January 25th, 2026 | Encounter | 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

In this message from the Encounter series, Pastor Todd Kaunitz invites us to experience a fresh encounter with Jesus through the glory of God revealed in the Holy Spirit. Teaching from 2 Corinthians 3:7–18, Pastor Todd contrasts the fading glory of the Old Covenant—revealed through Moses and the Law—with the far greater, lasting glory of the New Covenant found in Christ.

Paul shows us that while the Law exposed sin and brought condemnation, it could never transform the heart. True life, freedom, and transformation come through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Where once a veil separated people from God’s glory, that veil is now removed through faith in Jesus, giving believers bold access to God’s presence.

This sermon highlights three powerful truths about life in the Spirit:

• Access to a greater glory — God’s presence now dwells within us through the Holy Spirit.

• Spiritual freedom — freedom from sin, shame, condemnation, and death.

• Ever-increasing transformation — an ongoing, inward change as we are shaped into the image of Christ.

Pastor Todd explains that this life in the Spirit happens through believing (salvation, when the veil is removed) and beholding (continually gazing on the glory of the Lord through abiding in His presence). As we behold Jesus, we are transformed—because we truly become what we behold.

A powerful call to examine whether we’ve truly believed and whether we’re living a life of beholding the glory of the Lord.

Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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January 18th, 2025 | Standalone | Mark 1:16-18

At UNITED Student Weekend 2026, guest speaker Ryan Fontenot shares a powerful message from Mark 1:16–18 that traces the heart of Jesus’ call to every believer.

Through three movements, this episode reveals how Jesus pursues us with salvation, invites us into a real relationship, and sends us on mission. From God calling out to Adam in Genesis to Jesus calling fishermen by the sea, we see that our God is a pursuing God—and if you’re here, it’s because He’s pursuing you.

This message challenges students to turn, trust, and treasure Jesus fully, to let go of what once defined them, and to step into a life of purpose. Because followers are fishers, saved people are sent people, and pursued people pursue people.

Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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January 18th, 2026 | Standalone | Luke 15:11-24

At UNITED Student Weekend 2026, guest speaker Nick Hurst shares a powerful message titled “I’ll Leave the Light On.” Drawing from Luke 15:11–24, the story of the prodigal son, this message reveals the heart of God toward every wandering child.

Nick highlights three powerful truths: God doesn’t give up on you, even when you walk away. God doesn’t say “I told you so”—He says “welcome home.” And God’s mercy is bigger than your mistakes. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt too far gone, too ashamed, or too broken to return.

No matter your past or how far you’ve drifted, God is still watching, still waiting, and still leaving the light on. Grace is greater, mercy is deeper, and home is always open.

Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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January 11th, 2026 | Encounter | Hebrews 4:11-16

What does it truly mean to encounter God—not just the idea of Him, but God Himself?

In this message from the Encounter series, Pastor Matt Darby explores how God meets us, forms us, and draws us deeper into life with Him through His living Word. Teaching from Hebrews 4:11–16, Pastor Matt reminds us that the Bible is not merely information to be studied, but the primary place where we encounter the presence and voice of the living God.

As the writer of Hebrews warns believers against hardening their hearts, this message calls us back to a life of trust, obedience, and rest found in Jesus. God’s Word is living and active—able to reach beneath the surface of our behaviors and expose the inner places of our hearts, not to shame us, but to free us. Through Scripture, God forms who we are becoming, reorients what we love, and places us honestly before Him so that real relationship can grow.

Ultimately, encountering God through His Word always leads us back to Jesus—our compassionate High Priest who understands our weakness and invites us to draw near with confidence to receive mercy and grace in our time of need.

This message challenges us to examine our relationship with God’s Word and invites us into a deeper, daily encounter that doesn’t end with exposure, but with grace.

Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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January 11th, 2026 | Encounter | Hebrews 4:11-16

What if the key to spiritual growth isn’t a shortcut—but a daily encounter with God’s Word?

In this message from the Encounter series, Pastor Todd Kaunitz invites us to experience a fresh encounter with the living presence of God through Scripture. Drawing from Hebrews 4:11–16, he reminds us that the Bible is not just a book to be read, but the very Word of God—living, active, and powerful to transform our lives.

Pastor Todd unpacks what it means to “strive to enter God’s rest,” showing how ongoing obedience to God’s Word leads us into the abundant life found in Jesus. As the Word exposes the true condition of our hearts, it doesn’t lead us to shame—but to grace. Through Christ, our great High Priest, we are invited to approach the throne of grace with confidence and find mercy and help in our time of need.

This message also launches the NT260 challenge—an invitation to read one chapter of the New Testament a day, five days a week, for the rest of the year. The goal isn’t simply to read the Bible, but to encounter Jesus through His Word.

If you’re longing for spiritual rest, renewal, and a deeper relationship with God, this message will challenge and encourage you to open the Scriptures—and meet Him there.

Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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January 4th, 2026 | Encounter | Hosea 10

What does it really mean to encounter God—not just know about Him, but experience His presence as a lived reality?

In this first message from the Encounter series, Pastor Matt Darby invites us into a deeper understanding of how God moves toward His people and how we respond to experience Him personally. Drawing from Hosea 10, Pastor Matt reminds us that encounters with God don’t happen by accident—they happen when hungry hearts meet a willing God.

Through Scripture, illustration, and pastoral insight, this teaching explores three ways we prepare our hearts for an encounter with the presence of God: sowing righteousness, breaking up the fallow ground of spiritual drift and hardness, and intentionally seeking the Lord. This message confronts subtle cynicism, self-reliance, and spiritual neglect, while offering hope that God is near, ready, and eager to be found.

If you’ve ever felt weary, disappointed, spiritually dry, or hungry for more of God, this message is a call back to simple faith, renewed hunger, and joyful pursuit—trusting that when we seek the Lord, He will come and rain righteousness upon us.

Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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January 4th, 2026 | Encounter | Hosea 10:12

What if the greatest obstacle to experiencing more of God is our comfort with the status quo?

In this opening message of the Encounter series, Pastor Todd Kaunitz calls the church to a holy discontentment with lukewarm Christianity and invites us into a deeper, transforming encounter with God. Drawing from Hosea 10:12, Pastor Todd unpacks God’s call to spiritual renewal through repentance, heart cultivation, and persistent prayer.

This message challenges believers to confront subtle compromise, hardened areas of the heart, and spiritual indifference, while reminding us that there is more of God’s presence, power, and fruit available to those who seek Him. Through biblical teaching, historical examples of revival, and personal testimony, listeners are urged to return to holiness, break up fallow ground, and seek the Lord with urgency—until He shows up.

This is a call to surrender, consecration, and renewed pursuit of God—for personal revival that leads to awakening in the world around us.

Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Decembet 28th, 2025 | Standalone | Genesis 15

As the year comes to a close, Jake Peterman walks us through Genesis 15 to remind us of a truth we often forget in seasons of waiting: God’s promises may move ahead of our understanding, but He never leaves His people behind.

Through the story of Abram, this message speaks to the tension between what God has promised and what we can currently see. Abram believes God—yet still asks questions. He trusts—yet still waits. And in that space of uncertainty, God doesn’t withdraw. He draws nearer. Jake shows how God’s faithfulness is not proven by quick fulfillment, but by His steady presence in the middle of unanswered prayers, delayed hope, and unfinished stories.

This episode connects the covenant God makes with Abram to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus, reminding us that our confidence rests not in our performance, but in who God is. Whether you’re ending the year celebrating, grieving, exhausted, hopeful, or unsure of what comes next, this message offers a grounded reminder that God has been faithful—and He still is.

If you’re navigating uncertainty, wrestling with questions, or learning how to trust God when clarity hasn’t come yet, this episode will anchor your faith in the unchanging character of a promise-keeping God.

Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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December 28th, 2025 | Standalone | Acts 6

In this powerful and challenging message, Pastor Kyle Riley teaches that forgiveness isn’t weakness—it’s spiritual strength. Opening with a lighthearted story and moving into the life of Stephen in Acts 6–7, Pastor Kyle shows how a Spirit-filled life is marked by faith without compromise, perseverance without fear, compassion without resentment, and forgiveness without regret.

Drawing from Scriptures like 2 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and James 1, this message confronts bitterness as one of the enemy’s greatest tools and invites believers to exchange wounded identities for lives shaped by grace. Stephen wasn’t a pastor, apostle, or influencer—yet his obedience, courage, and radical forgiveness planted seeds that led to revival and the transformation of Saul into Paul.

If you’ve been carrying pain, struggling with resentment, or wondering how to forgive when it feels impossible, this message will remind you that grace fuels forgiveness, forgiveness ignites faith, and prayer—not revenge—is where revival begins.

Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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December 21st, 2025 | Attributes of Advent | Luke 2:8-20

Why does Christmas exist? According to Pastor Matt Darby, the answer is simple yet profound: Christmas exists so that we can know God. In this Advent message from Luke 2:8–20, Pastor Matt explores how the arrival of Jesus reveals a God who is both overwhelmingly glorious and astonishingly gracious.

While we often separate God’s glory and His grace—placing glory in heaven and grace on earth—Luke’s Gospel refuses to divide them. In the birth announcement of Jesus, God’s radiant glory shines in the darkness, and His compassionate grace reaches the lowest and least: ordinary, overlooked shepherds living on the margins of society.

Pastor Matt unpacks what the Bible truly means by God’s glory—the weight, splendor, and radiance of His presence—and how that same holy glory comes near through grace. The shepherds’ fear gives way to peace as God speaks words of comfort, proving that His holiness does not push sinners away but draws them close.

At the heart of this passage is a powerful declaration: “Unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” In one sentence, heaven announces salvation that is both cosmic and deeply personal. This message reminds us that God meets us where we are, not where we wish we were, and that His grace is always closer than we deserve.

As the Advent season points us toward the new year, this sermon invites listeners to respond like the shepherds—drawing near, receiving salvation, and returning with hearts full of worship for all that God has done.

Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠