Sonrise Church Messages

Pastor Scott Smith- May 3, 2026This message concludes the “Peace of Mind” series by focusing on how change inevitably brings loss, and how that loss leads to grief—a universal experience that everyone must learn to navigate. It explains that grief looks different for each person and situation, challenging the idea that it follows a fixed formula. Instead of trying to “get over” grief, this message encourages a healthier perspective: learning to grow through it. By recognizing that even Jesus experienced and expressed grief, this message reassures us that God understands our pain and invites us to bring it to Him honestly.This message then provides both practical and spiritual tools for processing grief, such as creating moments to look forward to, expressing emotions openly, and surrounding ourselves with supportive community. It emphasizes the importance of honest prayer, worship—even when it’s difficult—and trusting that God remains near in seasons of deep pain. Ultimately, this message reminds us that while loss is unavoidable, we are not meant to face it alone, and with God’s help and the support of others, we can grow through even the hardest seasons of grief.

Pastor Scott Smith- April 26, 2026This message focuses on universal emotions like frustration, disappointment, anger, and sadness, explaining that while they are normal, they can become destructive if not handled properly. It teaches that these emotions tend to “evolve”—moving from simple feelings into deeper struggles like discouragement, bitterness, or even depression when left unchecked. By reframing emotions as messengers rather than managers, this message encourages us to understand what they are revealing instead of allowing them to define or control our lives.This message then provides practical tools for navigating these emotions, emphasizing the need to diffuse anger and digest sadness. It calls us to pause in moments of anger, honestly examine what’s happening beneath the surface, and choose forgiveness to break the cycle. For sadness and disappointment, it highlights the power of praise and gratitude as a way to retrain our focus and build healthier emotional habits. Ultimately, this message reminds us that peace of mind is possible when we do the work of processing our emotions with God’s help—and when we also look out for others who may be struggling and need support.

Derron Higgins- April 19, 2026This message continues the conversation on peace of mind by focusing on fear and anxiety, explaining that while these emotions are natural, they must be understood and processed in healthy ways rather than ignored or allowed to take control. It clarifies the difference between fear (immediate danger) and anxiety (future uncertainty), showing how both can overwhelm us if left unchecked. The message emphasizes that emotional health requires intentional effort and honesty, challenging the stigma around addressing these struggles and encouraging a shift from avoidance to engagement. By trusting God instead of relying solely on our feelings, we can begin to navigate these emotions with wisdom and clarity.This message then provides a practical framework for handling fear and anxiety through four steps: pause, ponder, pray, and proceed. It encourages slowing down, inviting trusted people into the process, seeking God’s wisdom through prayer, and moving forward thoughtfully rather than reactively. By fixing our thoughts on what is true and trusting God as our foundation, we can experience His peace even in a stressful and uncertain world. Ultimately, this message reminds us that while we will face fear and anxiety, we are not meant to be controlled by them—we can live with confidence and peace by trusting in God’s presence and guidance.

Pastor Scott Smith- April 12, 2026This message introduces a series on mental and emotional health by emphasizing that everyone wrestles with thoughts and feelings, and that God desires for us to have a healthy relationship with them. It challenges common misconceptions by explaining that emotions are not enemies to avoid or identities to adopt, but messengers meant to reveal what is happening beneath the surface. Rather than being driven, defeated, or defined by emotions, this message teaches that true peace of mind comes from trusting God and fixing our thoughts on Him, recognizing that mental health is real health and requires intentional habits to grow.This message then provides a practical framework for navigating emotions in a healthy, God-centered way: feel them, express them, submit them to God, and work through them. It warns against allowing struggles to become identity, encouraging instead a posture of growth through reliance on God’s strength and guidance. While emotional battles may be ongoing, believers are reminded that they are not powerless—God provides the strength to overcome strongholds and the path toward peace. Ultimately, this message calls us to do the daily work of trusting God with our inner lives so we can experience lasting peace and transformation.

Pastor Scott Smith- March 23, 2026This message wraps up the book of Colossians by showing how a life shaped by Jesus should be lived out in everyday relationships, attitudes, and actions. It emphasizes that faith is not confined to belief but is expressed in how we treat others—within our families, workplaces, and communities. Believers are called to reflect Christ through patience, humility, prayer, and gracious interactions, remembering that every part of life is an opportunity to honor God. Even in difficult seasons, like Paul being in prison, the message challenges us to shift our perspective from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What is God doing in and through me?”This message also highlights the powerful example of faithful, everyday service through the life of Tychicus—a largely unknown figure who played a crucial role in delivering the very letters we read today. It reminds us that impact is not about platform or recognition, but about availability, trustworthiness, and encouragement. By embracing these qualities, anyone can participate in God’s work and make a lasting difference. The message concludes by encouraging believers to live lives of faithful service, trusting that even the unseen acts of obedience can have eternal impact.

Pastor Scott Smith- March 15, 2026This message walks through Colossians 3 and calls believers to embrace the reality of their new life in Christ by shifting their focus from earthly desires to the realities of heaven. It explains that following Jesus is not simply about believing the right things but about allowing the gospel to reshape how we live, think, and treat others. Through practical teaching, the message unpacks challenging passages about work, family roles, and relationships, showing that every area of life should reflect submission to Christ. Whether in marriage, parenting, or work, believers are called to live with integrity and humility, honoring God not for the approval of others but because their identity is rooted in Christ.This message also emphasizes the need to actively confront the sinful patterns “lurking” within us and intentionally pursue a new way of living. Instead of passively drifting through life, believers must put destructive habits to death while clothing themselves with mercy, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. The Christian life becomes a pursuit of holiness—an intentional effort to follow the way of Jesus in everyday decisions. The message ultimately reminds us that spiritual growth does not happen by accident; discipleship requires pursuit as we continually bury what harms us and build lives that reflect the character of Christ.

Pastor Scott Smith- March 8, 2026This message walks through Colossians 2 and reminds us that in a world filled with competing voices, philosophies, and opinions about how life should be lived, everything must be centered on Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to a young church that was being pulled in many directions—religious traditions, cultural expectations, and persuasive but empty ideas. This message emphasizes that real wisdom and knowledge are found in Christ alone, and that believers must let their roots grow deep in Him. Just like a tree with deep roots can withstand storms, a life grounded in the truth and teachings of Jesus remains steady when life becomes difficult.This message also challenges the idea that we can earn right standing with God through rules, appearances, or external behavior. While discipline and devotion are good, they cannot replace the transforming work of the gospel. True spiritual growth happens from the inside out as we surrender every part of our lives to Jesus. The message calls believers to develop deep roots through spiritual disciplines—such as reading Scripture, prayer, generosity, fellowship, and celebration—so that faith becomes genuine and resilient. When we pursue these practices with humility and consistency, God grows our faith, strengthens our roots, and shapes our lives around the truth of the gospel.

Pastor Scott Smith- March 1, 2026This message begins a new series through the book of Colossians by walking through the first chapter and explaining the context behind Paul’s letter to a young church in the city of Colossae. Roughly 20–30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, the gospel had already spread hundreds of miles through ordinary people who responded to the good news and shared it with others. The Colossian church existed in a culture filled with competing philosophies and beliefs that challenged the truth about Jesus, particularly denying His divinity. In response, Paul writes to clearly proclaim that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, supreme over all creation, the one through whom everything was made and through whom reconciliation with God is possible.This message then focuses on what made the Colossian church so impactful: they were known as a faithful people whose lives were shaped by the gospel. Their faith was visible through how they loved one another, encouraged each other, prayed for one another, and lived out the good news in everyday life. The message challenges believers today to adopt that same mindset by making the gospel the most important thing in their lives and allowing it to shape their relationships, priorities, and mission. When believers thank God for each other, encourage one another, pray for one another, and live out their faith publicly, they become a church that is filled with and fueled by the gospel—reaching people and helping others know and follow Jesus.

Pastor Scott Smith- February 24, 2026This message teaches that while the world as we know it is coming to an end, no one knows when—so the goal of studying the end times is not fear or speculation, but readiness. It calls us to live with the end in mind, carrying hope and purpose by helping others know and follow Jesus.

Pastor Scott Smith- February 17, 2026This message explains what the church truly is—not a building, style, or preference—but a people called out by Jesus for His purpose. Looking at Jesus’ words in Matthew 16, the message shows that the church (*ecclesia*) belongs to Christ and exists to carry out His mission in the world. From the early church in Acts, we see believers gathering to worship, learn, serve, give, and share the gospel together, not as an organization only but as a living body. The church is described as a consecrated people in a consecrated place, united around the confession that Jesus is Lord and committed to helping others know and follow Him.This message then challenges how we approach church, warning that when we treat it as entertainment or personal preference, we miss its purpose. Church is not about what we get from it but about participating in God’s mission—approaching with reverence and readiness, contributing as well as consuming, and living out faith beyond the weekend gathering. We are invited to “jump in,” grow as fully devoted followers of Jesus, and carry the mission into everyday life. The gathering prepares us to be the church everywhere we go, because the church is God’s plan to reach the world through His people.

Pastor Scott Smith- February 9, 2026This message explains the doctrine of sin and salvation by framing it as bad news and good news against the backdrop of one central reality: God is real, holy, and perfect, and He defines right and wrong. The bad news is that sin—anything that falls short of God’s perfection—has affected everyone, separating humanity from God and bringing real destruction into both the world and our personal lives. Sin is not merely a list of bad behaviors but a universal condition that no one can fix on their own, whether by ignoring it, comparing themselves to others, or trying to earn God’s approval through good deeds. This message makes clear that sin requires payment, and left to ourselves, we are unable to meet God’s perfect standard.This message then proclaims the good news of salvation: while we cannot achieve perfection, God made a way for us to receive it through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, God satisfied both the demands of holiness and the depths of His mercy, offering salvation as a free gift by grace through faith. The message calls listeners to respond in two phases—first by receiving salvation through trusting Jesus, and second by living lives that honor God, taking sin seriously while resting fully in His grace. It closes with a clear invitation to stop trying to earn God’s love, to respond to it with gratitude and obedience, and to join God’s mission of helping people know and follow Jesus, celebrating new life through baptism and transformed living.

Pastor Scott Smith- February 2, 2026This message explains what the Bible is and why it matters, emphasizing that everyone builds their life on some source of truth, whether they realize it or not. The Bible is presented not as a single book, but as an anthology of 66 writings authored by about 40 people over 1,500 years, across three continents and languages, yet unified around God’s revelation of Himself. Unlike culture—which constantly shifts—the Bible provides a stable foundation for truth, guidance, and meaning. This message teaches that Scripture is “God-breathed,” meaning God revealed Himself to people and inspired them to record His message so others could know Him, making the Bible both deeply human in its writing and divine in its origin.This message then puts the Bible to the test, asking whether it can truly be trusted. It highlights the Bible’s unmatched ability to predict future events, the extraordinary volume and accuracy of its manuscript evidence, and the unusually short time between historical events and their written accounts—far surpassing other ancient texts that are widely accepted as reliable. Using legal reasoning and historical examples, including the work of skeptic-turned-believer Simon Greenleaf, the message argues that the Bible has endured more scrutiny than any other piece of literature and has consistently proven trustworthy. The message concludes by calling believers to do something with that truth: to build their lives on Scripture, learn God’s Word to know God’s way, and allow the Bible to shape identity, purpose, and daily living as God’s authoritative revelation to humanity.

Pastor Scott Smith- January 26, 2026This message explores the theology of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity, explaining that while the concept of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can feel mysterious, it is central to Christian faith. It clarifies that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or vague feeling, but a person—equal with the Father and the Son—who has intellect, emotion, and will. Using Scripture, this message shows that the Holy Spirit teaches, guides, speaks, comforts, convicts, and leads believers, revealing God’s truth and helping them understand and apply His Word. By unpacking the meaning of the biblical term *paracletos* (helper, counselor, advocate, comforter), the message emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to believers, actively involved in shaping their spiritual growth and relationship with Him.This message then explains how the Holy Spirit works in everyday life as the “gentle leader” of the Christian—guiding thoughts, prayers, words, and actions toward God’s best. It stresses that the Spirit never contradicts Scripture and that knowing God’s Word is essential to recognizing His guidance. Rather than forcing or coercing, the Holy Spirit leads believers step by step, helping them grow in humility, obedience, and spiritual maturity through the process of sanctification. The message concludes with a practical invitation to surrender daily to the Spirit’s guidance through a simple prayer—asking the Holy Spirit to guide thoughts, prayers, words, and walk.

Pastor Scott Smith - January 19th, 2026This message continues the 30 Minute Theology series by focusing on the person of Jesus and why understanding who He truly is matters. It explains the difference between believing about Jesus and believing in Jesus, emphasizing that theology (what we know about God) and faith (how we respond to what we know) must work together. While history and world religions widely acknowledge that Jesus was a real and influential figure, this message makes clear that Christianity hinges on a far greater claim—that Jesus is God. Drawing from Scripture, eyewitness accounts, and Jesus’ own words, the message shows that Jesus repeatedly claimed divine authority, equality with the Father, the power to forgive sins, and the identity of “I Am,” leaving no room for Him to be merely a good teacher or prophet.This message then highlights how faith bridges the gap between knowledge and transformation. Through the responses of Peter, Paul, and even Jesus’ own brother James, it demonstrates that encountering the risen Christ moved them from familiarity to full surrender. When theology and faith collide, Jesus is no longer seen as a suggestion for living but as Lord and ultimate authority. The message challenges listeners to move from saying “Jesus was real” to confidently living as if “Jesus is real,” allowing belief to shape obedience, trust, and daily life. It closes by encouraging believers to continue growing in both understanding and faith, knowing that a deeper view of who Jesus is leads to a transformed life anchored in Him.

Pastor Scott Smith- January 12, 2026This message launches the 30 Minute Theology series by explaining why it is essential for believers to understand what they believe and why they believe it. It highlights that while many people claim faith in God, they often rely on sound bites, social media, or personal feelings to shape their understanding of Him rather than Scripture. Theology—simply the study of God—is something everyone has, whether they realize it or not, and our beliefs about God shape our behaviors, decisions, and worldview. This message emphasizes that believing there is a God is not the same as knowing who God is, and that a proper view of God (theology proper) must be anchored in God’s Word, where He reveals Himself and invites us to truly know Him.This message then focuses on who God is according to Scripture: He is spirit and person, the source of life, self-existent, unchanging, unlimited by time and space, and eternally unified as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It corrects common misconceptions of God as a distant “sky fairy,” a wish-granting genie, or a harsh rule-enforcer, showing instead that God is holy, loving, and deeply personal. God desires holiness over temporary happiness and invites relationship, not performance. The message concludes by reminding listeners that knowing God rightly leads to experiencing Him more fully, and that the most important belief in any person’s life is their belief about God. As believers grow in understanding who God truly is, their faith deepens, their lives are transformed, and their relationship with Him becomes stronger and more grounded.