Epikos Church Sermons

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark discusses Epikos Church's new mission and vision through the lens of the Great Commission from Matthew 28. He defines discipleship as a process of trusting in Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did, emphasizing that the church's role is to equip and encourage people in this journey. Our new mission statement reflects these values, and our vision is...

This week at Epikos Church, we celebrate 20 years of being a church! During this week’s message, Pastor Mark Deering walks through the past 20 years of the church, sharing stories of connection, growth, and life change from various people who call Epikos home.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison discusses a story from Luke 2 about 12-year-old Jesus being accidentally left behind in Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph after Passover. After searching for three days, they find Jesus in the temple discussing scripture with religious teachers who were amazed by His understanding. When questioned by His worried parents, Jesus responded that "I must be in m...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering examines the story of Jesus's family fleeing to Egypt, contrasting King Herod's notorious pursuit of power and subsequent atrocities with Joseph's humble obedience to God's guidance. Pastor Mark weaves together historical context about Herod's rule, the significance of Nazareth as an obscure town, and the biblical prophecies fulfilled through these events...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski focuses on the story of the Magi from Matthew Chapter 2, following the events of Jesus's birth. Pastor Jacob explores who the Magi were (explaining they were likely astronomers or advisers rather than kings), their encounter with King Herod, and the significance of their gifts to Jesus (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). He emphasizes two main points: tha...

In this special Christmas Eve service, Pastor Mark Deering challenges common misconceptions about Jesus's birth, explaining that rather than being turned away from an inn, Jesus was likely born in a family home in Bethlehem that was overcrowded due to Caesar's census. Pastor Mark emphasizes how Mary and Joseph were surrounded by family, with Jesus being placed in a manger in the home's animal area...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering recaps the three main parts of Luke 1: Zechariah's initial disbelief when told by an angel that his elderly wife Elizabeth would bear a son, Mary's faithful response to her own angelic visitation, and finally the birth of John the Baptist where Zechariah regains his speech and offers a prophecy of praise. Pastor Mark emphasizes how Zechariah's story shows...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison discusses the biblical story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly, childless priest and his wife who are promised a son by the angel Gabriel. The narrative highlights themes of faith, divine promise, and joy during the Advent season. Initially, Zechariah doubts the angel's proclamation and is struck mute, but when his son John is born, he demonstrate...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering explores the biblical narrative of Mary's song from Luke Chapter 1, focusing on the themes of God's faithfulness and humility. Using Mary's response to the angel Gabriel and her subsequent visit to Elizabeth, Pastor Mark highlights how a young teenage girl demonstrated profound spiritual insight by magnifying God despite her extraordinary circumstances. P...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Anthony Caples discusses the importance of prayer as a fundamental aspect of Christian life, focusing on Paul's teachings in 1 Timothy. He encourages us to view prayer as communication with God, emphasizing that it should be our first option, not a last resort. Pastor Anthony explores different types of prayer, including supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving, h...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering explores the concept of being a "citizen of the kingdom of God". Drawing from scripture, he emphasizes that Christians should live differently by submitting to human institutions, honoring everyone, loving fellow believers, and fearing God. The key message is about living in the present world while keeping one's heart anchored to a greater, future hope. B...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski explores the complex relationship between Christian citizenship in heaven and earthly citizenship, particularly examining how believers should relate to governing authorities. Pastor Jacob discusses Paul's teaching that Christians should submit to governing authorities, pay taxes, and show respect and honor to leaders because all authority comes from G...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering discusses how Jesus' interactions with Pontius Pilate in the Gospels reveal important truths about the nature of Jesus' kingdom. While Pilate saw Jesus' kingship as a political threat, Jesus made it clear that his kingdom was not of this world, but rather was based on people knowing and following the truth that He embodied. Pastor Mark emphasizes that the...

This week's sermon by Pastor Mark Deering discusses a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus when he is confronted by the Pharisees and Herodians who try to trap him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus masterfully navigates the political tension, telling them to "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Pastor Mark explains that this reveal...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Frank Gil discusses how the books of Ezra and Nehemiah depict the rebuilding of the temple, the people, and the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. However, Pastor Frank notes that despite these physical restorations, something is still missing—true repentance and a relationship with God. He explains that the key ingredient is Jesus, who can transform peopl...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering's message centers around the biblical story of Esther and the theme of faithful action in the face of fear. Using a social psychology experiment about smoke-filled rooms, he explores how people often remain inactive due to social pressure and fear. Pastor Mark then analyzes Esther chapter 4, focusing on the interaction between Mordecai and Esther, highlig...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering introduces the concept of having a "faithful presence" in whatever situation God has placed us, even if it's not where we want to be. He encourages us to be fully engaged with our current circumstances and the people around us—to be accessible, available, and vulnerable. He relates this to Jesus's incarnation and God's faithful presence in believers' live...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Mark Deering emphasizes two key aspects of Daniel's character: his resolution to remain faithful to his beliefs and his ability to remain relevant in Babylonian society. Mark encourages us to pursue a "relevant faith" that engages with the changing world while maintaining an unchanging faith, always striving to give glory to God rather than ourselves. We as believers...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Frank Gil discusses the biblical story of Rahab, a prostitute who helped Israelite spies and later became an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Pastor Frank uses Rahab's story to illustrate how God can transform lives and change labels, emphasizing that a person's past or current circumstances don't define their future. He challenges us to look beyond labels and preconceived n...

In this sermon, Pastor Mark Deering discusses the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11. He uses the narrative to illustrate the contrast between building one's own kingdom and participating in God's kingdom. Pastor Mark explains that the Tower of Babel serves as a blueprint for human pride and self-glorification, which ultimately leads to confusion and division. He contrasts this with the e...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Jacob Michalski uses the biblical narrative in Genesis 4 to illustrate the human tendency towards anger, revenge, and sin, contrasting it with God's call for forgiveness and mercy. He relates the story of Cain's murder of Abel and the subsequent legacy of violence through Cain's descendant Lamech to modern-day struggles with anger and retaliation. Pastor Jacob then sh...

This sermon introduces a new series called "Citizens" which explores the concept of the Kingdom of God and what it means to be a citizen of that kingdom. Pastor Mark Deering explains that the Kingdom of God is not a physical place, but rather God's rule and reign through His people. He traces this theme from Genesis through to Revelation, emphasizing Jesus' role in establishing the kingdom. Pastor...

In this week's sermon, Pastor Tommy Hutchison explains that Psalm 121 is meant to bring comfort, joy, and encouragement to its listeners. He breaks down the psalm verse by verse, emphasizing its duet-like structure and the central message that God is always present as a keeper and protector. Pastor Tommy encourages us to internalize its message, whether we are going through difficult times or cele...

This week's sermon by Pastor Mark Deering focuses on the concept of lament in the Bible, particularly examining Lamentations 3:22–24. Pastor Mark explains that lament is a way to express grief, confusion, and protest to God, and is an important part of spiritual formation. He emphasizes that true lament always ends with hope, distinguishing it from mere complaining. He uses the example of Jeremiah...