November 8, 2026 • Sermon Summary John 6 — Week 3 In the third week of The Cost of Discipleship, Pastor Mel preached on what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called cheap grace, the grace we bestow on ourselves. From John 6, he showed the crowd that tracked Jesus down the day after He fed the 5,000, onlyContinue reading “The Cost of Discipleship – Week 3: Cheap Grace”
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The Cost of Discipleship – Week 2: One Percent
November 1, 2026 • Sermon Summary Luke 9:23–25 — Week 2 In the second week of The Cost of Discipleship, Pastor Kyle Hammond, a longtime friend of Mel and Kim who leads a church in Columbus, Ohio, preached Luke 9:23-25. Jesus says His disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross daily, and PastorContinue reading “The Cost of Discipleship – Week 2: One Percent”
BACK40 E133 – Saving Society, Pearls Before Swine, Fallen Preachers
November 1, 2026 • The Back 40 Leadership Podcast Episode 133 — Saving Society, Pearls Before Swine, Fallen Preachers Mel, Joel, and Michael discuss being salt and light, and how many righteous people it takes to spare a society from God’s wrath. They talk about why things may not be as bad as they feel,Continue reading “BACK40 E133 – Saving Society, Pearls Before Swine, Fallen Preachers”
The Cost of Discipleship – Week 1: Count the Cost
October 25, 2026 • Sermon Summary Luke 14:25–33 — Week 1 In the first week of The Cost of Discipleship, Pastor Mel preached Luke 14:25-33, where Jesus turns to the crowd following Him and tells them to count the cost before they begin. Jesus asks for a love so supreme that every other love looksContinue reading “The Cost of Discipleship – Week 1: Count the Cost”
BACK40 E132 – Privacy, Honesty, Medicalizing Evil
October 23, 2026 • The BACK40 Leadership Podcast Episode 132 — Privacy, Honesty, Medicalizing Evil Mel, Joel, and Michael discuss privacy — whether valuing it is righteous when God sees everything, why “God knows my heart” is no defense for bad behavior, and how to hold firm moral lines without becoming a Pharisee. Then honesty:Continue reading “BACK40 E132 – Privacy, Honesty, Medicalizing Evil”
Romans – Week 26: Romans 16:1-27
October 18, 2026 • Sermon Summary Romans 16:1–27 — Week 26 In our final week in Romans, Pastor Mel showed that the list of names in chapter 16 is the unified church Paul spent the whole letter describing. Phoebe, a deacon and patron, carried the letter to Rome; Priscilla, Junia and the women Paul commendsContinue reading “Romans – Week 26: Romans 16:1-27”
Leadership Night – Right Affections, Right Rhythms
October 14, 2026 • Leadership Night Right Affections, Right Rhythms Pastor Mel brings 28 years of ministry to a talk for pastors at an ARC gathering at Victory Church in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. Most leaders don’t burn out in a headline moment. They wear down under the slow drip of hurts, disappointments and unmet expectations. WhatContinue reading “Leadership Night – Right Affections, Right Rhythms”
Romans – Week 25: Romans 15:14-33
October 11, 2026 • Sermon Summary Romans 15:14–33 — Week 25 In our next-to-last week in Romans, Pastor Mel showed Paul reminding a divided church of what it already knew, then opening his heart about his calling: to bring the good news so he could present people to God as an offering. The only thingContinue reading “Romans – Week 25: Romans 15:14-33”
BACK40 E131 – God’s Repentance, Disbelief in Hell, Resilience
October 8, 2026 • The Back 40 Leadership Podcast Episode 131 — God’s Repentance, Disbelief in Hell, Resilience Mel, Joel, and Michael discuss what Summit would do if a new plague brought back the questions of COVID — why the church would keep its doors open, and what it means to lead when every decisionContinue reading “BACK40 E131 – God’s Repentance, Disbelief in Hell, Resilience”
Romans – Week 24: Romans 14:1-15:13
October 4, 2026 • Sermon Summary Romans 14:1-15:13 — Week 24 This week Pastor Mel preached Romans 14:1-15:13, where Paul addresses a church divided between Jewish and Gentile believers over food and holy days. His answer is unity: “Accept other believers who are weak in the faith and don’t argue with them about what theyContinue reading “Romans – Week 24: Romans 14:1-15:13”
