MH1AG Sermon Podcast

This sermon explores the genealogy of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 1, revealing how God intentionally included flawed, broken, and messy people in the lineage of the Messiah. Rather than choosing perfect individuals from prestigious backgrounds, God's redemptive plan incorporated prostitutes, liars, adulterers, murderers, and outsiders. The message emphasizes that Christmas itself is messy, just as our lives are messy, but God's grace is sufficient to redeem any situation. Through examining five women in Jesus' genealogy—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—the sermon demonstrates that no past is too broken, no family too dysfunctional, and no circumstance too messy for God to use for His glory. The genealogy serves as both a validation of Jesus' messianic credentials to Jewish readers and a powerful declaration that Jesus came for all people, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Thanks for joining our Sunday morning worship service. Today is Vision Sunday and Pastor Josh is sharing a message of encouragement for where MH1AG is heading.

Thanks for joining our midweek worship service.

This powerful message confronts a reality many of us face but rarely discuss openly: the deep wounds inflicted within church walls. Drawing from Psalm 147:3, we're reminded that God heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds, offering hope that transcends our pain. The teaching walks us through four essential steps toward healing: feeling our hurt honestly, forgiving those who wounded us, staying connected to the body of Christ, and maintaining our faith in Jesus despite human failure. What makes this message particularly compelling is its raw honesty about the church's imperfections while refusing to abandon the institution Christ died for. We're challenged to distinguish between the flawed people who populate our churches and the perfect Savior who leads them. The Greek word 'aphieme' becomes our guide, teaching us that forgiveness means letting go and moving forward to something better, just as the first disciples left their nets to follow Jesus. This isn't about quick fixes or spiritual band-aids; it's about embracing a healing process that takes time, intentionality, and daily surrender. The altar becomes our starting point, not our finish line, as we commit to the ongoing work of restoration that transforms our scars into testimonies of God's faithfulness.

Thanks for joining our midweek worship service. We continue our journey through the Bible by looking at the books of Hebrews and James.

This powerful message confronts a universal struggle we all face after being wounded in church: the tendency to carry our pain rather than surrender it for healing. Drawing from the dramatic scene in Mark 14 and John 18 where Peter cuts off Malchus's ear during Jesus's arrest, we're presented with a striking metaphor for church hurt. Just as Malchus could have refused healing and carried his severed ear around as evidence of his wounding, we often do the same with our spiritual and emotional wounds. We post about them, define ourselves by them, and use them to justify unhealthy behaviors and isolation. The message challenges us to examine three critical truths: first, that what happened to us was genuinely wrong and shouldn't be minimized; second, that Jesus was present in our pain and deeply sympathizes with our hurt; and third, that healing is available right now through surrender. The concept of Jehovah Rapha—the God who heals, mends, and stitches together—reminds us that our God doesn't do superficial patch jobs but deep restorative work. The question becomes: will we continue carrying our ear as a badge of victimhood, or will we lay it down and allow the Master Healer to do what only He can do in our broken places?

Thank you for joining us for our midweek worship service. We are continuing our journey through the Bible as we look at I & II Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

This message confronts one of the most painful yet often unspoken realities in the Christian journey: church hurt. Drawing from Psalm 55 where David laments betrayal by a close companion, we're invited to examine five critical wounds that occur within faith communities. The teaching walks us through spiritual abuse, where leaders misuse their position to control rather than serve; spiritual manipulation, where vulnerabilities are exploited for personal gain; immaturity, where believers remain spiritually underdeveloped and carnal in their responses; judgment, where we rank sins and criticize rather than extend grace; and failure, where trusted leaders fall morally or ethically. What makes this exploration so vital is its honesty—the church is made up of broken people who, despite being redeemed, still carry jagged edges that can wound others. Rather than denying this reality or silencing those who've been hurt, we're called to acknowledge these wounds as the first step toward healing. The message powerfully reminds us that while people may fail us, Jesus never will, and His church is built not on human personality but on divine power. We're encouraged to test everything against Scripture, surround ourselves with wise counsel, and lean into the Holy Spirit's discernment as our greatest protection and guide toward wholeness.

Thank you for joining our midweek worship service. We continue our journey through the Bible as we look at I and II Thessalonians.

This message confronts one of the most painful yet rarely discussed realities in Christian life: being wounded by those within the church community. Drawing from Psalm 55, we encounter David's raw expression of pain—not from enemies, but from companions who walked with him to the house of God. The series explores how church hurt manifests through spiritual abuse, manipulation, betrayal, and broken trust from both leaders and fellow believers. What makes this wound particularly devastating is the violation of sacred space—the very place meant to be our refuge becomes the source of our pain. We see this pattern throughout Scripture: David experienced it from Saul's jealous attacks, from Absalom's betrayal, and from Shimei's public humiliation. Paul felt it when Demas abandoned him. Even Jesus faced rejection in His hometown synagogue and betrayal from Judas with a kiss. Yet the message doesn't leave us in our wounds. It calls us toward acknowledgment—the courageous first step toward healing. We cannot heal what we refuse to acknowledge. Our pain is legitimate, and God is big enough to handle our tears, our anger, and our confusion. The path forward requires us to feel the hurt honestly rather than spiritually bypassing it with forced forgiveness, while simultaneously refusing to carry our wounds indefinitely. This is an invitation to begin the healing journey, recognizing that God's faithfulness meets us in our most vulnerable moments of church-inflicted pain.

Thank you for joining our midweek worship service! This evening we continue our journey through the Bible.

In this powerful message, we're reminded that even the strongest among us can hit spiritual walls. The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 serves as a poignant reminder that after great victories, we often face our deepest struggles. Just as Elijah fled from Jezebel after his triumph on Mount Carmel, we too can find ourselves running from our problems, exhausted and discouraged. But here's the good news - God offers us a 'second wind'! This message beautifully illustrates how God meets us in our weariness, providing rest, nourishment, and revelation. It challenges us to recognize that sometimes, God's voice isn't in the dramatic events, but in the 'still, small voice'. Are we listening? This teaching encourages us to push through our spiritual exhaustion, reminding us that God's presence is often revealed more deeply in our valleys than on our mountaintops. It's a call to rest in God's grace, love, and mercy, finding renewal for our souls and strength for the journey ahead.

Thank you for joining us as we continue our journey through the Bible!

In this powerful message, we're reminded of the transformative power of a new song in our spiritual lives. Drawing from Psalm 40, we explore how God lifts us out of the pit of despair and sets our feet upon a rock. The pit, symbolizing our struggles and fears, isn't our final destination. Instead, it's a place God wants to deliver us from. We're encouraged to recognize the confining and defining nature of our personal 'pits' and to embrace the new song God wants to sing over us. This new song represents hope, freedom, and a renewed perspective on life. As we allow God to change our 'playlist,' we open ourselves to experience His joy, security, and stability. The message challenges us to listen less to the enemy's lies and more to God's truth, reminding us that our current struggles don't define our entire story.

Thank you for joining our midweek worship service. Pastor Josh is continuing our journey through the Bible as we look at I and II Corinthians.

Thank you for joining us for our Sunday morning worship service. Our hearts were stirred during an extended time of worship and prayer.

Thank you for joining us for our midweek service. Pastor Josh is continuing our journey through the Bible by looking at the book of Romans.

In this powerful message, we're challenged to recognize our unique, customized calling from God. The central theme revolves around 1 Corinthians 12:7, reminding us that each of us has been given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. This isn't just about religious service; it's about understanding that God has strategically placed us in our jobs, neighborhoods, and social circles for a purpose. We're encouraged to see these as our mission fields, where we can make a real impact for the Kingdom. The message beautifully parallels our individual gifts with the idea of customization in our culture, emphasizing that God doesn't mass-produce followers. Instead, He crafts each of us uniquely, with specific talents, passions, and even life experiences - including our pain and failures - to fulfill His purpose. As we reflect on this, we're called to steward our calling well by accepting it, growing in it, and living it out daily. This perspective shift can transform how we view our everyday lives, seeing each interaction as an opportunity to fulfill our God-given mission.

Thank you for joining us as Pastor Josh continues our journey through the Bible.

In this powerful message, we're challenged to rethink what it means to be a good neighbor. The parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10 serves as our guide, reminding us that loving our neighbor isn't about who fits our criteria, but about how we can show love to everyone around us. We're encouraged to look beyond religious, racial, and social boundaries, just as Jesus did in His teaching. The message emphasizes that true neighborly love often comes at a cost - it requires our time, energy, and sometimes even our comfort. But isn't this what Christ did for us? We're reminded that it's not what we preach, but how we practice our faith that truly matters. This calls us to live out God's love in tangible ways, modeling kingdom culture in our everyday interactions. As we reflect on this, let's ask ourselves: Are we willing to get our hands dirty to help those in need? Can we see others through God's lens of grace and compassion, rather than our own biases?