This sermon centers on the biblical truth that real and lasting joy is found not in circumstances, but in a deep relationship with God, as seen in Psalm 16. Pastor McKinley teaches that joy comes when we anchor our lives in God’s character, rely on His provision instead of our preferences, surround ourselves with worship and fellowship, and root our hearts in the counsel of His Word. Ultimately, joy is sustained by living in the presence of God—because joy is not the absence of suffering, but the steady confidence that God is with us and working for our good.

This sermon teaches that our words matter deeply because they reveal the condition of our hearts, carry great power, and can either bring destruction or give life. Drawing from Psalm 34, James, Proverbs, and the teachings of Jesus, Pastor McKinley emphasizes that controlling our speech is a vital spiritual discipline and evidence of spiritual maturity. Hurtful words—spoken or posted—can wound others and damage our relationship with God, while wise, gracious words can heal, build up, and reflect Christ. Ultimately, real change doesn’t come from simply “biting our tongue,” but from a transformed heart shaped by repentance, the Holy Spirit, and a desire to pursue peace.

This sermon, based on Psalm 42, teaches that seasons of brokenness and desperation are not signs of God’s absence but invitations to deeper dependence on Him. The pastors explain that desperation cultivates a thirst for God, calls believers to actively fight for spiritual focus, exposes human weakness, and ultimately anchors the soul in hope. Through practices like honest prayer, preaching truth to oneself, remembering God’s past faithfulness, and spiritual disciplines such as fasting, God uses hardship to reshape hearts. The central message is that while the world discards broken things, God redeems them, using weakness and suffering to draw His people into lasting hope, worship, and trust in Him.

The message from the Rhythms of the Heart series turns from private spiritual disciplines to public faith in action, using Psalm 82 to highlight God’s demand for justice on behalf of the weak and voiceless. Pastor McKinley emphasizes that God’s heart for justice includes the unborn, grounding the sanctity of life in Scripture, human creation in God’s image, and God’s intentional work in the womb. Rather than calling for anger or protest, the message urges believers to respond with compassion, truth, and tangible support for women facing unplanned pregnancies. This call is illustrated through the ministry of Hope Women’s Center, which provides free, loving, life-affirming care and demonstrates how faith can actively “overcome evil with good.”

This sermon teaches from Psalm 1 that every person must choose between two paths in life: a God-centered life rooted in His Word that leads to blessing, stability, and true prosperity, or a self-centered life that ignores God and ultimately leads to emptiness and loss. True blessing is not material success but a full, flourishing life that comes from delighting in God’s Word and meditating on it daily, allowing it to shape the heart, guard against spiritual drift, and bear fruit in every season. Ultimately, the sermon calls listeners to surrender not just to the Word of God, but to Jesus Christ—the living Word—who alone gives eternal life and purpose.

This sermon launches a new series on spiritual heart health, teaching that just as physical health matters, the condition of our spiritual heart determines the course of our lives. Centered on Psalm 46, it emphasizes that peace is found not by controlling circumstances but by practicing God’s presence—learning to “be still and know” that God is our refuge, strength, and ever-present help amid fear, turmoil, and uncertainty. The message calls believers to cultivate rhythms of reflection through solitude, renewed thinking, and immersion in Scripture so their hearts can rest in God’s peace rather than being ruled by anxiety.

The sermon celebrates God’s remarkable work at Warren Church—highlighting growth, baptisms, expanded ministry—while asking the forward-looking question, “Where do we go from here?” Grounded in 1 Thessalonians, it calls the church to live with gratitude and purpose in light of Christ’s promised return, emphasizing preparation over comfort and sanctification of spirit, soul, and body. The message challenges believers to abide in Christ by anchoring themselves in God’s Word, fully belonging in the church, and courageously living out their faith as they dedicate the coming year to God’s mission and glory. 

This sermon emphasizes the often-overlooked significance of Jesus’ ascension, teaching that it completes Christ’s earthly work and confirms His present reign as our High Priest, guaranteeing believers full access and acceptance before God. The ascension also makes possible the coming of the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers, empowers holy living, assures salvation, and enables the church to fulfill its global mission. Ultimately, the message calls believers not merely to believe in Christ’s finished work, but to live daily Spirit-filled lives as sent witnesses until Christ returns.

Pastor McKinley’s sermon presents the Christmas story as the greatest story ever told—one foretold through Old Testament prophecy, fulfilled in real history, and announced by angels to unlikely witnesses—revealing God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that Christmas is not merely sentimental but marks the beginning of God’s rescue mission, culminating in the cross and resurrection, bringing peace, forgiveness, and restored relationship with God. Ultimately, the message calls listeners to personally receive this gift, allowing Christ to bring meaning, wholeness, and eternal hope to their lives.

Pastor McKinley weaves together a recent pastoral trip to Israel with the Christmas story to emphasize that God often works through the unexpected to accomplish His redemptive purposes, even amid suffering, conflict, and disruption. Drawing from Luke 1 and Matthew 1, Pastor teaches how Mary and Joseph’s lives were radically interrupted by God’s plan, calling them—and believers today—to surrender trustfully when circumstances don’t make sense, because God is always faithful even when unpredictable. Ultimately, the message centers on Christmas as the fulfillment of God’s providence: Jesus, the God-man, was born to save humanity from sin, offering forgiveness, eternal life, and hope to all who believe.