The book of Esther is not an innocent tale about a romantic beauty pageant, contrary to popular opinion. Rather, Esther is a story full of moral ambiguity and spiritual compromise. In this sermon, Pastor Jesse walks us through Esther 2:1-18, in which we're introduced to two of the key figures of the book: Mordecai and Esther. You'll see how the Persian king Xerxes demonstrates a twisted immorality, and how Esther may not really be the heroine we tend to make her out to be. But through it all, you'll see how God is always working - whether He is seen or named, or not.

Is it possible to make it through 28 chapters of a book of the Bible in a single message? That's what Pastor Jesse does here, closing out our introductory messages on the book of Luke by giving us a survey of the book of Acts. Since Acts was written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel, getting an understanding of Acts gives us further context to the truths we'll discover in Luke itself. So fasten your seatbelt as we go through a whirlwind tour of the account Acts gives of the early history of the church. And be reminded of the amazing work God has done in the church He has established.

The book of Esther is unique: it's the only book of the Bible in which God is never mentioned. Despite that fact, no clear-minded reader of this book can neglect to see the hand of God behind its scenes. In this message, Pastor Jesse introduces us to the book of Esther and unpacks its opening chapter. You'll discover a pagan, sinful king. You'll discover a (rightfully) disobedient queen. And you'll see how Esther is really about God's providence, even throughout the pagan malice that's recounted within its pages.

The concept of using a map on a road trip is lost on the current generation. While maps may no longer be necessary in traveling because of phones and GPS's, a roadmap can be helpful when studying a book of Scripture. In this message, Pastor Jesse walks us through a roadmap of the book of Luke before we dive into its details. You'll get a broad overview of the features of Luke (such as authorship, date, audience, and language) and of the content within. You'll come away with a better understanding of Luke, and you'll be reminded of the amazing ministry of the Man Luke wrote about... Jesus.

Is the Gospel enough? For salvation - yes, of course. But is the Gospel all that a believer needs to know? In this message, Pastor Jesse unpacks the subtle (and not-so-subtle) dangers of The Gospel Coalition's (TGC's) hyper-emphasis on the Gospel, at the expense of other key doctrinal differences. He walks us through TGC's background, gives examples of ways that biblical discernment has been compromised within TGC, and warns about partnering with them as an organization. Through it all, you'll be reminded not to forsake discernment for the sake of unity, and you'll be encouraged to be further committed to the Gospel, yes... but also to the whole counsel of God.

Give them Jesus - and get them into the Gospels as quickly as you can. That's the advice that renowned preacher Dr. John MacArthur gave to Pastor Jesse as he prepared to take on the pastorship of Indian Hills Community Church. And that's the heart behind this new sermon series diving into the book of Luke. In this introductory message, Pastor Jesse gives a broad survey of all four Gospels, helping give us the context to which Luke was written. He gets into the authorship of the Gospels, the different perspectives each Gospel offers, supposed contradictions between the Gospels, and the audiences of the Gospels. Listen, and get a broader understanding of the accounts of Scripture that teach us about Christ's ministry - so that you can grow in knowing and loving Him more.

It is natural to man to indulge the illusion of hope. Patrick Henry said this, and what he calls the illusion of hope is something that undergirds everything from politics to personal relationships to scientific advances. But true hope is found not in any of the typical things people pursue - instead, it's found in the hope of Jesus resurrected. In this Easter Sunday sermon, Pastor Jesse unpacks truths surrounding the resurrection of Jesus, and what it means for our lives. You'll see where true hope lies, and why you need to trust in the resurrected Christ today.

There is a type of Christian friend who is closer than a brother - and Paul had several of these friends. In this sermon, Pastor Jesse walks us through Col. 4:7-18, concluding our study of Colossians. Here we see Paul call out several faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. We see the faithfulness of these believers and how they labored alongside Paul in the ministry. And we see Paul's heart of affection for these fellow slaves of Christ. Listen, and be encouraged to grow in your own faithful walk with Christ as you come alongside your own brothers and sisters in the Lord.

The Old Testament, though often neglected by Christians today, is full of applicable truths. One account that holds much application for us is the narrative surrounding King Manasseh and his radical repentance. In this sermon, Pastor Jesse unpacks this account as seen in 2 Chron. 33. The narrative of Manasseh tells of a shockingly wicked Jewish king who sacrifices his children to false gods, practices witchcraft, and promotes idolatry in the very Temple of Yahweh. Yet unexpectedly, we see his heart change as he turns to the Lord in true repentance. Unpack this amazing example of repentance - and be challenged to turn away from the sin in your own life.