Sermons

Pastor Rob took a look at a well-known passage, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, as he continued our series "A Church Worth Becoming". True freedom in Christ isn't about doing whatever we want, but about being free to glorify God with our lives. The apostle Paul corrected the Corinthians who had twisted grace into a license for sin, reminding them that their bodies belong to Christ. As believers, we are temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased at the ultimate price of Jesus' life. This reality should transform how we live, moving us from asking how far we can go without crossing the line to asking whether our actions bring glory to God. Sexual purity matters because our bodies are joined to Christ, and we cannot separate our spiritual and physical lives. When we live as people who truly belong to God, we reveal His presence to a watching world.

Pastor Dell shared a message from 1 Corinthians 6 on how a mature church handles conflict. Paul addressed the Corinthian church's habit of taking disputes to secular courts instead of resolving conflicts biblically. He outlined Jesus' process from Matthew 18: go directly to the person, bring witnesses if needed, involve the church, and separate if necessary. A mature church handles conflict differently than the world, thinks with an eternal perspective, and lives out the gospel. Because believers are washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ, we should prioritize restoration over revenge and show love that proves our faith to the watching world.

Pastor Dell took a look at 1 Corinthians 5 as he continued our series, "A Church Worth Becoming". Churches must have the courage to address sin within their congregations, just as Jewish families removed all leaven before Passover. When we tolerate unrepentant sin, we compromise our witness and wonder why our churches lack power. Biblical love includes confrontation when necessary - grace without truth is merely sentimental. Paul's instructions in 1 Corinthians 5 show that church discipline is restorative, not punitive, aimed at redemption and protecting the congregation's holiness. True spiritual maturity holds both love and discipline simultaneously, following the biblical pattern of private confrontation before involving the broader church community.

Pastor Dell continued our series on 1st Corinthians this morning, looking at 1 Corinthians 4. True spiritual maturity isn't measured by status or success, but by faithful stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. Paul reminds us that as believers, we're managers of God's gifts, not owners, and our primary requirement is faithfulness rather than fame. Living for God's approval instead of people's applause requires humility and recognizing that God's kingdom operates on different principles than the world. The goal isn't just personal growth, but spiritual multiplication - becoming the kind of person others can imitate to grow closer to Jesus. This means being willing to receive correction, walking alongside others in their spiritual journey, and faithfully stewarding whatever God has given us in our specific circumstances.

Pastor Santiago looked at 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 as he continued our series, "A Church Worth Becoming". The church worth becoming is one that prioritizes service over status, builds exclusively on Christ, and focuses on Him rather than ourselves. Paul addressed the Corinthian church's immaturity, evidenced by their divisions and celebrity-pastor mentality. True spiritual maturity recognizes church leaders as servants, not celebrities. Paul warns that our work for the church must be built on the foundation of Christ alone and will eventually be tested by fire. A mature church redirects all glory to Jesus, stands unified against Satan's attempts to divide, and impacts communities by building bridges to people who need Christ.

Pastor Dell continued our series through 1st Corinthians this morning, looking at 1st Corinthians 1:18-2:16. The message of the cross seems foolish to the world but contains God's power and wisdom. In God's upside-down kingdom, the weak become strong, and the last become first. God deliberately chooses ordinary, imperfect people to display His power so that all glory goes to Him. The Holy Spirit empowers believers, just as Paul relied on spiritual power rather than eloquent words. By embracing our weaknesses, focusing on Christ crucified, and relying on the Spirit's guidance, we can experience God's transformative power in our lives.

God forms something beautiful from broken people through obedience and holiness, despite the church's inherent messiness. The church is designed as a diverse mosaic where different individuals come together to display God's glory. Biblical holiness means being set apart for God's purposes while engaging with the world but remaining distinct from it. Our identity is defined by God's calling, not our achievements, and His grace sustains us through our weaknesses. Unity in Christ, despite our differences, serves as a powerful witness to the world. The power of sharing the gospel lies in the message itself, not in our eloquence.

In times of tragedy and violence, Christians are called to respond from a perspective of Christ's ultimate victory, not from fear or anger. We must exercise Spirit-led discernment, knowing when to speak boldly, when to endure quietly, and when to take action. By remaining steadfast and immovable in our faith, we can navigate difficult circumstances with wisdom and peace. Our responses to adversity reveal what's truly in our hearts, and as believers, we're called to focus on eternal truths rather than temporary troubles, demonstrating to the world that our hope is anchored in Jesus' triumph over sin and death.

As believers, we are entrusted with the gospel and called to lay aside all sin that hinders our relationship with God. We must cultivate a hunger for God's Word, craving it like newborn infants desire milk, which leads to spiritual growth. Built upon Christ the cornerstone, we form a spiritual house as living stones aligned with Him. Our identity in Christ—as a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and God's own possession—exists for one purpose: to proclaim His excellencies to those still in darkness. We are living testimonies, called not to form a 'holy huddle' but to rescue others by sharing the good news.

Pastor Rob continued our Entrusted series by looking at how we are entrusted with the next generation. God has entrusted us with the responsibility of passing down faith to the next generation, much like a critical baton handoff in a relay race. This begins with our own commitment to listening to God's Word, as we cannot give what we don't possess. We must intentionally speak truth about God's character and works while ensuring our actions align with our words. The ultimate goal isn't raising merely successful or moral children, but disciples who place their confidence in God, remember His faithfulness, and follow His commands. Whether as parents, mentors, or church members, we all play vital roles in this spiritual relay race.

Pastor Dell started our new series, Entrusted, this week. God has entrusted us with everything we have - our treasure, talents, and time - making us stewards rather than owners. The parable of the talents teaches that we're expected to use what we've been given wisely. Our treasure should be given generously, not just when convenient or comfortable. Our talents are gifts meant to serve others and multiply kingdom impact. Time, our most valuable resource, should be spent intentionally on eternal priorities rather than wasted on distractions. As faithful stewards, we're called to reflect God's generosity in how we manage all three resources.

Pastor Dell concluded our series, "The Prayers Of The Psalms" by walking us through the Psalms of Ascent. The spiritual journey of a believer resembles a pilgrimage, beginning in life's valleys where God meets us in our distress. The Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) illustrate this journey, starting with hardship, progressing through walking with God, and culminating in joyful worship. Our pilgrimage begins with honesty about our struggles, continues through daily dependence on God rather than self-reliance, and finds fulfillment in experiencing God's presence. While heaven is our ultimate destination, we're invited to experience the joy of God's presence now, living as citizens of heaven while journeying toward our eternal home.

Guest speaker Jason West joined us for worship this morning, sharing on Psalm 51. Psalm 51 reveals David's profound repentance after his sins with Bathsheba. Rather than focusing on religious rituals, David understood that God desires a broken and contrite heart. Despite committing adultery, deception, and murder, David ran toward God instead of away from Him, acknowledging his complete dependence on divine mercy. This psalm teaches us that God responds to genuine brokenness with cleansing, joy, forgiveness, and renewal. When we truly experience God's forgiveness, we naturally want to share it with others, not from obligation but from gratitude.

Pastor Rob continued our series by looking at the Royal Psalms as he walked us through Psalm 22. Psalm 22 begins with a cry of abandonment and ends with a declaration of praise, showing us that bringing our raw emotions to God is an act of faith, not faithlessness. The psalm prophetically describes Christ's crucifixion with remarkable detail centuries before crucifixion was invented. When Jesus quoted its opening line on the cross, He wasn't expressing doubt but identifying with human suffering while fulfilling Scripture. The dramatic shift from despair to hope midway through the psalm mirrors our own spiritual journeys, reminding us that even in our deepest suffering, God is present and working toward redemption. By memorizing Scripture, we store up God's promises as anchors for times of trouble.

Pastor Dell continued our series through the Psalms by looking at Psalm 34 as he shared a message on the Psalms of Thanksgiving. Finding joy through gratitude transforms our perspective and deepens our relationship with God, as Psalm 34 powerfully illustrates. David wrote this psalm after a humbling experience where God delivered him from danger, teaching that true thanksgiving flows from a heart that has encountered God's goodness. Biblical gratitude isn't circumstantial but covenantal—anchored in who God is, not just what He does. As we cultivate habits of daily praise, experience God's goodness firsthand, and share our testimonies with others, we develop a heart of thanksgiving that sustains us even through suffering. God draws especially close to the brokenhearted, delivering the righteous from all afflictions.

Pastor Dell continued our series through the Psalms by looking at the Imprecatory Psalms. Imprecatory psalms are biblical prayers that cry out to God for justice against evil and wickedness. Psalm 137, written during the Babylonian exile, exemplifies this type of prayer with its raw expression of grief and desire for divine intervention. While these psalms contain harsh language about enemies, they're not about personal revenge but rather faith in God's ultimate justice. For Christians today, imprecatory psalms help us recognize evil, express faith in God's justice, and provide a framework for honest prayer. They remind us to bring our raw emotions to God while trusting His perfect timing and remembering that our true battle is spiritual.

As we continue our series on the Psalms, Pastor Santiago shared a message from Psalm 115. God alone deserves our worship because He is the authentic, living God with real attributes that false idols lack. Unlike lifeless idols, our God speaks, sees, hears, and acts powerfully on our behalf. When we worship Him, we gradually transform to reflect His character—becoming more compassionate, loving, just, and holy. Anything that comes between us and God becomes an idol, potentially drawing us away from true worship. As believers, we're called to trust God completely, praise Him continually, and develop a mindset of worship that extends beyond Sunday mornings into every moment of our lives.

Pastor Dell kicked off our series on the Psalms by looking at Psalm 1. Psalm 1 presents a clear contrast between the path of wisdom and the path of wickedness. Those who choose wisdom avoid the progressive drift into sin—walking with the wicked, standing with sinners, and sitting with scoffers. Instead, they delight in God's Word through a journey from duty to discipline to genuine delight. Like trees planted by streams, they become firmly rooted, continuously nourished, and fruitful even in difficult seasons. This wisdom path requires guarding against cultural redefinitions of good and evil while maintaining a prayer life fueled by Scripture.

Pastor Rob shared a message on prayer with us during our family worship service this morning. Prayer is more than a checklist or performance—it's an intimate communion with God. Psalm 46 reveals that prayer connects us to God's protection as our refuge and strength, even amid life's uncertainties. It helps us tap into His incredible power, the same power that holds the universe together. Prayer also creates space to experience God's presence when we be still and know Him. By incorporating simple prayer practices into our daily rhythm, we can transform our relationship with God from obligation to communion.

Pastor George Moore from Legacy Reentry Foundation was back to bring us a timely message from Job. In a world of quick fixes, the most powerful ministry can be our simple presence with those who suffer. Job's friends, before their poor counsel, demonstrated three valuable practices: they intentionally made time to be with Job, they empathized by entering into his grief, and they sat in silence for seven days. Silent presence creates space for God to speak, acknowledges human wisdom's limits, and communicates unconditional love. This approach is especially valuable for supporting those with mental health challenges, where our presence often speaks louder than our solutions.