Waterbrooke Church

Resistance and Refinement | Acts 22:30-23:11, March 8, 2026

This Sunday, we looked at Acts 22:30-23:11, where the apostle Paul faces intense hostility—yet God uses that very pressure to grow Paul’s character and advance the gospel mission. Scripture reminds us that our trials are not accidents; they are “necessary” moments where God strengthens our faith and shapes our witness.
Just as Paul’s opposition became a surprising doorway for gospel opportunity, our own hardships can become platforms for clarity, credibility, and courage. When we respond to suffering with trust instead of panic, and faith instead of fear, people around us see the power of Christ at work in real time.
Our message this Sunday is called Resistance and Refinement. Let's explore how God uses the struggles we’d never choose to accomplish the purposes we could never imagine—and how our response to hardship can shine the hope of Jesus to a watching world.
Join us each Sunday at 9 or 11AM as we seek our Lord Jesus with you all. Hope you will join us and invite a friend.
Watch the full sermon on our YouTube Channel - Or check out our website at www.waterbrooke.church.

"The Power of Our Testimony" | Acts 21:27-22:29

This Sunday we looked at “The Power of Our Testimony.” Every one of us carries a story of how Jesus met us, changed us, and is still changing us—and those stories matter more than we often realize.
In Acts 21:27–22:29, Paul stands before a crowd that is anything but friendly. They’re angry, suspicious, convinced he’s corrupting true worship. But instead of defending himself or matching their hostility, Paul does something beautifully simple: he tells his story. He remembers what it was like to be just like them—zealous, convinced he was serving God, blind to Jesus. And from that place of understanding, he shares how Christ broke in, opened his eyes, and turned his life around.
Paul’s testimony becomes a bridge. And that’s what our stories can be too. Not all of us have a “Damascus Road” moment, but every follower of Jesus has a story of grace—whether it’s rescue from rebellion or awakening from empty religion. Each story is a living witness to the power of Christ to transform a life.
This Sunday, we’ll watch how Paul uses his testimony to point a hostile crowd to Jesus, and we’ll pray that God would give us courage to do the same—to share our stories so others can hear His story of saving grace.
Join us this Sunday at 9 or 11 AM.  I hope you’ll consider inviting a friend or family member who needs to hear the hope we have in Christ.
Find out more at www.waterbrooke.church

"Redeeming Culture" | Acts 21:17-26

This Sunday, we stepped into Acts 21:17–26, a passage that beautifully shows Paul navigating the tension between gospel clarity and cultural difference. It raises an important question for every believer: How do we hold fast to the uniqueness of the gospel while celebrating the beauty of the diverse peoples Christ redeems?
Scripture gives us a breathtaking picture of this. In Revelation 21, John sees the nations bringing their glory into the New Jerusalem—their redeemed beauty, their distinct cultures, all gathered around the Lamb. And in Revelation 5, heaven erupts in praise because Jesus has ransomed people from every tribe, language, and nation and made them one kingdom.
That’s our future: a redeemed, diverse family joyfully united in worship. And that vision shapes how we live now. Christ didn’t come to create a single, uniform culture—He came to redeem people in all their God‑given distinctiveness.
This is exactly the challenge and the joy we see in Acts: holding out the gospel with clarity while honoring the cultures of those Christ is calling to Himself. In a world full of confusion and division, we need this vision more than ever.
I’m looking forward fixing our eyes on Jesus together each Sunday at 9 &11AM. Hope you can come and will invite others to worship our Savior and King together.

"The Wise Warnings of the Holy Spirit" | Acts 21:1-16

"The Wise Warnings of the Holy Spirit" | Acts 21:1-16
In our study of the book of Acts this week, the apostle Paul is getting closer and closer to Jerusalem. His days as a free minister of the gospel will soon come to an end. Before long, Paul will be calling himself a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 
In Acts 21:1-16, we are told repeatedly that the Holy Spirit is warning the people that if Paul goes to Jerusalem, he will be imprisoned for the gospel. Paul’s friends plead with him not to go. Yet, Paul is resolved to go to Jerusalem even though he knows that he will be arrested. What is the point of the warnings of the Holy Spirit if they aren’t to protect Paul from being arrested?
As we study God’s Word this week, we will see that warnings are not always meant to keep us from suffering. Rather, warnings prepare to suffer in ways that honor God and advance the gospel. This is helpful to us when we read warning passages in the Bible. What do we do with the warnings of the Holy Spirit? Thank God the Holy Spirit warns us of the dangers of following Jesus faithfully so that we will keep following faithfully. He does so to equip us to follow with hope and encouragement.
As we study The Wise Warnings of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s pray that the end result would be that each of us would have a stronger and clearer resolve to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Looking forward to worshipping King Jesus with you all. Invite your friends.

"The Freedom of an Expendable Life" | Acts 20:17-38

This Sunday, we dove into one of the apostle Paul’s most heartfelt moments in Acts 20:17-38. Paul gathers his dear friends from Ephesus for one last, powerful lesson at a turning point in his journey—from traveling evangelist to ambassador in chains. Paul is being sent by God into the heart of Jerusalem and ultimately, the Roman Empire. The only way that’s possible is as a prisoner for the gospel. For his friends, this is a troubling time, but for Paul, it’s a divine calling. He encourages them by showing that he doesn’t view his life as something to preserve and to protect. He is to be poured out on the altar for Jesus.
Our sermon is titled, The Freedom of an Expendable Life. Ask yourself: Am I more focused on preserving my life, or pouring it out for God? Are we investing more emotional energy in securing our future, or in becoming living sacrifices? Much of our anxiety comes from trying to save ourselves when our true eternal safety is already secure in Christ. Jesus didn’t hold on to His life—He gave it freely for us, so we can joyfully follow His example for the sake of others.
Let’s pray that we might learn the joy and freedom of having an expendable life. Looking forward to worshiping each Sunday. Come and be encouraged and bring a friend!
 
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"Friends That Stick" | Acts 21:1-16

Tim Keller once said a true friend is someone who “lets you in” and doesn’t “let you down.”
As we continue our journey through Acts, we see just how much the apostle Paul depended on friends who were willing to stand with him when following Jesus became dangerous. In Acts 20:1–16, a real assassination plot forces Paul to change his plans—but what stands out is not fear, it’s faithfulness.
Friends step up. They stay close. They share the risk. Our sermon this week, “Friends That Stick,” reminds us that we all need relationships that hold fast when life gets messy—and in Christ, we are called to be those kinds of friends for one another.
Acts shows us a diverse people united in one mission, bearing the load together for the sake of the gospel. J
 
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Jonah3: Mighty Merciful by Andy Keppel

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth.4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
 
 

"When God Benches You" | Acts 19:21-41

This sermon is entitled “When God Benches You,” drawn from Acts 19:21–41. It’s a dramatic scene. The gospel is having such a powerful impact in Ephesus that the city erupts in chaos. A riot breaks out. Two of Paul’s companions are seized and dragged into the theater, their lives suddenly in danger. Paul is ready to rush in and help—but those closest to him stop him. It’s too dangerous. Stepping in could make everything worse.
For Paul, this meant taking a backseat—and that couldn’t have been easy. Paul was not someone who sat well on the sidelines, especially when he felt responsible for what was happening. And yet, this moment reveals something crucial: this was never Paul’s ministry to manage or rescue. It was the Lord’s.
Friends, there are seasons when God does the same with us. Like a wise coach, He sits us on the bench at the very moment we want to be in the game. He removes the situation from our hands and gently—but firmly—reminds us that we are not the Savior. He is.
Are you there right now? Do you feel sidelined in a ministry, a relationship, or a situation that matters deeply to you? Is it especially hard to let go when the people involved mean so much? This passage reminds us that real peace doesn’t come from trying to save the day—it comes from trusting the One who already has.
Whether you feel benched by God or not, be reminded afresh that God knows exactly what He’s doing—and that He can be trusted, even when we don’t understand. Pray that God would prepare your heart to receive fresh strength and wisdom from His Word. 
Next Steps - Go to waterbrooke.church to find out more.

"Confident Christianity" | Acts 19:1-20

This Sunday, our sermon is titled Confident Christianity. One of the most compelling qualities of the apostle Paul is his unshakable confidence that God’s purposes will never fail—that God’s plan for His people and His mission to the nations cannot be thwarted. Writing to the deeply troubled church in Corinth, Paul boldly declares that Jesus “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That promise is given to a church riddled with moral and relational dysfunction—yet Paul is utterly confident in God’s faithfulness.
From a Roman prison, with the real possibility of death looming, Paul writes to the Philippians, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” He continues, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” and concludes with the triumphant assurance, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This is prison-born optimism. Death-defying hope. Gospel-driven confidence.
Do you have this kind of confidence—for yourself, for the church, and for our calling in the world? In Acts 19:1–20, we will see where true Christian confidence is forged. Let’s pray that God’s Word would prevail among us, filling our hearts with hope and grounding our minds in gospel truth. If your faith needs strengthening or your passion for God needs rekindling, this passage reminds us that if God is for us, nothing and no one can stand against us.
See you Sunday—and bring a friend who could use encouragement in their faith.

"Growing Strong Together" | Acts 18:18–28

This Sunday, our sermon is titled Confident Christianity. One of the most compelling qualities of the apostle Paul is his unshakable confidence that God’s purposes will never fail—that God’s plan for His people and His mission to the nations cannot be thwarted. Writing to the deeply troubled church in Corinth, Paul boldly declares that Jesus “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That promise is given to a church riddled with moral and relational dysfunction—yet Paul is utterly confident in God’s faithfulness.
From a Roman prison, with the real possibility of death looming, Paul writes to the Philippians, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” He continues, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me,” and concludes with the triumphant assurance, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This is prison-born optimism. Death-defying hope. Gospel-driven confidence.
Do you have this kind of confidence—for yourself, for the church, and for our calling in the world? In Acts 19:1–20, we will see where true Christian confidence is forged. Let’s pray that God’s Word would prevail among us, filling our hearts with hope and grounding our minds in gospel truth. If your faith needs strengthening or your passion for God needs rekindling, this passage reminds us that if God is for us, nothing and no one can stand against us.
See you Sunday—and bring a friend who could use encouragement in their faith.

Expecting Jesus | Luke 2.22-38

This Sunday morning, we will conclude our Christmas-season study of Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. In Luke 2:22–38, we meet two faithful elderly saints, Simeon and Anna. Simeon is described in verse 25: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Anna, an eighty-four-year-old widow, is described in verses 37–38: “She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel.”
Both Simeon and Anna lived with deep longing and confident hope that God would deliver Israel just as He promised throughout Scripture. They eagerly awaited the Messiah and refused to lose hope. This is the kind of faith we long for—a hopeful expectation untouched by the world’s evil, cynicism, anger, or anxiety. It is joyful, alert, and ready when Christ appears.
This Sunday, let us pray that the Holy Spirit would use this part of the Christmas story to shape us into Simeons and Annas—people joyfully expectant of the Messiah’s second coming, just as they awaited His first. Our sermon is titled “Expecting Jesus.” May that be true of all of us. See you Sunday—and invite a friend.

Christmas Praise: Good News of Great Joy by Pastor Kevin Dibbley

“And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.’” (Luke 2:13-14).
In Luke’s Gospel, praise erupts in heaven and on earth—angels rejoicing above,shepherds celebrating below. Christ the Savior was born! Hope slipped quietly into the world as God Himself came to rescue and redeem. This Christmas Eve, ourWaterbrooke Church family will join the chorus of believers through the ages, rejoicing with great joy that our Savior has come. He is worthy of all our praise, and we cannot stay silent! 

“Good News of Great Joy for Those in Darkness” | Luke 2:1-20

Join us this week as Dr. Brian Thomas guides us through Luke 2:1–20 in his sermon, “Good News of Great Joy for Those in Darkness.”
In Luke’s Gospel, the Good News of Christmas is set in the real world, which is often quite dark. The angels’ announcement of Christ’s birth comes to humble shepherds and brings them joy and peace to the glory of God. 

"Zechariah's Praise" | Luke 1:57-80

Last Sunday, we saw that one of Luke’s clear themes surrounding the birth of Jesus the Christ is “great joy.” Another one of Luke’s repeated descriptions of people’s reactions to the coming Jesus is wonder and amazement.  Isaiah prophesied that the Christ’s name would be called “Wonderful”.  When all the people hear that Zechariah and Elizabeth were going to be calling the name of their son John, Luke writes “And they all wondered…” In Luke 2 when the shepherds return in Luke 2 from seeing Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger, they were telling everyone about what they had seen and heard. Luke 2:18 and 19 says, “And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told him. But Mary treasured these things her heart, pondering them in her heart.”
This Sunday, as we study Zechariah’s praise in Luke 1:67-80, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will cause us to be filled with wonder at this great gift of God’s Son who has come in great mercy to us. As the old Christmas hymn goes:
“I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,how Jesus the Savior did come for to diefor poor ordinary people like you and like I;I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.”
 Aren’t you amazed? I hope this Christmas, you will be filled with wonder, love, and praise as you wander out under the sky. See you Sunday. Bring a friend.

"Mary's Magnificent God" | Luke 1:39-56

Over the next couple of Sundays, as we lead up to Christmas, we are going to focus on the praise that happens surrounding the announcement and the arrival of the Messiah. This week, we will look at Mary’s praise. Next week, we will look at Zechariah’s. Then, on the 22nd, Dr. Brian Thomas will focus on the praise of the angels and shepherds in Luke 2.
 One of the most beautiful experiences that we can have in life is watching a young person who has been truly captivated by Jesus and the hope of the gospel. Mary, the mother of our Savior, is a young person who has been thrust into the living story of the saving plan of God for humanity. Mary will carry the Christ. What is beautiful is that Mary not only believes the message of the angel, but she explodes with delight in her God and Savior. Her trust in God far exceeds all the potential complications that this role might place on an engaged yet unmarried girl in her Jewish culture. She believes that her God is good; that her God is gracious; that her God is faithful. The message is called Mary’s Magnificent God. If you want to read in advance, the passage is Luke 1:39-56.
Let’s come together and see that what thrills Mary should thrill us. What shapes Mary’s obedient faith is what should shape our joy, our faith, and our hope as well. Looking forward to worshiping with you all. 
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"I Am With You" | Acts 18:1-17

One of the most powerful statements that someone can ever say to us is “I am with you.” It is infinitely more powerful when that person is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. In this passage that we are studying today (Acts 18:1-17), the Lord Jesus appears to Saul at Corinth in a dream and tells him: “‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you...’”.  This is exactly what Christ said to the disciples at the end of Matthew’s gospel when Jesus gives the great commission. He ends by saying “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
On Thanksgiving weekend, we give thanks for the comfort and courage that comes from the promise of Christ’s presence in our lives. November 30 is the first day of Advent. Over the next several Sundays leading up to Christmas, we will celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here’s the great news. He came the first time in order to show us by His life and death and resurrection, that He would never ever leave us alone. He is with us!
The Christmas season can be a time of loneliness, sorrow, and struggle. Yet, the core message to each of us is this: His name is Immanuel, God with Us! Come this Sunday, as we merge our study of Acts with the message of hope in Christmas: Christ is with us forever! He will never let us go! May we find strength in this together and may His presence be with us even as we worship Him as a church family.
 
Join us for Christmas Eve at 3PM - Season of Great Joy!

"Now is the Appointed Time" | Acts 17:16-33

This Sunday, we studied the apostle Paul’s encounter with the major philosophers of his day in Athens. He encounters a myriad of Greek religious and philosophical ideas. How does he effectively engage them with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our study will be taken from Acts 17:16-33 and it is entitled “Now is the Appointed Time.” I don’t know if you have ever thought about the question, “If you could live at any point in history and any place in history, where would you choose?”  We often can have a rather romantic notion of some time in history when we thought the world was a more beautiful, or a more exciting, or more noble time in which to live. We think that our times are the hardest for Christians and the mission of Christ.
The doctrine of God’s providence teaches us that God has chosen and appointed the very times and the places for each and all of our lives. That’s what Paul proclaims in Athens. We are living in exactly the right time and the right place for God to do His good work in us and through us for His glory. As we consider how to live as Christians in a world full of suffering and injustice, it is helpful for us to know that God is at work and we don’t have to play God to orchestrate the best scenarios for kingdom life and gospel advancement. God is at work and His purposes cannot fail!
My wife’s favorite verse in the Bible is Job 42:2 where the suffering Job declares “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Can you say that? How does our life and mission change when we believe that God has providentially orchestrated everything for our good and the salvation of others? How does that shape our faith and the sharing of our faith in a world that seems so far from Christ?
Come on Sundays at 9 & 11 and let’s be encouraged together through the Word and the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope you can come and hope you will invite a friend.

"Receiving the Word with Eagerness" | Acts 17:1-15

This Sunday, we studied Acts 17:1-15. In this section, Luke makes a clear distinction between the Jews in Thessalonica who heard Paul reasoning from the Scriptures and the Jews from Berea. He writes, “Now these Jews (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true.” 
Our message this week is called “Receiving the Word with Eagerness.” Do you receive God’s Word with eagerness? There is probably no greater indication of a person’s deep love for Christ than their delight in the Word of God. People who fall in love with Jesus recognize that the subject of all Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ. To know Christ and to grow in Christ requires continually feeding on the riches of God’s Word. Like a lover who pours over every word that their loved one writes to them in a note or a letter, the true believer pours over the Word of God to learn more of the beauty, the wisdom, and the splendor of Jesus Christ. The late Dr. John MacArthur once wrote, “Genuine spirituality, genuine godliness, is always marked by a love for and a delight in God's truth.” The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119 which is completely about the psalmist delight in God’s Word.
Come each Sunday as we look at how to fuel our love for Christ through a zeal for His Word. If you are struggling to be in the Word of God consistently or if you haven’t understood your need for a deepening passion for a knowledge of the Bible, pray for God to open up your heart and put a fire in you to know God better! Let’s pray that for all of us.  Pray for one another.
Join us each Sunday at 9 & 11am - Next steps or plan your visit at www.waterbrooke.church.

"What Must I Do to Be Saved" | Acts 16:16-40

This sermon was taken from our passage of Scripture that we are studying this week in Acts 16:16-40. In Acts 16:30, a Philippian jailer cries out to Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?”  It’s a desperate cry that comes from someone who suddenly has an acute awareness that he cannot save himself. He thinks that his life is over. Yet, it is about to just begin.
 As we study this passage of Scripture this week, you will notice that every person in this passage is trying to save themselves except two – Paul and Silas. This in a sense is like one of those “Where is Waldo?” pictures. It’s busy and chaotic. There is a lot going on. In a “Where is Waldo” picture, if you have seen one, you will know that in the picture there are hundreds of people doing all kinds of things, but somewhere in the middle, is Waldo. Waldo originally was called “Wally” and the idea was that a “Wally” was a dim-witted person. Somewhere in the middle of a world of ordinary people doing ordinary things, there is a Waldo doing something strange. In this scene, Paul and Silas are the Waldos… praying and singing after being beaten and thrown into prison. What? This text begs the question, “Who is the real Waldo (the fool) in this passage?” To quote the late Jim Elliott, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” The greatest question any person can ever ask is this one: “What must I do to be saved?”
Let’s come together and worship each Sunday and be both encouraged and challenged to ensure that we can answer that question with absolute certainty. 

"The God Who Opens Doors and Hearts" | Acts 16:6-15

Proverbs 16:9 says this: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” 
One of the great encouragements for us as believers is to know that God is providentially orchestrating all the events of our lives for His glory and for our good. Ultimately, that’s good to know, although it is not always easy to embrace. Faithfulness to God and his mission requires that we as Christians hold our plans loosely and be prepared for unexpected and often sudden changes in the direction of our lives and our ministries. This may happen on a grand scale when some large-scale political or economic change happens that redirects a Christian’s location or vocation. It may include a job transfer or a significant health change.  It can also happen on a small scale in just daily disruptions to what we had planned for our day or our week. 
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps—reading the Bible.”
Bonhoeffer’s warning is good for us. The posture of every believer is a humble submission to all the possible changes and interruptions that God sends our way for our good and for the good of His mission in the world. It’s His mission. God directs His people and orchestrates their lives for His good and perfect plans in this world.
How are you doing with this? Do you possess the kind of teachable flexibility that allows you both to be joyful and available when God leads us in unexpected ways? Our sermon this Sunday will be taken from Acts 16:6-15 and it is called “The God who Opens Doors and Hearts.” This is a super helpful and encouraging passage of Scripture.