Illuminate Community Church

I'm going to say something that might shock you: Many of us — maybe even you — are far more prideful than we realize. You may be thinking, “Ryan, who do you think you are? You don’t know me.” But take a moment and really think about it. None of us want to admit that deep down inside of us may exist something that says, “I don’t need God” or “my way is better than His way.” Yet, that is what we are...

There is a verse in the Bible that gives a remarkable promise—so remarkable that it can hardly be misunderstood. The promise I’m referring to is found in James 1:25: “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this one shall be blessed in what they do.” That’s pretty straightforward, wouldn’t you...

Have you ever heard a child say, “But that’s not fair”? How did you respond? Have you ever thought that yourself? We’ve all witnessed something that doesn’t seem consistent with the “law” of fairness. Maybe something good happens to someone we don’t believe deserves it. Or perhaps something bad happens to someone who doesn’t seem to have done anything to deserve such a negative outcome. I’m lookin...

C.S. Lewis once said, “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.” Isn’t it interesting that, perhaps, the two most difficult phrases to utter are: “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you.”   In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus responds to a question from Peter about the extent of forgiveness. Jesus answers with the parable of the unforgiving servant in order to illustrate the n...

Picture a man walking through a field, just going about his day, when suddenly his foot catches on something. Curious, he kneels down, brushes away the dirt, and his eyes widen—he's uncovered a treasure beyond his wildest imagination. It’s not like anything he has ever seen, and he immediately recognizes just how valuable it is. You would think he would grab it and run as fast as he could. He does...

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine a...

6/08/25 - Stewardship of a Talent - Matthew 25:14-30 - Pastor Darryl DelHousaye

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager is a perplexing one. Why is a clever defrauder commended for his shrewdness? How is this dishonest manager’s swift economic redistribution used to teach Jesus’ audience about kinship, faithfulness, and honesty? By using a real-world example, Jesus teaches his listeners about the right use of wealth and business forethought. This parable has more to do with prep...

Have you ever been invited somewhere, but after weighing the options, you make an excuse for why you can't attend? If so, you have the tools to understand our parable this Sunday. Imagine a wealthy host plans a feast beyond imagination: the table is set with the finest foods, the hall glows with light and laughter, and everything is ready for a great feast. The host even sends invitations to guest...

But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ Luke 16:29 ESV I don’t know if it’s a “guy thing,” but I seem to never be able to find anything in the refrigerator. I’ll stand there staring, looking for one thing, absolutely convinced it isn’t in there, then insist that what I need was never available in the first place. It isn’t until I humble myself (usually out of imma...

"But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20—21 ESV My primary calling and love is the pastorate, but some may not know that I also serve as a professor at a local Christian university. At the end of every spring semester, I watch gr...

Parables can be a real pain to the brain, but at the same time, Jesus tackles the issue quickly if you’re open to it. Solomon says in Proverbs 15: “…wisdom make knowledge acceptable,” that is, sometimes the way you say something makes all the difference. Jesus sometimes chose parables to tell us things that we need to understand. The context of the parable in Matthew 5:13-16 is the Sermon on the M...

This Sunday we’re kicking off a brand-new summer series called Stories That Shape Us: Unveiling the Heart of God Through Parables. Jesus didn’t come handing out abstract theology. He came telling stories that stuck. Stories that spoke to fishermen, farmers, tax collectors, and everyday people like you and me. And those stories still speak. They don’t just inform us; they form us. They hold a mirro...

Happy Resurrection Sunday! This week, we come together to celebrate the most pivotal event in human history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is not just a day of tradition or remembrance; it is the foundation of our faith and the source of our greatest hope. Because the tomb is empty, despair no longer has the final word over our lives. The resurrection proves that sin and death have been co...

Good Friday at Illuminate Community Church - 2025

This Sunday, as we prepare our hearts for Holy Week, we’ll take a different approach to the Palm Sunday message. While we’ll reflect on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, we’ll also walk through the events of His final days leading up to Good Friday. The gospel writers devote an extraordinary amount of attention to this final week - nearly half of John’s Gospel focuses on it, which speaks to i...

God designed us for community, and the relationships we cultivate have a profound impact on our character and faith. Proverbs reminds us that true friendship is more than just companionship - it’s about sharpening one another, walking through life’s highs and lows together, and ultimately reflecting God’s love. We’ll look at what it means to be a faithful friend, how to build lasting relationships...

God designed us for community, and the relationships we cultivate have a profound impact on our character and faith. Proverbs reminds us that true friendship is more than just companionship - it’s about sharpening one another, walking through life’s highs and lows together, and ultimately reflecting God’s love. We’ll look at what it means to be a faithful friend, how to build lasting relationships...

This Sunday, we will explore what the book of Proverbs teaches us about our emotions. Emotions are a gift from God, but without wisdom, they can lead us astray. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to guard the heart because everything we do flows from it. Throughout Scripture, we see how emotions like anger, envy, and anxiety can destroy, while self-control, patience, and joy bring life and peace. Our goal i...

This Sunday, we’re turning to the book of Proverbs to explore God’s design for husbands and wives. The modern family has undergone significant redefinitions, yet stability and fulfillment seem more elusive than ever. While society offers competing narratives, Scripture presents a clear and timeless vision. Proverbs 31 paints a picture of a strong, virtuous wife, while the rest of Proverbs offers w...

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 This Sunday, we will explore the themes of pride and humility as presented throughout the book of Proverbs. Scripture makes it clear that pride is a barrier to wisdom, while humility is the key to receiving instruction and growing in faith. Proverbs, along with passages from Matthew, James, and 1 Corinthians,...

For the past ten weeks, we have walked through Proverbs 1-9, a section of Scripture that paints a vivid picture of wisdom’s beauty and folly’s destruction. Now, as we move into Proverbs 10, we transition from poetic discourse to the practical, everyday wisdom of the Proverbs themselves. The structure may seem scattered, jumping from one topic to another, but this is intentional - it encourages ref...

This Sunday, we will explore Proverbs 9, a chapter that vividly portrays the crossroads of life we all face. As I studied this text, I was struck anew by the richness of its imagery. Proverbs 9 presents two contrasting invitations: one from Lady Wisdom, who offers a feast of life-giving truth, and the other from Lady Folly, who lures with empty promises that lead to destruction. Both are calling o...

Proverbs chapters 5 and 7 explore the destructive consequences of following cultural views of sexuality that ignore God’s design. Proverbs 8 shifts our focus to a better way - God’s wisdom. Wisdom is personified as a dignified woman who calls out to all. Unlike the seductive voice of folly, wisdom offers life, joy, and clarity. She’s not hidden or exclusive; she stands at the crossroads and city g...

This week will we explore Proverbs 6, where the wise father addresses three key areas of life: financial wisdom, diligence versus laziness, and the importance of unity. First on his mind is the danger of co-signing unwise financial agreements, likened to a snare that entraps us. The Bible does not condemn debt outright but warns against decisions that jeopardize our financial stability or enable p...