Epikos Church Sermons

In this message from Mark 15, we step into the tension of a Savior who is both rejected and resolute. As Jesus stands before Pilate, falsely accused and publicly condemned, His silence speaks louder than any defense ever could. While the crowd demands Barabbas and cries out for crucifixion, Jesus chooses the will of the Father over convenience, comfort, and self-preservation. This sermon invites us to wrestle with the same question the crowd unknowingly faced: will we choose what satisfies us now, or will we trust the One who saves us eternally? In a world driven by immediacy and self-interest, the quiet strength of Jesus reveals a deeper truth—trusting God often means choosing Him when it’s hardest. Through powerful storytelling and honest reflection, this message challenges us to examine where we might be choosing “Barabbas” in our own lives—opting for what’s easy, popular, or immediately gratifying instead of what’s eternal and life-giving. Jesus didn’t come to win arguments or meet expectations; He came to fulfill a mission that would cost Him everything so that we could go free. And because He chose the cross, we can choose Him—even when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly. This is the invitation of the gospel: to trust deeply, surrender fully, and follow faithfully, knowing that true life is found not in having it our way, but in choosing His.

In this message from Mark 14, we step into the unfolding suffering of Jesus—where loyalty falters, strength fades, and the weight of the cross draws near. From the upper room to the garden of Gethsemane, we see a Savior who knows exactly what lies ahead: betrayal, denial, abandonment. And yet, He does not turn away. Instead, Jesus reveals a deeper truth about suffering—that it does not break the surrendered heart, only the self-reliant one. Even as His closest friends fail Him, Jesus remains anchored in His purpose, choosing obedience over escape, surrender over self-preservation. Through these three scenes, we are invited into a better way to endure suffering: with prayer, with surrender, and within community. Jesus models what it means to bring our anguish honestly before the Father while still trusting His will above our own. He shows us that suffering, when rooted in Him, does not define us—our identity in Him does. Whether we face deserved, innocent, or righteous suffering, the call remains the same: trust the One who endured it all without breaking. This is not just the story of His suffering—it is the path He lays before us, leading to redemption, resilience, and a faith that holds firm.

In Mark 14:1–25, we’re invited into a tension-filled moment where devotion and betrayal sit side by side. A woman breaks open an alabaster jar and pours out costly perfume—an act others call wasteful, but Jesus calls beautiful. At the same time, Judas quietly prepares to trade Jesus for silver. It’s a scene that confronts us with a question: what is Jesus worth to us? Is He someone we measure and manage, or someone we surrender to without reservation? In a world driven by efficiency and image, this passage reminds us that authentic worship is often misunderstood—and always costly. As the story moves to the Last Supper, Jesus reframes everything through bread and cup, pointing to a sacrifice that redefines love and loyalty. Even as betrayal looms, He offers Himself freely. This isn’t just a historical moment—it’s an invitation. To examine our own hearts. To recognize where we’ve held back. And to respond not with calculated gestures, but with wholehearted trust. Because in the kingdom Jesus ushers in, the greatest act isn’t taking—it’s giving everything.

When the future feels uncertain, how should followers of Jesus respond? In this message from Mark 13, Epikos Discipleship Pastor Jacob Machielski walks through one of the most challenging passages in the Gospel of Mark—a chapter filled with unsettling descriptions of wars, persecution, deception, and tribulation. While many focus on timelines, predictions, and end-times charts, Jesus points His followers to something far more important. Instead of fueling fear or speculation, this passage calls believers to remain steady in their faith, trusting the One who holds the future. Even when the world feels unstable and the details remain unclear, our hope in Christ is certain. Through Jesus’ teaching, we discover a powerful reminder: when the future feels uncertain, stay faithful to Christ. That faithfulness takes shape in two practical ways—looking for Jesus and staying on task. Rather than becoming consumed by anxiety about what might happen next, Jesus calls His followers to remain watchful, rooted in Scripture, and committed to the mission of sharing the gospel with the world. As we trust God’s control over history, we’re invited to live faithfully today—serving others, loving our neighbors, and bringing the hope of Jesus into every place we do life.

In this message from Gospel of Mark 12:35–44, we step into the temple during the final week of Jesus’ life and watch Him confront the religious leaders with a question they cannot answer. Quoting Psalms 110 and pointing back to the promise of 2 Samuel 7, Jesus asks how the Messiah can be both David’s Son and David’s Lord. The riddle exposes more than bad theology—it reveals hardened hearts. The scribes know the Scriptures inside and out, yet their love for recognition, status, and control proves they have missed the very One the Scriptures point to. This sermon unpacks that tension and reminds us: knowing who God is isn’t about winning debates or looking spiritual—it’s about lives transformed by the truth. The passage closes with a striking contrast at the temple treasury. As wealthy worshipers give from their abundance, a poor widow quietly offers two small copper coins—everything she had. Jesus declares her gift greater, not because of its size, but because of her surrender. Together, these scenes press one clear takeaway: knowing who God is shows up in how you live. From generosity to humility to daily obedience, our actions reveal what we truly believe. This message invites us to examine our own hearts—are we performing like the scribes, or trusting like the widow? And as we look to Jesus, the greater King who would soon give everything for us, we’re called to respond with wholehearted faith.

In Mark 11:27–12:34, Jesus enters Jerusalem and is immediately confronted by religious leaders demanding to know by what authority He acts. What follows is a series of searching questions and piercing parables that expose hardened hearts, misplaced allegiances, and shallow religion. Yet at the center of it all, Jesus reveals something deeper: true authority rests not in power plays or performance, but in the beloved Son who comes in humility and truth. In this sermon, we explore how Jesus dismantles counterfeit faith and invites us into wholehearted love for God — a love that engages our heart, soul, mind, and strength. As Jesus reframes the greatest commandment, we are reminded that Christianity is not about winning arguments or guarding appearances, but about responding to God’s initiating love with surrendered trust. Whether skeptical, curious, or long-time believer, this passage calls us to consider the authority of Christ and the kind of love that marks those who belong to His kingdom.

In Gospel of Mark chapter 11, we encounter a King who refuses to fit our expectations. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna,” the crowd waves palms and projects their hopes of political victory onto Him. But this is no campaign rally—this is a confrontation. From the fig tree with leaves but no fruit, to the temple full of activity but empty of prayer, Jesus exposes a surface-level faith that looks alive from a distance yet withers up close. The message is clear: religion without repentance is nothing but leaves. Trusting Jesus isn’t meant to fit neatly into our routines, playlists, or Sunday schedules—it’s meant to overturn tables in our hearts and transform us from the inside out. In this powerful teaching, we’re reminded that what isn’t rooted in Christ will ultimately wither away. Jesus invites us beyond performative faith into a life marked by real fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Prayer isn’t about bending God to our will; it’s about aligning our hearts with His. Mountains move not because we name and claim, but because we trust and surrender. The question before us is simple but searching: are we asking Jesus to fit our lives, or are we surrendering to let Him change them? May our faith be more than leaves. May it bear fruit that lasts.

What does it mean to truly see Jesus? In Mark 10:32–52, as Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem, we encounter two very different responses to the same Messiah. James and John, confident and ambitious, ask for positions of glory. Bartimaeus, blind and desperate, asks simply to see. Through this contrast, Jesus exposes the danger of spiritual blindness—wanting a Savior without the suffering—and redefines greatness in His kingdom as humble service rather than power or position. At the center of this passage stands Mark 10:45, the heartbeat of the Gospel of Mark: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This message invites us to pray dangerous prayers—“Lord, help me see” and “Where do You want me to follow?”—and to consider whether we are willing to embrace the cross and follow Jesus on the way, even when that road leads through suffering, sacrifice, and surrender.

In this message, Pastor Mark explores what it means to truly follow Jesus through three teachings from the Gospel of Mark: Jesus's words on divorce, His encounter with the rich young ruler, and His blessing of the children. Using the tragic story of Sir John Franklin's lost Arctic expedition, he illustrates the danger of depending on our own expertise rather than the one who knows the way forward.The central message is clear: following Jesus requires complete dependence on Him. Whether it's navigating the complexities of marriage, surrendering our wealth and control, or approaching God with childlike trust, Jesus calls us to depend on Him rather than ourselves. This dependent faith will cost us something—our pride, our control, our self-sufficiency—but the reward far exceeds anything we could achieve on our own.To watch the sermon previously preached more in-depth on the topic of divorce, click here.

Jesus’ words in Mark 9:42–50 are intense, sobering, and deeply clarifying. In this teaching, we’re invited to rethink what it really means to follow Jesus and live as His disciples in the world. Using the imagery of salt, fire, and sacrifice, this message explores how discipleship isn’t about comfort, status, or appearances—but about wholehearted devotion to God. Drawing from the Old Testament sacrificial system, we see that to be “salty” is to live a life fully surrendered, one that’s willing to endure refining fire so it can faithfully reflect God’s covenant and character. This sermon presses into two core expressions of a salty life: humility and holiness. Jesus calls His followers to lay aside pride, welcome the “little ones,” and refuse to let unchecked sin dull their witness or harm others along the way. Though the language is strong, the invitation is gracious—an invitation to self-reflection, repentance, and community. When we choose self-sacrifice over self-preservation, and obedience over compromise, our lives become seasoned offerings that bring peace, healing, and the presence of Jesus into a fractured world.

In this message from Mark 9:14–29, we encounter a father caught between belief and doubt, desperation and hope. Coming down from the mountaintop of the Transfiguration, Jesus steps into the chaos of a broken world and meets a man who prays one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: “I believe; help my unbelief.” This passage reminds us that faith is not the absence of doubt, but the courageous decision to trust Jesus in the middle of it. As we reflect on what it means to follow Jesus off the mountain and into real life, we’re invited to rethink faith—not as something we muster up, but as dependence on the One who is always enough. When our faith feels fragile, Jesus remains faithful. When our strength runs out, His power remains. Wherever you find yourself today, this story calls us to bring our doubts, our hopes, and our need for help honestly before Christ, trusting that He is more than able.

On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus is revealed not merely as another prophet, but as the beloved Son of God—radiant with glory and affirmed by the Father’s voice: “Listen to him.” In this message from Mark 9, we’re invited to slow down and truly hear what Jesus is saying about who He is and what it means to follow Him. Surrounded by Moses and Elijah, Jesus stands alone as greater than all who came before, calling His disciples—and us—to trust His words and His way. Listening to Jesus reshapes our expectations. He tells us plainly that suffering will come, not as a failure of faith, but as part of following Him in a broken world. Yet this suffering is not without hope. Jesus leads us through the cross into life, inviting us to surrender what the world promises for something far greater in Him. As we listen, stay near, and walk in obedience, we discover that following Jesus—though costly—is deeply worth it.

"Join us today as we explore the question that Jesus asks His disciples in Mark 8: “Who do you say I am?” What feels like faith quickly reveals our instinct to shape Jesus into something manageable, something aligned with our expectations rather than God’s redemptive plan. Today's scripture confronts us with a defining choice: will we cling to our own version of life, or entrust ourselves fully to the crucified and risen King? "

Whether you’re joining us from home after Christmas or stepping into the new year with us for the first time, we’re so glad you’re here. This special at-home gathering invites our Epikos family into a long-form conversation centered on Advent—not as a season that ends in December, but as a way of living all year long. Together, our leaders reflect on what it means to wait with hope, faith, joy, and peace as we anticipate the second coming of Jesus. From personal stories and church history to Scripture and everyday practices, this conversation reminds us that Christmas doesn’t end—it shapes how we live, trust, and love in the midst of a broken world. We’re also looking ahead: in-person services resume January 4 at all Epikos campuses, and we can’t wait to worship together as we begin the new year. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously this year, supporting people, places, and programs with gospel impact across our city. If you’d like to participate in what God is doing through Epikos, consider giving a year-end gift at epikos.org/give. Grace and peace as you wait, trust, rejoice, and walk forward with us.

"Celebrate Christmas through the lens of Matthew 1 as we step into Joseph’s story and see the quiet strength of faithful obedience in the middle of chaos. This message reminds us that the arrival of Jesus didn’t remove uncertainty—it revealed character, trust, and the steady presence of God at work behind the scenes. At Christmas, we don’t just remember a moment in history; we proclaim a living reality. Jesus is fully God and fully man, the God who saves and the God who is with us. Whatever season you’re walking through, this story invites you to trust that God is near, faithful, and at work—even when life feels like an uncontrollable ride."

Christmas is more than a season of traditions—it’s a holy disruption that reminds us who is in control. In this message, Pastor Mark invites us to name the chaos we live in, from personal anxiety to cultural disorder, and to see how the promise of Christmas meets us right there. Drawing from Isaiah 8–9, we’re reminded that the light of Christ doesn’t ignore the darkness; it enters it, bringing calm, hope, and meaning while we wait. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we’re invited into a simple but powerful rhythm: acknowledge the chaos, remember God’s faithfulness, and move forward in trust. Jesus didn’t come to remove us from every hardship, but to be with us in it—and that presence changes everything. May this season anchor you in the calm that only Christ can bring.

In Mark 8, Jesus encounters two groups who both misunderstand Him—the Pharisees and the disciples. Though they respond differently, each brings preconceived ideas about who the Messiah should be. The Pharisees demand a sign but refuse to trust what’s already been revealed. The disciples, while confused and distracted, remain with Jesus and are willing to keep learning. At the heart of this passage is a simple but challenging truth: Jesus has already given us everything we need to understand who He is—the real question is whether we trust Him. This message invites us to examine our own heart posture. Are we trying to fit Jesus into a box shaped by our assumptions, or are we allowing Him to define Himself through His Word? As we stay rooted in Scripture and open to being changed, Jesus continues to reveal who He is—and in doing so, shapes who we are becoming.

Join us for reading Mark 7:1-8:10

Join Epikos as we our journey through the Gospel of Mark, exploring the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000. In this message, we learn how Jesus shows deep compassion—for the disciples, for the crowd, and for each of us today. Discover what true, active compassion looks like and how we are called to live it out in our daily lives. Be encouraged, challenged, and reminded of God’s abundant provision and love.

In Mark 6, we see both the beauty and the cost of following Jesus. As Jesus is rejected in His hometown and sends His disciples out with nothing but faith and purpose, we’re reminded that the gospel invites us into a life of trust, mission, and perseverance. Even in the face of rejection, God calls us to share the good news with compassion and clarity. Through the story of John the Baptist and the sending of the Twelve, we’re invited to examine where God has placed us and how we can live out our faith with courage, humility, and hope.

This message invites us into Mark 5, where we see Jesus step into desperate and impossible situations with authority, compassion, and life-giving power. Through the intertwined stories of a hurting father, a woman who has suffered for years, and a young girl restored, we’re reminded that even mustard-seed faith is enough when placed in the hands of a powerful Savior. No matter our background or burdens, Jesus meets us personally—He sees us, knows us, and brings restoration to places we assumed were beyond hope. As we reflect on this passage and celebrate moments of new life across our campuses, we’re reminded that Jesus continues to bring healing, identity, and transformation to His people today."

In this message, we look at Mark 5 and the powerful moment when Jesus meets a man bound by darkness. Through this encounter, we see that the spiritual realm is real—but so is Jesus’ authority and compassion. He brings freedom where there’s bondage, light where there’s despair, and purpose where there was once shame. This story reminds us that when Jesus transforms our lives, He also calls us to share that story so others can experience His mercy too.

In this sermon, Pastor Mark explores the story of Jesus calming the storm from Mark's Gospel, using it to address how believers can find peace amid life's turbulent circumstances. The message delves into the historical context of the Sea of Galilee and first-century fishing boats to help us understand the disciples' fear during the violent storm. Pastor Mark emphasizes that the disciples misunderstood both Jesus's intentions and authority—moving from fear of the storm to an even greater fear (awe) of Jesus when He calmed the waters with just His words. He defines this "fear of the Lord" as being filled with awe when God's holiness and kindness outweigh everything else in the room. Through vivid descriptions of modern storms—financial anxiety, marital distance, chronic illness, and spiritual weariness—Pastor Mark challenges listeners to recognize that Jesus has already conquered the greatest storm: eternal separation from God. He concludes with three key principles: faith isn't denying the storm but defying its verdict, safety is found in a person (Jesus) not a place, and peace comes from the presence of God's Word rather than the absence of waves.

This message unpacks Jesus's parable of the sower from Mark 4, exploring why some seeds take root while others don't. Pator Tommy explains how Jesus uses this story to show what responses we can expect when sharing the gospel: some have it snatched away, some walk away during hard times, some are seduced by worldly things, and some fall on good soil where faith takes deep root and multiplies. Three additional parables clarify our role: we're meant to be light (not hide under a basket), we can't force growth (only cultivate conditions for it), and small beginnings lead to kingdom-wide impact (the mustard seed).

This message tackles one of the most misunderstood passages in Mark 3—the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit—by using the literary structure of a "Markan sandwich" to reveal the text's true focus. While addressing concerns about the unforgivable sin (explaining it as either denying Christ until death or the scribes' specific accusation that Jesus worked by Satan's power), pastor Mark shows how these verses actually answer a bigger question: Who's in the family of God? Jesus's powerful response—that He has bound the strong man (Satan) and is plundering his house—demonstrates His authority to free people from spiritual oppression. The surprising inclusion of Jesus's own family thinking He was "out of His mind" reminds us that even those closest to Jesus experienced doubt. The central invitation is clear: stop being merely a fan of Jesus and become part of His family through saving faith and obedience.

This message explores what true rest looks like through Jesus's claim to be Lord of the Sabbath in Mark 2. While Pastor Mark acknowledges that physical rest—sleep, vacations, time off—is important and necessary, he challenges the assumption that these forms of rejuvenation are enough. Drawing on research about seven types of rest, he argues that Jesus offers something deeper: restoration that comes not from cessation of work, but from participating in God's work. Rather than a temporary escape from weariness, Jesus provides a sustained rest within the midst of life's difficulties. The key insight is that true Sabbath rest comes through joining God in His work—serving the poor, feeding the hungry, caring for creation—not through attempting to merit God's approval through our own efforts. The central question becomes: Are you chasing temporary rest, or have you entered into the life-sustaining restoration that comes from participating in God's purposes?

This message examines Jesus's conflict with the Pharisees in Mark 2, exploring how Jesus confronted religious legalism by eating with tax collectors and redefining fasting practices. Pastor Mark Deering uses the analogy of a trellis to illustrate how spiritual rhythms (like Bible reading, prayer, and worship) should support our relationship with God rather than become rigid religious obligations. Three key principles emerge: we need healthy spiritual rhythms, those rhythms must be flexible for different life seasons, and we shouldn't use our rhythms to judge others. The central challenge is to let Jesus set the rhythm of our faith so we can live out of authentic relationship with Him rather than religious duty.

This message explores the healing of the paralytic in Mark 2:1–12, challenging viewers to consider which miracle truly matters in the story. While four friends dramatically lower their paralyzed companion through a roof to reach Jesus, the focus shifts from physical healing to spiritual forgiveness. Pastor Jacob Michalski explains that Jesus uses the physical healing to demonstrate his divine authority to forgive sins—the deeper healing we all desperately need. The key question posed is: Do we live like we've been forgiven? Even when physical healing doesn't come, we can experience the transformative miracle of forgiveness through faith in Christ.

This message launches a new series exploring who Jesus truly is through the Gospel of Mark. Pastor Mark Deering explains how the apostle Mark wrote with urgency for a persecuted church, wanting them to understand Jesus as the promised Messiah. Through Jesus's baptism, temptation, and calling of the disciples in Mark 1, he shows how Christ invites us to "drop our nets" and follow him completely. The key question posed is: what are you still holding onto that prevents you from fully following Jesus as your Messiah?

In the second week of the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark Deering shares a personal story about his family's relationship with their neighbor Ray—a struggling man his teenage self couldn't understand why his father would help. Through Ray's story and the parable of the Good Samaritan, this message explores how God places specific neighbors in our lives for us to reach, not as projects to fix, but as people to love regardless of whether they "add value" to our lives. The sermon addresses how recent events test whether our conversations truly model Christ's love for neighbors who disagree with us. Pastor Mark explains that we are equipped by God to move toward our neighbors through the Holy Spirit's gifts, and outlines a three-fold strategy of connect, grow, and serve. The message emphasizes that proximity changes perspectives—we must be willing to get close to people who think differently from us because behind every opposing viewpoint is a person who needs God's grace.

In this message from the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" series, Pastor Mark explores what it truly means to love our neighbor in today's world. While we cerebrally know that our neighbor is everyone we encounter, do our lives actually reflect this truth? Drawing from Luke 10 and our church's mission to "reach every neighborhood," this sermon challenges common excuses (being too comfortable, busy, afraid, or proud) that prevent us from moving toward others. The message provides practical steps for identifying our neighborhoods (wherever God has placed us) and our neighbors (the people in those places), encouraging us to move beyond building walls around comfortable communities to actively inviting others in. This is a call to be known, present, involved, helpful, and open as we follow Christ's example of moving toward us first.

This sermon concludes the Revelation series by exploring the final vision of God's ultimate victory and eternal kingdom in chapters 21–22. Pastor Anthony Caples describes how the story ends with a "new heaven and new earth" where God dwells directly with His people, eliminating all chaos, fear, and suffering—moving into "the land of no more" where there will be no more death, pain, tears, or separation from God. Using the imagery of a wedding day, he explains how the church as Christ's bride will be united with Him face-to-face in the holy city, New Jerusalem, made of the most precious materials to reflect God's magnificence. The message emphasizes that this isn't just about a future hope but about Jesus repeatedly saying "I am coming soon"—inviting us to prepare our hearts and choose "Team Lamb" to be part of this greatest love story ever told, with the ultimate encouragement that believers' stories don't end but continue eternally in perfect relationship with God.

This sermon examines two faithful churches from Revelation 2–3 (Smyrna and Philadelphia) to show what it looks like to "follow the lamb" rather than compromise with spiritual opposition. Pastor Mark Deering draws three key lessons: first, we can follow Christ without fear because Jesus has conquered death and offers eternal life—He has the "collateral" to back up His promises since He died and rose again; second, we can live with confidence knowing that while we may face trials, we are spiritually secure for eternity; and third, we can live with anticipation rather than speculation about Christ's return, focusing on faithful witness and readiness rather than trying to decode timelines. The message emphasizes that Jesus uses ordinary believers as witnesses to hold open the door to His kingdom, encouraging listeners to live boldly for Christ knowing He's coming back—not in panic or fear, but with the excited anticipation of someone preparing their home for a loved one's return.

This sermon explores Jesus's messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, emphasizing that these were real churches on a known route in ancient Turkey who received prophetic warnings about compromise and complacency. Rather than getting lost in the specific details of each church's problems, Pastor Mark Deering focuses on the big picture: Jesus is warning all churches against spiritual compromise and lukewarmness while encouraging them to repent and remain faithful. The key insight is that the entire book of Revelation, including all its visions, was written for the benefit and encouragement of the church—not just to tell us how the story ends, but to equip us to live faithfully as "Team Lamb" while navigating the spiritual battles and temptations of "Team Dragon" until Christ's return, with the challenge to "stop flirting with team dragon and follow the lamb."

This sermon explores the climactic battle between "Team Lamb" (followers of Jesus) and "Team Dragon" (Satan's forces) from Revelation 19-20, focusing on the ultimate victory of Christ as the white rider who defeats evil once and for all. Rather than getting caught up in theological debates about the millennium, multiple battles, or the exact nature of hell, Pastor Tommy Hutchison emphasizes that John's main purpose was to pose one crucial question: which team are you on? The message contrasts two very different "feasts"—Team Lamb celebrating victory with God versus Team Dragon being defeated and judged—ultimately calling listeners to examine whether they're following Jesus or being seduced away by the world's false promises, with the assurance that following Christ through life's difficulties is worth it because of the eternal victory that awaits.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark Deering explains how Satan attempts to imitate God by creating false versions of divine authority, worship, and power, positioning himself as a deceptive alternative to Christ. The message warns against the subtle seduction of "Babylon" in modern life, particularly how Christians in religiously free societies may be lulled into complacency and drawn toward worldly values like power, celebrity, youth, beauty, wealth, success, and self-gratification. Rather than focusing on end-times speculation about the mark of the beast (666), the sermon emphasizes that Satan's deception is already present through any government, system, or structure that opposes Christ, and challenges believers to examine whether they are truly living as part of "Team Lamb" (following Jesus) or have been subtly seduced into living according to "Team Dragon's" values.

In this sermon, Pastor Mark Deering teaches on Revelation chapter 12, using a sports analogy to present it as a "scouting report" on Satan (identified as the dragon in the text). Pastor Mark analyzes the chapter through three sections that depict the woman representing God's people, the war in heaven resulting in Satan's expulsion to earth, and Satan's continued attacks on believers. He makes three key points: Satan is a master deceiver who misleads even faithful Christians through misconceptions about his power and nature, Satan has already decisively lost through Christ's cross victory and heavenly defeat, making believers victorious, and Satan actively targets Jesus' followers on earth. He concludes by urging us to recognize where we've been deceived, maintain a victorious rather than fearful posture, and remain aware of spiritual warfare while standing firm through prayer and community.

In this week's message, Pastor Tommy Hutchison explores who can survive God's final judgment, with John's answer being that all of God's people - symbolized by the 144,000 and described as a countless multitude from every nation - will be "sealed" and protected. Pastor Tommy explains that while believers are secure from final judgment, they are called to live faithfully as "lampstands" in the present world, declaring Jesus despite facing various forms of persecution and temptation. He challenges the congregation to identify specific areas of their lives where they can shine Christ's light and emphasizes that Christians need Jesus regardless of whether they face overt persecution or more subtle cultural pressures.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark Deering focuses on understanding the judgment passages in the book of Revelation, specifically the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls that represent God's confrontation with evil. Pastor Mark explains that these judgments shouldn't be viewed as chronological events but rather as different perspectives on the same period of time, like watching a football play from multiple camera angles. He emphasizes that God is not doing evil but confronting it, and that these symbolic visions would have been understood by first-century readers facing persecution under the Roman Empire. The sermon concludes with three encouraging truths: Jesus is in control (holding the scroll), Christians shouldn't be surprised when evil things happen since Jesus already warned about them, and Jesus has already won the war and written the end of the story

Pastor Jacob Michalski's sermon on chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation focuses on two main themes: "Behold the Almighty God" and "Behold the Victorious Lamb." John witnesses the throne room of heaven where God Almighty sits in majesty, surrounded by 24 elders and four living creatures who worship Him continuously, establishing that God is the center of all worship. When a sealed scroll appears that no one is worthy to open, causing John to weep in despair, Jesus appears as both the "Lion of Judah" and the "slain Lamb" who is worthy to take the scroll because of His sacrificial death and resurrection. The sermon concludes with the encouragement that Jesus, as the victorious lamb, holds the destiny of the world in His hands, offering hope to believers that He is in control regardless of life's struggles and persecution.

This week's sermon introduces a new series on the book of Revelation with Pastor Jacob Michalski addressing the congregation's mixed feelings about this challenging biblical book. Using the metaphor of hiking guideposts, he presents four principles for studying Revelation: interpretations must be understandable to first-century readers, the book has many valid interpretations requiring humility, it uses symbolic apocalyptic literature to reveal God's plan, and it should be studied as a complete narrative. Pastor Jacob explains that Revelation tells the story of God's ultimate victory over evil, from heavenly visions to earthly chaos to the establishment of His eternal kingdom. The sermon emphasizes that Revelation is meant to provide hope and encouragement to faithful followers of Jesus rather than instill fear.

This sermon concludes an 18-week series on Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, focusing on three illustrations from Matthew 7 that emphasize the importance of choice in following Christ. Pastor Anthony Caples explains that Jesus presents believers with clear choices: the narrow gate versus the wide gate (with Jesus being the narrow gate leading to life), discerning between good and bad spiritual fruit to identify false prophets, and building one's life foundation on the solid rock of Jesus rather than the shifting sand of self-reliance. Pastor Anthony emphasizes that there is no neutral path or third option - indecision itself is a choice that leads away from salvation. He concludes by urging listeners to trust in Jesus as their firm foundation, noting that worldly accomplishments and wealth cannot save us during life's inevitable storms, but a relationship with Christ provides eternal security.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark Deering summarizes Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, identifying its central message as "living the kingdom life now" rather than waiting for eternity. He outlines three key elements of kingdom living: better values (emphasizing humility and vulnerability over worldly power), better relationships (focusing on the heart behind God's commands rather than legalistic rule-following), and better faith (characterized by complete dependence on Jesus). Each element includes a warning: don't be useless, don't miss the heart behind the commands, and don't become a hypocrite by trying to act like Jesus without actually trusting in Him. Pastor Mark emphasizes that Jesus calls believers to live so dependently on God that they have no choice but to trust Him daily, warning that there is no middle ground between living the kingdom life through Christ's power or living by our own desires.