Equip Church CoMo

Weapons of Victory — How to Be a Giant Killer

How do we stand firm when life feels like a battle?

In “Weapons of Victory,” Pastor LT teaches from 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, where Scripture gives believers three powerful commands:

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything.

These aren’t passive suggestions—they are spiritual weapons.

Pastor LT reminds us that joy is not the absence of grief or trouble. Biblical joy is rooted in Jesus and strengthened as we turn our attention toward God, worship Him, trust Him with all our heart, and choose thanksgiving even in difficult circumstances.

When pressure comes, we can learn to pivot toward the Lord—to sing, pray, give thanks, and activate our faith instead of allowing fear, discouragement, or circumstances to control us.

Thanksgiving helps us recognize God’s grace. Prayer keeps us connected to Him. Worship turns our focus toward the One who is greater than whatever we are facing.

The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Victory does not come through our own strength, but as we learn to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

📖 Main Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Listen now and discover how rejoicing, prayer, thanksgiving, worship, and trust can become weapons of victory in your everyday life.

No Soldier Left Behind

What does it look like for the church to truly care for one another?

In “No Soldier Left Behind ,” Pastor LT teaches from 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15, where Paul gives believers a very practical picture of life together in the body of Christ.

We are called to:

Warn the unruly — loving people enough to speak truth and bring correction when needed.

Comfort the fainthearted — coming alongside those who are discouraged, weary, or losing heart.

Uphold the weak — supporting those who do not have the strength to stand on their own.

Be patient with everyone — extending grace as God continues His work in each of us.

And in every relationship, Scripture calls us to refuse retaliation and instead pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

The church is not a place where struggling people are discarded or left behind. We are a family—and when one person is hurting, weak, wandering, or discouraged, we come alongside them.

📖 Main Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15

Listen now and be challenged to notice the people around you, love them well, and live with a commitment that says: no soldier gets left behind.

The Realities of Authority

What does biblical submission really look like, and how should believers respond to God-given authority in the church?

In “The Realities of Authority,” Pastor LT teaches from 1 Thessalonians 5:11–13, unpacking the responsibility, pressure, and partnership that come with spiritual leadership—and the biblical call for believers to recognize, respect, and work together with those God has placed in leadership.

This message explores three important realities:

1. The Reality of Appointment
God establishes order and appoints leaders for the care, growth, and equipping of His people.

2. The Reality of Pressure
Spiritual leadership carries real responsibility, weight, and accountability. Biblical submission recognizes that burden rather than making it heavier.

3. The Reality of Partnership
Healthy biblical authority is not about control—it is about believers and leaders working together in unity for the mission God has given the church.

Pastor LT challenges us to examine our understanding of authority, submission, honor, and responsibility through the lens of Scripture rather than culture or personal preference.

📖 Main Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:11–13

Listen now and consider what it looks like to live with biblical humility, honor, and partnership within the body of Christ.

Armor of Light — Staying Spiritually Awake

What does it look like to stay spiritually awake in a world that constantly pulls us toward distraction, complacency, and compromise?

In “Armor of Light — Staying Spiritually Awake,” Pastor LT teaches from 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11, calling believers to live as children of light—alert, sober, faithful, and ready for the return of Jesus.

Drawing also from James 1:22–25 and Romans 13:11–14, this message challenges us not only to hear the Word of God, but to respond to it and “put on the armor of light.”

Pastor LT identifies Five C’s of Spiritual Sleepiness that can slowly dull our hearts:

Comfort
Carelessness
Consumption
Conceit
Callousness

The call of Scripture is clear: Wake up. Pay attention. Put off the works of darkness, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and live like the day is near.

📖 Key Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11; James 1:22–25; Romans 13:11–14

Listen now and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where spiritual sleepiness may be creeping in—and what it looks like for you to walk fully awake in the light of Christ.

Imago Dei — The Image of God | Guest Speaker Ken Woodward

What does it really mean to be made in the image of God?

In this message, special guest speaker Ken Woodward explores the biblical truth of Imago Dei through Genesis, John, and Psalm 139. From the very beginning, Scripture reveals that humanity was created intentionally, uniquely, and with purpose by God.

This message reminds us that our identity and value are not determined by the world around us, our accomplishments, or how others see us. They begin with the God who created us, knows us completely, and made us to reflect Him.

As we look at what it means to bear God’s image, we are challenged to see ourselves—and every person around us—with the dignity, worth, and purpose God intended.

📖 Key Scriptures: Genesis, John, and Psalm 139

You were created by God, known by God, and made in His image.

Listen now and be reminded of who you are, whose you are, and the purpose God has placed on your life.

Jesus the Refiner | Guest Speaker Josh Woodward

What does it look like to fully surrender to the refining work of Jesus?

In “Jesus the Refiner,” guest speaker Josh Woodward takes us through Malachi 3:1–4 and Luke 3, showing how God lovingly refines, purifies, and prepares His people.

Using the biblical picture of the winnowing fork, Josh challenges us to continually toss our lives before God through the reading of His Word—allowing the wind of the Holy Spirit to expose and blow away the chaff, while Jesus burns away what does not belong with unquenchable fire.

Refining isn’t something to fear. When we trust the heart of the Refiner, we can surrender to His work with joy, knowing that He is removing what hinders us and forming us into the people He has called us to be.

The invitation is to follow Jesus with abandon and complete surrender—holding nothing back and allowing His Word and Spirit to do their transforming work in us.

📖 Main Texts: Malachi 3:1–4 & Luke 3

Surrender to the Refiner. Let the Word expose. Let the Spirit move. Let Jesus remove the chaff—and follow Him with abandon.

The Day of the Lord — Part 2

What does Scripture actually tell us will happen when the Day of the Lord arrives—and how should that truth change the way we live today?

In Part 2 of “The Day of the Lord,” Pastor LT continues through 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11, challenging us to allow the Word of God—not tradition, assumptions, or inherited systems—to shape what we believe about the return of Jesus Christ.

As we follow Scripture, we examine four major markers connected with the Day of the Lord: cosmic signs, the gathering and resurrection of God’s people, sudden destruction and God’s wrath, and the defeat of the Antichrist and false prophet.

But understanding prophecy isn’t ultimately about creating the perfect end-times timeline. Scripture brings us to a much more personal question: If Jesus is coming, how should we live?

Jesus calls His people to stay awake, stay prayerful, endure faithfully, pursue holiness, and be ready for His return.

We don’t ask Scripture to agree with us. We surrender until we agree with Scripture.

📖 Main Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Trust God’s Word. Stay awake. Stay faithful. The King is coming

The Day of the Lord — Part 1

What does the Bible actually say about the return of Christ, the resurrection of believers, and the Day of the Lord?

In Part 1 of “The Day of the Lord,” Pastor LT walks through 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 and related passages, challenging us to let Scripture speak for itself rather than beginning with what we have always been taught.

Together, we examine Christ’s return, the resurrection and gathering of believers, the distinction between tribulation and God’s wrath, and what Scripture says must happen before our gathering to Christ.

Key Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11; Matthew 24:29–31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Revelation 20:4–6

At Equip Church, we want to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11—searching the Scriptures to see whether these things are true.

Scripture should shape our theology. Our theology should not shape Scripture.

Listen, open your Bible, examine the passages for yourself, and let Scripture have the final word.

Where do we find hope when we face grief, loss, and the reality of death? In 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Paul reminds believers that our hope is not based on wishful thinking—it is grounded in the finished work and promises of Jesus Christ.

In this message, Pastor LT shares Three Reasons for Hope:

1. Christ Has Risen from the Dead — Because Jesus conquered death, we have a living hope.
2. The Dead in Christ Will Rise — Those who belong to Christ will be raised again when He returns.
3. We Will Always Be with the Lord — Our ultimate hope is eternal life and unbroken fellowship with Jesus.

Death is not the end for those who are in Christ. Listen today and be reminded of the hope we have because Jesus is coming again.

📖 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Markers of a Healthy Christian Life

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 | Pastor LT Bowens

What does a healthy, growing Christian life actually look like?

Continuing through 1 Thessalonians, Pastor LT examines Paul’s practical instructions to the believers in Thessalonica and identifies three important markers of spiritual health: a healthy Christian is teachable, growing, and influential.

First, healthy believers remain teachable. No matter how long we have followed Christ or how much we have learned, we must maintain the humility to receive instruction and allow God to continue shaping us.

Second, healthy Christians are growing. Paul commended the Thessalonians for their love, but still challenged them to “do so more and more.” Spiritual maturity is never an excuse to become comfortable—we should continually allow God to transform our desires, character, and relationships.

Finally, healthy Christians are influential. Paul encouraged believers to live quietly, work faithfully, and conduct themselves in a way that earns the respect of those outside the church. Like Daniel, our faithfulness to God should become a testimony that influences the people around us.

The Christian life isn’t about reaching a point where we’ve arrived. It’s about remaining teachable, continuing to grow, and living in such a way that others can see the difference Jesus makes.

Primary Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12