Vertical Church Sermons

Have you ever been overcome by emotions? This week, we talk about how we can't always trust our emotions and feelings, but we can always trust Hod to bring health to our hearts if we humble ourselves.

God created us to be in relationship and alignment with Him. When He finds us out of alignment with how He created us to be, he will do anything to bring us back. That often includes Him calling us to humble ourselves, pray, fast, and turn from our ways. This Sunday, we discuss the story of Job, and how the city of Ninevah did each of these things before the Father.

This Sunday, Chad Vance brought us the truth that we do not have to stay subject to the seasons we find ourselves in. What great news! But are we living in it? Is our faith seasonal, or do we lock eyes with the One who remains constant through it all, acting out of faith in the fact that good things ARE coming. Are we living life with big faith with Jesus as our Firm Foundation?

This week, we begin the "Revival Time" series. Pastor Phil reminds us that while revival is often talked about as a future event, it can really be something we step into today. Scripture shows us that what we are devoted to we sacrifice for. Are we devoted to what's comfortable, or to seeing a move of God? The moment you will see revival is when you are willing to sacrifice certain things to see G...

This Sunday, Pastor Phil asks whether what we are building in our lives in something that will last. What are you building and who are you building it for? We can build things our whole lives, working hard, being kind, doing all kinds of good deeds and good works, but if we don't do it all for Jesus with Him as our foundation, none of it will last.

In this message, Guest Speaker Ron Guess asked if we have been living for what used to be or if we are living with hope in Jesus for today and for the days ahead. How are we supposed to respond when we see darkness in the world? Do we focus on what's happening around us? Do we look back at "the good ol' days" and grieve them? Or do we lock eyes with the One who gives us hope for today, Jesus? We w...

This Sunday, Pastor Phil walks us through the ways scripture teaches that there can only be one master in our lives. Matthew 6 says, "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be," and this is so true. We all submit to and worship something. Does what we are submitting to and worshiping compel others to follow Jesus or to worship something else? A singular focus brings m...

Pastor Phil teaches on Matthew 11, " And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it." When we experience the collision of light and darkness, we are called to advance the Kingdom by force, but not the kind of force the world teaches of. The Bible tells us exactly how to push back darkness by the...

This week, Pastor Phil teaches how in order to truly take the hill and be the light on a hill, it must start with an ability to have the faith to live for Jesus and not ourselves. Living for Jesus is vital, regardless of if it brings great miracles and victories or great persecution or sacrifice. You may be facing a season of life that has included great sorrows, trial, or cost. Be encouraged in t...

Pastor Phil walks us through how when the world seems dark and chaotic, we must remember that OVERWHELMING victory is ours in Christ who loves us. Are we focusing on fear and the things of this world, or are we taking the hill, being light to the darkness, and fixing our eyes on the One who brings us hope? The battle has already been won, and there is victory coming in Jesus. We can live in victor...

We are called to be a light on a hill for all to see the work God is doing in our life so that people will praise our Father in Heaven. So let's take the hill! In this message, Pastor Phil walks us through that process. There are ways to show and tell the world about the love of Christ, and that means that we can't look like the world. Check out the ways in which the following steps are important...

It can be easy to start to fall into the trap of thinking that God is who we project him to be. Our lives, and our circumstances can get us confused that He is something opposite of His character. Maybe you think he is absent, or even authoritarian. But the truth is that God is a GOOD FATHER. When we see God this way we are secure in our walk with God. Even when we mess up we know we rest in His g...

It's easy to trust God when everything is going well, but do we trust Him when life gets chaotic? This week's guest speaker Pastor Darryl Bellar brought such a good word that reminded us that if we don't invite God into the chaos of our lives, we will be controlled by fear. Have you found yourself in a series of events that don't make sense and, quite frankly, stress you out? It's so important tha...

Fear of missing out was born in Genesis 3. "FOMO" has been around since the birth of sin. Ever since then, humanity has been seeking to find the answer to the question, “what am I ALLOWED to do?” The enemy will always try to convince you that you do not have enough with what God gave you. But we shouldn't spend our days asking what we are allowed to do. We should always ask what is beneficial to o...

The love of God has an invitation out to every person. An invitation to experience the love of God. But we often stand in our own way of that. What is it that you love so much that you are holding onto? Because God loved His creation to not hold on to the life of Jesus, who laid down His life for us to experience relationship with Him. What do you want? The love of self… or the love of God? To exp...

GOD SEES YOU. Because God sees you, you always have hope. You are not left alone. You are not abandoned. There is such a pain that can exist from feeling unseen, unappreciated, or even unloved. We may have to wait for things to change. We may have to be patient. But we never have to wait to be seen by God. He ALWAYS SEES US. I invite you today to talk to the God who sees you. Maybe you are gratefu...

This week, David Cho brought the Word at Vertical's Blairsville/Morganton Campus! He spoke about what real love is, using the Biblical story of Hosea as the example. Hosea was instructed by God to marry and love a prostitute woman named Gomer. They married, but Gomer struggled with returning to her former life of sin. BUT! Hosea continued to pursue her, showing her love and grace in the middle of...

When you walk with the Lord, there is a purpose in the process. The question is are you going to finish the process to see all that God is doing in you? Sometimes we give up on the process because of our own sin. Maybe you struggle with the same sin over and over. BUT, Paul tells us that because of our faith Christ brought us to a place of undeserved privilege, and we can joyfully look forward to...

Things that have happened since we talked last: Peter and disciples were unable to cast out a demon. Peter denied Jesus after his arrest. Peter and disciples go into hiding, confusion, disappoint after the death of Jesus. Jesus raised from the dead and spends time with Peter to encourage him in the calling for his life. Jesus has gone back to Heaven. We struggle so much to finish the process of wa...

As humans, we pick up wounds over the course of our life. People hurt us with their words and actions. Sometimes we even feel let down by God. When we get hurt, we can be tempted to shut down or stop. Pastor Phil teaches on Mark 9 to encourage us to finish the process. To let wounds be healed into scars. Don't give up on the process of what God is doing in your life. Emotional wounds, mental healt...

This week, we had guest speaker Caleb John bring the Word! Caleb spoke on Jesus' Triumphant Entry in Zechariah 9:9-10 and Matthew 21:1-5. He explained that studies show that a car gives subtle clues about its driver, and that what someone drives gives subtle insight into their personality. Jesus chose a donkey as his means of transportation for the Triumphant Entry, and Jesus is King. What kind of...

This week, we talked about what it looks like to have spare change to offer others we come in contact with. When Jesus was grieving the loss of John the Baptist, he still had spare change to offer the crowd around Him. He had enough to give others because He drew from His relationship with the Father. Do we? Or do we try to do things in our own strength?

In this message, Pastor Phil highlighted the importance of "feeding the beast," AKA the Holy Spirit inside us. Watch to learn more about how to feed the Holy Spirit in you.

In this message, Pastor Phil talked about how we can be trained for battle. How do we train ourselves so that we are armed when the enemy attacks? 1) Read the Bible consistently 2) Pray often, giving God room to speak to you 3) Worship God every day of the week 4) Live in community with fellow believers The Vertical Summit was also held at the end of the service, so check that out!

In this sermon, Pastor Phil emphasized God's great ability the write comeback stories! When it comes to sin, we tend to fall into self-pity, thinking we are too far gone for God to use us. BUT! He is the greatest comeback story author to ever exist. Self-pity is really just us thinking that our sin is greater than the grace of God. Let's give God the credit He deserves.