Epikos Church Sermons

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison explains how 3 John connects to John's other writings and emphasizes its key messages. He highlighted the importance of hospitality, generosity, and supporting those who spread the gospel. The sermon stresses the need to imitate good, even when facing opposition, and to remember we're not alone in our faith journey.

"This week's sermon by Pastor Jacob Michalski explores the final passages of 1 John, chapter 5, focusing on the theme of caring for fellow believers through prayer. In the sermon, he grapples with the concept of ""sin that leads to death,"" offering various interpretations while ultimately emphasizing that our main concern should be praying for fellow believers when we see them stumble. The sermon highlights that God responds to these prayers by giving life, and believers are called to protect one another from evil influences. Pastor Jacob also discusses the letter's closing thoughts, which reinforce knowing the truth, abiding in Christ, and guarding against idols. He stresses the need for discernment in a world full of distractions and false promises, encouraging us to immerse ourselves in Scripture and a supportive Christian community. The overarching message is that walking in faith requires collaboration; believers need each other to stay focused on Jesus and combat the lures of worldly idols."

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering focuses on the themes of eternal life and prayer. He emphasizes that eternal life begins when one has saving faith in Jesus Christ, not just after physical death. He encourages boldness and confidence in prayer, as believers are invited into God's presence through Jesus. Mark guides us through different types of prayer—upward (praising God), inward (personal requests), and outward (interceding for others). He challenges us to fuel our life of faith through bold prayers, not holding back but praying with the confidence that God hears us.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering discusses the testimony of the "three witnesses" mentioned in 1 John 5:6–12—the water (Jesus' baptism), the blood (Jesus' atoning sacrifice), and the Spirit (the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers)—as proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He encourages us to stand firm in our faith, live a life that defends our faith, and humbly learn how to better articulate and defend our beliefs when facing opposition or skepticism, as God has given us all we need to maintain our confidence in Christ.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering delves into the topic of discernment, discussing how the Apostle John instructed the early church to test every spirit or way of thinking against two litmus tests: whether it upholds their view of Jesus, and whether it upholds their unity under Christ. He shares some practical steps for growing in spiritual discernment by being Spirit-filled, listening and learning, and disagreeing well on non-essential matters while remaining united under the essentials of the faith. He closes out the sermon by encouraging us to foster unity amidst differing viewpoints by keeping Christ at the center.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Frank Gil, encourages us to have a confident faith that controls lying thoughts, emboldens prayers, and empowers obedience to God. He explains that feelings and insecure thoughts can be deceptive, but believers should find assurance in God's love and their position as his children, evidenced by loving others and obeying his commands. Though prayers may not always be answered as desired, a confident faith trusts God's will. Ultimately, a confident faith leads to obedience to Christ's commandments to believe in him and love others, which is enabled by the indwelling Holy Spirit given to all true believers.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering delves into the topic of discernment, discussing how the Apostle John instructed the early church to test every spirit or way of thinking against two litmus tests: whether it upholds their view of Jesus, and whether it upholds their unity under Christ. He shares some practical steps for growing in spiritual discernment by being Spirit-filled, listening and learning, and disagreeing well on non-essential matters while remaining united under the essentials of the faith. He closes out the sermon by encouraging us to foster unity amidst differing viewpoints by keeping Christ at the center.