Evangel Houghton

Dr. Frank Turek, author of "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist," talks about how nothing matters unless the resurrection is true. In assessing the truth of Christianity, we must explore four questions: 1. Does Truth Exist?, 2. Does God Exist?, 3. Are Miracles Possible?, and 4. Is the New Testament True? Turek explores the first question, Does Truth Exist?, for this Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 22, 2026.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the story of the good Samaritan, told by Jesus after a lawyer asked Jesus "Who is my neighbor?," from Luke 10:25-37, including: Jesus flips the question, it' a heart issue and a call to individual action, and Jesus is our Good Samaritan. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 17, 2026.

Mr. Jacob Timmer talks about how God is merciful enough to rescue us from the places we've drifted to, but rescue requires letting go of what's behind us, from Genesis 19:15–29, including 1) God has a Father's heart; He rescues us even when we resist (Gen. 19:15–16), 2) Lot wanted influence without holiness (Genesis 19:1), 3) What we refuse to release will destroy us (Gen. 19:23–29), and 4) The things that keep us lingering will all fail us (Luke 17:28–33). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 15, 2026.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the Sodomites and Lot, from Gen. 19:1-14, including Lot wanted influence without holiness (Genesis 19:1), Lot's urgency shows he knew what Sodom was (Genesis 19:2–3), and a hardened culture doesn't tolerate sin—it demands it (Genesis 19:4–9). This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 10, 2026.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how you cannot live in Sodom without Sodom trying to live in you, including 1) Judgment doesn't show up randomly (Genesis 18:20–33; 19:1), 2) Lot wanted influence without holiness (Genesis 19:1), 3) Lot's urgency shows he knows what Sodom is (Genesis 19:2–3), 4) A hardened culture doesn't tolerate sin—it demands it (Genesis 19:4–9), 5) Compromise kills your authority when you finally need it (Genesis 19:10–14), and 6) Closing (Genesis 19:12–14). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 8, 2026.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about God's patience before judgment on Sodom  and what he taught Abraham, from Gen. 18:16–33, including God Moves Toward the Problem, God Speaks Before He Acts and Sin Has Victims, and God's Justice is Careful, Not Impulsive. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 3, 2026.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how Lot was rescued by mercy, but then drifted back toward Sodom. Mercy can be misread as permission, but God's patience is not permission, rather it's an invitation to repent and a call for His people to intercede. From Genesis 18:16-33, including God moves toward the problem (v.16), God speaks before He acts (v. 17-19), Outcry means sin has victims. (v. 20), God's justice is careful, not impulsive (v. 21), Abraham stands before the Lord (v. 22), Bold prayer anchored in God's character (v. 23-25), God welcomes the intercessor (v. 26), Courage with humility (v. 27), 50 down to 10 (v. 28-32), and Tension remains (v. 33). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 1, 2026.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how the most dangerous compromises don't make you blatantly wicked, rather they make you quietly dependent, including: 1 REVIEW: SODOM-ADJACENT (THE SLOW DRIFT) (Genesis 13:10–13; 14:12), 2 WHEN YOU LIVE IN A PLACE, YOU START TO LIVE OFF IT (Genesis 14:11–12), 3 GRACE DOESN'T NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR CAPTIVITY—IT GOES AFTER YOU (Genesis 14:13–16), 4 THE REAL BATTLE IS AFTER THE BATTLE (Genesis 14:17–21), 5 MELCHIZEDEK: GOD REORIENTS ABRAM BEFORE THE WORLD RECRUITS HIM (Genesis 14:18–20), 6 SODOM'S KING: “TAKE THE GOODS” (Genesis 14:21), and 7 ABRAM'S REFUSAL: FREEDOM IS WHEN NO ONE CAN SAY, “I MADE YOU” (Genesis 14:22–23). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 25, 2026.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about Lot and how he drifted through small compromises, including A RIGHTEOUS MAN...WITH A TORMENTED SOUL (2 Pet. 2:7–9), THE FIRST STEP OF DRIFT: CHOOSING BY SIGHT, NOT FAITH (Gen. 13:8–13), and WHEN THE BLAST ZONE HITS, “NEAR” PEOPLE GET SWEPT UP (Gen. 14:1–16; key v. 12). This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 20, 2026.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how nobody drifts away from God overnight. We drift through small compromises until what was near becomes what we're in. But God knows how to rescue His people (2 Pet. 2:9). Including 1. A RIGHTEOUS MAN...WITH A TORMENTED SOUL (2 Pet. 2:7–9), 2. THE FIRST STEP OF DRIFT: CHOOSING BY SIGHT, NOT FAITH (Gen. 13:8–13), 3. THE DRIFT IN ONE LINE (Gen. 13:12), 4. WHEN THE BLAST ZONE HITS, “NEAR” PEOPLE GET SWEPT UP (Gen. 14:1–16; key v. 12), 5. GRACE BREAKS IN: SOMEONE STRONGER COMES FOR YOU (Gen. 14:14–16), 6. TWO KINGS, TWO OFFERS, TWO “GOSPELS” (Gen. 14:17–24). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 18, 2026.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the mystery revealed in the gospel, including GOD'S GRAND PLAN (Eph. 1:9–10), CREATION IS WAITING (Rom. 8:19–23), and THE NEW CREATION STARTS NOW (2 Cor. 5:17–19). This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 13, 2026.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how Christianity isn't mainly our search for God; it's God making known His plan to unite all things in Christ, including 1) GOD'S GRAND PLAN: THE MYSTERY REVEALED (Eph. 1:9–10), 2) WHY CREATION IS WAITING (Rom. 8:19–23), 3) THE NEW CREATION STARTS NOW (2 Cor. 5:17–19), and 4) FROM COSMIC PLAN TO MONDAY MORNING. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 11, 2026.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about God being uncontainable but near, including how he revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush and to us through scripture, and how we can know his voice. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 6, 2026.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how God is too big to be contained, and yet He graciously chooses to be near, known, and present with His people, including: 1) A God Too Big to Be Contained, 2) God Is Everywhere, Yet Acts with Purpose, 3) God's Nearness Is Relational, Not Spatial, 4) The Miracle of Christmas, and 5) Why Scripture Is the Lifeblood. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 4, 2025.

Mr. Brock McNaughton talks about how building a firm foundation starts with looking at Christ, including 1) Reading the Bible (Matthew 4:1-11), 2) Prayer (Matthew 26:36-46), 3) Fellowship (Acts 2:42-47), 4) The Shaken Foundation: The story of Job (Job 38:4-7, 42:1-17). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 28, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about why we seek, but the Light has already come into the world, including that darkness covers the people, needing obedience before clarity, and when seeking turns to worship. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 23, 2025.

In our Advent series, Wise Men Still Seek Him, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how we keep searching because we are disoriented. God does not give us better directions — He gives us His light, and that light is Jesus — including: 1) We Are Searching Because We Are in the Dark (Isaiah 60:2; John 3:19), 2) God's Light Comes Looking for Us (Isaiah 60:1; John 1:9), 3) The Magi Show How Seeking Becomes Finding (Matthew 2:1–12), 4) Finding Jesus Produces Joy and Worship (Matthew 2:10–11). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 21, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about how King Herod sought Jesus with a hard heart. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 16, 2025.

In our Advent series, Wise Men Still Seek Him, Mr. Aaron Green talks about the villian of the Christmas story, including 1) Introduction – The Backstory of a Villain, 2) Matthew 2:1-6 – Hardness of Heart, 3) Matthew 2:7-8 – Understanding Worship, and 4) Matthew 2:9-19 – The Rest of the Story (Conclusion). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 14, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about how God is near, seeks worshippers, and wants to be found, including when God feels distant, God finds us in lowly places, how we move toward God. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 9, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson kicks off our Advent series, Wise Men Still Seek Him, with the good news that we have a God who wants to be found, including: 1 The Assumption of Our Age: God Is Distant, 2 Advent Reveals a God Who Moves Toward Us, 3 God Speaks Into Exile – Jeremiah 29:10–14, 4 God Enters Obscurity – Luke 1:26–38, 5 Who Finds God?, and 6 The Heart-Level Invitation. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 7, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the healing of 10 lepers from Luke 17:11-19 and how only 1 of them returned to thank Jesus, including: 10 Healed but only 1 Made Well, Recognizing God as the Giver of Blessings, and Gratitude thru Humility that Leads Us to Christ. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 3, 2025.

Thanksgiving is more than manners; it is not just politeness or a reaction to something good, but rather it is a spiritual key that opens the door to God's presence, releases His power, and invites His intervention (Psalm 100:4). Mr. Daniel Amponsah-Berko, in our The Welcoming Table series, talks about three case studies: 1) Thanksgiving as A Weapon of Warfare (2 Chronicles 20:1-21 - Judah is surrounded), 2) Thanksgiving Multiply What You Have in Your Hands (John 6:1-13 – The feeding of the five thousand), and 3) Thanksgiving Brings Hope Into Hopeless Places (John 11:38-44 – Lazarus raised from the dead). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 30, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about Hospitality, including How It's Not Entertainment, Why It's Intimidating, and How to Do It. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 25, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson, in our The Welcoming Table series, talks about giving Thanks, including 1) Jesus Meets Us in the Margins (Luke 17:11-14), 2) All Ten Were Healed – But Only One Saw (Luke 17:15-16), 3) Gratitude Is a Turning of the Heart (Luke 17:15), and 4) The Nine Were Made Better — The One Was Made Whole (Luke 17:17-19). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 23, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson starts a miniseries, "The Welcoming Table," leading into Thanksgiving and starting with a talk about Hospitality, including: 1) The Call of Romans 12 (Romans 12:1-2), 2) Why Hospitality Feels Hard, 3) From Eden to the New Creation, God is the ultimate Host (Genesis 2, Luke 15, Revelation 19), 4) The Shape of Gospel Love, devotion Honor, sharing, hospitiality (Romans 12:9-13), 5) Receiving Hospitality, and 6) Why Hospitality Matters. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 16, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa wrap up Ecclesiastes, from Ecclesiastes 8 - 12. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 11, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson wraps up our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, including: 1) Joy in the Mystery (Ecclesiastes 9:7), 2) Direction of the Heart (Ecclesiastes 10:2), 3) Faithfulness in the Unknown (Ecclesiastes 11:6), 4) Remember and Revere (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13), and 5) The Gospel Fulfillment (1 Corinthians 15:58). Live joyfully, lean rightly, sow faithfully, and revere God, because Christ has turned vapor into victory. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 9, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the wisdom of Solomon from Ecclesiastes 7:1-29. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 5, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the source of good, from Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, 6:1-12, including: Is Anything Good?, The Giver of Good, The Bread of Life Satisfies. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 29, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about the source of good, including: 1) The Gift of Enjoyment, 2) Nothing Good – Ecclesiastes 6:1-6, 3) Needing Good – Ecclesiastes 6:7-9, 4) Knowing Good – Ecclesiastes 6:10-12, and 5) The Gospel Connection. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 26, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the love of money, from Ecclesiastes 5, including the chains of money and freedom through generosity. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 21, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how love of money will not satisfy, from Ecclesiastes 5:10-15, including: 1. The Love that Money Demands (Ecc. 5:10), 2. The Lies that Money Tells (Ecc. 5:11-15), and 3. The Life that Sets Us Free (Matt. 6:26). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 19, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about you can be in the house of God and still miss the reality of God. Worship must be approached with reverence, attentiveness, and integrity. Including 1. Guard Your Steps (Ecc. 5:1-3), 2. Watch What You Offer (Ecc. 5:2, 4-6), and 3. Remember the Reality of God (Ecc. 5:7). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 12, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about about Ecclesiastes 3:16 through 4:16, including injustice, oppression, and loneliness. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 7, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how life under the sun is broken by corruption, death, evil, envy, and loneliness, but there is hope because Jesus has already overcome everything under the sun. From Ecclesiastes 3:16 through 4:16, including: 1. Corruption Under the Sun (Ecc. 3:16–17), 2. Death Under the Sun (Ecc. 3:18–22), 3. Evil Under the Sun (Ecc. 4:1–3), 4. Envy Under the Sun (Ecc. 4:4–8), 5. Loneliness Under the Sun (Ecc. 4:9–16), and 6. Joy: Jesus Under the Sun (John 16:33). This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, October 5, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about why we toil at work, from Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 30, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about the tension we all feel, from Ecclesiastes 3, including 1 We Don't Schedule Tears, 2 The Eternity Question Answered with Who not Why, 3 Gift vs. Gain, and 4 Hope in the Tears. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 28, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about Solomon's honest struggle with work, from Ecclesiastes 2:17–26, including 1) Why Work Feels Like Vexation, 2) From Vexation to Vocation, and 3) Living Out Your Vocation. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 21, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about paradoxes of knowledge and pleasure from Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 16, 2025.

In our sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about paradoxes from Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11, including 1) Knowledge Alone Brings Sorrow, 2) Pleasure Can Thrill You but Never Fulfill You, and 3) The Purpose of Pleasure. This episode of the Evangel Houghton podcast is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 14, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about "hevel" vanity from Ecclesiastes, including Vapor / Breath, Having It All is Meaningless, and Seek First the Kingdom of God. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 9, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson kicks off our new sermon series, Everything is Meaningless... Or is it?, talking about Life Feels Like Cycles, The Context of Ecclesiastes, Vanity and Hevel, The Harsh Reality, The Gospel Pivot, Takeaways: From Vanity to Blessing, The Decision, and Which path Will You Choose? This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 7, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about evangelism, including misconceptions, sin, the God who loves, proclamation, prayer and conversation. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, September 2, 2025.

In our sermon series, The Life God Has Always Wanted For You, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how every generation of Christians drifts away from the gospel of grace in one of two directions: “Everyone's basically good,” and “God only redeems the good.” He talks about the The Gospel Movement, including The God Who Loves and The God Who Sends, and addresses What Is Evangelism? This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 31, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about God's command to celebrate to gather his people and form their hearts. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 27, 2025.

In our sermon series, The Life God Has Always Wanted For You, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how God doesn't just give us rules—He gives us rhythms. And when we step into the rhythm of celebration, we discover what it really means to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”: 1. Celebration is a discipline, 2. Learning to delight, 3. God's training plan: the festivals, 4.  The Festivals and Their Fulfillment, 5. What the festivals show us, 6. Our rhythms today, and 7. The Invitation. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 24, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about generosity, including treasures of the heart, savings account vs generosity account, and giving from the heart . This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 20, 2025.

In our sermon series, The Life God Has Always Wanted For You, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how you will never open the door of generosity until you open your heart, including: I. Perspective Shapes Behavior (Matthew 6:19–24, Philippians 2); II. God Made You for His Purposes (Colossians 1:16–17); III. God Supplies the Seed (2 Corinthians 9:6–11, Ephesians 1:8); IV. Generosity as Spiritual Formation (John 3:16, Luke 19:8–10, Matthew 19:21–22); V. Generosity Breaks the Grip of Materialism (Matthew 13:44, 1 Timothy 6:17–19); and VI. The Big Question: What are you more worried about—your bank account or your generosity account? This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 17, 2025.

In our sermon series, The Life God Has Always Wanted For You, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about: I. Holiness Isn't About Trying Harder, II. Baptism Isn't the Finish Line, III. God's Not Done With You Yet, IV. Marriage Isn't Just About Love, and V. Don't Just Settle for Forgiven—Step Into Transformed. We also hear the testimonies of Jordan (14:06), Jessica (25:14) and Joe (26:52). This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 10, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about holiness, including freedom, baptism, sanctification, marriage, and binding to Jesus. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, August 13, 2025.