07_05 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Servants Gaining Great Confidence in the Faith - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

07_19 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Hold Fast to the Confession - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

This powerful message from 1 Timothy 4:1-5 confronts us with a sobering reality: we are living in the last days, a period that began with Christ's first coming and continues until His return. The core warning is clear—false teachings will arise within the church itself, promoted by those with seared consciences who present demonic doctrines dressed in religious language. What makes this particularly challenging is that these teachings often contain elements of truth wrapped in lies, making them difficult to discern. The solution? We must cling tightly to the great confession of our faith: that God manifested Himself in flesh through Jesus Christ, who was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the nations, and believed in the world. This gospel is not a starting point we move beyond—it is the deep thing we return to again and again. When teachers promise secret knowledge or higher levels of spirituality through additional rules and restrictions, they are actually leading us away from the freedom Christ purchased for us. The Christian life is not about adding human regulations to the gospel but about receiving God's good gifts—marriage, food, creation itself—with thanksgiving and proper understanding. We are called to live with sincere faith, the same person on Monday as we are on Sunday, without masks or pretense. Our battle is not to hide from a dark world but to advance the gospel boldly, knowing that gates of hell cannot prevail against Christ's church.

07_12 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - The Divine Mystery - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

This sermon from 1 Timothy 3:14–16 emphasizes the weight and seriousness of how the church is called to live as the “household of God.” Paul’s instructions are not optional preferences but necessary guidance for the local church because the church belongs to the living God and serves as the “pillar and buttress of the truth.” The sermon warns that when churches rush past God’s order, sound doctrine, godly leadership, prayer, and holiness, they risk becoming disordered, spiritually weak, and ineffective in their witness. Because the church is precious to Christ, its conduct matters deeply for the good of God’s people, the health of families, and the mission of making disciples. The sermon then turns to the “mystery of godliness,” showing that the central truth the church holds up is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit through the resurrection, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory. The message explains that Jesus is fully God, became fully man to take away sin, absorbed the wrath of God on the cross, rose again to prove His claims, and now reigns in glory until He returns. The church’s calling is to guard and proclaim this truth faithfully, calling people to submit to Christ now and receive eternal life rather than face judgment when He comes again.

07_05 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Servants Gaining Great Confidence in the Faith - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Paul continues teaching the church about the role and qualifications of deacons, reminding us that church order matters because the church is the household of God and a witness to the world. Deacons are not called to rule the church, but to serve as qualified servant leaders who assist in the mission and ministry of the church. Because their lives model service for the body, they must first be tested and proven blameless—not sinless, but free from ongoing patterns of unrepentant sin. This testing is a gift of time that allows the church to see whether their doctrine is sound, their character is faithful, and their lives match the gospel they profess. The sermon also addressed the qualifications connected to deacons’ wives or possibly women who serve in the role of deacon, emphasizing that either interpretation must be handled with humility and unity. Whether applied to deacons’ wives, female deacons, or all believers, the call is to be dignified, not slanderous, sober-minded, and faithful in all things. Deacons must also be faithful in marriage and lead their own households well, because the home is a testing ground for ministry. Ultimately, those who serve well gain good standing and great confidence in the faith—not by serving in their own strength, but by depending on the strength God supplies so that Christ is glorified through their service.

06_28 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Deacons, God’s Good Gifts - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:8–13, Paul teaches that deacons are a good gift from God to the church, set apart to serve the body of Christ with integrity, wisdom, and gospel faithfulness. While every believer is called to serve, deacons are qualified servants who are recognized by the church to help meet practical and spiritual needs within the body. They are not called to rule over the church, but to lead by serving, assisting the pastors and helping care for the people so the church can remain healthy and focused on its mission of advancing God’s kingdom and making disciples. The sermon emphasized that the wrong church structure can slowly harm the church, just like levees that were meant to protect Louisiana ended up cutting it off from what helped the land stay healthy. In the same way, when deacons function as a governing body instead of servant leaders, the church loses the blessing God intended through that office. A deacon must be dignified, honest, self-controlled, not greedy, and firmly grounded in the gospel. Above all, deacons are to be people of character who hold tightly to the mystery of the faith and serve the church with a clear conscience, helping the body honor Christ and care for one another well.

06_21 - Life Together: 1st Timothy - Calling the Qualified - Kody Alvarez - Lead Pastor

In 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Paul reminds the church that the office of pastor, elder, or overseer is a noble and weighty calling. This role is not simply for anyone who desires it, nor should the church choose leaders based on charisma, popularity, or communication ability alone. Pastors are called to shepherd God’s people, care for the bride of Christ, equip the saints for ministry, and protect the church from false teaching. Because the work is so important, the church must take seriously who is allowed to lead. Paul gives clear character qualifications for those who serve as overseers. A pastor must be above reproach, faithful, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy, mature in the faith, faithful in leading his home, and well thought of by outsiders. These qualifications show that biblical leadership is first about character before competency. When churches call qualified pastors, the church is strengthened, the saints are cared for, the gospel witness is protected, and the mission of advancing the kingdom by making disciples remains central.