Summit Church sermons
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Lay Down Your Life
How do we define true love in a world of relative meanings? In this message, Pastor Catlan explores 1 John 3:16, contrasting the hatred of Cain with the sacrificial agape of Jesus. By examining Christ’s willful choice to lay down His life, we discover our own obligation to sacrificially love the brothers.
Love the Brothers
Do you feel like the world hates you? In this message, Pastor Catlan explores 1 John 3:13–14, explaining that the "world" is a system of rebellion against God. Because Christians have passed from death to life and follow a new King, their transformation naturally disrupts a world that prefers its own autonomy.
Not Alone
What does the Bible say about loneliness? Preaching from Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, Pastor Catlan explores the "vanity" of self-sufficiency and the dangers of isolation. By prioritizing deep relationships over personal gain, we find the support and spiritual strength necessary to withstand life’s inevitable hardships.
Cain’s Example of Hatred
Why was the first murder in history committed by a brother? Pastor Catlan explores the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis to unpack 1 John 3:12. This sermon reveals that Cain’s hatred stemmed from a heart that rejected God’s standards of worship. True believers are called to love one another by worshiping God in spirit and truth.
Love Your Brother
How can we be certain that our faith in Christ is genuine? Pastor Catlan returns to 1 John 3:10–11 to explore how sacrificial love for our brothers and sisters serves as a primary test of a true child of God. This message challenges us to consider if we love one another just as Jesus has deeply loved us.
Do Not Grow Weary
How can you sustain a life of service without burning out? Pastor Catlan examines Galatians 6:9-10 to show that weariness often stems from wrong motivations, like trying to earn God’s favor. By doing good out of love for Christ rather than for specific outcomes, we find the joy and strength to persevere until God’s perfect timing for reaping.
YHWH Is Salvation
What is the culmination of the road to Bethlehem? Pastor Catlan concludes our series by examining Matthew 1:20-23, where an angel reveals that Jesus—meaning "YHWH is salvation"—would save His people from their sins. This miraculous birth fulfills ancient prophecy, proving that God is finally, eternally with us.
God’s Boy King
How does God restore His people after a generation of deep rebellion? In this sermon largely from 2 Chronicles 34, Pastor Catlan traces God’s work through the wicked reign of Manasseh and the faithful reforms of young King Josiah, showing how the rediscovery of God’s Word prepared the way for Christ.
God’s Red Cord
What does Rahab have to do with the incarnation of Jesus? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan walks through Joshua 2 and Joshua 6 to show how Rahab’s fragile scarlet cord reveals God’s precise, sovereign preparation for the arrival of Christ on the road to Bethlehem.
Whose are You?
What marks a true child of God? In this sermon from Pastor Catlan, 1 John 3:9–10 reveals the visible evidence of new birth—God’s abiding seed transforming us away from the practice of sin and toward righteousness and brotherly love. This closing passage shows how genuine faith becomes unmistakably evident.
Jesus Destroyed Satan’s Works
What does it really mean to “make a practice of sinning,” and why does John say such a person is “of the devil”? In this sermon from Pastor Catlan on 1 John 3:8, we explore the difference between occasional failure and intentional rebellion—and how Christ appeared to destroy the works of the devil and free us for true righteousness.
See Him, Know Him
What does it mean to “abide” in Christ when sin still lingers in our lives? In this message from 1 John 3:6–7, Pastor Catlan unpacks John’s contrast between those who keep on sinning and those who practice righteousness, showing that abiding in Christ transforms how believers view and respond to sin—loving what He loves and hating what He hates.
Make a Mess
What if you want to help but you might mess up in the process? In this sermon, Pastor Catlan unpacks the wisdom of Proverbs 14:4—“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox”—showing that healthy, Spirit-filled churches embrace the chaos of empowerment to bear lasting gospel fruit.
Jesus Takes Away Sins
Why did Jesus come? In this sermon on 1 John 3:5, Pastor Catlan shows that Christ “appeared to take away sins.” Exploring the Greek word airo—to lift up and remove forever—he explains that Jesus came not just to cover sin but to terminate it completely, revealing the sinless One whose mission glorifies God by destroying sin’s power.
The Pure and the Lawless
What does it mean to “purify yourself as He is pure”? In this sermon on 1 John 3:3–4, Pastor Catlan shows that to “purify” means to make holy —to set every part of life apart for God’s purposes. Holiness isn’t just avoiding sin but aligning wholly with God’s order, living in hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return.
When You See Jesus
What will it be like to see Jesus as He truly is? In this sermon from 1 John 3:2, Pastor Catlan unpacks the promise that when Christ appears, believers “shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.” The message explores the present blessings of being God’s children and the coming transformation that awaits when we behold His glory.
How to Follow Jesus
What does it mean to truly follow in Jesus’ steps? In this sermon on 1 Peter 2:18–25, Pastor Catlan shows how discipleship involves imitating Christ’s humility, endurance in suffering, and freedom from deceit. Though we cannot copy His miracles, we are called to embrace His example, returning as sheep to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
Paul and the Ephesians
What makes Christian community powerful? In this sermon from Acts 19:18–20 and Acts 20:17–38, Pastor Catlan highlights the relational depth, mutual care, and spiritual accountability modeled by the Ephesian church. As Life Groups launch at Summit, we are invited to build relationships where we can confess sin, speak truth in love, and grow together into Christ.
Children of God
What does it mean to be called a child of God? In this sermon on 1 John 3:1, Pastor Catlan explores the wonder of God’s love that gives us a new identity through faith in Christ. He shows how adoption into God’s family changes how we live, shapes how the world sees us, and calls us to enjoy our Father fully.
Know His Righteousness
How can you know if you truly belong to God’s family? In this sermon on 1 John 2:29, Pastor Catlan shows that those who “practice righteousness” reveal they have been born of Him. By knowing Christ’s perfect righteousness, we can discern the fruit of new birth in our lives and live with assurance before God.