Line Upon Line

Teaching from Philippians 3:1-11, Pastor Miles explains that joy in the Christian life is grounded not in circumstances but in the Lord, and that the great enemy of that joy is religious self-righteousness. Paul, who had more religious credentials than anyone, counts them all as loss for the sake of knowing Christ — and so must we.

Continuing his series in Philippians, the "book of joy," Pastor Miles examines Paul's commendation of Timothy and Epaphroditus to show that true, lasting joy is not found in self-seeking pleasure but in shifting our focus to others, developing proven character, and serving as active participants in the work of Christ.

Teaching from Philippians 2:12-18, Pastor Miles argues that happiness is not something we stumble into but a discipline we must work out—through obedience, integrity, sacrifice, service, and freedom from complaining—all empowered by God working in us and grounded in holding fast to His word.

Drawing on Paul's joyful letter to the Philippians written from a Roman prison, this teaching shows that knowing God's bigger picture produces joy even in dire circumstances. Paul rejoiced amid imprisonment, insincere rivals, and the prospect of death because he understood God was advancing the gospel and that the bigger picture extends beyond this life.

Teaching from Philippians 1:3-11 on how to increase joy within the body of Christ, beginning with gratitude and growing through prayer, grace toward others, Christlike love, and intercession for those God has placed in our lives. Pastor Miles weaves in his own history with the church on its seventh anniversary of his pastorate.

Using the painful reality of "complicated grief," Pastor Miles traces Peter's threefold failure—failing to pray, defending Jesus wrongly, and denying Christ three times—into the despair of Good Friday, then shows how the resurrection message "tell his disciples and Peter" reveals that Jesus calls for and forgives failures. The Easter gospel is that the risen Lord pardons sinners.

Continuing a series on what the Bible says about hell, Pastor Miles examines Jesus' radical teaching in Matthew 7, arguing that hell is real and terrible, that most people travel the wide road to destruction, and that many religious people who say "Lord, Lord" will be turned away because salvation comes not by works or appearance but by believing in the Son.

Pastor Miles begins a series on what the Bible says about hell by examining Jesus's teaching in Luke 16:19-31, arguing that Jesus believed and taught hell is real, used culturally familiar metaphors to describe it, and revealed ten truths about the eternal state of humanity. The teaching aims to stir believers to a passion for God's grace and for the lost.

In the final message of the "Identity" series in Ephesians, Pastor Miles teaches that the Christian's secure identity and set destiny do not exempt them from a very real spiritual battle, and that victory comes by fighting in the Lord's strength with the whole armor of God. He walks through the seven spiritual armaments of Ephesians 6:14-18 as keys to victorious Christian living.

The final study in a series on Christian identity moves from what we should be and can be in Christ to what we must fight to be. Pastor Miles teaches Ephesians 6:10–18, showing that the believer's identity is certain and destiny is set, yet there remains a real spiritual battle to be won by standing in the Lord's strength and putting on the whole armor of God.