"We are a Family of Supers" Part 1 emphasizes that in God’s kingdom, belief always precedes behavior: we are first called to faith in Jesus, who is the object, foundation, and perfecter of our faith, and from that faith flows transformed living by grace. Scripture teaches that believers are chosen, sanctified “living stones” and a royal priesthood, called out of darkness into God’s light, not by natural effort but by supernatural grace that conforms our lives to what we believe. Faith must be genuine and scriptural, grounded in who Christ truly is and empowered by the Holy Spirit, guarding us against deception and spiritual attack. Ephesians 1–3 frames this reality through our supernatural identity in Christ, our origin story of hopelessness apart from Him, and our mission as ambassadors sent to proclaim the gospel—good news made precious because of the bad news it overcomes—so that others may hear, believe, and be reconciled to God.
In "Under Construction" Part 4, Dr. Joshua shares how God qualifies ordinary, often hesitant, people to do His work by His presence and calling, not by their credentials. Scripture shows two mindsets when facing what God is building—some mourn what was lost while others rejoice in what God is doing now — yet God uses both experiences to create something new. Through figures like the widow of Zarephath, Gideon, Esther, Moses, and even the nation of Israel, we see a repeated pattern: God calls people who feel insufficient, excuses themselves, or seem unqualified, and then empowers them to step forward in faith. Ultimately, God chooses what appears weak or unlikely so that His glory, not human strength, is displayed. The rebuilding process flows from understanding our identity in God, committing to gathering as His people, and stepping boldly into ministry.
This message presents a sobering call to reexamine church streaming by distinguishing between legitimate use and lifestyle substitution, arguing that habitual absence from in-person gatherings is a symptom of spiritual lukewarmness rather than mere convenience. While statistics show younger generations attending church slightly more often than older ones, Scripture emphasizes that longevity in faith carries responsibility for modeling, teaching, and discipling others across generations. True discipleship, unlike streaming, requires sacrifice, embodied relationships, imitation, and shared life—placing Christ, not personal comfort, at the center. When streaming becomes a lifestyle, it weakens discipleship, erodes accountability, and limits spiritual formation, ultimately leaving believers spiritually isolated. The response, therefore, is a rebuilding process centered on identity (every believer as a minister and priest), renewed commitment to gathering, and active participation in ministry, and affirming that serious discipleship cannot thrive apart from intentional, relational, in-person community.
Last week launched a new series and a new theme in a sobering new context—where the world is more evil, tools are more powerful, and the irony is that we are living at the height of human achievement and the height of human self-destruction at the same time, exactly as Scripture predicted (2 Timothy 3). With the stakes raised, darkness unapologetic, and time running out, there is less margin for disobedience and greater consequence for being lukewarm, as Jesus warns the churches in Revelation. The call is clear: wake up, repent, return to your first love, and refuse a faith that is comfortable with sin, blended into the culture, or satisfied with appearance over power. True “hot” faith is seen in obedience, zeal, and a commitment to grow and teach others. In this new season, under the theme “Under Construction,” we are being built as living stones into a spiritual house, with renewed focus on identity, gathering, and ministry—rebuilding how we see ourselves in Christ, how we gather for worship, teaching, and fellowship, and how we are trained (not just taught) to serve, so that faith is strengthened across generations and the work of God continues through us.
This sermon reflects on last year’s journey through themes of unity, humility, God’s ways, spiritual leadership, generosity, honor, prayer, conflict resolution, vision, and gathering, showing how God has been shaping us into a “we” people with a shared identity and purpose. Drawing from Jesus’ warnings about the last days in Matthew 24–25, the message calls the church to “stay awake” by remaining faithful, ready, and actively engaged in the Lord’s business rather than drifting into spiritual complacency. Using the examples of Noah, the parables of the servants, virgins, talents, and minas, and the Israelites’ struggles during their wilderness journey, the sermon emphasizes that God’s work often involves uncomfortable, frustrating, and patience-demanding processes. This sets the stage for the new year’s theme, “Under Construction,” declaring that just as God is rebuilding physical spaces, He is also rebuilding His people spiritually—forming us as living stones into His sanctuary, so that He can dwell in us as we faithfully endure and participate in His transforming work.
This message traces the story of Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s ancient promise, revealing Him as the true Light and our blessed Hope in a dark world. From Genesis to the Gospels, it shows how Scripture points to a Messiah who would come through the woman, arrive marked by divine light, suffer for our sins, and ultimately reign as a victorious King. The teaching highlights how Jesus’ kingdom defies worldly expectations, exposing false forms of “light” such as human reason, success, technology, and good works apart from love. Ultimately, it challenges viewers to examine their own lives by a simple test of faith: not what we achieve for Christ, but where we are willing to carry our cross and follow Him.
This message concludes the series "The Gathering", emphasizing why regularly meeting with other believers is essential and why neglecting church gatherings—whether for bad reasons like offense or indifference, or for seemingly “good” reasons like work, money, education, sports, or busyness—is spiritually dangerous. Scripture teaches that isolation makes believers vulnerable to the enemy, that the cares of life and the deceitfulness of success choke spiritual growth, and that choosing urgent, worldly pursuits over the important discipline of gathering leads to unfruitfulness. While occasional absence and legitimate life circumstances are understood, forming a habit of missing church becomes disobedience to God, undermines spiritual leadership, and sets a poor example for young people, children, and new believers. God saved His people to gather them, just as He gathered Israel in Exodus, and He continues to meet, speak, heal, and nourish His people through every part of the corporate gathering—not just the sermon. Learning to gather faithfully is a fundamental part of Christian identity and devotion; it forms us, unlocks spiritual growth, and aligns us with God’s presence and purpose as we offer our worship, attention, and wholehearted participation to Him.
In Part 4 of The Gathering, Dr. Smith teaches on what it truly means for the church to function as "ecclesia", a Congress of heaven placed on earth to carry out the work of God’s kingdom. This message focuses on how gathering is not a cultural habit but a spiritual remedy that stirs believers toward love, good works, and a renewed sense of responsibility. Dr. Smith explains how we enter God’s presence with gifts of praise, maintain loving relationships through reconciliation, and guard our hearts from the three hustles that compete with kingdom priorities. He closes by showing how God calls every believer to influence their sphere of life by seeking God, serving people, solving problems, and sharing the gospel with boldness.
In this message from The Gathering series, Dr. Joshua teaches that church is not something we attend but something we are. Using the picture of a State of the Union and a joint session of Congress, he shows how our gatherings are the Congress of Jesus, where we welcome the King, receive his counsel, and step into our responsibilities as his people.
In this message, Dr. Smith continues “The Gathering” by calling us out of a consumer mindset and into our true identity as the church, the ecclesia, the gathered Congress of King Jesus. He warns against “creative disobedience” in giving, shows how God takes our motives seriously, and then walks through Scripture to show that church is not an event you attend but a branch of heaven’s government with real authority, responsibility, and power when we gather.
Dr. Smith begins a new series reminding us that gathering is more than attendance; it is God’s design for transformation. In Acts 2:42-47, the early church devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. That devotion - not convenience - invited the power and presence of God. The message calls believers to restore the sacred rhythm of gathering with expectation, to bring sacrifices of praise, time, humility, and focus, and to see themselves as living stones in God’s spiritual house. From Genesis to 1 Peter, Dr. Smith shows that we were created to walk with God together, to see Him more clearly, and to glorify Him as one body.
