Presence Church Teachings

Ephesians: The Good Church (Week 7) - Put on the Full Armor of God

What if spiritual warfare is less about dramatic encounters with evil… and more about the quiet lies shaping your everyday life? In the final message of our Ephesians series, Pastor Patrick explores Paul’s teaching on the Armor of God and why the deepest spiritual battles are often fought in the realm of identity, desire, fear, and truth. This sermon unpacks: * the ancient idea of “acedia” or spiritual restlessness * how false beliefs quietly shape our lives * why the enemy’s primary weapon is deception * what the Armor of God actually means * how abiding in Christ becomes our defense against despair, shame, and fear The goal of the Christian life is not becoming strong enough on your own. It is learning to stand firm in the faithful, finished work of Jesus.

Ephesians: The Good Church (Week 6) - Children, Parents, Slaves, and Masters

Social media tells parents to protect their child’s emotions at all costs. Other voices say children simply need stricter discipline. The workplace rewards power, status, and control. Culture swings between permissiveness and domination, while families quietly wonder: How are we actually supposed to lead people well? In Ephesians 6, Pastor Ben explores Paul’s teaching on children and parents, slaves and masters, and what it means to live under the rule of Jesus in everyday relationships. * This sermon unpacks: * Why “submit to one another” is the foundation for Christian relationships * What healthy authority actually looks like * The difference between control and Christlike leadership * How parents can nourish children into maturity instead of provoking them * Why our culture struggles with power, hierarchy, and identity * How the Gospel slowly undermined slavery and human domination from the inside out * Why every person carries eternal dignity and significance in the kingdom of God This message ultimately points to a better kind of humanity. One where power is used to serve. Where authority is shaped by love. Where even the lowliest person can live a life of eternal significance. Because in the kingdom of Jesus, greatness is not found in domination. It is found in surrender, service, and love.

Ephesians: The Good Church (Week 5) - Wives, Husbands, Submit to One Another

In a world caught between #TradWives on one side and the #Manosphere on the other, how should Christians think about marriage, gender roles, and leadership in the home? With cultural controversy all around us, Pastor Ben unpacks the often-misunderstood passage about submission in marriage, showing how Paul subverts worldly power dynamics with a radical call to mutual, voluntary submission out of reverence for Christ. You'll discover what biblical headship really means, why husbands are called to sacrificial, Christ-like love, and how both husbands and wives are invited into a beautiful rhythm of respect, servanthood, and mission together. Whether you’re married, single, or somewhere in between, this message offers hope, clarity, and a fresh vision for relationships that point people to Jesus. This Mother’s Day sermon is both bold and encouraging, a reminder that in the chaos of cultural confusion, the gospel still offers the best way forward.

Ephesians: The Good Church (Week 4) - Sexual Immorality, Greed, and Foolish Talk

What you’re exposed to changes you. In Ephesians 5, Paul draws a hard line between darkness and light. He contrasts the self-indulgent lifestyle of your former life with the self-sacrificial example of Jesus. Pastor Ben unpacks how sexual immorality, greed, and careless speech aren’t random sins, they’re distortions of our deepest desires. This message gets honest about: * Why our culture is so inconsistent on sexuality * How lust and greed quietly work together * Why self-indulgence always leaves damage behind * What it actually means to “walk in the light” * How your identity as a child of God changes everything This is not about behavior management. It’s about living as dearly loved children walking in the way of love. You were once darkness. Now you are light.

Ephesians: The Good Church (Week 3) - When You Heard Christ

You can know everything about Jesus and still not actually know Him. In Ephesians 4, Paul describes a kind of transformation that goes far deeper than information. It is not behavior modification. It is not learning more facts. It is becoming an entirely new person. Guest speaker Pastor Phil Wiseman from Table Church challenges a common problem in modern Christianity: we have settled for knowledge about God instead of real encounter with Him. In this message, you will hear: • The difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Him • Why information alone cannot transform your life • How Paul describes true spiritual transformation • What it means to “put off the old self” and become new • Why many Christians feel stuck even while knowing the Bible This is not about learning more. It is about encountering the living Christ. If your faith feels dry, distant, or purely intellectual, this message will help you see what might be missing.