We all go through seasons when life feels like it’s stuck in dark mode—when things are falling apart, prayers feel unanswered, and hope seems hard to find. In this powerful message, Pastor Mark unpacks the story of Habakkuk, a prophet who wrestled with God during one of Israel’s darkest moments. Through his journey, we learn how to worship God even when nothing makes sense.
If you’ve ever asked questions like “God, do You care?”, “Is this fair?”, or “Are You even there?”, this message is for you. Discover how to move from wrestling to worship, from worry to faith, and from despair to hope.
No matter what you’re facing, God is still good—and He’s still with you, even in the dark.
📖 Scripture: Habakkuk 1–3
🎵 Key Verse: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s, He enables me to tread on the heights.” – Habakkuk 3:19
This week on The Sharing Grace Podcast, Pastor Brandon sits down with Pastor Mark and CAV CFO Cliff Miller to unpack the core church value of Generosity. From Paul’s advice to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, they explore how contentment, godliness, and trust in God’s provision shape our giving, and why generosity reflects the heart of God.
They also share practical tips for stewarding resources well, avoiding modern traps of wealth, and experiencing the joy of giving in everyday life.
Books & Resources Mentioned:
📘 The Treasure Principle — https://a.co/d/hu2Raim
📙 Give & Take — https://a.co/d/4vT5zvI
📕 Ego is the Enemy — https://a.co/d/jlj5Ic2
📗 Unreasonable Hospitality — https://a.co/d/6xKaJtK
As we close out our This Is Us series, Pastor Mark dives into one of the most defining values of our church: Generosity. In a world that constantly tells us to get more, build more, and hold tighter, God calls us to live with open hands.
In this message, Pastor Mark unpacks 1 Timothy 6 to show what it really means to “be rich in the right way.” From learning contentment to escaping the trap of materialism, you’ll discover how generosity leads to true freedom, joy, and purpose both now and for eternity.
You’ll hear practical truths, personal stories, and plenty of humor as Pastor Mark reminds us:
💡 God doesn’t want something from you — He wants something for you.
💡 The happiest people are the most generous people.
💡 When we put our hope in God, not wealth, we take hold of “the life that is truly life.”
In this episode, Pastors Jay Austin and Mark Ragsdale, and Cris O’Brien unpack the six stages of discipleship. From new life in Christ to leaving a legacy of faith, they explore what it means to grow as a disciple who makes disciples. Tune in for an honest and practical conversation about spiritual growth, community, and living out the Great Commission.
What if faith in Jesus stopped with us? In this powerful message, Pastor Jay Austin unpacks the heart of discipleship, one of the core values of Church at Viera. We are called not just to receive the Gospel, but to reproduce it, equipping others to make disciples who make disciples.
Through six stages of spiritual growth, from new birth in Christ to leaving a lasting legacy, Pastor Jay challenges us to identify where we are in our walk with Jesus and what God is calling us to do next. You’ll be inspired to see discipleship not as a program, but as a lifelong journey of growth, service, and multiplication.
Let’s be a generation that doesn’t let faith stop with us.
Let’s make His story.
Why does God’s grace sometimes offend? Pastors Wendell, Brandon, and Jay unpack how grace both challenges and transforms us. Discover how to share grace boldly, love deeply, and live for His name’s sake.
In this powerful message, Wendell Mathis unpacks “The Offense of the Gospel of Grace” from Acts 9:10–16.
Grace is often seen as soft and comforting, but true, biblical grace also confronts, convicts, and transforms. Through Scripture and personal stories, Wendell challenges believers to embrace strong preaching, speak truth with love, and share grace for Christ’s name’s sake. The same gospel that softens some hearts can harden others, but it is always the power of God to salvation.
In this episode, Pastors Mark, Brandon, and Jay unpack The Gospel Story, the true, personal, and life-changing story of Jesus Christ. Together, they explore how the Gospel is a true story, a love story, a battle between good and evil, and ultimately, a rescue story. Listen in as they share how God’s love shapes our identity, why we must face the reality of sin to grasp the beauty of salvation, and how each of us can share the hope of Jesus with others through authentic relationships and personal stories of life change.
We all love a good story, but there’s one story that rises above them all. It’s not fiction, it’s not myth. It’s the true story that has changed more lives and cultures than any other: the Gospel.
In this message, Pastor Mark Ragsdale unpacks the power of the Gospel, the greatest rescue story ever told. You’ll see how God’s love reaches every person, how Jesus defeated evil once and for all, and how your story can be forever changed by His.
Whether you’re exploring faith or learning how to share it, this message will help you understand what makes the Gospel good news and why it’s worth sharing with everyone you know.
In this episode, Pastor Jay, Pastor John, & Courtney Taylor dive into Acts 2 and unpack what it means to be devoted together as the early church was. From God’s Word to sharing life, generosity, and worship, they reflect on how these devotions shape authentic community today. Along the way, they share personal stories, practical challenges, and a vision for living connected in Christ.
We were created for community. From the very beginning, God designed us to live in relationship with Him and with one another. In this message from our This Is Us series, we look at our third core value: Together.
Walking through Acts 2:42–47, we see four key characteristics of authentic Christian community:
1️⃣ Devotion to God’s Word
2️⃣ Sharing life with one another
3️⃣ Radical generosity
4️⃣ A life of worship.
Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, we all need relationships that help us grow in Christ. Real community happens when we gather around God’s Word, care for one another, and live out our faith side by side.
At Church at Viera, we believe life is better together—and that’s why groups matter.
In this week’s podcast, we explore what it means to truly stand under God’s Word as disciples of Christ. Using 2 Timothy 3:14–17 as our guide, we dive into the why, whom, and what of Scripture—why it’s essential for understanding salvation, whom it comes from, and how it equips us for every good work.
We’ll unpack how Scripture teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains us, moving Bible study beyond mere information into true transformation. Through reflection, discussion, and practical application, you’ll discover how God’s Word can shape your faith, guide your daily decisions, and equip you to serve others faithfully.
Join us as we reflect, discuss, and pray together, asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the life-giving power of God’s Word.
What guides your life when everything else goes dark? Just like a map on a hike or a GPS in the car, God has given us His Word to direct our steps. In this message from our This Is Us series on core values, Pastor Mark teaches on “Under Scripture”—why the Bible is more than a good book, and how it is God’s living Word meant to shape, correct, and equip us for every good work.
Drawing from 2 Timothy 3, we’ll explore why Scripture is reliable, how it points us to Jesus, and how it provides answers to life’s biggest questions. You’ll also hear the clear Gospel message through the Roman’s Road and be challenged to let God’s Word not just get into your hands, but into your heart and life.
In this episode, Pastors Brandon, Mark, and Jay sit down to discuss this past week’s sermon, In Christ. Together, they unpack what it means to root our identity fully in Jesus, exploring the freedom and security that comes from knowing we are loved by Him, belong to Him, and are completely dependent on Him. Drawing from passages in Ephesians, Galatians, Romans, and John, they reflect on how our identity in Christ reshapes the way we live, love, and follow Him daily.
In a world filled with brokenness, tragedy, and uncertainty, where do we find hope and identity? In this powerful message, Pastor Brandon reminds us that our truest identity is found in Christ—we are loved by Him, we find our belonging in Him, and we are powerless without Him.
Drawing from Galatians 2:20, Brandon unpacks what it means to live “in Christ” and how God’s love is unconditional, sacrificial, and transformative. If you’ve ever struggled with questions like “Who am I?” or felt the weight of trying to find your worth in what you do, what you have, or how others see you, this message will point you back to the unshakable truth of who you are in Jesus.
Whether you’re walking through grief, confusion, or searching for meaning, this message will encourage you to anchor your identity in Christ and trust Him as your source of strength.
In this episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast, Pastor Jay sits down with Pastor Mark, along with Caden Sichler, Young Adults Coordinator, and Matt Conner, Discipleship Intern, to launch our new series This Is Us. Together they look at Daniel 1 and the lives of four young men who stood strong in their faith by living with conviction and values rooted in God. The conversation explores what it means to make decisions ahead of time, walk in daily faith, and stand firm when culture pushes back. Listen in for stories, encouragement, and practical ways to live out your faith with courage today.
Every person, family, and church needs core values that guide their decisions and shape their future. In this kickoff message from our This Is Us series, Pastor Mark unpacks why values matter, how Daniel and his friends lived theirs out in the face of cultural pressure, and how we can stand strong in our faith today. Discover how to pre-decide your values, walk faithfully with God, and trust Him to walk with you even through the fire.
In this episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast, Pastor Brandon sits down with Pastor Jay to dive deeper into his message from the United series, Kinfolk: A United Family at God’s Table. Together, they explore what it means to move from being outsiders to becoming children of God, how Jesus’ prayer for unity shapes the way we live, why forgiveness is central to life in God’s family, and the powerful invitation to make room for others at God’s table. This conversation will encourage you to embrace your identity as a beloved child of God and live out that calling with grace, unity, and purpose.
#churchatviera #SharingGracePodast #CAVfamily
Family can be messy, but it’s also one of the most powerful pictures of what it means to belong. In this message, Pastor Jay Austin shares how God calls us to live as His children, united as one family, anchored in Christ.
Through Scripture and stories, Pastor Jay reminds us that while disunity comes naturally, true unity is only possible through the Spirit of God living in us. When we live as God’s kinfolk, adopted, forgiven, and filled with His Spirit, we not only strengthen each other, but also shine to a world longing for hope and belonging.
Whether you’ve been part of God’s family for years or you’re still wondering if there’s a seat at the table for you, this message is an invitation to experience the unity, love, and grace that only Jesus can provide.
In this episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast, Pastor Mark and Jay join Brandon to unpack the message One Light from our United series.
Together, they explore
- What it means to live as children of light
- Why our identity in Christ comes before our activity
- How we can overcome fear to let our light shine for God’s glory.
Tune in for an encouraging conversation on living out your faith at home, work, and in the community.
