How do you perceive people around you? A hummingbird trapped in a garage sees danger where there's help. The Pharisees saw a liar where Jesus stood before them. We see lazy where someone's struggling. Our perceptions become our truths — and they drive our actions. But what if our perceptions are wrong? In this message, Dan Apartian explores seven foundational principles about how we perceive others and, critically, how others perceive us. From the State Farm office dynamics that changed everything to the disciples who couldn't recognize their own Savior, this teaching reveals how perceptions shape relationships, block unity, and ultimately reflect whether we're becoming more like Christ. Learn how to separate facts from the stories we tell ourselves, how wrong perceptions lead to wrong expectations, why first impressions are usually short-sighted, and what Jesus does that we don't: He looks past weaknesses to see potential. God's timing and priorities are far different than ours. Our perceptions are shallow. But if we're willing to be shaped, to look past our mental stories, and to let others grow beyond the labels we've given them, we might finally understand what it means to be Christlike.

Scriptures referenced: Luke 9: 18–21; Acts 14: 8–19; Mark 8: 27–30; John 9: 1–7; Matthew 7: 1–2; 2 Corinthians 12: 9; Ephesians 4: 3; Mark 6: 45–52; Deuteronomy 8: 2–3; Psalm 90: 4; Revelation 21: 14; Titus 2: 6–8

End-time prophecies can weigh heavy. Wars, famines, earthquakes, tribulation — it's all in the Bible. But if you stop there, you've missed half the message. When Jesus began His ministry, He preached good news — the gospel, literally "good news" of the kingdom of God. And the Bible is full of reminders to maintain a positive outlook, not despite the world's troubles, but because of God's promises. From Philippians to Zephaniah, Scripture calls believers to rejoice, to meditate on what is true and noble and pure, to cast anxiety on God who cares for us, to find strength in joy. A merry heart does good like medicine. Hope is not naïve; it's rooted in the character of God and His plan for our future. While the world around us may be full of Pigpen characters and Debbie Downers, we can look to the hope preached by Jesus Christ — and embrace the positivity in the Bible.

Scriptures referenced: Mark 1: 14; Luke 4: 43; Luke 8: 1; 2 Timothy 3: 1–5; 2 Peter 3: 3; Matthew 24: 3–14; Philippians 4: 8; Romans 12: 12; Psalm 118: 24; Proverbs 17: 22; 1 Thessalonians 5: 16; Psalm 16: 11; Isaiah 41: 10; Nehemiah 8: 10; Philippians 4: 4; Psalm 37: 4; John 16: 33; Colossians 3: 15; Joshua 1: 9; Romans 15: 13; 2 Corinthians 4: 16–18; 1 Peter 5: 7; Zephaniah 3: 17; Proverbs 3: 5–6; Hebrews 12: 2; Ephesians 3: 20; Acts 2: 17

What does grace really mean? In modern Christianity, many preachers say all you need to do is accept Jesus and you're saved by grace — end of story. But that's not what the New Testament writers understood by the word "grace." The Greek word charis appears 156 times in the New Testament, and to understand it, you have to step back into the first-century Roman world. Grace wasn't a blank check; it was a patron-client relationship. A wealthy benefactor would sponsor you, knowing you could never repay them. In return, they expected loyalty, gratitude, and service. That's the same relationship believers have with Jesus, our divine patron. He paid the penalty we could never pay. We respond with faith and loyalty — by keeping His commandments, by striving to be like Him, by examining ourselves daily and seeking His forgiveness. Grace and obedience aren't opposites; they're partners. When we understand the first-century context, the confusion between modern Christianity and what the apostles actually taught disappears. 

Scriptures referenced: Romans 12: 1; Romans 6: 14

How much sin are we allowed to have when we die for God to consider that we've overcome? It's an uncomfortable question—and the answer turns on a single Greek word we think we already understand.

This message digs into the word "overcome" repeated to all seven churches of Revelation—nikao in Greek, the root of the brand name Nike, the goddess of victory. It doesn't mean "improve" or "make good progress." It means to conquer, to prevail, to carry off the victory. And that changes everything about how we understand God's call to overcome.

Through the story of a fictional man named "Jack" and his monthly count of sins, and the analogy of a championship team that wins the series without playing a perfect game, we explore six lessons on what it means to be an overcomer:

• We can't do it alone—victory comes by the blood of the Lamb (1 John 4: 4; John 16: 33)
• The key ingredient to overcoming is faith (Philippians 3: 7-11; 1 John 5: 2-5)
• Overcoming requires faithful servanthood to God (Romans 6: 15-16; Romans 2: 5-8)
• Pray for protection and that our faith not fail (Luke 22: 31-32)
• Look within to identify what is overcoming you (2 Peter 2: 19; Romans 12: 21)
• Overcoming is a marathon of endurance, not a sprint (Matthew 24: 12-13; Matthew 13: 1-12; Galatians 6: 9)

We close with the stunning promises made to those who overcome (Revelation 2-3, 21) and the assurance that the Lamb will overcome (Revelation 17: 14). God isn't looking for a perfect game—He's looking for those who, through faith, submit and let Him win the victory in us.

Give praise and glory to God!

Baby ducks follow their mother. Baby bears follow theirs. And Jesus said just two words: "Follow Me." But whom do we actually follow—and how do we know the way?

This message unpacks the camp theme "Follow Me" as it was presented to preteen campers at Camp Gilmont, using vivid, visual illustrations that speak to children and adults alike. From ducklings imprinting on their mother, to a real-life storm-drain rescue, to a flock of Barbados Blackbelly sheep that come running at their shepherd's voice, we see a simple truth: following is how the young and the faithful stay safe, fed, and headed the right direction.

But following requires a roadmap. Just as GPS needs road signs to work, our lives need Scripture. We walk through:

Why Scripture is our roadmap for life (2 Timothy 3: 16)

Writing God's commandments on our hearts and teaching them to our children (Deuteronomy 6: 6-7)

A walk through all Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-17) and why each one protects us

The warning of what happens when we turn from following God (1 Kings 9: 6-7)

The sheep who know the shepherd's voice (John 10: 27)

Baptism as turning to follow Jesus, and the promise that the Father will honor those who follow (John 12: 26)

Many people admire Jesus, but admiring is not following. Whether you're a preteen, a parent, or a grandparent, the question is the same: whom do we follow?

Give praise and glory to God!

The book of Job—wisdom, suffering, and restoration. Discover how a righteous man lost everything yet refused to curse God, the lessons of his misguided friends, his hope in the Redeemer, and how God restored him with double what he had before. A message of faith and endurance through life's hardest trials. "I know that my Redeemer lives."

Did Paul teach a different gospel than Jesus? Critics claim Paul invented a new religion, teaching grace and faith alone while Jesus taught law and obedience. But what did Paul himself actually say? Walking through Galatians, Romans, Acts, and Hebrews, this message shows that Paul never changed the gospel — he reinforced it. The law was never meant to save; it was a tutor pointing to Christ. Justification comes by faith in Jesus' sacrifice, not by our own righteousness. Yet the law itself remains eternal, written now on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. From Genesis to Revelation, God's requirement has never changed: love toward God and toward our fellow man. The accusation that Paul taught a different gospel falls apart when you read Paul's own words defending his adherence to the Law and the Prophets.

Scriptures referenced: Galatians 2: 16, 21; Galatians 3: 10–13, 21–25; Galatians 5: 18; Philippians 3: 8–9; Hebrews 8: 7–10; Hebrews 10: 1–5; Colossians 2: 16; Acts 24: 14; Acts 25: 8; Romans 3: 31; Isaiah 64: 6; Revelation 12: 17; Revelation 14: 12; Revelation 22: 14

What does freedom really mean? As America marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, this message compares two definitions of freedom: man's — the right to act, speak, and think as we choose — and God's — freedom from the bondage of sin. The very language of American liberty was borrowed from the Bible: the Liberty Bell's inscription comes from the year of Jubilee in Leviticus. But when Jesus stood in the synagogue at Nazareth and read His own commission, He proclaimed a different liberty — not release from Rome, but release from sin.

Walking through John 8, Luke 4, Romans 6, Galatians 5, 1 Peter 2, 1 Corinthians 7, and Revelation 1, this message shows that God's freedom does not depend on earthly circumstances, cannot be granted by any government or taken by any ruler, and was purchased at the price of Christ's blood. One freedom lasts as long as a nation stands. The other lasts forever.

Scriptures referenced: John 8:31–36; Psalm 119:160; John 17:17; Luke 4:18; Romans 6:6–18; Galatians 5:1, 13; 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Corinthians 7:20–24; Revelation 1:4–6; Titus 1:2; James 1:13; Leviticus 25:10; Ephesians 5:21; Ephesians 6:12 

What can we learn from a father whose sons became some of the most notorious outlaws in American history? This sermon, "Benefits of Honoring Your Parents," traces the true story of Henry Washington Younger — a peace-seeking Missouri farmer during the Civil War — and how his sons Cole, Jim, John, and Bob Younger chose the path of Quantrill's Raiders and the James Gang instead of honoring their father's example.

Through the tragic outcomes of the Younger brothers' lives, this message explores what Scripture says about vengeance, parental honor, and the consequences of rejecting wise counsel — drawing from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Proverbs 1, and the Fifth Commandment.

Scriptures referenced: Proverbs 1:8–18, Deuteronomy 32:35, Luke 15:11–32, Ephesians 4:26–27, Romans 12:19, Malachi 4:5–6, Exodus 20:12 

Discover why historians can't explain America's 250-year rise to power — and how it traces back to a promise God made to Abraham. This presentation unpacks the birthright blessing through Ephraim and Manasseh, the 2,520-year prophecy of Leviticus 26, and how it points directly to 1776.

We live in a world that increasingly focuses our attention on the spirit world. What’s disturbing is how much more focus is comparatively placed on demons rather than angels. This message discusses what we know about angels from scripture. It also encourages us showing the ways in which God has provided them to us as resources, and the even greater planned potential God has in mind for us as Christians. 

Ever witnessed a road rage incident and wondered what drives that kind of fury? Explosive anger seems to fuel much of the world today — but Scripture shows us a better way. This message focuses on two attributes of the fruit of the Spirit, longsuffering and self-control (Galatians 5: 22–23), and examines what the Bible teaches about the three faces of anger, the danger of unchecked wrath, and the example of Cain whose anger led to murder. Most importantly, it offers four practical, biblical steps for overcoming explosive anger: pray for self-control, pause before reacting, practice forgiveness, and seek wise counsel. Learn how widening the gap between the trigger and the response can protect your relationships, your reputation, and your place in the kingdom of God.

Scriptures referenced: Galatians 5:19–23; Ephesians 4:26–27; James 1:19–20; Proverbs 29:11; 25:28; 15:1; 12:15; 19:20; 1:5; 11:14; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Genesis 4:3–8; Matthew 5:9, 22–24; Colossians 3:8; Deuteronomy 30:19

Is salvation a one-time transaction or a journey to be walked? Looking at the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrine and the life of David—a man after God's own heart who fell, repented, and kept going—this message explores why repentance is the foundation of a transformed life. Salvation is the starting line, not the finish, and godliness is a skill set to be developed.

Are we here to serve, or to be served? This message explores what it truly means to serve from the heart, following the example of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

We begin with the remarkable true story of Desmond Doss—the Seventh-day Adventist combat medic depicted in the film Hacksaw Ridge. A conscientious objector who refused to carry a weapon in World War II, Doss was ridiculed as a coward, yet single-handedly rescued 75 wounded soldiers on the cliffs of Okinawa, lowering them to safety one by one. He received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman without ever harming another person.

From there, we turn to the Scriptures to see servanthood modeled by Christ Himself:

John 13 :1-17 — Jesus washes the disciples' feet, leaving us an example to follow
Matthew 25 :31-40 — "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me"
Mark 10 :42-45 — The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom
Mark 9 :35-37 — Whoever desires to be first must be last of all and servant to all

While we can't all be heroes like Desmond Doss, every one of us—from the youngest to the oldest—can make a difference by serving others in our families, our congregation, and our communities. We also discuss the wisdom needed to distinguish between a genuine need and a want, and why our service is more appreciated than we often realize.

Was Jesus just a good man, or fully divine? "The Man, Jesus" answers a popular argument that uses 1 Timothy 2:5 to deny Christ's deity. A scriptural study showing the Trinity is false—yet Jesus is still God, Creator, and the sinless Passover Lamb for all mankind.

This message explores descriptions the New Testament writers used to describe the church in the years following that first Pentecost. Just as early inventors described the automobile as a "horseless carriage" because they could only understand the new in terms of the familiar, the apostles provided descriptions to capture a spiritual reality that defied simple definition.

Beginning with the curious story of Uriah Smith's 1899 "Horsey Horseless," this message walks through the rich collection of word-pictures Scripture uses to describe the church, and what each one teaches us about our identity and calling.

We examine the church as:

A Body — many very different members, yet one under Christ as the head (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1)
A Building / Temple — built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2; 1 Kings 6)
A Family — adopted as sons and heirs, not strangers or foreigners (Ephesians 2; Romans 8)
A Bride — making herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19)
A Mother — nurturing, loving, and seeing the value in each individual (Galatians 4)
A Flock — known by the voice of the Good Shepherd who leaves the 99 for the one (John 10; Luke 15)
A Garden / Vineyard — branches that bear fruit only when connected to the true vine (John 15)
A City — citizens of a heavenly country, called to live by its culture (Hebrews 11; Philippians 3)
A Priesthood — a royal priesthood called to holiness, able to come boldly before God (1 Peter 2; Hebrews 4)

The church cannot be fully captured in any single image. It is all of these at once. As you listen, consider which metaphor resonates most with where you are in your walk with God, and how it might shape the way you live and treat your brothers and sisters.

In this message, we explore the striking parallels between what God did at Mount Sinai and what He accomplished on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. At Sinai, God established a covenant with the congregation of Israel. Roughly fifteen centuries later, on Pentecost in 31 AD, God established the new covenant with those being called into the Church of God, the body of Christ.

Building on the harvest themes of the Pentecost season, this message focuses on a phrase that appears only once in Scripture, "the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven" (Hebrews 12). What connection exists between the firstborn of ancient Israel, whom God claimed as His own, and the church of the firstborn today? By examining the covenant at Sinai, the role of the firstborn, and the events of Pentecost in Acts 2, we come to understand the extraordinary calling God has given to every member of His church.

We trace through:

- The covenant at Sinai — God calling Israel to be a special treasure, a holy nation, and a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19)
- The job description of a priest — preserving knowledge, teaching God's law, and serving as His messenger (Malachi 2; Proverbs 9)
- Why God claimed the firstborn — redeemed by the blood of the lamb at Passover, and later represented by the Levites (Exodus 13; Numbers 3)
- The awe-inspiring presence of God at Sinai — thunder, lightning, smoke, and fire (Exodus 19–20)
- Pentecost in Acts 2 — the same evidence of God's presence in wind and tongues of fire, with His law now written on human hearts (Acts 2; Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36)
- The church as a royal priesthood — chosen, holy, and being prepared for service in the kingdom of God (1 Peter 2)
- The remarkable phrase "church of the firstborn" and what it reveals about our identity and purpose (Hebrews 12)

God's purpose for the church is not only to be an early harvest of salvation, but to be prepared as a royal priesthood to serve under Jesus Christ in His coming kingdom. As you listen, consider what it means that God has called you, set you apart, and registered you among the firstborn.

Presented by William Bradford, May 30, 2026, at United Church of God in Northwest Arkansas.

Conversion is a lifelong process, which takes you from the mortal, sinful being you were, and are, to ultimately becoming an immortal spirit being in God’s family.  Step by step.  This message discusses nine steps in the conversion process. On this Day of Pentecost and beyond, let us all continually go through the process of conversion, until we reach our glorious destiny!

In this Pentecost message, we explore how wind has been a powerful symbol of God's presence and action throughout Scripture — from the drying of the floodwaters in Genesis, to the parting of the Red Sea, to the rushing mighty wind of Acts 2. Through vivid examples spanning the Old and New Testaments, this sermon traces how God has used wind to deliver, provide, judge, and ultimately pour out His Holy Spirit. As we celebrate Pentecost, we're called to stop grasping for what we cannot control and instead embrace the wind of God by walking fully in the Holy Spirit.

About 2 ½ billion people on the planet claim to be Christians, but their beliefs, doctrines and practices vary widely. What makes you and me different from other people who call themselves Christians? In this message we’ll discuss six characteristics of a true Christian, and we must have ALL six of them.