Experimental Sermons Podcast

America is not a credal nation but a covenant nation, and her bankers, governors, and Supreme Court justices are all officers of a covenant they refuse to acknowledge.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Martyrdom and forgiveness are not works the believer performs but gifts Christ gives — and the church's task today is not to imitate the saints but to call her own deformed institutions back to the covenant.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

The same fear falls on every soul, but only those called by name follow the Shepherd out — and your politics reveals which voice you follow.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

When the Word cuts your heart and you cry "Brethren, what shall we do?", the only faithful answer is costly public repentance—because private faith is not enough in this time of exile.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

The church has surrendered her power by misreading Scripture. 1 Peter 1:3-9 is not a counsel of withdrawal but a mandate for conquest.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Dell confronts the Church’s growing despair and individualism in this Easter sermon. Anchored in Jeremiah 31:4 (“Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel!”), he shows how the resurrection is not merely about personal salvation but about national restoration through the One Man to whom the Lord appeared from afar. Drawing from the prophetic “end from the beginning,” the shift from plural to singular, Mary Magdalene’s encounter at the empty tomb, and the lectionary readings, he names America’s deep apostasy, the spirit of despair, and the temptation to bemoan our lot as 21st-century exiles. As long as the risen Christ has defeated death and dealt with sin definitively on the cross, there is still mercy, time, and a glorious inheritance for both individuals and nations. Believers are urged to reject fear and complaint, live as citizens of virgin Israel, proclaim “I have seen the Lord,” and get to work rebuilding—because the dark night is over and the eternal day has dawned.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Dell confronts the Church’s growing silence in the face of lies and evil in this Palm Sunday sermon. Anchored in Matthew 21:10–11, he shows how Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem “stirred” the entire city and provoked the Pharisees to demand silence. Drawing from the crowds’ bold confession and Jesus’ reply that even the stones would cry out, he calls God’s people to reject fear and laziness. As long as Christ exercises His prophetic ministry, there is still mercy and time to repent. Believers are urged to shout “Hosanna,” proclaim “the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee,” and refuse to be silenced as Holy Week begins.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Episcopalian podcast, Jake Dell reveals how bishops in the Episcopal Church are quietly overriding parish rights through uncanonical “priest in charge” arrangements and flawed search processes. He explains why vestries must reclaim their canonical authority to elect rectors before episcopal overreach permanently weakens faithful congregations.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Dell confronts the spiritual deadness of modern hearts—enslaved by the flesh, hostile to God, and unable to save themselves—in this Lent sermon. Anchored in Romans 8:7, he draws from Ezekiel’s dry bones and Jesus raising Lazarus in John 11 to illustrate monergism: God alone gives life where none exists, commanding the dead to rise by His word and Spirit. Exposing synergism as false reliance on human cooperation, he proclaims Christ’s vicarious obedience on the cross as the path to revival. Believers are called to rest in God’s finished work, mortify the flesh, and walk in freedom to obey—seeing God’s glory as we approach Holy Week and Easter.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Dell confronts modern America's fear, collective guilt, and spiritual blindness in this Lent sermon. Drawing from the healing of the man born blind in John 9, he exposes kangaroo-court show trials—ancient and contemporary—that cast out those who confess “The man called Jesus” as Savior. He calls believers to bold witness, steadfast faithfulness, and separation from darkness, so that—through their testimony—those who do not see may see.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Dell confronts modern America's spiritual thirst and murmuring doubt in this Lent sermon, drawing from Israel's grumbling at Rephidim to call believers to trust God's faithful providence and the living water struck from Christ the Rock.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

God’s promises to Abraham—of land and blessing—are irrevocable. History seems to contradict full fulfillment, yet Scripture insists not one inch is lost. Jesus, the true Israel, bore the curse on the cross so the blessing comes to whoever believes. The promise stands firm, pointing to Christ and future mercy for Israel.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

God’s Word is complete and sufficient: Eve added to it and fell; Christ quoted it faithfully and triumphed. The garden required guarding; the Church demands the same courage today—expel compromise or face judgment. Honor God’s “secret kindness” with gratitude and fearless obedience.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In this sermon for Last Epiphany (Year A), we confront the hard truth: compromise with the enemies of God—whether through tradition, experience, or cultural retreat—leads only to defeat.From the commanding voice in the cloud to the Psalms’ call to “Kiss the Son,” the message is clear: listen to Him alone, wield His Word as our weapon, and sing His truth in the face of a crumbling world.Or watch everything—your children, your grandchildren, your country—slip away.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Hypocritical religion hides sin behind pious displays—fasting, prayer, and church attendance that fool people but never God. Isaiah exposed it long ago; Jesus fulfilled the law by revealing truth on the cross, covering our shame with His blood, and calling us to live as genuine salt and light.“No Gaslighting God” — discover how God’s law brings true glory, not cover-ups, and how Christ’s finished work frees us to walk in good works that actually shine.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

America is drowning in moral chaos—cities gripped by rebellion, families shattered by lawless ideologies, and the Church too often silent as darkness spreads unchecked. But what if the same light that first broke through Galilee’s ancient gloom is the only power that can restore God’s righteous order today? This sermon pulls no punches: moral softness is crippling the Church and nation alike, yet the cross has real power to heal weakness, boldly rebuke sin, and renew our covenant from the ground up. Listen or read “Restoring God’s Moral Order: From Galilee’s Darkness to Minneapolis’s Rebellion” and discover why repentance isn’t optional—it’s the urgent path forward.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Christ is supreme over all nations. His mission is never “too light a thing” to restore only Israel, but to shine as a light to the ends of the earth, taking away the sin of the whole world. We grasp this supremacy only through divine illumination via the better baptism of the Holy Spirit, which graciously remakes us as new creations—objectively superior in standing—for God’s vast, eternal global purpose.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In John’s stunned question—“Do you come to me?”—we hear the entire gospel: the sinless Son steps into the Jordan not because He needs repentance, but because He comes to us first in sovereign grace, bearing our double curse (the judgment of death for all and the covenant penalties we deserve) so the waters of judgment become the waters of renewal and life. No more clinging to fleshly generation or humanistic striving; only His seeking love descends like a dove, declaring over broken sinners: “This is my beloved Son… and you are mine too.” New episode drops Sunday afternoon—subscribe wherever you get podcasts and join us at the Jordan, where grace finds us before we ever find it.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Two weeks after Christmas, the trees are curbside trash and the sentimental baby Jesus is boxed away—but what if the real fury boiling in hearts (and statehouses) isn’t over a harmless doll, but a King who demands every throne? Herod smiled, said “that I too may worship,” then plotted massacre to silence the threat.Today, Herod Lamont, Herod Murphy, Herod DeLauro, Herod Tong, and Herod Mamdani hear the same gospel and conspire just as subtly. This Sunday, uncover the biblical opposite of worship—insincere lips hiding murderous intent—and the one explosive doctrine that flips their conspiracy into your unbreakable hope. You can't unhear this.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

What if the real gift of Christmas isn’t just a Savior in a manger—but God adopting you as a full, empowered heir, turning timid spiritual slaves into bold sons and daughters who cry “Abba! Father!” and wield royal power over life and nations? In this provocative Christmas 1 sermon, we dive deep into Galatians 4 and John 1 to expose why most Christians live in weakness when the incarnation promises transformative sonship, proven by Christ’s sovereign authority over death—and the staggering threefold inheritance waiting for every true believer. Dare to listen: are you living as a powerless slave… or as the confident heir Christmas actually made you?Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

We love the gentle virgin mother at Christmas—yet her pregnancy looked like the result of adultery deserving death. Mary chose courageous silence, trusting God to vindicate her. Joseph learned restraint. We, however, stay shamefully silent while evil festers and innocent blood cries out.But God refuses our quiet compromise. He gives us the sign of the Virgin and the counsel of Emmanuel, calling us to an obedience that may cost us comfort—yet promises hope.This Sunday, hear how the God who reigns over nations offers renewal to a spoiled Connecticut vine and a judged people facing 2026. Emmanuel is with us—and His face will shine again.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus stares straight at the crowd—and straight at us—and asks the question none of us want to answer: “Why did you really come here today?” To feel better? To look spiritual? Or because you’re finally tired of the lies, the hypocrisy, and the shallow game we all play?If you’ve ever wondered whether church is just another performance, or if Jesus is actually dangerous enough to expose and save you at the same time, this sermon will confront you, cut you, and—if you don’t turn away—lift you into the staggering joy that even the least in His kingdom is greater than John the Baptist.Listen at your own risk. The dead are being raised, and you might be one of them.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Advent is not a season of sentimental carols; it is a season of the axe and the winnowing fork. Isaiah 11 declares that the same gentle shoot from Jesse’s stump will one day strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with His breath. The wolf does not yet lie down with the lamb, the nations are still groping in darkness, and the visible Church is riddled with idols and false teachers. Yet right now, in verse 10, the Root of Jesse stands as an ensign—and the nations are supposed to seek Him through a hopeful, united, ransomed Church that refuses to lower the standard. This sermon asks the only question that matters this December: when the final sifting comes, will you be wheat headed for the barn, or chaff for the unquenchable fire? Come hear what Scripture, churchmanship, and even a phone call to your selectman have to do with escaping the wrath to come.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

When the second rainbow flag went up on Main Street this year, I stopped walking my dog down that street. I know where that road leads. This Advent 1 sermon (“Wake Up, Woodbury! The Ark on Main Street”) is my plain-spoken plea to a town I have come to love: the same moral rot that brought the flood in Noah’s day is now flying proudly over two of our churches, and most of Woodbury is still asleep. Using Isaiah’s vision, Paul’s wake-up call in Romans 13, and Jesus’ chilling words in Matthew 24, I refuse to let us drift comfortably into another Christmas. I have to ask the one terrifying, loving question: when the Son of Man comes suddenly to separate the righteous from the wicked, which side of the ark door will you be on? Read or listen; you need to hear this.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In this sermon for the Feast of Christ the King, we strip away the comforting lies and face the terrifying truth: sin is only the husk God always planned to tear off at the cross. We discover why the same voice that scares hell out of the unrepentant thief is the voice that lets the repentant one breathe free in Paradise — and why, as long as Christ reigns, neither the Church nor Christian civilization has to die.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In a world of fading glory and delayed judgment, a weary remnant faces corrupt priests, empty temples, and man-made salvation—until the Sun of Righteousness rises with healing in His wings, scattering the faithful through persecution to testify, endure, and leap like calves from the stall while every stone of human pride comes crashing down.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

What if the "last hour" has already begun? St. Paul warned the Thessalonians that the mystery of lawlessness is at work—and closer than ever, as last week’s NYC election of a defiant democratic socialist mayor-elect vividly shows. This Sunday, uncover the three dangers shaking the Church, the apostolic truth that anchors us, and the unshakable hope that Jesus will crush the man of lawlessness with the breath of His mouth. Don’t miss this bold, biblical wake-up call.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In a world drunk on humanist “justice” that redefines evil, sacrifices the innocent, and crowns the state as savior, one short tax collector climbed a tree and discovered the only payment that actually works. Read or listen to this sermon to uncover why Zaccheus’ cash couldn’t buy salvation, why humanism’s bloodlust never ends, and how Christ’s infinite restitution finally sets the oppressed—and the oppressor—free.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

What if your “good deeds” are just extortion in disguise? In a culture drowning in virtue-signaling “Love Your Neighbor” yard signs, pulpits silenced due to cowardice, and nearly 200,000 unauthorized immigrants overwhelming Connecticut towns, this week’s sermon exposes the lie: The Pharisee tithed perfectly, fasted twice a week, fed the hungry—yet the Roman-collaborating tax collector walked away justified.Why?Not for his breast-beating humility, but by Christ’s borrowed, blood-bought humility from the cross. Progressive ideology targets your church, schools, and government. Jeremiah’s covenant plea, Luke’s temple prayer, and Paul’s faithfully run race, define the faithful Christian’s response. False humility keeps you silent; true gospel courage means Christians of all ages can manfully fight under His banner—starting now. Hope in God alone justifies. Everything else crumbles. Read or listen to this important sermon.Sermon Notes:#71," New Founding Podcast, episode 71, YouTube video, 2:26:23, premiered October 17, 2025, accessed October 22, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMu3gu8NXX8.Editorial Board, “No Kings: Violent Rhetoric,” Republican-American, October 24, 2025, https://www.ctinsider.com/waterbury/opinion/article/no-kings-violent-rhetoric-21116426.php.Migration Policy Institute, “Profile of the Unauthorized Population: Connecticut,” accessed October 22, 2025, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/CT.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

What does it mean to persist in a world that offers no true justice? In the parable of the persistent widow and Jacob’s wrestling with the angel, we see not just human striving, but a divine call to unyielding hope. This Sunday, dive into a message that unveils the emptiness of humanism’s “standardless standard” and points us to Christ, the true vindicator who fulfills God’s promise. Join us to explore how the elect are called to see God face to face—not through effort, but through faith in the Messiah who strove for us. Don’t miss this reflection on where true hope lies in an exhausted world.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In a world where God’s people face subjugation—whether by ancient kings or modern bureaucracies—the cry of Elisha rings true: “There is a prophet in Israel!” Today’s readings from 2 Kings and Luke reveal the failure of human leaders who reject God’s Word and the hope offered by those who trust in Him. From an enslaved girl’s faith to a Samaritan leper’s gratitude, we see that God’s power prevails over dhimmitude, the subtle subjugation of believers in our day. Discover how faith in Christ, the true Prophet, King, and Priest, empowers us to reject the world’s chains and live boldly for God’s glory.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

When pastors shy away from the public square and believers doubt their calling, God’s Word declares that faith as small as a mustard seed can uproot trees and transform nations (Habakkuk 2:4, Luke 17:6). In this sermon, “Our Faith Is Sufficient,” discover how Christ’s gift of faith shatters the chains of works-based religion, empowering you to live righteously and proclaim His truth boldly in a rebellious world.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Join Tom and Debbie Berrill as they deliver a powerful, faith-driven message at Awake CT on September 27, 2025, at South Congregational Church in Hartford. Discover their bold plan to reclaim Connecticut’s legislature for godly values, inspired by the legacy of Thomas Hooker, the “Father of American Democracy.” Learn how faith, prayer, and action can awaken churchgoers to vote against policies that undermine family, faith, and freedom. This is a call to take back Connecticut from spiritual and cultural decline—don’t miss this inspiring vision for change!Highlights with Timestamps:* 00:00:00 - Introduction and PurposeTom and Debbie express gratitude for speaking at South Congregational Church, a historic site near Thomas Hooker’s home, and introduce their divinely inspired plan to reclaim the Connecticut legislature.* 00:01:00 - Historical ContextThe speakers highlight the 355-year legacy of South Congregational Church, founded to preserve spiritual purity, and emphasize Connecticut’s Christian roots under Thomas Hooker’s influence.* 00:02:34 - Spiritual DeclineTom reveals how Connecticut, once centered on Jesus Christ, has been pulled away from its godly foundation by “Satan’s machinations,” sparking their mission to reverse this trend.* 00:03:31 - Power of FaithDebbie reads an excerpt from Thomas Hooker’s sermon, emphasizing faith as the key to fruitful action, referencing Abraham’s obedience and Ephesians 2:8-10.* 00:06:50 - Call to ActionDrawing from the story of Joshua and Caleb, the Berrills inspire the audience to see themselves as “mighty warriors” with faith to overcome challenges and reclaim Connecticut for God.* 00:08:30 - Political StrategyThe plan targets 35 winnable districts to flip 27 seats in the 2026 midterm election, focusing on mobilizing the 6,000 non-voting churchgoers per district.* 00:09:47 - Exposing Legislative IssuesTom lists specific Democratic policies—pornography in schools, full-term abortion, gender ideology, and critical race theory—urging churchgoers to vote against these agendas.* 00:11:55 - Flyer CampaignA prototype flyer, “Wake, Connecticut,” is introduced to inform churchgoers about harmful policies and rally them to vote in 2026 to restore godly values.* 00:16:00 - Faith Warrior PlanThe Berrills propose recruiting 70 “faith warriors” by May 2026 to pray for and engage churches and Republican candidates in 35 districts, ensuring alignment with biblical values.* 00:20:06 - Closing and ContactTom and Debbie invite suggestions and support, providing their email ([email protected]) and phone number (860-877-1547) to build a movement to take back Connecticut. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

In a world where “Hate Has No Home Here” signs dot our lawns, promising peace but silencing truth, what happens when biblical fidelity is branded as bigotry? This Sunday, we’ll confront the unbridgeable divide of Luke 16’s Rich Man and Lazarus — not just between heaven and hell — but between a culture that fears conviction and the gospel’s unyielding call to repentance.Drawing from Amos’s woes against the complacent rich and 1 Timothy’s charge to fight the good fight, we’ll unpack how even a resurrection couldn’t sway hardened hearts. And yes, we’ll address the fresh sting of the Litchfield South Association’s letter, labeling our pulpit’s words “hateful rhetoric” after a resident’s complaint to United Church of Christ leadership. The chasm runs deep, even in our own back yard.Yet, amid the exile of unbelief, God’s voice breaks through: “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” Below is a message that challenges, comforts, and calls us to bridge what we can — with prayer, plain truth, and contentment in Christ. Don’t give up on the lost; eternity’s logic demands we act now.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Prepare to be gripped by a powerful message delivered by Pastor Jake Dell of the First Congregational Church of Woodbury, Connecticut, at South Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut, on September 27, 2025. In this compelling talk, Pastor Dell shares a vivid vision of divine light shattering darkness at the state Capitol and exposes the subtle yet pervasive influence of witchcraft in our institutions and daily lives. Discover how scripture, faith, and prayer become your shield in this spiritual warfare, and why even a small gathering can wield mighty power. Tune in to learn how to stand firm against malevolent forces and embrace trials as pathways to divine strength.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Discover how the parable of the dishonest steward challenges us to live with consistent faithfulness, exposing hypocrisy in the church, and pointing to Christ’s righteousness as the key to God’s kingdom.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Charlie Kirk’s blood cries out in a nation drowning in lies—rainbow flags in churches, hate masquerading as love, and a culture on the brink. Tune in to hear “Kirk’s Cry: God’s Grace for a Demoralized Generation,” a sermon that rips the veil off liberal hypocrisy and calls every generation to repent and fight for Christ’s truth.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus’ call to “hate” family and self shocks us—unnatural, impossible, unattractive. Yet, in Luke 14:25-33, discover how Christ transforms this challenge into a path of true freedom. Join us to explore why choosing Him is the most natural, possible, and attractive decision you’ll ever make.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus transforms a simple dinner party into a marriage feast, urging us to invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind, promising blessing at the resurrection of the just—this is the heart of the sermon "Know Your Place: Lessons in Etiquette from Proverbs and Jesus." In the wake of last week’s tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, the message challenges modern egalitarianism and its drift from godly order, contrasting biblical etiquette (sexual and otherwise) with a culture losing its way. Through Christ’s sacrificial humility on the cross, we’re called to embrace the lowest place, finding exaltation and hope in reordering our lives by faith.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Join us for an inspiring episode as Danny Anderson, a second-year student from the University of New Hampshire, shares his powerful story of transformation. Growing up in Naugatuck, Connecticut, Danny chased popularity and pleasure, only to find himself unfulfilled. A chance encounter at a track meet and a pivotal conversation on a Long Island ferry ride opened his heart to God’s calling. Through the influence of a Christian family and the piercing words of Scripture, Danny discovered his true identity in Christ. Tune in to hear how God turned a life of seeking approval into one of abundant purpose, and be encouraged to see His hand in your own journey.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Are you tired of a church that tiptoes around sin, blessing backpacks while the world burns? This sermon rips the veil off a wicked culture, calling out licentious churches and spineless leaders—like Connecticut’s Attorney General, dodging justice for depravity in Hartford. God’s justice demands action, not excuses. Join us as we unpack Abraham’s bold plea, Jesus’ call to relentless prayer, and the church’s mandate to confront evil head-on. No compromise. No retreat. It’s time to disciple nations, not coddle them. Tune in and be challenged to transform the wicked through God’s unyielding truth.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Choose the "good portion" over distraction! My sermon on Luke 10:38-42 calls us to prioritize God's Word and reclaim our Christian roots to beat Marxists at their own game. Tune in to ignite faith and freedom!https://open.substack.com/pub/jwdell/p/choose-the-good?r=kus59&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=trueStay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Join us for the final Christianity and Liberalism lecture at First Church Woodbury, exploring Machen’s call for reformation! Is salvation Christ’s atonement or liberal ethics? Can a church stand without creeds? Machen exposes liberal redefinitions turning Christianity into progressivism. From my Regime Change sermon to petitioning with Senators Martin and Berthel, we’re reclaiming biblical truth. Tune in to learn how we’re reforming our church to honor our Protestant Christian heritage—don’t miss the series finale!Lecture Notes:Download the class handout here.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Jake on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

The Texas floods at Camp Mystic left us reeling, with memes promising comfort but breeding doubt. Why didn’t God save those girls? Skeptics question, and churchgoers waver. This sermon cuts through sentimental distractions, revealing our wayward hearts through the Good Samaritan’s obedience to the law of the gospel. Discover how Christ’s cross answers “gotcha” questions and calls us to obey God’s law.Sermon Handout:Download the sermon handout here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-VQWaXYuhpT5Jvgq6lcnidxdQ0MgKe6yWxHaKMc2aro/edit?usp=drive_link.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus sent His disciples as lambs among wolves, armed not with fire but with a weapon more powerful: God’s law. In this week’s sermon, discover how to join the “church militant” in a spiritual battle to save souls. Will you wield the gospel to find the “sons of peace” or shrink back with excuses? Uncover the urgency of the harvest and Christ’s victory that changes everything.Sermon Handout:Download the sermon handout here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HAv8x-POYM0IXvxaRaWtmzSp4Jcz4P5Ax6DEmAI_y4U/edit?usp=sharing.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

There is no right to the free exercise of sin, and when sin and licentiousness are promoted by the Church, the state is constitutionally bound to act.Sermon Handout:Download the sermon handout here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x6fzy7yJ_kq4Kh0XWcZCAxRTc75r2WNIhT5bWnDPlyk/edit?usp=sharing.For more information see: “Case Study: Leveraging Article First, Section 3 of the Connecticut State Constitution to Address Licentiousness in Progressive Churches” at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CKnS4xLcj8oXd89M2BT6Q1mxDS-BemihGK5R4bjcoPc/edit?usp=sharing.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when a society forgets its duty to worship God? In this powerful sermon, we dive into the shift from Connecticut’s 1818 Constitution, which declared worship a duty, to the 1965 revision that frames it as a mere right. Is the state now the source of our freedom to worship, or is there a deeper obligation we’ve lost sight of?Drawing from Isaiah’s rebellious nation, Luke’s demon-possessed man, and Paul’s message of freedom in Christ, this sermon uncovers the cost of autonomy without duty. When we trade God-given rights for state-granted privileges, do we risk becoming slaves to Caesar? Join us as we explore how Jesus restores our duty to worship, guarantees our true rights, and calls us to declare His mercy in a world that’s forgotten its foundation.Tune in for a message that challenges, inspires, and calls us back to the bedrock of faith.Sermon Handout:Download the sermon handout here.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Ever wondered how God’s mystery unfolds in your life? In this Trinity Sunday sermon, “God’s Triune Story,” discover how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work as one to guide and save us, even in a divided world. Coinciding with Father’s Day, this message explores the divine love that calls us to stand firm in grace and share hope with others. Join us for a journey into the heart of the Trinity—a story that’s not just God’s, but yours too. Listen now!Sermon Handout:Download the sermon handout here.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Dell on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe

Did liberal Christianity hijack Jesus to push a godless agenda? In this lecture on Chapter 5 of J. Gresham Machen’s book Christianity & Liberalism, Pastor Dell exposes the modernist scam: a fake Jesus, stripped of divinity, reduced to a feel-good symbol for a spineless, anti-biblical faith. From Paul’s unyielding trust in Christ to the early Church’s rock-solid creed, discover how liberals twist history and truth to sabotage the Church. Tune in to unmask their deception and reclaim the real Jesus!Lecture Notes:Download the class handout here.Stay Connected:Follow Pastor Jake on X at https://x.com/jakedell73.Subscribe to Experimental Sermons at https://jwdell.substack.com/.Join us for Sunday worship at https://firstchurchwoodbury.org/. Get full access to Experimental Sermons at jwdell.substack.com/subscribe