In this Mother’s Day message, we turn to 1 Peter 3:8–17, a letter written to early Christians trying to remain faithful during a time of fear and persecution. Rather than responding to cruelty with more cruelty, Peter calls them to bless instead of curse, to confront evil with goodness, and to remain rooted in the way of Jesus.

The sermon explores how this kind of steadfast goodness is often witnessed most clearly in mothers and caregivers—those who continue to nurture, protect, forgive, and show up even when life is difficult. Connecting the biblical idea of tov (“good”) from Genesis to everyday acts of love and endurance, this message reflects on how faithful goodness reveals both our deepest purpose and the heart of God.

Because when we continue to do good under pressure, we become witnesses to hope in a hurting world.

Drawing from Deuteronomy and Leviticus, Jesus points back to a way of life that had always been at the center, yet so often gets lost in distraction, division, and routine. This message invites us to reconsider love not as a feeling we reserve for certain moments, but as a daily practice—one that shapes how we listen, speak, and show up for one another. What would it look like to live that way now, rather than waiting until it’s too late?

In this message, “Bad News, Good News,” we turn to Acts 2:43–4:22 and the story of the early church—a small, ordinary group of people who chose to live fully in the way of Jesus. They shared what they had, cared for one another, and witnessed boldly to a new way of life. And through that commitment, real healing happened—even in the face of resistance and trouble.

This sermon challenges us to move beyond a comfortable, minimal faith—what one writer called “$3 worth of God”—and instead embrace a faith that transforms us and the world around us. Because the good news isn’t just something we believe—it’s something we live.

In this Easter message, we step onto the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35), where two disciples are walking away from everything they believed in. Their hope has been shattered, and they can’t yet see that Jesus is walking right beside them.

But resurrection doesn’t begin with certainty—it begins in confusion, grief, and honest conversation. Jesus listens. He walks with them. And in a simple, ordinary moment—breaking bread—their eyes are opened.

This sermon invites us to consider where we might be walking away in our own lives, and how Christ meets us there—not to erase our disappointment, but to transform it. Because resurrection faith isn’t about pretending everything is fine—it’s about finding the courage to turn back, to re-engage, and to trust that the story isn’t over.

In this message, "Proof in Practice," we turn to John 20:19–29 and the story of Thomas—often labeled “the doubter,” but perhaps better understood as one who longed for real, embodied truth. In a world that often demands certainty, this passage offers something deeper: a Savior who meets us in our questions, not beyond them.

Jesus doesn’t reject Thomas. He invites him closer. He shows him his wounds. He offers peace. And in doing so, he reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the One who meets us where we are.

This sermon explores the honesty of Scripture, the role of doubt in spiritual life, and the invitation to live out a faith that is not just believed—but practiced.

Jesus is not asking for information; he is inviting reflection. What are we truly seeking? And will what we are chasing actually lead us to the life we long for? Too often, we set our sights on things that are too small—achievements, security, recognition, good things—but not ultimate things.

In John 10:10, Jesus says he came that we might have life, and have it abundantly. And in John 14:6, he reminds us that he himself is the way, the truth, and the life. Easter reveals that Jesus is not offering a return to what was, but an invitation into something far greater a life marked by freedom, courage, and deep connection with God.

The resurrection invites us to lift our expectations, to reexamine what we are seeking, and to trust that Christ is offering more than we imagined. The question remains: What are you looking for?

Through this message, we explore how Jesus responds to Cain’s ancient question—“Am I my brother’s keeper?”—by teaching us to love our neighbor, even the ones we’d rather avoid. Drawing on the larger arc of the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 12, 18, 22), we are reminded that God’s blessing is meant to extend through us, not terminate with us. Power and privilege are not ends in themselves, but tools for blessing others.

Jesus reads these ancient stories not as endorsements of domination but as invitations to mercy, grace, and healing. Even in exile, God offers protection. Even in failure, there is the hope of redemption. Even in us, the story continues to unfold.

We’re then joined by guest speaker Ashley Tedford, who shares her inspiring testimony of losing her eyesight in college and learning to walk by faith through uncertainty, medical hardship, and spiritual growth. Her story reveals how even when our sight fades, God’s light never does.

From the journey of the Magi to Ashley’s modern journey of faith, this episode reminds us that God’s light leads us forward—not with force, but with hope. Even in our darkest moments, Epiphany assures us: the light still shines, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That repeated phrase in Luke 2:41–52 sets the tone for this story—not one of crisis, but of rhythm and trust. But amid that faithful rhythm, something unexpected happens: Jesus stays behind in the temple. Mary and Joseph, believing him to be safe among the caravan, realize he is missing. After three days of searching, they find him—not afraid, not lost, but sitting among the teachers, fully at home in his Father’s house.

Through a poignant personal story of being accidentally left on a Manhattan-bound train as a child, Kelly Antonson reflects on how faith is formed not only in moments of clarity, but in confusion, return, and trust. Just as Jesus’ first words reveal his rootedness in the rhythms of faith, our lives are shaped not only by spiritual highs but by steady habits and community care.

This episode invites listeners to consider: What if what feels lost is actually being held? What if what seems absent is quietly growing?

Far from a sentimental retelling, this message invites listeners to reflect on where they’ve closed their hearts and how Christ still seeks to dwell not in buildings, but within us. Drawing on Ephesians 3:16–17, Chapin reminds us that we are all modern-day innkeepers—with the power to say “yes” to the One who brings light to every dark corner of our lives.

With scripture from Luke 2:8–14, where angels announce “good news of great joy,” and Hebrews 12:2, which speaks of Jesus enduring the cross “for the joy set before him,” we are reminded that joy isn’t a fleeting feeling—it’s a divine purpose.

From candy canes carried across the globe to Santa’s throne on Santa Claus Lane, this sermon captures the holy hilarity and sacred generosity of Christmas.

This sermon invites us to reconsider what it means when life doesn’t go according to plan. Drawing from Matthew 1:18–25, we’re reminded that God rarely works through control or perfection. Instead, God changes the world through people who say yes to the unexpected. This message is for anyone whose plans have unraveled and who wonders what’s next.

Psalm 122 is a prayer for the peace of Jerusalem, but Jerusalem here is not just a city — it’s a vision of the world as God dreams it: a world of wholeness, justice, and mutual care. Eliana explores the tension between singing about peace in a deeply broken world and insists that our carols are not celebrations of current peace, but prayers for the peace to come. We are not merely waiting for peace — we are joining God’s work of restoring creation.

Whether it means forgiving someone, engaging in difficult conversations, or practicing deeper hospitality, we are called to be active participants in peacemaking — not just once, but as a lifelong calling. Lighting the candle of peace is both a proclamation and a promise: that justice will roll down, and we will be ready to say "yes" when God calls us to be instruments of peace.

Drawing parallels to Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, this sermon reflects on how God often does God’s best work in the very places we’d rather avoid. The wilderness teaches us to cry for the world, to repent from our false comforts, and to hope that if God meets us in the wild, those places won’t be wild forever.

With stories from the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving and personal reflections on what it means to be trusted with something precious, this sermon lifts up gratitude as a powerful response to suffering and a faithful beginning to stewardship. Drawing also on 1 Corinthians 15 and Hebrews 2, Chapin invites us to see Jesus not only as the fulfillment of the psalm but as our pathway to fulfilling our divine calling.

Listen in for a message that calls us to reverence, thanksgiving, and renewed commitment to the care of creation and one another.

Drawing from his recent journey to the West Bank with Frank Lyon and Eric Dupee, Chapin connects Jacob’s encounter with God to our own calling to stay engaged in a divided world. In an age obsessed with safety and separation, Blessing of Engagement invites us to rediscover the holiness of holding on—to God, to each other, and to the hard but sacred work of reconciliation.

As we stand between Election Day and Veterans Day, this sermon calls us to live with courage, empathy, and faith—to wrestle for the sake of blessing, and to trust that even when we limp, God walks beside us.

What might be your next wake surf — the bold, faithful action that stretches you closer to Christ? Tune in to reflect on faith, courage, and the beautiful risks we take to walk more closely with Jesus.

The name Emmanuel means “God with us,” and this message reminds us that we are never alone—and that our greatest gift to others is often simply showing up. In an age of distraction, Emmanuel Living is a call to reconnect with God and with one another in real time, with real presence. Whether welcoming new members or traveling halfway across the world, we are called to be God's presence for others—flesh and blood reminders that love never leaves.

This story reminds us that compassion always costs something, but in the kingdom of God, love doesn’t run dry — it flows. Jesus lived from a rhythm of prayer, rest, worship, and community that kept him connected to the Source, so his love could keep pouring out.

We also explore a modern story of Monica and Kevin — a young couple learning that healing and renewal are sustained not by willpower, but by steady faith, supportive community, and God’s abiding grace. When compassion stretches us thin, we too are invited to return to the Source, trusting that the same God who renewed Jesus renews us.

Faith doesn’t erase fear, but reminds us that God is always in the boat.

But what causes someone to respond with such impulsive courage?

Drawing also from 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter written by the Apostle Paul—himself radically transformed by a divine encounter—we reflect on how love, faith, and spiritual conviction can lead ordinary people to say yes to extraordinary callings.

In a cynical and fractured world, could the Spirit still be prompting you? Could that quiet tug you feel be your own “Isaiah moment”? This episode invites you to listen closely… and to respond.

Drawing from real-life stories of struggle and grace, including the inspiring witness of a blind church member and a lesson learned from a high school football teammate with a stutter, Chapin explores the ways in which God’s strength is revealed through our weakness.

This is a powerful and honest reflection on what it means to be made well—not just healed of our infirmities, but transformed into agents of light, gratitude, and blessing. Whether you’re wrestling with unanswered prayers or wondering what your life’s challenges are meant to teach you, this episode reminds us that God’s grace truly is sufficient.

Through this vision, we see that God can breathe new life into what seems long dead. The sermon reveals a powerful spiritual truth: God revives dry bones through two essential ingredients—His Word and His Spirit. Just as the bones come together and rise into a vast army, we too can find healing and purpose when we allow God’s Word to move us and His Spirit to fill us.

No matter how lifeless your situation may seem, Jesus is near—as close as your breath—ready to bring you back to life.

The sermon draws out how God consistently sides with the overlooked and outcast—from shepherd boys like David to enslaved peoples like the Hebrews. In the same spirit, Jesus allows this unnamed woman to touch him, defying purity laws and flipping expectations: holiness, it turns out, can be transmitted through proximity and compassion.

Her fragrant offering lingers like the grace we carry from faithful encounters. When we open ourselves to the unseen, their blessedness “rubs off” on us. Jesus teaches that real connection—with others and with God—often comes through the ones we’re most likely to miss.

But instead of launching into doctrinal explanation, Jesus does what he so often does: he asks a question. In fact, he asks over 300 in the Gospels, answering only a few. Why? Because Jesus was more interested in relationship than in right answers. Questions spark conversation, and conversation builds communion.

This sermon invites us to reclaim the spiritual power of curiosity. Whether it’s using our new Disciple Deck around a dinner table, or asking our own questions in prayer, Jesus shows us that connection comes not by knowing everything—but by asking, listening, and truly caring.

Jesus reminds us: the real blessing comes not when we get repaid, but when we welcome those who can’t repay us at all. That’s where God’s joy is found — and where true community begins.

What if every table we set — in our homes, schools, or churches — became a little glimpse of the banquet of heaven?

Tune in and take your seat at the table.

In this sermon, we explore how authentic faith is not just spoken but lived—written on the hearts of children, youth, and communities through everyday acts of love, mentorship, and presence. The preacher shares a personal testimony of choosing a life of ministry with young people, reminding us that sacred work is often found in quiet, consistent faithfulness rather than fame. Just as Moses commanded the people to teach these words diligently to their children, the church today is called to be a spiritual family—where faith is formed not only in programs, but through relationships.

We are invited to consider how we are imprinting God’s love on others, and how our lives can become visible expressions of devotion. In a culture that often prioritizes individual achievement, this message calls us back to communal faithfulness. What are we writing on the hearts of those around us? Who are the saints helping to shape the next generation?

In a world that is watching, this message asks: what kind of legacy are we leaving? Are we choosing to live the Shema?

In this sermon, we consider how biblical values of justice, shared leadership, and God-centered governance became the spiritual roots of American democracy. From the peaceful fields of Gettysburg to the personal story of a modern immigrant student filled with gratitude for opportunity, we are invited to build lives that are living memorials—marked by wisdom, service, and righteousness. In a divided world, this message asks: what legacy will you leave behind? What will your life stand for?

Drawing also from Mark 16:12–13, this sermon explores the Christian tradition of seeing the sacred in strangers. In a culture that conditions us toward "stranger danger," Jesus invites us into something radically different: welcoming the unfamiliar, recognizing the divine in unexpected places, and remembering that some of the most transformative encounters come from those we do not yet know. Through the experiences shared from the recent AMO mission trip to Kenya, we are reminded that often the sacred is found not in the familiar, but in the foreign—at tables shared with strangers who become lifelong friends in Christ.

Drawing also on John 14:27, where Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,” this sermon explores how Christ’s peace is unlike anything the world gives. It’s not the absence of scars, but the transformation of them into signs of healing, hope, and renewal. We are invited to claim this peace for ourselves and carry it into our homes, workplaces, and communities—not as perfect people, but as wounded witnesses of God’s redeeming love.

When we accept the gift of peace, we generate good energy—the kind that radiates grace, steadies tension, and restores what’s broken. That’s the call of the Risen Christ: to go into the world as people of peace, scars and all.

Drawing on the story of the empty tomb, the enduring words of Psalm 118:24, and even the architectural choices of our forebears who built the church to face the sunrise, this sermon reminds us: Easter isn’t just a day. It’s a way of life.

This touching story challenges us to consider the power of generosity, vulnerability, and relationship. Mary’s lavish gift reflects not just her love and devotion but also her deep understanding of Jesus’ journey toward the cross. Her act of generosity is misunderstood and judged, but Jesus honors her offering and affirms her faith.

We also share stories from our recent mission trip to Waco, Texas, and how unexpected acts of compassion and connection—like worshipping with Church Under the Bridge—revealed the sacred in everyday encounters.

Lent invites us to imitate Christ, creating space for God’s presence through fasting, prayer, and self-reflection. It’s not about deprivation, but transformation. Whether by setting aside distractions, deepening prayer practices, or engaging with scripture, this season offers an opportunity to receive a word from the Lord and reflect God’s presence in our lives.

What will you give up—or take on—this Lent? How might imitating Jesus’ journey bring you closer to God? Join us as we explore the invitation to walk in Christ’s footsteps and prepare ourselves to fully receive the joy of Easter.

Through the lens of the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son, we consider how our disorientation can lead to discovery. What if the moments when we feel most distant from God are actually the moments when God is closest? What if grace is found in the very act of being found?

Join us as we discuss how our stories of being lost can become testimonies of being found—and how an old song, a forgotten band, and a timeless invitation to come as you are can still change lives today.

In this episode, we explore how God doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called. Jesus chose fishermen, tax collectors, and outsiders to be His disciples—not because they were powerful, but because they were willing to follow. Their simple "yes" changed the world.

How does that same invitation extend to us today? Whether it’s stepping into a new role, helping someone in need, or embracing an unexpected opportunity, God continues to work through ordinary people who dare to trust His plan.

Join us as we discuss how saying “yes” to God’s call—especially when we feel unqualified—can lead to the most incredible miracles of all.

But prophecy isn’t just an individual calling—it’s a communal one. How does our church, a gathering of people with vastly different backgrounds, perspectives, and politics, serve as a living testimony to God's desire for unity? Can we be a prophetic community not by erasing differences, but by weaving them together in love?

We’ll reflect on what it means to be a “Plaid Church”—distinct threads of red and blue, woven together to create something stronger, warmer, and more beautiful. In a world eager to pull people apart, could choosing to stay together in love and commitment be the most prophetic act of all?

Join us as we consider how our faith calls us to resist division, embrace one another, and be the kind of church—and nation—that bears witness to God's unifying love.

We’ll reflect on the depth of Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness—how it frees us, heals relationships, and transforms lives. We’ll also examine why some people resist forgiveness and how understanding our own need for grace can help us become more merciful toward others. Finally, this episode offers a moment of reflection—a space to truly accept the forgiveness Christ offers and, in turn, extend it to those who have wronged us.

If you’ve ever wrestled with forgiving someone—or with believing you yourself are forgiven—this episode is for you. Let’s step into the radical grace of Jesus together.

We’ll reflect on practical ways to find your own “word to live by”—through Scripture, prayer, community, and discernment. Whether you're facing a season of transition or longing for direction, this message reminds us that clarity of purpose not only helps us endure life's challenges but also empowers us to live a life of meaning, service, and faith. Let’s discover how embracing God’s call can lead us to transformational living.

The Magi’s willingness to ask for direction and follow signs highlights how openness to God’s guidance can reshape our lives. In contrast, Herod, driven by fear and insecurity, resisted seeking truth, resulting in cruelty and destruction. For those searching for clarity, the story encourages asking God what He desires for us and paying attention to the signs—be it scripture, dreams, or inner callings.

When we follow God’s light, like the Magi, we not only find purpose but also become light for others.