Stanwood Foursquare Church Messages

What does it mean to be the “salt of the earth”? In this message, we explore Jesus’ powerful words and what they reveal about our purpose, influence, and calling in the world today. Salt preserves, enhances, and transforms—and as followers of Christ, we’re invited to do the same in our homes, workplaces, and communities. This sermon challenges and encourages us to live with intentionality, to stan...

Join us for a powerful and hope-filled message from our special guest speaker, Joe Witwer, as he unpacks the life-changing truth of forgiveness. In this sermon, Joe challenges us to embrace a lifestyle of radical forgiveness—letting go of offense, releasing bitterness, and choosing grace again and again. Through biblical truth and practical insight, he explores what it really means to forgive the...

In this week’s message from the Gospel of Matthew, we look at Jesus’ first call to His disciples and discover that His invitation hasn’t changed. As Jesus calls fishermen from their nets, we see the urgency of His voice and the immediate obedience it requires. This sermon explores: - How Jesus’ first calling is still the same calling today - The urgency of the invitation—“immediately they left” -...

In Matthew chapter 4, we see Jesus tempted in the wilderness—facing hunger, isolation, and powerful deception. In this message, we explore how Jesus’ victory over temptation reveals God’s path to freedom, self-control, and spiritual renewal. In this message, we'll discover how Jesus faced the temptation to: - Bring comfort without trust - Jump to the temple spiritually without humility - Achieve t...

After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to fast for forty days—and in that place of hunger, temptation, and solitude, powerful spiritual truths were revealed. In this message from the Gospel of Matthew, we explore the purpose of fasting, the role of spiritual discipline, and what it means to depend fully on God rather than on physical provision alone. Jesus’ fast shows u...

Shame and guilt weigh heavily on the human heart—but Jesus offers freedom, restoration, and grace. In this message from the Book of Matthew, we explore how Christ confronts shame, redeems failure, and invites us into a new way of living marked by forgiveness and wholeness. Through Jesus’ words and encounters in Matthew’s Gospel, we’ll see the difference between guilt that leads us to repentance an...

The Sermon on the Mount is not a checklist for earning God’s favor—it’s a response to the grace we’ve already been given. In this message, we explore how Jesus’ most famous sermon reveals not just what He teaches, but who He is. From the mountainside, Jesus speaks with unmistakable authority. His posture signals the weight and seriousness of what’s coming, and His audience helps clarify the purpos...

In Matthew 5, Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with a truth that turns the world upside down: the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. This message explores what it really means to be poor in spirit—not just imperfect, but completely unable to save or fix ourselves. Jesus isn’t calling the self-sufficient or the spiritually accomplished. He’s inviting those who know they don’t quali...

In this message from Matthew 5, we explore one of the most surprising and powerful statements Jesus makes in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” What does it really mean to mourn — and how can mourning possibly be called blessed? In this teaching, we unpack five key truths: • You must mourn before you can be comforted. • Christianity is the only worldview wh...

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes a surprising declaration: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” — Gospel of Matthew 5:5 In a world that celebrates power, dominance, and self-promotion, this teaching turns our assumptions upside down. What does it really mean to be meek? And how could the meek possibly inherit the earth? In this message, we explore five powerful truths: 1...

In the Beatitudes, Jesus makes a powerful promise: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” — Gospel of Matthew 5:6 In this message, we explore what it truly means to hunger and thirst for righteousness — and how our spiritual appetite reveals the condition of our hearts. - Your appetite reveals your heart. - An appetite for righteousness is not about...

Mercy doesn’t come naturally to us. In a world that often responds with judgment, retaliation, or indifference, In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:7), Jesus spoke a radically different way of living into a merciless culture. Biblical mercy is more than feeling sorry for someone—it’s compassion that moves toward people in their suffering or failure and acts to relieve it. In this message we look at: • Wh...

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 In this message, we dive into one of Jesus’ most challenging and transformative teachings: purity of heart. While outward actions and religious routines can look impressive, Jesus consistently points us deeper—to the hidden places within us where our true motivations live. God isn’t just concerned with what we do; He cares abou...

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” — Matthew 5:9 In this message, we unpack what Jesus really meant by peacemaking—and how it’s radically different from simply keeping the peace. Peacemaking is not the absence of conflict. It’s not pretending everything is fine or avoiding hard conversations. It’s also not passive or about appeasing others just to keep things c...

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” — Matthew 5:11-12 This final beatitude flips our understanding of blessing upside down. What if opposition isn’t a sign you’re failing… but proof you tr...

Happy Easter!! Why do we celebrate Jesus' death and resurrection? What does that mean for us? In Matthew 27–28, we see the ultimate picture of freedom: Jesus’ death and resurrection. Through the cross, He defeated sin, shame, and death. Through the empty tomb, He offers us new life. But stepping into that freedom requires just one thing —surrender. In this message, we unpack a powerful truth: • Co...

In this message from Matthew 5:17–20, we take a closer look at what Jesus really meant when He talked about the law—and why His words still challenge us today. Jesus is often misunderstood. Some assume Christianity means there are no rules, just grace and freedom to live however we want. Others believe following Him is all about strict obedience, trying to earn God’s acceptance through rule-keepin...

We welcome Jay Bean, director of Foursquare Disaster Relief! Jay brings a great word out of Matthew 5:21–26, where we explore how Jesus takes the commandment “do not murder” deeper than outward actions and into the condition of our hearts. The law says: don’t take life—but Jesus calls us to bring life. We bring life through: • The thoughts we think • The words we speak • The actions we take • Choo...

In Matthew 6:1–4, Jesus confronts the danger of performance faith — doing spiritual things to be seen, admired, and applauded by others. The Pharisees pursued public honor and social reputation, but Jesus warns that human applause is the only reward they receive. This message explores how God looks beyond our actions to the motives behind them. Jesus calls us into a deeper, quieter faithfulness: a...

How am I prone to enhancing my reputation? Prayer and Fasting isn't about looking spiritual—it's about drawing near to God. In this message from Matthew 6:16–18, we continue through the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus exposes the danger of practicing spiritual disciplines for the approval of others. He warns against becoming "hypocrites"—people who project an image to protect what's hidden under the...

Do you struggle with worry? In this message from Matthew 6:25–27, we explore Jesus' invitation to live free from the grip of anxiety by trusting our Heavenly Father. Worry often grows from fear and our desire to control what we cannot. But Jesus offers us a better way—a life rooted in confidence in God's care and His Kingdom. We'll also look at 1 Peter 1:1–17, where Peter reminds believers of the...