United Pentecostal Church of Bourbon , IN

John Faulkner's message from Wednesday March 4th 2026 confronts us with one of Scripture's most sobering warnings: the reality that many who believe themselves to be saved will hear Jesus say, 'I never knew you.' Drawing from Matthew 25's parable of the ten virgins, we discover that the issue was never about oil or preparedness in a superficial sense. The Greek translation reveals something far more devastating—when the door was shut, it signified compassion withdrawn, mercy no longer accessible, and a bond decisively severed. The foolish virgins weren't rejected because they lacked oil; they were rejected because they lacked relationship. They were acquainted with the bridegroom but weren't part of his life. This theme echoes throughout Matthew's gospel three times, and when God repeats Himself, we must pay attention. The message challenges our comfortable Christianity, reminding us that believing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him. We can attend church, serve faithfully, even prophesy and cast out demons in His name, yet still hear those terrifying words: 'Depart from me.' The path forward is clear: genuine repentance, water baptism in Jesus' name, receiving the Holy Spirit, and cultivating an authentic, daily relationship through prayer, Scripture, worship, obedience, and service. Our names in the Lamb's Book of Life depend not on religious activity but on intimate relationship with the Savior.

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from Sunday, March 1st 2026

We often throw around the word 'love' without truly understanding what we mean by it. This powerful exploration of 1 Corinthians 13 by Tony Schuh on Wednesday, February 25th 2026, reveals a truth that challenges our modern assumptions: love is not just love. The Greek language gives us five distinct words for what we simply call 'love' - from eros (romantic passion) to philia (friendship) to storge (familial affection) to philaudia (self-love) and finally to agape (sacrificial, unconditional love). This teaching unpacks why Paul uses 'charity' in the King James Version - because agape love costs us something for the benefit of another. We discover that even our most impressive spiritual gifts, our prophecies, our faith to move mountains, and our generous acts of charity mean absolutely nothing if they're not rooted in agape love. The sobering reality is that we can do all the right things - give to the poor, serve faithfully, operate in spiritual gifts - yet if our motives are about building our own reputation or seeking transaction rather than transformation, it profits us nothing. This message calls us to examine our hearts honestly: Are we loving others to build God's kingdom or our own? Are we withholding affection when we don't get what we want? The litmus test is clear: love suffers long, doesn't keep records of wrongs, doesn't seek its own, and never fails. Our relationships - whether in marriage, friendship, or church - are meant to reflect this costly, sacrificial love that mirrors how Christ loved the church.

In this message from Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, Gene Smith0 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: we can attend church, sing worship songs, and even serve in ministry while still living in spiritual complacency. Drawing from Isaiah 14 and Hebrews 2, we're reminded that ignoring such great salvation comes with eternal consequences. The sermon challenges us to examine whether we've been playing church rather than truly surrendering to God's will. Like children at recess who must eventually answer the bell, we're living in a season where playtime is over. The message references sobering examples from Scripture—Nadab and Abihu who offered strange fire, Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit, and even Judas who walked with Jesus yet never truly changed. These accounts remind us that partial obedience equals full disobedience, and that God sees beyond our religious performances into the true condition of our hearts. The armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6 isn't meant for playgrounds but for spiritual warfare. We're called to put away excuses, distractions, and comfortable Christianity, recognizing that we're not walking into parking lots when we leave church—we're walking into battlefields. This message urges us to search our hearts, reconcile with our brothers and sisters, and stop playing games with a holy God who is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle.

In this exploration of Luke 4, Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway on Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, challenges us to reconsider whose story we're living. When Jesus declared in the synagogue that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, He was making a revolutionary statement: this story has always been about Him, not about us. The sermon walks us through Jesus's 40 days in the wilderness, drawing stunning parallels to Israel's 40 years of wandering. Where Israel complained and compromised, Jesus remained faithful. Where they craved physical comfort, He hungered for God's word. The wilderness wasn't punishment—it was preparation. We discover three essential landmarks for surviving our own wilderness seasons: crucifixion of the flesh, submission to God's word, and unwavering faithfulness. The message confronts a hard truth: we cannot walk in the power of the Spirit while refusing to live under the authority of His word. Our belief directly impacts God's ability to move in our lives. When we surrender our story and allow Him to be both author and finisher, we position ourselves for the anointing that comes after the wilderness. The question isn't whether we'll face difficult seasons, but whether we'll endure long enough to see the relief that's already on its way.

This powerful message from Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway on Sunday, February 15th 2026, takes us deep into the heart of why Jesus came to earth, exploring the profound disconnect between what the Jewish people expected and what God actually delivered. We journey through the prophetic scriptures of Isaiah and Micah that painted vivid pictures of a coming Messiah who would establish an everlasting kingdom of peace. Yet when that Messiah arrived, He came wrapped in swaddling clothes in a stable rather than silk and gold in a palace. The message challenges us to examine our own interpretations of God's truth—are we reading Scripture through the lens of what pleases us and serves our comfort, or are we genuinely seeking God's heart? The story of James, bound by addiction and brokenness, illustrates how the redemptive nature of truth transforms lives when we stop defending our position and surrender to Christ. We're reminded that God chose shepherds—the lowest in society—to receive the first announcement of the Messiah's birth, demonstrating that He is no respecter of persons. The most convicting aspect is the call to make Jesus more than an afterthought in our daily lives. Are we like Anna, who continually prayed and fasted in the temple, desperate to see God move? Or do we give Him only the leftovers of our time and attention? This message isn't just about understanding prophecy—it's about allowing the truth of who Jesus is to completely rewrite our story, just as it did for James.

This powerful message from Matt Harvey on Wednesday, February 11th 2026, invites us to examine what we're carrying in the metaphorical bags of our lives. Drawing from Hebrews 12:1-2, we're challenged to identify the weights and sins that slow our spiritual journey. The sermon uses relatable imagery of everyday carry items and how they change with our circumstances, yet we often hold onto things that no longer serve us. The distinction between weights and sins is crucial: weights aren't necessarily sinful, but they're unnecessary burdens like social media addiction, old mindsets, material attachments, or unresolved grief. Meanwhile, sins like bitterness, unforgiveness, and resentment actively poison our souls. The beautiful invitation of Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us that Jesus offers to share our yoke, making our burdens light when we partner with Him. The imagery of oxen yoked together illustrates how we're meant to work alongside Christ rather than struggling alone. We're called to run our spiritual race with patience, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus like a tightrope walker maintains focus on their destination. The challenge is clear: what weights are we clinging to that Jesus is asking us to release? What sins are we harboring that prevent us from running freely? When we lay these down, we discover the freedom and rest that comes from yoking ourselves to Christ.

This powerful message from Aaron Lane on Sunday, February 8th 2026, confronts us with a profound truth: we all carry a debt we cannot repay. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, we're reminded that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we've been bought with a price—the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The sermon explores the ancient practice of slavery to help us understand our spiritual condition: we were once slaves to sin, bound by chains we couldn't break, trapped in a debt that would take eternity to repay. But here's the beautiful paradox—when Christ freed us from sin's slavery, He didn't leave us to our own devices. Instead, we became servants of righteousness, voluntarily surrendering to a Master who loves us unconditionally. The message challenges us to examine whether we're truly living as freed people or still acting like slaves to our old nature. Through the story of the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus, we see that even in our worst moments, even when we're undeserving, Jesus extends grace and promises us paradise. The call is clear: repentance, baptism in Jesus' name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost aren't just religious rituals—they're the pathway to true freedom. We're invited to stop asking 'What does this do for me?' and start asking 'How can I serve?' because servant leadership is the highest calling we can embrace.

At the heart of this message from Dylan Cottrill on Sunday February 8th 2026, lies a profound truth we often overlook: the blood of Jesus Christ is not just a theological concept, but the very foundation of our freedom. Drawing from 1 Peter 1:18-21, we're reminded that our redemption didn't come through silver, gold, or inherited traditions, but through the precious blood of the Lamb. The sermon powerfully explores the story of the demon-possessed man in Luke 8, who was delivered by Jesus, yet the townspeople asked Jesus to leave because they feared what they'd have to give up—their pigs. How often do we mirror this response? We cry out for deliverance, yet when God shows up offering freedom, we cling to the very things that bind us. The message challenges us with a penetrating question: Are we living as the 'Father's t-shirt'—clean, white, and sanctified—or have we placed ourselves back in the closet, allowing the dust of bitterness, addiction, and unforgiveness to stain us again? The call is clear: surrender is not a one-time event but a daily memorial we must return to. Every stripe on Jesus' back, every drop of blood shed, every thorn pressed into His temple represented someone's healing, someone's deliverance, someone's freedom from depression and bondage. That someone could be us, if only we'd release our grip on what's holding us back and fully surrender to Him.

Have you ever wondered why the plan of salvation isn't just a random formula, but rather a profound pattern woven throughout all of Scripture? This powerful teaching from Wednesday, February 4th 2026, Trace Schuh takes us on a journey through the blood, water, and spirit—three witnesses of God on earth that appear from Genesis to Revelation. We discover that what happened on the Day of Pentecost wasn't Peter making up new rules, but rather him recognizing an eternal pattern that stretches back to Noah's ark, the Exodus from Egypt, Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, and even the layout of the tabernacle itself. Each instance reveals the same divine blueprint: death (blood), burial (water), and resurrection (spirit). When we repent, get baptized in Jesus' name, and receive the Holy Ghost, we're not just following religious tradition—we're literally walking in the footsteps of Christ himself, participating in His death, burial, and resurrection. This message challenges us to see that our salvation experience isn't isolated to the New Testament but is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan that has existed since the foundation of the world. It's a reminder that we can teach our doctrine from the entire Bible because truth doesn't contradict itself—it echoes through every book, every story, every shadow pointing to the ultimate reality of Jesus Christ.

In this powerful message from our second session on Sunday, February 1st 2026, Pastor Matt Cottrill takes us into Acts chapter 20, where we encounter a story that speaks directly to our moments of spiritual exhaustion. We find ourselves in Troas, where Paul preaches until midnight to believers who have gathered for worship. In this ordinary church service, something extraordinary happens—a young man named Eutychus, sitting in a window, falls asleep and plummets to his death. But this isn't a story about failure; it's a revelation about God's grace in our weariest moments. The sermon unpacks the profound symbolism of midnight—not just as a time on the clock, but as a spiritual condition where our faith is tested without reinforcement. It's that space between promise and fulfillment, where we've prayed, obeyed, and stayed faithful, yet answers seem delayed. The window where Eutychus sat represents our tendency to lean when we're tired—not abandoning faith entirely, but repositioning ourselves just enough to feel comfortable. We stay in the room but pull back emotionally and spiritually. The beautiful truth emerges: when Eutychus fell, Paul didn't condemn him but embraced him, and God restored his life. This teaches us that God doesn't abandon people who lean too far or fall in their weariness. Midnight never has the final word—it's always followed by morning, and it's often where God prepares resurrection. This message calls us to recognize that being weary doesn't mean we've failed; it means we're human, and God's grace meets us exactly where we are.

This powerful exploration from Sunday, February 1st 2026, of biblical history takes us on a journey through God's unwavering covenant with humanity, from creation to the prophets. With Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway we discover that God's desire for relationship with us has remained constant across thousands of years, despite humanity's repeated failures and wanderings. The timeline presented reveals a striking pattern: God delivers His people, they experience His favor, yet within generations they drift back into compromise and idolatry. This isn't just ancient history—it's a mirror reflecting our own spiritual struggles. The story of Daniel and his three friends stands as a watershed moment in this narrative. These young men, taken captive to Babylon and pressured to conform to the world's most powerful empire, made a choice that echoes through eternity: they purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves. Their decision wasn't based on guaranteed outcomes but on covenant faithfulness. When faced with the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared the most profound statement of faith: 'Our God is able to deliver us... but if not, we still will not bow.' This 'but if not' faith challenges us to examine whether our Christianity is a small dot within the large circle of our lives, or whether our faith is the encompassing reality that defines everything we do. The favor of God, we learn, is worth more than all the riches of Babylon—worth more than career advancement, social acceptance, or earthly comfort.

In a world that never stops shouting, we're challenged to examine whether we're being informed or inflamed by the constant noise around us. In this message from Wednesday, January 28th 2026 Pastor Matt Cottrill draws from Romans 12:2, where we're reminded that awareness and conformity are vastly different—we can observe the world without absorbing its spirit. The powerful imagery of thermostats versus thermometers reveals our true calling: we're not meant to merely reflect the temperature of our culture's outrage and fear, but to set the spiritual temperature of every room we enter. The sobering truth emerges that what we consume repeatedly becomes what we believe, and when we allow news cycles to disciple us more than God's Word, fear replaces faith and outrage replaces intercession. Through scriptures like James 1:19-20 and Proverbs 15:1, we're confronted with the reality that our public expressions—especially on social media—can either draw searching souls toward Christ or become stumbling blocks that quietly close hearts. The message isn't about ignoring current events, but about filtering everything through the lens of one eternal question: Will this help someone find Jesus? When we choose grace alongside truth, kindness over sarcasm, and love over being right, we become the light that doesn't argue with darkness but simply transforms it by existing.

This message from our service on Sunday, January 25th 2026 challenges us to examine the foundation upon which we're building our lives. Joe Lake draws from Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7, we're confronted with a sobering truth: storms are inevitable, but survival depends entirely on what we've built upon. The sermon uses the striking imagery of La Jument lighthouse in France—a structure that has withstood over a century of violent Atlantic storms because it was built on solid rock. Just as that lighthouse keeper nearly lost his life when a massive wave struck, we too face moments when everything around us seems to be collapsing. The central question becomes: are we merely hearing the Word of God, or are we actually doing it? Cultural Christianity has taught many to believe that right doctrine alone saves us, but Jesus clearly stated that wisdom comes from both hearing and doing. When David wrote repeatedly in the Psalms about God being his rock, his fortress, his hiding place, he wasn't speaking from a palace—he was writing from caves and wilderness, from places of desperation and pursuit. His understanding of God as an unmovable foundation came through lived experience, not theological theory. We're called to be students of the Word, not just casual readers, allowing Scripture to marinate in our hearts until it oozes out naturally. When our hearts become overwhelmed—and they will—we need friends who will lead us to the Rock that is higher than ourselves, not gossip about our struggles or kick us when we're down.

Dylan Cottrill's message from Wednesday January 21st, 2026In this powerful message, we confront a sobering reality: we live in a generation experiencing a spiritual famine of God's Word. Drawing from Amos 8:11-13, we're reminded that God warned of a coming famine—not of bread or water, but of hearing His Word. Today, despite having unprecedented access to Scripture, we're witnessing this prophecy unfold in our own time. We own multiple Bibles, yet studies reveal that over half of American Christians have read less than half of Scripture, and a third never open it outside of church. This isn't just about statistics; it's about survival. The Word of God is described throughout Scripture as living, breathing, powerful—sharper than any two-edged sword. It's a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path, and literally the difference between spiritual life and death. When we neglect this precious gift, we walk into confusion, just as Deuteronomy 28 warns. We seek peace in entertainment, comfort in self-gratification, and answers in everything except the very pages that contain God's breath. The challenge before us is clear: will we commit to hiding God's Word in our hearts, allowing it to guide every step, every decision, every moment? This isn't elementary—it's essential. Our theme for the year, 'I must decrease as He increases,' starts right here, with opening the Book and letting it transform us from the inside out.

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, January 18th 2026.At the heart of this powerful message lies John the Baptist's profound declaration: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' This isn't resignation—it's radical alignment with God's kingdom principles. We're challenged to understand that spiritual authority doesn't come through self-promotion or visibility, but through surrender and obedience. The sermon draws us into the miracle of the loaves and fishes, revealing that the true miracle wasn't the multiplication of food—that was easy for Jesus. The miracle was a young boy's willingness to surrender his lunch. As long as those five loaves and two fish remained in the boy's hands, they stayed insufficient. But placed in Jesus' hands, they became the seed of abundance. This teaches us a stunning truth: God doesn't multiply what we hoard; He multiplies what we release. We're invited to examine our lives and ask what we're clutching tightly when God is asking us to let go. The message confronts our modern addiction to noise, entertainment, and constant stimulation—particularly through social media—that drowns out the voice of God. We're called to a lifestyle of fasting, not as ritual but as mastery over our flesh, creating space for spiritual sensitivity. The vision for this season isn't about doing more; it's about becoming less so Christ can become more in us.

The third lesson in our series 'The Prophets' taught by Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway on Sunday, January 18th 2026This powerful message confronts us with a crucial question: what occupies the high places in our lives? Drawing from Ezekiel 36 and the broader prophetic narrative, we're challenged to examine whether we've allowed idols—careers, relationships, comfort, or even our own self-sufficiency—to take the throne that belongs to God alone. The Israelites found themselves in Babylonian exile not because of their ancestors' sins, but because they refused to take responsibility for their own spiritual compromises. They blamed previous generations while continuing the same patterns of idolatry and rebellion. How often do we do the same, shifting accountability away from ourselves? The sermon uses a striking historical illustration: London's Great Smog of 1952, where 12,000 people died not because they weren't trying to breathe, but because the high places—the chimneys burning cheap coal—were polluting the atmosphere. The solution wasn't trying harder; it was cleaning the source. Similarly, our spiritual lives won't change through sheer willpower, but by allowing God to occupy the high place again. When we consecrate ourselves through prayer, fasting, and genuine repentance, we're not earning God's favor—we're positioning ourselves to receive the new heart and new spirit He promises. The message reminds us that we live under a better covenant than Israel did. We don't have to wait for annual sacrifices; we can confess, repent, and be forgiven immediately. But this requires us to stop making excuses and start taking ownership of our spiritual condition. The battle for the high place is real, and whoever occupies it shapes the entire atmosphere of our lives, homes, and futures.

Pastor Cottrill's message from our Church From Home service on Wednesday, January 14th 2026This powerful message confronts us with a penetrating question: what happens when we become so focused on what's above us that we miss what's right in front of us? Drawing from the humorous tale of Sherlock Holmes and Watson losing their tent while stargazing, we're challenged to recognize when our spiritual covering has been stolen. The core revelation centers on Matthew 17:21, where Jesus explains to his frustrated disciples that certain spiritual battles require more than experience or knowledge—they demand the covering of prayer and fasting. We discover that when carnality rises, disunity spreads, complacency settles, and holiness slips, we don't need new programs or better strategies. We need to rebuild what has been lost: our covering through prayer and fasting. The message weaves through Joel's call to sanctify a fast, Psalm 133's declaration about unity, and the Acts church's pattern of prayer preceding power. Perhaps most striking is the call from John 3:30—'He must increase, but I must decrease'—reminding us that God's greatest work happens not when we do more, but when we surrender more. This isn't about religious performance; it's about recognizing that flesh cannot conquer flesh, and strongholds aren't pulled down with carnal weapons. We're invited into a posture of holy desperation, where hunger pains become reminders of our hunger for God's presence and power.

Bishop Mark Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, January 11th 2026

The second lesson in our series 'The Prophets' taught by Dillon Meadway on Sunday, January 11th 2026

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from Wednesday, January 7th 2026

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, Jan 4th 2026

The first lesson in our series 'The Prophets' taught by Dillon Meadway on Sunday, January 4th 2026

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our New Year's Eve service on Wednesday, December 31 2025

Gene Smith's message from our second session on Sunday, December 28th 2025

The fifth lesson in our series 'Judges and Kings' taught by Steve Hoese on Sunday, December 28th 2025

Bishop Mark Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, December 21st 2025

The fourth lesson in our series 'Judges and Kings' taught by Joe Lake on Sunday, December 21st 2025

First Lady Brandie Cottrill's message from Wednesday, December 17th 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, December 7th 2025

The third lesson in our series 'Judges and Kings' taught by Tony Fishel on Sunday, December 7th 2025

Steve Hoese's message from Wednesday, December 3rd 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 25th 2025

Dylan Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, November 23rd 2025

The second lesson in our series 'Judges and Kings' taught by Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway on Sunday, November 23rd 2025

Tony Schuh's message from Wednesday, November 19th 2025

Brady Schuh, Anthony Thornburg, and Alex Howdeshell speak during our Youth Led Service on Sunday, November 16th 2025

The first lesson in our series 'Judges and Kings' taught by Joe Lake on Sunday, November 16th 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from Wednesday, November 12th 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, November 9th 2025

The fourth lesson in our series 'The Exodus' taught by Pastor Matt Cottrill on Sunday, November 9th 2025

The third lesson in our series 'The Exodus' taught by Pastor Matt Cottrill on Sunday, November 2nd 2025

Our forum panel discusses for our service on Wednesday, October 29th 2025

Joe Lake's message from our second session on Sunday, October 26th 2025

The second lesson in our series 'The Exodus' taught by Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway on Sunday, October 26th 2025

Steve Hoese's message from Wednesday, October 22nd 2025

Assistant Pastor Dillon Meadway's message from our second session on Sunday, October 19th 2025

The first lesson in our series 'The Exodus' taught by Pastor Matt Cottrill on Sunday, October 19th 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, October 15th 2025

The fifth lesson in our series 'The Beginning' taught by Tony Schuh on Sunday, October 12th 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, October 5th 2025