Pathways Church | Sermons

When someone says they're ready for a day at the lake, that doesn't always mean the same thing. To some, that means they want to be in proximity to the lake; to others, it means they're looking to make waves and get loud! Bottom line, not everyone sees the lake the same way.

Being on the lake can be a lot of fun, but there is a danger that can ruin your lake fun - debris. Floating debris can get caught in your prop or damage your hull. Spiritually speaking, many of us live our lives racing around floating debris fields, hoping for the best.

Hidden costs are everywhere! It seems we can't take a vacation, book a flight, attend a concert, buy a home, or even go through the drive-thru without incurring unexpected costs. In Luke 14, Jesus explains the cost of being a true follower.

In Matthew 16, Jesus explained what it means to be one of his followers. However, thanks to our media-driven culture, the term has morphed into being little more than a "fan" of someone.

In Matthew 16, Jesus explained what it means to be one of his followers. However, thanks to our media-driven culture, the term has morphed into being little more than a "fan" of someone.

Did you know that statistically, 75% of people are dehydrated? That means the overwhelming majority of us are not consuming enough water! It's no wonder that we all feel like we can't satisfy our thirst when we're not consuming nearly enough water. This week, examine Jesus' encounter with someone desperate for water...

Did you know that statistically, 75% of people are dehydrated? That means the overwhelming majority of us are not consuming enough water! It's no wonder that we all feel like we can't satisfy our thirst when we're not consuming nearly enough water. This week, examine Jesus' encounter with someone desperate for water...

Change is coming; the important question is, how do you handle change? Does it freak you out or energize you?

Change is coming; the important question is, how do you handle change? Does it freak you out or energize you?

Ten years ago, on a family rafting trip in California, the unexpected hit. The trip was a great time, until it wasn't... How many of us feel overwhelmed, as if one more rapid hit would be the end?

Ten years ago, on a family rafting trip in California, the unexpected hit. The trip was a great time, until it wasn't... How many of us feel overwhelmed, as if one more rapid hit would be the end?

The virtue of honor has quietly faded from view. Once instinctively shown to parents, elders, leaders, and even strangers, honor now feels like an outdated concept. But what does our loss of honor say about who we are—not just as a society, but as followers of Christ? 

The virtue of honor has quietly faded from view. Once instinctively shown to parents, elders, leaders, and even strangers, honor now feels like an outdated concept. But what does our loss of honor say about who we are—not just as a society, but as followers of Christ? 

Kids have a special talent — and it's called wearing out the good furniture! That's why, in our house, we set aside a special place in the living room called "The King's Chair." It's supposed to be my clean, comfy throne... a spot reserved just for me. The only catch? Most of the time, I'm not the one sitting there!

Kids have a special talent — and it's called wearing out the good furniture! That's why, in our house, we set aside a special place in the living room called "The King's Chair." It's supposed to be my clean, comfy throne... a spot reserved just for me. The only catch? Most of the time, I'm not the one sitting there!

The discovery of Jesus' empty tomb stands as the most defining moment in history. It proved He is the Son of God, overcoming the pain of the cross and even death itself. Because of that, Christians everywhere have a lasting hope and the promise of salvation that's found in Him alone.

The discovery of Jesus' empty tomb stands as the most defining moment in history. It proved He is the Son of God, overcoming the pain of the cross and even death itself. Because of that, Christians everywhere have a lasting hope and the promise of salvation that's found in Him alone.

Join us for a special service as we stop to remember the sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross.

Join us for a special service as we stop to remember the sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross.

One of the paradoxes of faith and doubt is that it is the ultimate intellectual challenge. While simple and uneducated people may live with great wisdom, PhDs may choose foolishness. This week, we look at the tension between doubt and unbelief.

One of the paradoxes of faith and doubt is that it is the ultimate intellectual challenge. While simple and uneducated people may live with great wisdom, PhDs may choose foolishness. This week, we look at the tension between doubt and unbelief.

This week, we look at a seemingly mysterious statement Jesus made, with a massive lesson and truth for His followers and all of us thousands of years later. This week's analogy of a vine and branches has an important warning for us individually as well as a challenge to impact our sphere of influence.

This week, we look at a seemingly mysterious statement Jesus made, with a massive lesson and truth for His followers and all of us thousands of years later. This week's analogy of a vine and branches has an important warning for us individually as well as a challenge to impact our sphere of influence.

We have many different kinds of light in life. Some lights serve practical purposes; after all, it's hard to work in the dark. Others exist because we feel uncomfortable. Having light makes us feel more secure. Jesus used the analogy of light to illustrate His purpose.

We have many different kinds of light in life. Some lights serve practical purposes; after all, it's hard to work in the dark. Others exist because we feel uncomfortable. Having light makes us feel more secure. Jesus used the analogy of light to illustrate His purpose.

Remember how excited we all used to get when there was a knock on the door? Today, if the doorbell rings or a knock is heard, many pretend they are not home while checking doorbell cameras to see who is outside. We don't even like to go to the door! Jesus used the analogy of a door to talk about himself.

Remember how excited we all used to get when there was a knock on the door? Today, if the doorbell rings or a knock is heard, many pretend they are not home while checking doorbell cameras to see who is outside. We don't even like to go to the door! Jesus used the analogy of a door to talk about himself.

Very few people have "shepherd" on their resume or even know the first thing about caring for sheep. But one of the titles that Jesus assigned to himself was "the Good Shepherd." Why? What message was He trying to convey, and why did He choose a shepherd?

Very few people have "shepherd" on their resume or even know the first thing about caring for sheep. But one of the titles that Jesus assigned to himself was "the Good Shepherd." Why? What message was He trying to convey, and why did He choose a shepherd?

Bread is a widely debated food—some people crave it endlessly, while others go to great lengths to avoid it. Interestingly, Jesus used bread as a powerful metaphor in one of His seven distinct statements about Himself, declaring, *“I am the Bread of Life.”* In this series, we will explore each of these profound declarations, unpacking their meaning and discovering how they shape our lives today.

Bread is a widely debated food—some people crave it endlessly, while others go to great lengths to avoid it. Interestingly, Jesus used bread as a powerful metaphor in one of His seven distinct statements about Himself, declaring, *“I am the Bread of Life.”* In this series, we will explore each of these profound declarations, unpacking their meaning and discovering how they shape our lives today.

As we close the book of Nehemiah, it's important to reflect and be challenged by the lessons learned from this amazing moment in History. Nehemiah was a man who saw a serious problem, and through prayer and fasting chose to answer the call to "do something."

As we close the book of Nehemiah, it's important to reflect and be challenged by the lessons learned from this amazing moment in History. Nehemiah was a man who saw a serious problem, and through prayer and fasting chose to answer the call to "do something."

Paul McCartney wrote a song as a reaction to a dream He once had about His mother, who died of cancer when He was only 14 years old. In the dream Paul's mother, Mary told Him that "it will be alright, just let it be." Today, "Let It Be" has become an iconic song, and its meaning has been left largely to the listener for interpretation. As we close our study of Nehemiah, it's important to examine His struggle to balance the responsibility of the things He could do, and those He could not and what that means for us thousands of years later.

Paul McCartney wrote a song as a reaction to a dream He once had about His mother, who died of cancer when He was only 14 years old. In the dream Paul's mother, Mary told Him that "it will be alright, just let it be." Today, "Let It Be" has become an iconic song, and its meaning has been left largely to the listener for interpretation. As we close our study of Nehemiah, it's important to examine His struggle to balance the responsibility of the things He could do, and those He could not and what that means for us thousands of years later.

Keith Urban recently released a song called "Break the Chain". One aspect that makes this song unique is that it was written in just one sitting! Urban said that before He realized what was happening, He had burst into tears as He wrote about His difficult childhood and alcoholic father. He quickly recognized that He had repeated the pattern that was modeled to Him. The song was later recorded in just one take, with no redo. Despite the dark backstory, the song is about hope and breaking the chain of a destructive cycle. This process starts with recognizing the truth and confessing wrongdoing.

Keith Urban recently released a song called "Break the Chain". One aspect that makes this song unique is that it was written in just one sitting! Urban said that before He realized what was happening, He had burst into tears as He wrote about His difficult childhood and alcoholic father. He quickly recognized that He had repeated the pattern that was modeled to Him. The song was later recorded in just one take, with no redo. Despite the dark backstory, the song is about hope and breaking the chain of a destructive cycle. This process starts with recognizing the truth and confessing wrongdoing.

The Super Bowl is the culmination event of the football season, a team sport where everything boils down to one game, one moment. Some say everything is on the line. Moments like these produce the greatest challenges to motivate a team of people to work together. Fittingly Nehemiah was possibly one of the greatest motivational speakers in History, rallying the troops to accomplish "the impossible."

The Super Bowl is the culmination event of the football season, a team sport where everything boils down to one game, one moment. Some say everything is on the line. Moments like these produce the greatest challenges to motivate a team of people to work together. Fittingly Nehemiah was possibly one of the greatest motivational speakers in History, rallying the troops to accomplish "the impossible."

Courage—what does it truly mean? We admire courageous people, yet many individuals struggle to embody it when the situation demands it. This week, we explore Nehemiah's courage to achieve the seemingly impossible, grounded in His relationship with God.

Courage—what does it truly mean? We admire courageous people, yet many individuals struggle to embody it when the situation demands it. This week, we explore Nehemiah's courage to achieve the seemingly impossible, grounded in His relationship with God.

What do you do when you see a situation that breaks your heart? Do you freeze or are you someone who acts? When He learned the state of Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah was moved so deeply that He mourned, fasted, and took the matter to God in prayer.

What do you do when you see a situation that breaks your heart? Do you freeze or are you someone who acts? When He learned the state of Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah was moved so deeply that He mourned, fasted, and took the matter to God in prayer.

We live in a culture of complaining. This week, we open the book of Nehemiah to examine a man with a broken heart about the condition of Jerusalem. But Nehemiah didn't just sit and sob, instead, He decided to seek God and ultimately, do something.

We live in a culture of complaining. This week, we open the book of Nehemiah to examine a man with a broken heart about the condition of Jerusalem. But Nehemiah didn't just sit and sob, instead, He decided to seek God and ultimately, do something.

We all like to get a good deal on something, but have you ever tried to negotiate a deal with the creator of the universe? This week we look at Jephthah, who made a deal with God.

We all like to get a good deal on something, but have you ever tried to negotiate a deal with the creator of the universe? This week we look at Jephthah, who made a deal with God.

This week, we look back at the messages from 2024 and talk about some of our favorite sermons and the lessons to be learned from them.

This week, we look back at the messages from 2024 and talk about some of our favorite sermons and the lessons to be learned from them.

Across the globe, the table has always been a special place in a home, symbolizing togetherness and blessing. While the importance of life around the table was diminished for a while, more families have gathered at the table in recent years. As we reflect on the close of a year, we examine not only life at home but a very important table that appears in scripture.

Across the globe, the table has always been a special place in a home, symbolizing togetherness and blessing. While the importance of life around the table was diminished for a while, more families have gathered at the table in recent years. As we reflect on the close of a year, we examine not only life at home but a very important table that appears in scripture.