Church at the Armory

This Sunday Andrew Runnels shared a word, encouraging us all to look at Jesus. And after we’re done with that, look again and again.

This Graduation/Mother’s Day message highlights the legacy that sincere faith leaves in the lives of our children and grandchildren. It’s within this context that Paul declares, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” The message also includes a few spontaneous testimonies of God’s redemption and answers to a mother’s prayers.

James begins to address the definition of faith in this section of his letter. From our perspective here in 2025, we have a well-rounded understanding of faith drawn from all the New Testament writers, most notably Paul. Yet James was laying some of the very first groundwork for defining faith to an infant church—well before Paul came on the scene. So, hear James’ teaching on faith as some of the...

This Easter message focuses on the type and shadow found in Numbers 21, where the people of Israel are bitten by venomous snakes—a representation of judgment and curse. In response, God provides a way of deliverance: by looking upon a bronze serpent lifted on a pole, they would live. This Old Testament account points us to the cross of Calvary and to our Savior, who took our judgment upon Himself.

The phrase “in view of God’s mercy” from Romans 12 invites us to gaze upon the cross and become living sacrifices. This message takes us back through the first eleven chapters of Romans, where Paul proclaims the heart of the gospel. As Passion Week begins, may we keep our hearts fixed—in view of God’s mercy.

James begins the second chapter with a discussion on favoritism, specifically toward those with wealth. The abject poverty of the early church created a strong temptation to cater to the rich—even when they were treating believers poorly. Financial strain can lead us to make unwise judgments, even within the church. James' wisdom is clear: show no favoritism.

One of our faithfull and older members, Keith Nutt, preached to us a message about the word of God. Encouraging us with the word to “settle” ourselves in it, “until” it does its perfect work in our hearts. Listen to the stories and exhortation of this man’s history with the word of God.

In the final verses of chapter one, James emphatically exhorts the church to do the word. Twice, he warns that hearing the word without living it out leads to self-deception. This highlights a prevalent issue among believers: some assume they are spiritual simply by being around church, scripture, or other spiritual activities, yet they remain unchanged because they do not practice what they hear.

James writes, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” Here, he is teaching an infant church how to handle the anger that was “prevalent” among them. In this lesson, I explore why they were angry and how James instructs them to deal with it.

William Barclay, a 20th-century scholar, once described the Book of James as “the most practical book in the New Testament,” and he wasn’t wrong. James’s letter to the twelve tribes of Israel is straightforward enough to understand, yet challenging to live out. This message marks the start of a verse-by-verse series on James. In this first installment, James urges the infant church: it’s time to g...

There is a fascinating story in 1 Samuel about the Ark of God being captured and a head-to-head—quite literally—battle between the God of Israel and Dagon, one of the Philistine gods. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is sovereign, full of authority, and glorious all on His own.

Continuing with the theme of “testimonies,” the story of Rahab offers a profound example of how God used the testimony of Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage to transform her life—and ultimately include her in the Messiah’s bloodline. Her words, “We have heard,” show how what she heard became genuine faith.

The concept of God—encompassing Jesus—as “The Shepherd” is a far more significant identity than many of us realize. From Genesis to Revelation, including the Psalms, the Major and Minor Prophets, the Gospels, and the Epistles, this theme is sprinkled throughout the entire biblical narrative. We would do well to deepen our understanding of The Shepherd.

We know how testimonies make us feel. We can sense that they build our faith, but this message walks us through Scripture to reveal how God uses stories of faith in His gospel plan. It helps us understand their purpose and the larger role they play in spiritual life. Testimonies are more than just personal stories—they are essential to God’s master plan. They are woven into the very fabric of prop...

The power of a testimony lies in its ability to build faith and remind us of God’s ongoing work in our lives and beyond. This message shares the story of a recent discovery of how intricately God has been orchestrating my life, reaching as far back as when my grandfather was a child. It’s a faith-building story, filled with evidence that His love truly endures forever.

A guest speaker and longtime friend of Church at the Armory shares a powerful message about the dominion and authority of Christ and the Church, as illustrated through the story of Jesus’ ministry in healing the demoniac. This message is rich with historical context and offers a fresh perspective on the broader impact of the deliverance that took place that day.

This message highlights five practical ways we, as believers, can allow the Gospel of Jesus Christ to flow through us—not just to us. It’s essential that we put the teachings of Jesus into practice and bring them to life in the real world. These five steps are designed to help us live out our faith and make a tangible impact.

The high-ranking angels encircle the Throne of God and declare impulsively, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” However, they also say something else that we don’t discuss as often: “Who was, Who is, and Who is to come.” As we find ourselves in the middle of this decade, the 2020s, let’s reflect on what was, what is, and what is to come—and see God in all of it.

This sermon warns against the dangers of comparison, which can rob us of joy and gratitude, ultimately leading to envy and discontentment. It encourages us to embrace our God-given roles with purpose, finding fulfillment through obedience to Him.

This message examines the “Christmas Story” from Joseph’s perspective. While we often consider the viewpoints of Jesus and Mary, how often do we reflect on Joseph’s journey—from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs—all with just one visit from the Angel of the Lord? Too often, we focus on the challenges in our lives without recognizing what God may be doing behind the scenes.

Hope. The tribulations, perseverance, and proving grounds have brought us to a place of hope—both an eternal hope and a hope available for the here and now. Romans 8 paints a beautiful picture of this hope, showing us why we can be fully convinced and confident in it. This message also includes words of encouragement from one of our intercessors. As we move forward, we do so on a pathway of hope!

In this message, we focus on perseverance and the development of proven character, which results from the tribulations and trials discussed in the previous sermon. This is the pathway to a hope that does not disappoint, as described by the Apostle Paul at the beginning of Romans 5. Paul, James, and Peter, three prominent voices of the early church, all emphasize the necessity for believers to pers...

This short mini-series, based on Romans 5:1-5, outlines the pathway to a “hope” that does not disappoint. In this first message, we explore tribulations, trials, and temptations as essential parts of the process that leads us to that great hope. Scripture instructs us to exult in these tribulations, yet we often bemoan trials because we don’t fully understand what they produce in us. This message...

This Thanksgiving message challenges us to see our circumstances and families as God sees them. More specifically, it asks that God grant us His grace and reveal a picture of what He sees with His spiritual eyes, so that we may navigate our physical lives according to that spiritual vision. This is the essence of hope. May your Thanksgiving be filled with a hope that does not disappoint.

This is the second message by Dr. Gladstone, delivered on November 17, 2024, at the Church at the Armory. In this message, we explore the concept of the “Church at Home” as a spiritual warfare agency that is developed, equipped, and employed through the attributes described in Paul’s teaching on the armor of God in his letter to the Ephesians. Establishing the Church in your home, neighborhood, wo...