Sanctuary Video Podcast

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Who are you?  Once we move beyond the polite answers such as our names, occupations, accomplishments, or even our collegiate football allegiances, the question becomes much more personal. It's a question many of us struggle to answer. Yet at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a remarkable response.  Speaking to an ordinary, ragtag crowd gathered on a hillside, he tells them, "You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). What was true for them is still true for us today. Using the images of a city on a hill and a lamp on a stand, Jesus teaches that God's people are meant to reflect His light into the world. Just as the lights of a city shine far beyond its borders, what God is doing in our lives reaches far beyond us. The way we live becomes a witness to others, revealing God's character and love.  This passage challenges us to stay focused on what God has placed before us rather than becoming distracted by the many things competing for our attention. As we fix our eyes on Christ and allow him to transform us, our lives become a light that impacts others in ways we may never fully see.  If you've ever wondered, who am I? Jesus' answer is both simple and profound: You are the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith

Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Maybe you've built a house, paid someone to build one, or at least walked by a house being built. Sometimes an old house is torn down. Sometimes the land is cleared of brush and trees. Sometimes the land seems ready without much work, but it isn't. The most important part of the house requires more than clearing. It requires that the land be ravaged by heavy equipment, dirt moved, and sometimes hauled away. Holes must be drilled deep enough to hit bedrock. The land that seemed just fine is now scarred and battered, all because destruction is required before construction can begin, and because of that destruction, the foundation will be able to do its job. From that foundation, the foundation that required the removal of so much that seemed fine but was too weak to be of use, the house can begin to rise toward the sky. We think of the Beatitudes as nice teachings—soft things. But what if they are that and something else too? What if they are also clearing the land so that we can see the foundation of the kingdom of God? And what if they are arranged to suggest three steps for us: we kneel, then rise, then walk.

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. This year we are beginning a journey called “Blueprint: Building Lives of Faith, Hope, and Love.” We all want lives that are steady, resilient, and able to withstand life's challenges. Jesus teaches that this kind of life is built on a solid foundation. When our lives are founded in him, we can stand firm even when storms come. The challenge is that many things compete for that foundation: money, power, pleasure, reputation, and control. Yet Jesus says that true stability comes not from simply hearing his words, but from putting them into practice. Through sermons and Bible studies, we learn God's teachings, but transformation happens when those teachings shape the way we live each day. C.S. Lewis paints a beautiful picture of this process, describing God as a builder transforming a small cottage into a palace, "running up towers" and creating something greater than we could ever imagine. That is God's desire for each of us. As we follow Jesus and put his teachings into action, God is growing in us the three things that last: faith, hope, and love. Our prayer is that by the end of this series, we will look back and see that we have grown in faith, become more marked by hope, and learned to love God and others more deeply.

Rev. Chip Robertson

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. For many of us, the fall season brings its own sense of renewal. New schedules, routines, and rhythms create opportunities to reflect on where we are and where we want to grow. As we begin a new school year, Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God is always at work. Long before we were aware of it, God was pursuing us through His grace, and He continues that work today.  In the Wesleyan tradition, prevenient grace reminds us that God knew and loved us before we knew Him, justifying grace assures us of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and sanctifying grace points to God's ongoing work of transformation and healing in our lives. God is not finished with us, and the good work He has begun is still unfolding. This promise is not only personal but communal. God is at work in us and among us, shaping His church and inviting us to participate in His mission. As we journey together this year, we are called to build our lives around the things that endure: faith, hope, and love.  These virtues are both gifts of God's grace and markers of spiritual growth. As we follow Christ together, we can trust that the God who began a good work in us will faithfully carry it to completion.

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith

Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Human beings are created for connection. True life is found not in isolation but in communities shaped by grace, forgiveness, and love. We see that in Scripture.  Matthew 18:20 says, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." This verse is not about the minimum number of people required for God to be present. Rather, it is about purpose. Gathering "in Jesus' name" transforms a collection of individuals into a genuine community united around Christ. When people intentionally gather with Christ at the center, something greater than themselves is created—a "we" instead of a collection of isolated "I's." Community is also important for worship. Singing, praying, speaking liturgy, and participating in worship together are described as practices that deepen human connection. Communal worship can strengthen empathy, trust, and social bonds. Even if you worship online but participate, it can have that same effect.  Worship is not something spectators watch, but something participants experience together, creating a glimpse of God's presence among the community.

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith

Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide When you think of “the Father's house,” you may think about the children's song talking about it as a big, big house with lots and lots of rooms, or you may begin to picture the clouds of heaven. The Father's house is not primarily a location but a way of living in communion with God and one another. Scripture consistently points toward God creating a people who belong together in a covenant relationship. God's desire has always been to invite people into His family. That desire runs throughout the entire story of Scripture—from Eden to Abraham, through Jesus, and into eternity. Hand in hand with God's desire for a people of community is the constant theme of redemption and restoration. In this sermon, the theme of redemption is explored through the metaphor of reweaving. Sin is described not merely as breaking rules but as tearing the fabric of our relationships—with God, with others, and even within ourselves. Redemption is God's patient work of taking those torn places and weaving them back together so that what seemed beyond repair is restored. God does not simply cover over the broken places in our lives; He restores them, weaving together what has been torn until they are made new.  Every life is immeasurably valuable to God, and no tear is beyond His ability to restore. Like the father in the Prodigal Son, God continually watches, waits, and welcomes people home. Ultimately, the Father's house is not only a promise of where we will one day be. It is a present reality wherever people live in God's love, practice reconciliation, care for one another, and allow God to reweave the torn places of their lives. The invitation has always been open, and the door to the Father's house remains open still.

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. In Hebrews 12, we are invited to “throw off everything that hinders” and “run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. That's a powerful image because most of us know what it feels like to carry things we were never meant to carry: brokenness, regret, disconnection, wrongdoing, pride, or the weight of trying to hold life together on our own. The good news of the Gospel is that Christ meets us with grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love. When we receive that grace, we discover a joy that is deeper than happiness and stronger than our circumstances. Christ lived and died so that we could know the joy of reconciliation, forgiveness, love, and the joy of freedom.  Jesus does not simply call us to run harder; he invites us to lay down what binds us and receive the life only he can give.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Is there a more iconic Bible verse than Philippians 4:13? It is one of the most recognizable verses in all of Scripture. Christians have memorized it for generations, and it has found its way into popular culture. Your grandmother needlepointed it on a pillow. Your niece posted it on Instagram. Tebow put it on his eye black. Philippians 4:13 is everywhere. Because it is so familiar, we often feel like we know exactly what it means. Many read it as a promise that God will help us accomplish whatever goal we set our minds to—we'll win the game, get the promotion, or overcome any obstacle standing in our way.  Although we know this verse by heart, many of us struggle to live it. When life becomes difficult, when our plans fall apart, when we face disappointment, loss, uncertainty, or suffering, we often discover that our strength isn't enough. We become anxious, discouraged, or exhausted because we've unknowingly emphasized what we can do instead of the One who gives us strength. In this sermon, Matt unpacks Paul's injunction to “Rejoice.” We've seen how a robust prayer life and an intentional thought life can yield rejoicing; now, we turn to our actions. What we do can lead us to a life of rejoicing. But could Paul possibly be right? Can we really do ALL things!?

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Dr. Abe Smith

Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. We tend to fill the buckets of our lives with things that, in the end, fail us—these things are empty of the promises they held for us when we acquired them—but they weigh a lot. Though there are plenty of things that leave us feeling empty, we can fill our buckets with things that leave us feeling fulfilled. How much does hope weigh? Or love? Or a child's smile? Or a hand to hold when you are waiting to be taken to the operating room? Or a hug when the world seems to be crumbling around you? Or a willingness to risk your life for something more important than you are?  This is one of life's great paradoxes: what matters most often cannot be seen at all? The world trains us to chase what is visible and measurable, but the soul is nourished by what is eternal. A person can possess everything the world applauds and still feel profoundly empty. Another person may own very little and yet radiate peace, joy, and purpose because their bucket is filled with things that cannot be taken away. If your bucket is full of love, hope, grace, friendship, courage, and self-giving service, then your life is filled with treasures untouched by time, gravity, or even death.

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide In 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Paul reflects on the sincere and genuine faith that shaped Timothy's life, which was first seen in his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. Their faith was not merely talked about; it was consistently lived out in everyday life. This week's message reminds us that our faith is often formed by the people who surround us and the generations that come before us. The faith modeled for us frequently becomes the faith we embrace ourselves. Paul points to the influence of Scripture and the example of faithful family members in helping Timothy develop a real and lasting faith. But he also challenges Timothy to take ownership of that faith by “fanning into flame” the gift God placed within him. Faith cannot remain borrowed from someone else. It must be nurtured personally and continually renewed. The passage closes with a reminder that God does not lead His people through fear but through power, love, and self-discipline. As we grow in authentic faith, we are called not only to receive the gift of faith from others but also to live in a way that passes it on to the next generation.

Hannah Buchanan

Rev. Chelsea Peddecord

Rev. Chip Robertson | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Empty. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “empty"? Sometimes it refers to the absence of something; we open a box, and there is nothing in it. Sometimes it's a feeling; something or someone important seems to be missing from our lives. Sometimes it's a verb, the act of removing content and leaving an openness; we empty the trash. Physicists tell us that nature abhors a vacuum, and how we fill that emptiness really matters. In this sermon, we're going to start thinking about emptiness. It's something many authors and social scientists think too many of us are experiencing these days. But, as usual, God has an idea about the problem. And sometimes God teaches us in the most unexpected ways.  

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What is downstream of you? You want to make a difference; all of us do. Who we are, what we value, how we speak, how we spend, how we love, how we forgive, and how we show up—or fail to show up—does not stop with us. Every life has an outflow. You want the world—or at least your family and friends—to be better because you are here. You want the outflow of your life to bless others' lives. Things like intentional love, sacrificial generosity, wise stewardship, and faithful service send hope, stability, and blessing downstream. They send evidence that another way of living is possible. A decade ago, Nicholas Kristof wrote, “The people I've encountered over the years in the most impossible places—like Nuba, where anyone reasonable has fled—are disproportionately unreasonable because of their faith.” Faith—and specifically faith in Christ—does something to a person. Alongside the moral clarity and motivation faith provides, the apostle Paul believed faith in Christ actually, fundamentally changes a person. In this sermon, we explore how faith can change a person and change a life.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. God's will is something we've all wrestled with at different points—whether we're facing a major life decision like a move or career change or simply trying to discern where we belong and how we should live day to day. We often approach these moments wondering if we're choosing what God has planned for us. But Colossians 1:9-14 reminds us that, while we may not always know every detail, God's will is not hidden from us. It is knowable, doable, and good.  At its core, God's desire is to form us into people who love Him fully and love others deeply. And the good news is that God is not only guiding us—He is actively working within us, through His power, to make that kind of life possible. He understands the deepest desires of our hearts even better than we do, and His will is ultimately for our good and the good of others.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. What next? Fortunately, we are not the first generation to ask that question. In fact, the first generation wanted to know the same thing. What now? How do we live a life of faith and love after the Resurrection? In this sermon, we will be looking at how we can live out our real faith in our real lives in very real ways. When we contemplate “what next,” we think about what is to come of our lives, who or what we will influence, what legacy we are going to leave behind, or what is downstream of us.  What we often forget to factor in is what we are putting into our lives that will, in turn, influence what comes after us, or what is upstream of us. Similar to eating habits, what we put in directly correlates with what we put out. If we are constantly filling our lives with things that are not hopeful, we will not leave behind a legacy of hope. On the other hand, if we fill our lives with faith, hope, and love, we will leave behind a legacy of faith, hope, and love. Just as Colossians 1:4-5 says, “because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.” The message of hope and love that we keep upstream in our lives helps others hear about the gospel downstream.

Rev. Matt Tuggle

Rev. Chip Robertson

Traditional Worship Team

Rev. Billy Rainey

Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Jesus' parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:31–33 reveals that the kingdom of God often begins in ways that seem small, hidden, and insignificant but ultimately become transformative and far-reaching. Just as a seed absorbs water, soil, and light to become something new, Jesus' ministry began in the obscure village of Nazareth within the vast Roman Empire. What started small grew into a movement that outlasted empires and changed the world.  Jesus understood that his Father's kingdom is ever-expanding, and he continues this seed-like work in human hearts today—absorbing pain, shame, addiction, and sorrow and transforming them into hope, forgiveness, healing, and love. The central message is that the world changes one human heart at a time. Though individual lives may feel small and insignificant in the face of seemingly overwhelming global problems, God works through quiet, faithful transformation, turning surrendered hearts into catalysts for change in families, communities, and beyond.