Truth on the Trail with Dr. Pete Pawelek

In Part 8 of our “Unwavering” series, Pastor Pete unpacks what it truly means to live a life that is centered not on ourselves, our emotions, or our convenience, but on the unshakable truth of God’s Word and the Gospel. Drawing from Job 13:2–5, this message reminds us that having the correct answer is far more important than simply having an answer. We explore what it looks like to be: Biblically...

Have you ever felt like God was distant, silent, or absent? In this powerful message from Luke 24:13–35, Pastor Pete leads as we walk with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, men who were talking about Jesus and walking with Jesus, and yet they still didn’t recognize Him. Sound familiar? Just like them, we can know about Jesus, follow Jesus, talk about Jesus, and still misunderstand Him or miss w...

Looking at Job 4 and the surrounding passages, Pastor Pete preaches on how easy it is to form conclusions about pain that sound spiritual but are completely wrong. He discusses Job’s friends and their flawed theology, learning the dangers of having: • A narrow understanding of God’s ways • Naive assumptions about suffering • A life that neglects prayer This sermon contrasts faulty opinions and fal...

Looking at Job 4 and the surrounding passages, Pastor Pete preaches on how easy it is to form conclusions about pain that sound spiritual but are completely wrong. He discusses Job’s friends and their flawed theology, learning the dangers of having: • A narrow understanding of God’s ways • Naive assumptions about suffering • A life that neglects prayer This sermon contrasts faulty opinions and fal...

In this message from our “Unwavering” series, Pastor Pete explores the surprising truth that while you may feel broken, you are never beaten. Through the story of Job and the promises of Scripture, we discover how God meets us in our suffering and brings purpose from our deepest pain. This sermon walks through the realities of brokenness...how it is common, how it confronts our limits, how it cont...

In this message from our “Unwavering” series, Pastor Pete explores the surprising truth that while you may feel broken, you are never beaten. Through the story of Job and the promises of Scripture, we discover how God meets us in our suffering and brings purpose from our deepest pain. This sermon walks through the realities of brokenness...how it is common, how it confronts our limits, how it cont...

Job 2:11–13 introduces us to Job’s three friends, who, before giving any bad advice later, actually get a few things right. When they hear about Job’s suffering, they travel from their homes, weep with him, and sit beside him in silence for seven days because “they saw that his suffering was very intense.” This message reminds us that while everyone suffers, no one should suffer alone. Faithful fr...

In this message from John 20:1–18, Pastor Pete proclaims the heart of Easter: Jesus is alive, and His resurrection changes everything. John's passage starts with Mary Magdalene’s grief-filled journey to the tomb, reflecting how many people approach life weighed down by loss, fear, or disappointment. However, Easter morning redefines despair because what appeared to be the end was actually the begi...

In Part 5 of the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete explores the powerful emotions surrounding the very first Easter morning and how those same emotions still shape our lives and faith today. Easter is ultimately about saying goodbye to death, but the journey to resurrection joy is filled with real, raw human emotion. In John 20, the disciples and followers of Jesus are grieving, confused, and searching...

In Part 4 of the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete turns our eyes to the Easter story and shows us how God transformed what looked like empty promises into promises full of life, hope, and eternity. We’ve all experienced the sting of empty promises such as when someone says they’ll do something but never follows through. The disciples felt the same kind of heartbreak as they watched Jesus die, wondering...

In Part 4 of the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete turns our eyes to the Easter story and shows us how God transformed what looked like empty promises into promises full of life, hope, and eternity. We’ve all experienced the sting of empty promises such as when someone says they’ll do something but never follows through. The disciples felt the same kind of heartbreak as they watched Jesus die, wondering...

In Part 3 of the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete turns to Ephesians 2:4–10 to reveal one of the most powerful truths in all of Scripture: what God has done for us is something no one else could do—and something no one else would do. We live in a world where nearly everything can be replaced. Someone else can do your job, someone else can learn your skill, and someone else can step into almost any role...

In Part 3 of the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete turns to Ephesians 2:4–10 to reveal one of the most powerful truths in all of Scripture: what God has done for us is something no one else could do—and something no one else would do. We live in a world where nearly everything can be replaced. Someone else can do your job, someone else can learn your skill, and someone else can step into almost any role...

We learn that following Jesus means leaving behind our old patterns, including our comfortable habits, familiar routines, and the “old way” we naturally cling to. Walking in Christ is a new way of living, and Scripture is honest about it: This message is a call to step boldly into the life Jesus offers, which is to walk the hard road, embrace the best way, and follow the only path that leads to tr...

In Part 2 of the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete dives into Romans 6 to show us what it truly means to walk in a new way of life through Christ. This message builds on last week’s focus on sin and death and shifts our attention to salvation, transformation, and the life Jesus calls us into. We learn that following Jesus means leaving behind our old patterns, including our comfortable habits, familiar...

In this powerful kickoff to the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete teaches from Romans 6 and explores one of the clearest contrasts in all of Scripture: the difference between being dead in sin and being alive in Christ. Using everyday examples of things we instantly know how to tell apart, Pastor Pete shows that the difference between spiritual death and spiritual life is just as obvious when we truly u...

In this powerful kickoff to the “Alive” series, Pastor Pete teaches from Romans 6 and explores one of the clearest contrasts in all of Scripture: the difference between being dead in sin and being alive in Christ. Using everyday examples of things we instantly know how to tell apart, Pastor Pete shows that the difference between spiritual death and spiritual life is just as obvious when we truly u...

Job 2:11–13 introduces us to Job’s three friends, who, before giving any bad advice later, actually get a few things right. When they hear about Job’s suffering, they travel from their homes, weep with him, and sit beside him in silence for seven days because “they saw that his suffering was very intense.” This message reminds us that while everyone suffers, no one should suffer alone. Faithful fr...

In Part 2 of our CrossRoads series, we step into the cold courtyard where Peter faced one of the greatest failures of his life. This message explores the moment Peter denied Jesus three times and asks a sobering question we all must answer: Will you stand with Him, or walk away from Him? Peter was bold, courageous, and deeply committed to Christ, yet when the pressure rose and following Jesus beca...

In Job 2:6–10, Job’s suffering intensifies as he’s struck with painful boils (from head to toe) after already losing his wealth and his children. His faith comes under fire again when even his wife urges him to “curse God and die,” but Job refuses. Instead, he responds with remarkable trust. Just as Job trusted God under fire, we can too by affirming His promises, accepting His will, aligning with...

In Job 2:6–10, Job’s suffering intensifies as he’s struck with painful boils (from head to toe) after already losing his wealth and his children. His faith comes under fire again when even his wife urges him to “curse God and die,” but Job refuses. Instead, he responds with remarkable trust. Just as Job trusted God under fire, we can too by affirming His promises, accepting His will, aligning with...

In Job 1:13–22, Job loses almost everything in a single day...his wealth, his servants, and all ten of his children. Yet in the middle of unimaginable devastation, Job makes a choice: instead of panicking, despairing, wondering, sulking, or blaming God, he falls to the ground and worships. This message reminds us that when disaster, disappointment, or heartbreak strike, we also have choices. We ca...

In Job 1:13–22, Job loses almost everything in a single day...his wealth, his servants, and all ten of his children. Yet in the middle of unimaginable devastation, Job makes a choice: instead of panicking, despairing, wondering, sulking, or blaming God, he falls to the ground and worships. This message reminds us that when disaster, disappointment, or heartbreak strike, we also have choices. We ca...

In Job 1:1–5, we see not just Job’s integrity, but his deep faithfulness to his family. While his children lived differently (hosting frequent banquets and drifting spiritually), Job consistently led, loved, and interceded for them. He gathered them after each cycle of feasting and offered individual burnt offerings on their behalf. Job’s example reminds us to be intentional and unwavering with ou...

Life is full of crossroads. Moments when a decision must be made, moments when the direction of a life changes, and moments when what we truly value becomes visible. In John 12, a dinner in Bethany becomes a powerful crossroads moment. Five different responses to Jesus emerge from the people in the room: Martha responds with service, Mary responds with sacrifice, Judas responds with self-interest,...