Madison Church

What if the thing you “protect” most is silently telling the world what you worship? We explore how Advent pressure exposes our true priorities and why the Magi’s long, ordinary journey reframes generosity as a truthful act of worship—not a performance. Outsiders notice the star and move; insiders cling to familiarity; Herod hears the same news and tightens his grip. That split-screen reveals a deeper diagnosis: fear imitates worship without surrender, while trust begins with attention and moves us toward joyful obedience.We walk through Matthew 2 and slow down at a crucial detail: the Magi bow before they give. Their gifts—gold for kingship, frankincense for divinity, myrrh for suffering—are not payments to earn favor but confessions of belief. We also correct the nostalgic timeline: no manger scene here, but a home and a toddler. The wonder has cooled, the dust has settled, and still they kneel. Real worship often lives there, in patient faithfulness that persists when the spotlight fades.From there, we con

The holidays can feel like a collision—warm lights and hard memories, generosity campaigns and a quiet fear that there still won’t be enough. We lean into that tension and ask a harder question: what would it take to move from being inspired by generosity to becoming intentional about it? Starting with Advent’s core meaning—waiting—we explore why “no room at the inn” is more than a nativity detail. It’s a mirror for our scarcity mindset and a signpost to a different economy.We trace the human tendency to mistrust the Host through Genesis: grasping in Eden, rivalry with Cain and Abel, consolidation at Babel, and Abraham and Sarah’s shortcut with Hagar. Each story shows how trying to manufacture blessing unravels us. Then we turn to Israel’s laws of gleaning in Deuteronomy, where God reorders life around margin—leave something for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. This is practical, local, and relational generosity, built on memory: remember slavery, remember redemption, and let remembrance shape ho

The rush of the season tells us to hurry, upgrade, and control. We chose a different rhythm. Advent invites us to slow down and remember that generosity doesn’t start with our wallets or our willpower; it starts with God giving himself in love. From there, everything changes—our identity, our pace, and the way we hold our resources, relationships, and plans.We walk through the story of Mary to show how availability matters more than abundance. In a world marked by fear, scarcity, and fragile status, her yes is a surrender that opens space for God’s generosity to take shape in real life. That same posture is available to us when we feel stretched thin. We also name the obstacles that shape our instincts: economic anxiety, consumer pressure, individualism, and distrust of institutions. Rather than denying those, we ground giving in worship—giving to God through the community where we worship and serve—so generosity becomes participation in grace, not a transaction or image play.Drawing from Paul’s words, we anc

What if God is already at the table you’ve been avoiding? Acts 10 turns the insider–outsider story on its head as we follow a devout Roman centurion named Cornelius and a sincere, reluctant apostle named Peter. We walk through the rooftop vision that rattles Peter’s categories, the front-door threshold that tests his obedience, and the living room moment where the Holy Spirit rushes in before the sermon even lands. No waiting period. No second-class members. Just the unmistakable sign that God is forming one family.We unpack why Cornelius disrupts expectations and why Peter’s “No, Lord” is a heartfelt reflex, not rebellion. From there, we trace how God patiently expands a faithfulness that had become too small for the mission ahead. The real pivot happens when Peter says, “Now I realize,” steps into a Gentile home, and watches heaven validate what earth had fenced off. Then the ripple reaches Jerusalem: leaders question, Peter recounts, and surrender wins out over certainty with the line, “Who was I to stand

A busy week of small groups, service, and shared life sets the stage for one of the most unsettling turns in the early church: the moment an enemy knocks on the door and says, “I’m with you now.” We walk through Saul’s shock encounter with the risen Jesus and the identity crash that follows, then sit with Ananias’ very human hesitation. Why trust someone who hurt us? What does real repentance look like? And how do we protect the vulnerable while keeping our hearts open to redemption?We unpack the historical roots of Saul’s zeal as a Pharisee and why he believed he was defending God, not fighting Him. That context matters, because it shows how conviction can become a counterfeit identity—and how a holy disruption can reclaim a life. From there, we trace the tangible markers of change Scripture highlights: confession and baptism, a new public message proclaimed to old peers, time away for formation rather than a rush toward authority, and respect for boundaries set by wise leaders. With Barnabas advocating and

What if healing is far bigger than the miracle headline? We follow Peter into the quiet rooms of Acts 9 where there are no stages, no microphones, and no grand speeches—only grief, prayer, and the kind of mercy that stitches a neighborhood back together. Aeneas walks. Tabitha rises. But the deeper story is how dignity is restored, belonging is renewed, and a community finds hope again.We share why divine healing feels complicated for so many of us, especially when prayers seem to go unanswered. Then we widen the frame Luke gives us: healing is not only about bodies made whole, it’s about people carried back into community. Through Tabitha’s everyday service—needle, thread, and faithful presence—we see how quiet acts can heal a city long before a miracle ever makes news. Peter’s first move is to kneel and pray, reminding us that prayer isn’t leverage to make God act; it’s attention that helps us join what God is already doing.You’ll hear how the Holy Spirit guides without fanfare, forming Peter to cross new bo

What if the moment your plans fell apart wasn’t the end, but the opening move of a better story? We dive into Acts 8 to trace a surprising pattern: the church goes from thriving to scattered, from safety to persecution, and somehow the mission doesn’t shrink—it expands. Stephen’s death mirrors the path of Jesus, not by explaining suffering away, but by revealing how love walks into it and turns it into life. That’s the paradox at the heart of this conversation: breakdowns can become the ground where breakthroughs grow.We don’t rush to tidy answers. Instead, we follow Luke’s deliberate pause on lament: devout people bury Stephen with loud mourning. Grief here isn’t a lack of faith—it’s evidence of it. Then comes the pivot most of us long for but rarely expect: “so then” the scattered believers proclaim good news wherever they go. Ordinary, Greek-speaking followers become unlikely leaders, carrying the same resurrection story into new places. What looked like chaos becomes choreography. What fear tried to scatt

What if the Bible’s big story could be summed up in a single movement: God taking back what was always His? We follow that thread—from Israel’s chains in Egypt to Jesus’ startling claim in Mark 10 that he gives his life as a ransom for many—and discover that redemption is less about paying off darkness and more about a decisive rescue that restores rightful ownership.We unpack the language behind “ransom” and “redeem,” exploring how the Greek lutron points to release and how the Hebrew words gaal and padah reveal God as a family redeemer with a strong hand. That lens changes everything. Success stops being a fragile trophy we have to grip and becomes a gift we can steward. The wilderness ceases to be a shameful detour and becomes a place to tell the truth, receive care, and offer practical help. And grief, though real and heavy, is held within a larger promise that neither death nor fear can sever us from the love of God in Christ.Along the way, we use down-to-earth images—from fantasy football’s obsession wi

What if the quiet crisis in modern Christianity isn’t doubt, but distraction—a version of faith that sounds right and changes little? We go straight at the subtle Gnosticism that still haunts church culture today: the lure of secret knowledge, the shrug toward the physical world, and the fantasy of escape. Then we lay it beside Paul’s charge in Romans 12 to offer our bodies as living worship and James’s blunt verdict that faith without works isn’t weak—it’s dead. The result is a practical roadmap for moving from belief to embodiment, from thoughts and prayers to presence and action.Together, we unpack how transformation begins with a renewed mind and shows up in ordinary choices: honest work, patient relationships, quiet generosity, and courage when comfort beckons. We talk about resisting conformity to hustle culture’s metrics—money, output, image—and embracing a life that makes no sense apart from God. Along the way, we share concrete next steps: start small and specific, see everyday tasks as altars, draw

What if the ideas blurring your faith are older than you think—and far sneakier? We trace the enduring pull of Gnosticism, the age‑old promise that secret knowledge can lift you above ordinary life, and we measure it against the clarity of Scripture. Colossians 1 stands like a lighthouse in the fog, naming Jesus as the visible image of the invisible God, the creator who holds all things together and reconciles heaven and earth. That vision doesn’t invite escape from the material world; it dignifies bodies, limits, and place as the arena where grace takes root.From there, we walk into Matthew 11 and hear Jesus thank the Father for revealing truth to the childlike. The invitation lands with force: come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. We talk about why spiritual elitism feels tempting, how “Theobro” culture shows up in classrooms and pews, and why the gospel refuses to be paywalled by expertise or mystical technique. Evangelism, we argue, is not passing a doctrine exam; it’s tell

Have you ever felt at war with your own body? Perhaps you've tried to escape it through overwork, screen time, or numbing behaviors. Maybe you've obsessed over perfecting it, measuring your worth by fitness levels or appearance. Either way, the message is clear: your body, as it exists right now, isn't enough.This powerful message challenges that harmful narrative by exploring how God sees our physical existence. Drawing from Genesis, we discover the radical truth that our bodies are created in God's image and declared "very good"—not as temporary shells holding the "real us," but as intentional, valuable parts of our whole being. This truth stands in stark contrast to ancient Gnosticism (which viewed bodies as bad and spirits as good) and modern tendencies to either dismiss or idolize our physical selves.The incarnation takes this truth even further. When "the Word became flesh," God didn't merely appear human—he fully entered the human experience. Jesus

Have you ever heard someone say "I'm spiritual but not religious" or "everything happens for a reason"? These well-meaning phrases attempt to bring comfort and order to life's chaos, but they often represent a blurred vision of Christianity—one that promises easy answers instead of genuine transformation.Pastor Stephen challenges us to consider whether we've reduced Jesus to a vague spiritual concept that makes us feel better without demanding anything from us. Drawing powerful parallels between ancient Gnosticism and modern spirituality, he reveals how both distance us from the real, flesh-and-blood Jesus who transforms lives. The apostle John confronted this distortion by emphasizing he had personally seen, heard, and touched Jesus—a defense against those who would turn Christ into merely an idea rather than a person.When we blur Jesus into a comfortable spiritual concept, we create a faith that works fine when life is easy but crumbles when facing real challenges. The dia

What if your personality is secretly sabotaging your generosity? This eye-opening exploration of the "shadow sides" of our giving profiles reveals why some of us hesitate when opportunities to give arise—and it's not always about money.Through a fascinating examination of the DISC personality assessment and six distinct generosity profiles, we discover that our weaknesses are actually intertwined with our strengths. The pioneering spirit that makes some of us visionary can also make us stubborn. The analytical mind that helps others make wise financial decisions can also make them overly cautious with giving.Whether you identify as a Cause Mover struggling with control, a Budget Keeper battling risk aversion, a Faith Stretcher overwhelmed by busyness, a Disciplined Doer fighting isolation, a Community Grower dealing with frustration, or a Legacy Builder wrestling with worry—this message offers specific biblical guidance for your unique challenge.At its heart, this message confronts the scarcity

What does it mean to be faithful when your plans fall apart? Eleven years ago, Madison Church launched with meticulously researched strategies, countless prayers, and 200 empty chairs. Only 20 people showed up that first Sunday—half of them family members visiting from out of town. The humiliation was crushing, but looking back now reveals how God was writing a better story than anyone could have imagined.This anniversary reflection draws powerful parallels to Paul's experience in Athens, where he confronted a city so filled with idols that historians noted it was "easier to find a god than a person." While we don't have marble statues to Zeus or Athena in Madison, our modern idols are perhaps more dangerous because they're less visible. We worship comfort through convenience, achievement through success, busyness through hustle culture, and find our identity in politics and consumerism.The most concerning pattern emerges when we don't reject God for these idols but recruit God t

What remains when we remove Christ from Christianity? A powerful exploration of how modern Christianity often betrays its namesake by replacing love with judgment, inclusion with exclusion, and grace with condemnation.Through vulnerable personal stories and penetrating cultural analysis, we confront the uncomfortable reality that Gandhi articulated: "I like your Christ, but not your Christianity." From turning away from homeless people while claiming religious devotion, to Christians leading opposition against refugees and immigrants despite clear biblical mandates to welcome strangers, we see a faith that has lost its center.The heart of this spiritual crisis lies in our desperate search for validation and worth. We collect "medals" of achievement, relationship status, and financial success, wearing them proudly until they're inevitably stripped away. But Jesus offers a different medal—the unchangeable identity of being God's beloved child—that never leaves our neck regardless o

Do you ever feel like you're on a spiritual treadmill with God? Running faster, praying more, serving more—yet somehow not moving forward in your relationship with him? You're not alone.Pastor Stephen Feith tackles this universal struggle head-on, revealing how our performance-driven culture shapes our approach to faith. When we treat God like a boss to impress or a coach deciding if we'll make the team, we transform what should be a loving relationship into an exhausting quest for approval we can never quite catch.Through the powerful story of Jesus calling Matthew—a despised tax collector—and then dining with "sinners," we discover how Jesus redefined holiness. While the Pharisees built walls to keep "unclean" people out, Jesus built tables and invited everyone in. His revolutionary message, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," challenges everything about performance-based religion.This message speaks directly to anyone caught in the cycle of religious striving. Whet

What if the beautiful flowers we showcase on social media were just the perfect frame hiding a garden overrun with weeds? That carefully curated image represents how many of us approach not just our online presence, but our spiritual lives as well.In this deeply introspective exploration, we examine the concept of spiritual authenticity through the lens of Jesus's teachings in Matthew 6. Like those famous London townhouses with perfect facades hiding completely empty interiors, we're often tempted to craft a religious persona that looks impressive from the outside while remaining hollow within.Jesus presents us with a profound choice: we can perform our good deeds, prayers, and generosity to receive immediate acclaim from others, or we can practice these disciplines privately and receive a lasting reward from God. "Your method points to your motivation," and that motivation determines which reward you'll ultimately receive.The contrast is stark between serving others for social media

Have you ever felt like you're doing all the "right" spiritual things but still missing something? This profound question opens our exploration of how we can unintentionally trade relationship with God for routines centered around God.The Pharisees were devoted, serious about Scripture, and committed to living how they thought God wanted. Yet when confronted with God in the flesh, they completely missed him. This series holds up a mirror asking not "What's wrong with them?" but "Where is the Pharisee in me?"In Mark 7, Jesus confronts religious leaders who were upset that his disciples weren't following traditional hand-washing rituals. What began as good intentions had evolved into burdensome systems where human traditions carried nearly the same weight as Scripture itself. Rather than defending his disciples, Jesus addresses the heart issue: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."While we might not hide behind the same

When confronted with a woman caught in adultery, Jesus faced a carefully crafted trap. The Pharisees, delighting in their judgment, expected him to either condemn her according to Mosaic law or reveal himself as a false teacher by showing mercy. Instead, Jesus turned their trap against them with eight powerful words: "Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone."This sermon examines how easily we slip into the role of the Pharisee, justifying our judgment of others while overlooking our own failings. Four warning signs reveal when we've crossed into unfair judgment: being more upset with others' sins than embarrassed by our own, cutting off those who disagree with us, bonding with others by critiquing common enemies, and manipulating moral frameworks to justify predetermined outcomes.The physical sensations of judgment work both ways - when judged, we feel tightness and isolation; when judging, we experience anger and negativity that oozes from within us. This reveals the heart

The gap between knowing and living, between religious performance and authentic faith—this is where many of us find ourselves today. In this challenging and heartfelt message, Stephen Feith opens a new six-week series with a question that hits close to home: "Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reasons?"Drawing from Matthew 23, Stephen examines why the Pharisees—people who believed in Scripture, the Messiah, and resurrection—completely missed Jesus when he stood right in front of them. Their failure wasn't a lack of knowledge or even wrong practices; it was that they had substituted the appearance of righteousness for actual transformation.The parallels to our modern spiritual experience are striking. We live in an age saturated with biblical knowledge and spiritual content. We know how to look and sound spiritual. Yet as Stephen powerfully puts it, "We are educated beyond our obedience." We know far more about God than we're willing to live out.Jesus uses startling