Pillar Church Podcast

At Christmas, we celebrate more than the birth of Jesus. We celebrate the truth that God chose to be with us. In Matthew 1:18–25, Jesus is given the name Immanuel, meaning God with us, revealing a God who is not distant, detached, or indifferent, but present and near. Jesus came to save His people from their sins, to reveal the heart of the Father, and to dwell among us in grace and truth. The greatest gift of Christmas is not found under a tree, but in the One wrapped in swaddling clothes, who humbled Himself, took on human form, and entered our world by love and choice. Christmas declares that God goes before us, walks with us, and invites us to abide in Him in the middle of our joy, our pain, and our ordinary lives.

Before the foundation of the world, Jesus shared perfect glory and intimacy with the Father, yet humanity was created by God, for God, and to be like God in order to live in divine connection with Him. From the garden to the cross, God’s desire has always been friendship, not distance. Jesus made this clear when He said He no longer calls us servants but friends, revealing the heart of God and the depth of His love. That friendship came at a great cost, not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, chosen before the world began so that we could be restored to radical intimacy with God.

Jesus is our peace, and Scripture shows why His peace is unlike anything the world can offer. God is not the author of confusion but of peace, and Jesus gives us a gift of peace for our minds and hearts, calling us not to be troubled or afraid. Jesus Himself is perfectly at peace with the Father, and through faith we have peace with God. Even in discipline God produces a peaceful harvest in those He trains. Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, and we are called to set our minds on the realities of heaven. The greatest way for us to walk in lasting peace is to keep our trust and thoughts fixed on God, for He promises to keep in perfect peace all who look to Him.

In this message, we look at how Jesus embodies both the grace that saves us and the truth that reveals who we are. We learn that God’s grace rescues us while His truth directs us, and we shouldn’t be intimidated when Scripture exposes our need for Him. Instead, we can trust that His grace abundantly covers us through Christ. Finally, we’re reminded never to abuse the grace God gives but to walk in the new life He calls us to live. May this message encourage you to embrace both His grace and His truth as they work together to transform your life.

This message explores the powerful truth that Jesus is our atonement and the only one who makes us right with God. Drawing from Romans 3:23-26, we walk through the deep need for atonement, what it truly means, and what it accomplishes for us through the sacrifice of Christ. From the reality of sin and separation to the beauty of redemption, reconciliation, and righteousness, this teaching highlights how Jesus did not simply offer a sacrifice but became the sacrifice. His blood covers, cleanses, restores, and removes the barrier between us and God. Through Him we stand forgiven, free, and fully accepted. Jesus is our atonement, and through His finished work we are brought into new life and lasting peace with God.

Jesus is our High Priest, the One who entered heaven on our behalf and secured our redemption forever. Scripture shows us that He is seated in authority, sympathetic to our weaknesses, and fully present with us in every struggle. And through His sacrifice, He has made us a kingdom of priests, called to minister to God, serve others, bless them, and help reconcile people back to Him. This message explores what it means that Jesus is the Highest Priest and what it means for us to live as His priests in our world today.

Jesus is the Head of the Church, the true Leader and life source of His body. Ephesians 1:19-22 reminds us that God placed all things under His authority for the benefit of the church. He owns it, builds it, and holds it together. Through Him, every part grows strong and full of love, because everything we do flows from Him.

This week’s message reminds us that real fruit doesn’t come from chasing dreams but from growing deeper in Christ. Your dream is not fruit; your maturity in Him is. Visitors don’t mature—abiders do. There are real consequences to not abiding, but those who remain in Him bring joy to His heart. This post was inspired by a prophetic prayer shared by one of our prayer team members this week, calling us back to stay connected to the Vine and let our lives bear lasting fruit.

In this message, we’re reminded that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Scripture shows that sheep are helpless, easily harassed, and prone to wander without a shepherd’s care. Yet Jesus knows His sheep, carries them close to His heart, and leads them with love and wisdom. Even when we face danger or lose our way, He protects, guides, and restores us. Through every valley and trial, the Good Shepherd never leaves us alone—He seeks us out, brings us home, and rejoices when we return to Him.

There is only one Mediator who brings people back to God, and that’s Jesus Christ. We need a mediator because we’re guilty. The enemy constantly accuses us, and the truth is, every one of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. The penalty for sin is death, but Jesus steps in for us.What makes having Jesus as our Mediator so amazing is that He’s always working on our behalf. He prays for us, stands up for us, and gives us direct access to God. Because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, our record is cleared, and we can come confidently into God’s presence. He restores what sin tried to destroy.

Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Savior who came to fulfill every prophecy and bring redemption to the world. From His foretold birth in Bethlehem to His victory over sin and death, every part of Scripture points to Him as the one true King. This message walks through the Old and New Testament to show how Jesus checked every box the prophets spoke of and how His return will complete God’s plan of salvation.If you’ve ever wondered how we can know Jesus is the Messiah or what the Bible says about His identity and coming again, this message will bring those truths to life and strengthen your faith in the One who came to save us.

Jesus isn’t just a guide He is the way, the truth, and the life. Through Him, we find direction, freedom, and eternal life. These verses remind us that faith in Jesus brings peace, boldness, and hope, even when life feels uncertain. He’s the only way to the Father, the full expression of God’s truth, and the source of all life. No matter what we face, we can take heart knowing that Jesus has overcome the world.

In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls His first disciples with a simple but life-changing invitation: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” What does it mean to live that out today? In this message we also look at where Paul reminds us that through Christ the walls of division are broken down, and 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, where Paul shows us how to reach people by meeting them where they are. These powerful passages teach us what it looks like to share our faith, love people well, and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

What does it really mean to “keep the rocks quiet”? In this message, Preston unpacks the call of every believer to boldly proclaim the gospel not just with our words, but with our lives. Too often, unnecessary shame and unhelpful fear hold us back from sharing the good news, yet Scripture reminds us that the harvest is plentiful, the testimony of our lives carries power, and even creation itself longs to declare the glory of God. Through practical teaching and powerful reminders, this sermon will challenge you to tell your story, live it out daily, and make God’s deeds known so that others may come to know Him. If you’ve ever struggled with confidence in sharing your faith or wondered how to live as a light in the world, this message will encourage and equip you.

The Bible tells us there’s a spiritual battle happening all around us and it’s not against people, but against the forces of darkness. This fight starts in our minds, in the way we live, and in our unity with others. We can overcome by tearing down anything we put above God, rebuilding our hearts, and closing every door to evil. Our bodies may weaken, but our spirits are renewed every day and the truths we can’t see are more powerful than anything we face. Take a moment to hear this message and discover how you can stand strong.

Would you wash your enemy’s feet? In John 13, Jesus does something shocking He kneels down to wash the feet of His disciples, including the one who would betray Him. This moment shows us that true greatness isn’t found in power or position but in humility, service, and love. In this message, we look at how Jesus used His final hours before the cross to model service over status, and what that means for us today. When we follow His example, even toward people who hurt or oppose us, we reflect the heart of Christ and point others to the Gospel.

What does it mean to give a defense for our faith, and why does it matter? We are called to always be ready to share the reason for our hope and to stand firm in what has been entrusted to us. A strong foundation strengthens our faith, equips us to engage graciously with unbelievers, and helps us support fellow believers who wrestle with doubts. It also calls us to study, to love God with our whole mind, and to rely on His power to tear down false arguments and lead thoughts captive to Christ.

God still speaks, and the question is whether we are listening. From the very beginning of creation until today, His voice has brought life, direction, and truth. Yet there is always a battle over hearing and believing His words. In this message, we look at what Scripture says about God’s voice, how He spoke in the beginning, how He is speaking right now, and how we can grow in hearing Him personally. If you have ever wondered how to discern God’s voice or if He still speaks today, this teaching will encourage you to listen, lean in, and respond.

Prayer isn’t just a routine; it is the key to what happens next in your walk with God. In this message we discover what it truly means to pray like Jesus taught His disciples. Together we explore the priority of prayer and why it is central to following Christ, the posture of prayer and how humility and delight shape our approach to God, the pattern of prayer and what every prayer should include such as worship, repentance, asking, and listening, and finally the accessibility of prayer which reminds us that it is not about performance but about God’s nearness and our complete dependence on Him. Prayer is intimate, relational interaction with the Father, and whether you are just beginning or have been walking with Jesus for years, this message will help you go deeper in conversation with the God who bends down to listen.

We’re continuing our series on spiritual maturity by talking about how to study the Bible so you can live it and teach it. Last week we looked at sanctification, the process of being set apart by God for relationship with Him and partnership in His work. This week we’re digging into what that partnership looks like through Matthew 28:19-20 and the call to make disciples, baptize, and teach. The truth is you can’t teach what you don’t know, and spiritual maturity requires more than just an encounter with Jesus it requires formation through His Word. Together we’ll walk through 2 Timothy 3:16 and see how Scripture equips us through teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. We’ll look at how to study the Bible through observation, interpretation, and application, and why it matters that we each know God’s Word for ourselves. Along the way we’ll touch on Psalms 1, Philippians 4, and close with the charge in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 to be ready in and out of season to teach and live the truth.