Messiah St. Charles Weekly Messages

Have you ever stood for something you believed in and suffered ridicule as a result? Eric Liddell did. He was favored to win a gold medal in the Olympics, but his conviction not to compete on a Sunday left his country stunned and angry. He gave up earthly glory to obey God. Join us in worship to hear this compelling story of courage and confidence in the face of intense opposition.

You've likely heard of Joan of Arc, but do you know her story? It's one of faith, determination, and unwavering trust and devotion to God. The courage with which Joan acts when she receives messages from God through visions and voices has implications for our faith today. We know God's will for our lives, but do we always live up to it? How can following Joan's example better prepare us for a life...

Do you ever give much thought to how God sees you? In His eyes, you're a person to be loved — it's our intrinsic value as beings made in God's image. Pastor Chuck Schlie begins our new worship series Biography with a look at the historical figure Pope John Paul II and the mark he left on our world. There was something in JPII that drew others to him—and to Jesus—that Pastor Chuck explores in this...

In this final message from our series on prayer, we're getting more personal with Jesus and answering the question, What did Jesus Pray For? Our Savior had very specific plans for His mission, His friends, and His disciples (and that included us). On Sunday, learn what and who Jesus prayed for when He was in conversation with His Father before His crucifixion.

Every week in worship we recite the Lord's Prayer. When Jesus's disciples asked Him how they should pray, this is the prayer He gave them. It's a great model for your prayer life. Pastor Chuck Schlie shows you how to incorporate its verses into your personal prayers and better understand why Jesus taught His followers to pray in this way.

God knows what we need before we do. So why do we need to pray? How can it make any difference? If you've ever had those questions, you're not alone. Prayer all comes down to connection. It's not about appeasing God so He'll give you what you want. It's so much more! It's about establishing a relationship with our Creator. Learn more about making your relationship with God real and personal in thi...

Prayer – are you doing it right? Maybe it sounds odd that something as personal as prayer can be done incorrectly, but the Bible does give us some "do's and dont's" when it comes to our prayer life. Pastor Jim will get into them tomorrow in the first message of our new series, Check Your Connection. This series will help you learn to pray and challenge your current prayer practices. In this first...

In the days after Jesus's crucifixion, the disappointment and confusion among His followers were palpable. The One who was to save them has died. He is not "who" they thought Him to be. And they wonder why they put their faith in Him. Can you relate? The problems in our lives so often have us wondering why we choose to trust and believe in God. On Sunday, Pastor Chuck relates the events after the...

The resurrection of Jesus changes EVERYTHING. When the stones rolled away to reveal the empty tomb, our lives changed forever. We have life in His name!

What does a punk band from the '90s have to do with Easter? Pastor Chuck Schlie will relate the two this Sunday in the second week of Mixtape: The Soundtrack of Your Life. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, the day of Jesus's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. From there, Jesus's last week of His earthly ministry is filled with anguish, betrayal, accusation, and ultimately, crucifixion. On Sunday,...

Jesus spoke these words to His followers during His ministry on earth: I am the Way, the Truth, and The Life (John 14:6). Though they were directed at just a few people, they are meant for everyone to hear and believe. Through His death on the cross, Jesus offers salvation to you too! In this message from Mixtape, find out how Jesus's resurrection of Lazarus foreshadows His own battle with death a...

Defying Gravity: The Great Adventure (Week 3) It’s one of the most celebratory times of the year here at Messiah—Jubilee Sunday. It’s a day set aside to rejoice in all that God has done for us and offer our thanks through gifts above and beyond our tithes and offerings. Pastor Chuck hits on some highlights of this most unusual year and encourages you in your faith walk as you become a more committ...

Giving feels good. A church of generous givers is a church that can fulfill the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). What an incredible legacy that is! Pastor Jim teaches on how generosity blesses our community and our families. There's so much promise in store for us when we give...

Giving generously doesn't necessarily come easily to us. There's fear that weighs us down. Logic that us tells our checking account balance doesn't leave room for generosity. And a vast world of material goods competing for our attention (and dollars). Giving can often be an afterthought or something we will consider in the future when our financial circumstances change for the better. But what if...

Marriage Matters wraps up with a message all about maintaining friendship in your marriage. If you're single, Pastor Chuck has a lot of advice for you on what to look for in a potential spouse – and it's not what you might think! Watch and learn why the most important day of your marriage is your last day together, and how you can make it count right now.

How does a "submission competition" lead to a happy marriage? What language do you use to say "I love you" — without words? Why is Pastor Chuck assigning us homework? And what are all those secrets to a great marriage he promised to reveal??? Find out in this special Valentine's Day message.

What happens when your marriage gets weighed down by the demands of life — when the honeymoon is well and truly over, reality sets in, and you wonder if you will ever get back "that loving feeling"? It's a problem most couples will encounter, and how you handle it will determine if your marriage can thrive or merely survive. Pastor Chuck Schlie reminds us about the "Power of Promise" and encourage...

Marriage Matters begins with a message on putting "First Things First." Pastor Chuck Schlie shows us how God's Word is a great guidebook for marriage — starting with what to look for in a spouse if you're unmarried, and how to prioritize relationships in your life if you are.

Messiah wraps up I'm Broken/I'm OK with a message on how to "Surrender Stronger." Our video testimony this week is from a couple who learned to seek God's will for their lives and their relationship. This Sunday, learn more about the kintsugi bowl that Pastor Jim has been using as a visual metaphor for this series. It's an amazing story of God's grace and our resilience when it comes to healing th...

From its beginning, Christianity has been all about community. The early followers of Jesus traveled together, dined together, and worshiped together. We were called to be in community with one another. In worship on Sunday, Pastor Jim will explain why God designed us for community and how togetherness can help heal our brokenness. We'll also learn how Community Groups at Messiah will connect you...

In the first week of our new series, Pastor Jim addressed the truth that in this life we will have troubles, but there are ways we can deal with them that are healthy and God-pleasing. In this message, Pastor Jim expands on the themes of struggle and invites us to consider the question, How do we fight when life is hard? One way is to confront our problems and wrestle with them now, not later.

Let's face it — we all have problems. Some are big. Some are small. But everyone has them and everyone needs to know how to deal with them, Christ-followers included. The Bible actually has quite a lot to say about humanity's brokenness. It was the reason Jesus came to live among us! But that doesn't stop us from asking some big questions: WHY is life so full of struggles, and HOW am I supposed to...

This past year was certainly one in which fear made its way into our lives again and again. As we look forward to the hope and promises of a new year, we should also place our trust in the timeless message of the Gospel. Throughout history — and in spite of wars, pandemics, and natural disasters — God's presence is always within reach. Tomorrow in worship, Pastor Chuck Schlie teaches us how to put...

As the classic Christmas song exclaims, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Christmas really is a fun and festive escape from the everyday. For kids especially, it's a time of magic and anticipation. For parents and grandparents, it's a chance to recreate special memories and start new family traditions. For Christ-followers, it's also a chance to reflect on the miracle of His birth and ea...

Life can be very messy. We all struggle with sin and are held captive to its harmful effects. Fear, loneliness, and hopelessness can create a hole from which we can't emerge on our own. Like any hostage, we need a rescuer! Jesus came to earth to set us free, and doing so required a mission more dangerous and heroic than His followers could ever imagine. In this message, learn what enables you to l...