Columbus Evangelical Church Sermons

By the world’s standards, the Thessalonian church looked like a failure—just like their crucified Savior. But what if losing is actually what victory looks like in God’s kingdom? In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul reminds us that following Jesus means embracing weakness, rejection, and sacrifice. This message explores how Jesus redefines success, why opposition doesn’t mean defeat, and how looking like a...

When life gets hard, it’s easy to believe your faith doesn’t matter. But in 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul shows us the opposite. Writing to a suffering church, he reveals how God used their hardship to inspire believers everywhere. This message invites us to stand firm, trust God’s purpose, and remember that we face fierce opposition… but it’s worth it.

Life doesn’t always fit into neat categories. Some seasons are filled with joy and grief, hope and heartache—sometimes all at the same time. As we reflect on a complicated year, Psalm 31 reminds us that God invites our honesty, even in seasons of confusion and pain. In this message, discover how David’s prayer gives voice to both anguish and trust, and how it can help us navigate life when the ans...

The first Christmas gifts weren’t toys or decorations, but treasures filled with meaning and purpose. When the wise men traveled from afar to worship Jesus, they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh—gifts that reveal who this child truly is and what He came to do. On Christmas Eve we explored the surprising significance behind these gifts and how they point to Jesus as our King, our Priest, and o...

Join us this Sunday for a heartwarming Kids Performance that will bring joy to your Christmas season! Our talented children will present "Humphrey's First Christmas," a delightful story that captures the wonder and meaning of Christmas through the eyes of a lovable camel.

Today we focus on the Candle of Hope. This candle reminds us that God’s promises aren’t just history, they are pointing us toward a future yet to come. Together, we’ll explore what it means to wait faithfully, to long for the Messiah’s return, and to live in the tension between the brokenness we see now and the glory that’s coming.

Thankfulness sounds simple, but how do we talk about gratitude when life feels heavy, confusing, or unfair? Especially coming off a message about tragedy, the idea of giving thanks can feel like mixing oil and water. But scripture calls us to be thankful in every circumstance, not because of them. In this message, we’ll explore how shifting our focus from the size of our problems to the greatness...

As we step into the season of Advent, we are reminded of God's unfailing promises and His divine plan unfolding through history. The Old Testament is rich with ancient prophecies that point to the coming of Christ, providing hope and anticipation for the Savior's arrival. Our passage this week foretells the birth of a child who will bring light to those in darkness, establishing a kingdom of peace...

Life’s hardest moments often leave us asking, “Why would God allow this?” In this message we'll discover how Jesus never promised a life free from pain, but He did promise peace and victory in the midst of it. Join us as we explore how the darkness of Friday and the silence of Saturday gave way to the victory of Sunday morning — and how that same hope can carry us through our own times of loss and...

As we celebrate our church's centennial, we are reminded of God's unwavering faithfulness through the years. Just as Joshua 4:19-24 recounts the Israelites setting up stones to remember God’s help, we too reflect on how He has guided and blessed our community. Join us in honoring this milestone, as we give thanks for the past and look forward with hope and trust in His continued presence.

This final sermon in James highlights the Christian call to pursue heavenly riches and God's presence over earthly comfort and wealth. James 5 emphasizes the power and importance of prayer in every season—whether in trouble, joy, or sickness. We’re reminded that even great figures like Elijah were ordinary people who saw extraordinary answers because they pursued God earnestly. The message challen...

This sermon from James 4 explores the deep connection between our actions and the desires of our hearts. Just as water naturally flows downhill, our lives follow the direction of our strongest desires, making lasting change difficult without heart transformation. James teaches that outward behaviors won’t truly change unless we first submit our hearts to God and realign our desires with His. Throu...

In James 3, we are reminded of the incredible influence our words can have. The tongue, small yet mighty, is likened to a fire capable of setting entire lives afire with its destructive power. While taming the tongue may feel as daunting as breaking a wild mustang, it’s vital to remember that our words were never intended to inflict harm. Though no human can tame the tongue alone, transformation i...

As we delve into James 1:19-2:26 this week, we are reminded of the powerful connection between faith and actions. James emphasizes that true faith is not just about hearing the Word but also living it out through our deeds. This passage challenges us to reflect on how our actions align with our faith. Are we quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry? Let us strive to show our faith...

Sometimes followers of Jesus can fall for a powerful and destructive lie. This lie says that if we follow Jesus, we’ll no longer have trouble and trials. Now we may recognize with our mind that this is a lie… after all Jesus himself says “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33, NIV). But sometimes our heart can be fooled and blindsided when we encounter trials and hardship. This Sunday,...

The Lord’s answer to Job is supposed to feel overwhelming. It’s like being hit by a water cannon that knocks us to the ground. So why does God go full water cannon on Job? It’s because Job sees his problems as being bigger than God (as if God is not all powerful). It’s because Job thinks that if he can’t understand why God would do something then there must not be a good reason (as if God is not a...

This week's message focuses on the role of Job's friends. As we read, we see how they initially come to comfort Job in his time of suffering. However, their well-meaning attempts to explain his misfortune reveal the complexities of providing support during difficult times. We’ll contemplate how we can be better friends by listening and offering empathy, rather than quick answers or judgments. Join...

This week's message focuses on the first two chapters of Job, highlighting the character of Job as a man who was blameless and upright. Job is described as someone who feared God and shunned evil, setting an example of integrity and faithfulness. Join us as we explore how Job's steadfastness in his relationship with God can inspire us in our own spiritual journeys.

There are three primary types of wisdom in the Bible. There is the Proverbs style wisdom that describes the way the world ought to work. There is the Ecclesiastes style of wisdom that explores the significance and meaning of life. Then there is the Job style of wisdom for when all other wisdom fails. In this series on Job we’ll explore the wisdom God has for us when we do the right things, for the...

On the day Jesus goes to the cross, we see Peter deny Jesus three times. To deny someone once might be an accident. To deny someone twice is pretty bad. But to deny someone three times seems beyond redemption. In John 21, we witness a Peter who feels that he has forfeited his right to be a follower of Jesus. Peter feels like he has betrayed and destroyed his relationship with Jesus beyond repair....

On Good Friday the cross means despair, defeat and shame… but on Easter Jesus conquers the grave and the cross is transformed into a symbol of hope and victory. During this message we’ll be exploring how Jesus’ resurrection transformed the cross from a symbol of humiliation into a symbol of hope. From a symbol of death into a symbol of life. And just like the cross has been transformed, we can exp...

Jesus was constantly warning His disciples that Good Friday and Easter would soon be here. In the Gospel of Mark, we hear Jesus warn his disciples three times of their impending arrival. But yet Jesus' disciples seem clueless about what is fast approaching. In one of these encounters we even hear Jesus rebuke Peter over his hard heart. As we read these stories we can chuckle and scoff at the disci...

The book of Acts is powerful and exciting. It starts with Jesus' resurrection then the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost (chapter 1 & 2). Things are going great as the Apostle Peter looks like a mini-Jesus and starts echoing Jesus' teaching and miracles (chapter 3). Then adversity hits the Apostles but this time they don’t turn and run like they did in the Garden of Gethsemane; this time they sta...