McGregor Podcast

Can external discipline actually change you from the inside out? In this Beyond the Notes teaching, Pastor Russell Howard works through Colossians 2:16-23, where Paul identifies two dangers for believers: the legalistic judgment of others and the illusion of holiness through self-made religion. From dietary restrictions to ascetic practices to claims of superior spiritual experience, Paul's argument is direct. These things have an appearance of wisdom, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. The episode closes with Galatians 5:16, what Pastor Russell calls the single most concise and powerful verse in the New Testament on gaining mastery over the desires of the flesh. There are no rules to add, no habits to adopt. There is one command: walk by the Spirit. This teaching is for anyone who has tried harder and still come up short, and who wants to understand what actually produces real growth. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

"Tradition" (Matthew 14:34-15:20) In this sermon from our ongoing study of the Gospel of Matthew, Pastor Russell Howard draws a line between spiritual discipline and spiritual deception. Habits and behaviors can be genuinely helpful to a believer's walk with God. But when external conformity becomes a substitute for biblical obedience, or when rule-keeping becomes the currency we use to earn God's love, those traditions become dangerous. They inoculate us against the very thing Scripture calls true holiness. Jesus encounters the Pharisees at the height of this tension. They have traveled over 100 miles from Jerusalem to challenge his disciples over a handwashing tradition rooted not in God's law but in the oral traditions of the rabbis. Jesus turns the accusation around: they are enforcing human rules while violating the actual commandments of God. He quotes Isaiah, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." Then in verses 10 through 20, he makes an assertion that upends their entire framework. It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person. It is what comes out of the heart. The real problem has never been unwashed hands. It has always been an unwashed heart. Pastor Russell closes with this anchor from Ephesians 2: "By grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Obedience matters, but obedience proceeds from a transformed heart, not from an attempt to earn favor with God. If you have been trying to make God love you more, this message is the grace-shaped correction you didn't know you needed. Sermon Notes May 31, 2026 Russell Howard - Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What does community look like when the building is still under construction? On this week's Around McGregor, hosts Mark Bricker, Tamar Miller, and Christian Miller cover the week of May 31st. Topics include the return of newcomers coffee on Main Street between services, the prospective member class registration deadline, four life groups relocating to the modular building as Joy Building renovations begin, a brand new young adult life group for ages 30-40 launching Sunday, June 14th in the library, VBS Rainforest Falls June 8-12 (registration open, preschool lobby already decorated), the international potluck following VBS, and 21 currently open employment positions at McGregor and SFCA. Even in a season of transition, the people keep showing up. This episode is a snapshot of a church family doing exactly that. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Holiness in Salvation and Sanctification, from our Midweek Bible Study: "Holiness of God" - 5.27.26 Taught by Omar Edwards.   Elder Omar Edwards opens this teaching with an honest confession: the call to live set apart for God sounds like an impossible standard, especially when someone cuts you off on I-75 right after church. Working from 1 Peter 1:13-19, Omar walks through four men in Scripture (Jacob, Job, Habakkuk, and Paul) who each wrestled with a holy God and came through with peace on the other side. The sermon addresses the real mindsets that keep believers from growing into who God has called them to be: a secular disconnection from His presence, suffering that distorts our view of Him, a self-first posture that indicts God when He does not respond on our terms, and a self-righteous spirit that grades others rather than examining itself. At the center of it all is a truth that steadies the whole message. God does not expect perfection, but He does expect growth, and that growth is possible only because Christ's righteousness has been credited to us. Anyone who has ever felt the distance between who they are and who God is calling them to be will walk away with both honest challenge and real hope.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

What do you do when you know God is faithful but your circumstances are screaming something different? In this Beyond the Notes episode, Ryan Flint, Worship Pastor at McGregor Baptist Church, explores the concept of gospel amnesia: the very human pattern of forgetting what we know to be true about God the moment suffering gets loud. Drawing from Matthew 14, the Psalms, and the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, Ryan explains why fear narrows our vision and how it causes us to interpret God through our storms instead of interpreting our storms through God. Ryan walks through five practical anchors for fighting back: staying in God's Word, staying connected to the church, worshiping regularly, remembering what God has done before, and preaching gospel truth to yourself every day. Whether you are in a hard season or simply want to be more ready for the next one, this episode gives you a clear and honest framework for keeping the gospel close when life gets loud. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

The King Has Come "The Storm That Reveals The Savior" (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus did not send the disciples into the storm by accident. He sent them on purpose, and He knew exactly what they would find there. In this sermon from Matthew 14:22-33, Ryan Flint, Worship Pastor at McGregor Baptist Church, traces the disciples from the shoreline crowd still buzzing after the feeding of the five thousand, out onto the dark water, and into a fear they could not manage on their own. Through Peter's bold step out of the boat and his slow, terrifying sink beneath the waves, we see the central truth of the passage clearly: faith thrives and fear fades when we fix our eyes on Jesus. The storm was not evidence that Christ had abandoned them. It was the very place He revealed Himself most fully. Listeners walk away with this: the trials you are carrying are not interruptions to God's work in your life. They are invitations to trust Him more clearly, see Him more fully, and worship Him in a way the calm shore never could have produced. Sermon Notes May 24, 2026 Ryan Flint • Worship Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Life rarely follows the plan we wrote for it. How do followers of Christ respond when it does not? In this week's Around McGregor, Mark Bricker, Tamar Miller, and Christian Miller preview a new summer Bible study called How to Handle Life's Interruptions, starting Wednesday, June 24 at 6:30 in Fellowship Hall. They also walk through the next month at McGregor: the Newcomers Coffee on May 31, the Prospective Member Class on June 7, Rainforest Falls VBS the week of June 8 through 12, an international Potluck in the Hall on June 17, and a special July 1 evening celebrating God's faithfulness alongside our country's 250th birthday. Whether you are new to McGregor or have been here for years, this episode lays out a full season of gathering and points to where you can step in. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Wednesday Night Teaching "Holy Justice" (Luke 13:1-5) What do you do with the parts of the Bible that feel severe? The passages where God's judgment lands swiftly and people die, where nations are destroyed, where the cost of sin is immediate and real? If we're honest, those passages can produce more questions than comfort. In this Wednesday night teaching, Elder Mike Hess walks through Luke 13:1-5 and a series of passages across the Old and New Testaments, including Leviticus 10, 1 Chronicles 13, and Numbers 4, to show that God's justice is never a miscarriage of justice. It is always an expression of who He is: holy, infinitely wise, and never wrong. Hess addresses four commonly misunderstood biblical concepts (justice, holiness, grace, and sin), examines the stumbling blocks that lead us to question God rather than submit to Him, and shows that perfect justice is ultimately found at the cross of Jesus Christ, where the wrath of God was satisfied so that sinners could be declared righteous. Because God is holy, we can trust Him completely, with our questions, our pain, and our future. May 20, 2026 Mike Hess Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

How can Jesus know the hearts of men and also ask a genuine question? How can he foretell his own death and resurrection and also say he does not know the day or the hour of his return? In this Beyond the Notes teaching, the speaker walks through the biblical evidence for both sides of Christ's nature, drawing from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Hebrews, and Philippians. The episode covers specific moments of supernatural knowledge (the coin in the fish, Nathaniel under the fig tree, the foretelling of Peter's denial), specific moments of genuine human limitation (questions asked at the tomb of Lazarus, growth in wisdom in Luke 2:52, learning obedience through suffering in Hebrews 5:8), the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) as a landmark articulation of the hypostatic union, and the kenosis passage in Philippians 2:5-8, explaining what it means that the Son "emptied himself" without ceasing to be fully divine. The episode closes with a pastoral challenge: refusing to do theology is not the same as worshiping freely. If you never examine who Jesus actually is, you run a real risk of devoting yourself to a Jesus of your own construction. This teaching is for anyone who takes Jesus seriously enough to think carefully about him. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

The King Has Come "Jesus Feeds the 5000" (Matthew 14:13-21) In Matthew 14, Jesus has just received word that his cousin and fellow minister John the Baptist has been killed. He withdraws to grieve. A crowd of more than 10,000 follows. And rather than sending them away, Jesus extends compassion. Then he turns to his disciples and says something that stops them cold: "You give them something to eat." Pastor Russell Howard walks through this miracle, the only one recorded in all four Gospels before the resurrection, and draws out its central test. The disciples analyzed the situation correctly. Five loaves, two fish, no money, no plan. They passed the math test. What they failed was the faith test. The Jordan River did not part until Israel's feet touched the water. Provision follows obedience. Measuring the gap is good, because it lets you see when God acts. But the gap is not the final answer. The listener walks away with a clearer picture of what Jesus is actually asking when he calls his people to do what seems impossible: bring what you have, open-handed, and let him work. Sermon Notes May 17, 2026 Pastor Russell Howard • Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2025 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What is God doing through a young adult ministry that just outgrew its room? Around McGregor hosts Mark, Tamar, and Christian walk through where The Bridge stands today, including the recent fifth Thursday gathering on Stage 1 that drew new faces for hamburgers, worship, and trivia. They also confirm that Mike Hess starts as Family Ministry Minister on June 1, share details about the upcoming newcomer coffee, the next potential teacher training, the middle school sneak peak, the June 7 prospective member class, and VBS the following week. The episode closes with a call to pray for our Paris mission team, led by Danielle Flood, leaving May 21 to serve among migrants who have settled in Paris from other parts of the world. It's a quick way to stay current with everything happening at McGregor and to lift up the people going for the sake of the gospel.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com Interested in visiting? Learn what to expect at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Journey Together "Holiness and Conscience" (Romans 1:16-17) When God's holiness is fully in view, the conscience has no place to hide. Elder Peter Finch uses the life of Martin Luther as a window into what happens when a person measures himself honestly against what God actually requires: not human standards, not a curve, but the standard of loving God with every part of you, every day. Luther's years of compulsive confession and self-punishment weren't weakness; they were the logical result of seeing God's holiness clearly and refusing to pretend otherwise. The same mirror that exposed Luther's despair, the law of God, ultimately pointed him to the discovery that changed the Reformation: the righteousness of God in Romans 1:17 is not a demand but a gift, freely given to all who trust in Christ. Clothed in Christ's righteousness, the fear that once crushed Luther was transformed into love, adoration, and a genuine desire to grow in obedience. Philippians 2:12-13 closes the message: it is God who works in you both to will and to work. The grace that saved you is the same grace that is changing you. May 13, 2026 Peter Finch • Elder Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What do the rulers named Herod in your New Testament have to do with each other? The answer is more connected than most people realize. In this Beyond the Notes episode, Pastor Russell Howard traces the Herodian dynasty across four generations, beginning with Herod the Great at the birth of Jesus and ending with Herod Agrippa II in the court of Governor Festus during the apostle Paul's imprisonment. He covers the family's role in the death of John the Baptist, the martyrdom of James the apostle, and Paul's appeal to Caesar, while also walking through how the first-century Jewish historian Josephus independently confirms the biblical account of Herod Agrippa the First's death. Two takeaways anchor the episode: the apologetic value of secular history confirming Scripture, and the question of generational momentum. If your family has handed you a difficult legacy, your generation carries both the possibility and the accountability to break that pattern. If you inherited a godly one, the call is to treasure it and carry it forward. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

The King Has Come "Oh, The Places You'll Go" (Matthew 14:1-12) In Matthew 14:1-12, two men occupy the same passage but inhabit entirely different worlds. Herod Antipas sits on a throne, driven by lust, cowardice, and a fear that bounces him from one bad decision to the next. John the Baptist sits in a dungeon, yet speaks freely because his faith is anchored in Christ. Pastor Russell Howard traces the contrasting paths of unbelief and persevering faith, and calls listeners to examine what kind of belief they actually hold. There is a belief that stays in the head, knowing facts and even trembling at them, and there is the saving belief that repents and trusts Jesus as Lord. This Mother's Day teaching closes with a pastoral word to every mother: your influence is going somewhere, so guard it for the love of Christ and the good of the people in your home. Sermon Notes May 10, 2026 Pastor Russell Howard • Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Mother's Day arrives on the heels of one of the fullest Sundays of the year at McGregor.   Around McGregor hosts Mark, Tamar, and Christian look back on last Sunday, which included 17 baptisms across two services, senior recognition for graduating high school students, the introduction of incoming Family Ministry Minister Mike Hess, and a 400-person member meeting that welcomed 34 new members into the church family. They also celebrate Tamar's son graduating from UCF and look ahead to the church golf tournament, potential teacher training, the middle school sneak peak, the next prospective member class, and Vacation Bible School.   Through it all, last week was a reminder that Christ continues to build His church, and Mother's Day is a chance to thank God for the mothers who keep pointing their kids toward Jesus. This episode is for anyone connected to McGregor who wants to stay current with what's happening across the church family during Renew Phase 2.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What is the right response when you come face to face with the holiness of God? In this Journey Together Bible study, David Miller teaches from Luke 5:1–11, exploring what R.C. Sproul calls the trauma of holiness. The episode covers three effects that God's holiness produces in us: an awareness of sin, a holy fear, and a change in direction. Using the account of Peter's miraculous catch of fish, David shows how the miracle was never about the fish. Jesus directed Peter's attention away from the catch and toward something Peter could not escape: his own sinfulness in the presence of a holy God. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why the gospel requires bad news before it can offer good news, and for those who need to be reminded that being caught in sin is not a sign of God's absence. It is a sign of his mercy. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What do you do when you've prayed and prayed and God has not said yes? In this episode of Beyond the Notes, Pastor Russell Howard picks up where Sunday's sermon left off, working through James 4:2-3 to address what Scripture says about unanswered prayer. He walks through five biblical questions to ask when God hasn't yet said yes: Am I being selfish? Am I using prayer to delay obedience? Has God already closed the door? Am I trusting God without presuming on him? And am I willing to persevere? He draws from Exodus 14, where Moses is told to stop praying and start moving, the story of Anna in Luke 2 who prayed for the Messiah for decades, and the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18, where Jesus himself teaches that his people ought always to pray and not lose heart. The listener walks away with a clear biblical framework for one of the most personal challenges in the Christian life — learning to hold a request before God faithfully without confusing confidence with control. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Matthew "The Power of Unbelief" (Matthew 13:53-58) In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth, and the people who knew him best are the ones who reject him most completely. Pastor Russell Howard examines what the hometown crowd's response reveals: that unbelief is not a matter of insufficient evidence, but of a heart unwilling to bow. The passage raises the stakes for everyone who has heard about Jesus without ever surrendering to him, and it presses believers to examine whether they are asking God for things, anticipating his care, and attributing good gifts to the One who gives them. James 1:17 says every good and perfect gift is from above. This sermon calls us to actually live that way. Sermon Notes May 3, 2026 Pastor Russell Howard • Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What does a full Sunday at McGregor actually look like? In this Around McGregor episode, hosts Mark Bricker, Tamara Miller, and Christian Miller walk through one of the busiest Sundays of the year, covering 17 baptisms across two services in Fellowship Hall, graduation recognition for all 22 seniors at all three services, and the in-person introduction of prospective Family Minister Mike Hess. They also cover the member meeting following the last service and the graduate family lunch. Looking ahead, they highlight the Wings Group tea and luncheon on May 7th, All the King's Daughters on May 9th (registration open through May 8th), the 8th Annual Church Golf Tournament on May 16th supporting student camps and the Arizona family mission trip, and VBS "Rainforest Falls" running June 8-12 from 6:15 to 8:15 PM. VBS kids will be raising money to fund audio Bible devices for a community in Peru. Volunteers are still needed; sign up at mcgregor.net/vbs. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

God is often described as loving, gracious, and near. But in Scripture, every person who encountered Him directly fell to the ground in fear. In this McGregor Podcast teaching, Danny traces that pattern from Moses at the burning bush to John in Revelation, asking why holiness produces awe before comfort. He explores what Scripture means when it calls God holy, why the chasm between humanity and God is one no human effort can close, and why the cross is the only place where God's justice and mercy could ever meet. Listeners walk away with a bigger view of what it cost to close that gap, and a deeper understanding of why grace only grows larger the more seriously we take God's holiness. This episode is for anyone wanting to understand the gospel at a deeper level, or whose sense of grace has grown smaller than Scripture intends. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

The word "equity" shows up in Psalm 67:4. It also shows up constantly in the social justice conversation. Those two uses do not mean the same thing. In this Beyond the Notes episode, David Miller works through what Psalm 67:4 actually says about how God governs and why the Hebrew word behind "equity" points to impartiality and righteousness, not equal outcomes. He draws on two key passages, Romans 9 and the parable of talents in Matthew 25, to argue that unequal outcomes are not inherently a sign of injustice. They can reflect God's purposeful design. He also references E. Calvin Beisner's short book "Social Justice: How Good Intentions Undermine Justice and the Gospel," available free through the Family Research Council. Download the resource: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF13E133.pdf This episode is for anyone trying to think biblically about justice, equity, and equality without losing the gospel in the process. You will walk away with a clear framework rooted in Scripture and a renewed sense of what sinners actually deserve and what grace actually provides. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

"Our Missionary God" (Psalm 67) David Miller, Pastor of Membership and Missions at McGregor Baptist Church, preaches through Psalm 67, an ancient harvest song that Israel sang while bringing in crops from the land God had given them. But the psalm is about more than the harvest. It is about the reason God blesses his people at all. The requests in verse one, drawn from the priestly blessing of Numbers 6, are made with a clear purpose in verse two: that God's way would be known on earth and his saving power made known among all nations. That purpose runs all the way back to God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, and it runs forward to the church today. Pastor David works through three movements in the psalm: the requests of God's people, the reasons behind those requests, and the results that follow. Along the way, he addresses why God's people have reason for joy, why his governance brings gladness, and what it means that salvation is not just transactional but familial. The sermon closes with a direct, pastoral challenge: if God saved us, he saved us to send us.   Sermon Notes April 26, 2026 David Miller, Pastor of Membership and Missions Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Spring is one of the busiest seasons in the life of McGregor, and this week's episode makes that clear. In this Around McGregor, hosts Mark, Tamar, and Christian cover an unusually full stretch of upcoming events: the preschool and children's choir spring concert on April 26, baptism in Fellowship Hall for the first time during the Renew Phase 2 renovation, Graduate Recognition Sunday on May 3 with graduates present in the 11:00 service, and a church member meeting immediately following with a vote on elder-recommended Minister to Family Ministries Mike Hess. They also walk through Spring Journey Together midweek classes, the Widows Tea and Luncheon on May 7, the All the King's Daughters event on May 9 featuring ventriloquist Julie Boyd, the Church Cup golf tournament on May 16, and VBS volunteer opportunities opening for June. Box lunch preorders for the member meeting are available at mcgregor.net/around through April 29. Whether you're a long-time member trying to stay current or someone new to the McGregor community, this episode is a practical guide to what's ahead. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Journey Together   "An Introduction to the Holiness of God" (Isaiah 6; Job 42)   What does it actually mean that God is holy? Before the answer can land, some ideas have to go. In this opening Journey Together teaching, Pastor Russell Howard begins a new series on the holiness of God by clearing away three distortions that have found their way into Christian thinking: open theology, which pictures God as a character in process alongside us; dualism, which assigns Satan a symmetry with God that Scripture flatly refuses; and any framework for salvation that credits human merit with tipping the scale. From there, Pastor Russell turns to what Scripture actually shows when people encounter the holy God. Isaiah undone in the temple. Job silenced after his long list of accusations. Saul of Tarsus walking away from everything he thought he was doing. The pattern is the same: first, being undone; then, humility and receptivity to God's Word; then, a transformation of both being and purpose. This is an introduction to holiness, and the good part is still ahead. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Sin is attractive precisely because it doesn't show you what it costs. In this Beyond the Notes teaching, Elder Peter Finch opens Hebrews 3:13 to examine what the Bible means by the "deceitfulness of sin." He traces three specific lies sin tells — that it is a logical conclusion, that it is a reward you deserve, and that it leads to freedom — and sets each of them against what Scripture actually says. Drawing from John 8, Romans 6, and the parable of the prodigal son, Peter shows that sin always promises liberation and delivers bondage. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why sin is so hard to walk away from, and what it actually means to be free. Peter closes with three grounded steps from Hebrews 3: make sure you know the Lord, stay in Scripture, and stay in Christian community with people who will tell you the truth. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

The Psalms Series "Worship and Warning" (Psalm 95) In Psalm 95, Elder Peter Finch draws us into the full picture of biblical worship. The psalm opens with a call to exuberant, communal singing before a God who is supreme Creator and sovereign Redeemer. But it does not stay there. The second half carries a serious warning: do not let your worship be disconnected from a surrendered heart. Using the wilderness failures of Israel at Meribah and Massah, Elder Peter traces what it looks like when God's people harden their hearts against His voice, and what it costs them. The takeaway is both sobering and freeing. Worship and obedience are not two separate things. They flow from the same source. And today, if you hear His voice, the invitation is still open. Sermon Notes April 19, 2026 Peter Finch • Administrative Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

What does it look like when an entire church family changes at once? On this week's Around McGregor, Mark Bricker, Tamar Miller, and Christian Miller recap McGregor's first Sunday worshiping in Fellowship Hall as the Renew Phase 2 renovation gets underway. They talk through new parking patterns, tighter seating, and the small moments that made the morning memorable, including one kid who swapped his missing pew Bible and pencil for a marker board. They also cover the life groups who stayed after the service to reset the room in 20 minutes so operations could be ready Monday morning. And they note that Psalm 84 was not an accidental choice for that first Sunday in a new space. From there the conversation moves forward: four new Joining Together midweek courses start this Wednesday, including Dr. Jonathan Bowman teaching on the history and hope of revival in America. The South Asia mission trip informational meeting is today right after the last service. The Preschool and Children's Choir Spring Concert is April 26. The member meeting moves to May 3 with a new time. And the 8th Annual Church Golf Tournament lands on May 16 at Forest Country Club. If you want to know what is happening at McGregor right now, this is where to start. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

"The Doxology" (Jude 24-25) In Jude's closing two verses, the tone shifts from correction to praise. After six weeks of warning his audience about the danger of trusting their own wisdom, their own strength, and their own version of faith, Jude ends with a doxology: a word of glory directed at the only God who is actually able. [SPEAKER NAME] walks through what that word "able" really means, and why it is the most stabilizing truth a believer can hold. The teaching covers God's sovereignty as the foundation of every promise He makes, the specific Greek word Jude uses for "keep" in verse 24 (a word that implies being guarded from the inside, not just from external threat), and what it means that Christ will present us blameless before His Father with joy. Not reluctantly. Not barely. With joy. That Christ endured the cross with joy because of who He was purchasing is not a small thing, and this teaching does not let it pass quickly. Whether you have been walking through Jude from week one or are joining the series here at the close, this episode is for anyone who knows that their greatest spiritual threat is not what comes at them from the outside, but what rises up from within. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

Psalms - Songs of the King "A Psalm For The Journey" (Psalm 84) What does it mean to stand before God and give an account? In this Beyond the Notes episode, Pastor Russell Howard opens in Psalm 84:7 and brings that ancient pilgrim language into conversation with 2 Corinthians 5:6-11. He walks through five affirmations Paul makes to believers, covering the source of Christian courage, the reality of death and what comes immediately after, the aim to please Christ in daily life, and the nature of the judgment seat of Christ. He also addresses a common translation question about the word rendered "evil" in 2 Corinthians 5:10, explaining why "worthless" or "empty" more accurately reflects what Paul intended. The judgment seat of Christ is not a courtroom for heaven and hell. It is a stewardship review. This episode helps listeners understand what that means, why it matters, and how to live with more focus and faithfulness because of it. April 12, 2026 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Psalms - Songs of the King "A Psalm For The Journey" (Psalm 84) In this episode of the McGregor Podcast, Russell Howard unpacks Psalm 84, exploring Jesus as the Chosen Servant who embodies gentle grace and brings global glory. Discover how Jesus navigated conflict, extended compassion to the hurting, and sought to fulfill the Father's will above all. Russell Howard challenges listeners to reflect Christ's patience, faithfulness, and gentleness in their own lives. Tune in for practical applications and encouragement to trust God's sovereign and gracious purposes, even in the midst of life's trials. Sermon Notes April 12, 2026 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Easter Sunday afternoon, the worship center transformation began. By Monday morning, the construction crews were already inside. On the April 12 episode of Around McGregor, hosts Mark Bricker, Tamar Miller, and Christian Miller record from inside the construction zone on McGregor's first Sunday in Fellowship Hall. They walk through the full logistics of the transition: where to park, how the new valet entrance works, which nine life groups relocated and where, and how the Fellowship Hall projector setup (upgraded with equipment from the worship center) is making a difference for ministries already. They also talk through the Renew Phase 2 social media coverage, including the renovation Reel that became one of the most viewed in McGregor's history. Beyond the renovation, this episode covers VBS 2026 Rainforest Falls volunteer recruitment at the Main Street table, the Arizona family mission trip informational meeting happening today after the last service in F130, the South Asia mission trip informational meeting next Sunday April 19 in F153, a prospective member class today in the Joy Annex library, and spring adult discipleship courses starting April 22 including a women's study through Colossians, a men's study through Micah, a midweek doctrinal study on the holiness of God, and an elective on revival in American church history. If you are navigating your first Sunday in the new space or just getting your bearings on everything McGregor has going this spring, this episode covers the ground. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

How do we fight for the faith when the world pushes back — and false teaching is everywhere? In this week's Midweek Bible Study from the Book of Jude, we work through Jude 17–23 and find a clear game plan for contending for the faith right where God has placed you. Whether you're a business owner, a teacher, a plumber, or a retiree — you have a platform, and you have a testimony. This passage gives every believer four practical ways to stand firm, finish strong, and show mercy to those around them. Journey Together, from our Midweek Bible Study: "Book of Jude" - 4.8.26 Taught by Mike Hess. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

What does hope actually look like when nothing is going your way? In this Beyond the Notes episode, Pastor Russell Howard walks through three Old Testament figures, Job, Abraham, and Habakkuk, to draw a clear line between situational optimism and biblical hope. He traces Job 19 as one of the most precisely articulated resurrection hope passages in all of Scripture, written from the depth of Job's suffering rather than after his circumstances improved. He also unpacks how Job's friends, though theologically informed, held a graceless theology of retribution that left them confident but completely wrong, and why the missing ingredient may have been pain itself. The listener walks away with a working definition of biblical hope: a theological conviction that God can be trusted, not because the circumstances cooperate, but because the Redeemer lives. This episode is for anyone whose hope has felt thin in a hard season and wants to know what Scripture actually says about why that forge matters. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit  

In this episode of the McGregor Podcast, Russell Howard unpacks Job 19:23–29 — exploring the hope of a living Redeemer in the midst of suffering and loss. Discover how Job's ancient declaration of faith points forward to Jesus and forward to lasting, resurrection hope. Russell Howard challenges listeners to trust God's sovereign and gracious purposes, even in the midst of life's trials. Sermon Notes | April 5, 2026 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

He is risen, and McGregor is moving. This Easter episode lands at the intersection of resurrection joy and real-life change.   Mark, Tamar, and Christian celebrate Resurrection Sunday and walk through everything listeners need to know as McGregor transitions from the Worship Center to Fellowship Hall beginning next Sunday, April 12. They cover practical details including updated parking recommendations, valet drop-off locations, new handicap spots on the east side of campus, and what to expect from signage and entry points. They also talk honestly about what it feels like to leave a space that has meant something, and why the timing, right after Easter, is not lost on them.   The episode closes with a full spring calendar preview: the Perspective Member Class deadline (April 5), new adult midweek courses launching April 22 covering the holiness of God, the prophet Micah, the book of Colossians, and revival in American history; the preschool and children's choir spring concert on April 26 in the Fellowship Hall; and the church golf tournament on Saturday, May 16 at The Forest Golf Course. If you want to know what is happening at McGregor this season, this is the episode.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

There is a shortcut people try to take from suffering straight to hope. In this final episode of Living Hope, Pastor Russell Howard teaches through Romans 5:1-5 and names why that shortcut fails. True hope is not the result of optimism. It is the result of a process: suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces a hope that will not disappoint. He closes the Passion Week series with the guarantee that grounds it all: God's love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

An anchor is only useful based on what it is anchored into. In this episode, Alan Frisch teaches through Hebrews 6:19-20 and shows what happens to a soul that loses its anchor: it drifts, then despairs, then moves toward disaster. He illustrates all three dangers with stories from Scripture and from his own life, including a duck boat trip on the Delaware River that went sideways in a way nobody expected. And he makes the case that the anchor we have in Christ, rooted in the very presence of God, is sure and steadfast.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Paul does not tell us to pretend suffering is not real. He names it. In this episode, Peter Finch teaches through Romans 8:18-25 and shows why the groaning we feel, both in creation and in ourselves, is not evidence that God has abandoned us. It is evidence that we were made for something better. He makes the case that present suffering and future glory are not in competition. They are on the same scale. And the scale is tipped forever in our favor.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 is one of the most freeing sentences in all of Scripture. In this episode, Ryan Flint teaches through Romans 8:1-11 and shows how resurrection hope does not just save us from something. It changes who we are. If you have ever felt defined by your failures, your past, or your worst moments, this episode is for you.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Pastor Omar Edwards will take us Beyond his Notes from the last sermon on Sunday. Palm Sunday   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Fear and great joy. That is how Matthew 28:8 describes the women leaving the empty tomb on Easter morning. Not one or the other: both at the same time. In this episode, Brian MacLeod teaches through Matthew 28:5-10 and shows how the risen Christ meets us in our fear rather than requiring us to overcome it first. He closes with a simple four-part framework built on the word HOPE that listeners can carry into their week.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Matthew - The King has Come "I, Barabbas" (Mark 15:6-15) In this episode of the McGregor Podcast, Pastor Omar Edwards unpacks Mark 15:6-15, exploring the striking exchange where Barabbas — a guilty man — goes free while Jesus, the innocent Son of God, is condemned to die. Discover what this moment reveals about the heart of the gospel: substitution, grace, and the radical love of Christ. Pastor Omar challenges listeners to see themselves in Barabbas and to receive the freedom that only Jesus can give. Tune in for a powerful message of hope, surrender, and the life-changing truth of the cross. Sermon Notes March 29, 2026 Omar Edwards • Pastor Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

What are you connecting your hope to right now? In this episode, Mike Hess teaches from 1 Peter 1:3 and answers the question that Peter wrote to first-century Christians who had lost jobs, land, and family for their faith. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking. It is the confident expectation that God will be true to his promises, grounded in the historical reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This was true in the first century. Mike makes the case it is just as true in 2026.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Palm Sunday opens the most significant week the church observes. Everything this week points toward the cross and the empty tomb.   Mark and Tamar walk through everything happening at McGregor during Holy Week: the Newcomers Coffee today on campus between the Faith Building and the Worship Center, the Parent-Child Dedication video airing in Sunday services, the Good News Guys event Monday night at 6:30 PM in the Grace Building (sold out with over 400 tickets), and the Midweek Passion Service on Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30 PM in the Worship Center, which includes dinner, the Lord's Supper, and a benevolence offering. They also talk through the Easter invite cards, share a statistic about how open people actually are to a church invitation, and look ahead to April 12 when McGregor moves to Fellowship Hall for Renew Phase 2.   Whether you're a longtime member, a first-time guest, or someone who hasn't been to church in a while, this week at McGregor gives you more than one place to land. The invitation is open. Resurrection Sunday is April 5.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit

On the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter, hope looked buried. In this episode, Rob Flint Jr. walks us through Matthew 27:62-66, the passage most people skip on the way to the resurrection, and shows us what happens when the world's most powerful forces try to contain a dead man. More than that, he asks the honest question: when God feels silent in your own life, where do you turn? This is an episode for anyone who has ever found themselves in the waiting.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com    

What do you do with hope when life has already broken you? In this episode, Pastor Russell Howard takes us to a single verse, 1 Peter 2:24, and unpacks three things the cross of Jesus accomplishes: our burden is borne, our bondage is broken, and our brokenness is healed. This is where Living Hope begins. Not in positive thinking, but in what Christ has already done for us on the cross.   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Pastor Russell Howard will take us Beyond his Notes from the last sermon on Sunday. Matthew - The King has Come   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Matthew - The King has Come "Pictures Of The Kingdom" (Matthew 13:44-52) Ian this episode of the McGregor Podcast, Pastor Russell explores Matthew 13:44-52, sharing four vivid parables that reveal the nature of God's kingdom. He emphasizes that discovering the gospel is both a personal and priceless experience, urging listeners to prioritize Jesus above all else. The episode also wrns of the coming judgment and stresses the urgency of genuine faith. Pastor Russell challenges believers to deliver the message of Christ to others, highlighting the importance of joyful generosity and obedience. This powerful message inspires viewers to embrace and share the value of the gospel in their daily lives. Sermon Notes March 22, 2026 Russell Howard • Lead Pastor   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Week of March 22 Have a question or comment for Mark and Tamar? Just text us at (239) 232-3750!   Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

Few questions carry more weight than this one: what actually separates Catholic and Protestant belief, and does it still matter? In this Hot Topic teaching, Pastor Russell Howard walks through four major areas where Catholicism and evangelical Christianity converge and diverge, covering the canon of Scripture, the authority of the Bible alone, the veneration of Mary and the saints, and the nature of justification before God. At the heart of the conversation is one defining question: is Christ's work on the cross a finished act or a contribution to an ongoing process? Whether you grew up Catholic, left the faith, or simply want to understand what you believe and why, this teaching gives you a biblical framework to think clearly and speak charitably. Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com

The Fate of the Fallen, from our Midweek Bible Study: "Book of Jude" - 3.18.26 Taught by Russell Howard. Unbelief is not a passive thing. It is active, dangerous, and Scripture takes it with complete seriousness. In this Wednesday night teaching, Pastor Russell Howard works through Jude 5-7, showing how three Old Testament examples, apostate Jews, fallen angels, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, each trace the same fatal pattern: unbelief leads to rebellion, and rebellion leads to judgment. He addresses the difference between someone who has genuinely trusted Christ and someone who has only ever dabbled around the edges of Christianity. Whether you are wrestling with doubt, examining your own faith, or trying to understand what the Bible says about those who walk away, this teaching gives you a biblical framework to think clearly and stand firm. ➡️ PODCAST CHANNELS McGregor Podcast: https://mcgregorpodcast.com Here at Home: https://hereathomepodcast.com Talk Truth: https://talktruthpodcast.com New to McGregor? Plan a visit at mcgregor.net/plan-a-visit Presented by McGregor Podcast 2026 Visit Our Website at McGregorPodcast.com #mcgregorbaptistchurch #mcgregorpodcast