Litchfield Church of the Nazarene Podcast

In his first message as interim pastor, Jon Stoe invites the church into a new season by addressing a challenge every believer faces; how we respond when life does not go as planned. Drawing from personal loss, pastoral wisdom, and the apostle Paul’s teaching, this sermon calls us to examine our attitudes, our surrender, and our willingness to be continually renewed by God.

This message reminds us that Jesus does not merely save ...

In the final episode of Discerning Authority, Pastor Michael Lowenberg walks through a relentless day in the life of Jesus; a synagogue leader pleads for his daughter; a woman reaches for the fringe of His garment; two blind men cry out for mercy; a silenced man is set free. Each encounter reveals the same truth in a different key; Jesus carries real authority over death, disease, darkness, and doubt.

This message invites us out of...

In this message, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg explores Jesus’ teaching on fasting, garments, and wineskins, revealing that He has the authority to bring something completely new. The disciples of John ask why Jesus’ followers don’t fast like others, and Jesus responds with vivid images: a joyful wedding feast, an unshrunk patch on an old garment, and new wine poured into new wineskins.

Through these illustrations, Pastor Sarah reminds us...

Welcome to Discerning Authority; a new three-part journey through the way Jesus invites and redirects our lives. In Episode 1, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg walks us into Matthew’s tax booth; a place of compromise and exclusion; and shows how a single invitation changes everything: “Follow me.” Jesus sits at Matthew’s table with “tax collectors and sinners”; He quotes Hosea; and He reframes what God wants from His people: mercy over sacri...

In the fifth and final episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg invites us into the crowded house at Capernaum; four friends lower a paralyzed man before Jesus; everyone expects a miracle for his legs. Jesus goes deeper first: “Take heart; your sins are forgiven.” This moment reframes the whole scene; the greatest need beneath every need is the authority of Jesus to forgive and make us whole.

When the scribes question i...

What happens when the authority of Jesus confronts both the storm outside and the storm within?

In this episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Michael Lowenberg opens up Matthew 8:23–34, where Jesus stills a violent storm and drives out a legion of demons. These aren’t gentle, heartwarming stories—they are unsettling accounts that force us to wrestle with the sheer scope of Christ’s power. The winds, the waves, and even the spiritual...

What does it really mean to follow Jesus—not just admire Him, but actually go where He leads?

In this episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Michael Lowenberg opens up Matthew 8:14–22 with a message that’s both healing and unsettling. We begin with a moment of mercy as Jesus restores Peter’s mother-in-law with a simple touch. But what follows is a shift in tone—a challenge to comfort, convenience, and half-hearted discipleship.

Jesus...

In this episode of Kingdom Authority, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg invites us into one of the most astonishing interactions in the Gospels—where faith, humility, and authority intersect in a way that even amazes Jesus.

Teaching from Matthew 8:5–13, Pastor Sarah walks us through the story of the Roman centurion who approaches Jesus not with entitlement, but with reverent confidence. He doesn’t ask Jesus to come in person or perform a sign...

Welcome to a new series at Litchfield Church of the Nazarene: Kingdom Authority.

In this first episode, Pastor Michael Lowenberg leads us from the heights of the Sermon on the Mount into the living, breathing authority of Jesus in action. Teaching from Matthew 8:1–4, Pastor Michael invites us to slow down and truly see what happens when Jesus meets a man with leprosy—a man considered untouchable, unworthy, and unclean. But Jesus do...

In the final episode of The Sermon series, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg brings us to the end of Jesus’ message on the mount with a clear and compelling call: don’t just admire the blueprint—start building.

Drawing from Matthew 7:24–29, Pastor Sarah explores Jesus’ final parable of two builders: one wise, one foolish; one built on rock, the other on sand. This isn’t a lesson in construction—it's a call to obedience. Knowing the right answ...

In Episode 17 of The Sermon, Pastor Michael Lowenberg walks us through Jesus’ striking conclusion in Matthew 7:13–23, where we’re invited to examine the path we’re walking, the voices we’re listening to, and whether our faith is rooted in performance or in obedience to the will of God.

Is your faith a wide, easy road of good intentions and casual belief—or a narrow path of intentional trust and discipleship? With stories, scripture...

In Episode 16 of The Sermon, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg takes us deep into Matthew 7:7–12 and the vulnerable reality of prayer that feels unanswered. What do we do when we ask and there’s silence, when we seek and find only shadows, when we knock and the door stays closed?

With authenticity and grace, Pastor Sarah shares personal stories of faith in the waiting—through childhood cancer, infertility, adoption, and the quiet struggles of...

Welcome to Episode 15 of The Sermon, a teaching series from the Sermon on the Mount. In this message, Pastor Michael Lowenberg leads us into one of Jesus’ most pointed and often misunderstood teachings in Matthew 7:1–6.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” With humor, honesty, and spiritual depth, Pastor Michael unpacks the heart behind this command—not as a call to abandon discernment, but as a challenge to confront our own ...

Welcome to Episode 14 of The Sermon—a message for every overthinker, late-night worrier, and to-do list maker. In this week’s teaching from Matthew 6:25–34, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg shares Lessons from the Wildflowers, a beautifully honest and encouraging look at Jesus’ call to stop worrying and start trusting. Through humor, vulnerability, and relatable stories (yes, even a mental grocery list mid-prayer), Pastor Sarah reminds us th...

In Episode 13 of The Sermon, Pastor Michael Lowenberg invites us to take a closer look at two things we might not often connect: treasures and eyeballs. Based on Matthew 6:19–24, this message explores what we treasure, what we chase, and what that reveals about the condition of our hearts. Are we storing up the kind of rewards that fade with time—or the kind that shape our soul for eternity?

With clarity, humor, and real-life refle...

In Episode 12 of The Sermon, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg walks us through one of the most overlooked and misunderstood spiritual practices—fasting. Based on Matthew 6:16–18, this message unpacks Jesus’ words, “When you fast,” and explores the difference between man-centered, God-centered, and Christ-centered fasting. With humor, honesty (including a Baconator confession), and biblical depth, Pastor Sarah challenges us to look beyond rel...

In Episode 11 of The Sermon, Pastor Sarah Lowenberg takes us to the heart of prayer through Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:5–15. With warmth, clarity, and practical insight, she unpacks what it really means to talk with God, not perform for others. Whether you're a lifelong believer or just beginning your journey, this message invites you to rediscover prayer not as a religious duty, but as a lifeline of honest connection with a lovi...

In Episode 10 of The Sermon, Pastor Michael Lowenberg reflects on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:1–4, where we’re invited to consider not just what we give, but why we give. Is our generosity rooted in a desire to honor God—or are we hoping someone takes notice? Through honest storytelling (including a fiery “Wing-a-thon” tale) and grounded teaching, Pastor Michael explores how giving becomes meaningful when it's done quietly, sincerely...

In Episode 9 of The Sermon, Pastor Michael Lowenberg tackles Jesus’ most counter-intuitive command yet: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:43–48). Drawing us past the comfortable limits of “love your neighbor,” Michael shows how Jesus calls us to see every person—even those who’ve hurt us—as made in God’s image and worthy of our prayers and compassion. He unpacks the cultural backdrop of “hate your en...