Series: Radical Kingdom: Hidden Majesty

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

February 8, 2026

John the Baptist's message after 400 years of prophetic silence was clear: repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. True repentance involves three components: a change of mind, heart, and life. It's not about cleaning ourselves up before coming to God, but rather an invitation to turn from sin toward His grace. The religious leaders of John's time appeared righteous but lacked genuine repentance, while authentic faith requires honesty about our struggles. Jesus' baptism demonstrates the gospel - He identified with sinners and took our curse so we could receive the Father's blessing. Repentance is urgent because time is limited, and it separates authentic Christians from those merely going through religious motions.

1. Repentance is the Way that We Prepare to Encounter Jesus. (vv. 1-3)

2. Repentance Begins with the Realization that We are Filthy. (vv. 4-6)

3. True Repentance is Demonstrated by Life Change (vv. 7-9)

4. We Need to Repent Now Because Time is Running Out (vv. 10-12)

5. Jesus Makes Our Repentance Effective for Salvation (vv. 13-17)

Preached at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church, Pleasant Garden, NC

January 30, 2026

Pastor Brian preaches at Pleasant Garden Baptist Church, the sending church for Growing Faith, at a special Friday night service on January 30, 2026.

1. The Mission is Making Disciples (v. 21)

2. Encouragement is Necessary for the Hard Days (v. 22, 26)

3. The Mission Calls for More and More Leaders (v. 23)

4. The Mission Never Rests (vv. 24-25)

5. God is Opening a Door (v. 27)

Series: Radical Kingdom: Hidden Majesty

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

January 11, 2026

1. God Reveals Himself So All Kinds of People Will Seek Him (vv. 1-2)

2. "Religious" People Often Stop Seeking Jesus (vv. 3-8)

3. True Joy Comes From Seeking Jesus (vv. 9-10)

4. Seeking Jesus Results in Worship and Surrender (vv. 11-12)

The wise men's journey to find Jesus reveals a powerful contrast between those who actively seek Him and those who have grown comfortable in their religious knowledge. While foreign astrologers traveled great distances following God's star, the religious leaders in Jerusalem knew the prophecies but couldn't be bothered to make the five-mile journey to Bethlehem. True joy comes not from reaching a spiritual destination, but from actively seeking Jesus daily. When we pursue a deeper relationship with Him, we experience the same overwhelming joy the wise men felt when they realized God was leading their journey. The question we must ask ourselves is whether we're still genuinely seeking to know Jesus better, or if we've settled into religious routine and comfort.

Series: Radical Kingdom: The Birth of the King

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

December 21, 2025

1. Joseph's Righteousness Was Not Enough to Save Him (vv. 18-20)

2. God Wants to Save You From Your Sins (vv. 20-23)

3. Jesus Will Save His People From Their Sins (v. 21)

4. We are Saved in Jesus by Grace Through Faith (vv. 24-25)

The name Jesus means 'he will save his people from their sins,' revealing God's mission to rescue humanity. Even good people like Joseph needed salvation because our righteousness isn't enough to reach God. Unlike other religions that tell us what to do to reach God, Christianity is about God coming down to reach us. Jesus didn't come to make life easier or teach better morals—He came to save us from our sins through His death and resurrection. Salvation comes by grace through faith, requiring us to admit our need, believe in Christ, and surrender our lives to Him. This Christmas, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly received the gift of salvation, or just appreciated the story?

Series: Radical Kingdom: The Birth of the King (Matthew, Part One)

preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

December 14, 2025

1. Immanuel Means That We Know God

2. Immanuel Means that God Knows Us

3. Immanuel Means Communion with God

Application One: Enjoy God's Presence

Application Two: Share God's Presence

Despite living in the most connected era in history, loneliness has become a public health crisis. The root cause isn't just busy schedules or social media, but our fear that being truly known will lead to rejection. We hide behind masks instead of experiencing authentic love. God solved this problem through Emmanuel - God with us. Jesus came to bridge the gap between humanity and God, showing us who God really is while experiencing our human struggles firsthand. Through Christ, we can know God personally and be fully known without fear of rejection. The cure for loneliness is recognizing God's constant presence and sharing that presence with others who are hurting.

Series: Radical Kingdom: The Birth of the King

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

December 7, 2025

1. Jesus is Abraham's Promised Blessing to All Nations (Gen. 12:3)

2. Jesus is David's Promised Eternal King (2 Sam. 7:4-17)

3. Faith in Jesus Unlocks Our Role in His Story (Matt. 28:19; Rev. 5:9-10)

Christmas didn't begin with Jesus' birth in Bethlehem—it started thousands of years earlier with God's promises to Abraham and David. Matthew's genealogy reveals that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's ancient covenant to bless all nations through Abraham and establish an eternal kingdom through David. Abraham was called to leave his comfort zone and trust God's plan to make him a blessing to all families on earth. David wanted to build God a house, but God promised to build David an eternal dynasty instead. Jesus fulfills both promises as the son of Abraham who brings blessing to all nations and the son of David who reigns as eternal king. God calls us to step from being spectators to participants in His story through faith.

Series: Radical Kingdom: The Birth of a King

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

November 30, 2025

1. Jesus Fulfills the Promise of the Coming Anointed Savior (Gen. 3:15)

2. Jesus is the Preeminent Anointed Prophet: Listen to Him (Deut. 18:15)

3. Jesus is the Preeminent Anointed Priest: Trust in Him (Heb. 7:23-28; 10:11-22)

4. Jesus is the Preeminent Anointed King: Bow Before Him (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The Christmas season confronts us with a crucial question: who is this child in the manger? Jesus Christ is not just a baby to celebrate, but the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills three essential roles. As the perfect Prophet, He speaks God's word with ultimate authority and we must listen to His teachings. As the perfect Priest, He offered Himself as the final sacrifice for our sins, providing complete salvation that we must trust in rather than trying to earn. As the perfect King, He rules with eternal authority and demands our submission and obedience. True salvation requires accepting Jesus in all three roles, not just picking the comfortable aspects of His identity.

Series: Made for More: Identity, Purpose, and Grace in the Beginning

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

November 23, 2025

1. The Church's Purpose is Not to Settle Down Inside a Building. (vv. 1-4, 8)

2. The Church Must Not Seek to Create a Name for Itself. (vv. 1-5)

3. God Will Judge the Church That Gets Purpose and Identity Wrong. (vv. 6-9)

4. God Will Use the Church to Accomplish His Purposes. (11:10-12:3)

The Tower of Babel reveals humanity's tendency to create identity and purpose apart from God's design. The builders wanted to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered, directly rebelling against God's command to fill the earth. God confused their language and scattered them, preventing coordinated rebellion while fulfilling His original plan. This ancient story warns against spiritual complacency and pride in our own lives. Just as the tower builders sought their own glory, we often try to build our significance through careers, achievements, or comfort zones. God's redemptive plan ultimately triumphs, transforming the division of Babel into the unity found in Christ and His church.