Resurrection Life Series 3 : “Resurrection Life”
In this Easter message, Pastor Joel Khouri unpacks what it really means that “He is alive”—not just as a past event, but as a present reality that changes everything about how we live right now.
Drawing from John 11 (Lazarus), Romans 6, Ephesians 4, and other key passages, Joel shows that:
Resurrection is more than an event; it’s a life we participate in.
Jesus doesn’t just say, “I will resurrect you someday.” He says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Resurrection life is both instantaneous (we’re made new in Christ) and progressive (we keep laying aside the “grave clothes” of our old ways of thinking and living).Lazarus is a picture of us.
Lazarus walks out of the tomb alive, but still wrapped in grave clothes—alive, yet dressed for the wrong reality. In the same way, believers can be truly born again, yet still think, speak, and respond like they’re still in the grave. Joel calls us to remove the grave clothes: old mindsets, old coping mechanisms, and “stinking thinking” that no longer fit a resurrected life.Jesus’ resurrection broke the shadow of death forever.
Whereas Lazarus was raised back into mortal life and would one day die again, Jesus rose and shattered death’s power once and for all. Death is no longer the final word—over our bodies, our stories, or our future. The same Spirit who raised Jesus now dwells in us and gives life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11).Resurrection life is deeply personal.
Jesus calls His sheep by name. Joel emphasizes that resurrection life is not abstract theology or vague hope—it is intensely personal. Jesus doesn’t just call “humanity” out of the grave; He calls you by name, into freedom, healing, and newness of life.Christ descended, conquered, and then gave gifts.
Using Ephesians 4 and Psalm 68, Joel shows Jesus as the victorious King who descends, disarms rulers and authorities, leads captivity captive, and then distributes the spoils of His victory—grace, spiritual gifts, and ministry callings—to His people. These gifts are not for spectacle or platform, but for the equipping of the saints and the building up of the Body of Christ.“Newness of life” is a completely new kind of existence.
Pastor Joel briefly explores the Greek behind “newness of life” in Romans 6:4, explaining that it doesn’t mean just “improved” life or “better morals,” but a qualitatively new kind of life—a participation in God’s own life. We’re not just upgraded versions of our old selves; we are invited into a new order of existence in Christ.God removes the stone—tomb and heart.
The stone was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb not so He could get out, but so we could look in and see that death lost. In the same way, God promises in Ezekiel 36:26 to remove our heart of stone. A hard heart hides what God has done. Joel proclaims that God is moving the stones in our hearts so that resurrection life and transformation become visible to others.Communion: remembering and receiving.
As the church takes communion, Joel reminds us that we don’t only remember the cross—we also receiveforgiveness, mercy, cleansing, and resurrection life here and now. Communion points beyond the cross to the empty tomb and to Christ’s life now flowing in us.
The message concludes with powerful declarations and blessings, calling the church to walk out “in newness of life”—in faith, boldness, courage, and resurrection power—so that everyone they encounter might encounter the risen Christ through them.
If you need hope, if you’ve felt stuck in old patterns, or if your heart has grown hard through disappointment, this sermon will help you see that the stone is moving, the grave clothes are coming off, and resurrection life is now.
Resurrection Life Series 2 : “Life in Crisis”
In this message, Pastor Joel Khouri speaks honestly to anyone walking through seasons that don’t make sense—moments of grief, disappointment, loss, unanswered prayer, and shattered expectations. Drawing from John 16:33, he reminds us that following Jesus does not prevent crisis; it anchors us in the midst of it. Jesus promised that in this world we will have tribulation, but also that in Him we can have peace.
Pastor Joel walks through the story of the disciples during the crucifixion and resurrection weekend, showing how:
Their expectations of Jesus were shattered when He didn’t do what they thought He would.
Peter’s denial flowed not just from fear, but from resentment and disillusionment when Jesus’ path didn’t match his expectations.
Their responses—running, hiding, isolating, doubting, and grieving—mirror the ways we often respond to our own pain.
The message explores:
How disappointment, grief, and trauma can cause us to follow Jesus “at a distance,” and how subtle inner vows (“I’ll never trust like that again”) can become idolsthat stand between us and God.
The danger of isolation in seasons of pain, illustrated with a vivid story of how predators pick off isolated members of a flock—just as the enemy tries to do with believers who suffer in silence.
The heavy weight of guilt and regret, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to “do the math” on our pain and instead offer the shattered pieces of our hearts to Jesus for Him to reconcile and redeem.
Pastor Joel also takes us to the road to Emmaus and to the story of Job, showing that:
The resurrection does not erase pain, but it reframes it—the cross was not the end of hope; it was the place where hope was being remade.
Job models honest, healthy grief—tearing his robe and falling to the ground in sorrow—and then falling into worship, choosing to trust God in the very place of loss.
True faith doesn’t deny the storm; it holds us steady in it, and turns our deepest valleys into places where God can meet us.
Finally, the message centers on the Cross and the presence of God in suffering:
God is not distant from our pain—He entered it fully in Jesus.
Through the cross, Jesus stepped into the deepest places of human sorrow so that no one ever has to walk through suffering alone.
When we choose to praise God in the middle of crisis, that place becomes holy ground where He dwells, and where sickness, fear, and the schemes of the enemy must yield to His presence.
This sermon will especially encourage you if:
You are carrying unresolved grief, disappointment, or loss
You feel like your story has come apart at the seams
You’ve been following Jesus at a distance after being hurt
You’re longing to know where God is in your sufferingand whether hope is still possible
“Life in Crisis” is an invitation to stop running, step out of isolation, bring your honest pain to Jesus, and discover that your story is not finished—resurrection life is already being written in places that feel like the end.
Resurrection Life Series 1: “Light of Life”
(John 1 & John 8:12)
In this opening message of the Resurrection Life series, Pastor Joel unpacks what it truly means for Jesus to be “the light of the world” and how following Him leads us out of darkness into the light of life.
Beginning in John 1:1, Joel explores the rich meaning behind the word Logos—“the Word”—showing how Jesus is not just a teacher or miracle-worker, but the eternal Word of God, present before creation and actively sustaining all things. Drawing from both Hebrew Scriptureand Greek philosophy, he explains how John’s Gospel made a radical claim to its original audience: the rational principle that orders the universe isn’t an impersonal force; it’s a Person—Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
Joel then traces how Jesus is revealed throughout the entire Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, revealing that Christ did not begin in Bethlehem, but has always been God’s Word, God’s presence, and God’s plan. From there, the message moves into the heart of the call of Christ:
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(John 8:12)
This sermon presses into:
What it means to truly follow the Light, not just admire Jesus from a distance
Why proximity to Jesus is not the same as surrender(Judas vs. Peter)
Daily discipleship as a repeated “yes,” not just a one-time decision
How Jesus forms us through storms, confusion, correction, and trust
The picture of a “war horse” disciple—strong, passionate, but fully yielded to the Master’s reins
The healing of Malchus’ ear as a prophetic sign of Jesus restoring our ability to hear God’s Word
The contrast between Adam in Eden (“my will be done”) and Jesus in Gethsemane (“Your will be done”), and how that defines the path into resurrection life
The message closes with a powerful and personal invitation: whether you’ve never truly followed Jesus, have drifted into fear and self-reliance, or are faithfully walking with Him but facing deep crisis, resurrection life begins the moment you step back into the light and say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
If you’re hungry to understand Jesus more deeply, to see how He holds all things together, and to be called out of confusion, fear, and self-direction into a life shaped by His light, this sermon will challenge you, strengthen your faith, and invite you to follow Him afresh.
Mystery In The Manger
The mystery of the manger reveals something profound about how God operates in our world. When heaven chose to announce the arrival of the King of Kings, it didn't select a throne room or palace—it chose a feeding trough in a borrowed space, surrounded by animals. This wasn't an accident or a plan gone wrong; it was God's intentional declaration that He counts on the counted out, that He does His deepest work through what looks small and insignificant. The shepherds—uneducated, uncredentialed, overlooked by society—received the angelic announcement while religious leaders slept safely in Jerusalem. They came in a hurry, leaving their flocks to kneel before a baby wrapped in cloths. Meanwhile, the spiritual elite who knew the prophecies by heart missed Him entirely because He didn't match their expectations. This Christmas story confronts us with a challenging question: Are we willing to follow God when He comes in ways that don't match our imaginations? Do we cling to our interpretations so tightly that we miss His actual presence? The manger calls us back to wonder, rescues us from rigid certainty, and invites us to recognize that God is near enough to be missed but also near enough to change everything—if we'll make room.
Chapters
Chapter 1: The Humble Beginning of Heaven's Glory
0:00 - 7:00
God chose to reveal His heart through a vulnerable baby in a manger, demonstrating that heaven counts on the counted out and does His deepest work through what looks small.
Chapter 2: Wonder Over Certainty: The Shepherds and the Religious Elite
7:00 - 20:00
The shepherds hurried to see Jesus in response to wonder, while the religious leaders missed Him because they clung to their expectations and positions of power.
Chapter 3: God's Heart Revealed: Strength in Meekness
20:00 - 30:00
True meekness is not weakness but strength under submission to God, and we are reminded that we are beloved children in whom the Father is well pleased.
Chapter 4: Making Room: From Certainty to Surrender
30:00 - 40:00
We must approach God with awe rather than assumption, letting go of our need for certainty and control to make room for Him to come in unexpected ways.
Chapter 5: A Life Become a Manger: Worship and Surrender
40:00 - 50:00
We are called to make room for Christ in our lives today, surrendering our need for control and allowing our lives to become places where others encounter the transformative power of Jesus.
Overlooked by man | Chosen By God
This inspiring Sunday message weaves together powerful testimonies and scriptural lessons to encourage listeners that those who feel unseen are often the very ones God chooses to reveal His glory. The central theme is that God often chooses those who are overlooked, underestimated, or consider themselves insignificant, empowering them for His unique purposes. Drawing from the stories of Gideon, David, and the young boy who gave his loaves and fishes, Pastor Joel Khouri illustrates that God's calling is not based on outward qualifications but on the willingness to say "yes" in obedience and surrender. Modern-day stories, like missionary David Livingstone's deliverance, underscore how hidden acts of faith and intercession have world-changing impact. The message closes by reminding the congregation that everyone, regardless of their perceived status, is counted on by Heaven to bring light to the world and walk in the identity God gives them.:
God chooses and empowers the overlooked and underestimated—Gideon, David, and the boy with the loaves were all "counted out" by others but chosen by God.
Testimonies build faith and memorialize what God has done, reminding us that He works in our lives today.
Our insecurity or humble circumstances do not disqualify us; God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Hidden faithfulness, private battles, and unseen acts of obedience often become the birthplace of miracles and leadership.
The call to action: Shift focus from what you lack to what you’ve yet to surrender. God multiplies even our smallest offering when given in faith.
You are not forgotten or too small—Heaven is counting on you, right where you are.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, remember the transformative power of God working through seemingly insignificant people and moments.
Go forward this season in confidence, surrender, and faith, knowing God supplies every need and empowers us to be light in the world.
The Dwelling Place Of Praise
God’s promises are closer than we think—but stepping into them takes faith, obedience, and a heart full of thanks. In this inspiring message, Pastor Joel Khouri shares how consistent gratitude and bold worship invite God’s presence and open doors for breakthrough. With stories from his own life and church family—including relaunching the Family Gospel Hour, overcoming unexpected setbacks, and witnessing God’s perfect timing—Joel weaves scriptural truths about the power of praise and the covenant love (“hesed”) that God has for His people.
You’ll discover how praise moves us beyond the gates into the courts of God, how thanksgiving fills our lives with His sustaining presence, and how faith-led obedience lets us claim new territory in His Kingdom. No matter the challenges, God is for us, His steadfast love never fails, and real victory starts with a grateful heart. This message invites you to step out in faith, fill your days with thanksgiving, and watch as God transforms your life from the inside out.
Battle Born: Standing Firm in Spiritual Warfare
In this powerful sermon, Pastor Joel Khouri explores Ephesians 6:10-18, teaching believers how to stand strong in challenging times by putting on the full armor of God. Drawing from Paul's own experience of imprisonment, Joel reveals that adversity is not a sign of failure, but an opportunity to discover God's greater power.
Key Highlights:
The armor of God is a spiritual weapon, not just a metaphor
Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and God's Word are our defensive and offensive tools
Believers are called to stand firm, not by personal strength, but by trusting in Christ
Prayer and corporate unity are essential in spiritual battles
Practical Takeaways:
Anchor your life in God's unchanging truth
Reject shame and embrace Christ's righteousness
Use faith as a shield against fear and lies
Renew your mind through God's living Word
Pray continually, seeking God's presence in every circumstance
Powerful Message: We were born for this hour, and having done all, we will stand and not be shaken.
A Line Has Been Drawn
This sermon addresses discipleship in a challenging cultural moment, focusing on maintaining Christian conviction and biblical compassion in the face of societal pressures. Pastor Joel Khouri discusses the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk and uses biblical references to challenge performative compassion, cultural relativism, and ideological movements that conflict with Christian principles. Key themes include:
The importance of speaking truth with love
Rejecting cultural compromise for the sake of relevance
Maintaining faith and courage in a hostile cultural environment
The difference between false compassion and transformative biblical love
Calling believers to stand firm in their convictions
The message emphasizes that Christians are called to endure, speak truth, and carry a "holy fire" of perseverance, not just react with momentary outrage. The sermon concludes with a passionate call to prayer, courage, and intercession for the nation, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith. The talk culminates in a corporate prayer where attendees declare their spiritual strength, commitment to justice, and unwavering faith.
Sheltered By His Glory
This sermon explores the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), emphasizing God's presence, protection, and provision. The message highlights the spiritual significance of the sukkah (temporary shelter) as a symbol of trust, divine covering, and God's intimate dwelling with His people. Key themes include:
God's power protecting and sustaining His people
The importance of trusting in God's presence rather than human strength
The prophetic promise of all nations worshipping together
The ultimate vision of God's glory filling the entire earth
The sermon draws from biblical passages in Leviticus, Exodus, Psalms, and Zechariah, presenting a compelling narrative of God's faithfulness. It calls believers to:
Recognize God as their ultimate source of strength
Find security in His presence
Anticipate a future where all nations will worship together
Understand that they are God's dwelling place
The message concludes with a powerful declaration of believers being God's tabernacle, with His glory as their eternal shelter, inviting listeners to trust in God's continuous protection and provision.
With The Eyes & Ears of Christ Pt 2
In this sermon, Pastor Destiny Rambo Khouri continues her exploration of seeing and hearing with the perspective of Christ. Drawing from the story of Lazarus in John 11, she emphasizes the importance of spiritual perception beyond natural senses. Key Points:
Jesus calls believers to see and hear with spiritual awareness, not just physical senses
The ability to truly see people involves feeling their experiences and being moved to compassion
Sometimes we miss opportunities to minister because we're too busy or distracted
The story of Lazarus illustrates how people can struggle to hear and believe, even when miracles are possible
Jesus demonstrates patience and love, even when people doubt or accuse Him
Main Message: Believers are called to elevate their perspective, seeing situations from a heavenly viewpoint. By raising our spiritual awareness, we can call forth breakthrough, healing, and transformation in seemingly impossible situations. Practical Application:
Practice seeing people with Christ's compassion
Be open to speaking prophetic words
Lift your perspective above current circumstances
Trust God's timing and promises
The sermon concludes with a symbolic moment where congregants stand on chairs to physically represent elevating their spiritual perspective and reaching for breakthrough.
With The Eyes & Ears of Christ Pt 1
Key Themes:
Humans are created in God's image to reflect Christ and represent Him on earth
We have intrinsic power and authority of Christ within us
Understanding our identity in Christ helps us navigate life's challenges
Main Scripture: John 1 and Mark 8 Core Message: Pastor Destiny explores how believers are designed to see and understand the world through Christ's perspective. She emphasizes that we are not just meant to survive, but to actively reflect God's nature. Using the miracle of feeding 4,000 with seven loaves and a few fish, she highlights Jesus' compassionate way of seeing people - not just with physical eyes, but with spiritual perception and understanding. Key Points:
We have "eyes of the mind" - a deep faculty of knowing
Our identity in Christ gives us power to set the tone in a chaotic world
Seeing like Christ means having compassion and understanding beyond surface-level perception
We are created to bear Christ's nature intrinsically, like a rose naturally smells like a rose
The sermon encourages believers to ground themselves in their Christ-given identity and learn to see the world through His eyes of compassion and understanding.
Gates of Praise Pt 3: Welcoming the King of Glory
In this inspiring message, Pastor Joel Khouri delves into the story of David and the biblical concept of the "gates of praise." Exploring how attitudes of praise, gratitude, and reverence invite God's presence, Joel encourages us to prepare our hearts for breakthrough and transformation.
Key Highlights:
True praise and gratitude open the “gates” for God’s presence and authority in our lives.
David’s victories flowed from faithfulness, humility, and a heart set on God—not worldly solutions or fear.
Battles in life are ultimately won by inviting God to fight for us, not by our own strength or formulas.
Worship, thanksgiving, and a reverence for God are the pathways to spiritual authority, wisdom, and lasting peace.
Criticism and self-pity “open gates” to fear and defeat, but praise creates room for God’s victory.
Practical Takeaways:
Choose praise and gratitude, even in difficult seasons, to invite God’s presence.
Don’t settle for easy, worldly shortcuts; seek God’s strategy and follow His directions.
Prepare for breakthrough in "wilderness" seasons with disciplined faithfulness and unseen devotion.
Examine your heart: are you opening gates to God through worship and thanksgiving, or to the enemy through discouragement and criticism?
Make reverent, awe-filled pursuit of God a daily priority.
Powerful Message: When we open the gates of praise, the King of Glory steps in—transforming our circumstances, fighting our battles, and bringing lasting freedom and peace
Gates of Praise Pt 2: Positioned For Power
In this inspiring message, Joel Khouri explores the story of David’s anointing and confrontation with Goliath, drawing powerful lessons about worship, identity, and overcoming fear. Reflecting on the unique opportunity to praise God even through pain, Joel contrasts contentment with complacency, and emphasizes the importance of trusting God’s sovereignty in all circumstances. By examining the backgrounds of Saul and David, the sermon addresses how generational wounds and personal struggles can shape leadership and faith. Joel encourages believers to face life’s giants with boldness, rightly identify spiritual battles, and remain faithful in "wilderness" seasons, preparing for breakthrough. The message concludes with a call to walk in purpose, power, and fearless praise, no matter the challenges ahead.
True worship is a choice—especially in pain and uncertainty.
Contentment in God differs from complacency; it involves trust and joyful faith, regardless of circumstances.
Saul’s life shows how generational wounds and fear can impact leadership.
David’s journey teaches that faithfulness in hidden seasons prepares us for breakthrough.
Facing life’s “giants” requires boldness, the right perspective, and standing firm in God’s truth.
Spiritual victories demand we rightly identify our enemy and refuse to compromise.
God calls us to fearless praise, unwavering purpose, and trust during wilderness seasons.
The Gates of Praise Pt 1: Praise is the breakthrough
In this message, Joel Khouri shares his profound journey both in life and faith, beginning with the challenges of a cross-state move and the unexpected help that arrived in moments of need. Drawing parallels to the biblical story of Hannah, Joel teaches that faithfulness in adversity positions us to receive God’s miracles and blessings. He unpacks the concept of “divine tension”—being grateful for God’s provision while hungry for more of His presence. Through personal testimony and scripture, Joel demonstrates that authentic praise in the midst of hardship establishes spiritual authority, silences the voice of accusation, and brings prophetic breakthrough into our lives and generations. Listeners are encouraged to remain faithful, praise God daily, and trust that His promises will come to fruition, no matter the obstacles faced.
Overcoming unexpected challenges: Joel’s moving story demonstrates reliance on God during difficult transitions.
Receiving help in times of need: Divine provision through the kindness of strangers like Harry and Tyler.
Faithfulness in adversity: Remaining steadfast even when prayers seem unanswered or circumstances don’t improve.
Lessons from Hannah: Biblical example of faithfulness, perseverance, and surrender leading to miraculous breakthrough.
The power of praise: Praise as a lifestyle—beyond music—establishes spiritual strength and authority.
From grief to glory: How faith and praise can transform seasons of disappointment into moments of blessing.
Silencing the voice of accusation: Rejecting negativity and condemnation to embrace God’s promises and affirmation.
Generational impact: Faithfulness today releases blessing for families, church, and beyond.
Praise releases the prophetic: Speaking God’s truth in faith ushers breakthrough and fulfillment of His promises.