Gospel Community of Sarasota

Genesis 35 marks a turning point in Jacob's life. Before returning to Bethel, Jacob calls his household to put away their foreign gods, purify themselves, and renew their commitment to the Lord. It's a powerful reminder that worshiping God wholeheartedly often requires us to leave behind the idols and distractions that compete for our hearts.At Bethel, God reaffirms His covenant and reminds Jacob of the new name He has given him: Israel. Though Jacob's past was marked by deception and living up to the name "heel-grabber," God declares a new identity over him. This chapter reminds us that while our past may shape us, it does not have to define us. God is in the business of giving His people a new identity rooted in His grace and His promises.Genesis 35 is also marked by three significant deaths—Deborah, Rachel, and Isaac. These losses frame the chapter with both sorrow and hope, reminding us that God's covenant purposes continue even through seasons of grief. While people pass away, God's promises never die.Join us as we explore what it means to put away our idols, live in the identity God has given us, and trust His faithfulness even in the midst of life's deepest losses.

Genesis 34 is one of the most difficult and disturbing chapters in the Bible. It tells the tragic story of Dinah, the sinful actions of Shechem, the deceptive revenge of Simeon and Levi, and Jacob's troubling silence. Rather than hiding the brokenness of God's people, Scripture confronts it head-on.In this message, we explore what Genesis 34 teaches about sin, vengeance, leadership, and the devastating consequences of taking justice into our own hands. Even in a chapter where God is never mentioned, His truth is evident as we see the destructive effects of human rebellion and our deep need for a Savior who brings true justice, healing, and redemption.

Jacob has spent his entire life running—running from consequences, running from conflict, and trying to secure God's blessings through his own strength. But everything changes in Genesis 32–33.On the night before facing Esau, Jacob wrestles with God and walks away changed. He receives a new name, a permanent reminder of his encounter with God, and a renewed confidence that God's promises don't depend on Jacob's schemes. The next day, the relationship with Esau is unexpectedly restored, displaying God's power to reconcile what seemed beyond repair.For the first time in Jacob's story, he speaks of the Lord as his God—not merely the God of Abraham and Isaac. And instead of continuing to run, Jacob purchases land and settles, marking a new chapter of faith and stability.Join us as we explore how an encounter with God transforms our identity, restores broken relationships, and gives us the courage to stop running and trust Him with our lives.

Deacon Daniel Kopp preaches from 2 Peter chapter 1.

In Genesis 31, Jacob flees from Laban, Rachel secretly steals her father's household idols (teraphim), and God intervenes by speaking directly to Laban in a dream. Through this dramatic chapter, we see a powerful reminder that God alone is worthy of our trust. While people cling to idols, possessions, control, and earthly security, God proves Himself to be the One who watches over His people and keeps His promises. No matter how large our problems may seem, God is greater. Join us as we explore how Genesis 31 calls us to trust the God who protects, provides, and faithfully works on behalf of His people.

Jacob's life is anything but peaceful. Rivalry between sisters, competition for children, manipulation by Laban, and years of uncertainty create a household filled with tension. Yet through all the dysfunction, God remains faithful to His promises. In Genesis 30–31:9, we see that God's covenant purposes are not thwarted by human weakness, jealousy, or deceit. As Jacob prospers despite Laban's schemes, the Lord demonstrates that His blessing comes not through human cunning but through divine grace. This sermon explores how God works through imperfect people, keeps His promises, and provides for His people even in difficult circumstances.

Jacob arrives in Haran expecting a fresh start, but quickly discovers that life doesn't unfold as planned. Through the stories of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, Genesis 29 reveals God's faithfulness in the midst of deception, disappointment, and family dysfunction. Most importantly, we see a God who notices the overlooked and works through imperfect people to accomplish His purposes.

As Jacob flees from the consequences of his sin, alone and uncertain about the future, God meets him in an unexpected place. In Genesis 28, the Lord reaffirms His covenant promises to an undeserving man and reveals a stairway between heaven and earth — not as a picture of humanity reaching up to God, but of God graciously coming down to sinners.

Genesis 27 tells the story of a family trying to secure God’s promises through manipulation and deception. This sermon focuses on Rebekah’s role in shaping and carrying out the plan for Jacob to receive Isaac’s blessing, exploring the tension between trusting God’s word and trying to control the outcome ourselves. Even through the brokenness of this family, God remains faithful to His purposes.

In this episode, we explore Genesis 26:18–35 as Isaac reopens the wells of Abraham, faces conflict and opposition, and learns what it means to trust God as a sojourner. From the quarrels over the wells to the covenant with Abimelech, this passage shows God’s faithfulness to provide space, peace, and blessing even in uncertain places. We also consider the contrast between Isaac’s worship and Esau’s choices at the end of the chapter—and what these stories teach us about trusting God’s promises today.

In this episode, we look at Genesis 26:1–17, where Isaac faces famine and repeats his father’s pattern of fear—yet God remains faithful to His promises. As Isaac prospers in Gerar, his success brings both blessing and conflict.This passage challenges us to trust God in seasons of uncertainty and to walk humbly in His provision, even when fear and opposition arise.

This week, we explore Genesis 25:19–34—the story of Jacob and Esau, two brothers whose struggle began before birth and revealed deeper questions about identity, calling, and what we truly value. While Esau despised his birthright and traded it for immediate satisfaction, Jacob recognized its worth and pursued it with determination. This passage challenges us to consider whether we value what is lasting—or settle for what is temporary.

Abraham’s journey ends, but his legacy remains. In Genesis 25:1–18, we witness a rare moment of peace as Isaac and Ishmael set aside a lifetime of rivalry to bury their father together.Join us as we explore the weight of family legacies, the reality of sibling conflict, and the God who remains faithful even when the patriarchs pass.

This week we look at the transition from Abraham and Sarah to Isaac and Rebekah. We see God's sovereignty continually at work along with another story of true hospitality and false hospitality. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join us in person Sundays at 10am.

On Easter Sunday we walk through Mark’s powerful presentation of Jesus as King — a King mocked, crowned with thorns, enthroned on a cross, and ultimately vindicated through the resurrection.Mark 15 shows us a surprising coronation. The soldiers dress Jesus in purple, place a crown on His head, and hail Him as “King of the Jews.” Yet every act of mockery reveals a deeper truth: Jesus truly is the King — not just of Israel, but of all creation. His throne is the cross, where He defeats sin through sacrifice and demonstrates a kingdom built on self-giving love.Then in Mark 16, the story takes a shocking turn. The stone is rolled away. The tomb is empty. The King has risen.But Mark’s Gospel ends in an unexpected way:The women flee from the tomb trembling and astonished… and say nothing to anyone because they were afraid.Fear is not the ending God intended — it’s the question left for us.Will we remain silent?Or will we tell the good news that King Jesus is alive?This Easter message invites us to see the cross as a royal procession, the resurrection as a victory announcement, and our lives as part of the continuing story.

In Mark 11, Jesus enters Jerusalem not merely as a humble teacher, but as the rightful King. The crowds shout “Hosanna!” as He rides into the city, fulfilling prophecy and announcing that the long-awaited King has arrived. Yet instead of heading to a throne, Jesus goes to the temple — His house — to observe what His kingdom has become.The next day, He returns and cleanses the temple, confronting empty religion that had the appearance of life but lacked true devotion. Like the fruitless fig tree, the people looked outwardly faithful but bore no fruit.Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus still comes to inspect His kingdom. He is not only Savior — He is King. And His desire is that His people would be marked by genuine faith, prayer, and lives that reflect His rule.

From the time Abraham first appears in Genesis 11, his life has been a journey of learning to trust God. We have seen courage, questions, waiting, and growth as God repeatedly reaffirmed His promise.Now in Genesis 22, Abraham faces the most difficult test he has yet encountered. The God who gave the promise asks Abraham to trust Him once again. This message explores how Abraham’s story leads to this moment and encourages us to trust God even when we do not yet see how He will provide.

In Genesis 21, God finally fulfills His long-awaited promise to Abraham and Sarah with the birth of Isaac. But the chapter also contains tension, separation, and hardship as Hagar and Ishmael are sent into the wilderness. In this message we see both the faithfulness of God to keep His promises and His compassion for those who feel forgotten or cast aside.

Genesis 20 feels strangely familiar—haven’t we already been down this road before? In this episode, we revisit a story that echoes an earlier moment in Abraham’s life. Once again, Abraham tells a dangerous half-truth about Sarah—this time to Abimelech, the king of Gerar. Why does Abraham repeat the same mistake, and what can we learn from it?

This is our third and final week examining God’s destruction of Sodom. In this episode, we take a closer look at Lot—particularly the influence, or lack of it, he had on his family while living in Sodom. We also explore the sovereignty of God on display, both in the judgment of the city and in the events that follow.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a uncomfortable passage for many of us. But what does the story seem to be saying when we look at the story in light of chapter 18 of Genesis? Thank you for tuning into our podcast. For those in the Sarasota area we would love for you to join us in person every Sunday at 10.

This week we look at the character of God in Genesis 18. We find God to be slow to anger, merciful, and gracious. And all of this is happening in maybe the most unlikely of contexts. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love to have you join with us in person every Sunday morning at 10.

This week we dive into Genesis 18:1–15 where God shows up in the most unexpected way—as a guest at Abraham and Sarah’s table. What begins as ordinary hospitality turns into a divine encounter and an impossible promise.For those in the Sarasota area, we would love to have you join us in person every Sunday morning at 10.

This week we pause to remind ourselves what we are striving to accomplish as a church.

Thank you for joining us as we continue through the book of Genesis. This week we look at the covenant between God and Abraham. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love to have you join us in person every Sunday at 10am.

This week we jump back into our series through the book of Genesis. In this passage we find a new name for God, El Shaddai. We also talk about how God's timing so often doesn't feel like our timing. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love to have you join us in person every Sunday at 10am.

Scott Townsend preaches on the five reminders God gave to His people in the book of Deuteronomy.Thank you for tuning into the Gospel Community Podcast. For more information about our church please check out our website at gospelcommunitysarasota.com

Thank you for tuning into the Gospel Community Podcast. For more information about our church please check out our website at gospelcommunitysarasota.com

Merry Christmas!!Thank you for tuning in to our podcast. This week, we’re looking at Philippians 2 and reflecting on the incredible truth that Jesus has come to earth—a reality we celebrate during this season. Yet even as we rejoice in His first coming, we are still longing for His return, when He will rule and reign over all creation. In the busyness and excitement of this time of year, this passage reminds us that we are a people who wait with hope, living in expectation of His coming again.

From the very beginning, God has never desired distance from His people. In this message, we trace the thread of God’s presence from Genesis—where God walks with humanity in the garden—through the promises, failures, and hopes of the Old Testament, all the way to Matthew 1 and the birth announcement of Emmanuel, “God with us.”In this sermon we see how Christmas is not a sudden interruption in the biblical story, but the fulfillment of a long-standing promise: that God would dwell with His people again. No matter the rebellion, exile, or waiting, God has always been moving toward us.Key Scriptures: Genesis 1–3; Exodus 25; Isaiah 7; Matthew 1

This week we start in Genesis and look at the God who overcomes darkness - not just in creation but also the spiritual darkness that is all around us. Thank you for listening. If you are in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join us every Sunday at 10am.

Thank you for joining us as we continue our series through the book of Genesis. This week we dive into the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar. We see the similarities between this story and Genesis 3. We are also reminded of Good's faithfulness to Abram. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join us in person Sundays at 10am.

Thank you for joining our series through Genesis. In this week’s message from Genesis 15, we see God’s commitment to Abram and the promises He made to him. We explore how Abram’s moment of doubt turns to belief in God. And we see God's faithfulness to keep the covenant, even if Abram is unfaithful, God will always be faithful to His Word. Join us as we unpack this foundational chapter on trusting God when the promise feels far away.

Thankyou for joining us as we continue our journey through the book of Genesis. Genesis 14 brings us into a world of battling kings, Abram’s rescue of Lot, and an unexpected encounter with Melchizedek—the priest-king who points us toward God’s greater kingdom.

In this episode, we follow Abram’s early journey of faith through two defining moments: his journey down to Egypt and Lot and Abram's separation. We see what it look like to walk by faith, and we are encouraged to reminded that God continues to be faithful even when we are faithless.

This week we look at God's call to Abram and compare what we see with Abram to what we saw in Genesis 11 at the Tower of Babel. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join us in person every Sunday at 10am.

This week we jump back into our Genesis series! In Genesis 11, we explore the story that leads up to Abraham and how God’s plan continues to unfold through the generations.For those in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join with us in person every Sunday at 10 am.

Scott Townsend preaches part 2 of his 2 part series. Scott takes us through 1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1. Paul tells the Corinthian Christians to remember God's miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. There are many false gods to pursue, but there is only one true God. Paul then tells the church to love each other and put the good of each other over their Christian liberties. Lastly Paul tells the church to do all things for the glory of God.Thanks for listening!To learn more about our church visit our website at: www.gospelcommunitysarasota.com, or visit us in person! We meet Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

"Hesed:" God's loyal, steadfast, and covenantal loving-kindness for His people. Joel Porch takes us through 1 and 2 Samuel, and a few of the Psalms to teach us about this Hebrew word "Hesed."Thanks for listening!To learn more about our church visit our website at: www.gospelcommunitysarasota.com, or visit us in person! We meet Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

The apostle Paul had to confront and correct the Corinthians about how they participated in the Lord's Supper. Scott Townsend teaches how the Lord's Supper was dividing the church when it should be uniting the church.Scott is teaching a 2-part series on the Lord's Supper. He will cover part 2 in two weeks (October 12). Thanks for listening!To learn more about our church visit our website at: www.gospelcommunitysarasota.com, or visit us in person! We meet Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

Alan McNaughton teaches from Jeremiah 1 about what we can learn about God when He calls His people.Check us out at: www.gospelcommunitysarasota.comCome visit us! We meet Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

We are constantly being told we need more. Every commercial tells us that we need their product for a better life. They make us feel insecure and make us think that we'll never be living a full life without their product or service.But what is God telling us in Philippians? Paul is faithfully following God's call on his life, yet his life is far from what we would want our lives to be. In prison, beatings, kicked out of town, rejected by his own people, yet Paul finds contentment. Church member Ian Allen preaches this morning, while Pastor Bart is on sabbatical, and teaches us to find contentment in God and not in our circumstances or possessions.Check us out at: www.gospelcommunitysarasota.comCome visit us! We meet Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

In today's world having to wait is seen as an inconvenience. Everyone wants immediate results and answers. Deacon Daniel Kopp teaches us how God works in the waiting. God wants us to depend on Him and trust His timeline. God promised David he would be king, yet David finds himself having to escape to the wilderness to save his life from King Saul. Daniel teaches us lessons we can learn about waiting on God from David's time in the wilderness.Want more information about our church? Learn more about us at https://www.gospelcommunitysarasota.com/. Or better yet, come visit our church. We meet each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Thank your joining our summer series. In this last sermon for our summer series, we look at what Jesus says about prayer from Matthew 6. May God help each us to grow in the discipline of prayer. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love to have you join with us every Sunday at 10am.

Thank you for joining us as we continue our Summer Series. This week, we asked ourselves, "Are we just going through the motions, or are we truly following Jesus?" In this episode, we unpack Matthew 6 and explore the difference between empty religion and authentic discipleship.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most foundational passages in Scripture—Deuteronomy 6:4–9, known as the Shema. God calls His people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength, and to keep His Word close—teaching it to the next generation, talking about it in everyday life, and making it a central part of who we are. We’ll explore what it means to keep God’s Word on our hearts, how to weave faith naturally into daily conversations, and practical ways to live out this command today.

In this Summer Series message, we explore Romans 15 and the call to live for one another. Biblical unity can only come from God, and we think that biblical unity is a beautiful thing. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join us every Sunday at 10am.

We’re continuing our summer series with a deep dive into the entire book of Titus. Whether you're new to the letter or revisiting it, we hope this message encourages and equips you.If you're in the Sarasota area, we’d love to have you join us in person—every Sunday at 10 AM. Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for joining us for our summer series!This week, we explore the story of Zacchaeus and what it means to follow Christ in seeking those who are lost.If you're in the Sarasota area, we'd love to have you join us in person on Sunday mornings at 10 AM.

Thank you for joining us for our summer series. Thank you to Alan for the message on what does it look like to be a part of community. For those in the Sarasota area, we would love for you to join in person every Sunday morning at 10 am.