In this message from Acts 8, Tommy explores one of the most significant turning points in the early church as the gospel moves beyond Jerusalem and into Samaria — a place many faithful Jews would have preferred to avoid. Through the story of Philip’s ministry and Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, Tommy challenges listeners to confront the barriers of pride, prejudice, and spiritual superiority that can keep them from sharing the love of Christ.

At the heart of the message is a simple but searching question: Who — or what — is your Samaria? Who are the people you avoid, overlook, or assume are beyond God's reach? Tommy shows how the Holy Spirit works through humble, kingdom-centered hearts to bring life where division once existed. The gospel spreads not through human achievement, but through transformed people willing to cross boundaries, see others as loved by God, and participate in the Spirit’s work.

This sermon is a call to lift our eyes, recognize the harvest around us, and embrace the truth that Jesus offers living water to everyone — regardless of background, status, or past mistakes. As God transformed the hearts of the early believers, He continues to invite His people today into the same mission of humility, reconciliation, and kingdom expansion.

In this message from Acts 7, Pastor DJ explores the story of Stephen—the first Christian martyr—and challenges listeners to rethink what faithfulness looks like in everyday life. Rather than focusing on grand achievements or dramatic spiritual victories, Stephen’s example points to something much simpler and more demanding: doing the next right thing, regardless of the outcome.

Drawing from a personal experience on a mission trip in Mexico, DJ reflects on the unseen choices that reveal who we are and who we are living for. As Stephen confronts religious hypocrisy, forgives those who kill him, and keeps his eyes fixed on God, the sermon reveals a powerful truth: faithfulness is not measured by success, recognition, or results, but by obedience to God in the moment before us.

Through the echoes between Stephen’s death and Jesus’ sacrifice, this message invites listeners to consider what it means to live for an audience of One, surrender personal agendas, and trust God with the consequences. Whether facing opposition, disappointment, or uncertainty, the call remains the same: do the next right thing and leave the rest in God's hands.

In Episode 17 of Built for Durango, Bob and DJ dig deeper into Stephen’s bold confrontation with the religious leaders in Acts 7 and the challenging theme of spiritual stubbornness. Reflecting on DJ’s recent sermon, the conversation explores the difference between grit and being “stiff-necked,” why surrender is often harder than determination, and how Stephen’s message was ultimately an invitation rather than a condemnation.

Drawing from a mission trip to Mexico, personal experiences with bold prayer, and the example of Jesus Himself, Bob and DJ wrestle with a central question: Are we working hard for God, or are we learning to surrender our hearts to Him? Along the way, they discuss religious hypocrisy, authentic faith, the danger of checking spiritual boxes, and the freedom that comes from trusting God's leading rather than our own plans.

This honest conversation challenges listeners to examine where they may be resisting God’s voice and to consider whether true strength is found not in stubbornness, but in surrender.

In this message from Acts 7, Pastor DJ explores Stephen’s final sermon before his martyrdom and the challenging accusation that sparked outrage among the religious leaders: “You stiff-necked people.”

Drawing from his recent mission trip to Mexico, DJ reflects on the subtle ways pride, self-reliance, and fear can cause us to resist God’s leading, even when we believe we are serving Him. Tracing the theme of stubbornness from Exodus through the prophets and into Stephen’s confrontation with the Sanhedrin, he shows how Scripture repeatedly reveals humanity’s tendency to push back against God’s guidance.

But the message doesn’t end with condemnation. DJ points listeners to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 to take on His yoke — a way of life marked not by striving, resistance, and exhaustion, but by trust, humility, and rest.

This sermon is a call to examine where we may be resisting God’s voice and to discover the freedom that comes from becoming pliable in the hands of a loving Father.

In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and Tommy reflect on Tommy’s recent sermon from Acts 7 and the sweeping biblical story behind Stephen’s defense before the religious leaders.

The conversation explores how the themes of Eden, the temple, sacrifice, and God’s presence all point to Jesus as the fulfillment of Scripture. Tommy explains why blood in the Bible symbolizes life rather than death, how Christ’s sacrifice changes our relationship with God, and what it means to be covered by the life of Jesus.

Bob and Tommy also bring the discussion home to Durango, using the iconic Metal Tree above Horse Gulch as a powerful illustration of offering our accomplishments, identities, and sources of life back to God. From trail-running medals to relationships, careers, and recreation, they ask a practical question every believer faces: What are you holding onto that God is inviting you to place on the altar?

This conversation connects profound theology with everyday life, showing how the ancient practice of offering has become an invitation to trust, surrender, and enjoy life with God rather than apart from Him.

Pastor Tommy continues the journey through Acts with a deep dive into Stephen’s powerful defense in Acts 7, unpacking the real purpose of the temple, sacrifice, and God’s presence. 

What begins as a response to accusations against Stephen becomes a sweeping tour through the entire biblical story—from Eden to Moses, from the tabernacle to Jesus. Tommy argues that God was never primarily concerned with buildings, appearances, or religious performance. The real focus has always been the human heart.

Along the way, Tommy explores the meaning of sacrifice, the symbolism of offerings, and the consistent invitation woven throughout Scripture: God desires to dwell with His people. The temple ultimately points beyond itself—not to a structure, but to transformed people carrying God’s presence into the world.

This sermon challenges listeners to rethink worship, surrender, and what it truly means to offer our lives back to God.

In this wide-ranging and deeply theological message, Tommy walks through Acts 6 by pulling a single thread—the temple—and tracing it across the entire story of Scripture. 

What starts as a question about Stephen and early church conflict becomes something much bigger: a reframing of how we understand God’s presence. From Eden to the tabernacle, from Solomon’s temple to Jesus himself, Tommy shows that the consistent message has always been the same—God is moving toward us, inviting us to move toward Him.

But the message doesn’t stop at theology. It lands squarely on identity. The temple is no longer a place; it’s a people. This sermon challenges listeners to rethink where God lives, how His presence moves, and what it means to carry that presence into the world around them.

Bob and DJ wrestle with a tension most people feel but rarely say out loud: how do you live a good, comfortable life in a place like Durango while knowing there’s real suffering in the world? 

Reflecting on the powerful message from India, this conversation doesn’t land in guilt — it lands in clarity. The takeaway is simple but demanding: you don’t have to fix everything, but you are responsible for something. Whether it’s across the globe or right in front of you, the call is to step out of comfort and say yes when it counts.

This episode moves the conversation from inspiration to action. It’s about gratitude without complacency, conviction without shame, and recognizing that real impact starts one person, one decision, one step at a time.

This isn’t a typical sermon—it’s a firsthand look at what happens when faith moves beyond words and into action. Our special guests draw from years of ministry in India to bring a message about the reality of experiencing human brokenness face-to-face and witnessing the power of Jesus to restore, heal, and redeem. 

Through raw and unforgettable stories—rescued children, impossible situations, and lives rebuilt—the focus stays simple and direct: faith, hope, and love aren’t abstract ideas; they’re the driving force behind real transformation. And the call isn’t to fix everything—it’s to do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.

At its core, this message challenges the idea that impact requires scale or perfection. Instead, it presses into a harder truth: saying “yes” to God, right where you are, is enough to change someone’s world—and maybe your own.

Bob and Brian don’t sidestep it — this is one of the hardest passages in the New Testament. In this episode, they dig into the story of Ananias and Sapphira and wrestle honestly with the tension it creates: a generous, Spirit-filled church colliding with deception, greed, and sudden death. 

Rather than offering easy answers, the conversation leans into the deeper question: what is actually happening here — and what does it mean for us today? They explore the contrast between life in the Spirit and the pull of self-interest, the weight of integrity inside a community, and why this moment matters so much for the credibility of the early church.

This isn’t just a theological debate. It’s a sobering look at choice — between life and death, generosity and greed, surrender and control — and a reminder that the stakes of following Jesus are real. For a church trying to live out its mission in Durango, the question becomes unavoidable: what kind of people are we actually becoming?