December 1, 2024

The sermon by Pastor Gene, part of the “Jesus Stories” series, focuses on the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value (Matthew 13:44-46). These parables emphasize the incomparable worth of the Kingdom of Heaven, likened to a treasure or a pearl that one should be willing to give up everything to obtain.

This Christmas, prioritize the Kingdom of God above the hustle and materialism. Share the joy of the Gospel by inviting others to experience the treasure of a relationship with Christ.

Pastor Gene concludes by inviting listeners to surrender their lives to Jesus, making the ultimate trade: giving up their lives for the abundant life Jesus offers.

November 24, 2024

This sermon emphasizes the transformative power of forgiveness through the lens of biblical teaching.

The message begins with a reference to Joey Chestnut’s hot dog-eating records, drawing a parallel to overindulgence during Thanksgiving. However, the core of the sermon transitions to the topic of forgiveness, inspired by Peter’s question to Jesus in Matthew 18:21-22 about how many times one should forgive others.

The sermon includes a story about a woman who forgave her estranged father, leading to his salvation and a reconciled relationship before his passing. This underscores the spiritual impact of forgiveness.

The message concludes with a call for introspection, urging the congregation to release their burdens to God and embrace the freedom that comes with forgiveness.

November 17, 2024

Pastor Gene’s sermon focuses on the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), emphasizing the importance of how we invest our lives for God’s kingdom. Key themes include:

Pastor Gene calls for a shift in mindset from “owner” to “manager” and inspires the congregation to live boldly for Christ, knowing their faithful investment will yield both earthly and eternal rewards.

November 10, 2024

This sermon focuses on the concept of the “Jesus code,” which calls Christians to surpass personal and cultural codes of conduct and act with compassion, even toward those who have wronged or opposed them. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37, Pastor Gene illustrates how Jesus redefines what it means to love one’s neighbor—not just loving those who are similar or kind to us but extending grace and generosity to our enemies and those who challenge or inconvenience us.

The sermon emphasizes three main points:

Pastor Gene shares personal stories to drive home the message, including an instance of helping a rival church and aiding a homeless man, demonstrating that living by the Jesus code requires sacrificial and unconditional love. The sermon closes with a challenge to the congregation: examine personal codes and be willing to adopt Jesus’ way of loving even the most difficult individuals, echoing Christ’s example of forgiving and loving humanity despite their sins.

November 3, 2024

The sermon by Pastor Gene focuses on the power of prayer, emphasizing three main lessons:

The sermon concludes with an invitation to surrender to Christ and trust in His power and compassion, urging believers to make prayer their first resort and approach God with a sincere heart.

October 27, 2024

https://www.facebook.com/mydestinychurch/videos/1961353311045551

October 6, 2024

Pastor Gene’s sermon centers on the theme of humility, which is something many of us struggle with, often without realizing it. He uses personal stories, like how his kids keep him humble by pointing out his mistakes, to illustrate the importance of staying grounded. He also shares humorous anecdotes about children’s blunt honesty, showing how humility can be a daily lesson.

The core of the sermon is a reflection on Luke 14:1-14, where Jesus attends a dinner hosted by a Pharisee. Pastor Gene emphasizes how Jesus was closely watched, reminding us that as Christians, we too are being observed by the world. But instead of striving for perfection, we should embrace the fact that we serve a perfect God whose grace covers our imperfections. The secret to spiritual growth, according to Pastor Gene, is humility. It’s through humbling ourselves that we align with God’s plan for our lives.

In the story from Luke, Jesus addresses those fighting for the best seats at the table. Pastor Gene uses this to highlight how we often try to promote ourselves or seek recognition, but Jesus teaches that it’s better to choose the lowest seat—to humble ourselves and let God elevate us. The Pharisees had tried to trap Jesus by seeing if He would heal a man on the Sabbath, but Jesus turned the situation around, proving that compassion takes precedence over legalism.

The pastor then draws a parallel between this lesson and our own lives, sharing his personal experience of being unexpectedly honored at an event. He encourages us not to promote ourselves but to let God promote us. When we focus on lifting others up and serving instead of striving for recognition, we reflect the heart of Jesus.

Pastor Gene also touches on how the world often teaches self-promotion, but Jesus flips that notion, teaching that serving others and choosing humility is the path to true greatness. He concludes by encouraging the congregation to bless others, not just those who can repay us but especially the poor, the lame, and the hurting, following Jesus’ example.

In summary, Pastor Gene’s message emphasizes the power of humility, serving others, and trusting God to elevate us in His perfect timing.

September 29, 2024

In this sermon, Pastor Gene discusses the significance of attitude, emphasizing how a bad attitude can negatively impact every aspect of life, including relationships, work, and one’s spiritual journey. He acknowledges that everyone experiences bad days but warns against letting them extend into bad weeks, months, or even years. A key point is that a bad attitude blocks God’s blessings and potential in one’s life.

Using the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20), Pastor Gene illustrates how comparison and grumbling can rob people of their joy. The early workers were initially content with their agreed wages, but once they saw the latecomers receiving the same pay, they became upset. Pastor Gene warns that comparing oneself to others breeds resentment and a negative attitude.

He encourages the congregation to avoid grumbling and judgment, as they can delay God’s blessings. Instead, he urges a shift toward gratitude, focusing on the many blessings one already has, like the simple things others may lack. Pastor Gene also highlights the importance of not being jealous of others’ blessings but rather celebrating them, trusting that God has a unique plan for everyone.

He concludes by reminding the church that the Kingdom of God is about grace—receiving what we don’t deserve—and encourages them to adopt an attitude of gratitude, as it will lead to greater blessings and elevation in life.

September 22, 2024

Pastor Gene addresses the challenges of living in a world of information overload and emphasizes the need for wisdom and discernment. He introduces a new series called “Jesus Stories,” focusing on the parables of Christ, starting with the parable of the sower from Matthew 13. Using this parable, Pastor Gene highlights the different conditions of our hearts—hardened, distracted, or fertile—and explains how only a heart open and surrendered to God can yield the blessings and spiritual growth He desires for us.

September 15, 2024

Pastor Gene’s sermon focuses on building a strong spiritual foundation as the church prepares to transition to a new campus. He emphasizes that the foundation of faith must be based on the teachings of the New Testament, especially the book of Acts, rather than trends or superficial elements. Creativity and relevance are encouraged in church life, but the core of their mission must remain centered on God’s word.

Using an analogy of teaching his daughter to drive, Pastor Gene highlights the importance of paying attention to life’s warning signs, especially as it relates to spiritual focus. Just as drivers must heed stop signs, believers must guard their hearts and stay focused on their spiritual mission. He urges the congregation not to get distracted by comparisons with other churches or societal trends, but to maintain their unique mission, serving the community with love, healing, and transformation.

Key themes include protecting one’s heart, receiving a spiritual inheritance, and investing in others. Pastor Gene reminds the congregation that true security comes only through Jesus, not in worldly possessions or status, and challenges them to live out their faith by serving others. The sermon concludes with an invitation to build life on the foundation of Jesus and encourages those present to commit or recommit their lives to Christ.