This week's message concludes our 7-week series through the book of James, exploring what it truly means to live an integrated faith—where what we believe actually shapes how we live. Pastor Stephen Mizell challenges us to embrace the long game of discipleship through three essential characteristics: patience, prayer, and persistence.

Mature faith doesn't burn bright and fade fast—it stays, it prays, and it brings people home. Discover why spiritual maturity happens in seasons, not seconds, and learn how refusing to give up is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• Discipleship is a long game, not a short sprint—it's built over time through seasons, not seconds
• Patience is developed in the pressure, not given instantly when we pray for it
• Prayer isn't just for emergencies; it's the posture of a mature believer in every season
• Persistence means not giving up when the fruit hasn't come as quickly as we hoped
• There's someone waiting for your call today—go bring them home

Scripture References: James 5:7-20, Job's story

Not all wisdom is created equal. In this episode, Pastor Stephen Mizell from Open Door Church in Edenton, NC, tackles one of the most critical questions facing believers today: Where is your wisdom coming from—and where is it taking you?

Continuing the Integrated series through the book of James, Pastor Stephen unpacks James chapters 3 and 4 to reveal the stark difference between earthly wisdom and godly wisdom.

In This Episode You'll Discover:

• Why "garbage in, garbage out" isn't just about media—it's about the wisdom sources shaping your life
• The three characteristics of earthly (demonic) wisdom that lead to disorder and evil
• Seven qualities of godly wisdom that produce righteousness and peace
• The four internal wars every believer faces: frustrated desires, pride, friendship with the world, and resistance to God
• A powerful challenge to take physical action that represents spiritual surrender

Key Scripture: James 3:13-18, James 4:1-10

Whether you're wrestling with a major life decision or just trying to navigate daily challenges with godly wisdom, this message will equip you to discern which voice you're listening to—and how to align your life with God's truth.

About the Integrated Series: How do we integrate our faith with our life? This series explores the book of James to answer the question: "We say we believe this—but how do we actually live it?"

If you want to know where your life is headed, listen to what's coming out of your mouth. Join Pastor Stephen Mizell for this week's message from James 3 about the incredible power of our words to direct, destroy, and diagnose our lives.

In this online-only service (due to weather), we continue our journey through the book of James, exploring how faith moves from belief to behavior. This week, we discover that your tongue is the steering wheel of your life—and the words you speak reveal the condition of your heart.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Your words have the power to DIRECT your life's trajectory
• Your words have the power to DESTROY relationships and opportunities
• Your words have the power to DIAGNOSE the condition of your heart
• Small things (like bits, rudders, and sparks) can control or destroy massive things
• Inconsistent speech points to incomplete surrender to Christ
• God doesn't just want cleaner language—He wants a cleaner heart

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

• James 3:1-12
• Matthew 12:34 (Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks)

THREE REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What tone dominates my speech?
2. Who has been wounded by my words?
3. Where do I need a heart change, not just a habit change?

Is your faith alive? In this week's message from our "Integrated" series, Pastor Stephen Mizell examines James 2:14-26 and challenges us with a simple truth: a faith that doesn't act isn't alive.

Join us as we explore what it means to close the gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live. This isn't about judgment—it's about diagnosis. Just like a doctor identifies health issues to help us heal, God's Word reveals areas where our faith needs action.

Key Takeaways:

• Faith without works is dead—belief must lead to action
• Don't just acknowledge needs, engage with them practically
• True faith is demonstrated through deeds, not just words
• God calls us to be people who don't just talk about helping others, but actually do it
• Justice requires both law and compassion—grace and truth in tension

Scripture References:

• James 2:14-26 (The Anatomy of Faith)

What if the church's biggest problem isn't hatred, but the subtle ways we treat people differently? In this week's message from our "Integrated" series, Pastor Stephen Mizell confronts a truth that hits closer to home than we'd like to admit: we all have prejudices.

Drawing from James 2, this sermon challenges us to examine how we show favoritism—whether based on wealth, appearance, motivation, or countless other factors. Pastor Stephen reminds us that every person who walks through our doors is created in the image of God and deserves the same mercy we desperately need.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Everyone has prejudices—the question is how we respond to what we see
• Faith and favoritism cannot coexist in the life of a believer
• We want "TSA PreCheck mercy" for ourselves but "cavity search mercy" for others
• The royal law: Love your neighbor as yourself (James 2:8)
• Mercy triumphs over judgment because mercy looks like the King

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• James 2:1-13
• Matthew 5:3 (Sermon on the Mount - Blessed are the poor in spirit)

This message will challenge you to ask: Who do I instinctively honor? Who do I subtly overlook? And if Jesus walked into our church as inconspicuously as He arrived in a manger, how would we treat Him?

What if the biggest lie you'll ever hear isn't from the culture, the media, or even the enemy - but from yourself? In this week's message from the book of James, Pastor Stephen Mizell tackles one of the most common problems in the church today: we're information-rich but obedience-poor.

Drawing from James 1:19-27, Pastor Stephen uses the powerful metaphor of a mirror to show how God's Word reveals who we really are. But here's the challenge: are we just glancing at our reflection and walking away unchanged, or are we allowing what we see to transform us?

• Why asking for "deep teaching" might actually be an excuse for disobedience
• The three big blockers that prevent us from hearing God (speaking too quickly, anger, and casual sin)
• How you can sit in church week after week and remain completely unchanged
• The dangerous tension between purity and compassion—and why we need both
• Why social justice without Jesus is no justice at all

"God's word reveals our reality, but our obedience is what releases our transformation."

ABOUT OPEN DOOR CHURCH
Open Door Church is located in Edenton, NC, where Pastor Stephen Mizell serves as lead pastor. We are a fellowship of believers whose lives are being transformed by Jesus Christ and are committed to reaching Northeastern North Carolina with the good news of Jesus Christ. We are an independent, non-affiliated fellowship with a love of Jesus that connects us to a larger purpose in life.

Start your year with powerful insight into how God uses pressure to refine your faith! In this first message of our new series "Integrated," Pastor Stephen unpacks James 1:1-18 to reveal why trials aren't meant to break us—they're meant to complete us.

Discover the difference between testing and temptation, learn why God allows difficulties in your life, and find out how endurance develops through patient faith. This message will challenge you to close the gap between what you believe and how you live.

Key Takeaways:

• Pressure reveals your integrity—it doesn't break it
• God tests you to strengthen you; sin tempts you to destroy you
• A faith that can't be tested can't be trusted
• God uses trials to refine you, not punish you
• Patient endurance leads to wisdom, wholeness, and the crown of life
• The question isn't IF you'll face pressure, but WHAT it will reveal about you

Scripture References: James 1:1-18 | Jeremiah 29:11-13 | 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

About This Series: Join us for "Integrated"—a 7-week journey through the book of James that will help close the gap between what we say we believe and how we actually live. It's time for an integrated life!

ABOUT OPEN DOOR CHURCH: Open Door Church is located in Edenton, NC, where Pastor Stephen Mizell serves as lead pastor. We believe in the transformative power of God's Word and the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

In this week's Advent sermon, Pastor Stephen Mizell challenges us to rethink everything we thought we knew about love. As we light the fourth Advent candle, discover why love isn't just a warm feeling or sentimental decoration—it's a Person you meet and a divine action that changes everything.

Drawing from 1 John 4:7-12, Pastor Stephen unpacks the profound truth that God doesn't just love—He IS love. This means love existed before creation, before redemption, and before the incarnation. We don't manufacture love; we can only reflect it. We don't generate it; we can only distribute it.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why the Bible never treats love as a decoration
• The difference between sentimental love and sacrificial love
• How the manger and the cross are inseparably connected
• Why your theology is only as good as your relationships
• The challenge of being God's "full expression" of love to the world
• A special word for those finding this Christmas season difficult

KEY QUOTE: "Christmas is not about God shouting from the mountaintops, 'I love you.' It's about Him whispering it from a manger."

This sermon includes a salvation invitation and a tender moment addressing those experiencing a "Blue Christmas"—anyone grieving loss, waiting for answered prayer, or finding the season less joyful than expected. Pastor Stephen reminds us that the good news of Christmas isn't that God avoided darkness, but that He stepped into it.

SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:7-12, Romans 10:9

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Pastor Stephen Mizell serves as the lead pastor of Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. His teaching combines biblical depth with practical application, helping people encounter Jesus in real and transformative ways.