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In this sermon, Pastor Kent addresses the challenge of distraction in our prayer lives as part of a series on prayer. Drawing on the analogy of test pilots breaking the sound barrier, he emphasizes that while obstacles like disappointment, self-reliance, and distraction can hinder our connection with God, we can learn to press through them.

What do you do when God answers your most earnest prayers with silence or a definitive "no"? In this message, Pastor John continues the series Breaking the Prayer Barrier by addressing one of the hardest obstacles in our spiritual lives: disappointment in prayer. Through personal stories and biblical examples, this episode reassures us that an unanswered prayer or a "no" is not a sign of weak faith, nor does it mean God has abandoned us. Instead, it is an invitation to rely more deeply on His grace and sovereignty.

Pastor Kent kicks off a series entitled "Breaking The Prayer Barrier" , addressing why so many believers struggle to maintain a vibrant, effective prayer life . Drawing a parallel to test pilot Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in 1947, Pastor Kent explains that pushing through initial hesitation, fear, and discomfort in prayer leads to an overwhelming sense of peace and intimacy with God

Service 8/30/2026

Life is made up of hundreds of choices every day, from what to wear to life-altering decisions about careers and relationships. But in the conclusion to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, He presents the most critical choice of all: How will you respond to His words? In this message, Pastor Kent unpacks the four black-and-white choices Jesus puts before all of humanity: The Narrow Road vs. The Wide Road: Why the popular path leads to destruction, while the harder, exclusive path with Christ leads to eternal life. Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit: How to test spiritual leaders and teachings using biblical discernment. True vs. False Declarations of Faith: Why outward religious works mean nothing without an inward heart transformation surrendered to Jesus. Building on Rock vs. Sand: The difference between simply hearing God's word and actively putting it into practice when the storms of life arrive. Every day presents a new opportunity to choose Jesus, build on a solid foundation, and align our hearts with His kingdom. The choice is yours will you hear His words and put them into practice?

In this message, Pastor John walks through the closing section of Jesus's famous Sermon on the Mount. Continuing our series on kingdom living, this message unpacks what it truly means to live in a Christlike, God-honoring community by examining some of the most famous and frequently misunderstood teachings of Jesus.

In this powerful message from Matthew 6, Jesse Schumacher dives into what Jesus truly teaches about money, possessions, and the human heart. Far from a financial planning lecture, Jesus' teaching cuts straight to the core of discipleship by asking a fundamental question: What are you really living for?

Are your spiritual habits driven by a desire for human approval or a heart submitted to Christ? Continuing in our series through the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor CJ explores the "Humble Habits" of the Christian life: giving, praying, and fasting. Examining Jesus’ warnings against the performative religion of the Pharisees, this message reveals that spiritual growth isn't about legalistic striving or performing for others; it's about practicing devotion in secret for an Audience of One. When we surrender our desire for public praise, our Heavenly Father meets us in the secret place with the ultimate reward: more of His presence, character, and grace.

Pastor Kent preaches from Matthew 5:21-30, using two Old Testament illustrations to set up the text: Cain's murder of Abel (rooted in jealousy and unchecked anger) and David's adultery with Bathsheba (rooted in an unchecked gaze that spiraled into covetousness, deceit, and murder). Both stories show how sin escalates when left unaddressed at the heart level. He draws three main points from Jesus's teaching: Anger and lust are matters of the heart, not circumstance. Since everyone carries a sin nature inherited from Adam, the heart is naturally selfish and self-centered. That selfishness is the root from which both anger and lust grow.These sins are a big deal to God, even though our culture (and at times the church) treats them as minor or normal. Jesus raises the bar beyond the letter of the law ("do not commit adultery") to the internal posture of the heart: a lingering, cherished gaze, not a first glance, constitutes adultery in God's eyes. Kent clarifies this isn't about noticing beauty but about the deliberate "second look."Deal with anger and lust aggressively. Jesus's language about plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand is hyperbole meant to jolt us into serious action, not literal self-harm (he references Origen's historical self-mutilation as a cautionary example that missed the point, since the issue is the heart, not the body). Practical steps include cutting out certain media, using accountability software, or stepping back from environments that fuel temptation.

Continuing the Sermon on the Mount series, the speaker teaches from Matthew 5:17-20 that Jesus did not abolish the Law and the Prophets but fulfilled them completely. He explains how Christ fulfills Old Testament prophecy and the moral, civil, and ceremonial laws ultimately through His perfect life and His saving work on the cross. The message calls listeners to trust in Christ’s righteousness rather than self-righteous rule-keeping and to live by the Spirit in grateful obedience.

Pastor Kent begins a summer series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by unpacking Matthew 5:1–12 and explaining “blessed” as God’s approval rather than a passing feeling of happiness. He contrasts each Beatitude with the values of the world—self-sufficiency, moral relativism, power, and retaliation—calling believers to humility, repentance, meek strength, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and faithfulness amid persecution. Using a recent MLB “Pride Night” controversy and the biblical meaning of the rainbow, he challenges the church to pursue a deeper desire to become more like Jesus.

Pastor Kent introduces a summer series through Matthew 5-7, explaining why the church is focusing on discipleship and becoming more like Jesus. He frames the Sermon on the Mount as a call to surrender mind, heart, and will, learning to think like Christ, adopt his attitudes, and live by the Holy Spirit’s power rather than legalism or self-effort. The message invites the congregation to embrace spiritual disciplines and personal transformation so they can represent God’s kingdom faithfully in a broken world.

Continuing the “Grace and Truth” series, the message walks through Jude 1–11 as a call for believers to contend for the historic Christian faith without becoming either permissive about sin or harshly judgmental. The pastor explains how false teachers distort grace into license and deny Christ’s lordship, then urges the church to defend sound doctrine and demonstrate genuine faith through Spirit-filled living marked by holiness, mercy, and love.

Continuing the “Grace and Truth” series through the one-chapter books, the preacher unpacks 3 John by contrasting three responses to the gospel: Gaius’s faithful hospitality, Diotrephes’s prideful self-promotion, and Demetrius’s need for support. He explains how supporting and welcoming ministry workers makes ordinary believers “fellow workers for the truth,” and urges the church to imitate good, reject selfish leadership, and partner joyfully in God’s global mission.

Guest speaker Ryan Pain teaches from 2 Corinthians 5:17–20, calling believers, especially the graduating seniors, to embrace their identity as Christ’s ambassadors. Using a historical example of failed diplomacy, he challenges the church to represent Jesus with integrity, kindness, and courage, avoiding obstacles that misrepresent the gospel. He closes by urging practical, outward-focused ministry, loving neighbors, serving the community, and making Jesus known beyond the church walls.