Seasons Church (Prattville, AL)

Abraham was a respected religious figure, loved, honored, and even followed ... BUT ... Abraham knew the significance of a Messiah to come!  Continuing in John 8, we clearly see how Jesus never minced words when it came to eternity; and in this series introduction Pastor TJ Conwell begins to unpack the parallels between Abraham and Jesus, emphasizing that as Abraham's life pointed to a coming Messiah, all of those who call themselves "followers" of Christ must do the same.  Will we follow obediently or are still trapped in our sin, looking for our own solutions to escape it?  This is truly the question we must all settle today. 

The primary claim Jesus makes about Himself in John, Chapter 8, is that He is the light of the world - which infuriates the religious leaders who solely want to disprove and denounce who He is.  However, the “religious” (both then and today) are often the worst examples of leading by faith since they are always claiming to be pious and righteous in their living and teachings - yet they are neither because they are controlled by a wicked heart.  Join us as we unpack this dramatic showdown and see how Jesus works through this truth with grace, an invitation to freedom, and encouragement of even our faith today.  God bless you.  

Continuing our study in John, we examine a story not originally found in the earliest discovered New Testament manuscripts, but defended & taught about throughout the early Church because of it's application.  Pastor TJ Conwell walks us through discussing what this text means by confronting something each of us has to deal with ... and it is not about a "footnote" in the Bible.  (It is not even about a woman caught in sin!)  No, the lesson seen in this passage is how every one of us responds TO sin -- especially when our sin is so clearly on display before a Holy and Righteous Lord.  May the words of this message change hearts today, starting with ours.  God bless you.  

Beginning a new series from the Gospel of John, we see a very common response to Jesus that still exists today.  The religious leaders of the day simply want Jesus gone and their primary claim was because He was a “deceiver”.  In doing so, they dismissed Jesus and attempted to convince others of the same!  The challenge for us right now today is:  Do we also try to get people to see our side of who God is vs. scripture’s commandments; and in turn reject Jesus as the Savior we truly need?  The fact we must grapple with is that our sin must be accounted for - and for humanity today the blood stained cross IS our testimony, and it must be shared and rejoiced over that truly ... IT IS FINISHED!   

During the culmination of the Feast of the Tabernacles, Jesus steps forward amidst all of the pomp & ceremony to give the greatest offering that the people would have ever heard.  He offers them life - real life - in the form of rivers that would never cease to flow from within them (this is the offer and promise of the Holy Spirit).  His offer of freedom, forgiveness, and change is the same one that is still available today - if only we would accept it and repent of our sin.  Pastor TJ Conwell concludes the sermon series, Discipleship Will Cost You, with a personal and convicting challenge for each of us to apply.  May God bless you always as you seek to follow Him daily.   

On the other side of death, the choice of your eternal residence is sealed.  Jesus tells these standing before Him that they will not be with Him where He is!  Will we hear this today and repent of our own sin?  In this message, Pastor TJ Conwell walks us through the response of Jesus to the Pharisees in John 7, concluding for them that to not repent of their sin will mean that they will never be where He is going - which is to the Father who sent Him.  Will you be with Him when your time comes?  God bless you.  

When it comes to following Jesus, we have to ask the important distinction:  "Do we really know Him?  Or do we just know about Him?"   Jesus explores this topic amongst the religious in the Temple, and it truly STILL speaks to us today!  Are we truly following Him, or are we trying to follow an unbiblical, unsupported, false image of Him that we have created which has NO power to rescue us from sin?  Discipleship truly has a cost, and if we won't pay it how can we ever truly say that we belong to Him and are His?  God bless you. 

Continuing our journey in discipleship, we face several questions in the first century AD that are still relevant now such as:  Do we come to church to truly hear from God; Do we come to be challenged to be like Jesus; Are we coming to church simply for ourselves, to get out of it what we want?  Jesus speaks very plainly to a crowd gathered in Jerusalem by challenging their preferences (of religion) over what God has actually commanded, and we must be willing to also examine what we are doing (or what we are calling worship) and if it is not true servanthood to draw closer to Christ, refuse to continue partaking of it.  God bless you.  

If Jesus lived a life to show us how to draw closer to God, what is it that is keeping us from doing so?  Why do we struggle to exemplify God in our life today?  Why do our "religious preferences" outweigh what God has called us to do?  Continuing our series in John, we examine the response of Jesus to those who appear to be seeking the truth, but are really not and their motives clearly give them away.  How we respond to these words is just as important today, because Jesus gives us the very same challenge.  Are we drawing close to Him because He is the King of Kings, or because He might just be useful to our selfish needs?  God bless you.  

Continuing our series on Discipleship and its personal cost, Pastor TJ Conwell further unpacks the concept that Discipleship being the process of becoming like Jesus - by changing our wants to His - which in application means we are living our lives as He lived to show others how good our God is.  When we are challenged to be obedient and follow God, especially by our family or close friends who do not want us to obey God, do we respond with hope?  Do we encourage others to look to Jesus?  Or, are we too busy looking for a “quick fix” and taking control of our    life - instead of surrendering to what God has called us to do?             

In this standalone message, our worship pastors, Marc and Tanya Ferrara, offer a challenge to our church to strive to be the kind of person that God has called us to be:  by being faithful!  This means that no matter what we do - where we are called - or how we are living ... our call to obedience begins immediately when we receive Christ as Lord, and with each day we should be growing & maturing to be more like Him.  God bless you!  

Discipleship involves a process of becoming like Jesus which means changing our focus and our wants to follow Him.  Are we obediently doing that today?  Or are we still trying to do things our way and make a deal with Jesus to do what we want?  Jesus confronts many who called themselves "followers" with some of the most direct questioning imaginable; but even as many desert Him we see a very specific reaction (and encouragement) that we need to understand as it STILL applies today.  This message begins a brand new sermon series in John called, "Discipleship Will Cost You", and we pray that we are blessed by it.  

Concluding our series, "Give Us This Day", we examine Jesus's very clear teachings in Capernaum. His word and encouragement to those following Him is simple: Unless you do the things He told them to do, they (we) will have no part of what He offers - which is eternal life!  It is a stark reminder that loyalty and faithfulness to Him, because of what He is doing for the Father, matters FAR more than our desire to have our "personal wish list" approved.  May God bless you as you continue to grow closer to Him each day.  

One of the greatest questions we may face in our journey of faith is:  "What can we hold onto for strength to endure in our belief?"  Jesus clarifies this with a declaration that ONLY the Son of God could make!!  He is truly the "Bread of Life", and in Him alone we can find hope, security, strength, and a continued encouragement to remain faithful to Him because His Father has only asked us to only do one thing:  BELIEVE!   

We are not acceptable to God because of the "checklist of things" we accomplish.  Therefore, we must stop living as if God is keeping score but instead live for Him because of who He is and what He has (already) done in Christ!!   Pastor TJ Conwell begins to unpack part one of three messages surrounding Jesus's teaching to the crowd following Him to get them to understand this truth:  Life is not about what "we / they" can get, but about being obedient to the Author of all life!  God bless you as you seek to draw closer to Him today.  

John unpacks the marvelous miracle of Jesus walking on the water from a totally different perspective than what Matthew does (who includes Peter also walking on the water with Him).  So, why did one disciple include this and why does another leave it out?  Also, do we realize there is actually more than one miracle described in this incredible event?  Join us as we continue our journey in John, Chapter 6, and let's focus on drawing closer to Jesus, together.  God bless you! 

Launching into Chapter 6 in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus performing a miracle that so many are familiar with ... but do we REALLY know (and understand) the complexity of the conversation being had around the feeding of the 5,000?  One thing becomes abundantly certain:  this event has less to do with the miracle and everything to do with the discipleship and application that Jesus is demonstrating with His disciples (and for our benefit to grow today).  Pastor TJ Conwell unpacks this tremendous event with a personal challenge for each follower to consider:  "Where do you need to really surrender to God in whatever you are dealing with?"  God bless you. 

How many today call Jesus "good", yet they (or we) refuse to submit to Him as Lord over all things in their life?  Concluding John, Chapter 5, we see a stern but compassionate plea from Jesus - to the religious of His day - for them to realize how they are living and turn from it.  Truthfully, right now we are each called to worship Him and to serve God alone, and if we will not, the same response we see Jesus give the "religious" may unfortunately be the one we see as well.  Pastor TJ Conwell concludes this mini-series in John and unpacks 5 reasons why most say "No" to Jesus, which must become an open challenge to us to examine our own lives ... and change! 

Even at Christmas time, we must remember that everything Jesus did was accomplished under the will of the Father who sent Him.  This means that He has shown us what we are to do in order to live fully for God!  But ... will we follow in His footsteps and obey like He did?  As we continue our series in John, we are confronted with the realization that we must not focus on (just) the glorious manger scene, but understanding the promise behind it as revealed in ALL of scripture, because it truly comes to life as an instruction manual and encouragement for us all!  God bless you. 

The response of Jesus to the "religious" when He is questioned by them (especially to the ones trapped in their own legalistic rules) is to compel them, and us, to repent of our sin, to choose to live righteously, and to willingly worship & honor only Him ... because He is the only Son of God.  If we will not, then one day we will face his righteous judgment because all authority to judge sin has been given to Him by the Father!  This timely message is for not only the lost, but for the Church today - and even as Christians we must be willing to examine ourselves & ensure that we are following the Savior - the Christ!   

The result of miracles often receive tons of "praise", but at the root of each act Jesus performed contains one simple, challenging, word:  "obedience".  Will we be a people who obey Christ because of who He is, or simply because of what He can do for us?  This message unpacks a crucial story from John, Chapter 5, highlighting this challenge by studying the healing of a man who had not walked in 38 years, and exposes the response of the community around him as a perfect example of what "dead religion" looks like.  

It is very easy to allow the results of what God has done to become our celebration and focus, to bring us joy, or even to cause us to marvel at unimportant things.  But ... should they?  As we study in the closing passage of John, Chapter 4, and the response of Jesus to a desperate plea of a Roman nobleman who needed an answer to prayer, our challenge (as was his) is to focus on the One who did the work, and not just the results.  The "star" of this story is not the miracle, but the Lord who has done it!  God bless you.  

Change takes confession, but it is not a matter of having "head knowledge", but inviting us to surrender fully to the calling of Jesus because He is truly, The Messiah!  Pastor TJ Conwell unpacks and challenges us to consider what Jesus is teaching His disciples by asking ourselves IF we will hear the words of Jesus as being relevant to us, right now?  As we consider Jesus's words to the Disciples, we must realize that we are still faced with this same challenge to be submissive to His instruction.    

In our final message of the series, "The Truth About Salvation", and as a powerful examination about where the woman at the well is in her life, we we must also be willing to see ourselves as well.  What Jesus offered this woman is exactly what we have been offered also:  The truth about who Jesus is - and our purpose being to worship the Father in spirit and truth.  It is an honest look (and a setup to the next series) at who Jesus is - so WE could come to Him in the same manner!  The challenge for us is:  Will YOU seek Him?  Will YOU worship Him also? 

When we consider the woman at the well’s responses to Jesus, something happens in all of us that almost feels ... natural.  We either feel pity, or sorrow, or (maybe even) judgment for her … yet … aren't we in the same position today in our sin?  Don't we need the same cleansing water to remove our sin?  The simple answer to that is:  "YES!"  And, this is exactly what we see in the first part of this moving, and important, story which launches an evangelistic outreach that changes a whole town.  

Jesus demonstrated total obedience through His suffering for us so that the one who believes on the Son is granted everlasting life!  This is why and how John the Baptist does not fall into the trap of responding from “ego”, rather, he simply testifies to what is true, and lets it speak for itself!  This is our calling today, and what we must be willing to grow into each and every day.    

While we are alive, we still have an opportunity to know the God who sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us.  It is in that truth that we must be willing to see, recognize, and repent of our sin and come to Him for rescue, for grace, and for salvation.  Tomorrow is not promised, and we cannot afford to wait another minute because today could be our last opportunity to know Him.  

Jesus tells us clearly that His arrival, to come from Heaven, was so that we might be able to defeat the things of wickedness in this world and have true life and redemption with the Father.  Looking to Jesus is what brings true restoration to humanity, and sadly, even an esteemed teacher of Israel (Nicodemus) missed this.  Today, we either believe in what Jesus has done for us, or we deny Him, and that is the easiest choice we may ever face.  The question is, even in 2025, will the world listen and obey to what He has told us? 

Salvation is about far more than fire insurance – however it must start with being reborn; with being devoted to the things OF God because if you've been made new, that is all that should matter TO you!  When a man named Nicodemus (a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin) came to talk to Jesus in secret, what we see is his intent to find out about Jesus contrasted against Jesus's teaching focused on the things that truly mattered.  It is a great lesson for us today, especially if we are seeking to know and live for Christ.  

As Jesus confronted the "false religious" on-goings in the Temple during His first year of ministry, there is a very valuable lesson for the Church today to see and apply.  As we read and study God’s Word - it must change you because IT has not changed!  What we allow, or make excuses for, is a testimony to the way we truly feel about Christ and what He has done for us.  Are we willing to confront sin, cast it out, and live a life devoted to Him?  Or, will we allow our own desires and emotions to lead us into thinking that God is not paying attention and we can live (and sin) however we want?  

When we see what Jesus can do, two things becomes evident:   We either believe that He is the Messiah capable of providing for us, or, we deny His ability to do anything for us and call Him, and His Word, a liar.  This wonderful story, however, has less to do with the miracle, and more to do with trusting Him to provide what you cannot.  His mother trusted, the servants trusted, and even the host celebrated the result ... so, what say you?  

Concluding John, Chapter 1, we see the calling of Philip and the urgency he has to go tell Nathanael about the Messiah.  If we are truly Christ followers, this same drive must be what we have today!  We’ve seen in other texts the revelation that Jesus will return to take His Church home, and we rejoice at it.  But, if we are not being obedient and instead rejoicing in our sin, how can we expect to be with Him?  The simple truth here is that God owes us nothing (except wrath for our sin), and so our lives should be lived in obedience to move when He says, "Come, follow me".  

The calling of the first disciples is a story of incredible importance because it shows us how ordinary men (and women) - are called by the Messiah of God - to do extraordinary things in His name.  And it is in that calling, we must remember that Jesus always sees the potential you will have, not just where you are now.  In no place is that more evidenced in the name change that Andrew's brother, Simon (Peter), went through upon meeting the Christ.  Are we willing to also give up everything we know, we prefer, and that we like in order to serve and lead a life that glorifies God?  

Is the confession of John the Baptist, combined with the affirmation of God, enough for you to believe that Jesus is the Son of God?  Or, do you still need Jesus to perform for you in order that you can be convinced that He is who He said He is?  John the Baptist's testimony is so clear that we must be willing to admit, to confess, and to see Jesus as Lord - else we too will incur the wrath of God for the sins we refuse to repent from.  

John the Baptist confessed that Jesus came before everything, but more importantly he clearly shows us that humility is the KEY to serving Him completely.  His crying out to "prepare the way" for the coming of Israel's Messiah leads us to one unambiguous and certain truth:  God's Word is alive in Christ, and each of us need to be redeemed through Him! 

Jesus became the physical representation of hope from God in a form that we could easily understand:  relationship.  He became God's part of His covenantal relationship that God desired with His creation by becoming what we needed most:  the intercessor between God’s righteousness and our sin.  Join us as we unpack John 1:14-18 and let's discover this incredible truth together! 

John's introduction of John the Baptist's ministry, life, and purpose can be one of much revelation to us - if we would be willing to see that we TOO are called to be just as faithful and share what we know about Jesus.  The ministry of John the Baptist can often be one of great confusion, or uncertainty, or even bewilderment.  However, looking at these simple verses, we can see that all God calls us to do is be faithful to what He's told us to do ... and leave the rest (the results) up to Him!  

John’s recollection of Jesus’ ministry, as a man who walked alongside of Him, is crucial for us because it teaches us exactly who Jesus is.  It demonstrates that His light shines in the darkness to reveal the goodness of God (which provides us rescue) and because His life comes from God it cannot be overtaken by our flaws, insecurities, or even our own sinful choices.  In effect, it means that because of Who He is, even our darkest wickedness cannot outshine or undo the hope that Jesus brings! 

One of the final words that Isaiah offers us today is to consider what eternity looks like in the face of how we are living today.  Those who willingly rebel against God will not see an eternal reward but rather punishment, but those who will tremble at His word and remain faithful to Christ NOW will be rewarded in eternity.  This is the cry of this prophet, it is the ongoing ministry of our church, and the message we must be willing to share openly with all who will HEAR.   God bless you as you listen to the wonderful conclusion of our study in Isaiah.  

Isaiah demonstrates a very unique position in chapters 63 and 64 as he pleads with God to hear, forgive, and rescue His people.  Why?  Because he knew that there is no way we (as a creation) could be forgiven without God’s (the Creator's) direct intervention.  This is the message and hope that Gospel brings, and Isaiah knew this truth and shared it with the nation of Israel. 

God's promises of protection, provision, and upholding a covenant with His people are a wonderful focal point for us today. However, these ALL come with a catch and that catch is: The only way to benefit from any of this is to receive the promise of rescue, through Jesus, yourself! 

The words of Isaiah offer hope because it shows us that we don’t have to suffer sin’s consequences!  However, God is prepared to judge if we are unwilling to repent and come to Him, through Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins.  God's love outshines the deadly effects of sin, if only we would choose to give up our sinful behavior and seek Him for everything we need. 

God's promise is to bring others to Himself, to welcome them in, to give them a new name, to restore to them as His family!  But, in order for this to happen we must live rightly with integrity and obedience.  Podcast Note:  The last 7 minutes of the sermon were lost today due to an internet outage in our area.  However, if you would like the notes to this sermon, please feel free to drop us a line at:  [email protected] and request them.  Please forgive us and thank you for listening! 

Our invitation to follow God is simple:  Come to Him, turn from our wicked ways, repent of our sin, and receive His invitation to come and be found faithful.  The challenge of this world is, and always will be this:  Will we continue to try to be the ones in charge?

What kind of a Heavenly Father would delight in the suffering of His children?  A God who knew the only way to save His creation would be through the sacrifice demonstrated and carried out by His Son, the Messiah, the Christ!  Praise the Lord for giving us a Messiah who would willingly lay down His life for us!  

The person who is self-reliant – who trusts in their own ability – will face God’s judgment!  We must understand that this is the challenge of every person on the Earth, and why God is so CLEAR on this requirement.  We needed a Messiah (Savior) to be given to rescue us, and these two chapters of Isaiah (49 and 50) offer incredible HOPE to the believer (and even to the non-believer) that there is something better to come. 

False idols (or false gods) are worthless and unable to follow through with anything, but they appear to be attractive because they make us feel what WE crave (to be in control).  God understands the problem idolators have and clearly shares the problems with trusting in them through Isaiah's words to Israel.  Our challenge today, as we listen to this Word, is to consider:  Are we in love with our false idol, or our false god, and don’t want to give it up also? 

God has made a way to come to Him, provided an escape from sin, delivered hope to His people, and gave us a redeemer, Jesus, who brings redemption to all who will receive it.  It is truly a gift, and one that we must accept and receive! 

God gives us a very clear, very distinct picture of the Messiah's purpose, relationship to Him, and what He will be responsible for doing.  The challenge for us today is:  will we receive this completed work to restore our relationship with a God who has never stopped loving us? 

God is not fooled by our selfish offerings of holiness.  Isaiah encourages us to reach out to God for everything that we need, including making the path to our heart clear by removing sinful and disobedient things.  This sermon demonstrates why knowing Him is so important - because it forces us to see who He is!