Ridgepoint Sermon Audio: Recent Episodes
Ridgepoint Church
Ridgepoint Church (located in west Wichita) exists to help people find and follow Jesus. We aim to be real people with a real faith making a real impact. We hope these Sunday sermons are helpful to you in your spiritual journey. Want to learn more or take the next step? Visit ridgepointwichita.com.
Pastor Brent concluded the "Higher Calling" series by discussing the importance of living an intentional Christian life, outlining five key principles. He emphasized that while intentions alone aren't enough, Christians need God's Word, Spirit, and people to live intentionally, with Jesus serving as the perfect example of an intentional life focused on His mission.
Money has both a light side (enjoyment, security, generosity) and a dark side (greed, hoarding, overspending, debt). This week Pastor Brent presents four key principles for financial stewardship: give more, save more, spend less, and get out of debt. Self-control--supported by prayer and accountability--is essential for achieving financial freedom and making a positive impact.
Jesus calls Christians to practice radical hospitality and humility in their relationships. While the world prioritizes status and selective inclusion, God's kingdom welcomes all who accept His invitation. Living out this higher calling means taking the lower seat and actively inviting those typically overlooked into God's family.
God calls Christians to make a difference in the world through their unique spiritual gifts. While finding and using these gifts requires intentional effort, it leads to a life of purpose and impact. Following God's plan to serve others brings both personal fulfillment and advances His kingdom.
While most of us associate the word "worship" with singing, the Higher Calling of worship is much more. True worship is ultimately a life bowed down, a daily expression of our devotion to God.
In anticipation of the upcoming presidential election, Pastor Brent reminds us that our love and allegiance to Jesus should always outweigh our political opinions. In a culture so divided by politics, we need to remember to be kind, to pray for our leaders, and to trust in God's sovereignty.
God calls Christians to live under a higher standard. And while this higher bar is admittedly challenging, this way of life is also good and achievable with His help. Pursuing God's plans for us leads to a life that is good and satisfying and impactful.
This week Pastor Andy walks us through Jesus' invitation to learn "unforced rhythms of grace" (Matthew 11). To build this lifestyle, we need to develop a prayer and a plan to intentionally walk with Jesus. Living this way keeps us grounded, can manage life's challenges, and produces spiritual fruit.
Throughout this series, Pastor Brent has been talking about the importance of rest and Sabbath--or as we've been calling it--"ceasing." An important part of that is honest and balanced prayers to God. God invites us to cast our cares on Him, but we also need to be disciplined about listening to God through prayer, reading the Bible, and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
In a world that elevates busyness and speed, Jesus invites us to cease and rest. Instead of finding value in our production or accomplishments, Jesus offers a new identity--one that isn't based on what we have or what we do, but who HE says we are.
As we open this new "Rhythms" series, Pastor Brent explores the biblical concept of Sabbath and its relevance today. He traces the rhythm of work and rest from creation through the Ten Commandments, emphasizing God's intention for balance in our lives. Brent challenges our modern addiction to busyness, encouraging intentional pauses to reflect on God's goodness and mercy.
This week Pastor Brent uncovers the intertwined themes of gratitude and contentment in Philippians 4. Just like the Apostle Paul, we can find true contentment in the midst of our most challenging circumstances. Brent contrasts the "More Strategy" with the "Enough Strategy," offering practical guidance on resisting the allure of materialism and embracing God's sufficiency.
On this "Back to School Sunday," Pastor Brent encourages us to cling to God and specific teachings in the Bible when we start to feel anxious and stressed in this hectic fall season.
This week Pastor Joe explores the balance between stability and flexibility in faith, using Philippians 4:1-9. Forgiveness is a crucial anchor point of Christianity, and we also need to prioritize adaptability in spreading the gospel. Joe encourages us to find stability in Jesus while remaining open to new perspectives and growth in our faith journeys.
We all have many goals and objectives in life, but the apostle Paul modeled how deepening our relationship with Jesus should be our primary, endless, relentless pursuit. While this kind of life requires significant effort, it also leads to improved relationships, increased joy, peace, and purpose.
Pastor Brent delivers a sermon on Philippians 3:1-11, emphasizing the importance of rejoicing in the Lord despite challenges and focusing on knowing Christ personally rather than relying on religious rituals or rule-following. He encourages the congregation to deepen their relationship with Jesus, stressing that true righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not through adherence to religious laws or traditions.
Pastor Kevin's sermon focuses on overcoming worldly troubles through partnership with Jesus. He emphasizes four key ways: prayer, aligning plans with God's will, partnering with others in faith, and trusting in God's provision. He concludes by stressing the ultimate victory comes from "dying to the world" by following Jesus's example of self-denial and sacrifice.
Throughout the book of Philippians, we see that in spite of hardship and suffering, hope always wins. In this new eight-week series, Pastor Brent and Pastor Joe will give us helpful perspectives as we aim to spot the silver lining and live for God's glory!
This week Pastor Brent explores Paul's perspective on finding positivity in challenging situations. For Christians, there's always a silver lining in God's love and grace, even in the darkest times. Brent encourages believers to intentionally seek out the good that God brings from difficult circumstances, and to consider their primary motivation for living as advancing the Gospel.
Pastor Brent discusses Philippians 1:1-11 and notes five key points we can gain from this section of Paul's letter.
In this sermon, Pastor Brent gives a background of Paul's experience in Philippi and outlines lessons we can learn from Acts 16 in the story of Lydia, Paul, Silas, and the Philippian jailer.
Pastor Brent's sermon encourages fathers and all Christians to shift their focus from striving to meet worldly expectations to seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first. He explains that by surrendering daily to God's rule and allowing His Word to transform them, the "targets" of being a good father, spouse, or Christian will naturally be hit, as promised by Jesus in Matthew 6:33.
Pastor Brent explored the biblical teaching on singleness from 1 Corinthians 7, highlighting how the apostle Paul commends it as a noble state that allows undivided devotion to God. Practical advice was given for how the church can be more supportive and inclusive of singles as they navigate the unique opportunities and challenges of being single.
Pastor Brent encourages us to be intentional in building relationships with our neighbors by: 1) investing in them, and 2) inviting them into spiritual conversations. It's important that we genuinely care without an agenda, driven by real and authentic love. Brent encourages us to pray and also take practical steps to better know and serve our neighbors.
Who are your "3 a.m. friends"--the ones you can call in the middle of the night to help with a crisis? This week Pastor Andy looks at friendship through the example of David and Jonathan in the Old Testament. In a world that seems increasingly lonely, Andy encourages us to pray, be a good friend, and take steps to get more connected in our community.
Pastor Brent preached on the importance of partnering with Jesus in marriage by reading God's Word, heeding the Holy Spirit, and accepting wise counsel. He outlined three types of marriages - selfish, contract, and the ideal "one-flesh" marriage characterized by humility, forgiveness, and putting on love. Despite the challenges, Brent encouraged couples to fight for their marriages by doing their part and partnering with Christ.
For this Mother's Day message, Pastor Brent shares a story from 2 Kings 4 about the prophet Elisha miraculously reviving a wealthy woman's son from death. Like the mother in this story, many of our mothers tend to have a fierce love and perseverance, and the invaluable impact of a Godly mother can't be understated. Moms, your role is crucial, so THANK YOU, don't give up, and stay anchored to God's purposes for you and your family.
In the conclusion of this series, Pastor Brent looks at Jesus' prayer in John 17 that we would experience God's perfect, boundless love for us. God's love for us is equal to His love for Jesus. While this surpasses human comprehension, Brent encourages us to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal this truth and help us grasp the depth of Christ's love demonstrated at the cross.
This week Pastor Brent teaches on spiritual growth, the long-term process of becoming more like Jesus. In John 17, Jesus prayed for His followers' sanctification, which Brent explains as a progressive process of being made holy over time. To become more like Christ, we should regularly practice self-reflection, prayer, and active cooperation with God.
John says that Jesus' victory over Satan is all but sewn up. Yet, there is still danger in God's world. In a stunning move, Jesus prays for his Father to keep his followers in the world and to give them protection from the evil one. What might that protection look like? And why would Jesus keep his followers in this world even though they are susceptible to the evil empire's influence? Through observations from the Gospel of John, a story from American baseball, Article 4 of the USMB Confession of Faith, a timeless observation from a Russian novelist, and a quick reference from a treasured Disney film, Pastor Joe will "try to make it all make sense."
As we kick off this new teaching series, Pastor Brent explores Jesus' prayer for unity among believers in John 17, unpacking the concept of "What Would Jesus Pray?" Drawing parallels to the "What Would Jesus Do?" movement, Brent challenges the church to emulate Jesus' fervent desire for His followers to be unified in their mission of helping others find and follow Christ. Despite differences, Brent encourages choosing humility, patience, and preserving the hard-fought unity that serves as a powerful testimony to the world.
Without the resurrection, our faith is useless. In order for Jesus to pull off the greatest of all rescues, He needed to die AND rise again. Thankfully, He did (!), and He offers to take all that is old and make it new.
Pastor Brent explains that Jesus came to provide three types of peace: permanent relational peace with God, fellowship peace (that can be disrupted by sin), and situational peace amid difficult circumstances--which is the hardest to attain. Brent encourages us to persistently pray and remind themselves of God's promises in order to receive the situational peace that Jesus offers.
As we continue this year's Easter series, Pastor Brent reminds us that Jesus came to rescue us not only for eternal life, but also to give us purpose and meaning in our present lives. He encourages us to find our personal "zeal point" that aligns with our gifts and God's leading. Embracing this purpose brings confidence, anchors us through difficulties, and leads to a vibrant, fulfilled faith.
As we kick off our Easter teaching series, Pastor Andy draws parallels between the dramatic rescue of the Thai soccer team trapped in a cave and how Jesus rescues us from the dominion of sin and darkness. Andy unpacks the layers of sin that entrap us and calls believers to humble surrender, consistent repentance, and walking in the light.
The right response to sin is always repentance. This week Pastor Brent looks at the closing chapters of Ezra where the Israelites confessed their sins to God and found freedom in forgiveness. We should also be disciplined in following good teachers and regularly practicing confession and repentance.
As the Israelites continued to rebuild the temple after exile, they soon began to drift from God's mission and focus more on their own comfort. In this message, Pastor Brent outlines the "Paneled Houses Principle" of giving generously to God's work FIRST before focusing on our own agendas or lifestyle. Do you need to realign your priorities?
This week Pastor Brent provides a template for overcoming life's setbacks and challenges, based on the story of the Hebrew people from Ezra 3-6. Brent outlines four suggestions: prayer, focusing on what you can control, seeking help, and cultivating grit. With faith, we have what it takes to endure significant hardship, just like Ezra, Haggai, and the Hebrew people.
After 70 years in exile, King Cyrus allowed the Israelites to return home to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Like Cyrus, we should lead with kindness, acting on God's nudges to move. And against all odds and through all adversity, we're called to worship.
As we dive into a new teaching series through the books of Ezra and Haggai, Pastor Brent begins with a big picture overview of the story of the Old Testament. Through thousands of years of history, God remained remarkably patient and kind--and that's still who He is today.
Pastor Brent continues our Second Mile series with a message stressing the importance of mentoring. We have so much to learn from those who have wisdom from going before us. Beyond mentoring, we want everyone in our city to become devoted disciples of Jesus, so Brent also shares a compelling "why" behind our strategy.
Continuing our "Second Mile" series, Pastor Kyle speaks on the importance of mentoring the next generation. We believe everyone has something valuable to offer to a younger believer, even if you feel unqualified. Our experiences are like treasure chests, and it's up to us to decide how we will invest and share our talents.
This week Pastor Brent calls us to "second mile discipleship" -- going beyond the minimum requirements and excelling in faith and service. He introduces our new three-part plan to spur spiritual growth at Ridgepoint: growing in community, serving others, and mentoring. These practices require effort, but also reap worthwhile rewards.
From the beginning, Christians have been tempted to live within the boundaries of a first-mile Christianity: having a personal and private faith. But Jesus, the early church leaders, and countless Christians through time have invited us to go a second-mile, to have an unusual interest and enthusiasm for a deeper, Christian life. Today we'll discuss that invitation as we begin a four-part series about what a second-mile type of the Christian life looks like at Ridgepoint Church.
Reading the Bible won't make your life worse! And if you do read it and consistently obey it, your life will be better. Guaranteed.
God so loved the world that He GAVE the best gift of all time. That love is good news, and it offers us hope today.
A lot of the songs we sing around Christmas time talk about joy. We often think of joy as "happiness," but true, biblical joy is a lot deeper than that. This week Pastor Andy talks about joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, and our responsibility to put it on display to the world.
The Bible describes three types of peace: relationship peace, fellowship peace, and situational peace. Throughout Scripture, God promises to give us peace, but sometimes that calm, tranquil feeling can be very elusive. What does it mean for Jesus to be the Prince of Peace, and how can we actually experience it in our day-to-day lives?
Kicking off our Advent teaching series, Pastor Brent focuses on the theme of hope. We all wish for things, but biblical hope is confidently anchored in God and His perfect plan. By definition, hope requires waiting. But while we wait, we can rest in the promises of Scripture.
In this final message of the "Words Matter" series, Pastor Brent reminds us of the importance of backing up our words with genuine action. We shouldn't be hypocrites who merely pay lip service to God (and others); we need to walk the narrow road and ensure our words match our deeds.
Jesus gave us the Golden Rule as a starting point for relating to others. We'd all love encouragement from others, so we might as well decide to be as kind and encouraging as possible. As we continue our Words Matter series, we'll be reminded of the opportunity to be kind and encouraging.
We all get angry. Jesus did too. There's a difference between righteous anger about injustice and inappropriate anger about trivial matters. Good anger leads to constructive action, while bad anger only hurts others. How can we distinguish between the two, and how can we increase our self-control to handle anger the way Jesus taught?
When those around us sin or hurt us, should we confront them? There seems to be biblical support for confronting AND not confronting... so what should we do? Generally, wise people confront with love, honor, and humility--and they're also open to correction themselves.
No one can fully tame the tongue, but Jesus warns that one day we'll give an account for every careless word we speak. We can still stand confidently in God's grace, but we must learn to surrender our tongues daily with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We all experience stress, tension, and difficult relationships. In those moments, what we choose to do with our words really matters. How can we learn to "tame our tongues" and control our speech? What does it look like to aim for "relational ties"? Pastor Joe dives into this and more as we explore spiritual maturity and relational health.
What happens when we die? Are heaven and hell real, and what are they like? Belief in any kind of afterlife requires faith, but Pastor Brent outlines several sections of Scripture that explain what we can expect. We're left with many difficult questions, but this we know: Heaven will be a wonderful place where we experience and worship God fully.
What is morality, and who sets the rules? There are only two options--either people or God. If God is who He says He is, then He is the logical and correct source for moral truth.
This week, Pastor Brent unpacks the Christian perspective on our purpose in life. Are you living for your own self-determined purposes, or God's? How you can you discern God's "general will" versus His specific plans for you? Watch or listen this week as Brent encourages us to keep a soft heart and open ears to discern and follow God's will.
Who are we as humans? What is our identity? Where does it come from, and why does it matter? Pastor Brent unpacks Mark 1 to give us helpful context and answers to these foundational questions.
Where did life and our universe come from? What is the origin of life? In this week's message, Pastor Brent contrasts three views: special creation (God created each species), atheistic evolution (no God), and theistic evolution (God used evolution).
Christianity requires faith in a God we cannot see. Still, there is significant evidence for a Creator, and this week Pastor Brent unpacks three defenses for the existence of God, and what that means for us today.
It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done. God's love for you will endure forever. God is love, and He loves you.
Although the Psalms have more cries for help than words of praise, the editor of the Psalms sought to close the book with an all-call for loud praises to be sung to God. Although being a calm and calculated believer is acceptable, sometimes our faith calls us to bring God a ruckus song of praise. Psalm 150 is a form of that type of jubilant worship.
The world is chaotic and can feel completely contrary to the teachings of the Bible. This isn't a new problem, and David has advice and reminders for us to place our trust in a God who is always faithful.
Are there two better words to describe our purpose than praise and surrender? God invites us to a life of praising God and surrendering to Him!
When you are confident in your relationship with God, you can stay motivated to follow God well, love others well, and live with joy and peace.
When you find yourself in dark and difficult seasons, there are no easy answers, but here are two things you can try: speak truth to yourself, and declare praise to God.
A guilty conscience doesn't just cause sleepless nights and anxious worrying; it erodes our lives and afflicts our world. The Bible implores us to confess our sins, and freedom abounds in our lives when we do.
Pastor Brent interviews our worship leader Kim Bontrager about the "what" and they "why" of worship, taken from Psalm 100.
We believe God created us with gifts and skills designed to help others and to do good things. This week Pastor Brent will examine what the Bible says about serving, and we will kick off a month-long emphasis on changing the world through the giving of ourselves.
At the heart of being Christian is dwelling in union with God. Throughout our lives, we'll sense God's guidance and care. Psalm 23 mentions three ways that God cares for our souls in our union with him.
King David's prayers often had a similar structure: requests, defenses, and declarations. We can pray like this too, and today Pastor Brent shares an example we can all pray--maybe especially so for dads!
Money can bring a lot of good things, but it can't save you. Only God can save you from the grave. So where are you putting your trust?
We all have bad days and face lots of trouble, but God promises to be with us IN our trouble. Selah--pause and remember this!
Do you ever feel you are doing enough just to get by? Or do you feel like you’ve mismanaged an area of life, and it’s in near shambles? Even more so, how can we know that God will still want to use us as his people for his story when we routinely fall short? This Sunday, we’ll look at a couple of different Bible passages that will help us reckon with our own shortcomings and will help us serve together as a community of believers, even in the midst of our past failures.
Authenticity and honesty in front of God, others, and ourselves not only leads to our freedom, but an authentic church family is really attractive to the community around us.
In our individual lives and as a church family, it’s wise for us to surrender to Christ’s leadership voluntarily.
We are asked to “live by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) in the Christian life. As we wander outside of our comfort zones, we feel like we’re doing absurd things. But, the community of faith and the comfort that God provides helps us to step into the unknown. This week, we’ll read one of Jesus’ famous parables and be encouraged to take a risk in our faith.
As we continue in this new, exciting season for our church, we pray that God would grant His favor and produce much fruit.
This week on TRENDING: Actress Rachel McAdams revealed that she has turned down some MAJOR roles throughout her career. What can we learn from that? How do you balance ambition and contentment, and how should we prayerfully process those big decisions?
Gen Z may look and sound different from previous generations, but there is a ton of potential for them to change the world once they find and follow Jesus.
This week Ariana Grande has been speaking out against the pain that comes from "body shaming," and she's not the only one. Obviously criticizing other people's bodies is a problem, so how can Christians help reverse this trend online? How should we view our own bodies, and when is it appropriate to compliment others? It can be a tricky tightrope, but Pastor Joe and Matt do their best to share some insight on this first audio podcast of TRENDING!
"The Ragman" wants to take your old rags and trade them for new. Will you accept the offer from Jesus to experience true life--now and forever?
This week, as we move toward Easter Sunday, Pastor Brent will walk through Jesus's story, and shed light on what scripture says about how we are invited to respond to Him!
We all have influence over others. So why not use our influence to point people toward Jesus? And it sure helps to have a plan for how to influence others toward Jesus. So choose a strategy that fits you and that fits the person you’re influencing – and get after it!
How can we lead the way to find an authentic community that is safe, loyal, and honest?
Our character is developed by how we behave. So, how should we live day to day in ways that look like the life and teaching of Jesus?
What comes to your mind when you hear the term "eternal life"? Heaven? New bodies and endless worship? What if you were told that the eternal life Jesus is speaking of is about a life in the here and now in our current bodies amid all our familiar surrounding circumstances?
The longer we're Christians, our faith and our relationship with Jesus should change over time. What should that look like, and how can our relationship grow and mature?
As we follow Jesus, we transform. Transformation is fundamentally different from making "changes." Dive into week 1 of our Who Am I Becoming? series with this audio walk-through of the session 1 handout with Pastor Joe.
Guest speaker Don Davis from The Urban Ministry Institute joins us to teach through Psalms 96. We are called to declare God's glory and kingdom reign worldwide among the nations!
Healthy relationships can take a lot of work. Do you have any strained relationships you need to work on?
When we go through hard times, it can seem like God is silently ignoring our prayers. Those struggles and the emotions that come with them are real, and David often expressed those feelings honestly in several Psalms.
"Imprecatory" psalms--songs requesting God's wrath on our enemies--are some of the toughest verses in our Bibles. Pastor Brent walks through Psalms 109 and explains how (or if) these verses are still relevant to us today.
Enjoy this year's Christmas Eve service of music, candlelight, and a reminder of why Jesus came in the first place.
From a census to a manger and life in the womb, God perfectly orchestrated the Christmas story, and Mary took time to ponder it.
Mary responded to her miraculous pregnancy by proclaiming God's greatness. We all have unique expressions of that greatness in our lives. What are YOUR "becauses"?
Do you define yourself by the labels other people give you, or the labels God gives you?
It’s not enough to just be thankful. We need to show our gratitude!
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God not only expects us to be grateful, but it's possible for us to "overflow" with thanksgiving. How can we get there?
God has a specific will in mind for you, and part of that plan is to live with gratitude.
We all experience worry and anxiety. It's normal, but God instructs us NOT to worry. How can we find freedom from anxiety in our day-to-day lives? Today Pastor Brent outlines some practical help for kids, students, parents, and all the rest of us.
Depression and discouragement may be common, but it should not be normal, and Jesus has better plans for you. If you're currently fighting depression, you are not alone and there is hope!
As we continue our Stress+ sermon series, we'll cover a topic that we all deal with at some level: anger. We'll look at how to deal with anger in the moment and how to address the compiling of our anger over a longer period of time.
The world is difficult and most of us are anxious and stressed. Jesus invites us to come to Him (first).
As we wrap up our Basecamp series about our 2030 vision, the final piece of our strategy is all about sharing our faith with those around us.
From the beginning, Christians have found strength, care, purpose, and hope while dwelling in life-giving community. As we continue in our Basecamp series this month and diagnosing what vital things we’ll need for Ridgepoint’s next hike up the ministry mountain, we’ll be reminded, once again, that being in community is better than going it alone.
Reaching out to young adults in their 20s & 30s is a crucial element of our strategy for this season of our church. What does that look like, and how can we more effectively share Jesus with the next (and current!) generation?
Jesus, the Son of God, understands what it means to feel agony and anxiety. The Savior who cried and bled knows our pain, and He has conquered it. Do you believe, and will you follow?
When the world says we deserve shame and embarrassment, Jesus is quick to offer and model mercy and forgiveness.
The New Testament church was as vulnerable as churches today to develop spiritual amnesia and to lose their way. In the last chapter of Hebrews, the Bible gives us six reminders that can help us to remember how to continue our way forward in our faith journey.
Having faith in God is a lot like having creativity. God invites us to imagine the "unseen" and step into new things, like baseball teams themed around bananas.
This week, Pastor Brent reminds us that Jesus is far greater than the Old Testament sacrificial system. Jesus gave everything for us, and Brent outlines four ways we can improve our relationship with God this week.
Mature believers can accurately distinguish good from evil. All of us should constantly work toward believing correct things AND doing good things.
It's easy for our hearts to harden over time. What areas do you need to soften toward Jesus, and how can you help others do that too?
Today we'll hear the first warning that the writer of Hebrews shares in the book: be careful not to drift away. Don't ignore so great a salvation. The message of salvation gives us so many things including: Jesus himself, God's people as a community, and God's power for life today. Oh, and Happy Father's Day!
Guest speaker Nasser Al'Qahtani joins us as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday and hear about mission efforts to share Jesus with unreached people around the world.
Our ability to mentor quality disciples has to outweigh and overpower the efforts of the world around us.
Work hard at passing "success tests" and "trial tests" when God sends them your way, and never forget to be thankful, giving credit to God.
If you or someone you know is facing serious illness, go to a doctor and never stop praying.
When facing seemingly impossible situations, remember to seek wise counsel, pray, and trust God's ultimate plan.
On the scale of unbelief to belief, where do you land? What would it take for you to make a change?
Just like Peter denied Jesus, we all make mistakes that often leave us feeling guilt and remorse. How can we move on and live in freedom once we've experienced shame?
The New Day is here! We have exciting news to share today as we celebrate the conclusion of our Forward campaign.
In John 17, Jesus prayed for our protection, unity, and spiritual growth. We should pray for those things, too.
Troubling circumstances will lead to a troubled heart. Trusting God's promises will lead to peace.
In our lives, we've all played the role of the betrayer AND the betrayed. Next time someone betrays you, you have a choice of how you'll respond. (The good responses are harder.)
God prefers humble sinners over righteous pride. Our prayers should be full of humility seeking His grace we don't deserve.
Sometimes God calls us to take big leaps, and sometimes He invites us to small steps toward Him. What's your next "yes" this year?
Another new year brings another opportunity. What changes do you need to make? What's next for our church? How's your "zeal" level?
We can choose to either have hearts made of wax or of mud. Have you made room in your heart for Jesus? Merry Christmas--and happy Easter!
Most of us experience varying degrees of doubt throughout our faith journeys, and that's ok. John the Baptist did, too. Doubt often (eventually) draws us closer to Jesus.
We often forget or quickly read over the "incarnation." Jesus coming to earth was a miracle, and we should live with gratitude and a willingness to serve.
Much like John the Baptist, we should have "soft eyes" in the world we live in. John wishes for us to have an authentic encounter with Jesus this Christmas season.
Pastor Brent and Pastor Joe tag-team through a handful of random instructions in Colossians 4, followed by a time of live Q&A.
Our culture today has a lot of similarities to the ancient city of Colosse. Jesus calls us to "walk worthy," so how can we do that on our crowded streets with competing ideas?
God intends for each of us to invite others to contribute to our story AND for us to contribute to theirs.
Jonah and the people of Nineveh don't respond how we would expect them to in Jonah 3. What can we learn from them in our modern lives today?
Every hour is an hour of worship, so how can we effectively share Jesus with those around us in our day-to-day spaces?
We pledge allegiance to all sorts of things, including our most important relationships. How can we develop relationships that honor God and benefit others?
We all have significant markers in our life, and today is a big one for our church family.
Life and faith are hard. Are you willing to push through barriers and go to hard places? Pastor Joe Skillen shares an important message alongside an interview between Pastor Brent and guest Denzel Goolsby.
Some friendships are bad, but others make us better people. Choose your friends wisely!
Today we're launching a new 7-week series through the book of Proverbs. The Bible commands us to "get wisdom," but how do we actually do that?
Today's services are led completely by our Student Ministry! Pastor Kyle Goings shares a special message with updates about our ministry, plus stories from our Costa Rica mission trip, and maybe just a little bit of energy from our middle and high school students.
We'll never completely get rid of injustice, but Jesus offers us peace IN SPITE of the pain around us.
We don't have a lot of control over the "outside voices" of discouragement that come our way, but we can choose what our "leading voice" will be.
Jesus-followers living with prayer, risk, surrender, and joy are unstoppable in their mission.
This week Pastor Brent talks about relational peace with God and situational peace in our circumstances.
Guest speaker Sam McVay shares insights and practical takeaways for us based on the Lord's prayer.
Confession is an important part of our prayer lives. What sin do you need to confess to God?
The Bible instructs us to pray for everyone--and specifically leaders and our enemies. Will you join us in praying for these groups this week?
The Bible is full of several examples of believers (and Jesus) fasting. What is it, and why should we do it?
Building your life on temporary things will get you temporary results. Looking toward 2021, consider this question: what is YOUR foundation?
God's call to love our enemies is extremely counter-cultural, but that kind of love can draw others to Jesus.
One day God's justice will prevail. In the meantime, we should be grateful for His grace.
God is above and before all things. He can be trusted, and He deserves our worship. Are you ready to surrender to Him?
The Bible is clear that we are not like God. How do we get to know what God is really like?
Guest speaker Pastor D.M. Gates helps us learn about the racial divide in our culture and how we are called to respond.
Our primary job as parents is to pass on our faith to the next generation. How did King David do that, and how should we?
King David knew what it was like to have a divided and broken family. How did he deal with it, and how should you?
The topic of discipline can be a touchy subject for parents. What does the Bible say about discipline, and--more specifically in this series--what did King David do (or not do)?
Some day we will all be held accountable for how we lived. How are your "sticks and bricks"?
When Jesus comes back to earth, there will be four "Hallelujahs" and a great marriage feast. What does that mean?
"The rapture" actually isn't in the book of Revelation... so what exactly is it, and what do we need to know about it?
What IS the book of Revelation, how should we read it, and how does it affect us today?
We have a big and important mission ahead of us. We need discipline and focus to stay on track.
We all face choice overload, and we've all made choices we regret. What does the Bible say about this, and how can we make good, healthy decisions?
The world is full of hollow and deceptive philosophy. We need to take every thought captive to keep our minds healthy.
Pastor John Oelze interviews a panel of Christian counselors for encouragement and advice on how to navigate this season of COVID and social/political unrest. There is hope!
How do we decide if we need to confront someone about their sin? And how do we accept it if people confront us?
We need good behavior AND a soft heart to maintain healthy relationships with God and with people.
Godly repentance eventually leads to a life without regrets. If you say sorry, make sure you don't have to say sorry again!
We all face temptation. When you are "squeezed," what comes out? How do we grow stronger in the fight against temptation?
There are four qualities that we can all develop to improve our leadership--and our relationships.
We all start off wanting a healthy marriage, but the natural drift of life can sometimes lead us to selfish and "contract" marriages. See how Brent's flower pot art demonstrates the limitless love of a one-flesh marriage.
"Doubting Thomas" should really be called "Unbelieving Thomas." Disbelief in God is bad, but sometimes doubt leads us to healthy decisions.
In response to fear, worry, and anxiety, we need to go vertical to God, and horizontal to those around us.
Guest speaker Bob Davis (Multiply Regional Leader for SE and East Asia) joins us to share encouraging lessons from the global church.
We need grit to be successful and make it through life's challenges. Not only is that good advice, but the Bible is full of examples and verses encouraging hard work and grit.
There are five things that may be keeping God from answering your prayers. Jesus also had specific prayers for His disciples.
God had a plan to save humanity from the very beginning. He also knows (and cares about) every detail of your life. He's the master planner, and we can find comfort in that.
We are (unfortunately) spiritually drawn to darkness. We need to choose to embrace the light of Jesus and declare it out loud.
Guest speaker Kyle Goings reminds us it really doesn't matter how you start your relationship with God. We all need to finish strong.
Guest speaker Stephen Humber shares the importance of living well in our "second" and "third" places.
Every mountain gets smaller when you move forward with prayer, risk, surrender, and joy.
Our target is to not under or over-contextualize to our culture. We need to learn to speak the language of our culture so we don't hinder the Gospel.
When we face differences of opinion, God calls the Church to walk forward together in unity.
As we kick off this pivotal sermon series, Pastor Brent explains our new vision and changes we aim to make.
As we take communion together, we take time to remember and proclaim the truth and the gift of Christ's sacrifice for us.
Guest speaker Nasser al'Qahtani shares stories from Scripture and invites us to learn to listen and act when God speaks.
God expects us to help build His house before we build our own. Giving to God should be our top financial priority.
Last week we talked about the husband/wife relationship. This week we're tackling parent/child and employer/employee. How can we use these relationships to please God?
Every family needs a leader and a follower. Husbands must lead well, and wives must follow well. Why did God set it up this way? We'll explore and try to answer tough questions.
Everyone sins, but (for Christians) sin no longer defines our identity. Thank you, Jesus!
Relationships matter, and the Bible has a lot to say about how to do them well day to day. Here are some pointers from Ephesians 4.
Jesus tore down the wall of hostility between the Jews and the Gentiles, and He desires peaceful relationships for us as well. Here are four things you should try to pursue peace in your life.
We are saved by grace through faith. Pastor Brent shares four (very incredible) drawings to illustrate salvation.
Spiritual wisdom is more valuable than intelligence or knowledge. What is "spiritual wisdom," and how do you get it?
The first chapter of Ephesians promises "spiritual blessings" to the followers of Jesus. What does that mean, and how should we live in response?
Pastor Brent shares about his journey growing closer to the Spirit, and gives advice for how we can do the same.
Guest speaker Sam McVay join us to share more about the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.
When you have the Holy Spirit in you, you also have the mind of Christ. It takes effort, but we can learn to think like Jesus thinks.
Jesus died to give us heaven someday and meaningful life now. To live that way, we must have "divine alignment."
No one expected a parade to erupt when Jesus entered Jerusalem, but there were also other surprises on the first Palm Sunday.
The "unexpected" Easter story begins with an unusual meal between Jesus and His disciples.
Andy Owen (one of our missionaries serving in Thailand) reminds us to pause and look for burning bush moments where God is at work.
There are things God does that we don't understand, and we have to be ok with that. Today Pastor Brent shares some things that may be helpful this side of heaven.
The Israelites didn't always make good decisions, but Brent outlines a few "heuristics" (Google it) to help us today.
We're called to put God first in our life. Pastor Brent provides four ways we can do that today.
We can learn four practical lessons from Elkanah and Hannah in the opening of 1 Samuel.
Pastor Brent leads us through our values and mission that help us become who God wants us to be.
Pastor John Oelze reminds us the importance of living out our six priorities as a church family.
As we kick off 2019, Pastor Brent has four words for all of us to focus on as we move in to God's plan for our future.
On this last Sunday of 2018, guest speaker James Burkett shares lessons we can learn from Jesus' last words on the cross.
From the very beginning, God used people to be carriers of hope to those in need around them. We have the same responsibility today.
Every year we give away 100% of one of our morning offerings. Today we hear from the three recipients of this year's offering: Family Promise, Paul & Sara Raugust, and Lighthouse Community Church.
If you have a "bucket list," prayer probably isn't on your list. But it was on Peter's.
Today we're honored to hear stories from our MB workers in Burundi: Doug and Onesphore.
God gives each of us stories that can inspire others to greater faith. Today we heard stories from our missionaries Spencer & Diane Neill.
We all have a responsibility to tell others about Jesus, and it doesn't have to be as difficult or scary as it seems.
Understanding the Bible isn't always easy, but you can do it. Here are some tools that may help.
As we celebrate our 75th birthday, we take a moment to reflect on God's goodness in our past and see where we think He's leading us in the future.
In John's letter to the church of Philadelphia, he encourages them (and us) to take advantage of open doors.
Make sure your reputation matches your reality (John's letter to the church of Sardis).
Hold on and stand up for what you know is right. (John's letter to the church of Thyatira in Revelation)
Beware the "Principle of Newness." Don't lose sight of the passion you had for Jesus at first.
There's a difference between ACKNOWLEDGING truth and SUBMITTING to truth (Palm Sunday 2018).
Don't OVER or UNDER react when facing injustice. Just like Daniel, speak with kindness when enacting change.
The Bible might have more historical credibility than you thought. You should read it! Here are some tools to get started.