What is the church and how does Jesus and the New Testament writers define it? In this opening message of the new teaching series, The Church Imagined, we are reminded that the Church is neither a business nor a social institution, rather the ekklesia or the people of God who have been called out by Christ and set apart for His purposes. This sermon series will explore the New Testament’s rich images and illustrations of the church, which help us imagine what Jesus intended when He said...

In this episode, Pastor Gary teaches the final Sunday of Advent on love and how genuine love for God always leads to worship. Through the stories of the Magi and Simeon, we saw that Jesus is not merely someone to admire, but the King who calls for our obedience, surrender, and adoration. The Magi responded to Jesus with costly worship, traveling far and offering their very best. In contrast, King Herod responded with fear and self-preservation, reminding us that encountering Jesus ...

In this third week of Advent, Pastor Nate explores the theme of joy through the powerful moment when God reveals His glory and the message of Christ's birth; Not to kings or religious elites, but to ordinary shepherds in the fields. Drawing from Luke 2:8–20 and 1 Corinthians 1:27–29, we were reminded that God delights in using the overlooked and the humble so that He alone will be glorified and no one can boast in their own merit. We also reflect on how an encounter with God’s glory produces ...

This week’s Advent message focused on how peace and courage are woven together in the Christmas story. Looking at Mary and Joseph, we saw that God’s call often arrives with uncertainty, risk, and fear. However, peace grows when we choose obedience over self-protection. Pastor Nate begins by defining courage as the conviction that something matters more than fear, sharing a personal story of responding to God’s call to missionary work in Juarez. That same tension shows up in Luke 1 when Mary, ...

In this episode, Pastor Nate teaches on the first Sunday of Advent and the launch of our Christmas series, “Christmas: The Whole Story.” Our focus was hope rooted in God’s promises and His perfect timing. We look back to the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:2, 6), written centuries before Christ’s birth, and noted how God’s people waited through generations and even 400 years of silence after Malachi's final words concerning a prophet who would come to prepare the way of the Messiah. Yet in the...

In this teaching, Pastor Gary closes our journey through the Songs of Ascent by looking at the final two psalms the ancient pilgrims sang as they entered Jerusalem. Psalm 133 celebrates the beauty of unity—brothers and sisters walking the same path toward God. Unity isn’t easy, but it grows when we see each other as God’s anointed people, and when the Holy Spirit softens our hearts through pouring out new life. Where unity exists, God commands blessing. Psalm 134 is the pilgrims’ final respon...

This week we explored Psalm 132, the first psalm in the final triad of the Songs of Ascent. While earlier psalms focused on the hardships of the journey, these last three were sung inside Jerusalem—reminding us that even now we are spiritually seated with Christ, yet still on pilgrimage toward our eternal home. In this psalm we learn that We ascend through a passion for God’s presence and an expectation of His reward. Psalm 132 opens with a bold request: “Lord, remember David.” Scripture does...

In this week’s message from our Ascent: Walking up the Pilgrims’ Pathway series, Pastor Nate takes us deep into the heart of two of the most intimate Songs of Ascent, Psalm 130 and Psalm 131 , to show us how we ascend in our pilgrimage through waiting for God’s mercy with quiet trust. Psalm 130 begins “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord,” painting a picture of the pit of sin—a place of helplessness where no one can save themselves. But there, in the darkness, we find the beauty of God’s c...

This week at Christ Street Fellowship, Pastor Nate continued our fall series Ascent: Walking up the Pilgrims’ Pathway, by exploring Psalms 128 and 129 and showing how we can ascend through the fear of God, even in times of persecution. Psalm 128 reminds us that true blessing flows from a holy fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord, although not definable in a single, short definition, is about awe, reverence, honor, obedience, and intimacy with a God who is both powerful and good. We will lea...

In this week’s message from our Ascent series, Pastor Nate leads us through Psalms 126 and 127, showing that we ascend through a healthy vision of God’s will. In Psalm 126, we’re reminded that when despair clouds our hearts, a clear vision gives strength for the pilgrimage. It teaches us to look back with gratitude at God’s past restoration, to see the present with honesty about our captivity or struggles, and to face the future with faith in His promises. Psalm 127 then calls us to tru...

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…”? In this week’s message, Pastor Nate takes us into Psalms 124 and 125 — two pilgrim songs that celebrate God’s rescue and the unshakable security of those who trust in Him. In Psalm 124, we see that God isn’t just with His people, He’s for them. David declares that Israel’s survival was not due to their strength or strategy, but to the Lord’s saving power. In the same way, our own deliverance from sin, fear, and the spiritual forces that oppo...

This week, Pastor Nate continues our fall spiritual growth campaign through the Songs of Ascent with Psalms 122 and 123, reminding us that the Christian life is a pilgrimage that has a pattern we see repeated in these Psalms: Desperation, Dependence, Delight. Desperation because of the sin that permeates this earth, dependence on an all-sufficient God, and delight when we arrive home in His presence! In Psalm 122, King David rejoices to go to the house of the Lord, teaching us that wors...

This week, Pastor Gary continues our Ascent series, reminding us that following Jesus is a pilgrimage of the heart—a steady climb toward Christ and our true home in heaven. Drawing from the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–121), Pastor Gary shows that the journey isn’t easy. It’s the narrow way Jesus spoke of, but the journey is worth it! Like the psalmist of Psalm 120, we must reach a point of wanting to leave the lies of the world and journey to a better place with God. On that pilgrimage, ...

This episode kicks off our Fall Spiritual Growth Campaign titled Ascent: Walking up the Pilgrims’ Pathway. As followers of Christ, we’re pilgrims, journeying from this earth to our true heavenly city, built by God Himself (Hebrews 11:16). Families, kids included, let’s take this journey together! For the next two months, we’re diving into the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–134), sung by Jewish pilgrims trekking to Jerusalem for feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16). These songs lifted their spirits, gave c...

In the final message of our Failure to Thrive series, Pastor Nate unpacks how relationships are vital to our spiritual growth. Just as children cannot thrive physically without love and care, we cannot thrive spiritually without healthy relationships. Where there is sin, conflict is inevitable—but healing comes through apology and forgiveness. This message explores the five apology languages from "the 5 Apology Languages" by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas—expressing regret, accepting respon...

In this week’s message, Pastor Nate continues our Failure to Thrive series with a focus on “Proper Exercise.” Just as our bodies weaken without movement, our spirits grow apathetic without servanthood. From Philippians 2:5–7, we see that following Christ’s example as a servant prevents apathy, builds perseverance, requires sacrifice, strengthens the church, and deepens our integrity. Servanthood isn’t easy, but it’s the workout that keeps our faith strong and helps us thrive in the abundant l...

In this week’s message from our Failure to Thrive series, Pastor Gary explores why so many of us struggle to live with the joy God intended for His children. Just as physical growth can stall when a child experiences “failure to thrive,” our spiritual growth can falter when we lack proper emotional health. Jesus said in John 16:24, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” The normal Christian life is meant to be one filled with joy, peace, and growth in the fruit of the Spir...

In this message from our Failure to Thrive series, Pastor Nate unpacks the importance of a proper spiritual diet. Just as our bodies cannot thrive without food, our spirit cannot flourish without God’s Word. We explore two key practices for spiritual nourishment: Scripture Engagement—feeding daily on God’s Word, receiving weekly teaching, and rejecting spiritual junk food—and Fasting—learning to let go of distractions in order to draw closer to God. Discover how to move from spiritual malnour...

This week, we launched a new series called “Failure to Thrive.” In it, we are taking a look at why some of us aren’t growing spiritually the way God intended. Jesus came to give us life to the full (John 10:10), but many believers feel stuck, exhausted, or spiritually dry. In this first message, we explored the importance of Proper Rest, beginning with the truth that Jesus is our Sabbath Rest (Hebrews 4:9-11). True rest isn’t about escapism or laziness. It’s about trusting in Christ’s finishe...

Welcome back to the Christ Street Fellowship podcast. This week wraps up our summer series, Get Smart!—a deep dive into the wisdom of Proverbs. In this final message, Pastor Nate unpacks the incredible power of our words. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” And throughout the message, we see how words can either wound deeply or bring healing and hope. We explored three key areas of wisdom when it comes to speech: Understanding vs. Ignorance – Are ou...