MidTree Church

Have you ever made Kool-Aid and noticed how the sugary goodness settles to the bottom if left unstirred? That's exactly what happens to our spiritual lives when we forget the urgency of Christ's return. In this powerful message from 2 Peter 3:8-13, we explore how easily Christians can become "settled" rather than "stirred" in their faith.

Peter writes specifically to believers—not unbelievers—warning about scoffers who mock the promise of Christ's return by saying "all things continue as they were from the beginning." These "doubt evangelists" deliberately overlook God's past judgment through the flood and His promised future judgment through fire. When we adopt their thinking, even subtly, our spiritual fervor settles to the bottom of our lives.

What feels like God's slowness is actually His extraordinary patience. With stunning imagery, God is depicted as still "inhaling" before the exhale of judgment, giving time for repentance. This patience isn't a sign of His inability or reluctance but of His incredible grace toward us. The day of the Lord will come "like a thief"—unexpectedly and without warning—with the heavens passing away with a roar and everything exposed.

We're witnessing unprecedented spiritual movements globally: massive revivals across Africa, Asia, and South America; Bible translations reaching completion in nearly all known languages; and even young men returning to churches in America seeking godly direction. These aren't ordinary times—they're extraordinary moments calling for extraordinary faith.

When asked how they feel about Christ's return, some believers responded with "fear" and "judgment" while others said "excitement" and "hope." This stark contrast reveals much about whether our faith is settled or stirred. Rather than merely waiting passively, Peter calls us to both "wait for and hasten" Christ's coming through lives of holiness and active participation in God's mission.

What would change if you truly believed Jesus might return today? Would you live differently? Would your priorities shift? Don't let the spiritual nutrients of God's truth settle unused at the bottom of your life. Take up Peter's challenge to be stirred in your faith, living with joyful anticipation of the day when righteousness will dwell in new heavens and a new earth.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

What happens when knowledge becomes more important than faith? In this penetrating exploration of 2 Peter 2, we confront the uncomfortable reality of false teaching and its destructive influence in our lives.

The sermon begins with a fishing story that captures our relationship with Scripture. Sometimes we throw out a perfect cast net that catches nothing, while a tangled mess somehow brings in fish. Similarly, our approach to God's word shouldn't depend on our expertise but on our willingness to swim under whatever net the Holy Spirit casts.

At its heart, this message examines how false teachers operate—secretly introducing destructive ideas that appeal to our desires for comfort, success, and sensuality. They promise freedom while being enslaved themselves. The metaphor is striking: false teachers hand you a spoon to dig out of your prison while Christ stands nearby holding the key. Most dangerously, their deception doesn't explode like a short-fused firework; it slowly leads you down a path until you're far from truth.

What makes this message uniquely powerful is its challenge to the knowledge-centered Christianity prevalent in Bible Belt culture. Through biblical examples like Noah (who built a boat before ever seeing rain) and Lot (who made terrible decisions yet remained righteous through faith), we see that God values faith over expertise. Noah is called righteous not because he knew everything but because when he had nothing to go on except God's word, he said, "That's enough for me."

The sermon concludes with a profound insight: God isn't terribly concerned that we get everything right; He's concerned that we never stop running to be made right. This distinction changes everything about how we approach our spiritual lives. Are the voices speaking into your life drawing you closer to Jesus or further away? Are you pursuing knowledge as your salvation, or are you pursuing Christ with the knowledge you have?

If you've ever felt that intellectual understanding of Scripture should be enough, or if you're wondering how to discern true teaching from false, this message offers both challenge and hope. Listen now and discover why swimming under God's net is always better than trying to throw your own.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

At the end of life, what truly matters? In this profound exploration of 2 Peter 1:16-21, we discover that Peter—facing his own mortality—chose not to impart new knowledge but to remind believers of timeless truths they already knew.

Against our culture's obsession with novelty and innovation, Peter presents a radical alternative: the gospel never grows old, no matter how familiar it becomes. He recounts his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, where he witnessed Christ's glory firsthand and heard the voice of God proclaim, "This is my beloved Son." Yet remarkably, Peter suggests that Scripture provides even greater certainty than this supernatural encounter.

The sermon unpacks three foundations for unwavering faith: standing on what the apostles' eyes saw, what their lives proved through decades of persecution, and ultimately, the same thing they stood on—God's unchanging Word. As Charles Colson observed about the apostles' testimony: "Twelve of the world's most powerful men couldn't keep a lie going for three weeks during Watergate, yet twelve apostles maintained their testimony for forty years despite torture and death."

For those struggling with spiritual doubts or difficulties, this message offers profound comfort. We don't necessarily need new truths to navigate life's challenges—we need to recall the old ones that have sustained generations of believers. Like a lamp shining in darkness, God's Word provides just enough light for our next step.

The message concludes with Winston Churchill's remarkable funeral planning. After "Taps" signaled day's end, a second bugler unexpectedly played "Reveille"—time to wake up. While mourners witnessed his life's sunset, Churchill wanted to remind them he was experiencing the dawn of something new. What stories of God's faithfulness will you share before your own sunset comes?

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

We explore the revolutionary concept that every Christian stands on equal footing with the apostles themselves, not through our own merit, but through the righteousness of Christ.

• God has granted believers "all things that pertain to life and godliness" through knowing Christ
• Many Christians experience a "false start" by trying to earn God's approval rather than beginning with faith
• Faith must come first, followed by supplements like virtue, knowledge, self-control and love
• Our relationship with Christ isn't about striving but about taking what He freely gives
• The Christian life includes "becoming partakers of the divine nature" - uniquely receiving rather than just giving
• When we build properly on the foundation of faith, God promises we "will never fall"
• God desires not just to admit us to heaven, but to "richly provide" our entrance into His kingdom

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence." - 2 Peter 1:3

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Ever felt like your spiritual growth has hit a plateau? In this exploration of 2 Peter, we discover the apostle's urgent final message written from prison as he faces execution under Nero's persecution. Peter, the disciple who once denied Jesus but ultimately gave his life for the gospel, reminds us that true spiritual growth doesn't require new revelations or secret knowledge—it demands remembering and applying the transformative truths we already possess.

The letter opens with an astounding declaration: everyday believers share "equal standing" with the apostles themselves. This radical equality exists not because of our spiritual achievements but through "the righteousness of our God and Savior." Peter then outlines qualities that should mark a growing believer's life: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These characteristics aren't optional add-ons but evidence of genuine faith.

Most striking is Peter's fierce warning against false teachers who "secretly bring in destructive heresies." These deceptions rarely announce themselves as obvious lies—they begin with subtle twists of scripture that lead to devastating spiritual consequences. As one pastor noted during our discussion, "Your ability to justify your behavior is unmatched by anything, except for the grace of God." This sobering reality calls us to vigilance in a media-saturated age where algorithms learn our weaknesses faster than we recognize them.

The letter culminates with Peter addressing skeptics who mock Christ's return. His response—"with the Lord one day is as a thousand years"—reframes our impatience and reminds us that God's apparent delays always serve his redemptive purposes. This perspective transforms how we approach each day, living with urgency but not anxiety, actively waiting for Christ's return while fully engaging with those around us.

What would change if you knew Jesus was returning in an hour? How might your priorities shift? Join us as we unpack Peter's timeless challenge to grow in grace and knowledge while standing firm against false teaching. Whether you're new to faith or have walked with Christ for decades, 2 Peter offers both encouragement and warning for your spiritual journey.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Frustration, bitterness, resentment, anger—emotions we rarely associate with our spiritual lives, yet ones that inevitably surface when our expectations collide with reality. What do we do when God feels distant or his timing seems unbearably slow?

This episode explores the forgotten art of biblical lament—a practice modeled throughout Scripture that offers us a way forward when we're struggling with difficult emotions toward God. Drawing from Jonah's selfish complaint and David's honest lament in Psalm 13, we discover a crucial distinction that changes everything: while both men brought their complaints to God, only one ended with hope and praise.

The biblical pattern of lament includes four essential elements: directly addressing God, honestly expressing our complaints, petitioning for divine intervention, and concluding with an expression of trust. This final component distinguishes true lament from mere complaint, offering us a pathway through our darkest moments.

"The same storms that terrify the sheep also water the grass." This powerful image captures the heart of biblical perspective—our challenges often contain hidden provisions we can only see when we shift our gaze from inward turmoil to upward trust and outward service. When we find ourselves bitter or resentful, the solution isn't simply to pray differently but to see differently.

The sermon reveals how figures throughout Scripture—Job in his suffering, Asaph in his envy of the wicked, Habakkuk in his impatience, and Naomi in her bitterness—all eventually discovered that their painful chapters weren't the end of their stories. Like a father guiding his visually impaired daughter, God walks beside us through our limited understanding, teaching us to trust even when we cannot see.

Whether you're currently wrestling with disappointment or seeking to prepare for inevitable storms ahead, this message offers biblical wisdom for bringing your whole self—including your most difficult emotions—before a God who can handle your honesty and wants to lead you toward hope.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

The journey from complete brokenness to divine purpose unfolds powerfully in this moving episode opening with Darin Sharpe's raw testimony of redemption. His story begins in rural Georgia, tracks through a devastating divorce that led him to homelessness in New York City's Central Park, and continues through the tragedy of 9/11, imprisonment, and a 12-year battle with meth addiction. The turning point arrives when Darin answers the call to care for his dying parents, gradually softening his heart toward the God he'd been angry with for decades.

Surrender comes in October 2020 when, kneeling on an old mattress in his mother's garage, Darin finally gives himself completely to God. What follows is both simple and profound – a divine instruction to "walk" transforms his life, freeing him from addiction and bringing unexpected blessings including marriage and meaningful work. His testimony illuminates how God uses our deepest pain to bring us to our knees, only to lift us toward purpose.

Pastor Will then takes us through the closing chapters of Song of Solomon, unpacking the profound metaphor of divine jealousy. We discover that God's jealousy for His people isn't possessive but protective – a holy desire for exclusive relationship that cannot be quenched by "many waters" or purchased with wealth. The sermon draws a vital distinction between sinful envy (coveting what isn't yours) and righteous jealousy (protecting what rightfully belongs to you).

The message culminates with a powerful image of Christ standing at the door of our hearts, knocking. Who sits at the table of your soul? Have you invited Jesus in to dine with you alone, or are other things occupying that sacred space? Let the world have its thousand loves – we're called to choose just one.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

What does it mean to truly possess wisdom in a world that often confuses it with mere knowledge? Through an engaging exploration of three biblical figures—Adam, Solomon, and Jesus—we discover a profound progression in the pursuit of wisdom that transforms not just our thinking, but our very relationships.

Adam stands as a sobering warning. In the perfection of Eden, he had everything yet reached for the one thing God withheld, believing it would make him wise. His story reveals the devastating consequences of seeking wisdom apart from God: broken relationships, fear, and spiritual death. As Thomas aptly puts it, "Adam is a man trying to build a structure with no help, no wisdom, no guidance," and the results were catastrophic.

Solomon offers a refreshing contrast. When given the opportunity to ask for anything, he requested wisdom not for personal gain but to govern God's people well. His prayer for "an understanding mind to discern between good and evil" pleased God so much that he received not just wisdom but riches and honor as well. Solomon's approach demonstrates that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord—not a cowering terror but a reverent awe that drives us toward obedience rather than away from God's presence.

The culmination comes in Jesus Christ, who doesn't merely seek or teach wisdom but embodies it perfectly. What Adam lost and Solomon sought, Christ restores completely. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus offers us not just knowledge but transformative wisdom that changes us from the inside out.

The practical application comes through a powerful cycle of growth: filling our minds with knowledge, walking accordingly in obedience, bearing fruit that benefits others, which in turn deepens our knowledge of God. This cycle, empowered by prayer and God's grace, gradually transforms our thinking and consequently our relationships.

Whether you're building relationships, making critical decisions, or simply trying to navigate daily challenges, this message offers a compelling vision for how biblical wisdom—rooted in the fear of the Lord and fulfilled in Christ—can transform every aspect of your life. Join us as we discover that right thinking truly does lead to right relationships.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

What happens when a "perfect" relationship hits its first major conflict? In this powerful examination of Song of Solomon chapter 5, we explore the moment when everything goes wrong between two people who deeply love each other. 

The passage takes us right to the heart of relationship breakdown – he arrives home late, she's prepared for an intimate evening but chooses resentment over reconciliation, and what could have been resolved with a few steps to the door becomes a painful journey through the city streets seeking restoration. It's a story that feels uncomfortably familiar to anyone who has ever chosen pride over forgiveness.

Through this ancient text, we uncover six relationship problems that still plague us today: prioritizing work over presence, questioning if someone deserves our kindness, the painful irony of longing for space until we get it, pursuing reconnection when someone is unavailable, experiencing unexpected trauma, and watching private struggles become public pain. But more importantly, we discover God's four-step blueprint for healing broken relationships: Repent, Reconcile, Reconnect, and Renew.

What makes this message so powerful isn't just its practical wisdom for marriage and friendships, but how it reveals God's heart for reconciliation. When we understand that our own relationship with God follows this same pattern – where He pursues us despite our closed doors and cold hearts – we gain a new perspective on forgiveness. We're reminded that Christ didn't just tell us to fix our relationships; He showed us how by becoming "a friend of sinners" who reconciles us to Himself.

Whether you're navigating marriage difficulties, friendship tensions, or family conflicts, this message offers both practical tools for fighting fair and the spiritual foundation for lasting reconciliation. Because ultimately, the goal isn't winning arguments but experiencing the righteousness of God in our relationships.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

Passion isn't something to hide from or be embarrassed about—it's woven into the very fabric of our design by a God who celebrates intimacy. But what if everything our culture tells us about desire, sex, and fulfillment is backward?

When the young woman in Song of Solomon compares herself to a magnificent procession, wondering if she'll captivate her beloved's attention, she reveals a universal anxiety: Am I enough? Her beloved responds with a literary love letter, repeatedly affirming not just her general beauty but specific qualities that belong uniquely to her. The emphasis on "your" eyes, "your" lips, "your" beauty reveals something profound about God's design—true passion isn't found in endless options but in focused devotion.

Our cultural narrative insists that monogamy is the funeral procession of passion, that commitment chokes chemistry. Yet research consistently confirms what Scripture has always taught: those who wait for marriage and remain faithful report higher satisfaction emotionally, relationally, and sexually than those who don't. God isn't holding out on us—He's channeling our desire like a river between commitment's shores, making it deeper and more powerful.

Many Christians grew up with an incomplete model: withhold now to receive later. But Christ modeled something different—withhold temporarily, then give sacrificially, and finally receive abundantly. This pattern transforms marriages when both partners find their greatest joy in bringing pleasure to the other. The result isn't just better relationships, but a testimony that makes the watching world wonder what we've discovered.

Whether you need grace for past failures, renewed passion in your marriage, or simply a theology that embraces celebration, God's Word offers a better way. Join us as we explore how God's design for intimacy isn't prudish but potent—and how it points us to the One who poured out His love completely for us.

If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.