difficulties. This eternal perspective helps believers endure hardships, knowing that their ultimate destination is with Christ
The fact is, not everybody who here's the Gospel is going to respond well. So, what can the Christian expect. In this message we discover the kind of resistance that comes when we make Jesus great!
What did the first church business meeting look like? Did it result in a church fight? How does it affect the church today?
What are the prerequisites for spiritual empowerment? How does a person receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
How should Christians handle disagreements when it comes to issues of religious background, culture, opinion, and/or conviction?
What are the non-negotiables expectations with Jesus when it comes to a relationship with Him?
How do you show your enemy genuine love? How do you win over an enemy? Paul gives us insight into God's way to dealing with those who oppose us.
Have you ever been around a phony? The last place you should meet a phony is in the church!
You are important! Everybody has a place in the church. We are all a part of the body of Christ.
God has placed you in the community you are in for a purpose. Maintaining the right attitude will be key in accomplishing what He's called you to do!
God doesn't give up on people as we do. There is hope for the hopeless. And it's quite possible you play a part in reaching them!
The Gospel isn't complicated. But to receive it we have to let go of our way to get right with God!
Did God choose me or did I choose Him? How do I know I'm chosen? How do I know I'm going to heaven?
Do you know somebody who doesn't know Jesus? How far would you go to lead them to Jesus?
Paul wraps of Romans 8 reminding us because of Jesus we don't have to be a fraidy cat, we don't have to live in the past, and we can know our salvation is secure!
Are you a confident Christian? Do you really believe what the Bible says about your new identity in Jesus?
Are you guilty of sin? The Bible says we are. Why is it so important we understand our guilt?
Is the mark of a Christian outward or inward? Does baptism have any significance for the Christian?
Does your "Christian" attitude display Jesus? Or do you have a religious attitude that looks nothing like Jesus?