As we continue with our "Try Faith" sermon series, in his sermon "Faith Under Pressure," Pastor Leo examines what faith looks like when life doesn't go according to plan. Using Hebrews 11:1 and the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel 3, he illustrates how pressure can either break us or prove us—and faith determines which outcome we experience. The three Jewish men demonstrated remarkable faith through their dual declaration: first, their confidence that God could save them, and second, their commitment to remain faithful "even if He doesn't."Pastor Leo shares his personal journey through divorce, revealing how the truth that "God is good even when my circumstances are not" anchored him through his darkest moments. He emphasizes that we don't face life's furnaces alone—God is present in our trials, and we're supported by community. As Jesus promised in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." True faith under pressure doesn't just survive—it stands, stays, and shines, knowing that the God who is able is also the God who is with us.We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx

In Pastor David's third sermon in the series "Try Faith", he explores the nature of faith through the analogy of stepping onto ice and the Biblical account of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33. He explains that faith isn't about how passionate we are, but rather about the trustworthiness of Jesus—like thick ice that holds you regardless of how nervous you feel stepping onto it.

Pastor David describes "hinge moments" where small acts of faith lead to dramatic life changes, sharing his own experience of choosing to leave a comfortable but unhealthy ministry position. The key, he emphasizes, is keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus amid life's storms rather than focusing on our circumstances. When Peter looked at Jesus, he walked on water; when he focused on the waves, he began to sink. Pastor David concludes with a challenge to take risky steps of faith toward Jesus, reminding us that even when we feel like we're drowning, Jesus is only an arm's length away when we pray, "Lord, save me!"

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Continuing in the "Try Faith" series, Pastor David revisits the definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." He emphasizes that faith isn't merely a momentary action but an outlook on life that relies on Jesus showing up in our circumstances, making "good things out of hard things."

Pastor David examines Matthew 4:18-22, where Jesus calls His first disciples, suggesting that rather than strangers immediately dropping everything to follow Jesus, they likely had established relationships with Him already. This relationship foundation made it possible for them to leave behind comfort and security when Jesus called. He reminds us that following Jesus isn't always easy, referencing Matthew 20:22-23 where Jesus asks James and John, "Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take?" Despite the cost, they still chose to follow Him. Pastor David challenges us to cultivate our relationship with Jesus through prayer, incorporating His teachings into our daily lives, participating in communion, and sharing our struggles with Him—preparing us for when He calls us to step out in faith.

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In this first sermon of the series "Try Faith", Pastor David unpacks what it means to have faith, starting with the definition from Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." He explains that faith is fundamentally about confidence in Jesus to bring hope to seemingly hopeless situations, even when we can't see the outcome. Pastor David observes that many Christians have "manufactured our end results" rather than living a truly Christ-reliant life, which is why we "say we believe, but we never see the power of God."

Pastor David uses Abraham and Sarah's story as a powerful example of faith in action. At ages 75 and 65, they were called by God to leave their home and family to follow Him into the unknown, with the promise of becoming a great nation despite their childlessness. Their willingness to step out in faith—despite the difficulty and their own imperfections—changed the world. Pastor David challenges us to move beyond auto-pilot and predictability, to take risks in response to God's leading, and to "try faith" both by engaging with church activities and by living with daily dependence on God.

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Pastor David concludes the series on Ecclesiastes, where Solomon poetically urges readers to "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come" (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

The sermon explores Jesus' parables from Matthew 25 - the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Sheep and Goats - interpreting them as teachings about what we do with our souls. Pastor David explains that our souls are unique gifts from God that enable us to connect with Him, and life's true meaning is found not in worldly achievements but in how we invest our souls by loving others, especially "the least of these." He concludes with Solomon's final words that "God will bring every deed into judgment" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), urging us to invest in what truly matters while there's still time.

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In this fifth sermon of our series on Ecclesiastes, Pastor David examines Solomon's observations about injustice and oppression in the world. Using the parable Nathan told to King David about a rich man taking a poor man's beloved lamb, the sermon illustrates how envy drives injustice. Solomon, who was the son of David and Bathsheba, grew up understanding the destructive power of envy in his own family story.

The sermon highlights Ecclesiastes 4:1-4, where Solomon observes that "all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another." Pastor David connects this ancient wisdom to modern examples, including Lex Luthor's envy of Superman, and Jesus' parable in Matthew 20:15-16 about workers in the vineyard. The message concludes by challenging us to examine our hearts for envy, recognizing that it harms our souls and our relationship with God.

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This sermon examines the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, particularly chapter 3, where Solomon reflects on the seasons of life. The pastor begins by sharing how his difficult early marriage years during seminary—though filled with financial struggles and tears—became some of his family's most cherished memories. He connects this personal experience to Solomon's observation that everything is meaningless apart from who we become with God.

The core message centers on Ecclesiastes 3:1-14, where Solomon writes that there is "a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Pastor David emphasizes that while we cannot control which seasons we experience—whether raising children, caregiving for aging parents, struggling in marriage, or facing health challenges—we do control who we become through them. God makes "everything beautiful in its time" and has "set eternity in the human heart," inviting us to consider how our souls are being shaped through both difficult and joyful seasons, and whether we'll grow closer to Jesus or pull away.

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In week three of a sermon series on Ecclesiastes, Pastor David examines Solomon's wisdom regarding work. Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man of his time, concluded that work is ultimately meaningless because everything we toil for will eventually be left to others who may not appreciate or manage it well. As Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 reveals, Solomon "hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me."

Pastor David reminds us that while work is necessary to pay bills and sustain life, it shouldn't be our ultimate purpose. Quoting Dallas Willard, he emphasizes, "The most important thing in your life is not what you do, it's who you become." The sermon concludes with the powerful story of Steve, a businessman who learned to use his position to serve God by helping a homeless man, illustrating how we can work for God's kingdom in whatever profession we find ourselves, as instructed in Colossians 3:23-24.

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In this sermon on Ecclesiastes, Pastor David explores how Solomon laments that wisdom brings heaviness and sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18), yet attempts to find meaning through pleasure ultimately prove futile. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, we see Solomon—the richest man alive—indulging in every pleasure imaginable only to conclude it was all "meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Pastor David illustrates this principle through personal experiences with cruise vacations, demonstrating how overindulgence leads to diminishing returns and emptiness.

The sermon concludes by emphasizing that soul health should be our priority, not pleasure-seeking. When our souls are healthy, overindulgence isn't a problem, but when our souls are prideful or depressed, we're tempted to mask pain or celebrate success with destructive pleasures. What matters most is not what we do but who we become in relationship with God, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."

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In this sermon, Pastor David begins a six-week series on Ecclesiastes by confronting us with Solomon's jarring wisdom: everything is meaningless. Our jobs, possessions, worries, and achievements are all temporary—"vapor" that's here and gone in a flash. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, he emphasizes that nothing is new under the sun, and generations come and go while the earth remains.Pastor David connects this ancient wisdom to Jesus's teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 about not worrying about tomorrow. He shares the profound insight found in this chapter: the only thing that truly lasts is your soul. Therefore, what matters most isn't what you accomplish but who you become. Referencing John Ortberg's "Soul Keeping," he also describes how our souls are "sticky," picking up habits, attitudes, and sins from our surroundings that may not align with God. This sermon challenges us to focus on soul-formation, because everything else—while seemingly important now—is ultimately meaningless unless it impacts eternal souls.We invite you to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/faithmcrichmondtx