Evergreen Church Podcast

What matters most to God is our heart. In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel searches for Israel’s next king and discovers that God isn’t impressed by the same things we are. While people look at outward appearances, God looks at the heart. From tending sheep to serving in Saul’s court, David’s story reveals how God uses everyday life to prepare us for his work. Join us as we explore what it means to care more a...

In 1 Samuel 14–15, we see a striking contrast between Jonathan’s faith and Saul’s fear, control, and pride. While Jonathan trusts in God’s power, Saul struggles to fully obey and surrender to Him. Through their stories, we’re challenged to examine our own hearts: Are we trying to be king of our own lives, or are we surrendered to God? Because ultimately, obedience is better than sacrifice—it’s not...

What do you do when trusting God feels harder than taking control yourself? Saul seemed to have everything he needed to be a successful king, and God was at work in his life in ways he didn’t always recognize. But when pressure and uncertainty came, Saul struggled to trust God. In this message, we’ll look at Saul’s story and what it teaches us about surrendering control, trusting God to provide, a...

What happens when prayer becomes our first response instead of our last resort? Throughout the book of Acts, we see God’s people devoted to prayer—and God moving powerfully in response. In this message from Acts, we look at how prayer paved the way for the Holy Spirit to move and empowered the early church to boldly share the good news of Jesus. We’re challenged to make prayer a regular part of ou...

Biblical fellowship is more than simply spending time together—it’s shared participation in one another’s lives, including our pain, needs, joys, growth, and flourishing. When we live with open hands and genuinely care for one another, fellowship becomes an environment where life can flourish and we can truly say, “What’s mine is yours; what’s yours is ours.”

We were never meant to follow Jesus alone. In the first week of our new series, Gospel Community, we look at Acts 2:42–47 and discover God’s purpose for Christian community. The early church shows us a picture of people devoted to Jesus and deeply committed to one another—not simply attending church together, but living as a family. What could it look like for us to experience that kind of communi...

You can’t hinder the good news of Jesus. Throughout Acts, Paul faces rejection, imprisonment, threats, shipwreck, and even a snakebite—but the gospel keeps moving. In the final chapters of Acts, we’re reminded to keep sharing the good news, embrace the detours, look for people of peace, and trust that God is at work even when the path doesn’t go as planned.

What does it look like to truly live out the gospel in front of others, not just talk about it? In this message drawn from Acts 20:16-31, we explore Paul's farewell address to the elders of Ephesus, a moment charged with emotion and clarity. Paul reminds them of three years spent together, and in doing so, paints a picture of what authentic, consistent, and compassionate Christian community looks...

What does it look like to be the movement when you feel like you’re sitting still? In Acts 19, we see God use Paul’s everyday faithfulness to make an extraordinary impact. This message reminds us not to get discouraged when life feels mundane—God is still moving. When we use the margins of our lives to invest in others and stay faithful in the everyday, we get to be part of what He is doing. The m...

What do you do when you find yourself alone, waiting, and surrounded by a culture far from God? In Acts 17, Paul finds himself alone in Athens. Instead of withdrawing, he listens, observes, and steps into the marketplace to meet people where they are and point them toward Jesus. In this message, we explore what Paul’s example teaches us about listening in seasons of waiting, meeting people where t...

In Acts 16, God leads Paul and Silas into unfamiliar territory, where they encounter Lydia, free an exploited woman, and endure unjust imprisonment. Through hospitality, liberation, suffering, and worship, the gospel transforms lives and leads a jailer to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” This message reminds us that God is always working and calls us to follow Him with open eyes and willing hear...

In this special “Pit Stop” message, guest speaker Chris Combs explores 2 Timothy 2:1–13 and how we stay fueled when the journey of faith becomes exhausting. Through Paul’s pictures of a focused soldier, disciplined athlete, and hardworking farmer, we’re reminded that making disciples requires perseverance—but our strength doesn’t come from simply working harder. It comes from gospel renewal: conti...

In Acts 15–16, we see that following Jesus isn't always a straight path. Paul and Barnabas' disagreement, Timothy's willingness to remove barriers for the sake of the gospel, and Paul's unexpected detours all reveal the same truth: the Holy Spirit is leading the mission. Even when plans change, doors close, or conflict arises, God is still at work. Join us as we discover how to trust God's guidanc...

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas remind us that following Jesus isn't measured by comfort, popularity, or visible success, but by faithful obedience. As they face opposition, rejection, and hardship, they continue proclaiming the gospel, making disciples, and giving God the glory for every open door He provides. Join us as we discover why the same gospel produces different responses, why suffering is...

As Paul and Barnabas proclaim the gospel in Acts 13, we see that the good news of Jesus is for everyone. God's promise of salvation is fulfilled through Christ, offering forgiveness, freedom, and new life to all who believe. But the message also calls for a response. In this message from our Road Trip series, we'll explore what it means to hear the Word, humbly accept the Word, and faithfully spre...

In this message from our Road Trip series, Hope Bringers: Set Apart and Sent, we look at the church in Antioch and its example of living on mission. Through Acts 11 and 13, we see a diverse, Spirit-led church that cared for others, embraced God's call across cultures, and sent people out to share the good news of Jesus. As we explore the sending of Barnabas and Saul, we're challenged to consider w...

We’re kicking off our summer series, Road Trip, by exploring the missionary journeys of Paul and what it means to be sent by God as hope bringers, Spirit followers, and Kingdom builders. In this message, we look at Saul’s dramatic encounter with Jesus, the faithful obedience of Ananias, and the intentional investment of Barnabas. Their stories remind us that God is the one who reaches people—but H...

What did Jesus actually teach about the end times? In Matthew 24, Jesus answers His disciples' questions about the destruction of the Temple, His return, and the end of the age. This message explores the difference between the events surrounding Jerusalem's fall in AD 70 and the future return of Christ, while addressing common misunderstandings about biblical prophecy. Most importantly, Jesus remi...

What does it look like to build a table that reflects the heart of Jesus? In this message from our Listen to Jesus series, we explore Jesus' teaching on hospitality and His example of welcoming those who are often overlooked, excluded, or pushed to the margins. Through His words and actions, Jesus challenges us to move beyond comfort and convenience, creating space for genuine relationships, deepe...

In a world that constantly tells us to accumulate more, what does Jesus say about our relationship with wealth, time, and identity? This week, as we continue our Listen to Jesus series, we welcome guest speaker Mario Romero to share a powerful message rooted in Luke 12:13-21. Looking closely at the Parable of the Rich Fool, Mario challenges us to look beyond what we are holding onto and discover t...

In our Listen to Jesus series, we wrestle with one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings: divorce and the nature of marriage. Looking at Matthew 5 and Matthew 19, we explore God’s design for marriage, the pain and complexity of divorce, and the grace Jesus offers in the middle of brokenness. This message is both honest and hope-filled, reminding us that God’s grace fills the gap between where we ar...

What happens after this life—and how should it impact the way we live today? In this message from our Listen to Jesus series, we explore Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 and what they reveal about eternity, judgment, and the kind of life that reflects true faith. Jesus makes it clear that a genuine relationship with Him produces humility, compassion, and love for others—especially those in need. We also...

What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to buy a sword? In this week’s message, we unpack Luke 22:35-38 and explore the context surrounding one of the most misunderstood statements of Jesus. Looking at cross references in Luke 9, Isaiah 53, and the events of Jesus’ arrest, we see that Jesus was not calling His followers to violence, but preparing them for the opposition they would face as t...

Worry has a way of taking over our thoughts, our priorities, and our sense of peace—but what does Jesus actually say about it? In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus addresses worry head-on, revealing both why we are so prone to it and how we can begin to live free from it. From our desire for control, to focusing too far ahead, to losing sight of God’s presence and priorities, worry often grows when our persp...

In a world where political tension runs high, it can be easy to let our loyalties drift toward people, parties, or platforms. This message challenges us to re-center our devotion where it belongs—on God alone—and to allow our beliefs to be shaped by His truth rather than cultural narratives. It calls us to reject the instinct to diminish or devalue those we disagree with, choosing instead a postur...