During Missions Month, Pastor CJ shares a message from Acts 17 titled “The Heart of a Man on Mission.”

When Paul arrived in Athens, he was deeply troubled by the idolatry and spiritual lostness he saw throughout the city. But Paul did more than notice the problem—because he cared, he acted. He entered the synagogue, went into the marketplace, and shared the gospel with the people around him.

A life on mission begins when what breaks God’s heart begins to break ours. God is calling us to open our eyes to the people a...

God’s Faithfulness to Israel and to Us | Romans 11:17–18

What if the way we understand Israel changes the way we trust God?

In this message, we look at Romans 11 and the faithfulness of God across thousands of years of history. The Church has not replaced Israel — we have been grafted into the family of God through Jesus. We are not Israel’s replacement. We are Israel’s family.

From God’s covenant with Abraham to Paul’s teaching in Romans 11, this sermon explores why God’s promises to Israel still matter, what it means for Gentil...

Missions Month at Wonder - Madison and Lauren share their story of following God's assignments for their lives.

We continue our study of Romans, coming now to chapter 2:1-16. We discover destination of all humanity to stand before the Judge, Jesus Christ, where all our sin, even our secret lives, will be fully exposed. However, this same Judge is also the Savior who can save us from this judgement.

We continue our study of Romans 

Romans 1:1–17 | I am not Ashamed of the Gospel

Before Paul tells the Romans what he has accomplished, he tells them who he belongs to.

In the opening verses of Romans, Paul introduces himself not as an apostle, church planter, theologian, or leader—but as a slave of Christ Jesus. In a city obsessed with status, power, prestige, and achievement, Paul anchors his identity in something deeper: belonging to Jesus.

This message launches our study through the book of Romans by exploring the gospel that transformed Paul's life and continues to c...

Friendship in Marriage | Song of Solomon 5:10–16

Marriage is more than romance, responsibility, or commitment. At its best, marriage is friendship — the kind of friendship that helps each person become more like Jesus.

In this message, Pastor CJ and Nicole Witkoe bring together key themes from the friendship series and apply them to marriage. Looking at Song of Solomon 5:16, where the bride describes her beloved as both “my lover” and “my friend,” this message explores how friendship strengthens marriage through companionship, investment, encouragement, and shared mission.

Marriage was...

Spirit-filled Friendship | Acts 2:1–6

Pentecost was not only the beginning of Spirit-filled power. It was also the beginning of Spirit-filled friendship.

In this message, we look at Acts 2 and the powerful connection between the presence of God, the gathering of God’s people, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was poured out while the believers were gathered together in one place, reminding us that there is unique power, authority, and presence when God’s people gather in His name.

But Spirit-filled community is not the same as perfec...

Closer than a Brother | Proverbs 18:24

We live in a world with more connections than ever, yet many people feel more alone than ever. We have more followers, more options, more conversations, and more access—but fewer deep friendships that can actually carry weight.

In this message, “Closer than a Brother,” we look at Proverbs 18:24 and the difference between having many companions and having a true friend. Scripture warns that a person with many companions may still come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

This...

Sanctity of Life | Romans 5:6–8

In this message, we look at the sanctity of human life through the authority of Scripture and the heart of the gospel.

On Mother’s Day, Wonder Church partnered with Love Life to pray, fast, give, and take practical steps toward creating a culture of love and life. This message addresses the difficult questions surrounding abortion, the value of the unborn, the responsibility of the Church, and the hope of the gospel for every person.

Scripture teaches that God sees life in the womb as know...

In this message, Jeff Vantrease teaches on communion and the truth that Jesus is our daily bread. Through the picture of bread from heaven, we are reminded that God provides daily grace, daily strength, and daily life through Christ.

People are the Prize | 1 John 3:10

We live in a world where meaningful relationships are constantly being traded for convenience, distraction, speed, safety, and self-protection. Real connection is hard. Vulnerability is costly. And little by little, many of us have learned to avoid people instead of love them.

In this message, “People are the Prize,” we look at 1 John 3:10 and the bold truth that one of the clearest markers of following Jesus is not just personal morality or private spirituality, but love for people. According to Scripture, loving others is not...

In this message, Pastor Tim Olson teaches on Jesus as the Bread of Life and the truth that only Christ can truly satisfy the human soul. While the world offers temporary fulfillment, Jesus alone gives lasting life, hope, and satisfaction.

In this Easter message, Pastor CJ Witkoe teaches from John 20:11–16 and the powerful moment when Jesus calls Mary by name at the empty tomb. Mary had seen the signs of the resurrection, but what changed everything was not just evidence or miracles. It was a personal encounter with the risen Jesus.

Your King Comes to You | Palm Sunday Sermon

“See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey…” — Matthew 21:5

Palm Sunday isn’t just a moment in history—it’s a deeply personal invitation.

In this message, Pastor CJ Witkoe explores the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and asks a powerful question:

Did Jesus choose the cross… or was He forced into it?

The answer changes everything.

Through the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 and the events of Matthew 21, we see that Jesus didn’t jus...

Hope In God | Psalm 42:11

“Why are you cast down, O my soul… Hope in God; for I shall again praise him.” — Psalm 42:11

What do you do when you’re still struggling… even after everything you’ve learned?

Psalm 42 ends with a powerful, repeated declaration that cuts through despair, doubt, and exhaustion:

Hope in God.

In this message, Pastor CJ Witkoe unpacks one of the most important spiritual practices in the Christian life—leading your soul when it feels like it’s falling apart.

Because the t...

When God Feels Far Away | Psalm 42:9–10

“I say to God, my rock: ‘Why have you forgotten me?’” — Psalm 42:9

Have you ever asked the question most believers are afraid to say out loud?

“God… where are you?”

Psalm 42 takes us into one of the darkest moments of the psalmist’s spiritual journey. What begins as a thirst for God becomes a painful question: Has God forgotten me? Surrounded by enemies and mocked with the haunting challenge — “Where is your God?” — the psalmist wrestles honestly with doubt, suffering, and the silence o...

The Way Through the Deep Dark | Psalm 42:6–8

“My soul is cast down within me… Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls.” — Psalm 42:6–7

There are moments in life when everything stops.

Loss.
 Heartbreak.
 Death.
 Divorce.
 The collapse of something you thought would last forever.

Psalm 42 speaks directly into those seasons—the deep dark places of the soul where pain isn’t surface-level but goes all the way down. In this message, Pastor CJ Witkoe explores how the psalmist navigates overwhelming grief and spiritual darkne...

Grief Is a Gift | Psalm 42:3–4

“My tears have been my food day and night…” — Psalm 42:3

Grief isn’t weakness.
 It isn’t failure.
 And it isn’t something to rush past.

In this powerful message from Psalm 42:3–4, Ben (Youth & Young Adults Director at Wonder Church) unpacks a surprising truth: grief is a gift that draws us closer to the heart of God.

The psalmist describes tears as daily food and remembers seasons of joy that now feel distant. He feels mocked. Forgotten. Overwhelmed. And yet—this lament becomes wo...

Soul Leadership | Psalm 42

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God…”

In this powerful and deeply practical message, Pastor CJ Witkoe explores one of the most overlooked spiritual disciplines in Scripture: leading your own soul.

Psalm 42 isn’t just poetry—it’s a masterclass in soul leadership. The psalmist doesn’t ignore his despair. He doesn’t suppress his emotions. He doesn’t pretend everything is fine. Instead, he speaks directly to his soul and calls it back to hope.

And...

Blessed Thirst | Psalm 42:1–2 | Why Are You Cast Down, O My Soul?

“As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”

Psalm 42 opens with one of the most honest and vulnerable cries in Scripture—a soul desperate for God in a dry and weary land. In this first message of our Psalm 42 series, Pastor CJ Witkoe explores what it means to have a blessed thirst—a longing for the living God that refuses to settle for spiritual stagnation.

Psalm 42 is a lament—written for public worsh...

Bring Others With You | CLIMB Series — Finale

“You won’t find Jesus inside the tent of your comfort zone.”

In the final message of the CLIMB series, Pastor CJ Witkoe calls the church beyond personal growth and spiritual endurance into something even bigger: mission. The climb was never meant to be solo. The summit was never meant to be private. If Jesus has changed your life, the invitation is clear—bring others with you.

Drawing from Hebrews 13:10–14, this message reveals a powerful truth:
Jesus s...

Mark the Summit | CLIMB Series — Week 4

“Not that I have already obtained all this… but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
 — Philippians 3:12–14

What if the reason you feel empty isn’t because you failed…
 but because you reached the wrong summit?

In Week 4 of the CLIMB series, Pastor CJ Witkoe challenges us to confront one of the deepest human struggles: giving everything we have to reach a goal, only to arrive and realize we still haven’t arrived. Careers, su...

In Step | CLIMB Series — Week 3

“We don’t rest from work — we rest in His.”

In Week 3 of the CLIMB series, Pastor CJ Witkoe addresses one of the most overlooked reasons people burn out in faith and ministry: we try to rest without plugging into God’s love.

You can unplug.
 You can take a day off.
 You can sleep, vacation, sabbath, and slow down…
 and still feel completely drained.

Why? Because unplugging doesn’t recharge — only connection does.

Drawing from 1 John...

Link Up | CLIMB Series — Week 2

“Let us not become weary in doing good… if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
“Let us not neglect our meeting together… but encourage one another.” — Hebrews 10:24–25

Climbing alone might feel simpler, cleaner, and safer — but it’s also how people fall.
In Week 2 of the CLIMB series, Pastor CJ Witkoe reminds us that God never intended us to climb our ministry mountain by ourselves. The climb may be slower. It may be messier. But you will never go as far alone as you could with others.

Using powerful image...

Choose to Climb | CLIMB Series — Week 1

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
 — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Have you ever hit a point where things got hard and you wondered, “Did I miss something?”
In this opening message of the CLIMB series, Pastor CJ Witkoe reminds us that difficulty doesn’t mean failure — it often means progress.

Using the picture of mountain climbing, this message reframes weariness not as a warning sign, but...

Christmas Eve 2025 | Prince of Peace — Are We Ok With God?

Have you ever quietly wondered,
 “God… are we ok?”

Life has been hard. You’ve messed up. You feel distant. And beneath the noise of Christmas and the pressure to feel joyful, that question lingers — Are we still ok?

In this Christmas Eve message, Pastor CJ Witkoe unpacks Isaiah 9:6 and the powerful truth that Jesus didn’t come to make us “ok with ourselves.” He came as the Prince of Peace — to make us ok with God.

O...

Be Still and Embrace a Kingdom Mindset | Word for the Year

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

In a world that celebrates hurry, noise, and constant motion, God invites us to slow down. In this message, Pastor CJ and Nicole calls the church to pause, reflect, and look ahead by embracing a Kingdom mindset rooted in stillness, trust, and perspective.

Often it’s not that God isn’t speaking — it’s that we’re moving too fast to listen. When we slow down, we gain clarity. When we become still, we remember who...

The Story: Joy | Christmas Is for Everyone

When the angel appeared to the shepherds, the announcement wasn’t just good news — it was great joy. And that joy wasn’t reserved for kings, scholars, or the spiritually impressive. It was first given to shepherds — the overlooked, the unclean, the exhausted, the lowly.

In this Christmas message from Josee Schilling, we’re reminded that joy is for everyone. No matter your past, your pain, your position, or your present circumstances, the joy of Christmas meets you right where you are.

This...

Hope For Those Who Sit in Darkness | Christmas at Wonder Church

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” — Matthew 4:16

Christmas is supposed to be magical — full of concerts, lights, traditions, and moments we try so hard to savor. But what happens when the Christmas story collides with our story? What if this season isn’t festive, but heavy? What if joy feels far away, and hope feels impossible?

In this message, Pastor CJ Witkoe explores Matthew 4:12–16 and the prophecy Isaiah spoke centuries earlier: the light of Chr...