
Waite Park Church
95 episodes — Page 1 of 2
Jesus' Mothers
Fire Away
Is God's Love Unconditional?
Can the Bible and Science Coexist?
What about Old Testament Violence?

New King
Drawing on Israel’s demand for a king and Jesus’ humble entry into Jerusalem, Pastor Kory contrasts the kind of kings we want with the King we need. Through the image of two parades—a conquering ruler and a man on a donkey—the sermon shows how God’s people repeatedly chose power, security, and status. Jesus arrives as a different king who saves hearts, not politics, and invites us to examine which voices truly rule our lives.

The Law
In the sermon "The Law," Pastor Abby Burg explores how God’s commandments are not just rules, but a call to reflect His character to the world. Drawing parallels between Exodus and Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, she explains that believers are called to be "salt and light"—living counterculturally to reveal God’s "flavors" and "colors." Abby encourages us to rely on the Holy Spirit to live out this royal priesthood daily.

New Pathways
In this sermon, Pastor Kory explores how everyday habits form “paths” in our lives—often unconsciously—and how God invites us to reshape these pathways through intentional rituals. Using examples from daily life and the Exodus story, he shows how practices like Passover, the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and weekly worship re‑form us over time. The message encourages reflecting on our own rituals and choosing those that lead us toward God’s freedom, grace, and transformation.

Going Back to Egypt
Pastor Kory’s message, Going Back to Egypt, reflects on Israel’s struggle to trust God in the wilderness and how we often reach for old, familiar habits when life feels uncertain. Through the Exodus story and Jesus’ time in the wilderness, we’re reminded that God invites us to keep moving forward, even when it’s difficult. This Lenten season, we’re encouraged to notice where we’re tempted to look back and to trust God’s grace for the journey ahead.

A Primer on Lent
Pastor Kory’s sermon introduces Lent as a season designed to form us into Christlike people through rhythms that shape our hearts, not just our minds. Drawing from Scripture and Christian tradition, he explains how practices like fasting, prayer, and almsgiving help us turn from sin and re‑center our lives on God’s grace. Lent reminds us of our dependence on God and leads us toward the hope and renewal celebrated at Easter.

Listening
Pastor Kory’s sermon explores how God still speaks today, just as He did to Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Through visions, the Holy Spirit’s nudges, circumstances, Scripture, and the wisdom of other believers, God guided them toward unity and understanding. The message invites us to cultivate attentive hearts, trust that God has not gone silent, and courageously respond when He speaks today.

Pointless Prayers
In this sermon, Pastor Kory explores why some prayers feel “pointless,” drawing from the story of Ananias and Saul in Acts 9. When hope feels risky and disappointment familiar, we often stop praying bold prayers. Through Ananias’s surprising obedience, Pastor Kory shows how God works behind the scenes, changes our perspectives, and accomplishes more than we can imagine—even when we least expect it.

Confronting Strongholds
In this sermon, Pastor Kory explores the reality of spiritual strongholds and our call to confront them through the authority of Jesus. Drawing from Acts 16, he shows how Paul and Silas faced spiritual, cultural, and institutional forces—and how prayer partnered with God’s power brings real freedom. We are invited to recognize personal and societal strongholds and to pray boldly for Jesus to break what keeps people and communities from experiencing true liberation.

The Bible, Politics, and Immigration Class
This class dives into what the Bible has to say about immigration, politics, and the government, helping us think about the topic of immigration in a biblically and theologically sound way.

Prayer for our Enemies
In this sermon, Pastor Abby explores the challenging command to pray for our enemies, using the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as a powerful example. She reflects on Jesus' teachings in Luke 6, urging believers to move beyond mere words and show genuine love through action—even in the face of hostility. Ultimately, Pastor Abby encourages us to trust that with God, radical forgiveness and transformation are possible, even for those we find most difficult to love.

Prayers for Boldness
In this sermon, we explore the difference between being nice and being kind, showing how niceness often masks fear while kindness speaks truth for others’ good. Through the story of Peter and John in Acts 3–4, we see believers who refused to settle for “nice” prayers focused on comfort. Instead, they prayed boldly for courage, trusted God’s power, and relied on community. Their example calls us to honest lament, surrendered faith, and Spirit‑filled boldness in our everyday lives.

Domesticated Prayer
Pastor Kory reflects on how many view church as a place for comfort rather than transformation. He reminds us that while the gospel affirms our worth as God’s image-bearers, it also calls us to grow and live out Jesus’ mission. True discipleship means moving beyond a culture obsessed with ease and embracing prayer as a source of power for God’s work. This series challenges us to untame our prayers and join God’s Kingdom mission.

Investing in Eternity
This message explores the biblical perspective on money—making, saving, and spending—with an eternal mindset. Drawing from Proverbs and Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, he warns against storing earthly treasures and urges generosity as the true investment that lasts forever. By seeking God’s Kingdom first, planning wisely, and giving to ministry and those in need, we turn temporary wealth into eternal gain. Generosity isn’t optional—it’s our first priority in following Christ.

The Gift of Love
In this message, Taylor reminds us of the Greek concept of Agape—a selfless, action-oriented love that costs everything by diving into the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph to show how responding to God's ultimate gift with obedience is the path to greater freedom and participation in His incredible plan. Don't miss this powerful reminder that we obey not to earn God's love, but because we've already received it.

The Gift of Hope
This sermon explores a faith that eagerly anticipates Christ's second coming. Drawing from Romans 8 and the story of Mary and the Angel Gabriel, Kory challenges the notion of unconditional grace, stating that God's gifts, like hope, are not charity but an invitation to a covenant relationship. He calls believers to be active carriers of hope in a groaning world. This requires resisting the temptations of despair and desperation and instead embracing the confidence that God is working all present suffering for good.

Patiently Waiting
Kari Britten explores James 5:7-11, offering encouragement for seasons of waiting and suffering. She reminds us that all believers live in the "in-between" before the Lord's coming. Drawing on examples like the farmer and the perseverance of Job, we are challenged to wait well by nourishing our souls with God's Word, expressing our emotions through prayer with others, and fixing our eyes on the ultimate hope of heaven.

The Danger of Wealth
This sermon, "The Danger of Wealth," explores James 4:13–5:6, challenging us to adopt a perspective of Godly abundance over worldly scarcity. Konrad Johnson warns against the arrogance of planning life without acknowledging God's will and urges us to use our resources—including time and money—to bless others, finding peace and guidance through prayer and faith in Christ's love.

Tongues Aflame
In this message, "Tongues Aflame," Duane Fischer explores the powerful message of James 3:1-12 regarding the tongue. He highlights that controlling our speech is a crucial indicator of true spirituality, likening the tongue's influence to a small bit controlling a large horse or a small rudder steering a huge ship. The message calls for thoughtful, consistent, and honest speech [17:16] that uplifts and honors Christ, cautioning against impulsive, critical, or destructive words that can cause harm.

Genuine Faith
This powerful sermon on James 2:14-26, "Faith and Deeds," provides a call to active discipleship. Pastor Abby challenges us to understand that true faith is not simply a belief or profession, but one that is proven through practical action. Referencing the biblical examples of Abraham and Rahab, she underscores James' teaching that "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." We are encouraged to put on the "gloves of our faith" and find ways to tangibly serve our neighbors and community in Christ's name.

Favoritism
In this second sermon from the book of James, Pastor Kory explores James 2 and Jesus’ teachings on favoritism, challenging the Church to reject worldly values that judge by wealth, status, or appearance. He reminds us that God values spiritual wealth over material wealth and calls us to radical love and equality. Through practical examples and stories, this sermon urges believers to align with Kingdom values, treat all people with honor, and live out the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Growing Through Trials
Discover how trials can lead to growth in our new sermon series on James. Life’s challenges aren’t just obstacles—they’re opportunities to build perseverance, wisdom, and maturity. This message explores why God allows hardship and how faith transforms struggle into strength. If you’ve ever wondered how to find joy in adversity, this sermon offers hope and a roadmap for spiritual resilience.

The Secure Cycle
Pastor Kory Kleinsasser explores "The Secure Cycle" of faith: moving confidently into the world for Exploration, then returning to God for Refuge-Seeking and strength. Learn to overcome the "Intimacy Trap" and the "Independence Trap" by building a secure base in Jesus to live a life of courage, joy, and freedom.

Healing Community
Pastor Kory Kleinsasser explores why many feel a lack of joy despite a "fine" life, pointing to an epidemic of societal disconnection. He argues that human relationships mirror our relationship with God. The path to greater joy and a deeper connection with God is found in the "healing community".

The Sarx and the Spirit
Join Pastor Kory Kleinsasser as he explores the struggle between the "flesh" and the "Spirit". This sermon uses the show Severance as a metaphor to explain how Christians can feel like they're living a double life. Discover how to embrace your identity in Christ and find freedom from the shame and weakness left by sin.

Paying Attention
Pastor Kory Kleinsasser explores the idea of a "full-body scan" for our souls, urging us to pay attention to our inner lives—our actions, emotions, and personal history—and what trusted friends see. He argues that self-awareness, approached with kindness and curiosity, is essential for spiritual growth and healing.

Survival Strategies
In this week’s Focus Season’s sermon "Survival Strategies," Pastor Kory Kleinsasser explores how our childhood experiences shape protective behaviors that, while once helpful, can now prevent us from connecting with God and others. This sermon encourages us to become aware of these strategies so we can heal and build secure, trusting relationships.

Living Psalm 23
Join Pastor Kory Kleinsasser as he launches "Secure Love," a six-week series on Psalm 23. Discover how to move from a head knowledge of God's faithfulness to a deep, whole-body trust. Learn practical, soul-training exercises to experience a secure love that offers safety and a home base in Christ.

Ben and Kirsti Mauthe Testimony
Join Pastor Kory Kleinsasser as he shares Ben and Kirsti Mauthe's story. Their journey explores how to trust God through difficult family decisions, exhaustion, and the immense value of Christian community. Discover how God works in the everyday struggles of life.

Being Known
Are you feeling disconnected? Join Pastor Kory Kleinsasser as he explores the reasons we're not our best selves when we are isolated. He will discuss how we can overcome connection killers, such as busyness and technology, and find the deep relationships God created us to have.

Loretta Walquist's Testimony
Loretta Walquist shares her incredible testimony of God's peace and strength. Pastor Abby Burg invites you to trust Jesus with the chaotic or uncertain areas of your own life, seeking the peace that only He can provide.

Arnold Norcross's Testimony
This week, Pastor Kory Kleinsasser explores the simple yet powerful act of inviting someone to church. Inspired by Arnold Norcross's testimony, this sermon will challenge you to consider who in your life might be ready for an invitation—and how to take the first step.

Immigrant Connection's Testimony
Pastor Kory Kleinsasser shares how God is working through our Immigrant Connection office. He asks us to pray for Emma and Elizabeth as they navigate complex and changing laws, help more people, and carry the heavy stories of their clients. Let’s also pray for encouragement for the entire staff.

Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Discover immense joy and purpose! Pastor Sam Weto unpacks Jesus' Parable of the Hidden Treasure, revealing how true faith transforms everything. Learn why God's kingdom is worth more than anything and how to find this invaluable treasure in your life today. Don't miss this life-changing message!

Avery Deacon's Testimony
Struggling? This sermon offers a message of hope. Avery Deacon’s testimony explores how Jesus heals and redeems our brokenness, even when it takes time. Learn how to lean on community and run toward suffering instead of away from it.

Parable of the Prodigal Son
Daunte Britten unpacks the timeless story of the prodigal son, revealing God's boundless love and forgiveness. Discover how we can all find our way back home, no matter how far we've strayed. This sermon offers hope, healing, and a powerful reminder of grace for everyone.

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
Join Pastor Kory as he explains the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, revealing Jesus' surprising message about judgment. Learn why we shouldn't judge others and how patience and humility are key to living as God's people in the world. Discover how to replace judgment with discernment and understand others more deeply.

The Good Samaritan
Join Taylor as she delves into "The Good Samaritan" from Luke 10:25-37. Discover Jesus' powerful teaching on who our neighbor truly is and what it means to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

Parable of the Widow
Join Pastor Abby as she explores "The Parable of the Persistent Widow," a powerful message on why we should always pray and never give up. Discover how persistent faith can overcome discouragement, even in the face of life's toughest challenges. Learn from real-life examples and be encouraged to pray big, kingdom-focused prayers.

Parable of the Talent
Pastor Kory shares the Parable of the Talents—Jesus’ powerful reminder that everything we have is a gift from God. What will you do with your time, talents, and resources? This message will challenge you to live ready and invest in what matters most: God’s Kingdom.

Geoff and CarrieJo Cain
Join us for the conclusion of the Third Person series as we hear from missionaries to Sierra Leone about how the Holy Spirit has guided them as they seek to be obedient to Christ.

The Spirit Empowers the Mission
In this message, Pastor Kory talks about how and often-neglected work of the Spirit--to empower us to fulfill the mission God gave us to bring flourishing to the world around us.

The Spirit Gives Gifts
In this sermon, Pastor Abby walks us through 1 Corinthians 12 to show us the many gifts the Spirit gives us to build up the Church.

The Spirit Bears Fruit
Pastor Kory shows us that the Fruit of the Spirit is love and how we can automatically grow this fruit.

The Spirit Convicts us of Sin
In this message, Pastor Kory shows us how a secure connection with God is necessary to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit

Walking by the Spirit
In this sermon, Pastor Duane Fisher shows us how we can walk by the Spirit and how that allows us to live the way God desires.