I pastored for about nine years, first at Cold Springs Church in Placerville, California (2009-2014) and then at The Journey Church in Sonora, California (2018-2022). Since then, I have had the opportunity to preach at both my home church, Sonora Community Church, and at several others.
Sonora Community Church; March 15, 2026. Text: Mark 10:17-31.
Often called “the rich young ruler,” the primary story in this passage is about a man seeking eternal life, but whose attachment to his great wealth kept him from following Jesus. I have mostly heard this (and preached it) as a warning against idolatry. In preparing for this message, though, I was struck by a different perspective: here is a devout Jewish man earnestly seeking God, who likely viewed his position, possessions, and prestige as a blessing from God. When Jesus said the path to eternal life meant selling everything and following Jesus, that was too much for the man. It made me ask the question, What blessing from God might I be holding onto that is keeping me from experiencing an even greater blessing he wants to give?
Sonora Community Church; October 19, 2025. Text Colossians 3:12-17.
Our pastor asked me to preach at the very last minute due to a family emergency. The message is part testimony, part confession, and grounded in three keys to our identity: chosen, holy, and dearly loved.
Crosstown Community Church, Stockton, CA; May 29, 2022. Text: “The Romans Road.”
I was a guest speaker at a friend’s small church. The message is a combination of my testimony and a gospel presentation using several passages in Romans. (The camera for the live stream was a cell phone on a chair in the front row!)
The messages below were delivered at The Journey Church, Sonora, beginning in February 2020 and through most of the COVID era. These are audio files with accompanying slides.