Spirit Church

How has the Church protected the true Gospel for nearly 2,000 years? In the final message of Cults & Counterfeits , guest speaker Ryan Straarup explores how the early Church defended biblical truth against false teaching and why historic Christian creeds still matter today. Long before there were denominations, podcasts, or social media debates, followers of Jesus were already wrestling with o...

What if the most dangerous lie isn’t the opposite of the truth, but something that sounds almost true? In this message from Cults & Counterfeits , Brad teaches on how every counterfeit gospel begins by attacking the same place: the authority of God’s Word. From the garden in Genesis 3 to today, the enemy’s strategy has not changed. He twists Scripture, subtracts from Scripture, and adds to Scr...

What if the counterfeit isn’t denying Jesus, but changing how we are made right with God? In Week 3 of Cults & Counterfeits , Brad teaches on Catholicism and the difference between a Gospel that says “It is finished” and a system that says “keep paying.” While Catholics affirm many core truths about Jesus, the major difference comes down to authority and salvation. Is Scripture our final autho...

What if the most dangerous lie isn’t the one that looks obviously false, but the one that looks almost true? In Week 2 of Cults & Counterfeits , Brad teaches on Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses, two groups that claim to be Christian but deny foundational Christian doctrine. Both use Christian words like Jesus, gospel, salvation, grace, and Scripture, but redefine them in ways that lead to a d...

How do you spot a counterfeit gospel? In Week 1 of Cults & Counterfeits , Brad teaches on the most important foundation of our faith: the true Gospel. Just like counterfeit money works by looking close to the real thing, false gospels are dangerous because they often sound spiritual, biblical, or even Christian. But if the message adds to Jesus, subtracts from Jesus, or changes how we are save...

What do you do when following God gets harder than you expected? In Week 3 of In the Waiting, Brad teaches from Joshua 7 and reminds us that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you misheard God. Israel had crossed the Jordan, seen Jericho fall, and stepped into the land God promised them. But after one painful defeat at Ai, Joshua started wondering if they should have stayed on the other side. Som...

This week in our series “In the Waiting,” Brad shares a message for anyone who feels stuck between what God said and what they’re currently experiencing. Through the story of the blind man in John 9, we’re reminded that sometimes the greatest act of faith isn’t sitting still — it’s taking the next step before you have all the answers. Because often, we’re not actually waiting on God… we’re waiting...

This week, we kicked off a brand new series called “In the Waiting.” If you’ve ever felt stuck between what God promised and what you’re currently experiencing… this message is for you. In this message, Brad walks through the story of David’s anointing in 1 Samuel 16 and reminds us that some of the most important work God does in our lives happens in the middle — between the promise and the payoff...

Ever feel like you’re doing okay… until you start looking at someone else’s life? Comparison has a way of quietly stealing your joy, distorting your identity, and distracting you from the life God actually called you to live. In this message, we look at the story of Leah and Rachel in Genesis 29 and uncover how comparison leads to striving, insecurity, and rivalry—and how God invites us into somet...

Why does the New Testament feel confusing sometimes? Because we often read the letters like random verses… when they were actually written as real messages to real people, in real situations. In the final week of our “How to Read the Bible” series, we unpack how to read the New Testament letters the way they were meant to be read—so they actually make sense and transform your life. In this message...

Ever watched a movie where the ending changes everything? That’s what Jesus is to the Bible. In Week 3 of How to Read the Bible , we step into the New Testament and discover how the Gospels aren’t just stories—they’re the moment everything finally makes sense. If the Old Testament feels confusing… the Gospels are the “aha” moment. In this message, we break down:  • What the Gospel actually means (...

Ever opened the Bible, started reading…and realized you have no idea what you just read? You’re not alone—especially when it comes to the Old Testament. In Week 2 of How to Read the Bible , we break down how to actually understand the Old Testament—what it is, how it’s structured, and how it all points to Jesus. It’s not just information, it’s about learning how to read Scripture in a way that act...

The Bible is the most important book in history… but for so many of us, it stays closed. Not because we don’t care but because we don’t know how. This week, we kick off a brand new series, How to Read the Bible, and start with the basics: how to actually approach Scripture in a way that makes sense and transforms your life. In this message, we break down: • Why the Bible feels confusing, overwhelm...

He went to the cross… but He didn’t stay there. He went to the tomb… but He didn’t stay there. On the third day… He got up. This Easter message walks through the final and greatest sign in the Gospel of John—the resurrection of Jesus. Throughout John, every miracle is called a sign. Why? Because signs aren’t the point… they point to something greater. And the resurrection is the sign that changes...

What do you do when God doesn’t come through the way you thought He would? In John 11, Mary and Martha are facing the unthinkable—their brother Lazarus is dead. They know Jesus can heal… but He doesn’t show up in time. And in that moment, they’re not questioning if He can —they’re questioning why He didn’t . This message speaks to anyone walking through disappointment, pain, or unanswered prayers....

What do you hold onto when you don’t understand what God is doing? In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind—but the bigger story isn’t just about sight, it’s about trust in the middle of uncertainty. When asked to explain everything, the man responds simply: “I don’t know… but I was blind and now I see.” We all face moments where life doesn’t make sense—where suffering hits, prayers feel unanswered...

Have you ever felt like you don’t have enough? Not enough strength. Not enough faith. Not enough resources. Not enough hope to keep going. In Week 4 of our Miracles of Jesus series, we look at the feeding of the five thousand and meet Jesus as Provider and the Bread of Life. When the disciples saw a massive need, they focused on what they lacked. But Jesus was never asking them to be enough on the...

Have you ever felt stuck in something you can’t seem to change? In John 5, Jesus walks into a place full of brokenness and meets a man who had been in the same condition for 38 years. When Jesus approaches him, He asks a surprising question: “Do you want to get well?” Sometimes we spend our lives asking God to change our circumstances, while God is trying to change something inside of us. The mira...

What if one word from Jesus could change everything? In John 4, a royal official comes to Jesus with a son who’s close to death. He begs Jesus to come—but instead, Jesus speaks: “Go… your son will live.” No touch. No journey. Just a word. This is the second sign in John’s Gospel, and it reveals who Jesus is. His authority isn’t limited by distance, status, or even death itself. But it also presses...

Who is Jesus… really? In this 7-week series leading up to Easter, we’re walking through the seven signs in the Gospel of John — miracles that don’t just show what Jesus can do, but reveal who He is. John tells us his purpose clearly: these signs were written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God — and that by believing, we may have life in His name (John 20:30–31). This...

Have you ever done something you regret… and it didn’t just make you feel guilty — it made you feel ashamed? Shame doesn’t just make us feel bad. It makes us hide. It makes us cover up. And it keeps us from going all-in with God and the people we need most. In the final week of Better Together, we’re talking about how to overcome shame and step into real freedom. From the very beginning of Scriptu...

Is your phone quietly destroying your community? We live in a culture of radical individualism—and the result is a loneliness epidemic. But Jesus didn’t design us to follow Him alone. In Week 2 of our Better Together series, we talk about the #1 destroyer of community and one of the biggest reasons people feel isolated today: distraction —especially the kind we carry in our pockets. Brad teaches f...

Who’s in your corner when life hits hard? When you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or paralyzed by circumstances you didn’t choose, the people around you matter more than you think. In Week 1 of our Better Together series, Brad teaches from Mark 2 —the story of the paralyzed man whose breakthrough came not because of his own strength, but because of the faith of the people who carried him to Jesus. This...

Why is it so hard to stay focused on God—even when your intentions are good? In a world built to pull you in every direction, Jesus invites you to remain … and learn how to resist distractions. In Week 4 of our Remain series, Brad teaches on one of the enemy’s most effective tactics: distraction. Not always through obvious sin, but through constant noise, worry, pressure, and even “good things” th...

Is your life running on empty? Jesus offers a better way—not more hustle, but a rhythm for rest. In Week 3 of our Remain series, we talk about Sabbath as a practice that helps us stay connected to Jesus so we can bear lasting fruit. Culture says the secret to producing is doing more. Jesus shows us the secret to fruitfulness is learning how to pause—and remain. In this message, Brad walks through...