Happiness

how do we find happiness in every circumstance as we follow jesus christ? Watch our series on happiness as pastor Matt stephens takes us through how to find joy in our relationship with jesus!

april 7, 2024 - current

Pastor Matt Stephens

wise builders

August 18, 2024

Text: Matthew 7:24-27
Summary: Matthew 7:24-27 encapsulates the essence of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus calls us to be wise builders, grounding our lives in His teachings. By doing so, we are equipped to face life’s challenges with confidence and resilience, knowing that our foundation in Christ is secure and unshakeable.

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Instructors, Imposters, and Information

August 11, 2024

Text: Matthew 7:13-23
Summary: Matthew 7:13-23 calls us to a serious and committed walk with Jesus. The narrow way to the Kingdom of Heaven requires us to choose the difficult path of obedience and righteousness, to be vigilant against false teachings, and to ensure our discipleship is genuine and not just superficial.
Bottom Line: The Narrow Way To The Kingdom

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

The Golden Rule

August 4, 2024

Text: Matthew 7:1-12
Summary: Matthew 7:1-12 challenges us to live with humility, trust in God's provision, and active love for others. By refraining from judgment, praying with persistence, and practicing the Golden Rule, we embody the values of Christ's Kingdom.

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Treasure In Heaven

JULY 28, 2024

Text: Matthew 6:19-34
Summary: Jesus calls us to trust in God’s provision and to prioritize His Kingdom above all else. By storing up treasures in heaven and seeking God's Kingdom first, we align our lives with His eternal purposes.

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Prayer and Fasting

JULY 21, 2024

Text: Matthew 6:5-14
Summary: Jesus calls us to avoid seeking human praise and instead focus on our relationship with God. In Christ's Kingdom, spiritual practices are not about outward appearances but about the inward condition of the heart.

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Happiness: Happiness from generosity

JULY 14, 2024

Text: Matthew 6:1-4
Summary: Jesus calls us to a higher standard of generosity in His Kingdom—one that is marked by humility, sincerity, and a deep desire to honor God. By practicing such generosity, we reflect the heart of Christ and demonstrate the transformative power of His love in a world that often seeks recognition and praise.
Bottom Line: Kingdom Generosity

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Happiness: Happiness from justice

JULY 7, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:38-48
Summary: Jesus challenges the traditional understanding of justice and retribution. The familiar principle of "an eye for an eye" is upended as Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard of love and mercy. He teaches that in His Kingdom, justice is not about revenge or equal retaliation but about radical love and forgiveness.
Bottom Line: Kingdom Justice

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Happiness: Happiness from faithfulness

June 30, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:27-37
Summary: In this passage from the Sermon On The Mount Jesus emphasizes faithfulness in purity of heart, commitment in marriage, and integrity in speech. By looking to the unwavering faithfulness of Jesus, we are encouraged to live out faithfulness in all aspects of our lives. 
Bottom Line: Faithfulness in the Kingdom 

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Happiness: Happiness without hate

June 23, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:21-24
Summary: Jesus teaches that reconciliation and forgiveness are crucial to our relationships and spiritual health. He emphasizes that harboring anger and resentment is as damaging as committing physical acts of violence. Jesus calls us to seek peace and resolve conflicts with others.
Bottom Line: Hearts Without Hate

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Happiness: Happiness that can't be hidden

June 16, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:17-20
Summary: Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets, calling us to a greater righteousness. By internalizing the spirit of love, mercy, and justice, fathers can lead their families in embodying Christ’s teachings, reflecting His transformative power in daily life. This message encourages fathers to guide their families with Christ-like love, humility, and a commitment to justice.
Bottom Line: Jesus, The Fulfillment of the Law 

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR 

Happiness: Happiness From insult

June 9, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Summary: Christians have been given an incredible gift that changes our lives and makes us think and act differently than the world around us. Jesus does not want us to ever be ashamed of those differences. Instead we are be a Christlike influence on the world around us. 
Bottom Line: Salt and Light

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From holiness

June 2, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:10-12
Summary: The beatitudes describe a citizen of God’s Kingdom. It is a kingdom that is very different than what we see around us in the world. The humble, merciful and peaceful citizens of God’s Kingdom will find themselves in conflict with the ways of the world and we should be ready to stand for righteousness in those moments.
Bottom Line: Blessed are the Persecuted

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From peacemaking

may 26, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:9
Summary: Our God is a peacemaking God. He gave His Son so that we could be reconciled to Him and be called His sons and daughters. As His children we should be peacemakers as well.
Bottom Line: Blessed are the Peacemakers

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From Purity

may 19, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:8
Summary: The God we serve is a holy God and it is necessary that we be holy to enter into His presence. This is an impossible for thing for us to do in our own power. We are blessed and happy that our heart is purified by the sinless life and sacrifice of Jesus.
Bottom Line: Happy Are The Pure

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From mercy

may 12, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:7
Summary: God has demonstrated great forgiveness and compassion towards His children. In turn, they should be the most forgiving and compassionate toward others.
Bottom Line: Happy Are The Merciful

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From hunger

may 5, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:6
Summary: When our souls are hungry and thirsty for the right things Jesus promises that will find satisfaction and fulfillment. We will never find happiness in temporary pleasures and distractions. In the end they just can’t satisfy.
Bottom Line: Happy Are The Hungry

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From Weakness

April 28, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:5
Summary: When you have a gentleness that allows you to flow through life’s difficulties without blowing up and lashing out, you are truly blessed. This gentleness comes from knowing we can give everything in our life over to a loving Heavenly Father, wait on Him and trust Him with outcome.
Bottom Line: Happy Are The Meek

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness: Happiness From Grief

April 21, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:4
Summary: The mourning Jesus speaks about in the beatitudes is a sorrow over our own sin. Godly sorrow over our sin leads to repentance. In repentance we find forgiveness and God’s grace. Our comfort comes the fact that we have been forgiven. The happiness we have is that though our sin is great God’s grace is greater.
Bottom Line: Happiness From Mourning

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

Happiness part 2

April 14, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:3
Summary: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “ No one enters the kingdom of heaven pridefully. Only when we humbly understand our great need for God’s grace will we truly experience happiness.
Bottom Line: Happiness begins with humility.

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR

The Happy Sermon? : Happiness

April 7, 2024

Text: Matthew 5:1-12
Summary: Jesus begins The Sermon On The Mount with the Beatitudes. Beatitude mans “complete joy” and they are series of statements that seem contradictory on the surface. But in these statements we learn that our happiness is about our character not our circumstances.

PASTOR MATT STEPHENS - interim PASTOR