The Pious Podcast

The old external righteousness created people who would use words (oaths) to get their way. Jesus suggests that this is of the evil one. Why? Because of how it causes us to think about our sisters and brothers; not as people who should make the right decision with the appropriate information, but those we should manipulate to get our way. Rather, we should let our yes be yes, and our no be no. This kind of simplicity honors the other person as a person. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers this message on moving beyond manipulative speech and towards God.Preached on January 22nd, 2023Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

Anger naturally leads to dehumanizing lust; just consider the cause of most divorces… Those are two of the great scourges of humankind. Jesus presents a kind of righteousness that doesn’t merely avoid the cultivation of lust through action, but looks to honor the other person, not as an object, but as a beloved child of God. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers a powerful message about freeing yourself from the grips of lust.Preached on January 15th, 2023Scripture: Matthew 5:27-32

We discovered who is well off, or who has the good life, in Jesus’s teaching on the beatitudes. The next question is, how do we become good? Not, how do we do good deeds — this is the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, but how do we become the kinds of people through which good deeds naturally flow? This is going beyond the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers a message about Inner Righteousness.Preached on November 20th, 2022Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Those who place themselves within the Kingdom of God will immediately have a different kind of life; a life that makes a different impression in the world. Kingdom people are not meant to fit in; we were made to bring light to darkness, flavor to blandness, all to the glory of God. Join Pastor Meshach as he delivers a message about bringing light to the darkness.Preached on November 13th, 2022Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Everyone wants the good life, and depending on what one holds as ultimate, the perspective of the good life will change. Jesus offers a vision of the good life that is available to anyone who would enter the Kingdom of God by trusting in him. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers a message about what the good life in Christ looks like.Preached on October 30th, 2022Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus’s life was so powerful that even demonic entities were powerless, even fearful, when he was near. One of the most famous of these stories is when Jesus cast a legion of demons out of a man, and the community was so shaken by it that they asked Jesus to leave their region. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers a message about casting the darkness out of your heart and bringing in the light of God.Preached on October 23rd, 2022Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

In our world, contagious things are often negative: viruses, diseases, and bad habits. However, when Jesus arrived, he introduced a new kind of contagion. Through his holiness of life, he could touch or speak a word, and those who were sick would be healed. This kind of epidemic caused widespread hysteria wherever Jesus went. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers a message about the Purifying Presence of Jesus Christ.Preached on October 16th, 2022Scripture: Mark 2:1-12; Luke 8:40-48

When students disciples themselves to a rabbi, they did so with the hope of one day becoming like him. The request to be a disciple was akin to asking, “Do you believe I could emulate you?” If the rabbi responded affirmatively, the student could follow. Conversely, if he declined, the student would be assigned menial tasks such as fishing, masonry, or collecting taxes. Jesus’s encounter with these boys and his declaration, “Follow me,” signifies his belief in their potential to emulate him. This concept would have been mind-boggling, especially considering their previous experiences with his miraculous feats. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he delivers a message titled “A Surprising Offer.”Preached on October 9th, 2022Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

John’s prologue paints a picture of the immensity of Christ. Matthew uses the image of people sitting in darkness seeing a great light. Together, these introductions point to a different kind of reality that Jesus brought into the world. Preached by Meshach Kanyion on October 2, 2022Scripture: Matthew 4:12-17

What does it mean to reckon that we are dead to sin and alive to God? This is actually a vital part of living freely in Christ. Join Pastor Meshach Kanyion as he preaches on baptism, identity, and faith.Meshach Kanyion -- 7/3/2023

In this story about Naaman, the Aramean General, pastor Meshach focuses on the lessons it teaches on experiencing salvation in everyday life.Passage: 2 Kings 5:1-15aPreached at Northminster Church April 19, 2025

In this sermon, Pastor Meshach teaches on the importance of bearing witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Our journey with Peter follows into the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus.

Peter was great because of his many failures. Jesus asked him an important question when he began to sink, a question we must not let go unanswered: "Why did you doubt?"

Preached at Friendship UMC on October 4, 2016Don't Worry, Pray, Be Thankful, and Rejoice!

Preached on September 25, 2016, at Friendship UMCIn this message, Pastor Meshach teaches on the necessity of intentional action in our lives with God. We must focus on one thing above all.

Preached at Friendship UMC on September 11, 2016.To experience the life of God, we cannot be passive. Paul says we must "Work out our salvation with fear and trembling." Pastor Meshach explores what that means for us.

Preached at Friendship UMC on September 4, 2016.In Philippians 2, Paul tells the Philippian Christians to have the mind of Christ. In this message, Pastor Meshach explores what that is and how it relates to greatness.

Preached at Friendship UMC on August 21, 2016.Paul urges the Philippians to lead a life "worthy of the gospel." In this message, Pastor Meshach explains what that meant for the Christians in Philippi and us.

This message was preached at Friendship UMC in Wyoming, OH, on August 21, 2016.In this message, Pastor Meshach provides an overview of the book and explains how their evaluation of the gospel influenced their daily lives.

As we bring this series to a close, pastor Meshach Kanyion will share on the importance of actually strategizing to become like Jesus.Preached on November 26, 2023Scripture: Psalm 139:7-12; 23-24; Matthew 11:28-30

In this session, Pastor Meshach will teach on how the disciplines of engagement help us create new habits of Christlikeness.Preached on Sunday, November 19, 2023

In this message, pastor Meshach teaches on the purpose of disciplines for the spiritual life, and explores a few disciplines of abstinence that may disrupt life as it is, and help one be able to choose habits of righteousness.Preached by Meshach Kanyion on November 12, 2023

If we were to live our lives as disciples of Jesus, we would need to learn to live as spiritual beings under God’s guidance, moving away from a life governed by fleshly desires. Preached by Meshach Kanyion on November 11, 2023Scripture: Romans 8:1-14

If we were to comprehend the profound understanding Jesus possessed about human nature, we would likely be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all. In this message, we will dive into the reasons behind his mission of rescue and explore its significance for us as his devoted disciples.Preached on October 29, 2023 by Meshach KanyionScriptures: Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-9; John 2:24-25

Christianity is properly understood as a body of knowledge, not faith. Biblical faith emerges from a context of knowledge. That's how Jesus lived, with faith that was rooted in knowledge. As his disciples, we are invited to follow him into the kind of knowledge that sets us free to live as he did in this world. Preached by Meshach Kanyion on October 22, 2023Scriptures: Colossians 1:15-20; John 17:3-5; 25-26

What is the Good News that Jesus brought into the world? We’ve already discussed some incomplete gospels. Now we’ll look more fully into the gospel that Jesus brought and taught.Preached by Meshach Kanyion on October 15, 2023Scripture Reference: Matthew 4:17

Many people in Western culture have heard a gospel about Jesus, but it wasn’t the gospel that he actually preached.  It has little relevance to modern life. The gospel that he preached produced a much different kind of life than what we see in many contemporary gospels.Preached October 8, 2023, by Meshach KanyionScripture: Galatians 1:6-9

In this sermon, we will examine the ultimate purpose (telos) of salvation by analyzing its impact during Jesus’ time and the immediate aftermath. By comprehending the goal, we will be better prepared to engage with the gift of salvation in ways that bring flourishing. Preached by Pastor Meshach, on October 1, 2023Scripture: Luke 6:40

Jesus miraculous feeding of the 5000 is an instruction manual for how we are to engage in ministry in our day. Not relying on our resources, but offering them up to a generous and abundant God.Preached on 3/15/2026

The preacher concludes Hebrews with a staccato-styled message on many others whose faithful lives send a message to us. The question that remains is, how can we live in light of their witness?Hebrews 11:32-12:3Meshach Kanyion 8/25/2024

Rahab is an unexpected exemplar of great faith in Hebrews 11. In this message, pastor Meshach helps explain how it is that she came to have such faith, and what surprising thing her faith contributed to our salvation.Scriptures: Hebrews 11:30; Joshua 2:1-15Meshach Kanyion 8/18/2024

Hebrews 11:23-28 is a tribute to faithful Moses. It emphasizes the significance of nurturing faith from a young age and guiding us to perceive everything through the lens of God, even when faced with fear.Meshach Kanyion 8/11/2024

Abraham received a call from God with very little information. Upon what basis of knowledge did he act faithfully? Listen as pastor Meshach teaches how we can follow his example and live by faith.Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-10; Genesis 12:1-9Meshach Kanyion 7/23/2024

Respect and reverence play a crucial role in living by faith. In this week’s sermon, we see how Noah's respect for God led him to eventually do great things for God.Meshach Kanyion 7/14/2024

In this new sermon series, we will explore what faith is, and look at examples from those who lived faithful lives.Passage: Hebrews 11:1-3

The Kingdom of Heaven is like the best thing you could ever find. As such, our response should be to give everything for it. When that is our response, it's a sign that we've grasped the reality of the Kingdom and discipleship to Jesus.by Meshach Kanyion, 11/17/2024

Excuses, excuses, excuses. How many temporal things keep us from our commitments to God?Luke 14:15-24by Meshach Kanyion on 11/10/2024

This is a story of a father and two lost boys. One is lost far away, the other is lost at home.Luke 15:11-32Preached by Meshach Kanyion on 10/21/2024

This story carries eschatological implications, prompting us to ponder how we should spend our time in light of the master’s imminent return, expecting a report from us. Scripture: Matthew 25:14-29Preached by Meshach Kanyion on 10/13/2024

The Parable of the Sower is understood as the parable that teaches us how to understand all parables. It has an important message about what it means to be a member of the household of God.Scripture: Mark 4:1-20Preached by Meshach Kanyion on 10/6/2024

What does it mean when Jesus waits, and things get worse? The story of Lazarus is instructive and shapes our faith to understand that trials like those are also divine opportunities.Preached by Meshach Kanyion of March 1, 2026John 11Image by James Martin

Some individuals in Jesus’ time followed him due to the miracles he performed. He desired to offer them more, specifically himself, but they were preoccupied with the physical bread and failed to perceive and accept the offer of the living bread.Preached by Meshach Kanyion on March 17, 2024Scripture: John 6:25-40

God gives us mountaintop experiences so that we can know more about Him, and be better equipped to live by faith. When Jesus and His 3 disciples descend into the valley, they are confronted with the fact that the disciples need to have their hearts recalibrated. The world came to them for help, and because their faith was misplaced, it led to a frustrating experience for everyone. Jesus reminds them that the work of God cannot be accomplished without faith in God.Preached by Meshach Kanyion on March 10, 2024Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

God allows trials and tests to prove us and to improve us. In the story of Jesus walking on water, and Peter asking to join him, we learn a lesson on the value of initiative and the blessedness of failure.  Pastor Meshach Kanyion preached this sermon on February 25, 2024Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

The fine folks at Church of the Saviour have given me the rights to the podcast that holds my sermons. So I'm going to begin slowly transporting them here -- series by series. Since we are currently in the season of Lent, I'm beginning with a series called "Follow Me." In this sermon, we look at the story of the woman in Luke 13:10-17, and consider how religion can become a burden rather than a means of grace that connects us with God. And how Jesus came to set us free from religion as a burden, that we might have it as a gift that helps us in our relationship with God.Preached by Pastor Meshach Kanyion on February 18, 2024Visit www.mark43institute.org to learn more about the new ministry adventure.

In this short teaching, Pastor Meshach shares how God actually changes a person — not through willpower or behavior modification, but by transforming us from the inside out through his Spirit.If you have a question, send it to [email protected]

How do you love someone who’s hurt you? In this short teaching, Pastor Meshach explains what Jesus really meant when he said, “Love your enemies.”If you have a question, send it to [email protected]

“Should Christians watch Rated R movies and listen to explicit music?”In this short teaching, Pastor Meshach explains why discipleship isn’t about following a list of rules, but about formation into Christlikeness.If you have a question, send it to [email protected]

Many people think salvation is mainly about where you go when you die. But Jesus didn’t just preach about heaven later, he preached that the Kingdom of God is available right now.In this follow-up to my video “What Is the Gospel?” we’ll explore what it actually means to live in God’s Kingdom every day: • Why the gospel is more than just “going to heaven” • How Jesus taught His disciples to live under God’s reign • Why life in the Spirit is ultimate reality, not just a nice idea • Practical ways to walk in the Kingdom (spiritual disciplines, relying on God’s resources, daily discipleship)The Gospel isn’t just about your afterlife—it’s about your life right now. So the question isn’t, “Where will you go when you die?” but, “How will you live when you wake up tomorrow?”👉 Watch this video to learn how to follow Jesus into Kingdom life today.📩 Got a question for Pastor Meshach? Email: [email protected]👍 If this video helps you, like and share so more people can hear the Good News.