Epikos Church Sermons

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.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering focuses on Jesus's teaching about prayer in the "ask, seek, and knock" passage, emphasizing that God invites believers to come to Him continually with their requests without fear of being annoying. Pastor Mark explains that during difficult seasons when God seems unresponsive to our prayers, we must remember to rest in God's goodness rather than judging Him by our limited understanding of what constitutes good outcomes. He teaches that we are God's children and should approach Him with childlike trust, understanding that if we knew everything God knows, we would only ask for what He has already provided. The message concludes by connecting this prayer relationship with the Golden Rule, showing that right relationship with God naturally leads to right relationships with others.

In this week’s message, Pastor Mark Deering focuses on Jesus's teaching "Judge not, that you be not judged" explaining that while we shouldn't judge others, we should maintain a discerning spirit. Pastor Mark defines judgment as forming fixed opinions about others, assuming their motives, and viewing them through a lens of self-righteousness. Jesus calls believers to help one another grow spiritually by addressing faults with humility and relationship rather than harsh judgment, recognizing that we all have "logs in our own eyes" while trying to remove "specks" from others'. Pastor Mark emphasizes five principles for discerning wisely: being slow to speak without experience, learning others' stories before sharing your own, recognizing that what bothers you about others might reveal your own issues, not giving wisdom to closed ears, and generously offering wisdom to those who are open to receive it.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison preaches on Jesus's command, "Do not be anxious about your life" clarifying that Jesus is specifically addressing anxiety that stems from chasing after material possessions rather than all forms of anxiety. He explained that when we serve "mammon" (money and possessions) instead of God, we inevitably experience more worry and anxiety because accumulating stuff brings added responsibilities and concerns. Jesus calls believers to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," trusting that God will provide for daily needs through miracles, honest work, and the generosity of fellow believers within the church community.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark Deering explores Jesus's teaching about treasures in heaven versus treasures on earth, explaining that where we place our treasures reveals where our hearts truly are. He unpacks Jesus's metaphor about the "bad eye" as referring to stinginess and lack of generosity, contrasting it with having a "good eye" that generously shares what God has provided. Pastor Mark emphasizes that Christians cannot serve both God and money simultaneously, and must choose which master they will prioritize in their lives. The sermon concludes with practical financial wisdom about prioritizing generosity to God first, then saving, and living off the remainder, rather than prioritizing personal desires and giving God only what's left over.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski explores the spiritual practice of voluntarily abstaining from food as a means of deepening one's relationship with God. Drawing from biblical context, he explains that fasting is not about performance or manipulating God, but rather about creating intentional moments of presence and communion with the divine. He highlights three key reasons for fasting: cultivating God's presence, remembrance of spiritual truths, and personal spiritual formation. Pastor Jacob encourages us to approach fasting as an invitation to a deeper spiritual life, while emphasizing the importance of individual health considerations and practicing fasting humbly and privately. He suggests starting small, such as skipping a single meal, and viewing fasting as a way to intensify spiritual dependence, enhance prayer, and recognize that spiritual needs are more fundamental than physical desires.

This week's message by Pastor Jacob Michalski focuses on prayer through three key questions: should I pray, why am I praying, and how should I pray. Pastor Jacob emphasizes that Jesus expects followers to pray genuinely seeking God's presence rather than human approval, breaking down the Lord's Prayer line by line to show how it connects to other teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. From personal experience, he shares how implementing "fixed hour prayer" three times daily transformed his prayer life by interrupting his day, addressing different needs, and establishing consistency. He closes by inviting the congregation to make the Lord's Prayer a foundational part of their daily lives, suggesting noon as a unified time for the entire church to pray together.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark explains Jesus's teachings about generosity and reward, particularly how Christians should practice righteousness not for public recognition but for God's approval. The message traces generosity throughout scripture, from God's creation to Old Testament tithing practices to Jesus's teachings, emphasizing that generosity should flow from the heart in all areas of life. Using personal stories about extraordinary acts of giving, Pastor Mark challenges the congregation to reframe their understanding of reward beyond financial security and to honestly evaluate whether they're giving according to their true ability, inviting them to upcoming financial stewardship sessions to explore these concepts further.

This Easter Sunday message focuses on the concept of being "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Pastor Mark explains that this resurrection power gives believers three key benefits: a radical new identity as children of God that transcends worldly identities; a restored purpose to share Jesus; and a resilient transformation that allows Christians to move forward despite failures and trials. Mark contrasts this with the human desire for a "reset button" in life, emphasizing that resurrection power is superior because it enables forward progress rather than just starting over. The message concludes with an invitation for non-believers to accept Jesus and celebrates those choosing to be baptized as a public declaration of their faith.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark encourages us to explore who our enemies might be—spiritual, relational/social, or political—and challenges listeners to identify those they might consider enemies in their lives. A story shared by a member of Epikos demonstrates the transformative power of following Jesus's command to love enemies. Pastor Mark provides practical guidance on loving enemies: first, write down their names and pray for their blessing (not just their repentance); second, avoid gossip and slander about them; and third, remember that God may be working in their lives in ways we don't understand. He connects this challenging command to Jesus's perfect example of love on the cross, where Christ loved and died for us while we were still his enemies, showing that the gospel is never too small to enable forgiveness and reconciliation.

In this week's message, Pastor Tommy addresses how Christians should respond when wronged by others. He explains that while Old Testament "eye for an eye" laws were meant to limit retaliation, Jesus takes this further by redefining retaliation completely. Instead of responding to wrongs with equal harm, Jesus calls his followers to practice "upside down retaliation" - responding to wrongs by giving what others don't deserve: respect, generosity, and humanity. Through four examples (turning the other cheek, giving your cloak, going the extra mile, and giving to those who ask), Pastor Tommy illustrates how Christians should prioritize peace and reconciliation over vengeance. He concludes by connecting this teaching to Jesus's own example, who didn't retaliate against humanity's sin but instead sacrificed himself to restore our relationship with God, demonstrating the ultimate form of upside-down retaliation.

In this week's message, Pastor Tommy speaks on Jesus's teachings about oaths. He explains that in Jesus's time, people were exploiting loopholes by swearing oaths on things "God-adjacent" rather than directly on God's name to avoid keeping their promises. Jesus responds by instructing his followers to "let your yes be yes and your no be no," advocating for radical trustworthiness instead of oath-taking. Pastor Tommy emphasizes that being trustworthy isn't just about personal reputation but also represents God to others, as believers are meant to reflect God's faithful character. He concludes by noting that when we break trust, we should admit our wrongs, and that Jesus will address how to respond when others wrong us in the following sermon.

In this week’s message, Pastor Mark explores the biblical perspective on marriage and divorce, emphasizing that while God's design for marriage was originally perfect, human brokenness has distorted it. It traces how divorce was addressed in the Old Testament and how interpretations of these laws evolved, sometimes to justify unjust divorces. Jesus confronted this distortion in his teachings, calling out those who manipulated scripture for personal gain. The message highlights that while divorce is not God’s desire, it is a provision due to human brokenness and should not be seen as an unforgivable sin. It also emphasizes Jesus’ unwavering commitment to His people, using marriage as a reflection of His relationship with the church, and encourages believers to uphold the sanctity of marriage while extending grace and support to those who have experienced divorce.

In this week's message, Pastor Mark focuses on Jesus's teachings about adultery, lust, and sexuality in Matthew 5. Pastor Mark uses the metaphor of a basket filled with items we need to keep, throw away, or add to represent our understanding of these topics. He establishes that God created a "kingdom sexual ethic" where sex is designed for marriage as a reflection of our relationship with God, emphasizing dignity, respect, and seeing others as image-bearers rather than objects of gratification. Jesus expands on "do not commit adultery" by addressing the heart, teaching that lustful intent is equivalent to adultery. Pastor Mark critiques the harmful aspects of purity culture while emphasizing two key responses to Jesus's teaching: surrendering our desires to God and being willing to sacrifice anything (metaphorically "cutting off a hand") that leads to sin. He concludes by connecting this to the church's mission of trusting Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing as Jesus did, encouraging listeners to seek support if needed.

In this week's message, Pastor Jacob continues the "Upside Down Kingdom" series, focusing on Jesus's teaching in Matthew 5 about anger. He explains that Jesus expands the commandment "do not murder" beyond physical violence to include anger, insults, and name-calling, treating these as seriously as murder itself. Jesus teaches that the commandment is more than a rule to follow; it's a guiding principle for loving others. While anger itself isn't inherently wrong (Jesus himself expressed anger at injustice), how we express and direct our anger matters greatly. Jesus calls his followers to pursue reconciliation when relationships are damaged, which involves reopening communication, engaging in forgiveness, and rebuilding trust. By managing our anger properly and valuing relationships enough to work toward reconciliation, Christians can be "salt and light" in the world.

Pastor Tommy explores Matthew 5:17-20 in this week's message, explaining Jesus's statement that he came to fulfill, not abolish, the law and prophets. He emphasizes that "the law and prophets" refers to God's rescue plan for humanity through Israel, which Jesus claims to be fulfilling. Pastor Tommy explains that when Jesus says our "righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees," he's not promoting works-based salvation but highlighting that true righteousness comes through relationship with him, not merely following rules. The Pharisees mistakenly prioritized rule-following over participating in God's mission.

In this sermon, Pastor Mark Deering continues the "Upside Down Kingdom" series, exploring Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. He examines Matthew 5:13–16, where Jesus tells his followers they are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." Pastor Mark explains three key insights: to be effective salt, believers must be authentic and avoid hypocrisy; to be light in the world, we must work together in community rather than attempting to go it alone; and finally, we must stop hiding our light under a basket, embracing vulnerability in all areas of life. Throughout the message, Pastor Mark emphasizes that the Sermon on the Mount is fundamentally about relationships—with God and with others—and he challenges us to examine where we might be failing to fully embrace our role as salt and light.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski focuses on The Beatitudes and what it means to "live the good life." He explains that the word "blessed" in the Beatitudes equates to "happy" or having "the good life," and then contrasts Jesus's unexpected view of who has the good life with common perspectives. While people typically think of the good life in terms of comfort, security, and material success, Jesus declares that the good life belongs to those who are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking, and even persecuted. Pastor Jacob emphasizes that this seemingly paradoxical teaching reflects Jesus's eternal perspective rather than a temporal one, and points out that the Beatitudes aren't a checklist but rather an assessment tool to see if one's heart aligns with God's perspective on the world. He concludes by encouraging his congregation to reflect on these teachings and compare their own definition of the good life with Jesus's vision.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark discusses Epikos Church's new mission and vision through the lens of the Great Commission from Matthew 28. He defines discipleship as a process of trusting in Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did, emphasizing that the church's role is to equip and encourage people in this journey. Our new mission statement reflects these values, and our vision is to "reach every neighborhood to see the gospel redeem and renew lives," highlighting our commitment to community, diversity, and spiritual growth. Pastor Mark uses our demographic map as evidence of their ability to unite people across different backgrounds, underlining the transformative power of the gospel in bringing people together under Jesus.

This week at Epikos Church, we celebrate 20 years of being a church! During this week’s message, Pastor Mark Deering walks through the past 20 years of the church, sharing stories of connection, growth, and life change from various people who call Epikos home.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison discusses a story from Luke 2 about 12-year-old Jesus being accidentally left behind in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph after Passover. After searching for three days, they find Jesus in the temple discussing scripture with religious teachers who were amazed by His understanding. When questioned by His worried parents, Jesus responded that "I must be in my father's house," demonstrating that even as a pre-teen, He knew His true identity was rooted in God the Father. Pastor Tommy uses this story to explore how Christians should similarly find their identity in God rather than in worldly things, explaining that humans were originally created to be "God's skyscrapers"—designed to display His glory to the world. The sermon concludes with three practical ways to develop this identity: spending time with God in prayer, being obedient to God's commands, and studying scripture.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering examines the story of Jesus's family fleeing to Egypt, contrasting King Herod's notorious pursuit of power and subsequent atrocities with Joseph's humble obedience to God's guidance. Pastor Mark weaves together historical context about Herod's rule, the significance of Nazareth as an obscure town, and the biblical prophecies fulfilled through these events. Throughout the message, he draws parallels between the ancient narrative and modern life, emphasizing how God often works through moments of obscurity and challenging circumstances, which he terms "Nazareth moments." The sermon concludes with a call for listeners to embrace these difficult periods in their lives with faith, understanding that salvation comes through Jesus regardless of their circumstances.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski focuses on the story of the Magi from Matthew Chapter 2, following the events of Jesus's birth. Pastor Jacob explores who the Magi were (explaining they were likely astronomers or advisers rather than kings), their encounter with King Herod, and the significance of their gifts to Jesus (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). He emphasizes two main points: that Jesus's birth fulfills God's promise through prophecy, and that Jesus's birth calls people to make a choice about whether to follow him.

In this special Christmas Eve service, Pastor Mark Deering challenges common misconceptions about Jesus's birth, explaining that rather than being turned away from an inn, Jesus was likely born in a family home in Bethlehem that was overcrowded due to Caesar's census. Pastor Mark emphasizes how Mary and Joseph were surrounded by family, with Jesus being placed in a manger in the home's animal area due to a lack of space in the guest room. He concludes by connecting the humble circumstances of Christ's birth to God's tendency to work in unexpected ways.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering recaps the three main parts of Luke 1: Zechariah's initial disbelief when told by an angel that his elderly wife Elizabeth would bear a son, Mary's faithful response to her own angelic visitation, and finally the birth of John the Baptist where Zechariah regains his speech and offers a prophecy of praise. Pastor Mark emphasizes how Zechariah's story shows a progression from doubt to complete surrender and praise, highlighting how he accepted that his son John would prepare the way for Jesus rather than follow in his priestly legacy.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison discusses the biblical story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly, childless priest and his wife who are promised a son by the angel Gabriel. The narrative highlights themes of faith, divine promise, and joy during the Advent season. Initially, Zechariah doubts the angel's proclamation and is struck mute, but when his son John is born, he demonstrates trust in God by naming the child as instructed rather than following traditional naming customs. The sermon emphasizes that joy is found in trusting God's promises and encourages listeners to rediscover the wonder of the Christmas story, whether experiencing it for the first time or as a long-time believer.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering explores the biblical narrative of Mary's song from Luke Chapter 1, focusing on the themes of God's faithfulness and humility. Using Mary's response to the angel Gabriel and her subsequent visit to Elizabeth, Pastor Mark highlights how a young teenage girl demonstrated profound spiritual insight by magnifying God despite her extraordinary circumstances. Pastor Mark emphasizes that God's faithfulness is not a chapter in our personal stories, but rather the foundational narrative to which our lives contribute. He encourages listeners to saturate themselves in biblical stories, recognize God's faithfulness in both prosperous and challenging times, and approach life with humility and a deep understanding of God's ongoing work.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Anthony Caples discusses the importance of prayer as a fundamental aspect of Christian life, focusing on Paul's teachings in 1 Timothy. He encourages us to view prayer as communication with God, emphasizing that it should be our first option, not a last resort. Pastor Anthony explores different types of prayer, including supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving, highlighting that prayer is about building a relationship with God through honest, detailed conversations and praying for others, including political leaders, with the ultimate goal of living peacefully and demonstrating God's love.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering explores the concept of being a "citizen of the kingdom of God". Drawing from scripture, he emphasizes that Christians should live differently by submitting to human institutions, honoring everyone, loving fellow believers, and fearing God. The key message is about living in the present world while keeping one's heart anchored to a greater, future hope. By imitating Jesus and responding to challenges with grace, respect, and love, we can demonstrate our faith authentically and silently prove critics wrong through our distinctive way of living.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski explores the complex relationship between Christian citizenship in heaven and earthly citizenship, particularly examining how believers should relate to governing authorities. Pastor Jacob discusses Paul's teaching that Christians should submit to governing authorities, pay taxes, and show respect and honor to leaders because all authority comes from God. He acknowledges the tension this creates, especially in politically divided times, and shares a personal story about how meeting a state senator who knew his late father helped him see politicians as human beings rather than just political figures. He leaves us with a challenge to humanize political leaders by learning about them and praying for them, regardless of political affiliation.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering discusses how Jesus' interactions with Pontius Pilate in the Gospels reveal important truths about the nature of Jesus' kingdom. While Pilate saw Jesus' kingship as a political threat, Jesus made it clear that his kingdom was not of this world, but rather was based on people knowing and following the truth that He embodied. Pastor Mark emphasizes that the cross is central to understanding Jesus' kingdom, as it shows both how we become citizens (through Jesus' atoning sacrifice) and the way we are called to live as citizens (by imitating Jesus' self-sacrificial example).

This week's sermon by Pastor Mark Deering discusses a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus when he is confronted by the Pharisees and Herodians who try to trap him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus masterfully navigates the political tension, telling them to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Pastor Mark explains that this reveals an important principle about the cost of citizenship—whether in an earthly kingdom or the Kingdom of God. Just as the Israelites had to pay taxes to an oppressive Roman government, those who would be citizens of God's Kingdom must be willing to sacrifice and give everything to Him. The sermon challenges us as listeners to examine where we struggle to fully trust and obey God, just as the Israelites did when paying taxes.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Frank Gil discusses how the books of Ezra and Nehemiah depict the rebuilding of the temple, the people, and the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. However, Pastor Frank notes that despite these physical restorations, something is still missing—true repentance and a relationship with God. He explains that the key ingredient is Jesus, who can transform people's hearts and restore them in a way that the law and religious rituals cannot.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering's message centers around the biblical story of Esther and the theme of faithful action in the face of fear. Using a social psychology experiment about smoke-filled rooms, he explores how people often remain inactive due to social pressure and fear. Pastor Mark then analyzes Esther chapter 4, focusing on the interaction between Mordecai and Esther, highlighting how Mordecai's famous "for such a time as this" statement was about personal sacrifice rather than personal gain.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering introduces the concept of having a "faithful presence" in whatever situation God has placed us, even if it's not where we want to be. He encourages us to be fully engaged with our current circumstances and the people around us—to be accessible, available, and vulnerable. He relates this to Jesus's incarnation and God's faithful presence in believers' lives. The sermon concludes with the importance of being present and seeking the welfare ("shalom") of one's community.