Salem Magley Church Podcast

Is there a standard every Christian is supposed to live up to, or does faith just look different for everyone? This episode works through Galatians 5:13-25, where Paul tells a group of new believers they've been set free, then immediately warns them what that freedom isn't for. Paul draws a hard line between what he calls the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh, it turns out, aren't really a list of individual sins so much as one thing wearing a lot of different masks: chaos. The fruit of the Spirit isn't a set of rules either. It's what a transformed heart actually produces, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and Paul insists that fruit, not performance, is the real measure of whether someone's actually walking with God. This episode gets into what Christian freedom is actually for, why you can't walk by the Spirit and gratify the flesh at the same time, and why nobody can see your heart, but everyone can see what it grows. Standard Living, Salem Magley Church, Decatur, Indiana.

Everybody's got a Mr. Hyde. The part of yourself you don't want anyone to see, the impulses you know you shouldn't indulge but can't quite shake. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about it in 1886 and it still lands, because the question underneath it never went away: are we doomed to be ruled by that side of ourselves, or is there a way out? This episode works through Romans 8:1-17, the passage where Paul finally brings his whole argument home. There's no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, but that freedom isn't the end of the story. It comes with an obligation to actually live differently, to set your mind on the Spirit instead of the flesh. Paul walks through what it means that Jesus became a sin offering, why the law was never going to be enough to save anyone, and how the Spirit doesn't just forgive you, it makes you a child of God and an heir with Christ. If you've ever wondered whether grace means anything goes, or wondered if you're stuck fighting the same sin forever, this one's for you. I Am Free, Salem Magley Church, Decatur, Indiana.

You can't see the turn until you're already in it. That's true in rally car racing, and it's true in life. Sin has a way of showing up before you know it's there, quietly rewriting the road ahead. This episode looks at the Holy Spirit as exactly what a rally car needs, and what we need too: a co-driver who calls out the next move before we can see it coming. Starting in Genesis, where sin first shows up as an animal crouching at the door, we trace how it takes over the human heart completely, and how God commits to humanity anyway. From there we look at how the Holy Spirit convicts, how repentance and baptism work together, and what it actually means to be sealed and adopted as God's own. We close by asking what holiness really is, and it's simpler than most people think: living like Jesus. If you've ever wondered why the same sin keeps tripping you up, what baptism is actually doing, or what it means to live a holy life without turning into a rule keeper, this one's for you.

What does the Holy Spirit actually do, and does God really live inside ordinary people? This episode traces the Holy Spirit through Scripture, from Genesis, where he's hovering over the waters before creation even begins, through the tabernacle and temple, where his presence fills the room. He rests on a craftsman, a handful of leaders, and a couple of unlikely bystanders, and the prophets promise something even bigger is coming. That promise breaks open at Pentecost, landing on Jews, Samaritans, a man actively working to destroy the church, and people with no prior claim on the story at all. By the end, Paul makes a claim that's easy to skip past: believers themselves, not a building, are where God now lives. This episode walks through that whole arc and what it actually means for how you live.

Where is Jesus right now, and has he forgotten about the mess the world is still in? Two thousand years after his resurrection, evil hasn't been erased, suffering hasn't stopped, and Jesus still hasn't come back. So what happened to him? This episode traces what the New Testament actually says about Jesus after his ascension, that he returned to his Father's right hand as the reigning King, that he serves as our human advocate who understands exactly what it's like to be tired, hurting, and tempted, and that he promised he would come back. Pastor Chris Hirschy walks through Acts, Ephesians, Hebrews, and Matthew to show why Jesus' story feels paused rather than finished, and why that pause is actually good news. Along the way, this conversation gets honest about the tension of living between Jesus' departure and his return: how to hold onto hope when judgment still feels far off, why no one can know the day or the hour, and what it looks like to keep working, make disciples, and live the way of Jesus while we wait. If you've ever wondered whether Jesus abandoned us, or what he's actually doing right now, this episode is for you.

Why did Jesus have to die? It's a question that sits at the center of the Christian faith, and it's one this episode doesn't rush past. Starting all the way back in Genesis 3, where God first promises a coming "snake crusher" who will defeat the serpent even as he's struck down, this episode traces the long arc of Scripture that leads to the cross and the empty tomb. Along the way, we look at why sin is a bigger problem than we tend to admit, why ancient Israel's sacrifices had to be repeated year after year, and how Jesus becomes both the final atonement sacrifice and the new Passover lamb. Then we turn to the resurrection and ask what it actually accomplished: not just forgiveness, but a real defeat of sin, Satan, and death itself. If you've ever wondered why Christians put so much weight on the cross and resurrection, or wondered how Passover, sacrifice, and Jesus all connect, this episode walks through those questions with the Scripture texts front and center. It's honest about what's resolved and what still feels unresolved, and it ends with a question we'll pick back up next week. The Son: the Savior, Salem Magley Church, Decatur, Indiana.

Why did Jesus come? Most Christians have a quick answer. But when you actually sit down with Mark's gospel and watch Jesus work, casting out demons, healing the sick, going toe-to-toe with the Pharisees, redefining what family means, you start to see that his mission was bigger and more specific than a one-line answer can hold. Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God. That's what Mark wants you to see from the very first verse. And everything Jesus does in those early chapters--the exorcisms, the Sabbath confrontations, the parables about seeds and lamps, is him pushing that kingdom into the world and making space for it to take root. In this episode, we walk through Mark's gospel to trace that mission and message, and then we ask the question that Jesus himself keeps asking: will you follow me? The Mission and Message of the Son Salem Magley Church, Decatur, Indiana.

Who was Jesus of Nazareth — really? Not the version filtered through centuries of tradition, but the one you find when you actually read what he said about himself and what the people closest to him said about him. Jesus's favorite title for himself was "Son of Man" — a phrase most people have never thought twice about, and one that points to something far bigger than most expect. His followers called him the Word of God, the Messiah, God incarnate. The stories surrounding his life keep pointing in the same direction. This sermon works through the evidence — what Jesus claimed, what his closest followers confirmed, and how three ancient figures from Israel's scriptures converge in one person. By the end, John 3:16 means something it probably never meant before. Jesus, the Son of God. Salem Magley Church. Decatur, Indiana.

The world is broken. You don't need to be convinced of that. What you might need is an answer to the question that follows: if God is good, why did he let it get this way? It's one of the oldest objections to faith, and it deserves more than a bumper sticker response. In this episode, Pastor Chris works through the biblical answer — not a philosophical workaround, but the actual story Scripture tells about what went wrong and what God has been doing about it since day one. Starting in Genesis 3, we see how human rebellion didn't just break a rule — it broke the world. But the story doesn't end there. It never does. From Noah to Abraham to David to Isaiah to Daniel, there's a thread running through all of it. A plan taking shape. A king being promised. A servant being prepared. And a son of man who will one day ride the clouds and take his seat next to the Father. God the Father is not indifferent to the mess. He's been working to fix it from the beginning. This episode traces that thread and makes the case that the problem of evil has an answer — and the answer has a name. Why Does God Allow Evil? A Biblical Answer — Salem Magley Church, Decatur, Indiana

Most of us come to the idea of God as Father carrying something. A good experience, a hard one, or something complicated in between. And whatever we carry shapes the way we hear the word Father when it gets attached to God. This episode works through what Scripture actually says about God the Father, not as a corrective to bad theology, but as an honest look at who he is and what he gives. It starts at the very beginning, with creation and the gift of life, and moves through purpose, work, the small satisfactions of ordinary days, and what it means that God stays through the dark seasons rather than stepping back after he's given us what we need. The claim the Bible makes is simple and sweeping. All good things are a gift from God the Father. That includes the obvious things and the ones we overlook. It includes the people who acknowledge him and the ones who don't. And it changes the way we see everything from a morning cup of coffee to the work sitting in front of us tomorrow.

The Trinity is the most contested doctrine in the history of the church. Jehovah's Witnesses reject it. Mormons reject it. Muslims reject it. Even some groups that call themselves Christian reject it. So why do we believe it — and where does it actually come from? In this episode we work through what Scripture says about who God is. Starting with Abraham and Moses, moving through some of the stranger and more complex moments in the Old Testament, and arriving at Jesus — whose claims about himself forced his earliest followers to completely rethink everything they thought they knew about God. The doctrine of the Trinity wasn't something the church invented. It's what the church discovered when they took the Bible seriously. This is a Trinity Sunday sermon from Salem Magley Church in Decatur, Indiana.

What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives? In this Pentecost sermon, we look at John 20, Acts 2, and 1 Corinthians 12 to see how the Holy Spirit fills the people of God for the work of the kingdom. Many of us know what it feels like to be unequipped for what life requires of us—and following Jesus can feel that way too. We are called to love, forgive, serve, proclaim the gospel, and live as the people of God, but we cannot do that work in our own strength. The good news of Pentecost is that Jesus does not leave his people alone. He gives the Holy Spirit to empower us to continue his work, proclaim the good news, and live together as one body with many gifts. The Spirit fills us not just for private faith, but for the shared work of God’s kingdom in the world.

Why did Jesus leave his followers behind? After the resurrection, it might seem like Jesus would stay, rule visibly, and fix everything right away. Instead, he returned to the Father and left his followers in the world. But he did not leave them abandoned. In this sermon from John 17, Acts 1, and 1 Peter, we see that Jesus left his followers with a plan until his return. He prayed for his people, entrusted them to the care of his Father, promised the power of the Holy Spirit, and sent them to be his witnesses in the world. That means following Jesus today is not about standing still and staring at the sky. It means trusting God, standing firm in faith, resisting evil, casting our anxieties on the Father, and joining the mission of Jesus in everyday life. Jesus left, but he had a plan. And his followers are still part of it.

What does it mean to follow Jesus in everyday life? In John 14, Jesus tells his disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands.” But Jesus is not calling us into a cold, transactional obedience. He is inviting us to live the love we have first received from him. In this sermon, we look at John 14 verses 15–21, 1 Peter 3 verses 13–22, and Acts 17 verses 22–31 to explore what it means to live the love of Jesus. Following Jesus begins with loving him, keeping his commands, worshiping with his people, relying on the help of the Holy Spirit, sharing the hope of the gospel, and persevering until the end. Eternal life is not only something we receive later. It is a life we begin living now. And as Jesus’ people, we are called to live his love in the world.

Most people think about eternal life as something we receive later. A future hope. A promise after death. A place we go someday. But what if eternal life is more than that? In this sermon from John 14, Acts 7, and 1 Peter 2, we explore what the Bible means by eternal life. Jesus tells his disciples that he is leaving, but he is not abandoning them. Instead, he is preparing a place, making a new world, and calling his people to live as part of that new world now. Through Stephen’s bold witness and Peter’s description of the church as a royal priesthood, we see that eternal life is not only something Christians get. It is something we live. Jesus has left us here for a purpose. Until he returns, we are called to follow him, live his way, and bring his life into the world.

In a world full of competing voices, endless distractions, and promises of a better life, Jesus offers something radically different: not a better version of the old world, but a whole new way of living. In this sermon, we explore Jesus’ words in John 10, where he calls himself the Good Shepherd and invites us to hear his voice and follow him. What if the life Jesus offers isn’t just about heaven someday—but about stepping into a new world of life and harmony right now? What if following Jesus means learning to think differently, see differently, and live differently? Drawing from John 10, 1 Peter 2, and Acts 2, this message explores the call to follow Jesus into a new way of life—one marked by trust, sacrifice, community, and the abundant life Christ promises. Jesus wants to lead us into his new world of life and harmony. The question is: Will we follow?

Why is it so hard to follow Jesus? Many people want to grow in their faith, but aren’t sure where to begin—or why it feels so difficult to stay consistent. In this sermon, we look at the story of the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, where two disciples walk with the risen Jesus and don’t even recognize him. It raises a powerful question: what if Jesus is already present in your life, and you’ve just been missing him? This message explores what it means to find Jesus, follow Jesus, and be formed by him. Through Scripture, repentance, and daily faithfulness, we begin to see how a life shaped by Jesus actually takes form—not all at once, but over time. If you’ve ever wondered how to find Jesus, how to follow him, or how to grow spiritually, this episode offers a clear and practical place to start.

Why does life still feel hard… even after Easter? If Jesus truly rose from the dead, if he really is the risen King, then why do we still struggle? Why do doubts linger? Why does suffering remain? In this sermon, we explore passages from John 20, Acts 2, Psalm 16, and 1 Peter 1 to uncover a truth that is both honest and hopeful: the resurrection of Jesus does not immediately fix all of our problems—but it does change how we see them. Through the story of the disciples hiding in fear, Thomas wrestling with doubt, and Peter proclaiming a living hope, we begin to see that the resurrection reshapes our perspective. It gives us a new outlook on suffering, a deeper understanding of faith, and a lasting hope rooted in God’s promise to make all things new. Life may still be hard. Doubt may still come. Suffering may still be part of the journey. But because Jesus lives, we do not face any of it without hope. The resurrection fixes our outlook, not our problems—and that changes everything.

On Easter Day, we celebrate the moment that changed everything. In this message, we explore Matthew 28, Acts 10, and Colossians 3 to see what the empty tomb really means. The resurrection of Jesus is not just an event in history—it is an invitation. Because the tomb is empty, we are no longer bound to the darkness of sin, fear, and death. We are invited into freedom, into peace with God, and into a new way of living. But what does that actually look like? This sermon walks through the first Easter morning, the testimony of the apostles, and the call to set our minds on things above. It challenges us to consider where we stand in the story of Jesus and what it means to truly live in light of the resurrection. The empty tomb is not just something to believe. It is something that changes how we live.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem as king. Crowds gather. Palms are waved. Voices cry out, “Hosanna.” Everything about the moment feels like the arrival of a victorious ruler. But within days, that same king will be rejected, humiliated, and crucified. So what kind of king is Jesus? In this message, we walk through the beginning of Holy Week and see that Jesus does not claim power the way we expect. He does not grasp for authority or demand recognition. Instead, he humbles himself, taking on the role of a servant and willingly walking the path of suffering. Philippians 2 reminds us that though Jesus was in very nature God, he emptied himself. Isaiah 50 shows us that this suffering was not accidental—it was embraced. And Matthew 21 reveals that even as he entered Jerusalem as king, he was already moving toward the cross. Jesus is our suffering king. This episode invites you to slow down and walk through the full story of Holy Week. Not just the celebration of Palm Sunday. Not just the victory of Easter. But the suffering in between. Because we cannot understand the resurrection without the cross.

We all carry parts of our lives that feel broken. Moments we wish we could undo. Habits we can’t seem to change. Wounds that don’t heal as quickly as we hoped. If we’re honest, many of us wish we could start over—like an extreme makeover for our lives. But what if God isn’t interested in surface-level change? In this message, we explore what Scripture teaches about real transformation. Through Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones, the story of Jesus raising Lazarus, and Paul’s words in Romans 8, we see a consistent truth: God is not just improving lives—he is rebuilding them. This kind of transformation doesn’t come from trying harder or doing better. It comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, who brings life where there was once only death. And it points forward to an even greater promise—that one day, God will fully restore what is broken through resurrection. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life can really change, this message is for you. God is in the business of rebuilding lives and renovating hearts.

How do you know if you're seeing the world clearly? Most of us assume that we do. We trust our instincts. We trust the values of our culture. We trust what seems obvious to us. But Scripture repeatedly shows that human beings often mistake blindness for sight. In this sermon, we explore the contrast between the way the world sees and the way God sees through three passages: 1 Samuel 16, John 9, and Ephesians 5. Samuel assumes he knows what a king should look like. The disciples assume suffering must be caused by sin. The Pharisees assume Jesus cannot be from God because he does not fit their expectations. But in each case, Jesus exposes the limits of human perception. The man born blind ends up seeing more clearly than the religious experts, and his story forces us to confront a difficult question: are we seeing Jesus clearly, or are we still living by the world’s assumptions? Lent invites us to wake up from the lies we have inherited and step into the light of Christ. When the light of Jesus shines on our lives, we begin to see the world as it truly is—and we are called to leave the darkness behind and live as children of the light.

We trust drivers in the other lane to stay in their lane. We trust engineers who built the bridges we cross. We trust doctors, pharmacists, mechanics, and cooks to do their jobs well. Our lives depend on strangers more often than we realize. But if we place that kind of trust in people every day without thinking twice, why is it so hard for us to trust God? In this sermon from John 4, Exodus 17, and Romans 5, we explore what Scripture teaches about faith and loyalty to God. In the wilderness, Israel struggled to trust God for their physical needs. At the well in Samaria, Jesus offered living water that leads to eternal life. And in Romans, Paul reminds us that through faith in Jesus we receive justification and peace with God. Taken together, these passages reveal something essential about our relationship with God: faith—faithful trust and allegiance—is the currency of harmony with God. God wants more than occasional belief. He wants our loyalty. This message invites us to ask a simple but searching question: who gets your trust?

Most of us carry around an invisible scoreboard. We weigh the good against the bad and quietly hope the balance tips in our favor. We assume that if we are “good enough,” things will work out in the end. But in John 3, when Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, Jesus disrupts that entire way of thinking. He doesn’t talk about moral performance. He doesn’t mention spiritual resumes. Instead, he says something shocking: you must be born again. So what does that mean? And what is the true “currency” of the Kingdom of God? In this sermon from the Second Sunday in Lent, we explore how salvation is not earned through good works, religious heritage, or church membership. Instead, it comes through faith — understood not as vague belief, but as trust, loyalty, and allegiance to Jesus. From Genesis 12 and the faith of Abraham, to Romans 4 and justification by faith, to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus and the famous words of John 3 verses 16–17, we see one consistent truth: Faith in Jesus saves. Lent invites us to examine where our trust truly rests. Are we relying on our performance? Or have we given Jesus our allegiance? The currency of the Kingdom is not what we do — it is who we trust.

In the wilderness, Jesus faces a voice humanity has heard since the garden: “Did God really say?” On the First Sunday in Lent, we explore the connection between Genesis 3, Matthew 4, and Romans 5. Where Adam listened to the voice and death began to reign, Jesus stands firm. Hungry, tested, and offered a shortcut to power, Christ refuses to take matters into his own hands. This moment in the wilderness is more than a test of willpower. It is a showdown with sin itself. And when Jesus says no to temptation, he begins the work of dethroning death. Lent invites us to slow down and notice the voices that shape our decisions — the doubts, desires, and distortions that pull us away from trusting God. But Lent also points us forward. Because of Jesus’ obedience, death does not have the final word. Jesus dethroned death so that we could reign in life.

The Transfiguration is one of the most mysterious and decisive moments in the life of Jesus. On a mountain, before Peter, James, and John, his glory is revealed. His face shines. A cloud descends. A voice speaks from heaven. And suddenly, the categories people have used to describe him—teacher, healer, prophet—are no longer enough. In this sermon from Matthew 17, we explore why this moment matters so deeply. The Transfiguration is not a strange side story. It is a revelation. It confronts our assumptions about who Jesus is and forces us to wrestle with a question: do we believe the story is true? As we move toward Lent, this mountaintop moment prepares us for the journey to Calvary. The one who shines with glory is the same one who walks toward the cross. And that changes everything. Who do you say he is?

When Jesus begins his public ministry in Matthew 4, he doesn’t start with encouragement or self-improvement. He begins with a call: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” John the Baptist has been arrested. The story shifts. And instead of retreating, Jesus steps forward — returning to Galilee, the very region once described by Isaiah as a land of darkness. Where rebellion began, redemption begins. Where hope seemed lost, light dawns. But Jesus doesn’t stop at repentance. He calls fishermen to leave their nets. He calls ordinary people to follow him. Not to admire him. Not to agree with him. To follow. In this episode, we explore what repentance truly means, why the kingdom of heaven demands allegiance, and what it looks like to leave our world for his. We also reflect on the powerful images of light breaking into darkness and yokes being shattered — reminders that Jesus doesn’t just confront sin, he sets people free. The call that Jesus made in the first century still stands today. The question is simple, but not easy: Will we follow?

In this sermon, Pastor Chris explores the story of Jesus’ presentation at the temple—a quiet moment early in his life that reveals something profound about who he is and what he does in the world. As Mary and Joseph faithfully bring Jesus to the temple, two long-waiting witnesses, Simeon and Anna, recognize what most others miss: God has returned to his people. But this moment is not only about recognition—it’s also a warning. Simeon declares that Jesus will reveal hearts, exposing what people truly trust and wait for. From the very beginning, Jesus is shown to be both Savior and divider, comfort and confrontation. This sermon invites us to reflect on what we are really waiting for, and what Jesus might reveal about our hearts when we encounter him. Jesus is God’s Messiah, our Savior—and his story still asks something of us today.

We live in a world that depends on connections—power, internet, devices—and we know how frustrating it is when those connections fail. Scripture points to an even deeper brokenness beneath our everyday frustrations: our broken connection with God. In John 1 verses 29–42, John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and in 1 Corinthians 1 verses 1–9, the apostle Paul names what Jesus gives as a gift: koinonia—not casual fellowship, but a restored relationship with God. This Epiphany sermon invites us to discover who Jesus is and why he came: to mend what was broken, reconnect us with God, and form a new community shaped by grace, love, and shared life.

Jesus’ baptism isn’t just a meaningful spiritual moment—it’s the signal that everything is about to change. In this episode, we explore Matthew chapter 3 alongside Isaiah chapter 42 and Acts chapter 10 to see how Jesus’ baptism functions like an opening ceremony for his ministry, putting us on alert that something decisive is beginning. As heaven opens, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks, Jesus is revealed as the Spirit-anointed Servant who has come to bring justice to the nations, to free those held in darkness, and to confront the powers of sin and evil. By connecting these passages, we see that Jesus’ baptism marks the start of a mission not just for Israel, but for the whole world—a mission aimed at real freedom. Jesus came to bring freedom from sin, from the power of the world, and from Satan, and his baptism tells us that this work of restoration and life has truly begun.

Every good story has a moment when everything shifts—when unanswered questions start to come into focus and the direction of the story changes. Epiphany marks one of those moments in the story of Jesus. In this episode, we explore the visit of the magi and why their arrival matters far more than a familiar Christmas detail. These outsiders see what insiders miss: the true King has been born. Their journey signals a turning point in God’s plan—not just for Israel, but for the nations. What begins with a star over Bethlehem becomes the moment when God’s promise to reunite the world starts to come into view. Through Isaiah’s vision of light breaking into darkness, Matthew’s account of the magi, and Paul’s explanation of the mystery revealed in Christ, we see how this moment tips the scales back toward harmony—and what it means for us to live in that reality today.

Christmas often moves too fast. Decorations come down, attention shifts, and before we know it, the season is behind us. But what if Christmas is asking something more of us? In this message, we slow down to explore what Jesus actually came to do. Drawing from Isaiah, the opening of John’s Gospel, and Paul’s words in Galatians, we reflect on how Jesus comes as light in the darkness—not only to expose what is broken, but to free us from it. More than that, we see how Christmas is about belonging: God inviting the world into his family. This episode challenges some of our assumptions about Christmas, forgiveness, and who God’s grace is really for. It’s a reminder that Christmas isn’t just a moment to celebrate—it’s a reality that reshapes how we see God, ourselves, and the world.

Why does Christmas matter—and will life actually get better? In this Christmas Eve message, we step back and ask the deeper question behind the season. If God created the world with order, purpose, and harmony, why does life so often feel broken? Why do fear, division, grief, and weariness seem so normal? Tracing the story from Genesis to the manger, this sermon explores how human self-rule shattered the harmony God intended—and why Christmas is God’s response to that brokenness. Rather than walking away, God made a way. In Jesus, God steps into the darkness to bring light, hope, and the promise of peace. Christmas isn’t denial. It’s an announcement: the story isn’t over, and brokenness isn’t the final word.

This sermon explores why the virgin birth is not an optional detail, but the foundation of the Christmas story—because it tells us salvation begins with God, not us. As we wait during Advent, we are invited to remain faithful, trusting the whole story the church has confessed from the beginning. Emmanuel. God with us.

Our world feels increasingly divided—socially, politically, and culturally. We sort ourselves into communities that look, think, and live like us. But Advent reminds us that Jesus comes to bring a different kind of sorting altogether. In this sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent, we explore how Scripture presents the mission of the Messiah as a great reversal. Through Isaiah’s vision of a road through the desert, Mary’s song of the proud brought low and the hungry filled, and Jesus’ own words about his ministry, we see a Savior who does not reinforce the world’s values but overturns them. Jesus brings life to dry places, hope to the overlooked, and a kingdom that reshapes what power, success, and faithfulness truly mean. This message invites us to consider how following Jesus reorders our assumptions, reshapes our values, and sustains us as we wait for the world to be made new.

Advent invites us into a season of watching, waiting, and hoping for the day Jesus returns and makes the world whole. In this sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent, Pastor Chris explores what Scripture teaches about Jesus’ return and how followers of Jesus are called to live in the until his return. Isaiah points to the coming kingdom where God brings peace, Matthew reminds us that no one knows the hour of Christ’s return, and Paul urges believers to wake up and live the way of Jesus while they wait.

On Christ the King Sunday, we explore one of the most surprising claims at the heart of the Christian story: that Jesus is our crucified king. Drawing from Jeremiah 23, Colossians 1, and Luke 23, Pastor Chris walks through God’s long-promised plan to restore the world—not through political power or military strength, but through a king who takes his throne through the cross. We’ll unpack why God promised a righteous shepherd for his scattered people, what it means to be rescued from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus, and how the crucifixion is not a failure but the very moment the true king takes his victory. As Advent approaches, this episode invites you to remember who rules the world, who gathers his people, and who will one day return to make all things whole.

Prayer can feel complicated—like something we should understand but don’t. But when Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in Luke 11, he doesn’t begin with a technique or a formula. He begins with a vision of who God really is. In this message, Pastor Chris explores the Lord’s Prayer as a pattern that reveals the heart of God: a good, loving, generous, faithful Father who wants us to come to him. We’ll look at what Jesus teaches about seeing God clearly, depending on him daily, receiving forgiveness, and learning to trust him with our deepest needs. If prayer has ever felt confusing, overwhelming, or out of reach, this passage offers hope. Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock—not because we know the right words, but because the Father welcomes his children.

In this message from Luke 18, Pastor Chris Hirschy reflects on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and what it reveals about the power of small, simple things. Prayer, Jesus teaches, is one of those things — simple enough for anyone to do, yet powerful enough to move heaven. In the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, Jesus calls His followers to keep asking, keep showing up, and keep trusting that God hears. Persistent prayer doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be faithful.

For as long as humans have existed, we’ve tried to climb our way up to God—building towers to the heavens, creating rituals to get His attention, and searching for ways to reach the divine. But the story of the Bible tells something completely different: God’s desire has always been to come down and live with us. In this final message from Exodus, Pastor Chris explores how the Tabernacle foreshadows God’s dream for creation—a world where heaven and earth meet. From the Garden of Eden to Mount Sinai, from the Tabernacle to the New Jerusalem, Scripture reveals one consistent truth: God’s endgame is to live with us.

Have you ever made a mistake so big you thought it was the end? Israel did when they built the golden calf. In that moment, they broke the covenant with God, and justice was required. But instead of abandoning his people, God showed mercy through a mediator. In this message from Exodus 32–34, Pastor Chris explores what happens when we fail, why forgiveness isn’t free, and how Jesus is the greater mediator who takes the judgment we deserve. Because of Jesus, we receive God’s grace and mercy.

Home is where you belong — but have you ever thought about whether God needs a home? In Exodus, God filled the tabernacle so he could live right in the middle of his people. In John 1, we see that promise fulfilled: Jesus “tabernacled” among us. This message explores God’s deepest desire to live with his people and shows how Jesus became one of us so God could live with us.

We all try to make life work—but too often, it feels like using the wrong tool for the wrong job. God gave the Ten Commandments not just as a set of rules, but as a vision for what life is meant to be: harmony with Him and harmony with our neighbor. In this sermon from Exodus 20:1–17, Pastor Chris Hirschy explores how the Ten Commandments reveal God’s design for life, why harmony is at the center of God’s desire for the world, and how Jesus invites us to live into that harmony today.

When Israel stood at Mount Sinai, God invited them into his presence. But instead of stepping forward, the people pulled back and asked for a middle man. Moses filled that role for a time, but only Jesus would ultimately bridge the gap forever. In this sermon, Pastor Chris explores Exodus 19–20 and Deuteronomy 18 to show how Jesus is the true mediator—the one who stands between us and God so that we can enter his presence with confidence. Listen in and discover why Jesus is the person in the middle we’ve always needed.

Have you ever received an invitation that could change your life? In Exodus 19, God extends an invitation to Israel at Mount Sinai: to become his treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. That same calling extends to us today through Jesus. In this sermon, Pastor Chris unpacks what it means to be chosen by God, how the church continues Israel’s mission, and why we are called to take God to the world. From Israel’s covenant at Sinai, to the words of Jesus and the example of the early church, this episode explores what it looks like to live set apart, love God and others, and share the story of Jesus with the world.

We spend so much of life preparing for the future — saving, planning, and storing up — but what happens when our plans can’t meet today’s needs? In this message from Exodus 15–17, we follow the Israelites through three wilderness tests: bitter water at Marah, manna and quail in the desert, and water from the rock at Horeb. In each case, God shows his heart for his people by providing exactly what they need, exactly when they need it. This sermon challenges us to move from self-reliance to trust. Do we truly believe God will provide? And what does it mean to live each day as though that promise is true?

Does following God mean life gets easier? In this week’s message from Exodus 12–14, we follow Israel’s dramatic escape from Egypt—and see that their freedom comes with new challenges. But even in the wilderness, God is with them. And through each trial, their faith is tested and strengthened. This sermon invites us to rethink how we view hardship, asking: are the struggles we face simply obstacles—or opportunities to trust God more deeply? Because faith is built through trial and trust.

In this sermon, we explore how God used the Passover meal to save Israel—and how that same story finds its fulfillment in Jesus. The blood of the lamb spared Israel’s firstborn. The blood of Jesus saves the world. Like the Israelites, we remember by reliving the story. Communion isn’t just a ritual—it’s the meal that defines who we are.

We like to think we’re in control—of our time, our choices, even our future. But what if that sense of control is just an illusion? In this episode, we explore Exodus 6:28–10:28, where Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the ancient world, goes head-to-head with God—and loses. Again and again, Pharaoh refuses to surrender. He negotiates, resists, and hardens his heart. But nothing he does can stop what God is doing. This message challenges us to take a hard look at the places in our own lives where we try to assert our will over God’s. Are we clinging to control when we should be surrendering? Are we living like Pharaoh—bargaining with God on our terms? Through this passage, we’re reminded of one powerful truth: nothing is greater than our God.

When life gets worse instead of better, it’s easy to question whether God is really in control. In this week’s message from Exodus 4–6, we watch as Moses obeys God, only to see everything fall apart—Pharaoh pushes back harder, the Israelites suffer more, and even Moses begins to doubt. But through it all, God is working. His power is not missing; it’s building. Join us as we explore how God’s mighty hand is revealed not in the absence of struggle, but through it.