Sermons

Pastor Dell walked through 1 Corinthians 12 as he continued our series, "A Church Worth Becoming". Every believer has been given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit for the common good of the church. Using the metaphor of the human body, Paul teaches that each member is essential and interconnected. No gift is superior to another, whether visible or behind-the-scenes. The key is discovering your unique gift and using it faithfully to strengthen the body of Christ. When believers operate in their gifts with love, the church becomes unified and powerful in reaching the world.

Pastor Santiago shared from 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 as he continued our series "A Church Worth Becoming". The Lord's Supper is a profound act of worship that reveals the heart of Christian community. Paul's correction to the Corinthian church addresses how divisions and selfishness were corrupting their communion practices. Wealthy members were excluding the poor, turning what should have been a unifying meal into a source of shame. The gospel breaks down barriers, making all believers equal at the foot of the cross. True communion requires self-examination - not to determine worthiness, but to approach God's table with humility rather than arrogance. When we remember Christ's selfless sacrifice, it should transform how we treat others and demonstrate the unity of His body.

Pastor Dell continued our series, "A Church Worth Becoming" by looking at 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Paul addresses the Corinthian church about proper worship practices, emphasizing that true worship should reflect God's divine order and authority structure. He establishes that Christ is the head of man, man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ, creating a pattern of functional roles without implying differences in worth or value. While specific cultural practices like head coverings may not directly apply today, the underlying principles remain relevant. Paul teaches that in marriage, husbands and wives are equal in essence but have distinct, complementary functions. Our worship should demonstrate humility under Christ's authority and honor God's design for relationships, creating beauty rather than chaos in the church community.

Pastor Rob explores Christian freedom through Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1. Many Christians struggle with moral decisions in everyday life, wishing for simple rules about what's allowed. Paul's teaching on eating meat sacrificed to idols reveals a better approach than asking "What am I allowed to do?" Christian freedom is real - we don't need to turn every decision into a moral crisis. However, freedom has limits guided by love and God's glory. The mature question isn't about permission but about what builds up others and honors God. When we shift from demanding our rights to asking what glorifies God, our decisions become thoughtful and missional, reflecting Christ's character to the world.

Pastor Dell looked at 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 as he continued our series, “A Church Worth Becoming”. In our spiritual journey between salvation and heaven, we face a wilderness experience similar to Israel's time in the desert. Despite witnessing incredible miracles, most Israelites fell into rebellion and never reached the Promised Land due to unbelief. Their pattern of sin, disobedience, and unbelief serves as a warning for us today. We cannot coast on past spiritual experiences while ignoring present calls to obedience. God provides escape routes from temptation, but we must flee from idolatry and maintain exclusive devotion to Christ. Staying spiritually alert requires humility, dependence on God's faithfulness, and honest self-examination of our vulnerabilities.

Pastor Dell continued our series on 1st Corinthians, "A Church Worth Becoming" as looked at 1 Corinthians 9:1-27. Paul demonstrates a radical approach to Christian living by voluntarily surrendering his legitimate rights as an apostle for the sake of advancing the gospel. Though entitled to financial support and other benefits, he chose to work with his own hands to avoid creating barriers to faith. His example challenges believers to examine what rights, preferences, or entitlements they might need to lay down for others' spiritual benefit. Paul's willingness to become all things to all people shows how love removes obstacles to faith through cultural adaptation without doctrinal compromise. Like an athlete training for competition, Christians must exercise spiritual discipline and self-denial to remain effective for God's mission.

Pastor Dell got back into our series "A Church Worth Becoming" by looking at 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Christian freedom comes with great responsibility to consider how our choices affect others in the body of Christ. While believers have liberty in many areas, true spiritual maturity is demonstrated not by exercising all our rights, but by choosing love over personal preferences. Knowledge alone can make us prideful, but love builds up the community. The strongest believers are those who willingly lay down their freedoms when it serves others better. Just as Jesus sacrificed His rights for our sake, we are called to examine our lives through the lens of love, asking whether our choices point others toward Christ or create stumbling blocks for those still growing in faith.

Pastor Dell concluded our 3-week Vision series, looking at the topics of giving, praying, and fasting found in Matthew 6:1-18. Jesus assumes that giving, prayer, and fasting are natural parts of following Christ, not optional activities. These three disciplines position us to receive God's rewards and develop a deeper relationship with Him. Giving involves our time, talent, and treasure - flowing from a surrendered heart rather than obligation. Prayer is a secret communion with God that transforms our public spiritual life. Fasting means going without food for spiritual purposes, using hunger pangs as reminders to seek God more than physical satisfaction. These practices aren't about earning God's favor but positioning ourselves for transformation that overflows to impact our communities for Christ.

Pastor Dell continued through John 4 as he continued our Vision Sunday series. Jesus transforms how we see people by moving us from knowing about Him to truly knowing Him personally. The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman demonstrates this radical shift in perspective. When the disciples found Jesus speaking with someone they considered an outcast, they were shocked, but Jesus was teaching them to see beyond cultural divisions to the person created in God's image. The woman's life was so transformed that she ran to tell her entire village, and they came streaming out to meet Jesus. This transformation happens through obedience to God's promptings, even in small matters, because spiritual growth requires action, not just knowledge.

Pastor Dell kicked off the new year looking at how we need to continue to be in a transforming relationship with Christ as we seek to impact and guide others. Many people know facts about Jesus but lack genuine intimacy with Him. The story of the woman at the well in John 4 reveals how Jesus offers living water that becomes a fresh bubbling spring within us. This spiritual intimacy goes beyond religious knowledge to experiencing God's transforming presence. Jesus promises that those who worship in spirit and truth will find the abundant life He offers. The key is moving past our focus on physical circumstances to embrace the spiritual reality of a relationship with Christ.