Summit Church Sermons

What makes a church truly healthy? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan teaches from 1 Timothy 3:8–13, showing that healthy churches are shaped by qualified, godly leadership. As deacons embody integrity, faith, and faithful service, the church is strengthened, cared for, and better equipped to carry out Christ’s mission.

How can we be raised to life like our Savior Jesus? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan teaches from Colossians 2:12–14, showing that through union with Christ, believers are buried and raised with Him. Our sin is fully forgiven, our record of debt canceled, and new life secured through the power of God.

In what way were we “unified with Christ” at the cross? In this Good Friday sermon, Pastor Catlan teaches from Romans 6:1-11, moving beyond the events of Jesus’ death to its meaning for a believer. Christ purchased victory over sin for His people.

What kind of King is Jesus, and how should we respond to Him? In this sermon, Pastor Spencer walks through Luke 19:28–44, revealing Jesus as the humble yet rightful King who comes to save the lost. The passage invites us to move beyond shallow praise and recognize, receive, and follow Him with genuine faith.

What are God’s commandments? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan unpacks 1 John 3:23, showing that God’s commandments have been consistent from the beginning. People who obey God’s commandments believe in Jesus and love one another.

How can we overcome our own heart condemning us? Pastor Catlan examines 1 John 3:21-22, explaining that while sin and trauma cause us to doubt our standing, God’s perfect forgiveness is greater than our self-accusations. By trusting in Christ’s complete work, we gain confidence before God, empowering our prayers and obedience.

How do you find peace when your own conscience attacks you? In this message from 1 John 3:19–20, Pastor Catlan explains how believers can reassure their hearts before God even when they feel condemned. By building a storehouse of faithful, sacrificial love, we find the future evidence needed to trust that God is greater than our failing hearts.

How can Christians move beyond mere words to demonstrate the sacrificial love of Jesus? In this message from 1 John 3:17–18, Pastor Catlan explores three types of "life" and the moral obligation to share worldly goods with brothers in need. True faith is proven through consistent, practical deeds performed in truth.

What is the goal of missions? Pastor Catlan explores Acts 14:21-23 to define the goal of gospel work. By examining Paul’s journey, we learn that missions involves more than just preaching; it requires making disciples and establishing healthy, indigenous churches led by local elders.

How do we define true love in a world of relative meanings? In this message, Pastor Catlan explores 1 John 3:16, contrasting the hatred of Cain with the sacrificial agape of Jesus. By examining Christ’s willful choice to lay down His life, we discover our own obligation to sacrificially love the brothers.

How does our awareness of sin impact our love for God? In this sermon, Pastor Spencer examines Luke 7:36–50, contrasting a self-righteous Pharisee with a repentant woman. He explains that those who recognize their deep need for mercy respond with radical, public devotion. Ultimately, the message reveals that great forgiveness produces great love.

Do you feel like the world hates you? In this message, Pastor Catlan explores 1 John 3:13–14, explaining that the "world" is a system of rebellion against God. Because Christians have passed from death to life and follow a new King, their transformation naturally disrupts a world that prefers its own autonomy.

What does the Bible say about loneliness? Preaching from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Pastor Catlan explores the "vanity" of self-sufficiency and the dangers of isolation. By prioritizing deep relationships over personal gain, we find the support and spiritual strength necessary to withstand life’s inevitable hardships.

What marks a church as being a truly great spiritual community? In this message, Pastor Spencer explores Acts 4:32-37 to show how the early church was defined by unity of heart and soul. By examining their example of selfless sharing and powerful witness, we learn that a church's greatness comes from the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

Why was the first murder in history committed by a brother? Pastor Catlan explores the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis to unpack 1 John 3:12. This sermon reveals that Cain’s hatred stemmed from a heart that rejected God’s standards of worship. True believers are called to love one another by worshiping God in spirit and truth.

How can we be certain that our faith in Christ is genuine? Pastor Catlan returns to 1 John 3:10–11 to explore how sacrificial love for our brothers and sisters serves as a primary test of a true child of God. This message challenges us to consider if we love one another just as Jesus has deeply loved us.

How can you sustain a life of service without burning out? Pastor Catlan examines Galatians 6:9-10 to show that weariness often stems from wrong motivations, like trying to earn God’s favor. By doing good out of love for Christ rather than for specific outcomes, we find the joy and strength to persevere until God’s perfect timing for reaping.

What is the culmination of the road to Bethlehem? Pastor Catlan concludes our series by examining Matthew 1:20-23, where an angel reveals that Jesus—meaning "YHWH is salvation"—would save His people from their sins. This miraculous birth fulfills ancient prophecy, proving that God is finally, eternally with us.

How can we understand the perfect timing of Christ’s birth in the grand narrative of Scripture? In this message, Pastor Spencer explores Galatians 4:4–7 to reveal how God prepared the world religiously, culturally, and politically for the Messiah. Discover the divine purpose behind the incarnation: to redeem us from the law and adopt us as His heirs.

How does God restore His people after a generation of deep rebellion? In this sermon largely from 2 Chronicles 34, Pastor Catlan traces God’s work through the wicked reign of Manasseh and the faithful reforms of young King Josiah, showing how the rediscovery of God’s Word prepared the way for Christ.

What does Rahab have to do with the incarnation of Jesus? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan walks through Joshua 2 and Joshua 6 to show how Rahab’s fragile scarlet cord reveals God’s precise, sovereign preparation for the arrival of Christ on the road to Bethlehem.

What marks a true child of God? In this sermon from Pastor Catlan, 1 John 3:9–10 reveals the visible evidence of new birth—God’s abiding seed transforming us away from the practice of sin and toward righteousness and brotherly love. This closing passage shows how genuine faith becomes unmistakably evident. 

What does it really mean to “make a practice of sinning,” and why does John say such a person is “ of the devil ”? In this sermon from Pastor Catlan on 1 John 3:8 , we explore the difference between occasional failure and intentional rebellion—and how Christ appeared to destroy the works of the devil and free us for true righteousness.

What does it mean to “abide” in Christ when sin still lingers in our lives? In this message from 1 John 3:6–7, Pastor Catlan unpacks John’s contrast between those who keep on sinning and those who practice righteousness, showing that abiding in Christ transforms how believers view and respond to sin—loving what He loves and hating what He hates.

What if you want to help but you might mess up in the process? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan unpacks the wisdom of Proverbs 14:4 —“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox”—showing that healthy, Spirit-filled churches embrace the chaos of empowerment to bear lasting gospel fruit.