FAITH IS... WITH PASTOR RICK STEVENS

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – We need to think like Christians. We need to think beyond our knee-jerk opinions, peel back the many layers of the issues, and consider how our Christian faith informs our issues. We must understand and apply the truth. Jesus answered the question before Pilate asked it: " What is truth?"

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – On Easter weekend, I reflect on the resurrection of Jesus and the call to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I see how faith connects to a broken, dangerous world and reminds us that hope is alive. Prayer opens a door beyond fear and conflict, inviting God to move in hearts, nations, and uncertain times...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem in humility, revealing a kingship unlike the world expects. The message calls believers to pray for peace, speak truth with care, confront injustice honestly, and trust God’s redemptive power. It urges repentance, courage, and compassion for neighbors, enemies, leaders, and suffering families alike...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – In a world of confusion and conflict, this reflection calls readers to deeper faith and trust in God. Through the story of Lazarus, it explores disappointment, prayer, and hope. It invites believers to wrestle honestly with suffering while holding firm to God’s faithfulness, urging prayer for peace and confidence in His greater purpose beyond human understanding...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – On the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the healing of a man born blind reveals more than a miracle—it exposes the heart. Faith shapes how Christians teach children, engage politics, guard human dignity, and pursue truth. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem while living with confident trust in God’s faithfulness today...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – On the Third Sunday of Lent, believers reflect on Jesus offering the Woman at the Well living water that brings eternal life. At the same time, Purim celebrates God’s deliverance of His people. The moment invites gratitude, prayer for Jerusalem’s peace, and renewed hope in God’s saving power and promise today...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – In tense times for Jerusalem and the Middle East, believers are called to pray for peace. A nighttime conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus reveals the life-changing truth of being born again—not as ritual words, but as wholehearted allegiance to Christ and a transformed, Spirit-filled life...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Faith grows through testing, not perfection. This Lenten reflection invites readers to see trials as gifts that reveal the heart and deepen trust in God. Following Jesus in the wilderness, believers learn gratitude, forgiveness, and courage. Grace meets weakness, reshapes habits, and leads toward hope, healing, and a living relationship with Christ that renews purpose and strengthens faithful daily living...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – The Bible is filled with moments that surprise and challenge our understanding of God. When Jesus is transfigured before His disciples and joined by Moses and Elijah, God speaks again from the cloud. This powerful moment invites readers to see Jesus as God sees Him and to listen anew...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – I invite you to approach Lent with intention and hope. Drawing from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I call you to seek truth at its source and grow in confidence in God. Lent becomes a season of turning toward Scripture, worship, service, and faithful community, so our lives reflect Christ as salt and light through humble repentance and love daily...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – What is the Biblical response to immigration in a divided age? This reflection calls Christians to look past politics and sentiment and return to Scripture. By grounding compassion in truth, honoring God’s promises, protecting families, and loving neighbors with courage, believers are challenged to respond to today’s crises with conviction, mercy, and faithfulness...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – A church service is disrupted by a mob, raising urgent questions about faith, sacred space, and the true example of Jesus. In turbulent times, believers are called to turn toward God, guard worship, welcome seekers, and remain faithful. Small acts of obedience become lasting grace, reminding us to trust the Lord’s unfailing love...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Many struggle to trust God, fearing He stands ready to condemn. The good news declares God is for us, not against us. Holy Communion anchors that trust, offering mercy and grace. In weary seasons, small acts of discipline, faithful community, and regular communion renew confidence, strengthen hearts, and remind believers they rest in God’s enduring loyalty...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Bible sales are rising as people search for meaning and truth. Faith, repentance, and Scripture invite a fresh beginning rooted in God’s word. Jesus’ baptism shows repentance as a deliberate turn toward God, while today’s world reminds believers to watch where faith and history intersect and respond with trust, discipline, and commitment to live covenant life...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – The New Year invites a fresh start rooted in faith and wisdom. Reading a different Bible translation opens Scripture in new ways, helping God’s voice speak clearly. Small, steady practices shape lasting change. Trust what God reveals, take faithful steps forward, and allow grace to guide daily obedience and worship...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Criticism comes easily, but gratitude and faith invite deeper renewal. This reflection calls readers to rediscover covenant as the heart of God’s relationship with humanity. Rooted in Scripture and the new covenant in Christ, it encourages trust over striving, communion over isolation, and a fresh beginning grounded in grace, love, and spiritual commitment...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – That same discipline of careful thought belongs in the life of faith. Scripture shows law protecting us until we are ready to follow God in love. The law keeps children from danger. Faith invites us to maturity. To love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves is a higher calling. It changes how we live and how we judge...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – A pastor returns from Israel profoundly changed, sharing how walking biblical ground transforms faith from words into lived reality. Through sacred sites, personal encounters, and moments of grief and hope, Israel is revealed not as a slogan but as a people and a promise that still matters to God and to the world...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – At Christmas, the shepherds follow simple signs and discover Jesus with urgency and faith. Advent invites us to slow down, trust God, and embrace true peace. This season points beyond nostalgia to hope, purpose, and restoration. Finding Jesus means choosing life, resting in His presence, and living confidently in the promise that God is with us...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – What’s in your lamp? As Advent begins, this reflection invites believers to prepare with faith, hope, and love. Drawing from Jesus’ parable of the bridesmaids, it calls for spiritual readiness rooted in hope rather than fear, encouraging practices that refill the soul and keep watch with joy for Christ’s coming...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Instant Sermon explores how Christians navigate a world shaped by artificial intelligence, rapid change, and growing confusion. It urges wise engagement, grounded worship, and protecting children as technology reaches deeper into daily life. Faithfulness, discernment, and truth become essential tools for staying steady and raising the next generation with clarity and moral courage for today...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Faith anchors us as we hear Wesley’s final words and Revelation’s closing promise, “I am coming soon.” Trust in God reshapes how we live, serve, and make decisions in the public square. With rising taxes and distracted priorities, readiness means honest stewardship, courageous worship, and a longing prayer: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Revelation reveals the triumph of God over evil as heaven bursts with hallelujahs. Jesus invites His people to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, celebrating Holy Communion in eternal joy. In the Upper Room and beyond, we gather with Him, sharing in His victory and the promise of everlasting fellowship at His heavenly table...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Revelation unfolds God’s grand design of salvation and judgment. Babylon the Great falls, symbolizing the downfall of worldly idolatry and excess. In the midst of destruction, God’s people rejoice as a new beginning dawns. Through divine justice, God makes all things new, revealing His ultimate victory over evil and the promise of eternal renewal...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – The horror and relief of judgment in Revelation are now on full display. What must happen horrifies us as we find relief in deliverance from evil. Then, as though God is consoling us, worship repeatedly interrupts judgment. Worship is an unmistakable contrast to the violence of judgment. It’s so noticeable it almost seems out of place. Let’s look closely and see what Revelation reveals about worship.

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – A woman’s son is rescued from a fierce dragon cast out of heaven. As the dragon rages across the earth with two beasts by its side, chaos spreads. Yet in the midst of darkness, hope rises. The Lamb stands victorious, proving that light conquers every shadow and good triumphs over evil forever...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Telling the truth is never easy, but it’s always worth it. Even when honesty is dangerous or rejected, we are called to speak boldly, just as John did in Revelation and Jesus before him. Truth may be uncomfortable, yet it leads to freedom and joy, for in the end, God’s kingdom prevails and His truth reigns forever...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – What could the Power of 4 do for you? How might you benefit from engaging the Bible four times every week? The evidence is staggering; the benefits enormous! Revelation includes some frighteningly graphic depictions of judgment. God is obviously not messing around. But should God’s people be afraid? Is the judgment of God a necessary part of salvation? Is it a blessing that one day God will...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – In one rather stunning statement, Jesus said that we, his followers, are too often naive about the world around us. So let’s talk about what that means to us and how we avoid falling into that ditch. People are talking about getting back to church. Great idea, now how do we find a good church? Consider two tips, and yes, they involve the Bible and Jesus. Finally, we’ll consider the words that...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – A significant part of the action in Revelation involves judgment. In vivid and horrifying detail, we get a glimpse of God’s awesome judgment of evil. Does this mean God is vindictive, just looking for a reason to get us? Does God enjoy the terrible attacks poured out in the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments? Why would a good God do such things?

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – In a week of tragedy and remembrance, God tells us and shows how He redeems. It’s simply indescribable how God can take the most horrible experiences of life and somehow manage to turn evil into good. Put simply, God redeems. Using His Word and His Church, God draws near and shows us the way forward through the pain and turmoil of life. Watch for it. God redeems!

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – The four horsemen strike terror into the hearts of many people! Rightfully so unless . . . you’re a follower of Jesus. For followers of Jesus, they give us hope that Jesus can overcome evil. He has the authority to unleash death, famine, disease, and wild animals on evil. He brings judgment on evil and salvation for his people. He destroys evil and brings salvation by delivering us from evil. We are so glad...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – We’re thinking out loud with another week of Instant Sermon. These are genuine questions seeking answers. And in one case, one person was looking for green lights! Seriously, how do we receive the Holy Spirit? What about replacement theology? Are there medical treatments that God would have us avoid? These questions and more as we build absolute confidence in the trustworthiness of God.

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Teenagers face challenges in staying faithful while navigating questions of worship, divorce, and remarriage. Can new songs truly glorify God, or do they risk becoming self-centered? How do families handle the pain of broken marriages with faith? This reflection invites deeper thought on guiding youth, honoring God in music, and strengthening family life through biblical wisdom...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – More Instant Sermon questions, including a look at death and the role of the Bible in our lives. Then, a look at judgment. How will or how can we know what we do for God is sufficient for His high standards? Some of us act like experts on sin, but do we really know the difference between temptation and sin? As John Wesley might say, “When is sin properly called sin?”

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Christians and the political world will always intersect. Christians need to understand politics better. Plus instant sermon questions like: What does it mean that God chose a people, and why does it matter? How do we choose a church? Is jealousy a sin? Can we fear and love God at the same time? Finally, Pilate gave Barabbas the gift of life. Jesus offers you eternal life. Receive His gift!

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – There’s a problem in the throne room. Where can we find a worthy one? Take heart. He is here; the Lion of Judah, the Slaughtered Lamb! He is worthy of worship. He is worthy to take the scroll. He provides meaning, purpose and boundaries for our lives. He made and makes salvation possible!

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Welcome to the throne room of heaven. Is it at all like what you would expect? Look around and consider who is present and what they are doing. The throne is central, and worship is continuous. God is worthy of worship because he created everything. He is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power by virtue of having created and sustaining all things. What a vision!

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – What are we going to do about the church? Churches are challenging, and our attitudes about churches are challenging! The churches of Revelation had their strengths and their faults. They weren’t so different than churches today. And like today, God calls the church to faithfulness. Indeed, God eagerly desires to embrace churches. His invitation is for the church to eagerly change and welcome Him...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – When you think about Revelation and the end of time, are you filled with hope or fear? Join me as I explore God’s powerful message in the last book of the Bible. Together, we’ll discover the hope that Jesus brings and look forward to dwelling with God forever. Let’s see what Revelation reveals for us today...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – This Independence Day weekend, I reflect on God’s gift of liberty and the founding principles that shape our nation. The Declaration of Independence reminds us that our rights come from God, and we’re called not just to seek happiness, but to pursue virtue and wisdom. Let’s give thanks for freedom and the opportunity to live it out...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Explore how guilt trips and emotional manipulation impact responsibility and personal decision-making. Reflect on trusting God’s sovereignty—distinguishing being in control versus in charge—and how that shapes beliefs about divine goodness. In a world unsettled by conflict, find a sure foundation and timely lasting remedy: inviting Christ to replace worry at the heart of daily life...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – How can Christian perspective shape our response to immigration enforcement or DEI debates? As Vacation Bible School season unfolds, we honor those serving children in faith, hope, and love. Amid celebrations, ask yourself: are you stuck or frustrated? Is life slipping by? Embrace God’s invitation to renew your mind and grow in spiritual purpose today...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Celebrate Father’s Day with a reminder to honor Dad and embrace godly wisdom. Discover the Parent Power Index, empowering families to choose the best education for their children. Explore recent brain science affirming the value of gratitude and wisdom. Learn how cultivating this essential skill can guide you to a life that pleases God, lifting you on wings like eagles...

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – As Christians, we’re called to interpret recent events through faith, seeking insight despite incomplete information. On this Pentecost weekend, we rejoice in the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence, granting supernatural ability to share God’s truth. May we embrace His enabling strength, live boldly, and rise to His extraordinary calling, bearing witness to His trustworthiness each day...