Before Saul of Tarsus became Paul the apostle, he was one of the greatest threats the early church had ever faced.

He was educated, zealous, respected, and dangerous. He approved of Stephen’s execution, ravaged the church, imprisoned believers, and tried to destroy the faith he would one day preach.

Then Jesus met him on the road to Damascus.

In this message, Pastor Nick walks through the conversion of Saul and shows how the mercy of Jesus turns outsiders into family. Saul’s life became a living example of Christ’s perfect patience — proof that no one is too far gone for the grace of God.

This sermon is for the person who feels like their past disqualifies them from belonging in church. It is also for the longtime believer who needs to remember that the church is not a room for polished people, but a family formed by mercy.

Christ came to save sinners.
And He came to grow His family.

Main Scriptures:
Acts 9:1–22
Galatians 1:23–24
1 Timothy 1:15–16

Church: theCHURCH
Website: www.thechurchbend.org

In this message from John 4, we look at Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.

She came in the heat of the day, likely carrying shame and avoiding the eyes of others. But the last person she expected to meet was Jesus. He saw her completely, yet He did not reject her. Instead, He offered her living water, revealed Himself as the Messiah, and turned her story into a testimony that brought many others to Him.

This sermon is a reminder that Jesus sees the one who wants to remain unseen — not to condemn, but to bring true life. And when we encounter Him, our testimony can become the very thing God uses to lead others to Christ.

Scripture: John 4:1–42; Romans 10:13–14

Before we step into a summer of Jesus encounters, we need to understand why Jesus came.

In this message, Pastor Nick teaches that Jesus did not come to soften the definition of sin. He came to expose the real problem: our hearts. While people often define goodness by outward behavior, Scripture shows us that true goodness is found in God alone.

But this truth is not meant to crush us. It is meant to lead us to Christ. The same problem Jesus exposes is the very problem He came to fix. Through the cross, God’s mercy is made available to broken people, and through Jesus, dead things come back to life.

This is the good news: we fall short, but God made a way.

Last week, we looked at the first part of our mission statement at theCHURCH: Making it easier for people to know Jesus.

In this episode, Pastor Nick teaches on the second part of that mission:

To lead people in a growing relationship with Him.

True discipleship is not spiritual cruise control. It is the life of following Jesus so closely that we begin to become like Him. A disciple is not simply someone who believes certain truths about Jesus, but someone who has resolved in their heart to follow Jesus, learn from Jesus, obey Jesus, and continue the work Jesus began.

In this message, we look at what discipleship is, why it matters, and how God has always called His people out of bondage and into a new way of life — not only so they could be free, but so they could become a living testimony of His goodness to the world.

Scripture References:
Matthew 28:19–20
Ephesians 6:12
Exodus 19:6
Isaiah 49:6
Exodus 20:2
Leviticus 18:3

Learn more about theCHURCH:
https://www.thechurchbend.org

Description: In this message from theCHURCH, Pastor Nick Griggs teaches on the mission of the church: making it easier for people to know Jesus and leading them into a growing relationship with Him.

Looking at Romans 10, 2 Peter 3, 1 Corinthians 9, and Mark 16, this sermon reminds us that the gospel is the greatest news in the world, that God desires people to be saved, and that the church is called to go the extra mile so that more people may come to know Christ.

This message also explains what we mean when we say “making it easier.” We do not soften Scripture or change the message. We choose clarity, love, and intentional methods that help people hear the truth, understand the why behind the what, and respond to Jesus.

Learn more at thechurchbend.org.