Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Preacher: Ryan Carver

“The Way of the Wilderness” (Isaiah 40:1–11)

When life feels like a wilderness—dry, disorienting, and filled with hardship—where is God? In this message, we explore Isaiah 40’s powerful promise to a people in exile: “Comfort, comfort my people.”

Through vivid imagery and prophetic hope, Isaiah reveals a God who doesn’t just rule with power—He reigns with gentleness. He comes not to crush, but to gather. Not to destroy, but to restore.

We’ll see how this passage connects to John the Baptist, the ministry of Jesus, and our own journey from brokenness to restoration. This is a message for anyone who’s tired, waiting, or wondering if God has forgotten them. He hasn’t. He’s preparing the way—even in the wilderness.

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Scripture: Isaiah 35

Preacher: Jerry Cisar

What if the way back to Eden isn't behind us—but ahead of us? We’ll explore Isaiah 35—a vision of deserts blooming, sorrow fleeing, and a weary people walking a holy path home. It’s a chapter full of hope for those who feel stuck in a spiritual wilderness. Isaiah doesn’t point us backward to a mythical golden age. He calls us to look forward—to a transformed world and a healing God who meets us in the most unlikely places. Through feeble hands, fearful hearts, and barren land, God reveals His glory and leads us home. In Jesus, the way through the wilderness is not just survivable—it’s redemptive. He doesn't bypass the dry places. He brings Eden there. Come be reminded that God’s greatest work often happens where we least expect it. And as we gather, remember we come to Mt. Zion (Heb. 12:22) and we “will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.” (Isaiah 35:10)

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When King Uzziah died, everything in Isaiah’s world felt unstable. But it was in that moment of fear and uncertainty that Isaiah encountered the Lord in a way that changed the way he understood everything.

Isaiah 6 invites us into a vision of God that flips our assumptions upside down. It shows us a King whose glory looks nothing like the power and pride we expect—and a mission that feels, at first, like a guaranteed failure.

• What if real wisdom looks like foolishness?
• What if real victory looks like a cross?
• What if it takes a miracle to see the Lord’s glory?
• A miracle to hear the depth of God’s holiness?
• A miracle to understand how God works in the world and to participate in it?

Join us as we step into Isaiah’s vision—and discover that when you truly see the Lord, nothing will ever look the same again.

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Episode Title: "When Folly Rose Victorious"

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-22

Series: The King and His Kingdom

Preacher: Jerry Cisar

What if the path Jesus walked—the one marked by love for enemies, forgiveness over vengeance, and sacrifice over self-preservation—actually looked like failure? To the first disciples, it did. Jesus preached radical mercy and refused to fight back. Then He died. No armies. No rescue. Just silence.

And yet… on the third day, folly rose victorious. We’ll see what the Resurrection accomplishes: God the Father raised Jesus to declare, once and for all, that the seemingly foolish way of the cross is the way of the kingdom.

The Resurrection is about both Jesus and His Lordship and every one of His followers. It justifies, empowers, and sends us—worshipping and doubting, faithful and failing, variegated believers who are learning to walk the same path. If Jesus is Lord—and He is—then what?

We go and in our going we follow. And we trust that one day, God will raise what looked like folly into eternal glory.

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In a world of competing messiahs—political saviors, personal success strategies, comfort and control—it’s easy to make Jesus into someone who fits our expectations. But what happens when the real Jesus doesn’t play by our rules?

This message from Matthew 21, “The King and His Kingdom: Is Jesus the Messiah of Your Expectations?” will challenge us to consider four unexpected truths about Jesus drawn from Matthew 21. He is the King of peace, not human power. The King of the poor, not the privileged. The King who purifies our hearts. And the King who calls us to fruitfulness — which doesn’t merit but still matters!

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Episode Title: "Seeing the Kingdom Clearly" Scripture: Matthew 16:28–17:27 Series: The King and His Kingdom

Preacher: Zach McNabb

👀 What does Led Zeppelin have to do with Jesus' transfiguration? More than you think.

In this message, we explore how easy it is to miss something world-changing—even when it’s right in front of you. From British teens clueless about rock legends to disciples on a mountaintop with God, this sermon walks us through the astonishing moment when Jesus' glory is revealed—and what it means for us today.

Three Kingdom-anchored truths emerge from Matthew 17:

1. ✨ Right Vision in the New Reality – The Kingdom of Jesus flips everything right-side up. It’s not about dominance and power, but humility, peace, and self-giving love.

2. 🤝 Right Reliance in the New Reality – We’re not called to live this way by our own strength. Faith in Jesus, even mustard seed-sized, equips us through his presence and power.

3. 🏛️ Right Respect in the New Reality – Earthly powers? With all due respect (i.e., not much). We belong to a better Kingdom with a better King.

🙌 Jesus doesn’t stay distant in glory—he comes near, touches his disciples, and says, “Do not be afraid.” And he’s still doing that today.

🎧 Tap in to reimagine your world through Kingdom eyes—and to be reminded that Jesus is not just a better way; he is the only way.

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The King and His Kingdom, Part 11

In the tale, Hansel and Gretel, two children are abandoned in a dark forest. To find their way back, Hansel drops a trail of bread crumbs behind them. But the crumbs are eaten by birds, and they lose their way.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus leaves a trail of bread crumbs, and while the birds of the air may snatch them up so that the message is missed, they are all still there for those who pursue Jesus as king in the text. In a broad collection of events in the life of Jesus, the theme of bread is woven throughout (chapters 14-16). Jesus walks on water, feeds multitudes, rebukes religious leaders, heals enemy children. speaks of crosses instead of thrones. But the various links of this chain create one message about who Jesus is and how His kingdom operates.

We’ll zoom out to look at a powerful section in Matthew (14:22–16:27) where bread is broken, faith is tested, and true worship is redefined. We’ll ask questions that move us beyond belief into transformation—because Jesus doesn’t just want our agreement… He wants our lives. For more sermons and resources:

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"Do you feel overwhelmed by anxiety and fear, constantly worrying that you don't have enough? You're not alone. Join us as we explore Matthew 14, where Jesus powerfully contrasts a world driven by fear with His Kingdom of abundant provision.

Discover how you can break free from anxiety and step into a life of generosity and trust. Click play to learn more about living faithfully in God's abundant Kingdom!"

The sermon, "A Severed Head and Abundant Bread," explores two contrasting kingdoms presented in Matthew 14. First is the anxious kingdom represented by Herod—a kingdom driven by fear, scarcity, and control, where anxiety dominates decision-making and self-preservation leads to destructive outcomes. Herod’s fear and anxiety culminated tragically in the beheading of John the Baptist. In stark contrast, Jesus reveals the abundant Kingdom of God, characterized by trust, compassion, and generosity. Rather than being ruled by fear, Jesus demonstrates a Kingdom defined by abundant provision, feeding over five thousand people with minimal resources. This miracle serves not just as an act of compassion but as a lesson on living abundantly in trust and generosity. The sermon encourages believers to move from the anxiety-driven scarcity mindset toward a Kingdom perspective, trusting God's provision and stepping courageously into the world's brokenness. Followers of Christ are called to generously offer what they have, confident in God's abundant multiplication. Ultimately, the message invites listeners to reject fear and embrace a lifestyle of radical generosity and compassion, reflective of the abundant Kingdom of God.

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