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Faith

Our Sermons

The Shepherd Who Knows Us

Even people who have never stepped foot inside a church may have heard the words of Psalm 23. It is perhaps one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture. But could its familiarity actually keep us from hearing what it has to teach us? Psalm 23 is not simply a psalm for funerals. It is a psalm for life – for every ordinary day and every difficult valley along the journey. It reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent to what we experience. He is with us, day in and day out, wherever we may find ourselves. David does not simply say, “The Lord is a shepherd.” He says, The Lord is my shepherd.” There is something deeply personal in those words. David knew the Lord – not merely as a God who exists, but as his God, his Shepherd, the One who cared for him and guided him. Jesus gives us an even deeper picture of this Shepherd in John 10:11-15: “I am the good shepherd.” Unlike a hired hand who runs when danger comes, Jesus does not abandon His sheep. He knows His own, His own know Him, and He lays down His life for the sheep. The Shepherd knows His flock. He knows every single thing there is to know about us – our strengths, our weaknesses, our failures, our fears, and the places where we are most vulnerable. And that is not something we need to hide from. It is good news. The One who knows us completely still desires to care for our souls. And His sheep know His voice. Psalm 23 invites us to consider what it means not simply to know about the Shepherd, but to know Him – to recognize His voice, trust His leading, and rest in His care. Whether we are walking beside still waters or thought the valley of the shadow of death, we are not walking alone. The Lord is my shepherd. That is more than a familiar line from a beloved psalm. It is an invitation to place our faith in the One who knows us completely, loves us deeply, and gave His life for us. “I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me.” ~~ John 10:14

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Riley Pate September 27, 2026

The Word That Gives Life

“My life is down in the dust; give me life through your Word.” ~ Psalm 119:25 If there is one area of our Christian lives where we could probably dig deeper, it may be our prayer life. But perhaps even more neglected and underutilized is the Word of God. How do we come out of the valleys of life? How do we find our way through the storms? The psalmist gives us an answer: “Give me life through your Word.” When David says that his life is down in the dust, he is describing a place of being driven very low – down as far as he can go, almost to the point of simply existing in default mode. There are miserable people all around us who are desperately looking for relief, but often in all the wrong places. David knows where life is found. He turns to God and His Word. We were designed for a life with the Lord. The Bible is not ultimately about us. We are not the point of Scripture, and its stories are not invitations for us to simply insert ourselves into the narrative. The point of the Bible is to point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor is the Word of God merely a tool for correcting other people: “The Bible says you should do this,” or “You shouldn’t do that.” Certainly, we are called to live as Christians, but Scripture is not primarily given so that we can tell others how to behave. Neither is it given to strengthen our political positions or prove that our side is right. The Word of God is living, and its purpose is to turn our hearts toward God. The living Word penetrates us. It searches us and exposes what needs to be changed. It can be like a surgeon removing a cancerous growth. The cutting may hurt, but the surgeon cuts because something is bringing death – and removing it brings life. That is what God’s Word does. It enters into us, searches us and cuts away the things that are leading us toward death. And through it, God brings us to life. The living Word speaks to the living spirit. And for the one who is spiritually dead, the Word begins the work of bringing life. The answer to a soul down in the dust is not simply to try harder or look for relief somewhere else. It is to come to the living God through His living Word. As we enter His Word, He draws us into deeper relationship with Himself – and there, He give us life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” ~~ Psalm 119:105

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Riley Pate September 20, 2026

When the Waves Are Crashing: Drinking from the Living Water

There are things we all experience in life that we don’t always talk about in church – the hard things, the uncomfortable things, and sometimes the deep darkness of depression. We can be tempted to think that if the Lord is in our lives, everything should be happy and beautiful. But Scripture tells us otherwise. Even faithful believers go through dark seasons when it seems the enemy is winning and the waves are crashing over them. Psalm 42 gives voice to that struggle: “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.” Yet even in his anguish, the psalmist turns toward God. He remembers the goodness of earlier seasons, calls out to the Lord, and reminds his own soul to hope in God. Charles Spurgeon, who himself experienced deep seasons of depression, once spoke of learning to “kiss the waves that throw me upon the Rock of Ages.” The waves may be painful, but they can drive us closer to the One who is our refuge. Rather than reaching first for the things of this world to soothe our souls, we can turn to the Lord – the source of living water. Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). This is more than water that merely sustains us. He is the very source of life, and apart from Him we have nothing. When we find ourselves in a dark season, it may feel as though the water has stopped flowing. But the living water has not run dry. Take care of your soul. Be mindful of what you allow your thoughts to dwell upon, because what we think about can consume us, and what consumes us can ultimately control us. Remember the people, places, and activities through which God has brought joy and goodness into your life. Call out to Him. Bless Him in every season. Our circumstances may not immediately change, but our perspective can. When the waves are crashing, praise Him anyway. God is still on His throne. He is still present. He still cares. And the living water still flows. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” ~~ Psalm 42:1

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Riley Pate September 13, 2026

Finishing Well

As we conclude our series on the Life of Elijah, we see a prophet who never wavered in his obedience to God. Though King Ahaziah had witnessed the fulfillment of God’s judgment on his own parents, Ahab and Jezebel, he still refused to seek the Lord, choosing instead to inquire of a pagan god. Elijah faithfully delivered God’s message without compromise, despite repeated threats against his life. His unwavering courage challenges us to ask: Where are we tempted to compromise? It’s easy to make excuses – our age, our schedule, our resources, or our fears – but Elijah simply obeyed when God called. The gospel is worth standing for, even when the cost is high. The series concludes with Elijah’s remarkable departure as he is taken to heaven in a chariot of fire. His mantle is passed to Elisha, a faithful disciple who recognizes that nothing in this world is more valuable than following God and walking in His Spirit. Elijah’s legacy reminds us that a life of steadfast obedience leaves an eternal impact. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ~~ 2 Timothy 4:7

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Riley Pate July 26, 2026

Elijah’s Dark Moment

After the dramatic victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah expected hearts to turn back to God. Instead, Queen Jezebel vowed to kill him, and the prophet fled in fear. Exhausted, discouraged, and believing he had failed, Elijah reached the depths of despair. Yet this passage reminds us that even the strongest servants of God are only human. Mountaintop experiences are fleeting, but most of life is lived in the valleys. The same God who reveals His power on the mountain is the same God who faithfully meets us in our darkest moments. Rather than rebuking Elijah, the Lord gently ministered to him through rest, provision, and His compassionate presence. When we feel alone, burned out, or unable to see what God is doing, we can trust that He has not abandoned us. He is still in control, still caring for His people, and still leading them forward. “Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” ~~ Philippians 4:11-13

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Riley Pate July 12, 2026

Who Will Answer?

Every heart worships something. The question isn’t if we worship – it’s what or who we worship. As we continue our study of 1 Kings 18, we arrive at the dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel, where Elijah stands alone against hundreds of prophets of Baal. Israel had not completely rejected the Lord; they were trying to worship Him while also pursuing the idols that promised security, success, and satisfaction. Through this unforgettable account, we’ll see that every idol ultimately leaves us empty, while wholehearted devotion to God brings life. Before God’s fire fell, Elijah first repaired the altar – a powerful reminder that renewal begins with repentance and restored worship. Join us as we discover what it means to stop wavering, trust God’s faithfulness, and seek His glory above all else. “When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” 1 Kings 18:39

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Danny Weems July 5, 2026

The God of the Impossible

Elijah appeared seemingly out of nowhere during one of Israel’s darkest spiritual seasons. Under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the nation had turned toward the worship of Baal, yet God raised up Elijah to boldly proclaim His truth. After declaring that a drought would come upon the land, Elijah was led by God first to a brook and then to a widow in Sidon – the very heartland of Baal worship. Though Elijah did not fully understand God’s plan, he trusted God’s promises. Through the faith of a desperate widow, God miraculously provided flour and oil throughout the famine. Yet when tragedy struck and her son died, the widow wrestled with painful questions about God, seeing Him more as a God of punishment than of grace. This message explores how our view of God shapes our response to life’s hardships. Through Elijah’s prayer and God’s miraculous restoration of the widow’s son, we are reminded that God is a loving Father who hears us, cares for us, and brings hope even in our darkest moments. When we place our lives in His hands, we discover that His grace is greater than our fears and His power is greater than our circumstances. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~~ Romans 5:8

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Cameron Dague June 21, 2026

Life of Elijah

In this message from 1 Kings 17:8-16, we explore the life of Elijah and his remarkable example of faith and obedience. When God directed Elijah to a widow in Sidon during a devastating famine, he responded without hesitation. Through the encounter with the widow and her last meal, we see powerful lessons about listening for God’s voice, trusting His promises, and putting Him first even when circumstances seem impossible. Elijah’s unwavering obedience reminds us that faith is not based on what we can see, but on confidence in the God who always provides. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”. ~~ Matthew 6:33

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Riley Pate June 14, 2026