Wray Church of the Nazarene

What if the detour you have been asking God to remove is actually the very thing He is using to shape you? Paul wrote some of his most powerful words about joy and purpose from inside a prison cell. When Jesus is truly our greatest treasure, our circumstances lose their power to define us. They do not disappear, but they no longer have the final word. He who began a good work in you will carry it...

The gospel is meant to change the way we see people. In Philippians 1:1-11, Paul writes to a church made up of unlikely people brought together by grace, and his gratitude for them reveals what a gospel-shaped heart looks like. When we stop seeing grace in others, gratitude disappears and criticism takes over. But God is not finished with any of us. He who began a good work will carry it on to com...

What if the broken thing in front of you is exactly where God wants you to use your gift? Nehemiah did not walk past the ruins. He said, come, let us rebuild. God has given every believer a gift, and He is calling us to stop sitting in the stands. Discover what it means to be a builder in God's kingdom. For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Following Jesus is rewarding but challenging, and many believers struggle when life becomes difficult despite their faith. The key to perseverance isn't trying harder but fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross and understands our struggles. Discipleship is a marathon requiring faithfulness over time, not instant results. God uses trials to develop spiritual strength, just as physical...

If God is changing you, what is He changing you for? Jesus didn't wait for His disciples to have everything figured out before sending them - He commissioned them while they were still growing and confused. The Great Commission isn't just for missionaries; it's for every disciple. You are called to be Christ's ambassador right where you are. Who is your "one" - that person God has placed in your l...

Many people believe they can grow spiritually without needing others, thinking they can become more like Jesus on their own. However, the Bible reveals that God designed discipleship to happen in community. The early church devoted themselves to fellowship, teaching, and shared life together. When we isolate ourselves spiritually, we become like an ember pulled from the fire—our faith grows cold a...

Spiritual growth often feels frustratingly slow because we expect instant transformation in our faith journey. Jesus teaches in John 15 that we are branches connected to Him as the vine, and fruit grows naturally from this connection rather than our own effort. Many approach discipleship backwards, thinking they must try harder to produce spiritual fruit, but the real question is whether we're...

Struggling with the gap between loving Jesus and still battling old patterns? You're not alone. When Jesus said 'be perfect,' He wasn't demanding flawless performance - He was calling for complete surrender. What if transformation isn't about trying harder but surrendering deeper? What area of your life are you still trying to control instead of trusting God with? For sermon no...

You can love God and still wrestle with fear. You can attend church regularly and still carry bitterness. You can serve faithfully and still be controlled by pride. Even believers need to hear the message of freedom. What invisible chains might be holding you back from the abundant life Jesus promises? The Son sets you free, and when He sets you free, you are free indeed. For sermon notes, recap,...

What if true greatness isn't about climbing higher, but about lowering yourself in love? Jesus turned the world's definition of success completely upside down. The question isn't whether you matter - you absolutely do. The question is: who sits on the throne of your heart? Ready to discover what real freedom looks like? For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

You can change habits without changing your heart. You can improve routines without healing your soul. Real transformation doesn't start with self-improvement - it begins with encountering the risen Jesus. If God can raise Jesus from the dead, what dead areas of your life could He resurrect? The empty tomb isn't just history - it's your hope for change today. For sermon notes, recap, a...

What if Jesus has been walking with you all along, but you just haven't recognized Him yet? The disciples on the road to Emmaus thought they were alone in their confusion and disappointment, but Jesus was right there beside them the whole time. Instead of asking where is God, maybe we should be asking where might Jesus already be present in our ordinary moments that we're missing? Your nex...

Palm Sunday reveals a profound tension between the Jesus we want and the Jesus we need. The crowds expected a political king who would overthrow Rome and solve their problems, but Jesus came as a humble servant riding a donkey toward the cross. While they wanted earthly power and immediate solutions, Jesus offered something far greater - salvation through sacrifice. Today we often make the same mi...

Following Jesus isn't always easy or inspiring. Sometimes faith feels heavy, prayers seem unanswered, and obedience costs us something real. True endurance in faith means continuing when you don't feel it, staying faithful when no one notices, and showing up when it would be easier not to. Many believers feel exhausted because they're carrying burdens they were never meant to bear - gu...

The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges our understanding of who deserves our mercy and compassion. When a religious expert asks Jesus who qualifies as his neighbor, Jesus responds with a story about a wounded traveler ignored by religious leaders but helped by an unlikely Samaritan. This story reveals that mercy often interrupts our plans and calls us to help those we might naturally overloo...

Trust forms the foundation of our relationship with Jesus, yet it often feels risky because it requires stepping into uncertainty. When we worry, we reveal where trust is missing in our lives. Jesus addresses our anxieties in Matthew 6:25-34, reminding us not to worry because our Heavenly Father cares for us even more than He cares for the birds and flowers. Worry accomplishes nothing except steal...

God has crafted a unique purpose for each person's life, established before birth. Through faith in Christ and spiritual growth, we can discover and fulfill this divine calling. True greatness in God's kingdom is measured through service rather than worldly achievements. By identifying our spiritual gifts, seeking wisdom through prayer, and following the Spirit's leading, we can overco...

Biblical humility isn't thinking less of yourself—it's thinking of yourself less. What if the very thing protecting you from the world is actually blocking your transformation? When our hearts are full of pride and ego, there's no room for grace to reshape us. Discover how humility actually frees you to love like Jesus did. For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

True discipleship involves moving beyond mere association with Jesus to genuine apprenticeship. We are constantly being shaped by something—whether culture, fear, comfort, or Christ himself. Formation differs from information; it's the slow, intentional shaping of our inner life and outer habits to increasingly reflect Jesus's character. When Jesus called his first disciples, they immediat...

Ever wonder if your faith is actually real? Jesus gives us a surprising answer that has nothing to do with how much you pray or read your Bible. The evidence of genuine faith isn't what you might expect - it's Christ-shaped love flowing through your ordinary moments. What does love look like when Jesus is doing it through you instead of you trying to do it for Him? For sermon notes, recap,...

What if loving others isn't about trying harder, but about abiding deeper? Jesus calls us to love as He has loved us - not as another assignment, but as the natural fruit of staying connected to His love. Are you loving from obligation or from overflow? For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://sermons.wraynaz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For all our links, click here:...

Are you living FROM God's love or trying to live FOR it? There's a life-changing difference. Jesus doesn't say 'obey me and I'll love you' - He says 'I love you, now remain in that love.' What would change in your life if you truly believed His love isn't based on your performance? For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://sermo...

What if the difficult things in your life aren't punishment but proof that God is paying attention? When God prunes us, He's not cutting randomly - He's carefully removing what's crowding out our spiritual growth. The same hands that prune you are the ones that hold you through the process. Are you ready to trust the Gardener? For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠...

What if spiritual growth isn't about trying harder, but staying connected? Jesus said apart from me you can do nothing - not as condemnation, but as compassion. We were designed for connection, not performance. Are you chasing spiritual fruit or cultivating the relationship that naturally produces it? For sermon notes, recap, and devotionals, click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sermons.wraynaz.com...

As we enter a new year filled with pressure to do more and be better, Jesus offers something different than a list of demands. In John 15, he invites his disciples to remain in him like branches connected to a vine. This agricultural imagery emphasizes patience and organic growth over industrial efficiency and forced results. Instead of striving and performing, Jesus calls us to active dependence...