It’s easier to curate a photograph than to face a mirror. In Romans 2, Paul holds up a mirror to religious people who know the truth, teach the truth, and carry the symbols of belonging, yet may lack inward transformation.

In this message, Pastor Steve explores the danger of religious privilege, the exhaustion of performance, and the gap between claim and conduct. God is not impressed with our carefully managed image. He is after something far deeper. He wants a new heart. This sermon invites us to step out from behind spiritual filters and receive the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, living for the praise of God rather than the applause of people.

Most of us know how to prosecute someone else’s sin. We are far less comfortable defending our own. In Romans 2, Paul turns the spotlight from the obvious sinner to the respectable, moral, churchgoing person. The finger we were pointing outward suddenly points back at us.

In this message, Pastor Steve walks through the courtroom of the conscience and exposes the illusion of being a “good person.” God’s patience is not permission. His silence is not approval. And His judgment is not based on reputation but reality. Yet this hard truth is not meant to crush us. It is meant to lead us to repentance and into the arms of the only Advocate who can silence our accuser.

Is our world falling apart, or is it falling into place?

When we look at the shifting moral landscape of our culture, it’s easy to feel like God is distant or that His judgment is something far off in the future. But the sobering truth of Romans 1:26-32 is that the very things we lament are often signs that God is giving us exactly what we’ve asked for. Stephen Bean walks us through the "anatomy of being given over," explaining that God’s judgment isn't a passive reaction, but a righteous response to our choice to worship the creation rather than the Creator.

This message isn't about pointing fingers from a distance; it’s about recognizing the "trap" Paul sets to show us that every single one of us is under the power of sin. Whether we struggle with "disgraceful passions" or the "social sins" of gossip and pride, we are all in need of a rescue that we cannot provide for ourselves. If you’ve ever felt like a "refugee" of your own desires, this conversation is an invitation to move past the darkness of a "corrupt mind" and find the life-giving warmth of a Savior who welcomes the broken with open arms.

The Strong Man and the Niagara: Understanding God’s Wrath and Grace

We live in a world that wants to taste the sweetness of God's love without the bitterness of His holiness. We often view "wrath" as a divine temper tantrum, but what if God’s wrath is actually the greatest proof of His love for us?.

In this episode, we explore Romans 1:17-25 and the "Anatomy of Unbelief." Pastor Steve McKenzie unpacks the chilling reality that God’s judgment isn't always a lightning bolt from the sky—sometimes, it’s simply God "letting go" and allowing us to have our own way. We journey from the haunting struggle of Martin Luther to a powerful illustration of a boat headed for Niagara Falls, discovering that while the current of this world pulls toward the abyss, the Gospel is the "Strong Man" jumping into the water to rescue us.

Heart-Mind-Hands:

- Mind: Recognize that unbelief is not a lack of information, but a willful suppression of the truth clearly seen in creation.

- Heart: Shift from fearing God as a punitive judge to enjoying Him as a Father who provides His own righteousness as a gift.

- Hands: Stop "paddling" with the oars of self-salvation and effort; instead, fall into the arms of Christ through faith.

The Hurricane and the Candle: Finding Power in the Belly of the Beast

Have you ever felt like your faith is just a small, flickering candle trying to stay lit in the middle of a hurricane?. Whether it’s the pressure of your career, the weight of your past, or the chaos of the world around you, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless.

In this episode, we dive into Romans 1:8-17 to see how Paul encouraged a small group of Christians living in the "belly of the beast"—ancient Rome. We explore the difference between "Consumer Debt" (feeling like you have to pay God back for His grace) and "Trustee Debt" (the joy of delivering a gift that has already been paid for).

Heart-Mind-Hands:

Mind: Understand that the Gospel isn't a set of instructions for self-improvement; it is the active, dynamic power of God.

Heart: Shift from the exhaustion of a "Gospel mortgage" to the rest of being a trustee of God's riches.

Hands: Approach your neighbors and coworkers not as a salesman with a pitch, but as a gift-giver with life-changing news.

Some passages of Scripture do more than teach us. They steady us. Romans opens by lifting our eyes to the grace of God that stands at the horizon of history and shines into our present lives. Before Paul explains what we must believe or how we should live, he shows us who we belong to and what God has already done.

In this message, Pastor Steve introduces Romans as a journey into deep waters, not for information but for transformation. We are reminded that grace comes before effort, calling comes before obedience, and belonging comes before becoming. This sermon invites weary hearts to stop striving for a status they already have and to live in the light of a grace that has already risen.

There are moments in Scripture that stop us in our tracks, not because they are confusing, but because they are overwhelming in beauty and weight. Revelation 5 is one of those moments. It pulls back the curtain on heaven and shows us what is truly at the center of reality.

In this message, Pastor Steve leads us into the throne room where the fate of the world hangs in the balance and no one seems worthy to bring history to its rightful end. What follows is one of the most powerful scenes in the Bible, where despair gives way to worship and hope is anchored in the Lamb who was slain and now stands victorious. This sermon invites us to let heaven’s values reshape how we see the gospel, the church, and our place in God’s story today.

Many Christians feel overwhelmed by complexity. Faith can start to feel like a system to manage rather than a life to live. In Acts 2, Scripture gives us a surprisingly simple picture of what the church looked like when the Spirit first formed it. Ordinary people devoted themselves to the teaching of Jesus, shared life together, prayed with dependence, and lived with open hands.

In this message, Pastor Steve invites us to rediscover the beauty of simplicity in the Christian life. The early church was not driven by programs or pressure, but by devotion to Christ, deep relationships, and a shared mission. This sermon calls us to examine what truly shapes us and to return to the values that formed God’s people from the beginning.

Do you know that feeling when everything finally settles down—the crisis passes, the argument resolves, the anxiety lifts—and you think, "Okay, maybe now I can breathe"? And then three days later, there it is again. Different problem, same darkness. Different fear, same weight.

We glimpse peace, but it never seems to last. After enough cycles, even the peaceful moments feel haunted by whatever's coming next.

In this message from Isaiah 9, we discover God's answer to every failed peace, every collapsed truce, every darkness that keeps creeping back in. And it's not a better strategy. It's not ten steps to fix yourself. It's a birth announcement.

God rescues us with a lasting peace that He brings through the promised Child, Jesus. Not through our strength, our wisdom, or our ability to contribute—but through a helpless infant who possesses everything we lack: supernatural wisdom, unstoppable power, eternal commitment, and the actual achievement of ongoing peace.

If you're exhausted from trying to "help out God" by manufacturing peace in your marriage, strength for your addictions, stability through transitions—this message will set you free to rest in the rescue that's already accomplished.

Ever feel like you're just... ordinary? Like your life doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things? You're not alone. Mary felt that way too—a teenage girl in a forgotten town with a completely mapped-out, unremarkable future. But then God showed up.

In this message, we discover that God doesn't wait around for impressive résumés or remarkable people. He breaks into ordinary lives with extraordinary grace. Through Mary's story in Luke 1, we see the gospel pattern that changes everything: God brings His power, offers His Son, and invites us to simply receive what only He can give.

Whether you're carrying impossible burdens this Christmas season, wrestling with unanswered prayers, or just trying to figure out if your life matters—this message is for you. Because the same Christ who came to Mary is offered to you today. The question isn't whether you're good enough. It's whether you'll receive Him.