Expounding the Word

The Gospel is for everyone. Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of everyone. No matter your past or where you're from, The Father's gift of salvation is for you, and all you have to do is turn from your sins and give your heart to Him. In today's message, Pastor Chris is going to share the importance of looking past a person's race, or income, or social status. Jesus didn't care about those th...

The message of Jesus Christ coming to earth, dying for your sins, and resurrecting is for everyone! It's for all who sin and fall short of the glory of God. Regardless of your background, or race, income, religion, God can change your heart, forgive you, and make you a child of His. That was the message Stephen preached in the book of Acts, and the same message is true for you today, too. Pastor C...

We find it so easy to see the shortcomings and failures in others, while ignoring and justifying our own sins. As we examine today’s passage in Acts with Pastor Chris, Stephen’s sermon will draw our attention to a history of failure on the part of Israel. Over and over, they chose to reject the ways of God, despite His continual provision for them. We tend to be so forgetful. God can rescue us fro...

The rejection and execution of Jesus should have been the last straw for God. He loved us enough to send Him in human form, experiencing temptation and the struggles of this life. But instead of celebrating and welcoming Him as the Messiah, we scorned Him and treated Him like a criminal with no justification. Yet, as Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, in His incredible grace, God foll...

As Pastor Chris continues our study in the book of Acts, we’ll encounter one of the greatest sermons delivered in Scripture. Stephen beautifully connected the dots between the prophecies of the Old Testament, the foundation of the belief system that many members of his audience had clung to for much of their lives, and their fulfillment in the form of Jesus Christ. Sadly, just as Joseph’s brothers...

We have an unhealthy tendency to think that pastors bear the entire weight of responsibility for ministry and outreach in the Church. We want them to prepare an engaging, perfectly timed sermon every Sunday, and they need to be there for the widows, the impoverished, or the emotionally unstable, on top of many other management and facility responsibilities. As Pastor Chris will point out in today’...

We live in an extremely consumeristic society. On average, Americans spend an estimated $1500 every month on non-essential items and services. Things we don’t need, just because they’re convenient or we just want them. As Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, this consumerism has bled over into the Church. There’s a common, unhealthy tendency in many Christians to pick a church based on...

We live in a very sensitive time. The characteristic that Pastor Chris is referring to seems to be especially abundant in the younger generations today, but it’s an issue for people of all ages and across the political and cultural spectrum. It’s not unique to a specific group. As he’ll challenge us in today’s message, we need to operate with grace and love as followers of Jesus. We can stand up f...

What fills your heart and mind? Is it personal ambitions, relationships, plans, or desires? When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He wants all of you. He wants to fill up your heart and be the center of your life. As Pastor Chris will challenge us in today’s message, this doesn’t mean life stops, and you spend your entire life reading the Bible and attending worship services. It does mean...

You may take offense at that for multiple reasons. None of us enjoys thinking back to those days of masks and social distancing, but as Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, we’re often guilty of wearing a different kind of mask in church. We want to look like we’ve got it altogether. The Church is a gathering of sinners who’ve been saved by grace – we’re not perfect, and we rarely claim...

As Pastor Chris continues our study in the book of Acts today, he’ll draw our attention to a great weakness we see in the modern Church, especially in America. We enjoy the freedom to practice our faith openly, but this freedom has led to complacency and hypocrisy in many cases. We have the ability to be affiliated with Christianity, even holding to many Christian values, while completely missing...

In today’s message, Pastor Chris shows why the religious leaders were astonished at Peter and John. They had no formal training, yet they spoke with boldness and wisdom. The reason was simple: they had been with Jesus. Spending time with Him through His Word and prayer gives you the same power. God can transform ordinary believers when they stay close to Christ. Open your Bible daily and meet Him...

What makes the gospel both wide open yet extremely narrow? In today’s message, Pastor Chris highlights Peter’s bold declaration: there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. The way to God is exclusive; only Jesus saves. No one reaches the Father except through Him. Yet it’s wonderfully inclusive because the offer stands for every single person. Jesus died for the sins of the who...

What happens when you openly share the name of Jesus? In today’s message, Pastor Chris points out that preaching Christ always brings two results. Some people get saved and find eternal life. Others respond with opposition and even hatred. That’s the Christian life. When you step out in faithfulness, God can use you to change someone forever, but you might also face pushback or trouble. You can pl...

In today’s message, Pastor Chris describes seeing so many gripped by anxiety and fear from all that’s happening in the world today. What they desperately need is refreshing from God, a real relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s the only true joy and lasting hope. The Greek word for “times of refreshing” literally means recovery of breath. The world is strangling people, but when you come to Chris...

What opportunities surround you that you might be missing? In today’s message, Pastor Chris shows how Peter saw a crowd and instantly recognized a moment to preach Christ. The Spirit led him, and he simply responded. God can place divine appointments in your path every day. The question is: are you looking? Are you praying for open doors to share the hope of Jesus? Peter didn’t hesitate when he no...

What stops you from standing up and walking with God today? In today’s message, Pastor Chris shares the moment Peter told the lame man, “Rise up and walk.” Before any healing was visible, the command came: wake up and walk. That word “rise up” means to awaken, to open your eyes. God can open your eyes first to who He is and how good He is. Once you see Him clearly, the next step is simple: start w...

What do you expect when you gather with God’s people? In today’s message, Pastor Chris calls believers to approach church with reverence and awe for the Holy Spirit. The early church arrived anticipating God’s supernatural power because they knew He is mighty. God moves just as powerfully today as He did then. He hasn’t changed; His Spirit is still at work. A healthy fear of God and bold faith go...

What lies does the world tell you to keep you from God’s truth? In today’s message, Pastor Chris confronts the crooked thinking that says you’re fine just as you are. The world insists you can define truth however you want and still be right with God. But Scripture reveals a twisted path that leads away from Him. God’s standard is just, holy, and unchanging. Only Jesus makes the crooked straight a...

Can you imagine living your whole life in darkness, broken, afraid, and unsure of the road ahead? That’s what it’s like to live without Jesus. But today, Pastor Chris wants you to know that you don’t have to stay in pieces or walk through life spiritually blind. Through Jesus Christ, you can see the light. He is the One who puts your life back together and frees you from the chains and burdens of...

We live in an uncertain world: a world that often feels on the edge of war, chaos, and deep social and political division. And when we turn on the news and see the turmoil around us, it’s natural to wonder, “Is this the end times the Bible talks about?” In today’s message, Pastor Chris reminds us that while we are living in the last days, that does not mean we are without hope. Our hope is in Jesu...

We lead busy lives: going to work, coming home, taking care of our kids, spending time with family and friends, and pursuing our personal goals. But where does God fit into all of this? How can we glorify God and honor Him in our daily lives without neglecting our other responsibilities? In today’s message, Pastor Chris encourages you to prioritize God and give Him praise in everything you do. No...

Every Sunday, when we gather at church to worship Christ, learn from His Word, and spend time with our friends and family, it’s easy to forget how blessed we are - to worship Jesus freely and read from His Word without the fear of having our freedom taken away. It really makes you think. Have you ever wondered what the early church looked like 2,000 years ago? Today, Pastor Chris takes you back to...

One of the greatest things about God is His mercy and forgiveness. His grace is endless and without bounds. Imagine if God punished us every time we sinned, every time we argued, cursed, or held hatred in our hearts; none of us would remain. But God, in His goodness, offers forgiveness every time we turn to Him and ask for His mercy. Today, Pastor Chris reminds us that because of what Christ accom...

As Christians, we’re called to be the salt and light of the world, to be set apart as ambassadors of Christ. But when we argue or hold grudges against one another in the church, it doesn’t reflect who Jesus is. That’s why, in today’s message, Pastor Chris reminds us that there can be no strife or division within the Body of Christ. We’re called to walk in unity and love; the same love that Jesus s...