Sermons from Pastor Steven Canfield

Advent doesn’t begin with twinkle lights and nostalgia—it starts in the shadows. In week one of Shadow & Light (“Expectation from the Shadows”), we looked at Isaiah 2 and the promise of a day when God’s glory is raised above all, weapons become tools, and all peoples stream to His light.

In part two of When Good People Get Stepped On, Habakkuk 3 shifts from argument to worship—readiness for Babylon’s coming, remembrance of the God of the Exodus, and a rest that rejoices in God even when everything falls apart.

We begin our new series When Good People Get Stepped On in the book of Habakkuk, where the prophet pours out raw complaints about injustice and God’s strange use of empires. Steven walks us through God’s five “woes” against Babylon’s injustice and idolatry, and then gives us two anchors to stand on in troubled times: living by faith and trusting God’s promise that his glory will one day cover the earth like waters cover the sea.

Flourish, Part 8: The Tell-Tale Target (Matthew 5:10–12)Why does following Jesus paint a target on your back? In Matthew 5:10–12, we explore persecution as the tell-tale sign of kingdom formation, rejecting pride, privilege, and power for meek, peacemaking lives that threaten evil—and rejoice.

Flourish, Part 7: Peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)Could true peace be bigger than a calm feeling—more like everything set right in Jesus? Discover what peacemaking looks like, why it reshapes our identity and reputation, and how to begin where you live and love.

Flourish, Part 6: Whole Making (Matthew 5:8)What if the good life isn’t about spotless behavior but an undivided heart? Jesus teaches that wholeness—not perfection—is what lets us see God. The pure in heart are those made whole from the inside out.

Flourish, Part 5: Tender Love (Matthew 5:7)What does mercy really look like in practice? Jesus calls us to a life “bent toward mercy”—helping the needy, showing compassion to the hurting, and extending grace even to those who don’t deserve it. This is the tender love that makes a kingdom people flourish.

Flourish, Part 4: The Hungry for Justice (Matthew 5:6)What do you ache for when you see the world’s brokenness? Jesus calls that deep hunger for things to be set right a blessing—and promises that those who long for God’s justice will be truly filled.

Flourish, Part 3: Giants of Gentleness (Matthew 5:5)How do we thrive in a world that prizes aggression and control? Jesus redefines true power in Matthew 5:5—calling us to a calm, kindhearted meekness that trusts God and ultimately inherits the earth.

What if your tears are more than pain? In Matthew 5:4, Jesus says mourners are blessed—not ignored. Our sorrow tells a bigger story of grace, comfort, and a kingdom where every tear will be wiped away.