Compass Weekly Sermons

Many people like certain things that Jesus said, like the golden rule. But what happens when Jesus says something that challenges us? What happens when Jesus says something that causes us to decide between him and the world? In this sermon, Pastor Will explains Matthew 12:48, showing that the family of Jesus was dealing with immense pressure from outside, that Jesus did nothing to alleviate the pr...

This deep dive interview is a bit different. Instead of the usual diving deeper into a sermon, this is a special interview with Pastor Sean Finnegan. Sean and Will discuss nationalism, Christian nationalism, politics, and what it looks like to be a Christian in this age of division. In the end, Sean recommends direct action. As Christians, we may not be able to solve every problem in the world, bu...

What is the relationship between healing and faith? In this sermon, Pastor Will discusses Matthew 9:28, showing that faith is a necessary condition in most healings. Each situation is unique, and we can look to God through His spirit to get the deliverance.

Who are we supposed to judge? How are we to rightly make judgments? How do we make sure that our perception is accurate? In this sermon, Rev. Jerry Weller explains Matthew 7:1-12, showing that we should focus on ourselves, give grace to others, judge (and avoid) sin, and love (and give mercy) to the sinner.

What does Jesus say about money? How should we deal with abundance or lack? In this sermon, Pastor Will walks through Matthew 6:25 and the surrounding context, showing that Jesus is challenging our imagination about living the kingdom of God in community today.

This is the first sermon in the series 12 Questions Jesus Asked. In this sermon, Pastor Will explains the difficult question found in Matthew 5:46, showing that no matter who our enemy is, we should pray for them and love them. In so doing, we will respond to the high calling of being like our God.

This is the final sermon in the "Battle Ready" series. How do we stay alert and ready to fight in the spiritual battle? In this sermon, Pastor Will explains Ephesians 6:18, showing that we should be people of prayer and people of decisive action.

How do we stay battle ready? Two additional pieces of armor are salvation and the sword of the spirit, the Word of God. In this sermon, Steve Longley explains Ephesians 6:17, showing that we need to understand our salvation by grace and to know the power of the Word of God in order to be fully equipped to walk the Christian lifestyle.

How can we handle election season in the right way, both in our conversations with others in person and our presence online? In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about the "readiness of the gospel of peace" and the "shield of faith," showing that to live like the Lord Jesus, we should be prepared to fight the powers by using the right equipment.

This is the first sermon in our series "Battle Ready," focusing on the end of Ephesians 6. What causes division in the world? How can Christians overcome the powers of darkness around us? In this sermon, Pastor Will lays a foundation for understanding the end of Ephesians 6 and outlines examples of people standing up for truth and living righteously.

In the past three weeks, we have been exploring "Healing in a Broken World." In this sermon, Pastor Will relates all aspects of health and healing to what we can do to be a healthy church. What steps can we take to be healthier as a church?

This is the third sermon in the series Healing in a Broken World. In this sermon, Pastor Will explores the world of psychology in relationship to scripture. Why do we get triggered by certain things and not by others? What makes us sad, and where do we run in response? Why do we feel anxiety and are we tempted to believe that the symptoms indicate a lack of our faith? Will provides a basic templat...

This is sermon 2 in the series on Healing in a Broken World. What is the difference between spiritual healing and physical healing? Are we guaranteed physical healing in this life? In this sermon, Pastor Will provides a Biblical framework for physical healing, showing that physical healing is always a gift of God's grace and mercy.

What is the foundational problem that all of humanity faces? Our spiritual disconnection and isolation from God. In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about spiritual healing, showing that Jesus solved the fundamental problem facing humanity. Now, anyone can freely accept God's grace and walk in the spiritual healing available through Christ.

This sermon was originally recorded on June 30, 2024 at Living Hope Community Church in Latham, NY. In this guest sermon, Pastor Will discusses the subject of depression. Depression is on the rise, especially in the youth of the USA. What is going on? And what can we do about it? Will describes how we can tend our minds like a garden. You can provide an environment conducive to the growth and powe...

How do we pursue the things of God? What does it look like to "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts"? In this virtual sermon, Pastor Will talks about the practical ways in which we pursue God and how it looks different in each of our lives.

In this deep dive, Will and Jerry talk more about prophecy in a broader sense. Prophecy is a multi-faceted gift with different layers and a whole world of opportunity.

What does the Bible say about the manifestation of prophecy in a worship meeting? How can the church conduct prophecy in a way that honors God and blesses the people present? In this sermon, Rev. Jerry Weller walks through 1 Corinthians 14, showing the characteristics, benefits, and purposes of prophecy in a church gathering.

Do you want your prayer life to grow? Do you want the spirit of God to move more in your life? In this sermon, Pastor Will discusses prophetic prayer ("prayer in the spirit") generally and speaking in tongues specifically, showing examples of prophetic prayer, along with the characteristics, ways to increase in these practices, and benefits of prophetic prayer.

This is a deep dive interview with Paola Ely after her sermon on "Fruit of the Spirit." In this interview, Will and Paola talk about her early life and development in Christ, fruit of the spirit, surrender, how to identify areas for new growth, and the importance of humility and patience in this journey.

What does it look like for the spirit of God to "mess with you"? In this sermon, Worship Pastor Paola Ely walks through the context of Galatians 5, showing us that developing fruit takes time and cooperation with the power of the spirit. How can we be more intentional with the gardens of our lives?

This is a deep dive episode that reflects on the first three sermons in the Bring Your Gifts series. In this episode, Will explores the concept of "gifts" in more detail, explaining various options for understanding the gifts. For more information on Don & Katie Fortune's book "Discover Your God-Given Gifts:" https://a.co/d/6zDqdIx

What do you think of when you think about the spirit of God moving? Do you think about healings, miracles, prophecy, or teaching? In this sermon, Pastor Will explains that there is much more to the work of the spirit than this. He explains that Romans 12 includes five "overlooked gifts." How can we live in a way that acknowledges and values these gifts and all that God does through the spirit?

What does the Bible say about the movement of the spirit in our lives? How do we know that it is God working and not our own desires? In this sermon, Pastor Will talks about the myriad of ways that God can work in us through the spirit, the importance of discernment, and how all of this works better in community.

What was the Hebrew conception of the spirit? How does our understanding of the spirit affect how we appreciate the moment of Pentecost about 2,000 years ago? In this sermon, Pastor Will describes the purposes of the spirit and how that understanding informs our perception of the meaning of Pentecost.