Border City Church Podcast, Detroit, MI

In this message by Steve Martel, the focus centers on the biblical call for believers to love others not through human strength or emotional limits, but through a deep, transformative connection to Jesus Christ. Emphasizing that love is the soil from which all spiritual fruit grows, the message highlights how authentic Christian love serves as the ultimate witness to a watching world. The sermon explores three key aspects of the church: growing in community and unity through love, serving as faithful stewards of spiritual gifts, and living actively on mission to make Jesus known for the glory of God.

Sermon Title: Beyond Salvation: Walking in the Supernatural Power of Christ

Sermon Description:

What does it truly mean to "get our act together" as the body of Christ? In this compelling message, Bob Steinberg challenges believers to move past the idea that the Christian walk is just about being saved and waiting for heaven. Grounded firmly in the final authority of Scripture, Bob reminds us that if Christ is in us, He has called each of us to active, powerful ministry.

By digging deep into the Word and examining our hearts, we must ask ourselves: If we aren't seeing the supernatural in our lives, why? Bob unpacks the promise of the Father—the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, the gifts, and the signs that should follow those who believe. This message is an urgent call to pursue love, desire spiritual gifts for the edification of the church, and live every single day in expectant prayer, asking: "Lord, what is it you want us to do?"

Key Scripture References Mentioned:

Proverbs 18:17 (Examining arguments and seeking truth)

Acts 2 / Joel 2 (The promise of the Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh)

1 Corinthians 14:1 (Pursuing love and desiring spiritual gifts)

James 4:2 (You have not because you ask not)

Too often, we treat the Christian life as a checklist to earn God’s favor rather than a response to the favor He has already given. Preaching from Romans 12, Pastor Steve Martel challenges us to move past performing for God and start surrendering to Him. True worship isn’t just a Sunday song—it’s a daily sacrifice of our minds, bodies, and pride on the altar of His mercy. Discover how real grace changes us from the inside out before it ever uses us to build His kingdom.

The Church was never meant to be a spectator sport. In this message, Pastor Steve Martel breaks down Ephesians 4 and Romans 12 to remind us that every single believer is a uniquely gifted, essential organ in the living body of Christ. When we stop consuming and start contributing our spiritual and leadership gifts, the Church achieves its true goal: spiritual maturity, unity, and a complete revelation of Jesus to the world.

What happens after you accept Christ? God's ultimate desire isn't just to save us, but to transform us into the image of His Son. Steve Martel dives into Ephesians 4, James 1, and Hebrews 5 to show how intentional spiritual growth changes how we weather storms, how we treat others, and how we reflect Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him.

A healthy church doesn't say, "You need to look like me to be here." It says, "We gather around a common Savior." This week, Pastor Steve Martel breaks down how Jesus tore down the walls that divide us to build one healthy body. True unity doesn't happen by accident—it requires humility, intentional forgiveness, and active spiritual effort. Discover how our differences actually display the full power of the Gospel to a watching world.

Sermon Summary: Abiding in the Lord

Speaker: Steve Martel | Date: June 6, 2026

1. The Priority of Connection

Jesus is the Head: The health of the Church body depends entirely on its connection to Christ.

The Trap of Busyness: Jesus desires connection, not just activity. Being busy does not equate to being spiritually fruitful.

Lifelong Dependency: Spiritual maturity means needing Jesus more, not less. You never outgrow your need for Him.

2. What it Means to Abide (John 15)

A Daily Lifestyle: Abiding is an active, daily dependence on God—not a Sunday-only habit.

Heart Transformation: We ultimately become whatever we stay connected to. The ultimate test of abiding is asking: Is His heart shaping my heart?

3. The Process of Fruitfulness

The Evidence: A life connected to the Vine naturally produces the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control).

The Pruning: God intentionally prunes even the healthy branches so they can grow to bear even more fruit.

The Big Takeaway: A healthy church is a Christ-connected church. It is filled with teachable believers whose lives carry genuine spiritual fruit rather than just religious activity.

Jesus did not die and resurrect so that bad people could become good, it was so that dead people could become alive. Jesus has the power to transform our lives and we are called to live alive with and for Jesus.

This powerful, gospel-centered message is a urgent reminder of the believer's true calling: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). It strips away the pressure of performance and anxiety over "saying the right things," shifting the focus entirely onto the overwhelming love, grace, and authority of Jesus.

The message focuses on the vulnerability of human promises versus the relentlessness of divine pursuit. It uses Peter’s "identity collapse"—the moment his actions contradicted his self-perception—as a case study for how guilt can drive people back to their "old lives" (symbolized by Peter returning to fishing).