United Pentecostal Church of Bourbon , IN

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

The fourth lesson in our series 'The Beginning' taught by Pastor Matt Cottrill on Sunday, October 5th 2025

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

Tony Schuh's message from Wednesday, September 24th 2025

Pastor Matt Cottrill's message from our second session on Sunday, September 21st 2025

The eighth lesson in Pastor Cottrill's series, "The Book of Acts" from Wednesday September 17th 2025

Andrew Lucas's Message on the fourth night of revival on Sunday September 14th 2025

Pastor Cottrill's message on Sunday September 14th 2025

Andrew Lucas's message on the third night of revival, September 12th 2015

Andrew Lucas's message on the second night of revival on September 11th, 2025

Andrew Lucas' message from our first night of revival on Wednesday September 10th