The Grove Sermon Podcast

This week, Pastor Roland preaches on what it means to be bearers and proclaimers of the truth. In this powerful passage, we see the Spirit sending Paul and Barnabas, truth confronting deception, rebellion leading to blindness, and faith being born through the Gospel’s power. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Acts 13:4-12 SPEAKER: Pastor Roland Contreras ---- CONNECT WITH US: Online: https://www.reachthegrove....

Some of the most powerful moves of God begin in ordinary moments of worship. In Acts 13, we see the church in Antioch become the launching pad for global mission. Through worship, fasting, and prayer, the Holy Spirit speaks, and the church obeys. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Acts 13:1-3 SPEAKER: Pastor Roland Contreras ---- CONNECT WITH US: Online: https://www.reachthegrove.com/ Facebook: https://www.fac...

Every heart is a glory seeker, but whose glory are you living for? In Acts 12:20–25, Herod Agrippa’s hunger for self-glory ends in destruction, but God’s mission marches on. This message challenges us to fix our focus on the true King and live for His glory alone. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Acts 12:20-25 SPEAKER: Pastor Roland Contreras ---- CONNECT WITH US: Online: https://www.reachthegrove.com/ Faceb...

In Acts 12, James is executed, Peter is imprisoned, and the church is under attack. Yet God shows us a powerful truth: His mission cannot be stopped. In this message, Pastor Roland unpacks three key truths from Peter’s miraculous deliverance: God is moving—get ready. God is leading—follow Him. God hears His people—pray. This passage reminds us that God uses both persecution and miracles to advance...

What happens when people refuse to acknowledge God? Romans 1:28–32 shows us that God “gave them up” to a debased mind, a mind that chooses what ought not to be done. The result is a world filled with sin’s corruption, from the sins that make headlines to the “smaller” sins we excuse in our daily lives. In this sermon, Pastor Roland Contreras unpacks Paul’s words to show us three urgent calls for b...

What happens when people refuse to acknowledge God? Romans 1:28–32 shows us that God “gave them up” to a debased mind, a mind that chooses what ought not to be done. The result is a world filled with sin’s corruption, from the sins that make headlines to the “smaller” sins we excuse in our daily lives. In this sermon, Pastor Roland Contreras unpacks Paul’s words to show us three urgent calls for b...

When the world witnesses senseless acts of evil, like the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, we are reminded of just how dark and broken sin truly is. These moments leave people grieving, searching, and asking questions. As the church, we cannot remain silent. The world will always offer its own answers, but the gospel offers hope, truth, and a response that leads to life. In this video, Pastor Roland...

What happens when people exchange the glory of God for their own desires? Romans 1:24–27 shows us the tragic downward spiral of sin: celebrating what God calls dishonorable, corrupting His design, and becoming enslaved to our passions. In this message, Pastor Roland Contreras unpacks Paul’s words and points us to the hope of the gospel, Jesus Christ, who alone can give us a new heart and set us fr...

We live in a world that trades diamonds for dust, glory for garbage. Romans 1:21–23 reveals three downward steps of idolatry: rejection, futility, and exchanging the glory of God for worthless substitutes. In this message, Pastor Roland Contreras shows us how idolatry begins in the heart, how it shapes our thinking, and how the gospel frees us from counterfeit gods. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Romans 1:...

We live in a culture filled with bad trades; trading integrity for influence, marriages for flings, and truth for trends. In Romans 1, Paul reveals humanity’s greatest tragedy, we’ve exchanged the truth of God for lies. This message challenges us to face that reality and points us back to the only hope we have, the true Jesus of Scripture, not the counterfeit “cultural Jesus” our world prefers. In...

What fuels your faith when life gets hard? In Psalm 44:1–8, we see that true faith is anchored not in feelings or circumstances but in remembering the mighty works of God. Before the psalmist laments betrayal and suffering, he leans on the testimony of God’s past faithfulness, and so should we. In this message, Pastor Roland Contreras unpacks three life-giving truths about remembering. SCRIPTURE R...

Where do you turn when joy feels out of reach? In Psalm 43, we meet a man surrounded by injustice, feeling far from God, yet determined to hope in Him. Joy is not found in perfect circumstances, it’s found in the presence of God Himself. Whether you’re walking through a dry season, feeling misunderstood, or simply longing for something more, this message will point you to the One who is your excee...

In this powerful message from Psalm 42, Pastor Roland challenges us to consider what our souls are truly longing for. Just as a deer pants for water, we were created to thirst for God. Yet so often, we chase lesser things. Things like success, approval, pleasure and they never satisfy. Psalm 42 gives voice to our spiritual thirst and points us to the only One who can truly satisfy, Jesus, the Livi...

When life falls apart, when you're betrayed, overwhelmed, or physically and spiritually weak, where do you turn? In this powerful sermon from Psalm 41, Pastor Roland Contreras explores King David's raw and honest cry to the Lord in the midst of intense suffering. David turns not to bitterness, vengeance, or distraction, but to the mercy, faithfulness, and hope of God. Through David’s words, we see...

In a world filled with songs of despair, complaint, and self-reliance, Psalm 40 invites us to sing a new song, a song of rescue, obedience, and hope. In this powerful sermon, Pastor Roland walks us through David’s testimony of waiting on the Lord, being lifted from the pit, and receiving a new song of praise. 1) The song is born in waiting – God hears us in our waiting and lifts us up. 2) The song...

Life moves fast. One day you're planning and building, the next you're wondering where the years went. Psalm 39 is David’s brutally honest prayer about life’s brevity and our desperate need for God’s mercy. In this sermon, we walk through Psalm 39 and ask: How brief is your life? It’s not meant to depress us but to wake us up. To remind us that our days are a vapor, but God’s grace is forever. Key...

In this honest and soul-searching message from Psalm 38, Pastor Roland Contreras asks a question many of us avoid: Are you burdened by sin? Our world has a habit of making sin sound respectable. Greed becomes ambition, lust is called love, pride is sold as confidence. But Psalm 38 doesn’t sugarcoat. It is David’s raw cry from the weight of sin’s consequences and his desperate plea for God’s mercy....

When evil seems to win and the world feels upside down, it’s easy to wonder: Why keep being faithful? Why wait on God when it feels like the wicked prosper? In this sermon from Psalm 37:1–11, Pastor Roland Contreras challenges us to slow down and listen to the ancient wisdom David offers: There’s a better way to live in a broken world. Psalm 37 isn’t naïve about injustice, betrayal, or evil. Inste...

In a world clouded by deception and pride, Psalm 36 brings a powerful contrast between the path of wickedness and the path of God’s steadfast love. In this sermon, Pastor Roland Contreras challenges us to examine the direction of our lives and ask: What path am I really on? SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Psalm 35 SPEAKER: Pastor Roland Contreras ---- CONNECT WITH US: Online: https://www.reachthegrove.com/...

Everyone is facing a battle, whether it’s for your mind, your marriage, your reputation, or your peace. In this powerful message from Psalm 35, Pastor Roland walks us through David’s raw, honest cry for help and shows us what it looks like when we stop fighting in our own strength and start trusting God to fight for us. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Psalm 35 ---- CONNECT WITH US: Online: https://www.reach...

Every believer has a story and your story matters. In this powerful message from Dr. Matt Singleton, Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area, we explore Psalm 34 and the life-changing impact of sharing your testimony. Our world is hungry for hope, and your personal story of how God has worked in your life can be a bridge to the Gospel. Whether you're in a season of joy or walking t...

When life feels out of control, when plans fall apart, and when fear creeps in, who do you trust? Psalm 33 reminds us that God alone is worthy of our trust. In this message, Pastor Roland walks us through the contrast between trusting in the world and trusting in the Lord, and shows how God invites us to surrender our plans and align with His unshakable Kingdom. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Psalm 33 ----...

What do we do when life spins out of control? When evil seems to win and fear threatens to take over? In Acts 12:1–5, we see the early church under intense persecution, James is killed, Peter is imprisoned, and Herod is rising in power. But rather than panic, the church presses in through prayer. In this message, Pastor Roland unpacks how the early believers responded with fervent, Spirit-led pray...

Sermon begins at 16:50 What does it look like to be truly ready for the life God is calling you to live? In this message from Colossians 2:6–7, we explore how being rooted in Christ is the foundation for walking in strength, faith, and purpose. If you’re asking God, “What’s next?” or standing at the edge of a new season, this message is for you. Discover how deep roots lead to steady growth and ho...

What does it look like to live generously as a follower of Jesus? In this message from Acts 11:27–30, Pastor Roland unpacks a short but powerful moment in the early church that reveals how Spirit-led generosity changes lives, strengthens the body of Christ, and points others to the Gospel. From listening to the Holy Spirit to giving what we can and building up others through our giving, this passa...