James Epperly

In this engaging sermon, explore the significance of God's presence throughout history and its modern implications. Delve into the story of the Ark of the Covenant, the importance of reverence, and the transformative power of faith. This message encourages us to keep God's presence at the forefront of our lives, especially during the Christmas season. Discover how the past resonates with the present, emphasizing the importance of honoring God's presence daily.

Adulting is hard. Spiritual adulting is even harder. In this message, “Don’t Give Them an Excuse,” we look at James 3:1 and the sobering truth that the world is watching our lives to decide what they believe about Jesus.

We talk about the crisis of integrity in the church, why pastors and leaders face a stricter judgment, and why this isn’t just a “pastor problem” but a holiness problem for every believer. If you wear the name of Christ, your life is either giving people an excuse to reject the gospel—or a reason to believe it’s real.

You’ll learn:

Why faith without works and careless words destroy our witness

How holiness sets us apart in a culture that normalizes compromise

Why calling without character leads to collapse

How to live in such a way that people see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven

If you’ve ever wrestled with hypocrisy in the church, discouragement from scandals, or your own inconsistency, this message will challenge you—but also equip you—to live a life that points people clearly to Jesus.

Discover the difference between dead faith, demonic faith, and dynamic faith in this powerful Good Morning LIVE teaching from James 2:20–26 (NKJV). Many people claim to believe in God, but James reveals that real faith always produces real obedience. Through the examples of Abraham and Rahab, we learn how true faith works, moves, acts, and transforms the believer from the inside out. If you’re serious about spiritual maturity and want a faith that bears fruit, this message will challenge and equip you to live what you believe.

What if your faith is more fake than real—and you don’t even know it? In this episode of Good Morning LIVE, Pastor James Epperly continues our “Adulting” series in the book of James and unpacks James 2:14–20 (NKJV) to show the difference between dead faith and living, active faith.

You’ll discover why the Bible says, “faith without works is dead” and how real faith will always produce real-life change. This teaching will help you examine your heart, your habits, and your walk with God so you’re not just saying you believe—but actually living what you believe.

In this message, you’ll learn:

The difference between real faith and fake faith

Why words without works are spiritually empty

How God expects our faith to show up in action, compassion, and obedience

Why even demons have “good theology”—but no saving faith

How to respond if the Holy Spirit convicts you that your faith needs to go deeper

If your faith hasn’t changed you, your faith hasn’t truly saved you. Let this message challenge you, encourage you, and call you into a deeper, authentic walk with Jesus.

Are you treating people the way God does—or the way the world does? In this Good Morning LIVE teaching from James 2, we dive into what the Bible says about favoritism, prejudice, and partiality in the church and in everyday life. God is completely impartial, and He calls His people to reflect His heart in how we see and treat others—rich or poor, influential or overlooked.

In this 30-minute study, we explore James 2:1–13 and uncover:

Why showing partiality is spiritually immature and sinful

How the “royal law” confronts prejudice

The difference between discernment and bias

How the gospel creates true biblical inclusion

What spiritual maturity looks like in how we treat people

If you’ve ever wrestled with hidden bias, classism, or today’s cultural debates around equity and inclusion, this teaching will challenge and equip you to reflect the heart of Jesus.

“Make Room” is a powerful Christmas sermon preached by Pastor James Epperly at Hope City Church.

In a season where our lives become crowded, busy, and spiritually overloaded, this message calls us back to what Christmas is truly about: making room for Emmanuel — God with us. Pastor James walks through Isaiah’s prophecy, the “no room in the inn” moment of Luke 2, and the examples of the shepherds, wise men, Joseph, and Mary to show what it really means to welcome the presence of Jesus.

Discover how God moves from visitation to habitation, why His presence requires sacrifice, and how clearing space in our hearts opens the door for the supernatural work of God.

Are you just hearing the Word, or actually doing it?

In this powerful study of James 1:22–27, we look at what separates surface-level religion from genuine, transforming faith. James calls believers to stop merely listening to sermons and start living the Scriptures with submission, study, surrendered speech, service, and separation from the world.

In this teaching, you’ll learn:

✔ What it really means to be a doer of the Word

✔ Why hearing sermons without obedience leads to self-deception

✔ How the Bible is a mirror that reveals what must change

✔ Why your speech, service, and separation reveal true spirituality

✔ How to live “unspotted from the world” in a culture without God

If you’re ready to move from passive listening to active obedience—and let the Word of God shape every area of your life—this message will challenge and equip you.

Are you spiritually growing, or spiritually stuck?

Today on Good Morning LIVE, we're diving deep into James 1:18–21—one of the clearest blueprints in Scripture for spiritual adulthood.

James teaches us how mature believers respond to the Word of God, how to uproot the “weeds” that choke out growth, and how to receive the “implanted Word” with humility, hunger, and obedience.

In this teaching, you’ll learn:

✔ What it means to be swift to hear

✔ How to be slow to speak against Scripture

✔ Why resisting the Word prevents spiritual growth

✔ How to cultivate a heart that receives truth with meekness

✔ How the Word saves, shapes, and strengthens the believer

If you're longing for spiritual maturity, deeper stability, and a greater hunger for the Word—this message is for you.

In this Good Morning LIVE teaching, Pastor James Epperly unpacks James 1:13–18 (NKJV) to reveal how temptation begins, how it grows, and how believers can defeat it. Temptation is universal — but defeat is not. James shows us the source of temptation, the step-by-step cycle it follows, and the powerful resources God gives us to overcome.

If you've ever asked, “Why am I tempted?” or “How do I stop repeating the same cycles?” — this message will give you clarity, strategy, and strength.

In this Good Morning LIVE teaching, Pastor James Epperly walks through James 1:2–8 (NKJV) to reveal how spiritually mature believers face hardship differently than spiritual children. Trials are normal. Trials can be joyful. Trials can transform us. And trials should teach us. This message will strengthen your endurance, deepen your faith, and help you develop the spiritual toughness needed to handle difficult seasons with confidence and joy.

If you’ve ever asked, “Why am I going through this?” or “How should a believer handle suffering?” — this teaching will give you biblical clarity, wisdom, and hope.