Pastor Paul Trout shares that when it comes to making disciples, the enemy often uses discouragement and distraction to get us off mission. In this message, he looks at the way Jesus discipled his own followers through repeated encounters along the way. In the process, we learn that disciple making is not a one and done kind of deal. It takes perseverance.…

It’s easy to look at all God did through guys like Peter and Paul and come away feeling like, “That’s really great. But I’m not an apostle. What can God do through me?” This passage will show you. We’ll look at how the Holy Spirit advanced God’s kingdom in  Ephesus and beyond through three “non-apostles”:  Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos (all while Paul was…

Ever run into that brand of Christianity that says “If you feel weak or desperate, don’t you dare even say it. Put on a plastic smile, pretend like everything’s OK, and it will be?” Aside from being annoying, it’s just not Biblical. When Paul came to Corinth, he was (in his own words) weak, fearful, and trembling. How did he handle it?…

(Audio message at bottom of post) A good carpenter sometimes has to clinch a nail to make it secure. That means after he drives it in, he turns over the two pieces of wood he is connecting and bends the nail with his hammer so it can’t slide out. When it comes to our connection with Jesus,  trials, temptations, emotions, and fears…

As believers, we eagerly wait for Jesus to return. But what do we do while we wait? When we see the moral decline of our culture, it is tempting to hide out and bury our heads in the sand. Athens was a city in decline when Paul was there waiting for Timothy and Silas.  What did he do? He looked around. He…

A beautiful Fall day. A horse trough in a truck bed. And two women: Jennifer (brunette) and Brenda (blonde) who recently accepted Jesus proclaiming their love for Him through baptism. See pics below and click on the audio to hear how God saved Jennifer.

This message was originally preached on a morning when we celebrated with God as 2 women who recently trusted Jesus to save them proclaimed their love for him through baptism. Psalm 40 tells a story that’s been repeated in millions if not billions of lives: We cry out to God in trust. He answers by saving us. Then we respond by praising…

Few things are as important to the growth of a Jesus follower than the Bible. Check out this message to learn some of the tools Paul used when he shared it. And learn what it looks like to receive it the way God wants you to.  Consider this your invitation to a more effective witness in the world and a deeper conversation…

Is it possible to live with love, confidence, and peace even during difficult trials? “Yes. IF you turn to Jesus” is the answer Paul gave in his letter to the Philippians. Ironically (or supernaturally) he was in chains when he wrote to them about how Jesus is the source of our love, our confidence, and our peace. In a nutshell, Jesus was…

Whether it’s a friendship, your rights, or your plans, letting go is hard to do. The good news is when we let go of something for God, we can trust Him completely. Check out this message to see how Paul and his missionary team learned to let go and what it means for us today. 08/25/13