Downtown Community Church

When we realize we are in the presence of a God who fully knows us, deeply cares for us, and willingly died for us, we are invited to surrender our old lives and live completely for Him. Jesus does not cast us aside or declare us unworthy. Through His death and resurrection, He has broken the power of sin and death and calls us into a new life of following Him. The exercise of faith is not the absence of opposition; it is the decision to trust God in the midst of opposition. Like Simon Peter, every follower of Jesus must consider the question: What has Jesus called you to leave so you can follow Him? Join Pastor Ben Kaempfer as he continues our Followers series through Luke!

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How do we trust a God who has the power to help but doesn’t always respond in the way, or within the timing, we hope He will?

When prayers appear unanswered or circumstances remain unchanged, it can be difficult to understand what God is doing. But this passage reminds us that our trust is not built only on what we see happening in the present. We can trust what God is doing because of what He has already done. His faithfulness in the past gives us confidence in His character, even when we cannot yet see or understand His plan.

Join as Pastor Ben Kaempfer continues our series, Followers, with this message from Luke 4!

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To continue our series, Followers, a study through Luke, Pastor Ben Kaempfer teaches on the different expectations we have of Jesus and what those can mean for us when we’re following Him. Pastor Ben left us with some key questions to consider as we go into our week continuing our walk with Him.

• In what ways have your expectations of Jesus differed from your experiences with Jesus?
• In what ways have those expectations caused you to reject Jesus?

When we have our own expectations of Jesus and what he is like and it’s easy to then reject him when he shows up in an unexpected way. Yet, there is good news! We get to love a God that forgives us and loves us anyway.

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Pastor Ben Kaempfer launched our new series, Followers, with a message from Luke 4. This passage follows Jesus into the wilderness, where He is tempted by the enemy. With every attempt to deceive Him, Jesus stands firm by answering with the truth of Scripture.
Throughout the message, Pastor Ben emphasized a powerful reality: God’s truth confronts the enemy’s lies and reveals them for what they are.
We can easily overlook the seriousness of sin or assume we are prepared to resist temptation through our own strength. But when we fail to take temptation seriously, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the enemy’s deception. Jesus offers a different example, one of knowing God’s Word, trusting His character, and relying on His strength.

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So often, Christians stay on the sidelines because they feel they need one more piece of information or one more tool before they can make a difference. But God's Word reveals that spiritual practices aren't reserved for mature Christians, but rather, those very practices are the means by which Christians become mature. Join Pastor Ben Kaempfer as we read through Hebrews 5 as he explains that it isn’t simply about the amount of information we gain, but what we do with that information that matters. The act of practicing is what separates a spectator and someone who is on the team.  

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This Sunday, as part of his farewell to DCC, Nolan Cannon spoke on taking up your cross and what Christ has called us to in order to do so. The call to be a disciple of Jesus, and not merely a believer in Him, is one that we can opt out of, consciously or unconsciously. To opt in, we say yes to disciple, death and being transformed. Jesus invites us to deny ourselves, he is inviting us to discipline the identity we have constructed for ourselves. The call to take up our cross is a call to death to our flesh and the call to follow Jesus is a call to being transformed. As you go through your week, reflect on these key questions from Sundays Message:

• What parts of your life have you opted out of following Jesus in?How is God inviting you to surrender?
• How is God inviting you into surrender to him and to his Kingdom?
• Where does your Flesh rule your life?
• How is God working new life in you in this season of your life?
• In what part of your life is God gently reminding you to remember your place?

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In the final message of our “Summer in Rome” series, Pastor Ben Kaempfer teaches from Romans 16 about the people who make up the family of God. Paul concludes his letter by recognizing individuals who served faithfully, opened their homes, shared their resources, carried the gospel, and worked alongside him in ministry. Their names and stories reveal a beautifully diverse church made up of women and men, Jews and Gentiles, leaders, servants, friends, and coworkers who are all united through Jesus. Join as Pastor Ben reads through the last chapter of Romans and brings our summer series to a close.

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In this message from Romans 15:17–28, Pastor Ben Kaempfer explores Paul’s commitment to joining God’s work with humility, courage, and purpose. Rather than taking credit for his accomplishments, Paul recognizes that everything achieved through his ministry was accomplished by Christ.

The passage reveals a life shaped by mission. Paul is determined to share the gospel in places where Jesus is not yet known, while the generosity of other believers demonstrates how the church can participate in that mission together.

This message challenges listeners to consider how God may be working through their abilities, resources, relationships, and everyday obedience. Ultimately, it reminds them that serving God is not about building a personal platform, it is about faithfully participating in the greater work Jesus is already doing.

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In this message from Romans 15: 8-13, Pastor Ben explores what it means for the church to embody the reconciliation it proclaims. Paul’s call to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you” challenges believers to move toward people whose backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences differ from their own, even when doing so feels difficult or uncomfortable. A reconciled life does more than communicate the gospel; it allows others to witness its transforming power.Ultimately, this message reminds them that reconciliation is not achieved through perfect performance, but through the grace, joy, peace, and hope found in Jesus.

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As Summer in Rome continues, Pastor Ben Kaempfer explores Romans 14:13–15:7, where Paul challenges believers to move beyond personal preferences and pursue what builds up the body of Christ. Rather than causing others to stumble, Christians are called to live with humility, love, and a willingness to put the needs of others before their own. Ultimately, this passage reminds us that Christ welcomed us with grace, and we are called to extend that same grace to one another. May this message encourage listeners to pursue unity, bear with one another in love, and glorify God together with one voice.

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