The Sunday Sermon

In Luke 19, Zacchaeus climbs a tree hoping to see Jesus—only to discover that Jesus has already been seeking him. In “Love Like Jesus,” Pastor Angelo explores a grace that sees beyond our labels, moves toward us before we can prove ourselves worthy, and makes genuine repentance and transformation possible. Before we can extend this love to others, we must first receive the good news for ourselves: Jesus sees us, calls us by name, and refuses to let our worst moments tell the whole story of who we are.

Our mission is to live, love, and serve like Jesus—but what does that look like in ordinary life? Beginning with Luke 2:40–52, Pastor Angelo explores the hidden years of Jesus and the practices that shaped a life of faithfulness. This first message in the Live, Love, Serve series invites us to remain open to the grace that is still forming us.

When God calls, we don’t always recognize the voice on our own. Guest preacher Rev. Elizabeth Miller-Villegas, campus minister for Wingspan at UNCW, explores Samuel’s call in 1 Samuel 3:1–16 and the importance of Eli’s intergenerational guidance. Together, they remind us that discerning God’s call is not a journey we make alone.

As we approach the end of the Old Testament, its final words leave us with unfinished work, an open road, and a promise: “May the Lord their God be with them.” In this fourth Checkpoint Sunday message, Pastor Angelo looks back at the story from Genesis to Chronicles and explores how it prepares us to meet Jesus in Matthew. The Old Testament does not tell a separate story—it gives us the language, hope, and history we need to understand the Gospel. The story continues, and we are invited to follow.

What happens when what we have does not seem like enough? Through the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, we discover a Savior who meets grief and need with compassion, takes what is offered, and transforms scarcity into abundance. This message invites us to consider where we seek true satisfaction, what we are willing to place in Jesus’ hands, and how God may be calling us to help care for others.

Jesus described the kingdom of heaven in surprising ways: a tiny seed, a little yeast, treasure hidden in a field, and a pearl worth everything. In this sermon from Matthew 13, Pastor Angelo explores how God often works quietly and beneath the surface, planting seeds of grace that can transform our lives and the lives of those around us. Rather than being driven by fear, Jesus invites us to become captivated by heaven and to discover the incomparable value of life in God’s kingdom.

In the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, Jesus reminds us that we are not always as good at judging what is growing around us—or within us—as we think. Pastor Becca Detterman explores how we can practice discernment without condemnation, tend faithfully to our own hearts, and trust God with the final harvest.

In this sermon on Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23, Pastor Angelo reflects on Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and the different ways we receive the Gospel in our lives. Some hearts become hardened by disappointment, some faiths remain shallow, and some lives become crowded with worry, distraction, and competing loyalties. But the good news is that soil can change. God’s grace continues to soften, cultivate, and make room for new life to grow. This message invites us to ask not simply, “What kind of soil am I?” but “What kind of soil is God cultivating within me?”

Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? In one of Jesus' most beloved invitations, he calls weary people to come to him and "learn the unforced rhythms of grace." In this message from Matthew 11:28–30, Pastor Angelo reflects on the rhythms that quietly shape our lives every day and reminds us that following Jesus isn't about trying harder—it's about walking with him. Discover how Christ invites us to exchange the exhausting rhythms of fear, anxiety, and performance for a life marked by grace, gentleness, and true rest.

This week’s sermon explores one of Scripture’s most difficult stories: Abraham, Isaac, and the command to sacrifice the promised child. Genesis 22 invites us to wrestle honestly with costly trust, the things we hold too tightly, and the God who stops the knife, provides the ram, and meets us on the mountain.