Expounding the Word

This life of following Jesus is a journey. Sin will continue to find footholds in your life long after you accept Jesus as your Savior. Till you stand before Him in Heaven, you’ll remain imperfect. This may sound discouraging, but it’s not meant to be. Even the greatest heroes of Scripture had some very low moments of struggle and failure. Yet God used them in amazing ways. Today, Pastor Chris wil...

This journey of life is often compared to the conditions we find in nautical journeys. When you travel by boat, you’re at the mercy of nature. Even in modern boats with powerful engines and clever designs meant to protect the vessel, a storm can wreak havoc for those aboard and threaten their lives. As Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, Jesus and His disciples were very familiar with...

A byproduct of our sinful nature is this persistent tendency to forget who God is and what He’s done for us. We see this exhibited in the Israelites' time and again throughout Scripture, and in our own lives, we can see the way we experience His goodness and faithfulness, just to completely forget the next time we come to an obstacle or a trial. As Pastor Chris will encourage us in today’s message...

Not a single one of us is deserving of a single crumb from the Lord’s table. He’s perfect and full of selfless love and grace, and we are full of selfish pride, greed, lust, and ambition for power. We’re consumed with these sinful attitudes and desires and are unworthy of our Creator’s presence. Yet, as Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, because of Jesus, God has made a place for us a...

There are some beautiful worship songs out today, along with extremely talented musicians and worship leaders who create amazing musical experiences that grab your heart and pull you into the emotions of the moment. But it’s important to ask, where’s the focus? Jesus should be at the center of everything we do. As Pastor Chris will warn in today’s message, if the production value is a higher prior...

For many who’ve grown up in the Church, as well as some other religious traditions, God is a distant, harsh judge. He’s not seen as a loving Father and Creator. They may even sing songs that describe Him that way, but in their hearts, they fear His judgment and wrath for their failures. As Pastor Chris will encourage us today, that isn’t the heart of God for His Creation. He loves us dearly and se...

I know I’ve been there. If you’ve ever been out on the water battling a headwind, it can be frightening. No matter how hard you struggle, the boat seems to be going nowhere, and you wonder if you’ll ever make it back to land. As Pastor Chris points out in today’s message, as the disciples struggled against the storm, even as experienced fishermen, they felt intense fear. Then Jesus stepped into th...

Do you ever read these accounts of the disciples and just question whether Jesus really made the best choices when He called them? All kidding aside, these guys just seem dense at times. As Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, even with all the knowledge we have about who Jesus is and what He accomplished, we can be just as thickheaded when it comes to following Him. Our hardest trial i...

One of the most valuable commodities on Earth is something that is entirely intangible. It’s not gold, it’s not cryptocurrency, or the power of friendship. It’s trust. The amount of trust in any relationship will be a key factor in determining the success of any endeavor. In the military, soldiers must trust their commander to keep them alive.  In football, players must trust their coach to lead t...

Wait a minute, so Jesus went to church? Yes, that’s correct! Even though Jesus was absolutely perfect and didn’t need to learn more about God (since He is God!), He still set an example for us to follow centuries later. Jesus was all about spending time with His Heavenly Father, and what better place to do that than in the places in which God’s Word was taught? In today’s message, Pastor Chris cha...

There are countless stories of parents doing incredible things for their children – lifting cars, fighting off wild animals, standing up against injustice, or working multiple jobs, just to make sure they can buy them Christmas gifts. The love of a parent knows no bounds, and Jairus (juh-eye-rus) was no exception. Today, as Pastor Chris expounds this text, put yourself in Jairus’s shoes; how far w...

During the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made many enemies. He faced rejection, persecution, hardship, and eventually was killed for his work. It must also be noted that the work he did was just, righteous, and honorable, both to God and his fellow man. The Church will also face persecution and hatred – Jesus told Christians to expect as much. As you list...

God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Songs are sung of God’s faithfulness and His follow-through on promises He has made. It’s no different here, where Jesus promises the disciples they will go across the Sea of Galilee, yet the Bible tells how the disciples doubted and feared when trouble arose. In today’s message, Pastor Chris explores how fear of the unknown is often the antithesis o...

Life is full of hardship. I have a friend who is going through a season of intense marital strife, and in the thick of it, the common questions he's had are, “God, do you care? Are you seeing what I’m going through?” These questions are difficult to wrestle with. In today’s message, Pastor Chris presents these moments of darkness in a new light. Just like that boat on the Galilean Sea, God has you...

Growing up, I took piano lessons, and I always hated practicing. I loved playing recitals – the performance was thrilling, and being cheered on felt wonderful. But if I had never practiced, those recitals would’ve been much less rewarding! Now, imagine constantly practicing, but never performing. Sure, you’d never fail, but you’d also never know if you could’ve succeeded. Today, Pastor Chris share...

Farmers know better than anyone that you cannot harvest what you do not plant. Jesus used agricultural parallels many times in his ministry, because it would have been well understood in that time. Perhaps “No pain, no gain” is better for our modern-day fitness programs and sports culture, but nonetheless, it applies to us! In today’s message, Pastor Chris will break down Jesus’ parables in Mark a...

Every parent’s favorite question starts with 1 word: “Why?” Children are so unabashedly inquisitive about the world around them because they truly do not understand how many things work. Some things are simpler than others to understand. “Why do I need to take a bath?” is much easier than “Why did my aunt get cancer?” In today’s message, Pastor Chris addresses how we can understand some of Jesus’...

Do you remember studying for a test in high school? Maybe you passed it on a wing and a prayer, but usually you put in the time. You write your notes, look them over, and prepare for the test. This shows that when you spend time preparing, you retain what you learn. The same applies in your walk with God. When you read His Word, you can’t just glance and hope you understood it. You need to stay in...

If you’ve ever planted anything, you know growth doesn’t happen overnight. Every seed begins its journey deep in the dirt, hidden from view. The amazing thing is that before anything emerges above the surface, the seed is already working its way through the soil. But what fuels this growth besides good soil? Water. Just as a plant needs sustenance to thrive, you need spiritual nourishment found in...

Sometimes, when we look at where we come from or what we’ve done, we ask ourselves, “Can we even change?” But today, Pastor Chris is here to say: yes, you can. But not by yourself. In today’s message, Pastor Chris reminds you that by yourself, there is only pain and destruction. But when you place your faith in Jesus Christ and allow Him to work in your life, you can do all things through His name...

You know what’s the most beautiful thing about the past? It stays there. Many people hold on to their baggage until it weighs them down, but that’s not what it’s like to follow Jesus. He sees what you’re carrying, and instead of brushing you aside or dismissing what you feel, He offers you a hand. That’s why in today’s message, Pastor Chris wants you to know that with Jesus Christ, you can be free...

Have you ever been to a church where the pastor delivers a great message, one that truly resonates with you, yet there isn’t a single scripture in the entire sermon? That reflects the reality in many churches around the world, where charlatans and motivational speakers stand behind the pulpit, preaching from the flesh rather than from the Bible. In today’s message, Pastor Chris urges you to stay b...

Have you ever been to a church that tells you that you need to change before coming to Jesus? That’s religion, and religion tells you that you need to be perfect before you even walk through the door. Some religions might even tell you that you don’t have to change at all. But in today’s message, Pastor Chris wants you to know that there are no prerequisites to enter a relationship with Jesus. Jes...

We all have those days where nothing goes right. Maybe we argue with a loved one, or do something we regret. We’re human, and everyone faces hardships, regardless of whether we're Christian or not. But as Christians, we know we’re never alone. And you don’t have to be alone either. In today’s message, Pastor Chris wants you to know that Jesus loves you. Jesus loves you so much that He died for you...

Have you ever been in a situation where you were placed outside your comfort zone? Maybe you find it daunting to speak to new people, especially when the topic could be seen as controversial. But when you think about what it means to be saved by Jesus Christ, and how He saves, doesn’t that outweigh the fear? Doesn’t that make it worth sharing the Word of God? In today’s message, Pastor Chris encou...