Expounding the Word

The word “love” gets used for just about everything. You can love cheeseburgers, your favorite socks, your dog, and your mom. But when a word gets stretched that far, it starts to lose its meaning. In today’s message, Pastor Chris points you back to what love really is. In Scripture, love isn’t casual or self-focused—it’s intentional, sacrificial, and giving without expecting anything in return. I...

“Lost in translation” is a phrase for a reason. When something is translated, meaning can shift, and sometimes important details get lost. Today, Pastor Chris explains the difference between translations—some stay closer to the original language, while others aim for clarity and flow. And those choices shape how we understand Scripture. He even offers a few helpful recommendations. Because when it...

On social media, it’s all about who you follow and who follows you. Numbers matter. The more connections, the better. But following Jesus isn’t just about staying connected—it comes with a purpose. In today’s message, Pastor Chris reminds you that if you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re also sent. You follow the One who was sent, and now you’re sent in the same way. And that mission is simple, but p...

Sadly, you’ll find some churches where this isn’t practiced very well. You’ll see a burned-out pastor who’s expected to meet every need and fill nearly every role at some point or another. In others, you’ll find a small group of people who seem to drive all the programs and activities, and it can be hard to break into that circle. As Pastor Chris will remind us in today’s message, we’re meant to d...

The Church of Jesus Christ is possibly the most diverse group of people on the face of this planet. Sure, if you walk into an individual church on any Sunday morning, the diversity may not be immediately apparent. But, as a whole, the Church contains people from all walks of life, nationalities, ethnicities, and economic statuses. The world likes to paint it as being an exclusive group, but as Pas...

Speaking in tongues is a mysterious thing, and it’s been the basis for many conflicts in the Church. Churches have split, and entire denominations have been born out of this controversy. That’s the exact opposite of what God intended for this spiritual ability. As Pastor Chris will remind us in today’s message, the gifts God gives us should only be used to unite His people and bring glory to Him....

Good intentions are not enough by themselves. As Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, we saw this demonstrated in Peter. Peter loved Jesus, and he believed in His cause. But he didn’t fully understand what Jesus came to do. As the cross came onto the horizon, Peter struggled to accept that it could be God’s will. He directly argued with Jesus about it and stood up to fight in the garden...

What’s your immediate reaction to a story like that? Maybe you have more faith than I, but I tend to be skeptical. My initial thought is that I’d like proof. The story may or may not be real, but do I believe it could be true? Do you believe it’s possible that God could or would have done that kind of miracle? As Pastor Chris will challenge us in today’s message, if we believe God’s Word is true a...

Wouldn’t it be nice if all we had to do was say a specific phrase and God would heal us from sickness or meet whatever need we’re facing? Where would we place our faith? If all that mattered was saying the correct words, those words would become the source of power. As Pastor Chris continues our study in the book of 1st Corinthians, he’ll explain why God isn’t held to a certain formula or pattern...

Have you ever experienced that? Whether you were the one sharing or the one receiving a word of knowledge, it’s a beautiful moment. It’s a reminder that our God is all-knowing, and He loves to use us to demonstrate that trait. As Pastor Chris will challenge us in today’s message, when we feel pressed by the Holy Spirit to share something with someone, we should step into it with bold humility. Eve...

Wisdom can come through experiencing a trial and coming out on the other side with a better understanding of that struggle. It can also come through studying God’s Word or the experience of your fellow believers, bringing understanding without the personal hardship. As Pastor Chris will point out in today’s message, wisdom can also be given miraculously. We saw this with Solomon, as God gave Him w...

When a sports team spirals, it usually starts with their coach and how much they care. Coaches get fired when they lose their locker room’s trust and can’t get their players to listen to them. In today’s message, Pastor Chris says if you’re a leader, you must lead with integrity and steward the gift God’s given you. People must know that you believe in them and that you care. If this is your gifti...

Have you ever talked to someone, and they advised you on something you didn’t ask for advice on? It always feels the worst when people share their thoughts, and you don’t agree with what they’re sharing! Today, Pastor Chris says when you give advice, you must make sure that it’s scripture-based. The Bible says that all scripture is good for training, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteous...

In high school, I had a teacher who was able to take complex things about anatomy and make them simple so I could understand them better. She was one of the best teachers I had! In today’s message, Pastor Chris says you know you have the gift of teaching if you can do just that! Have you been able to take a complex idea and make it understandable to someone? If so, you may be gifted in teaching! Y...

When I was younger, I was a bad kid and got in trouble often. My parents would take away the toys and privileges they gave me to teach me a lesson. In today’s message, Pastor Chris says God chose your gifting and was intentional in it. The difference between God and my parents is that God doesn’t take away his gift to you! You were chosen by Him to serve in ways that only you can. Live with confid...

Jesus has called everyone to ministry, even if it’s not vocational! You may be called to be the best evangelizer at your office, or maybe it’s to random people on the street! But God’s called everyone to honor Him however they can! In today’s message, Pastor Chris says you must ask God where He’s gifted you! Allow Him to speak into your life so you can know exactly where you’re best suited. Be a l...

It would be weird if someone gave us a gift and we just chose to ignore it. Yet, we do that all the time to God! In today’s message, Pastor Chris says we must not forget the gifts that God has given us! He’s made you unique and given you unique giftings! In this journey of life, you’ll find out what your best fit is by testing the waters and seeing where you feel the most comfortable. The key step...

Knowing ourselves is one of the hardest things to do. We don’t like to do self-reflection because it can bring out some things we don’t want to think about. In today’s message, Pastor Chris says when you go to communion, you must do self-introspection, but not on your own. You must ask God to reveal to you the places in which you’re not honoring Him. One of the best ways to be more like Jesus is t...

When a group of people watches sports together, we would say the statement “there’s a group of people watching the game.” Even if it’s 3 or 4 people, we would still call them a group! In today’s message, Pastor Chris reminds us that no matter how many people are gathered, if they’re worshipping the Lord, they’re the church. See, the church isn’t a building, it’s a people. Even if your church is on...

God’s not alone in heaven. We often think of God, Jesus, and the Spirit—but Scripture points to something more: a vast host of angels. Present before creation, they’ve been watching what God has been doing from the very beginning. And they’re still watching. In today’s message, Pastor Chris invites you to consider this often-overlooked reality—and what it means for how you live right now. Because...

When we think about authority, most of us recognize it right away—bosses, laws, people in charge. But there’s another kind of authority too, the kind that comes from trust, wisdom, and relationship. We all live under both, whether we realize it or not. Today, Pastor Chris invites you to look deeper at what authority really means and who truly holds it. Because no matter what authority shapes your...

The compass was truly a revolutionary invention. Before its use, seafarers had to use landmarks and celestial bodies to direct them on the waters. But with a compass, navigation became far more accurate, regardless of weather conditions, time of day, or visibility. Today, Pastor Chris uses the compass as a simile to describe what your life should be like as a Christian. Just like a compass, your l...

Have you ever made a ceramic pot? There are so many ways to shape clay—building it by hand, stacking coils, or using a pottery wheel. Once that clay is fired in a kiln, it becomes as hard as a rock and is then ready for various uses. Today, Pastor Chris shares a powerful truth: if you’re a Christian, you are a ceramic pot. God’s glory dwells right inside of you, and He has specific purposes for yo...

Today, Pastor Chris speaks about a topic often misunderstood in the Scriptures: demons. He explains that they are evil. They are sometimes the driving force behind what may seem neutral, so you must be on guard. If there’s something you know you ought to avoid, you'd better do it. Evil is out to destroy and devour you, and it will use any means possible because you’re an image of God. But the good...

When we think of "worshipping other things," we often imagine ancient statues or golden calves, but modern-day "idolatry" is usually much more subtle. It’s anything that takes the primary place in your heart—the thing you rely on for your identity, security, or happiness instead of God. It’s what you think you can’t live without or what you think of first thing when you wake up. Today, Pastor Chri...