In the final episode of Discerning Authority, Pastor Michael Lowenberg walks through a relentless day in the life of Jesus; a synagogue leader pleads for his daughter; a woman reaches for the fringe of His garment; two blind men cry out for mercy; a silenced man is set free. Each encounter reveals the same truth in a different key; Jesus carries real authority over death, disease, darkness, and doubt.

This message invites us out of passive admiration and into active faith; not spectating but seeking. Come with expectancy; bring your desperation honestly; trust the One who notices, touches, and restores. Scripture: Matthew 9:18–34.

In this message, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg explores Jesus’ teaching on fasting, garments, and wineskins, revealing that He has the authority to bring something completely new. The disciples of John ask why Jesus’ followers don’t fast like others, and Jesus responds with vivid images: a joyful wedding feast, an unshrunk patch on an old garment, and new wine poured into new wineskins.

Through these illustrations, Pastor Sarah reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to patch up old habits or make life a little more bearable. He came to transform us from the inside out. The presence of Jesus brings joy, His Spirit cannot be contained by rigid old patterns, and His authority means He makes us new—clothed in His grace, filled with His Spirit, and rebuilt on a solid foundation.

If you’ve been asking Jesus to “patch up” parts of your life, this sermon invites you to release the old and receive the new, trusting Him to do far more than repair—He will transform.

Scripture: Matthew 9:14–17

Welcome to Discerning Authority; a new three-part journey through the way Jesus invites and redirects our lives. In Episode 1, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg walks us into Matthew’s tax booth; a place of compromise and exclusion; and shows how a single invitation changes everything: “Follow me.” Jesus sits at Matthew’s table with “tax collectors and sinners”; He quotes Hosea; and He reframes what God wants from His people: mercy over sacrifice; healing over image; obedience over delay.

This message is for anyone who thinks they need to clean up first. The Great Physician comes for the sick; not the polished. If Matthew can stand up and leave the booth, so can we; say yes to Jesus today and make room at your table for the people He loves.

In the fifth and final episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg invites us into the crowded house at Capernaum; four friends lower a paralyzed man before Jesus; everyone expects a miracle for his legs. Jesus goes deeper first: “Take heart; your sins are forgiven.” This moment reframes the whole scene; the greatest need beneath every need is the authority of Jesus to forgive and make us whole.

When the scribes question in their hearts, Jesus reveals what cannot be seen by doing what cannot be denied; the man rises, rolls up his mat, and walks home. Some leave forgiven and amazed; others stand unchanged. Pastor Sarah calls us to the response that submits in faith; bring your whole self to the One who still speaks life and sends us walking into a new way of living.

What happens when the authority of Jesus confronts both the storm outside and the storm within?

In this episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Michael Lowenberg opens up Matthew 8:23–34, where Jesus stills a violent storm and drives out a legion of demons. These aren’t gentle, heartwarming stories—they are unsettling accounts that force us to wrestle with the sheer scope of Christ’s power. The winds, the waves, and even the spiritual forces of darkness submit to Him. The question is, will we?

The disciples respond with awe, drawing closer to Jesus in wonder. But the townspeople—faced with the same authority—push Him away. In this message, Pastor Michael challenges us to consider how we respond when Jesus’ authority reaches into places we’d rather keep under our control. Do we pull Him closer, or do we plead with Him to leave?

What does it really mean to follow Jesus—not just admire Him, but actually go where He leads?

In this episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Michael Lowenberg opens up Matthew 8:14–22 with a message that’s both healing and unsettling. We begin with a moment of mercy as Jesus restores Peter’s mother-in-law with a simple touch. But what follows is a shift in tone—a challenge to comfort, convenience, and half-hearted discipleship.

Jesus doesn’t just heal bodies; He calls hearts. And that call comes with cost.

This message invites us to move beyond admiration into surrender. The authority of Jesus isn’t just about what He can do for us—it’s about what He calls us to. If you've ever wrestled with what it means to truly follow Jesus, especially when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg invites us into one of the most astonishing interactions in the Gospels—where faith, humility, and authority intersect in a way that even amazes Jesus.

Teaching from Matthew 8:5–13, Pastor Sarah walks us through the story of the Roman centurion who approaches Jesus not with entitlement, but with reverent confidence. He doesn’t ask Jesus to come in person or perform a sign; he simply says, “Just say the word.”

This isn’t faith in theory—it’s trust in action. And it challenges us to consider: do we believe that the authority of Jesus is enough? Do we trust His word before we see the outcome?

Whether you’re walking through uncertainty, waiting for healing, or wondering how strong your faith really is, this message offers both comfort and conviction. Jesus still honors bold trust—and still has the authority to speak healing into being.

Welcome to a new series at Litchfield Church of the Nazarene: Kingdom Authority.

In this first episode, Pastor Michael Lowenberg leads us from the heights of the Sermon on the Mount into the living, breathing authority of Jesus in action. Teaching from Matthew 8:1–4, Pastor Michael invites us to slow down and truly see what happens when Jesus meets a man with leprosy—a man considered untouchable, unworthy, and unclean. But Jesus doesn’t recoil; He reaches out and touches him.

This isn’t just a story of physical healing; it’s a window into the heart of the Kingdom Jesus brings—a Kingdom where purity flows outward, healing comes through compassion, and brokenness is never the end of the story. As we reflect on this miracle, we’re challenged to consider: What have we settled for? And are we willing to bring our whole selves before the One who is willing to make us whole?