Evangel Houghton

In The Next Right Steps sermon series, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how Samuel didn't chase greatness; he walked in faithfulness, including: 1. If you're not dead, you're not done, 2. Obedience Often Comes Before Clarity, 3. God Doesn't Choose Based on Appearance, and 4. Faithfulness in the Field Still Matters. The scripture text is from 1 Samuel 16:1-13. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, June 2, 2025.

Pastors Levi and Travis talk about how fear drove King Saul to disobey God, from 1 Samuel 13 & 15, including: Saul Offers the Sacrifice, Fear is a Theif, God Takes Obedience Seriously. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 27, 2025.

In The Next Right Steps sermon series, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how fear is a thief, from 1 Samuel 13 & 15 when King Saul improperly offered a sacrifice, including 1. Fear Distorts Reality, 2. Fear Pressures Us to Take Control, 3. Fear Reveals Where We Trust Ourselves More Than God, 4. Obedience > Sacrifice, 5. Fear Can Become a Pattern, and finally, We Choose Behavior, Not Consequences. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 25, 2025.

Pastors Levi and Travis talk about how Israel asked Samuel for a king, from 1 Samuel 7 & 8, including: Samuel's Repeated Faithful Steps, Samuel's Disappointment, and Israel's Security Blanket. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 20, 2025.

In The Next Right Steps sermon series, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about what we turn to when life gets uncertain reveals who (or what) we actually trust, including: 1. Samuel's Steady Faithfulness (1 Samuel 7:15-17), 2. The Disappointment of Rejection (1 Samuel 8:1-5), 3. The Real Issue—Replacement God, and 4. The Warning. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 18, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about how how Israel turned to God in desperation but didn't quit idolatry, from 1 Samuel 4-7, including Israel Brings Ark of the Covenant into Battle and Loses It, Samuel tells Israel to Rid Themselves of Foreign Gods and Serve Only God, and What Are The Idols in Our Lives. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 13, 2025.

In The Next Right Steps sermon series, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how it's not enough to add God to our lives; we must remove the things that compete with Him, including:1. Faithfulness in the Shadows Prepares You for the Spotlight2. Obedience Comes Before Clarity3. Idolatry = Anything That Competes with God's Place in My Life4. Repentance Means Subtraction, Not Just Addition5. The Next Right Step is Often Confession + SurrenderThe scripture text is from 1 Samuel 4-7. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 11, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about how Samuel chose a different path in a wicked environment, from 1 Samuel 2 and 3, including Eli's scoundrel sons, Eli's bad parenting & discipline, and Samuel hears the voice of the LORD & becomes a prophet. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 6, 2025.

Continuing in The Next Right Steps sermon series, Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how faithfulness isn't about environment — it's about obedience. God calls us to take the next right step, even when the world around us won't. The Scripture text is from 1 Samuel 2 and 3. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, May 4, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about Hannah, a childless woman with an insensitive husband and mean sister wife, from 1 Samuel 1:1-28, including how she began with prayer, kept her vow, and left a legacy. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 30, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson kicks off our new sermon series, The Next Right Steps, with the story of Samuel's mother, Hannah, who ran to God when she was childless with an insensitive husband and a mean sister wife, and how she began with prayer, kept her vow, and left a legacy. The Scripture text is from 1 Samuel 1:1–28. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 27, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how Jesus defeated death.  This podcast episode is an Easter Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 20, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about how Jesus came to meet our needs, not our expectations, including his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, disappointment in God when our expectations are not met, and how Jesus invites us into freedom. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 15, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about how Jesus's arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was not what many expected, but he was all they needed, from Matthew 21:1-11.  This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 13, 2025.

Pastors Levi and Travis talk about Paul's thank-you to the Philippians, from Philippians 4:10-20, including his secret to contentment while being stuck, connected to God, and serving repeatedly. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 8, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues in our sermon series Daily Grind with Paul's thank-you note to the Philippians and his secret to contentment, from Philippians 4:10-18. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, April 6, 2025.

Pastor Travis Williams continues in our sermon series Daily Grind with Paul's appreciation for the gifts and support from the Philippians while he was in prison, from Philippians 4:10-18. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 30, 2025.

Levi, Travis, and Lisa talk about anxiety and the antidote to rejoice in the Lord, including decisions of our heart, the preposition IN, and focusing on what can be controlled. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 25, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues in our sermon series Daily Grind with Paul's instructions to rejoice in the Lord always, from Philippians 4:2-9. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 23, 2025.

Levi, Travis, and Lisa talk about being surprised by God, including examples from scripture, trusting in God's goodness, and fervent prayers of the desperate. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 18, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson briefs his time in Ghana, Africa, with Last Command Missions team. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 16, 2025.

Guest Speaker, Alan Cleveland, Executive Director of Church Strengthening, Converge Great Lakes, continues in our sermon series Daily Grind from Philippians 3:10-4:1. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 9, 2025.

Lisa and Travis talk about Jesus being enough, from Philippians 3:1-11, including steps toward Jesus > achievements, love of Jesus > affirmation from people, and knowing Jesus > what you know. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 4, 2025.

Dr. Richard Fellars continues in our sermon series Daily Grind from Philippians 3:1-11. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, March 2, 2025.

Dr. John Jaszczak talks about our special relationship with God which is signified through baptism. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 23, 2025.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about the characteristics of two Christian men, Timothy and Epaphroditus, that Paul sent to the Philippians, from Philippians 2:19-30. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 18, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues our sermon series, Daily Grind, with Paul's glowing review of two Christian men, Timothy and Epaphroditus, whom he's sending to the Philippians, from Philippians 2:19-30. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 16, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa discuss Philippians 2:5-11. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 11, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues our new sermon series, Daily Grind, with Paul's new song for the Philippians, from Chapter 2:5-11, including pride, humility, and exaltation. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 9, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about Paul's plea for unity, from Philippians 1:27-2:4. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 4, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues our new sermon series, Daily Grind, with Paul's plea for unity, from Philippians 1:27-2:4, including the crisis of conflict in the church of Philippi, how life is suffering, and Paul's reminder to not forget what we have. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, February 2, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about Paul waiting in prison, from Philippians 1:12-26, including "In Chains for Christ" and "To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain." This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 28, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues our new sermon series, Daily Grind, with Paul waiting in prison, from Philippians 1:12-26, including how he was "in chains for Christ" and "to live is Christ, to die is gain." This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 26, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about Paul's encouragement to new Christians and partners in spreading the gospel, from Philippians 1:1-11. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 21, 2025.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues our new sermon series, Daily Grind, with Paul's encouragement to new Christians and his partners in spreading the gospel, from Philippians 1:1-11, including his expectation for their spiritual growth and prayer that they'll keep going in their faith and to focus on what's best. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 19, 2025.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about joy through gratitude, from Philippians 4:4-7 and Acts 16:13-34. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 14, 2024.

Pastor Levi Matteson kicks off our new sermon series, Daily Grind, with how gratitude in your cup is the best part of waking up, from Paul's instruction to "rejoice always" in Philippians 4:4-7 and a story of his travels to Philippi from Acts 16:13-34. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 12, 2025.

Guest Speaker, Mr. Daniel Amponsah-Berko, preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, January 5, 2025.

Pastor Travis Williams contrasts the temporary joy we get from our Christmas gifts with the eternal joy that comes from the ultimate gift in Christ, from Matthew 2:1-11 & 1 Peter 3-9. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 29, 2024.

"Darkness conceals, but light reveals." Pastor Levi Matteson invites us to receive the Light of Christmas on this Christmas Eve message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 24, 2024.

Pastors Levi and Travis talk about the heavenly concert given to the shepherds in the field and how they then went to see Mary and the baby Jesus for themselves, from Luke 2:8-20, including God chose to tell a lowly bunch, God's message to the broken, God's grace to Mary. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 24, 2024.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues asking Mary Did You Know? about the heavenly concert given to the shepherds in the field and how they then went to see Mary and the baby Jesus for themselves, from Luke 2:8-20. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 22, 2024.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about when Mary and Joseph visited the temple, from Luke 2:22-38, and their encounters with Simeon and Anna. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 17, 2024.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues asking Mary Did You Know?, about when she and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple and encountered Simeon, from Luke 2:22-35. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 15, 2024.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about when Mary visited Elizabeth, from Luke 1:39-45. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 10, 2024.

Pastor Levi Matteson continues asking Mary Did You Know?, about when she visited her elderly cousin Elizabeth, who was the recipient of the other conception miracle, from Luke 1:39-45, including how the visit was a confirmation for Mary, how these two women became part of redemptive history, and the work of the Spirit even with little John in utero. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 8, 2024.

Pastor Levi and Lisa talk about what Gabriel told Mary, from Luke 1:26-38. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 3, 2024.

Pastor Levi Matteson kicks off our Christmas Advent series asking "Mary Did You Know?", From Luke 1:26-38, including how Luke set the story in a time and place, what Gabriel told Mary, why Mary had to be a virgin, and how nothing is impossible for the creator of the world. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, December 1, 2024.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about the fairness of God, including how God does not show favoritism, how we misunderstand sin, and perceiving unfairness from both sides. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 26, 2024.

Pastor Levi Matteson talks about the fairness, or perhaps unfairness, of God, including that he doesn't show favoritism and that we misunderstand sin. This podcast episode is a Sunday message from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 24, 2024.

Pastor Levi, Pastor Travis, and Lisa talk about what the world says vs what God says, from Romans 12:17-21, such as to not repay evil for evil by doing what is beautiful, living in peace, and turning the other cheek. This is an episode of Pearls & Swine on the Evangel Houghton Podcast from Evangel Community Church, Houghton, Michigan, November 19, 2024.