Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 21, 2026

1. Every Believer Needs to Be Added to the Church (1 Cor. 12:13/Acts 2:47)

2. The Church Needs You (1 Cor. 12:15-20)

3. You Need the Church (1 Cor. 12:21-27)

4. The World Needs the Church to Display the Gospel (Eph. 2:11-22)

Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 14, 2026

1. Giving Activates God's Law of Multiplication (v. 6)

2. Giving Fuels Our Enjoyment of God (vv. 7-10)

3. Giving Results in Glory to God (vv. 11-14)

4. God is the Ultimate Giver (v. 15)

Biblical stewardship recognizes that everything we have belongs to God, and we are simply managers of His resources. God's law of multiplication, found in 2 Corinthians 9:6, shows that generous sowing leads to generous reaping, just like planting seeds produces abundant fruit. However, stinginess and self-serving motives can prevent this principle from working. Paul teaches that giving should be intentional, heartfelt, and cheerful rather than reluctant or compulsory. When we give generously, God provides all grace to abound so we can experience sufficiency and joy in participating in His work. Our generosity creates a multiplication of thanksgiving that brings glory to God and deepens relationships within the body of Christ.

Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 7, 2026

1. Worship is Giving Supreme Value with Heart, Service, and Mind (vv. 1-11)

2. Worship is Unlocked by the Spirit Bringing Us to God (vv. 1-2)

3. Worship is Fueled by the Truth of God (vv. 3-7)

4. Worship is Amplified in Community (vv. 1-7)

5. Worship Transforms Us if We Participate in it. (vv. 8-11)

Is the music part of church something you participate in or just try to endure?  Worship is giving supreme value to something with our heart, service, and mind - and everyone worships something, whether they realize it or not. True Christian worship, as described in Psalm 95 and John 4, must engage both our emotions (spirit) and our understanding (truth). Corporate worship is particularly powerful because it unites believers with different experiences and perspectives in celebrating God's character and works. When we fail to worship God, we become faithless grumblers focused on circumstances rather than grateful followers. Worship serves as the fuel for spiritual transformation, causing us to pray, give, serve, and share our faith boldly.

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 31, 2026

1. Be Careful to Choose the Right Gate (vv. 13-14)

2. Be Careful to Avoid Being Deceived (vv. 15-20)

3. Be Careful Not to Deceive Yourself (vv. 21-23)

4. Be Careful to Obey Jesus' Voice (vv. 24-27)

Jesus presents humanity with the most crucial decision we'll ever face: choosing between two gates. The wide gate appears easy and attracts many, but leads to destruction. The narrow gate is difficult to find and challenging to walk through, yet it's the only path to eternal life. Following Jesus means going against popular opinion, surrendering personal desires, and facing persecution. We must also guard against false teachers who promise easy paths while leading people astray. True faith isn't just about doing good works, but about obeying God's will and building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings.

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 24, 2026

1. See Clearly (vv. 1-6)

2. Pray Persistently (vv. 7-11)

3. Love Unconditionally (v. 12)

Many Christians fall into the trap of trying to fix others by criticizing their behavior, but true change comes from heart transformation, not behavior modification. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7 not to judge others harshly while ignoring our own flaws. Instead of trying to change people through criticism, we should pray persistently for their hearts to be transformed by God. The Golden Rule calls us to love others unconditionally, treating them as we would want to be treated, regardless of their response. When we understand the grace God has shown us, we can extend that same grace to others while trusting God to do the work of heart change.

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 17, 2026

1. Live in One Direction (vv. 19-24)

2. Trust in One Provider (vv. 25-32)

3. Pursue One Mission Daily (vv. 33-34)

In a world where anxiety affects millions, the Bible offers a powerful cure that goes beyond temporary fixes. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 that peace comes not from eliminating all problems, but from making God's kingdom our singular focus. This requires three key shifts: living in one direction by choosing heavenly treasures over earthly ones, trusting in one provider by recognizing God as our ultimate source, and pursuing one mission daily by seeking His kingdom first. When we stop trying to serve two masters and instead devote ourselves fully to God's purposes, we find the peace that comes from knowing what truly matters most.

Mother's Day 2026

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 10, 2026

1. A Good Mother Works Hard to Meet Needs (vv. 13-20)

2. A Good Mother Works Hard to Provide Security (vv. 21-25)

3. A Good Mother Works Hard to Teach Wisdom (vv. 26-27)

4. A Good Mother Works Hard to Bring Honor to Her Family (vv. 11-12, 28-29)

5. A Good Mother Begins by Fearing the Lord (vv. 30-31)

Proverbs 31 offers timeless wisdom about excellent motherhood. The Proverbs 31 woman demonstrates four key qualities: working hard to meet family needs, providing security through faith and preparation, teaching wisdom with kindness, and bringing honor to her household. These qualities all flow from the foundation of fearing the Lord - living in reverent awe of God while trusting His goodness. True motherhood isn't about perfection or comparison with others, but about building a life on the right relationship with God and finding worth in His approval and family well-being.

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 3, 2026

1. Acts of True Worship Seek to Glorify God, Not Self (v. 1, 2, 5, 16)

2. Acts of True Worship Desire a Delayed Response (vv. 2, 4-6, 16-18)

3. Acts of True Worship Originate in Secret Worship (vv. 3-4, 6, 17-18)

4. Acts of True Worship Flow from a Right Relationship with God (vv. 7-15)

Jesus warns against religious hypocrisy in Matthew 6, where he describes hypocrites as actors wearing masks to appear more spiritual than they truly are. He gives three examples: giving to be seen, praying for attention, and fasting for show. The solution is to worship in secret, focusing on God's approval rather than human recognition. True worship seeks to glorify God, desires eternal rewards over immediate praise, and flows from authentic relationship with Him. When our private worship life is genuine, our public expressions of faith will naturally be authentic rather than performative.

Series: "The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World"

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

April 19, 2026

1. Your Sin Still Matters (vv. 17-19)

2. Your Sin is Worse than You Think (vv. 20-22, 27-28)

3. Deal with Your Sin Quickly (vv. 23-26)

4. Deal with Your Sin Drastically (vv. 29-30)

Jesus teaches that while we're saved by grace, sin still matters deeply in our daily lives. He didn't come to abolish the Old Testament law but to fulfill it, showing us that true righteousness goes beyond external rule-following to heart transformation. The Pharisees focused on keeping rules perfectly, but Jesus reveals that anger is like murder and lust is like adultery in God's eyes. We must deal with sin quickly and drastically, taking whatever measures necessary to remove temptation from our lives. This isn't about earning salvation but about experiencing the abundant life Jesus offers when we stop casually flirting with sin.

Series: "The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World"

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

April 12, 2026

1. Blessing Comes to Those Who Admit Their Need (vv. 1-6)

2. Blessing Flows Through Those Who Have Been Blessed (vv. 7-10)

3. Blessing Acts to Impact the Outside World (vv. 11-16)

Jesus redefines the good life through the Beatitudes, showing that true blessing comes from spiritual humility rather than worldly success. Those who are poor in spirit, recognizing their complete dependence on God, inherit the kingdom of heaven. This blessed life flows outward through mercy, peacemaking, and authentic living. Christians are called to be both salt and light in the world - preserving truth while showing grace. The good life isn't about comfort but about courageously living as citizens of God's kingdom while serving as His ambassadors to others.