Alabaster Group

A person's worth before God has nothing to do with the size of their crowd, their stadium, or their subscriber count — a lion is a lion whether or not hyenas surround him. The only thing anyone truly possesses in this life is God's opinion of them, and chasing the glory of men will always cost us the glory of God.

Amos 3; Jeremiah 28; John 15; Luke 1; John 12; Proverbs 30; 1 Corinthians 1

Homeward Missions Week 2026 | Day 6 Morning Service

We are never called to fast Jesus because the world is hungry for more of him, not less, and we can only distribute what we carry. When we offer the fresh bread of his presence, a starving world will always run toward it, no matter how hard a place is said to be.

John 6

Homeward Missions Week 2026 | Day 5 Evening Service

The parable of the prodigal son is told in three acts, and the last act is arguably the most important. The older brother’s response to mercy being poured out reveals an underlying bitterness that festers when we feel we have gone unnoticed. Faithful service in the father's house can produce its own brokenness, and the only real cure is trusting that the Father sees us and rewards us, even when it doesn't come in this life.

Luke 15; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Corinthians 9

Homeward Missions Week 2026 | Day 3 Evening Service

Heidi Baker encourages us to persevere when we face trials of various kinds as she shares stories from the missions field of ship wrecks, fire ants, and a miraculous rescue by fishermen. In the face of repeated setbacks, she reminds us that if we hold fast to God, eventually we will catch the next wind of his Spirit and make it out of the storm.

Ezekiel 47; John 15

Homeward Missions Week 2026 | Day 1 Evening Service

Ahab's downfall at Ramoth Gilead was settled in heaven before the method was, and God still cared which method was chosen. Among many viable paths, He picks one. Jesus required John to baptize Him rather than the reverse, not because John's desire was wrong, but because that path fell short of fulfilling all righteousness. We tend to mistake one true facet of God's will for the whole of it, settling for whatever gets us to a good destination. But knowing His ways means not settling for good enough and seeking the path that reveals the fullness of His wisdom and character in every choice we make.

1 Kings 22; Psalm 103; Matthew 3; Exodus 33; Psalm 25; Luke 4; James 2

NYC Sunday Sermon | June 21, 2026

The story of Jonah gives us unique insight into the sovereignty of God’s timing. Our foolish and rebellious decisions never catch God by surprise and his plans unfold in ways that account for our cooperation with Him or lack thereof. Nothing that we say or do can delay or expedite God’s will, but how we relate to Him definitely impacts the role that we play in his ultimate story. The challenge as we journey through life is to be sensitive to the Father’s heart and not consumed with our personal desires so that we would not miss what He is doing or become an enemy to his plans.

Matthew 12; Jonah 1-4; 2 Kings 14; John 7; Acts 10; Joel 2

NYC Sunday Sermon | June 14, 2026

There are rewards for our good works, but only God’s grace is sufficient to cleanse us from the sin that so easily clings to our hearts. If we are diligent in pursuing righteousness, we can become deceived somewhere along the way that our own righteousness can make up for our faults, but this is a grave deception. Not only are we incapable of fixing ourselves, we are not even capable of judging ourselves rightly. But when we run to the foot of the cross, we allow God to judge us rightly and show us mercy, and in that place, we find freedom.

Philippians 4; Romans 11; Galatians 3; 1 Corinthians 4; Hebrews 10; Matthew 25

NYC Sunday Sermon | June 7, 2026

When our religious efforts bear no fruit, the problem is not wrong methods but a defective science that cannot be engineered away. If true spiritual possession is the fruit we seek in the Kingdom, and we have yet to see it, we must reinvestigate our science, i.e., our “ground truth.” Joseph is a clear example that being a successful renter in Egypt and a permanent owner in the promised land are very different things. Coming into ownership of anything requires that possession be transferred from one entity to another, and this can only be done according to God’s justice. When we base our lives on this truth, our expectations are calibrated and our efforts become aimed toward a permanent inheritance.

Genesis 49; Genesis 50; Joshua 5; Matthew 1; 2 Corinthians 11; 1 Timothy 4

NYC Sunday Sermon | May 31, 2026

David Hogan, accompanied by his wife Debbie and family, shares a series of somber yet powerful testimonies highlighting the necessity of endurance in our walk with God. Despite the loss and suffering that we experience in this life, our hearts must be steadfast in our call to make disciples and advance the Kingdom. Brother David reminds us that trials are the training ground for perfection, and true joy is found not in avoiding conflict, but in the unwavering reality that Jesus is King.

James 1; Luke 5; Philippians 4; Romans 6; Psalm 62

NYC Saturday Service with David Hogan | May 16, 2026

While often overlooked, dignity is an attribute that God expects us to not only embrace but to grow in over time. A lion is endowed with a certain majesty that is not dependent on its environment. In the same way, the Lord has made us and crowned us with a certain glory that is not defined by our circumstances. The more we acknowledge this, the more we are able to walk in this god-given dignity. It’s not just a garment that we put on and off, it’s an immutable trait that defines who we are as sons and daughters of God.

Matthew 22; Proverbs 30; 1 Timothy 2; Psalm 8; Ephesians 4; Judges 6

NYC Sunday Sermon | May 24, 2026