White Stone Church: Audio Messages

The story of the woman caught in adultery from John chapter 8 is one of the most beloved stories of Jesus in the Bible. It is a clash between law, shame, and power on one side—and the mercy of Jesus on the other. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in a “no-win” scenario: uphold Moses’ law and break Roman law, or show mercy and appear soft on sin. Jesus disarmed them with one sentence, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,” and left them trapped in their own hypocrisy. The real turning point isn’t the debate with the Pharisees but the moment of encounter between Jesus and the woman. Her wrong road—humiliation and manipulation—led her to the right place: standing face to face with Jesus. And in that moment, misery met mercy. Jesus didn’t excuse sin, but neither did He condemn her. Instead, He extended forgiveness and called her to transformation. The message for us: Even the wrong roads can lead us to the right place when they lead us to Jesus, and whenever misery meets mercy, Jesus offers a trade: guilt for grace, condemnation for freedom, misery for mercy.

In this powerful exploration of the Kingdom of God, we're challenged to rethink our understanding of how God's reign manifests in our world. Drawing from Jesus' parables in Luke 13, we learn that God's kingdom is fundamentally different from earthly power structures. It's likened to a mustard seed and yeast - small, hidden beginnings that grow into something transformative. This imagery invites us to embrace the 'upside-down' nature of God's kingdom, where true power comes from humility and service. We're reminded that God's ways often seem slow and hidden compared to the world's fast-paced, visible pursuits. This calls us to cultivate patience and faith, trusting in the gradual, often unseen work of God in our lives and communities. The message challenges us to seek first the kingdom in the quiet, hidden places of our hearts, emphasizing the importance of personal prayer and devotion as the foundation for outward ministry and impact.

In this powerful exploration of Mark 4:35-41, we're reminded of Jesus calming the storm and the profound lessons it holds for our faith journey. The key message is that while it's natural to feel afraid during life's storms, we must never doubt Christ's care for us. This story beautifully illustrates how our circumstances, no matter how dire, don't negate God's love. We're challenged to hold two truths simultaneously: our pain is real, but so is God's unwavering love. The disciples' question, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' reveals a common struggle we all face - connecting personal tragedy to heavenly apathy. Yet, we're reminded that Jesus' entire life and sacrifice testify to His deep care for us. This message encourages us to trust in God's love even when we can't see it, fostering a faith that transcends our immediate circumstances.

In this sermon from our Inquisition series, Colby teaches from Matthew 6:25-34 about trusting God instead of worrying about the future. Drawing from personal stories and Scripture, he reminds us that life is more than food, drink, and possessions. Colby highlights three reasons not to be anxious: God is a loving Father who provides. Worry is unproductive and robs us of joy. Worry reflects unbelief in God’s care. The solution? Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and trust Him to provide for all your needs. This encouraging message invites believers to live with faith, gratitude, and perspective, focusing on what truly matters in God’s eyes.

This sermon from the "Inquisition" series takes a unique approach by examining a question asked about Jesus, rather than by Jesus. Brock explores the profound significance of Jesus being identified as "the carpenter" by his hometown neighbors in Mark 6:1-3, where familiar faces questioned how this local tradesman could possess such wisdom and miraculous power. Set against the backdrop of Jesus being rejected in his own hometown, this sermon unpacks the deeper meaning behind why the Son of God chose carpentry among all possible trades, offering fresh insight into the incarnation and Jesus' identification with working people. Drawing parallels between the Fall in Genesis and Jesus’ ministry, Brock emphasizes that Jesus came to restore peace with God, peace with each other, and peace with creation. Through His life, death, resurrection, and ongoing work, He is the master builder who takes what is broken and makes it whole again.

In this powerful exploration of John 21, we're invited to witness Jesus' playful yet profound interaction with His disciples post-resurrection. The story of the miraculous catch of fish serves as a beautiful bookend to the disciples' journey with Christ, reminding us that our faith journey often comes full circle. We're challenged to consider: when life becomes uncertain and heavy, do we seek escape or encounter? The message encourages us to dive towards Jesus rather than push Him away, emphasizing the transformative power of remembering God's faithfulness. Through Peter's example, we see how our past experiences with God can prepare us for a lifetime of following Him, even when the world seems scary and uncertain. This message speaks directly to those of us grappling with life changes, loss, or crossing thresholds we can't uncross, offering hope and a fresh perspective on how to move forward in faith.

Are we truly living out our faith, or are we merely going through the motions? This powerful message challenges us to examine the depth of our commitment to God's word. Using the story of Solomon building the temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, we're confronted with a stark reality: it's possible to honor God outwardly while ignoring His commandments in our daily lives. The message draws a compelling parallel between Solomon's elaborate temple and our own tendency to celebrate faith without truly living it. We're reminded that God desires obedience over sacrifice, submission over show. As we reflect on Jesus' words in Luke 6:46-49, we're urged to build our faith on a solid foundation by not just hearing God's word, but by doing it. This calls us to move beyond surface-level spirituality and allow God's truth to penetrate our hearts, transforming us from the inside out.

This sermon examines Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees when His disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath. It opens by setting the cultural and biblical background—showing that eating grain from another’s field while traveling was permitted under the law (Deut. 23). The disciples’ willingness to receive what they didn’t earn becomes a central application: many Christians struggle to receive help because of pride, self-sufficiency, or fear of appearing needy. Yet the gospel is about giving and receiving freely—grain and grace. The Pharisees’ objection to the disciples’ actions is framed through the Mishnah’s idea of “building a fence around the Torah,” originally meant to protect God’s law. However, fence-building often turns into gatekeeping, where people decide who’s in or out of God’s kingdom. Jesus confronts this spirit, reminding them that He—not the Pharisees—is the Gardener, the King, and the High Priest. Through two Old Testament references—David eating the bread of the Presence (1 Sam. 21) and priests working on the Sabbath—Jesus asserts His authority to declare what is lawful and to give His followers both grain and grace. The sermon closes with a call for humility and dependence on God: the story begins with hunger but ends with help; begins with grain but ends with grace; begins with the Pharisees but ends with Jesus—who still gives to the hungry when they simply say, “I need help.”

In John 6:60-69, we encounter a pivotal moment that challenges us to examine the depth of our faith. When many disciples turned away from Jesus due to His difficult teachings, He asked the twelve, 'Do you want to go away as well?' This question resonates with us today as we face our own moments of doubt and difficulty in our faith journey. Peter's response, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,' reveals a profound truth about the exclusivity of Christ. It reminds us that in our deepest moments of desperation and uncertainty, Jesus remains our only true hope and source of life. This passage invites us to reflect on our own commitment to Christ, especially when His teachings challenge our comfort or cultural norms. Are we willing to stay when others leave, recognizing that true discipleship isn't about having all the answers, but about continually returning to the reality that all life and truth are found in Christ alone?

Are we pursuing the right kind of success? As we continue our series on the questions of Jesus, the question we dive into today is: 'What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?' This profound inquiry invites us to examine our priorities and the state of our inner lives. Brock challenges us to reconsider our definition of greatness through the lens of Matthew 16:24-28. We explore the lives of renowned athletes who achieved external success but struggled internally, contrasting this with Jesus' teachings on true fulfillment. Are we feeding our flesh or nurturing our souls? The message encourages us to seek a success that's measured not by worldly standards, but by growth in love, humility, and Christ-likeness. It's a call to choose heroes whose lives exemplify peace, joy, and love - ultimately pointing us to Jesus as the perfect model of true greatness.

In this episode, we continue our Inquisition series by looking at one of Jesus’ most brilliant and politically loaded questions: “Whose image is on the coin?” (Matthew 22, Luke 20, Mark 12). What starts as a trap by the Pharisees and Herodians becomes a powerful teaching on identity, allegiance, and the Kingdom of Heaven. We unpack the historical tension of Roman occupation, the weight of taxation in Jesus’ day, and how Jesus flips the question to reveal a deeper truth: we are made in God’s image, and our ultimate allegiance belongs to Him. In a world full of competing loyalties, this message calls us to give Caesar his coin—but give God our lives.

In Matthew 12:46-50, we encounter a profound redefinition of family that challenges our conventional understanding. Jesus, when told his mother and brothers are outside, asks 'Who is my mother and who are my brothers?' This question isn't meant to dishonor biological family, but to elevate spiritual kinship. We're invited to see that in God's kingdom, our true family consists of those who do the Father's will. This perspective shift encourages us to examine our priorities - are we putting first things first? The message reminds us that something doesn't have to be bad to be bad for us, urging us to seek God's kingdom above all else. It's a call to move beyond tribal thinking and embrace a broader, kingdom-focused view of family and belonging.

Are we building our lives on a solid foundation? Today's message challenges us to examine the authenticity of our faith through Jesus' piercing question in Luke 6:46-49. We're invited to reflect on the disconnect between merely professing faith and truly living it out. The parable of the wise and foolish builders vividly illustrates how our response to Christ's teachings determines our spiritual stability. As we face life's storms, are we deeply rooted in obedience to Jesus' words, or are we building on shifting sands? This isn't about perfection, but about a genuine pursuit of Christ-likeness. Let's consider: Are our lives characterized by faith, repentance, and commitment? Are we growing more like Jesus each day? The message urges us to take spiritual inventory, ensuring we're not just calling Jesus 'Lord,' but truly submitting to His lordship in every aspect of our lives. Because a storm of judgment is coming — but God has graciously provided the way of salvation through Jesus.

Today in our series through the questions of Jesus, we dive into a question that we only see him ask twice in the gospels— "What do you want me to do for you?" The interesting thing is that the first time Jesus asked this specific question, and the second time he asked it occur back to back— first directed to James and John, and the second to the blind beggar Bartimaeus. This narrative invites us to reflect on our own approach to Christ and the nature of our prayers. We're challenged to consider: Do we truly know who we're talking to when we pray? Are we approaching Jesus with the same desperation, honesty, and vulnerability as Bartimaeus did? The contrast between James and John's request for glory and Bartimaeus' plea for mercy highlights a crucial lesson in humility and faith. As we contemplate Jesus' question, 'What do you want me to do for you?', we're encouraged to examine our own motives. Are we seeking personal comfort or a divine calling? This message compels us to shed our old ways, like Bartimaeus casting off his cloak, and embrace a new life of following Christ with unwavering trust and purpose.