What happens when we decide that what we think is best is better than simply obeying God? In his sermon “Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice,” presented on Sunday, September 20, 2026, Cole Tuck examines the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15 and the consequences of choosing partial obedience over complete obedience to God.

 God gave Saul a clear command concerning the Amalekites, but Saul chose to do only part of what God instructed. He spared King Agag and kept the best of the livestock, later attempting to justify his actions by saying they were intended as a sacrifice to God. Samuel’s response delivers the central message of the sermon: “To obey is better than sacrifice.”

 The lesson reaches beyond Saul’s story. We can sometimes obey God in many areas while deliberately holding onto the one thing we do not want to surrender. We may also complicate God's instructions, make excuses, or convince ourselves that our own ideas are better. But partial obedience is still disobedience.  Cole challenges listeners to examine their own lives: What are we holding back? What have we decided to do our own way? Are we trusting God enough to follow His instructions rather than substituting our own judgment?

 The message is simple and challenging: God is the Master; we are the servants. Our responsibility is not to make the rules, but to follow them. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Cole Tuck continued our morning Bible class through Proverbs, studying Proverbs 12.

This chapter provides practical wisdom about righteousness, our thoughts and words, relationships, humility, compassion, work, and truthfulness. The class considers how our character is revealed in everyday choices and challenges us to focus less on appearances and more on what is genuinely good and right.

The lesson also explores the importance of encouraging others rather than looking for opportunities to attack them, treating others and God's creation with compassion, working diligently, and recognizing the difference between what merely looks good and what is actually good.

The class concludes with Proverbs 12:22 and a reminder of the importance of truth: God rejects lying but delights in those who deal faithfully.

Join Cole Tuck for this practical and thought-provoking study of Proverbs 12 and discover how God's wisdom applies to everyday Christian life.

Cole Tuck continues the sermon series on The Seven Churches of Revelation with "Letter to Pergamum," presented Sunday morning, September 13, 2026, at Avenue T Church of Christ.

In Revelation 2:12–17, Jesus addresses a congregation that remained faithful amid persecution while tolerating destructive teachings. This sermon examines the sharp two-edged sword of Christ, the danger of putting human interests above God's will, the call to repentance, and the personal rewards promised to those who overcome. A powerful reminder that Jesus knows us intimately and that true faithfulness goes beyond simply attending church.

Scripture: Revelation 2:12–17

Listen to this encouraging and challenging lesson on Christian faithfulness, repentance, and the hope found in Jesus Christ.

In this Sunday morning Bible class from September 13, 2026, Cole Tuck continues the study of Proverbs, examining the contrast between wisdom and foolishness in Proverbs 11. The lesson explores the meaning of the gold ring in a pig's snout, the importance of discretion, and why godly character is more valuable than outward appearance. Listeners are encouraged to pursue wisdom, make wise choices, and become people who care about God's Word and God's people. Join us for this practical study of biblical wisdom and Christian living.

Why does God allow evil and suffering?

In this thought-provoking sermon from September 6, 2026, Cole Tuck addresses one of the most difficult questions people wrestle with: how can an all-powerful and all-good God allow pain, evil, loss, and suffering to exist?

Cole examines several possible reasons for suffering, including human free will, punishment, God's patience, spiritual preparation, and the way hardship can sometimes draw us closer to God. He also reminds us that suffering does not automatically mean that someone is being punished for sin.

Through examples including Job, David, the man born blind, and ultimately Jesus, we are reminded that righteous people can suffer. Jesus Himself suffered despite being innocent and willingly walked the road of suffering on our behalf.

We may not always understand why God allows a particular hardship. But we can trust that God is good, that He is powerful, and that Jesus understands our suffering because He has experienced it Himself.

When life hurts, and the answers are difficult, trust God, ask Him for wisdom, and allow Him to guide you through the pain.

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, Avenue T Church of Christ held a special combined English and Spanish worship service. Cole Tuck presented the sermon “Heart Problems,” with Charlie Rodriguez translating the message into Spanish.

We live in a culture that frequently tells us to follow our hearts, trust our feelings, and decide for ourselves what is right. But what does the Bible say about the human heart?

This thought-provoking message examines the spiritual condition of our hearts and the danger of allowing our feelings and desires to become our ultimate source of truth. Scripture shows that the heart can deceive us and lead us toward temptation and sin.  But there is hope.

Jesus provides the perfect example of surrender. In the garden, He chose the Father's will over His own desires.  The message ultimately challenges us to stop allowing our hearts to dictate our decisions and instead learn to trust and follow the heart of God.  If our hearts can deceive us, whose heart should we follow?

Listen to “Heart Problems” and consider what is truly guiding your life.

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, Cole Tuck continued our morning Bible class in the book of Proverbs, focusing on Proverbs 10.

This study explores the contrast between wisdom and foolishness and the importance of our response when we fall short. The class considers God's blessings, repentance, diligence, the fear of the Lord, hope, responsibility, and the impact our words have on those around us.

A key lesson emerges: everyone falls short, but wisdom is demonstrated by what we do next. Rather than becoming comfortable with sin, the wise person acknowledges it, repents, and continues striving to grow.

Proverbs 10 offers practical wisdom for everyday Christian living and challenges us to examine not only what we believe, but how we live, speak, work, and respond to our failures.

Listen and be encouraged to pursue wisdom and righteousness in every area of life.

In this episode, Cole Tuck continues the Seven Churches of Revelation sermon series with Jesus’ letter to the church in Smyrna.  Smyrna was a church experiencing suffering, poverty, persecution, and the threat of even greater hardship. Yet Jesus reminded them that He knew their troubles and that, despite their physical poverty, they were spiritually rich.  This message explores four powerful lessons from Smyrna: Jesus knows our troubles, spiritual riches are more valuable than physical riches, our relationship with God is defined by faith rather than ethnicity or ancestry, and we can remain faithful unto death because Jesus has already overcome death.

The message of Smyrna is one of encouragement and perseverance: our suffering is temporary, but the crown of life is eternal.

 Scripture: Revelation 2:8–11

On Sunday, August 23, 2026, Cole Tuck continued our morning Bible class through the book of Proverbs, examining Proverbs 10 and the practical wisdom Solomon provides for everyday Christian living.  The lesson explores diligence and work ethic, the importance of being teachable, walking with integrity, avoiding foolish choices, managing our finances without making money our ultimate priority, and using our words wisely.  A particularly challenging section focuses on hatred, gossip, and the power of love to change how we respond to the struggles of others. Cole also encourages us to become better listeners—not simply entering conversations to win, but seeking to learn and discover what is actually true.

Proverbs reminds us that wisdom is more than knowledge. Wisdom is demonstrated in the way we work, speak, listen, love, make decisions, and live before God.  A thoughtful and practical Bible class for anyone seeking to grow in biblical wisdom and apply God's Word to everyday life.

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, Cole Tuck began a new sermon series through the seven letters of Jesus to the churches in Revelation. The series begins with the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1–7.  The Ephesian church was commended for its hard work, endurance, commitment to truth, and rejection of false teaching. Yet Jesus confronted them with a serious spiritual problem: they had abandoned the love they had at first.

This message explores the importance of holding truth and love together. Christians are called to stand firmly against false teaching and evil, but never at the expense of loving people. Jesus' message to Ephesus also reminds us that repentance is an ongoing part of Christian faithfulness.

The challenge remains relevant today: Are we so focused on being right that we have forgotten to love?

Listen to this powerful opening message in the Revelation series and discover what Jesus' letter to Ephesus has to say to the church today.

 Scripture: Revelation 2:1–7