The confidence you have in a promise is dependent on the one who guarantees the promise. The assurance of the gospel is singularly founded on the personhood of Jesus. Being the incarnate eternal God through whom all things were created and in whom the eternal redemptive plan of God is fulfilled. Jesus is not limited by the fragility of man—He has always been, He is, and He will always be. The hope of the gospel rests on God alone. And this is the hopeful word of verse 5: even though the world opposes the light, it will not overcome the light. Like the sunrise that dispels the grip that darkness has on the world and demands that it surrender in defeat, so is the glory of the light of the gospel. Darkness is presently warring against the light, but it will not overcome it.

In this message from Psalm 106, learn how confession, reflection on God’s faithfulness, and a God-centered perspective shape genuine, lasting thanksgiving.

Cain’s descendants built cities, developed culture, advanced technology, and prospered in ways the world would applaud—yet they lived every moment outside the presence of God. Their story reminds us that success without God is not success at all. Prosperity apart from Him may look impressive, but it cannot satisfy, it cannot save, and it cannot endure. In this episode, we explore how the busyness of building for nothing and the foolish confidence of worldly achievement can silently pull our hearts away from what matters most—and why true purpose is found only in a relationship with Christ.

In “Sin’s Ruinous Rule” (Genesis 4:8–16), Pastor Ben Smith examines Cain’s tragic story to reveal three warning signs of sin’s growing destruction—its mastery, its blindness, and its judgment—while calling believers to repentance and the redeeming grace found only in Jesus Christ.

Discover the story of Elijah and how faith and obedience open the way to experience God’s provision. Pastor Ben Smith explores 1 Kings 17:1–16, showing how God provides in unexpected ways, sustains His people through trials, and reveals His glory when we walk in faithful obedience.

In Right with God (Genesis 4:1–7), Pastor Ben Smith contrasts the offerings of Cain and Abel to reveal that true acceptance with God comes only through obedience, faith, and submission to His will. This sermon challenges today’s culture of self-worship and calls believers to honor God through a worthy offering and wholehearted surrender to Christ.

What is the “good life”? Psalm 73 reveals that it isn’t found in comfort or success but in the presence of God. In this message, Pastor Ben Smith shows that true faith, hope, and refuge are discovered when we draw near to Him.

In Death for Life, Pastor Ben Smith, Sr. explores Genesis 3:20–24, showing how God’s first act of redemption in Eden points to Christ’s death and substitutionary sacrifice. Discover how faith, a righteous sacrifice, and God’s grace bring true life.

On the issue of gender, the Bible is very clear that gender is by divine design, God declared, and must be celebrated as part of the goodness of creation.

Genesis 3:8–19 reveals the far-reaching consequences of sin. Pastor Ben Smith explains how sin breaks fellowship, disrupts cooperation, and distorts purpose, bringing guilt, pain, and death. Yet even in this dark moment, God gives a promise of hope through Christ, who conquers sin and restores what was lost.

Genesis 3 is a pivotal moment in Scripture when Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of Satan rather than trust the will of God. Satan's work has always been to draw us away from God—through doubt, half-truths, and deception. Adam and Eve's choice in the garden was not just their story; it's ours too. As Romans 3:23 reminds us, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

To understand our own sin, we must first understand the first sin. What does their rebellion teach us about the danger of Satan's lies? At the heart of every temptation is an invitation to reject God and trust the deceiver instead of the Creator. This text teaches three vital lessons: the need to trust God's wisdom, trust His word, and trust His design.

Today, marriage is under attack. It is under attack by those who hate God. It is under attack by those who are living in rebellious sin. And it has even suffered friendly fire from those in the church who do not fully grasp the significance and biblical foundation of marriage.

Genesis 2:18-25 is the most fundamental scripture for understanding the Bible’s view of marriage. The Bible will say much more about what marriage is and how Christians are to function as husbands and wives; however, all these other scriptures rest on the foundation of Genesis 2:18-25.

Because marriage is so familiar, you may be tempted to think that having a biblical view of marriage is automatic and assumed, but the truth is that for many today, their view of marriage is more informed by Hollywood, secular pragmatism, and politics.

How then are you to understand marriage from a biblical worldview? This testimony of God’s creation of Eve and ordaining marriage teaches three elements of a biblical worldview of marriage: that it is a good union (18-23), an exclusive union (24a), and a holy union (24b-25).

God made man, unique among creation, to glorify Him, dwell with Him, and enjoy Him forever.

After describing the six days of creation followed by a day of rest, verse 4 of chapter two returns to the sixth day to provide greater details and insights into the purpose and nature of man’s creation. Though at first read it may seem that what is described here is simple, you will discover, with careful study, that these verses flow from deep theological waters.

All of creation is designed to glorify God; however, unique among the creation, man is made to be in a relationship with God. This uniqueness sets man apart from every other part of creation in purpose and responsibility.

This passage’s testimony of God’s creation and provision for man reveals that man was created for God’s glory (4-7), to dwell with God (8-14), and to love God (15-17).

Work and rest are both good and part of God’s created order. Rest is inseparably related to work, as is work to rest, and must be understood and enjoyed according to God’s design.

Work is often perceived negatively as a requirement, and not something good, desirable, or pleasant. This, of course, is the consequence of sin that caused work to become a burden and rest to be a snare. Likewise, though rest seems more desirable than work, it too is corrupted by sin. In sin, rest is often disconnected from work and purpose, and it becomes a sinfully lazy habit.

God resting after his labor on the seventh day and declaring it holy is a testimony both to the purpose and goodness of labor and the purpose and goodness of rest. Genesis 2:1-3 calls the church to honor God with both your work as unto the Lord and rest as a response of obedience.

Man’s nature and purpose are not according to the autonomous will of man but determined, ordained, and commanded by the sovereignty of God. A biblical worldview affirms the sovereignty of God over all of creation, including man, but the world claims that each person has total autonomy, independent of any authority.

Genesis 1:26-31 testifies to the creation of man and man’s nature and purpose.

In the sermon from Genesis 1:26-31, Pastor Ben explains that God’s creation of man demands that you honor every human life as God’s image bearer, be a good steward of God’s creation, and submit to God’s authority to create and command.

Genesis chapter one is the testimony of creation. By God's authority, out of His will, and according to His command, He created all things.

As with all of scripture, Genesis chapter one is a testimony of God that reveals His authority, will, and nature. It is not a story about men but a testimony to who God is and how He is working.

Genesis chapter one does not answer every detail you may wish were included. There are many questions about how God accomplished His work that are left unanswered. Not the least of which is how God created all that is from nothing. In His perfect providence, God has given us His word to declare that He is the author and creator of all things while leaving unanswered the mysteries that the mind of man cannot conceive.

Genesis chapter one is a foundational text for a Christian worldview and many of the most fundamental doctrines. From Genesis chapter one, Pastor Ben Smith preaches on how God's creation forms how Christians understand God and all that He has made.

From the archives. Originally preached in September 2020, this sermon is from James 5:12-20, titled “Confess and pray.”

Pastor Ben Smith preaches expositionally from Psalm 16 on how the power, providence, and salvation of God give hope to Christians in the present and for eternity.

Psalm 16 is a Psalm of David. God would make a way for David to be king, but there would be a long period where he was a fugitive on the run from an enraged and unhinged monarch. Psalm 16 may have been written during this chaotic period of David's life.

On the run, hunted, and under constant threat, David finds real and lasting peace and security in the power, providence, and faithfulness of God.

Everyone is looking for peace and security, but how do you find real and lasting peace and security? How can you find unshakable hope and peace in a world filled with so much trouble? Psalm 16 declares the sureness, goodness, and faithfulness of God and encourages the church to know the sure hope of God, in God's refuge, providence, and eternal salvation.

When God saves you, He transforms you, and your life will bear the evidence of His holiness.

David begins Psalm 15 with a question.

Who can sojourn or abide with God, and who can dwell or remain in the presence of God? The simple answer to this is no one, unless they have been redeemed and made righteous through saving faith.

David answers his opening question with six characteristics of a life that has been transformed by God. These six characteristics are not an exhaustive list but are representative of the transformation that God brings to your life through salvation that produces in you a life after God’s own heart.

In this expositional sermon from 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18, pastor Ben Smith makes clear that being saved through faith in Jesus Christ is the only source of peace and the only hope of grace. Although simple and brief, these concluding words to the Thessalonian church testify to the hope and blessing of salvation, encouraging the church to continue in the faith.

These are Paul’s last recorded words to the Thessalonian church. He signs the letter to ensure that they will know that these words are authentically his (17). The church had received a counterfeit letter (2 Thessalonians 2:2), and Paul wanted to assure the church that this letter was genuine, authentic, and authoritative. In addition to his signature, he prays for them and blesses them. Both the prayer and the blessing are founded on their salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul wanted to remind the church of the blessings that flow from salvation in Jesus Christ.

These verses encourage the church with two blessings that flow from salvation in Jesus Christ: 1) The peace that comes only from Jesus Christ, and 2) the grace of Jesus Christ.