Church and Stuff

The message explored the profound truth of Jesus' declaration "It is finished" and what it means for us living in the tension between Friday's cross and Sunday's resurrection. We examined how many of us find ourselves stuck in "Silent Saturday"—that space between knowing God's promises and seeing their fulfillment in our lives. The resurrection isn't ju...

In this Palm Sunday message Pastor Brent Powell explored the paradox of celebration and suffering, examining how Jesus entered Jerusalem knowing the cross awaited Him, yet pressed forward "for the joy that was set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). We discovered that the crowds crying "Hosanna" (save us now) were seeking political deliverance, but Jesus came for something far greater—...

The message explored the practical pathway from knowing God's promises to actually living in them. This isn't about trying harder or getting more emotional at the altar; it's about a systematic process that moves us from receiving God's good gifts, to becoming the kind of people who naturally walk in His ways, to ultimately reaching maturity where we dispense those blessings to...

The message explored the profound paradox found in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18—that God intentionally places His treasure (the gospel) in broken, earthen vessels (us). We examined how the people closest to God often experience the greatest pressure, yet this pressure is not meaningless. Rather, God uses temporary suffering to produce eternal glory. The message challenged us to stop being victims of our c...

Hunger says "I want more of God," but thirst says "I cannot live without Him." We're called to cultivate both - hunger through consistent time in Scripture, worship, and prayer, and thirst through recognizing our complete dependence on God's presence in every area of life.

In this message Aaron Bagwell explored the prophetic declaration that "a new thing is coming" based on Isaiah 43:18-19. We examined how God deposits a "vision seed" within each of us before we're even born—our purpose, gifts, and destiny—and how He reveals this seed as we grow in faith. The message challenged us not to live solely in the memories of past miracles, but to s...

In this message Pastor Brent Powell to dive into spiritual hunger--the kind of hunger Jesus described when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Spiritual hunger is not just desire — it is pursuit. It is movement. It is pressing. It is choosing the Spirit over the flesh and the long-term harvest over short-term gratification. 

This message from Bishop Ed Akers explored Matthew 9:35-37, where Jesus looked upon crowds of sinners and saw them not through the lens of their sins, but as people who were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." We were reminded that sin doesn't just define people—it traps them, mangles their lives, and leaves them powerless. Just as Jesus was moved to action by co...

In this message Pastor Brent Powell explored what it means to truly hunger and thirst for God in a culture of comfort and complacency. Drawing from Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled," we were challenged to examine whether we're merely satisfied with surface-level Christianity or desperately seeking God's manifest p...

This week's message from Pastor Brent Powell explored the transformative power of attention in our spiritual formation. We examined how what we consistently focus on ultimately shapes who we become. Drawing from Psalm 1:1-3, we discovered that our spiritual growth isn't accidental—it's cultivated through intentional, daily attention to God and His Word. The progression of walking, s...

In this message Bishop Raul Ucab explored the biblical understanding of prosperity, emphasizing that true blessing comes not from pursuing material wealth, but from cultivating the fear of the Lord and maintaining intimate fellowship with Him. Drawing from Psalms 115:13-15 and Psalms 112:1-3, we learned that the "fruit of prosperity" (wealth, riches, and abundant blessings) is always con...

In this message Pastor Brent Powell builds off of last week's message on formation.  Once you realized you are being formed the question becomes who or what gets to set the boundaries of your life? We live in a culture that equates freedom with no limits, no restrictions, no boundaries, and no one telling you what to do. But the irony is with more options than ever we are more anxious, exhaus...

This powerful message confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we are being formed whether we realize it or not. Drawing from Romans 12:2's call to be transformed rather than conformed, we're challenged to examine the hidden habits and routines that shape 40% of our daily actions without conscious thought. The sermon unpacks the tension between drift and formation—how we can either pass...

This past Sunday, Pastor Brent reminded us of an important truth: while the manger may be empty, the light that entered the world on Christmas morning continues to shine brightly in our lives today. As we move beyond the tinsel and wrapping paper, we're reminded that Christmas wasn't just a moment in history—it was the beginning of an eternal reality that transforms how we live every sin...

In this message Pastor Brent explored how Christ came not just to shine His light upon us, but to shine His light within us and through us. We examined how Jesus calls us "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16), commissioning every believer—not just pastors or church leaders—to carry His hope, healing, and truth into our everyday lives. The message emphasized that revival isn't s...

In this message Pastor Brent Powell explored how God broke through 400 years of prophetic silence to reveal His light to the world through Jesus Christ. Just as the shepherds experienced heaven's glory on an ordinary night while doing ordinary work, God continues to show up in our everyday moments—not when we're perfectly polished, but when we're faithfully present. The message chal...

This week's sermon took us back to the very beginning of creation to understand God's eternal promise of hope. We explored how darkness entered the world through Adam and Eve's fall in Genesis 3, and how God immediately spoke a promise of light that would come to crush the darkness. Throughout humanity's "long dark night" spanning thousands of years, God continued sen...

The message explored the biblical principle of divine vindication—how God Himself clears the names of His people, restores honor to those who have been dishonored, and rights the wrongs committed against the righteous. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 as our foundation, we discovered that thankfulness is not just gratitude for blessings received, but a powerful weapon that aligns our hearts with...

In this message Bishop Ed Akers shares the power that Thankfulness has in our lives. When we look at Psalm 100 we see the power that comes from changing our perspective and focusing on all that God has done. Kill the thieves of thankfulness in your life by choosing to be grateful for all God has done and is doing in your life.

The message explored how offense is gratitude's silent killer and one of the enemy's most effective weapons against believers. We examined how offense disguises itself as justified anger or righteous indignation, but actually builds a prison of bitterness around our hearts. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ("In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus con...

In the message Pastor Brent explored how comparison steals our joy and blinds us to God's goodness in our own lives. We examined how the thief of comparison transforms gratitude into grumbling, causing us to measure our blessings against others rather than looking up to God. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 5:18—"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for...

In this message we explored how unmet expectations can steal our joy and create distance between us and God. When life doesn't unfold the way we hoped—when prayers seem unanswered, when timing doesn't align with our plans, when God's "how" differs from our expectations—disappointment can open doors to doubt, offense, and spiritual deception. We discovered that gratitude is...

The sermon explored the glorious future that awaits believers beyond the tribulation—the millennial kingdom and the new heaven and new earth where God will dwell with His people forever. This isn't about floating on clouds as baby angels; it's about a restored Eden where we will rule and reign with Christ in glorified bodies, doing meaningful work, and experiencing unbroken fellowship wi...

This podcast episode explores the second coming of Jesus Christ, emphasizing it as a source of hope and comfort for believers rather than fear. Bishop Ed Akers highlighted the promise of Christ's return, the rapture of the church, and the events surrounding His second coming. The message underscored the importance of living with anticipation and readiness for Christ's return, while also...

In this powerful message, we're reminded of the importance of being prepared for Christ's return. The central theme revolves around the concept of the tribulation and the rapture, drawing primarily from Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4. We're challenged to consider: Are we truly ready for Jesus' coming? This isn't about fear, but about living with purpose and urgency. The...