Encounter Church Napa

In this message, we explore The Mind of Christ in Community through Philippians 2, discovering why humility is the antidote to division and why Jesus' example completely redefines greatness. This sermon is a call to move beyond attending church and become the kind of people who truly carry one another.

Pentecost changes everything. For thousands of years people traveled, sacrificed, and performed just trying to get near God. But today we celebrate that God didn't build a better temple; He moved in. Right now, Jesus isn't passively watching your life from heaven. He is actively interceding for you, presenting Himself to the Father on your behalf. Your worst week doesn't change His position. Your doubt doesn't silence His prayer. Your standing before God isn't measured by your performance. It's anchored in a High Priest who saves completely, intercedes continuously, and never stops. You don't need to manage yourself before God anymore. Come as you are. That's not weakness. That's where transformation actually begins.

Obedience to the Lord is not about rule-keeping but a heart posture of trusting and staying under His voice, especially in long, uncertain, painful seasons of life. Jesus Himself “learned obedience through suffering,” showing that endurance, trust, and spiritual growth often happen in hardship rather than clarity or comfort.The sermon encourages believers to remain close to Jesus, like branches to a vine, learning endurance through everyday faithfulness, even when circumstances are unresolved or difficult.

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf."Hope steadies the heart when fear and uncertainty rise like waves against the shore. It is not a fragile wish built on changing circumstances, but a quiet strength rooted beyond what our eyes can see. In the stillness of suffering and the waiting of unanswered prayers, hope draws the soul upward, reminding us that we are not abandoned. It reaches past the shadows of this world into the presence of eternal peace, where grace holds fast even when our own strength fails.

Today we continue our journey through Hebrews, where we are given one of the most profound revelations of Jesus in all of Scripture: Jesus, our great High Priest. In Hebrews 4–8 we are invited to see Him not as distant or symbolic, but as the true and final Mediator who has entered heaven on our behalf and brought us with Him into the presence of the Father. As we explore this together, we'll step back for a big-picture view today before slowing down in the coming weeks to uncover the depth of what it means that we now have a High Priest who does not stand apart from our humanity, but has entered into it and redeemed it from within.

Sabbath doesn't simply mean rest; it means to cease, to stop striving. And what you enter when you stop is not emptiness, but shalom, not just peace as the absence of trouble, but wholeness in the presence of God, a deep settling of the soul. Augustine captured it after a lifetime of searching: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” From Genesis, we see this rest was God's intention: creation finished, humanity placed into a world already complete, no striving, no anxiety, only communion. But in one moment of distrust, we stepped out of dependence and into striving, and ever since humanity has been restless, running, achieving, numbing, trying to hold what only God can carry. Yet God never stopped calling His people back: manna in the wilderness, Sabbath rhythm in the law, prophets grieving a people who “forgot their resting place.” Hebrews then reveals the point: there remains a rest still open, not entered by effort but by faith, and that rest is not a principle, it is a Person. Jesus, who says, “Come to Me, all who are weary,” and from the cross declares, “It is finished.” Sabbath was never a rule to perform but a gift to receive, rest is returning to Him, where striving ends and life begins.

HE IS RISEN—and everything has changed. Jesus didn't just endure the cross; He willingly stepped into our suffering to bring many sons and daughters to glory. He entered our brokenness, broke the power of death from the inside, and rose into a life that death can never touch. This isn't just about Him coming back—it's about Him bringing us with Him: out of fear, out of sin, and into the full, beautiful life of God. The empty tomb declares that your story isn't defined by what's been lost or broken, but by resurrection, hope, and a future secured in Him.

On Palm Sunday, the crowds celebrated Jesus but missed who He truly was because their expectations shaped their vision. In our Hebrews series we see why this matters so deeply, because Hebrews 1 declares that Jesus is God's final and full revelation, the exact representation of His being. Yet the same danger remains for us as we can be close to Him and still see a version we have created. This is why the Holy Spirit's role is so powerful as He reveals Jesus as He really is, not who we imagine Him to be. When we see Him clearly everything changes, our striving ends, our drifting stops, and we find the life and peace that were in front of us all along. - Sean

Devotion always endures.In every generation people are building something with their lives. We pursue careers, influence, security, and legacy, yet Genesis 4 reminds us that not everything we build actually lasts. Some lives are built around achievement apart from God, while others are built around devotion to Him. What we choose to build our lives around matters because it does not only shape our present but also the generations that follow after us.

As we continue exploring our Identity in Christ, we're looking at what Christlike community truly is, how the gospel restores (Hebrews 12) what sin has fractured (Genesis 4) and shapes us into a humble, prayerful people who belong to one another (Philippians 2)"A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that otherwise may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother/sister for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Over these past weeks we've been looking at our identity in Christ, and today I want to name the real fight Scripture exposes. The battle is not first with behavior, but with a lie. From the garden to the cross, the enemy's strategy has been the same condemnation that turns us against ourselves. Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16), because the gospel does what the Law never could. It doesn't just expose sin, it heals the one crushed by it. At the heart of self rejection is the lie, “I am only worthy if I perform,” but the gospel declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). We are not fighting ourselves. We are fighting the lie.

In the parable of the Lost Coin, Jesus confronts the belief that worth must be earned and reveals a deeper truth: value is assigned before behavior, belief, or change. This message is not aimed at “them out there,” but at those who already belong yet live disconnected from their God-given identity. If you have ever felt misplaced in purpose, faith, or joy, this teaching reframes what was never missing, only hidden. - Sean

Most of us are far more familiar with failure than freedom. We know Adam's story by heart, yet we struggle to believe Christ's story is actually ours. So we live quietly assuming the distance between us and God is on us to close, telling ourselves to pray harder, try again, and do better next time. But what if the gospel says something far more unsettling and far more beautiful? What if God was never waiting for you to move toward Him? What if, in Jesus, God already moved all the way toward you? Tonight we're not asking a small question, but the one that shapes how you pray, how you trust, and how you follow Jesus, especially when you fail. Why did Jesus have to die? Because how you see the cross will determine whether you live in fear or live convinced, deep in your bones, that God is for you. - Sean

At the heart of hearing God's voice is the Word of God. Scripture is not just a record of what God once said; it is the living foundation that teaches us how His voice sounds, what His heart is like, and how He leads. If we want to recognize His voice in our lives, we must first know it in His Word. The Spirit takes what has already been spoken through Christ in Scripture and reveals it to us. The Bible becomes the tuning fork of our hearts, training our ears so that when God whispers, nudges, or directs, we recognize the tone of truth. Without the Word, we mistake our own thoughts for His voice; with the Word, we learn to discern, trust, and follow Him with confidence.

In a world that demands instant answers and quick breakthroughs, this message series invites us into the countercultural power of waiting on the Lord. Waiting, not as passive resignation, but as a heart posture of trust, surrender, and deep transformation. Waiting on the Lord part 2 centers on the truth of “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” this sermon reveals how waiting awakens us to the reality that God is not distant, but already living within us by His Spirit. Through Scripture, the wilderness journey of Israel, and Jesus' own testing in Matthew 4, we discover that waiting is not abandonment but divine formation, preparing us for fruitfulness, obedience, and true freedom. If you're in a season of tension, hunger, or uncertainty, this message will reframe your waiting as holy ground where strength is renewed, faith is refined, and Christ's life is expanded in you.

As we begin 2026, God is inviting us as a church to pause, fast, and wait, not out of delay or idleness, but as a posture of preparation and dependence on Him. Fasting awakens our hunger for God and reminds us that true satisfaction comes from Him alone, not from comfort or self-sufficiency. Waiting is not passive. It is abiding, remaining in position with expectation, allowing God to shape our hearts, renew our strength, and align our will with His.This pattern is seen throughout Scripture. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness tending sheep before God revealed Himself in the burning bush. The fire was already there, but Moses had to choose to turn aside, pause, and notice. Similarly, before Pentecost, the disciples waited in Jerusalem, abiding in Christ, before receiving the Holy Spirit and being empowered for mission.Waiting trains us to recognize God's presence in ordinary moments, to trust His timing, and to be filled with His Spirit. Like Moses and the disciples, our waiting gives way to encounter, empowerment, and new seasons of purpose. This year, God calls us to create space for Him, to fast, to hunger, to abide, and to turn aside long enough to see the fire that is already burning among us.

Joy isn't something we have to chase or manufacture it is someone we get to encounter. In this message, we discover that God Himself rejoices over us, sings over our struggles, and gives us strength in the midst of life's ruins. Join us to learn how the joy of the Lord becomes our anchor, our hope, and our strength—even in the hardest seasons.

This week's message reminded us that as Advent begins with hope, the surest way to keep hope alive is through thanksgiving. We looked at Psalm 100 and how, in the Old Testament, worshipers entered God's presence through literal Temple gates with thanksgiving, crossing a threshold from the chaos of life into His peace. Under the New Covenant, Jesus Himself is the Gate and yet our hearts function as daily ‘gates'—places where we either welcome His already-present nearness or grow numb to it. Thanksgiving is the posture that opens the heart. We traced God's glory, His goodness made visible, from Moses on Sinai, to Solomon's Temple filled with glory when the people gave thanks, to Jesus who is the fullness of glory Himself. Gratitude makes room for this glory, softening our numbness and awakening us to His nearness. In contrast, Romans 1 shows ingratitude darkens the heart and closes the gate. So we ended with Paul's call in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 18: to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances, not as pretend positivity, but as an act of surrender that enthrones Jesus as King over the “gate” of our lives. Gratitude opens the gate; ingratitude closes it. Thanksgiving is how we make room for glory.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” (Matthew 22:37). God knows our limits—and still calls us to love Him fully. But this isn't about demanding what we don't have; it's about awakening the love He's already placed in us.

Isaiah 54:17 declares that no weapon formed against us shall prosper—not because weapons won't form, but because they cannot win against God's finished victory in Christ. Isaiah spoke these words long before Israel's exile, warning them to build faith before the storm. Generations later, Daniel lived that truth in Babylon, where truth was relative, faith was diluted, and compromise was normal. Yet Daniel stood firm—faithful, prayerful, and uncompromised—because his devotion belonged fully to God. The real weapon wasn't the fire or lions; it was the pressure to conform and silence his prayer life. In Jesus, the greatest weapon—death—has already failed. Now we live in the partnership Isaiah described: God fights for us, but we stand in His truth. We silence every lie and accusation not by shouting louder, but by standing deeper—anchored in who He is and who we are in Him. No weapon prospers because the victory is already won, and our heritage is to walk in that truth with confidence, courage, and clarity.*additional note*We teach the entire book of Isaiah as the work of one prophet (8th century BC), with chapters 40–66 as predictive prophecy, exactly as Jesus and the New Testament present it. * Some scholars hold a multiple-author view and date parts of Isaiah later. That's fine; we can disagree in grace. The gospel, the cross, and the promise “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” remain unchanged either way. Grace & peace!

"The viewpoint of a worker for God must not be as near the highest as he can get, it must be the highest. Be careful to maintain strenuously God's point of view, it has to be done every day, bit by bit; don't think on the finite. No outside power can touch the viewpoint." - Oswald ChambersThis week's message reminded us that being more than conquerors isn't about winning through strength or escaping hardship—it's about being led in Christ's victory. The enemy tries to distort how we see ourselves and God, whispering that we're forgotten or not enough, but in Christ we've already been captured by love and led in triumph. Like Paul, we're not the generals of victory—we're the captives of grace, spreading the fragrance of Christ even through suffering. Our brokenness becomes the very place where His power and redemption are revealed. Whether in prison like Paul and Silas (Acts 16) or in the struggles of daily life, we carry a testimony that declares: nothing can separate us from the love of God. To be more than conquerors means not only to overcome, but to bring redemption wherever we go—reflecting the image of Christ and releasing His freedom and restoration to others.

In Matthew 9:1–9, Jesus reveals a heart that's both tender and powerful. He doesn't just see our struggles—He calls us His own and speaks forgiveness that breaks shame and sets us free. When He says, “Rise and walk,” it's more than healing—it's an invitation to live in God's power and leave behind what once held us captive. Our healing and purpose flow from His love, and every step of faith becomes part of the new story He's writing in us.

Frederick Beuchner on the Resurrection: 'The worst thing is never the last thing"(incorrectly credited as Henri Noewen in the sermon)It's a truth that sits right at the edge of an empty tomb in Mark 16 — where the women stand trembling, caught between fear and faith, between what they saw and what they hoped for. The story seems to end in silence, but that's exactly where resurrection begins — in the gap between despair and belief. And it's the same place Jonah found himself, swallowed by the deep, running from the very God who brings dead things to life. Both Jonah and the women are faced with the same question that still echoes to us today: What will you do with an empty tomb? Will you stay silent, or will you step into resurrection life?

LOVE TORE THE VEIL - When Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have You abandoned Me?” He wasn't in despair—He was stepping into our pain so we'd never be alone in ours. The cross wasn't punishment—it was rescue. In that moment, heaven entered our darkness, love tore the veil, and every barrier between God and humanity fell. The Father wasn't distant—He was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. The curtain tore from top to bottom, death lost its grip, and the way to God was opened forever. This message reveals the heart of the gospel: not wrath versus love, but a God who co-suffered with us to bring restoration. Because Christ lives in us, we carry the hope of glory.

All four gospels present an account of Jesus being anointed by a woman with a costly jar of perfume. In John, and on this occasion, the woman is identified as Mary of Bethany, sister to Martha and Lazarus. In Mark 14 we see Mary pouring out a precious and costly perfume in an extravagant act of worship. She recognized Christ's unequaled value and expressed her gratitude with unreserved love and devotion. Although she may not have fully comprehend the messianic significance of her anointing, she had come to appreciate Christ's worth more than anyone else at the table.

In a world that keeps us physically awake with fear and noise, Jesus calls us to stay spiritually awake. This message dives into Mark 13:32–37, where Jesus tells His followers: “Stay awake.” Not just physically, but in heart and spirit — awake to His presence, awake to faith, awake to your calling. In the chaos, He hasn't left — He's near. Let's explore what it means to live watchful, faithful, and fully alive to the purposes of God. Don't miss this word.

Mark 13 isn't a chapter meant to spark fear—it's a call to live faithfully in a world that's shaking. Jesus speaks not to feed our fascination with timelines, but to form our faith. He calls us to trust in His unshakable Kingdom, shift from fear to faith, remain faithful through persecution, and flee from anything that pulls us away from His truth. Even as chaos, deception, and suffering increase, Jesus reminds us that He has already gone before us—and He's coming again in power and glory. The call is simple: stay awake, stay faithful, and anchor your hope in Christ alone.

Friend of the house, Simon Bull, unpacks Mark 12

Are you still striving to earn what Jesus has already finished?Are you fighting a war that is over?In Mark 11, Jesus enters Jerusalem not to take power—but to lay it down. He flips tables, challenges empty religion, and announces a new way: not performance, but presence. Not ritual, but relationship.This message is a call to stop fighting battles that are already won—and to hear Jesus say: "The war is over. You're free. Come home."

"With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."We looked at the Rich Young Ruler this past week, this story highlights that eternal life cannot be earned through moral living or possessions—it is received through surrender to Jesus. The call to follow Christ means laying down every idol and trusting in His sufficiency. Salvation is not possible by human effort, but only through God's gracious work in the heart.

God's glory is not just revealed on mountaintops but in the valleys of weakness, brokenness, and suffering. True discipleship isn't about staying in moments of spiritual high but following Jesus down into the mess of everyday life. The Transfiguration shows us who Jesus truly is—but His descent from the mountain reminds us that glory is found in surrender, service, and dependence on God. Strength is not found in self, but in leaning hard into Christ when we feel weakest.

In a world constantly demanding signs and proof, this sermon from Mark 8 calls us back to the heart of true faith—surrender. We are reminded that God has already proven Himself faithful, yet like the disciples, we often forget His past provision and let fear, doubt, and cultural mindsets creep in. Jesus warns us to beware of the subtle “yeast” of prideful religion and self-serving culture, both of which distort our trust in Him. The true sign we need isn't another miracle—it's the cross. It's Jesus Himself, the Bread of Life, who satisfies and sustains. In the tension between fear and faith, lack and abundance, Jesus invites us to remember, to trust, and to boldly confess, “You are the Christ.” This is the way of the cross. This is the way of surrender.

In this message, “True Purity,” we explore Jesus' powerful words in Mark 7, where He challenges the Pharisees' obsession with outward traditions and reveals that real purity isn't about performance—it's about the heart. True purity comes from trusting in Jesus' finished work, not trying to earn God's approval through religious rituals. When we believe the gospel, God gives us a new heart—one that's capable of seeing and knowing Him. Purity, then, is about loving God deeply, not just looking good on the outside. The good news is: we're not defined by our failures, but by Christ's victory. His blood makes us clean, His Spirit renews us daily, and now we can draw near to God with confidence—pure, loved, and free.

Mark 6 - Knowing Jesus

n this sermon from Mark 5, we explore what it means that Jesus has “all authority” — not as a distant display of power, but as the loving, personal authority of One who comes close to heal, restore, and set people free. We see Jesus cross cultural and spiritual boundaries to deliver a tormented man living among tombs, restore dignity and wholeness to a woman ostracized by disease, and raise a little girl from death itself. Through these three encounters, we discover that Christ's authority isn't about control or spectacle — it's about compassion, relationship, and seeing every individual beyond their impossible situation. We're reminded that Jesus still entrusts His authority to His followers today: to bring hope, healing, and life even amid suffering and unanswered prayers, knowing He walks with us and His love never fails.

What is eternal life?Jesus says it's not just living forever — it's knowing Him. In Mark 4, He shows us how the Word (like a seed) can bear fruit in our lives when received in surrendered hearts. Kingdom growth isn't about hype or striving, but the hidden, transforming work of His Word. Let's ask Him to break up what's hard, reveal what's shallow, and make us good soil — so our lives truly reflect Him. 

This week in our Knowing Jesus series through the Gospel of Mark, we explored how need is the doorway to truly encountering Jesus. In Mark 2, we saw how Jesus responds not to self-sufficiency, but to honest, faith-filled dependence. Whether it was the friends who tore open a roof to bring someone to Jesus, the sinners who shared a meal with Him, or the broken systems He came to renew—Jesus meets people in their need, not their perfection. The message is clear: God helps those who KNOW they CANNOT help themselves. Need moves Jesus, welcomes grace, and makes room for new life. Let's not miss Him by pretending we have it all together—let's come to Him honestly, and let Him transform us from the inside out.

This week, we're starting a new series called “Knowing Jesus – A Journey Through the Gospel of Mark.” I believe the Lord is inviting us, as a church family, to return to the Gospels—not just to learn more about Jesus, but to truly know Him. To see His heart, His mission, and the path He calls us to walk.In this message, we begin with Jesus' baptism, His time in the wilderness, and His call to repentance. We explore what it means to be deeply rooted in our identity as beloved children of God, even in seasons of testing and silence. This isn't just about spiritual knowledge—it's about spiritual awakening.If you've been feeling spiritually dry, distracted, or stuck in routine, my prayer is that this message stirs something fresh in you. We talk about the difference between having a form of godliness and walking in the real, transforming power of God. There's a call here—not to perform or strive—but to surrender. To return. To believe the good news again.And I want to personally invite you to our prayer meeting. Because prayer isn't just something we do—it's who we're called to be. His house is a house of prayer. Let's seek Him together.

Fatherhood is not just a biological role, it is a divine assignment. This is more than provision or discipline; it's a spiritual mantle to protect, nurture, and lead with love.This sermon is a call to stand against the spirit of confusion, passivity, and abandonment—and to rise as men who turn the hearts of children back to the Father. When fathers take their place, families heal.

Joseph's story teaches us this: Without forgiveness, there can be no future.As Sean closes our series on the patriarchs, we see how God used betrayal, injustice, and pain to prepare Joseph—not just for leadership, but for forgiveness. In a moment that could've ended in revenge, Joseph chose mercy—and saved a nation. This message draws from Genesis 45, and the radical grace of Jesus, reminding us that forgiveness doesn't excuse the pain, but it opens the door to healing, freedom, and God's greater story.

What if the God of the universe is still choosing to partner with real, imperfect people—just like you—to bring His kingdom to earth? Join us as we begin a four-week journey through the lives of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—men whose stories foreshadow Jesus and reveal a deeper invitation: not to religion or performance, but to faith-filled partnership with a promise-keeping God.

What if the God of the universe is still choosing to partner with real, imperfect people—just like you—to bring His kingdom to earth? Join us as we begin a four-week journey through the lives of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—men whose stories foreshadow Jesus and reveal a deeper invitation: not to religion or performance, but to faith-filled partnership with a promise-keeping God.