Line Upon Line

This Advent teaching argues that all humanity lives under the fearful shadow of death and coming judgment, but the incarnation of Christ at Christmas breaks death's power and frees believers from fear. Pastor Miles connects Christmas to the whole gospel—without the advent there is no Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, or church—and defends celebrating the holiday as an opportunity to incar...

Drawing on Israel's seven centuries in the Promised Land and the dark night of Assyrian and Babylonian conquest, this teaching shows how Isaiah 9:6-7 promised a coming light, and how Simeon and Anna in Luke 2 witnessed God making good on that promise in the child Jesus. Jesus is presented as the source of hope and the longed-for answer to every human longing.

Opening a Christmas series on the goodness of God revealed in the giving of His Son, this teaching contrasts a good God with sinful humanity, traces the origin of evil to the fall in Genesis, and shows how the gift of Jesus addresses humanity's deepest need—calling Christians to receive that gift and extend it to others during the Christmas season.

A teaching from Colossians 2:5-7 showing that genuine salvation produces newsworthy faith, faithful conduct, and—above all—a life of overflowing thanksgiving. Pastor Miles argues that gratitude is the dominant, visible outcome of being rooted, built up, and established in Christ.

Paul commends the Colossian church for its newsworthy faith and good conduct, then calls believers who have received Christ Jesus the Lord to walk in Him—rooted, built up, established, abounding, and overflowing in thanksgiving. Pastor Miles develops a "theology of gratitude," arguing that genuine happiness flows from thankfulness and that thanksgiving is the dominating evidence of a life truly ro...

Jesus' letter to the faithful church at Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7–13) shows that He has only commendation and no indictment for them. Their faithfulness—expressed in power, obedience, loyalty, and endurance—is rewarded with a fuller revelation of Himself, an open door of opportunity, protection from the hour of trial, and a permanent place in God's temple.

Jesus addresses the fifth church, Sardis—a congregation with a reputation for being alive but which was spiritually dead. As the one who holds the fullness of the Spirit and possesses His church, Jesus issues seven summons to move this "mostly dead" church from death to life, and promises white garments and a confessed name to those who walk in purity and overcome.

Speaking to a gathering of law enforcement officers, Pastor Miles uses Romans 13 to show that police officers, like pastors, are ministers of God who bear the sword as His servants. From Micah 6:8 he draws three practical callings for those in authority: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

Pastor Miles teaches Jesus's fourth letter in Revelation, addressed to the church at Thyatira—a congregation commended for growing love and service yet rebuked for tolerating "Jezebel," a false prophetess leading them into idolatry and immorality. The message calls believers to increase in good works, refuse compromise, hold fast to sound doctrine, and overcome through faith in Jesus the Son of Go...

Jesus examines the church at Pergamos in Revelation 2:12-17, a faithful church that nonetheless tolerated compromise with the surrounding pagan culture. The teaching warns that while compromise is healthy in marriage and negotiation, it is dangerous and unacceptable in our walk with Christ, who comes to His church as the one bearing a sharp two-edged sword.

An exposition of Jesus' letter to the church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8–11), showing how Christ comforts His suffering people by revealing Himself as the eternal One who died and rose again. The teaching insists that Christians are never promised a tribulation-free life but are assured that death is not the end and that the faithful will receive the crown of life.

Examining Jesus' first letter to the seven churches—addressed to Ephesus—this teaching shows Christ intimately involved with His church, commending their doctrine and discernment yet indicting them for leaving their first love. The summons is to remember, repent, and return to simple faith and love, lest He remove their lampstand.

An introductory message launching a seven-week study of the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3, focusing on laying the interpretive groundwork for studying biblical prophecy. Pastor Miles explains the kinds of prophecy and the four lenses through which prophecy is read, urging believers to hold their eschatology carefully, humbly, and lightly—a "humblodoxy."

As the study of Acts concludes in chapter 28, Paul arrives in Rome as a prisoner—far from the way he had planned—yet immediately turns his imprisonment into a platform for the gospel. Miles draws four lessons: our plans rarely unfold as expected, our "prison" is our God-given platform, time is a perishable commodity, and we must make the most of every opportunity.

Drawing from Paul's shipwreck on Malta in Acts 28, this teaching unfolds seven marks of godly leadership—from serving and suffering opposition to experiencing God's empowering and ultimate vindication. The miracle of the snake bite and Paul's survival illustrate that those who follow Jesus will face trials but can press on, trusting God to bring them through.

Using Acts 1:1-3, Pastor Miles teaches that the Gospels are only the beginning of "all that Jesus began to do," and that the church's history is the continuation of His story. Our lives gain true significance not from our own achievements but when our story intersects with the story of Jesus, making us part of an eternal history.

Working through Paul's shipwreck arrival on Malta and the snake bite that follows (Acts 28:1-10), Pastor Miles draws seven marks of godly leadership: godly leaders serve, get bitten by snakes, have their motives questioned, press on through opposition, experience God's empowering, go through open doors, and are ultimately vindicated by God. He also notes the surpassing miracle that all 276 men sur...

Continuing in Acts 27, Pastor Miles examines Paul's shipwreck voyage toward Malta, drawing out five truths for navigating life's storms: though all be lost in this life, all is not lost; steep surf means rocks ahead; be anchored correctly; take nourishment for survival; and trusting God brings salvation.

Opening a new series called "Journey to Rome" in Acts 27–28, Pastor Miles teaches that God sovereignly plans our paths and even directs His people into storms for redemptive purpose. Tracing Paul's voyage as a prisoner toward Rome, he shows that God uses storms to bring salvation, to redirect misplaced hope, and to make His people shining beacons in the midst of trouble.

As Paul sits protected in the Roman barracks in Jerusalem after two riots, Jesus stands by him in the night to encourage him, a conspiracy of forty men plots his assassination, and God orchestrates an extraordinary military escort to deliver him safely to Caesarea—demonstrating that God works through both ordinary and extraordinary means even amid suffering.

Continuing the "On Trial" series in Acts 24, Pastor Miles examines Paul's defense before Governor Felix, drawing lessons on how Christians should walk uprightly, remain in the world without being conformed to it, and effectively state their case for Christ to unbelievers.

Drawing from Acts 24, this teaching examines the private meeting between Paul and the Roman governor Felix and his wife Drusilla, showing that being familiar with Christianity is not the same as truly knowing Christ. Through four warnings drawn from Felix's response, the message presses listeners to move beyond mere fear of God to genuine surrender to the lordship of Jesus before their "convenient...

Continuing the "On Trial" series in Acts, this teaching examines Acts 25 as Paul, after two years imprisoned in Caesarea, stands before the newly appointed governor Festus, refuses a plot to be tried in Jerusalem, and appeals to Caesar. Pastor Miles draws five lessons: believers stand at the center of world conflict, God providentially works His plan, God's timing differs from ours, we should be g...

Continuing the "On Trial" series in Acts 25, this teaching shows that the repetitive sequence of Paul's trials was not happenstance but the fulfillment of God's prophetic word given decades earlier in Acts 9. The message encourages believers that God orders our steps and works behind the scenes—even in waiting and monotony—calling us to wait on Him and to let our conduct be holy and befitting the...

On the Feast of Pentecost, Pastor Miles celebrates the birthday of the church, teaching that the church is God's called-out people—saved by grace and sent on His mission to make disciples of all nations. He argues that because the church is God's plan, empowered by the Holy Spirit, it cannot fail and will one day be completed with worshipers from every tribe and tongue before God's throne.