Avalon Church

Join Pastor K. Paul Maurer as we continue our journey through Luke 11:37–54. In this message, Jesus confronts the difference between religious performance and genuine heart transformation, reminding us that following Him isn't about appearances, it's about radical obedience to God's Word.  Discover how to recognize "religious rot" in your own life and pursue the kind of fa...

When Family Is Complicated | Matthew 12:46–50 | Avalon Church Description: What did Jesus mean when He said, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pastor Bob Smith teaches from Matthew 12:46–50 on family, obedience, spiritual belonging, and the comfort of being received into the family of God.

In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus gives a sobering warning about the danger of an empty spiritual life. It's possible to clean up behavior, put things in order, and make cosmetic changes without experiencing true transformation. In this message, Pastor Bob Smith explores the reality of spiritual warfare, the difference between external improvement and internal renewal, and why self-help alone can ne...

The religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign, but their problem wasn't a lack of evidence. It was a lack of willingness. In Matthew 12:38-42, Jesus points to Jonah, the people of Nineveh, and the Queen of the South to reveal a powerful truth: God has already provided enough evidence to respond in faith. The question is not whether God is speaking. The question is whether our hearts are willin...

What did Jesus mean when He warned about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? In this message, we explore one of the most challenging passages in Scripture and discover that the unforgivable sin is not about a single mistake or moment of doubt. Instead, Jesus warns against a lifelong rejection of the Holy Spirit's work of conviction and His testimony about Christ. We'll also examine how ou...

What does it mean to fight spiritual battles based on truth? Guest speaker Rev. Donovan Coley opens our new series, When Truth Stands Its Ground , by examining Luke 10–11 and Jesus' teaching on spiritual authority, the Kingdom of God, and the unseen spiritual realm. "Spiritual warfare is won in the life of the Christian when we stand on the truth about who God is and whose we are."...

In Luke 8, Jesus surrounds Himself with people society overlooked — doubters, outsiders, ordinary workers, and unseen women who helped build the Kingdom of God. This message explores how Jesus values the people others ignore and how His mercy doesn’t just restore people, it empowers them. If you’ve ever felt unseen, disconnected, or unimportant, this message is for you. Series: Rich in Mercy Scrip...

A sinful woman crashes a dinner party, falls at the feet of Jesus, and worships Him while an entire room watches in shock. Some judged her. Some stood by silently. Jesus saw her differently. In this message from Luke 7, we explore what mercy really looks like, why forgiven people love differently, and the question every person in the room had to answer: Which one are you?

What do you do when faith gets complicated? In Luke 7, John the Baptist, the same man who prepared the way for Jesus, finds himself questioning in a dark season. Instead of responding with shame or condemnation, Jesus responds with mercy, evidence, and compassion.

What happens when Jesus walks straight into grief, loss, and hopelessness? In Luke 7, we see a powerful moment where Jesus meets a grieving widow at the gates of a city—and everything changes. This message explores the heart of Jesus: a Savior who feels our pain, steps into broken places, and speaks life where there was only death. But this story isn’t just about what Jesus did then—it’s about wha...

What does real faith actually look like? In Luke 7, Jesus is amazed—not by a religious leader, but by a Roman centurion. A man outside the “church world” shows a level of faith that stands above everyone else. This message challenges us to move beyond talk and into action:  Faith begins with hearing   Faith is marked by humility   Faith responds immediately   Faith trusts Jesus completely  If we w...

What are you building your life on? In this message from Matthew 7:24–29, we explore Jesus’ powerful teaching about the wise and foolish builders—and what it really means to follow Him. This isn’t about hearing more truth… it’s about living it. You’ll be challenged to:  Move from listening to obedience   Build a faith that shows up every day   Stand strong when life’s storms hit  “Storms don’t des...

How do you know what’s real in a world full of voices? In this message, we walk verse-by-verse through Matthew 7:15–23, where Jesus gives a clear warning: not everything that looks spiritual is true. In a culture shaped by screens, influencers, and constant content, it’s never been more important to discern what’s real. Jesus shows us that the test isn’t appearance—it’s fruit.

Living a resurrected life He is risen—now what? In this message, we explore what it truly means to live a resurrected life. Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead—He showed us a new way to live. A life marked by surrender, transformation, and purpose.“Resurrection always comes after surrender.” “The resurrected life is not about trying harder. It’s about dying sooner.” Through Luke 9, we see that fo...

What really happened on the cross? We often focus on the physical suffering of Jesus—but the deeper reality of Good Friday is what happened spiritually. In this message, we explore the weight Jesus carried, the separation He endured, and the love that drove Him all the way to the end. This isn’t just a story about suffering—it’s a declaration of love.

What if the question you’re asking isn’t the one you actually need answered? In this Palm Sunday message, we look at a moment where Jesus is asked a direct question—but gives a deeper response. Instead of a simple answer, He gives four urgent warnings about salvation, eternity, and what it really means to know Him. This message challenges us to move beyond surface-level faith and respond to the in...

What if one command could transform every part of your life? In this message from Matthew 7:12, we explore Jesus’ words: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a foundation for how we live, love, and follow Jesus every day. From your workplace to your marriage, your friendships to your private life, this teaching challenges everything: Why we struggle to...

In this message from Matthew 7, we explore Jesus’ invitation to a deeper kind of faith—one marked by courage, honesty, and perseverance. Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock , but what does that really look like in everyday life? Through powerful stories like blind Bartimaeus and the persistent widow, we see that faith isn’t passive. It’s honest prayer, active pursuit, and perseverance that refu...

In this message from Gospel of Matthew 7:1–6 , we explore one of Jesus’ most misunderstood teachings—judging others, removing the “log” from our own eyes, and understanding what He meant by “pearls before pigs.” Jesus first calls us to humility. Before we correct others, we must examine our own hearts and remove pride, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness. But once our vision is clear, we’re called t...

In this message from the Sermon on the Mount, we explore Jesus’ challenging words: “Judge not.” What does He really mean — and what does He not mean? This sermon unpacks the difference between discernment and condemnation, truth and hypocrisy, correction and compassion. In a culture that rushes to criticize, cancel, and catalog every failure, Jesus calls His followers to something radically differ...

In this powerful and deeply personal message from the Sermon on the Mount, Dave DeSelm explores Jesus’ command: “Do not worry about your life.” Why is worry so common? Where does it come from? And what does Jesus actually offer us instead? Drawing from Matthew 6 and real-life experience — including a recent stage four cancer diagnosis — Dave shares two simple but life-changing practices: • Admit i...

Jesus didn’t say serve God most — He said serve God alone. This sermon walks through Matthew 6:24 and the life of King Josiah to show why divided loyalty keeps us stuck and how surrender leads to freedom.

This message challenges us to recognize the difference between artificial light and the true light of Christ, and to intentionally choose what forms us. If you’ve ever felt anxious, numb, or spiritually unfocused, this conversation invites you back to clarity, healing, and light.

  Core Text: Matthew 6:19–21 What we treasure ultimately shapes our hearts. In week one of our Disrupted series, we explore Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 and confront a quiet danger in our lives—losing our hearts to material things without even realizing it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck chasing “more,” this message will help you refocus your heart on what matters most.

In this message from Matthew 6:16–18, we explore why fasting remains a vital spiritual discipline for Christians today. Jesus assumes fasting is part of the believer’s life—not for attention or spiritual performance, but for intimacy with God. Fasting helps quiet the noise of a distracted world, exposes hidden idols, and reorders our lives around what truly matters. This teaching challenges listen...