Ward Church Podcast

This week's sermon explores the theme of friendship and the importance of supportive relationships in our lives. Rev. Terence Gray dives into Ecclesiastes 4, where Solomon contrasts a life lived in isolation with one shared in community. Through stories and practical insights, Pastor Terence illustrates that while it may seem easier to walk alone, true fulfillment and resilience come from walking...

This week’s sermon by Dr. Scott McKee, titled “Wise Up,” focuses on the importance of teaching and Bible reading as essential disciplines for spiritual growth. Drawing from Psalm 19, Pastor Scott explains the transformative power of Scripture in shaping our minds, emotions, and perspectives. Just as we carefully choose what we feed our bodies, we are called to be intentional about what we feed our...

In this week's sermon, Mark Ordus discusses his early days as a youth pastor and reflects on the profound impact of service on his ministry. He shares stories from his mission trips and how the innate desire to serve is wired into every person, transcending generations. Through scripture, Mark explains that this desire comes from being created in God's image, and he emphasizes how Jesus, the ultim...

In this week’s sermon, Rev. Terence Gray explores the powerful spiritual discipline of silence and solitude as part of our ongoing series on spiritual practices. Drawing from Mark 6, he highlights how Jesus modeled a rhythm of work followed by moments of retreat and renewal. Pastor Terence challenges us to embrace the quiet, even when it feels uncomfortable, as a way to confront the noise within o...

Dr. Scott McKee launches a new sermon series titled "Up: Seven Practices for Living and Loving Like Jesus." The first practice, "Look Up: Praise and Worship," draws from Psalm 100 and highlights the essential role of worship in the Christian life. Pastor Scott unpacks how worship brings joy to God, reorients us to remember who God is and who we are, fosters a spirit of gratitude, and strengthens o...

In the final part of the "Apprenticing with Jesus" series, titled "Do What Jesus Did," Dr. Scott McKee reflects on Matthew 4:18-25, where Jesus calls His first disciples to follow Him and become "fishers of people." Pastor Scott explains that this call was an invitation to apprentice under Jesus, learning not just to observe, but to eventually do what He did—preaching, healing, and helping others....

In the second part of the "Apprenticing with Jesus" series, Dr. Scott McKee delves into the process of spiritual transformation in a message titled Become Like Jesus. Drawing from Luke 6:39-40, he emphasizes that becoming like Jesus is not just about behavior modification but requires deep inner transformation through intentional training and spiritual formation. Pastor Scott explores the necessit...

Dr. Scott McKee kicks off a new sermon series titled "Apprenticing to Jesus." In this first part, titled "Be With Jesus", Pastor Scott reflects on the ancient practice of apprenticeship to a rabbi. He unpacks how we can apply this to modern-day discipleship with Jesus, emphasizing the three-part invitation of apprenticeship: to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do what He did. Drawing from his p...

In this sermon, Rev. Terence Gray reflects on the dangers of prioritizing outward productivity over inward fruitfulness. He shares his personal journey from the Fall of 2015 when, as a youth pastor in a large church, he became consumed with work to the point of burnout, depression, and feeling empty. Through this experience, he learned that his identity should not be wrapped up in his work or perf...

Dr. Scott McKee, in his second sermon back since his recovery from a serious medical condition, delivers a powerful message from Hebrews 11-12 titled "When You Feel Like Giving Up." Drawing from the Hall of Faith, he explores the perseverance of those who ran their race with unwavering faith, despite facing immense challenges. Weaving in lessons learned from his own recent health struggles, Pastor...

In this week's sermon, Dr. Scott McKee returns to the pulpit for the first time after a serious medical condition kept him away for several months. Drawing from Romans 8, he weaves together the harsh realities of our broken world with the glorious truths of God's unwavering love and purpose. Through personal reflections on his own health challenges and deep scriptural insights, Dr. McKee explores...

In this powerful sermon, Rev. Terence Gray explores the reality of spiritual warfare, focusing on Satan as the accuser who hurls darts of doubt, temptation, and accusation at believers. Drawing from 1 Peter 5, Rev. Gray encourages us to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand, resist the devil with faith, and trust in Christ's justification, which renders all accusations powerless. As he reminds...

In this week's sermon, Micah Williams delves into the challenging topic of suffering as a believer in Christ. Drawing from 1 Peter 4:12-19, he emphasizes that true followers of Jesus will inevitably face trials and hardships. Micah shares personal reflections on the demanding process of church planting and the unexpected pain of learning new skills, likening it to the Christian journey. He encoura...

In this week's sermon, Rev. Terence Gray explores the concept of the "Dream Church" and how our fantasies of a perfect church can undermine the true beauty and value of the real church. Drawing from 1 Peter, he emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort and commitment in our relationships within the church community. Pastor Terence challenges us to move beyond consumerist mindsets and trans...

In this week's sermon, Mark Ordus tackles the challenging topic of submission, exploring its meaning and importance in our faith. Reflecting on 1 Peter 3:1-7, Mark discusses the historical context of submission within marriages and its broader implications for all believers. Through personal anecdotes and biblical insights, he emphasizes that true submission is about trusting God, giving up contro...

In this week's sermon, Rev. Terence Gray addresses the challenging topic of how Christians should relate to governing authorities, especially in light of current events. Reflecting on historical and biblical contexts, he explores the balance between honoring and obeying earthly governments while remaining faithful to God. Pastor Terence emphasizes that, as Christians, we must navigate our dual cit...

In this week's sermon, Pastoral Resident Sarah Horton explores 1 Peter 1:13-19, addressing the question "How then shall I live?" She emphasizes that living a holy life means being set apart for God, loving Him, and loving our neighbors in a way that reflects Christ. Sarah discusses the historical responses of Christians to cultural challenges and shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the complex...

In this week's sermon, Rev. Terence Gray delves into the shift from Christendom to a post-Christendom society, exploring how the church can thrive even when it is not the dominant voice in society. Drawing on the early church's example, he emphasizes the need to move from a Christendom mode—where Christians go with the cultural flow—to an apostolic mode, which requires proactive faith and swimming...

In this week’s sermon, Jenni Neighbour kicks off our new series in the book of 1 Peter by exploring the theme of feeling like exiles in a familiar land. Peter’s letter, written to encourage and guide Christians in Asia Minor, resonates with us today as we navigate a culture increasingly different from our Christian values. Jenni delves into how Peter establishes our identity as God’s chosen people...

Join us for the concluding sermon in our series, "The Life of Joseph," delivered by Rev. Terence Gray. In this message, we explore the profound impact of a father's blessing through the story of Joseph and his father, Jacob. As we delve into Joseph's journey, we learn about the significance of a father's words and the deep influence they have on identity, courage, and healing. Pastor Terence refle...

In this sermon, Rev. Terence Gray explores the story of Joseph and the profound lessons it teaches about God's redemptive power. Discover how God can transform our brokenness into beauty, our messes into miracles, and our wrecks into stories of redemption. Through the ups and downs of Joseph's life, we learn about enduring faith, the importance of waiting, and how God uses our trials to prepare us...

In this sermon, Rev. Nicole Unice delves further into the challenging and inspiring story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. As we explore a critical junction in Joseph's life, the discussion uncovers how his trials from pits to prison illustrate the unexpected ways in which God's blessings manifest. This sermon challenges us to rethink the concept of prosperity and blessings through a biblical l...

Join Mark Ordus for an insightful sermon as he delves into the life of Joseph, whose story of betrayal, hardship, and resilience illustrates how a foundation of faith remains steadfast, even when everything else falls apart. Explore how true blessings often come through life's toughest challenges and learn actionable insights for embracing God’s faithfulness. This sermon encourages us to remember...

In the opening message of our new sermon series, Rev. Nicole Unice delves into the unexpected seasons of life that challenge our expectations and hopes. Drawing from her latest book, "Not What I Signed Up For" and the biblical story of Joseph, she addresses the transformative power of enduring faith through trials. Discover how Joseph's journey from betrayal to redemption in the face of adversity...

In the final message of our "Practical Atheist" sermon series, Rev. Terence Gray explores the concept of forgiveness in a culture driven by vengeance, sparked by Kanye West's claims of divinity and self-protection. This discussion centers on the topic, "I believe in God, but I still carry a grudge," examining the spiritual impact of vengeance and the Biblical mandate that it belongs to God. Pastor...