Sabbath Means Worship

"What if your day off could be more than just a break?" Pastor Steve Van Denend concludes the church's four-part Sabbath series by exploring worship as the ultimate purpose of the Sabbath. In this final message, he unpacks how Sabbath isn't just about stopping, resting, or delighting - it's about reconnecting with what truly matters and reorienting your life around what gives you meaning. Steve offers practical insights into transforming a typical day off into a intentional time of spiritual renewal and personal reset. If you've ever felt disconnected, overwhelmed, or just looking for a better way to approach your week, this sermon provides a fresh perspective on finding genuine rest and purpose.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, July 20, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

Sabbath Means Stop

Feeling like life is one endless sprint with no finish line? In the first message of our Sabbath series, Pastor Steven Van Denend challenges everything you think you know about rest. This isn't another guilt trip about slowing down, but a radical invitation to reimagine how you live, work, and breathe. Drawing from biblical wisdom and modern burnout, Steven unpacks why stopping isn't just a luxury, but a critical practice for surviving - and thriving - in a world that's always on. Whether you're a skeptic or someone desperate for a different way, this message offers a fresh perspective on finding rhythm, purpose, and peace.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, June 15, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

Heart Exam (Jonah 4)

What if the person you can't stand is exactly who needs your compassion the most? In this powerful sermon from The Edge Church, Pastor Steve Van Denend unpacks the final chapter in the book of Jonah, revealing how our own bitterness and narrow-mindedness can blind us to God's bigger picture of grace. Through a raw and honest exploration of Jonah's story, you'll discover how to recognize when your personal sense of justice is getting in the way of understanding true compassion. This message challenges you to look beyond your own hurt and see how forgiveness and mercy can transform not just others, but yourself. Whether you're struggling with resentment, feeling stuck in your own perspective, or just curious about a fresh take on an old biblical story, this sermon offers real insights into dealing with anger and extending grace.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

Grave to Garden | Easter 2025

He is Risen! In this powerful Easter sermon, Pastor Steve explores the journey from grave to garden - how Jesus's resurrection transforms death into life. Through his sacrifice, Christ conquered sin and death, offering hope and renewal to everyone who believes. Steve explains how God's love moves us from spiritual darkness to vibrant, purposeful living, breaking the power of death and bringing us into a new way of existence. If you've ever wondered about the meaning of Easter or what Christianity is really about, this message reveals God's incredible plan to rescue and restore humanity through Jesus. This is more than a sermon; it's an invitation to experience life-changing grace.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, April 20, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com.

I Am Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3)

"Where are you running from in your life right now?" Pastor Steven Van Denend digs into the story of Jonah in a way that cuts straight to the heart of our personal struggles with purpose and direction. Using humor and real-world insights, he breaks down how we often try to dodge the things we know we're meant to do, revealing how our own plans can take us further from where we really want to be. This message isn't about guilt or judgment, but about understanding those moments when you're resisting change or avoiding a deeper calling. If you've ever felt stuck, uncertain, or like you're running in the wrong direction, this sermon offers a fresh, relatable perspective on finding your path.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, March 16, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

Prayer | Being With God

Ever feel like you're just going through the motions in life, constantly busy but never truly connected? In this sermon, Pastor Steven Van Denend breaks down what it really means to connect with God beyond just saying prayers or checking a spiritual box. He explores the idea of being present with God - not as a complicated religious ritual, but as a simple, transformative practice that can bring real peace and clarity to your life. Using relatable stories and practical insights, Steven shows how taking time to just "be" with God can help you navigate stress, find inner calm, and experience personal growth in a world that's always pushing you to do more. Whether you're spiritual, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this message offers a fresh perspective on finding meaning and rest in the midst of life's chaos.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

Prayer | Talking With God

Do you ever struggle to know how to pray? Do you find prayer boring or feel like God isn't listening? In this message, Pastor Steven shares a fresh perspective on prayer that can breathe new life into your conversations with God. He explains the different ways we can talk with God - through gratitude, lament, and asking for our needs and the needs of others. You'll learn how to approach God as a loving Father who is eager to respond to your prayers. Whether you're new to faith or have been praying for years, this message can help you deepen your relationship with God.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

The Love of Advent

What is love, really? Pastor Steve takes a fresh look at the true meaning of love, and how it's found not in ourselves, but in the gift of Jesus. Discover how God's love can transform your life and relationships this Christmas. Join Pastor Steve as he unpacks the biblical perspective on love, and challenges you to experience it in a deeper way. Whether you're seeking encouragement or simply reflecting on the holidays, this message is for you.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, December 22, 2024. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

The Joy of Advent

Are you feeling joyful this Christmas season? Or is it a struggle to find joy right now? In this message, Pastor Steven Van Denend shares an important truth - real joy is not dependent on your circumstances. He explains how the joy found in Jesus is deeper and more lasting than temporary happiness. Discover how you can experience this joy, no matter what you're going through. If you need encouragement to keep your focus on what matters most this Christmas, give this a listen.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, December 15, 2024. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

His Presence Has Always Been The Plan

His Presence Has Always Been The Plan

"So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen the glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son." - John 1:14

This message was broadcast on Sunday, November 27, 2022. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.

The Triumph of Faith (Hebrews 11:32-40)

The Triumph of Faith (Hebrews 11:32-40)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak,Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in cavesand in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, November 20, 2022. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections. 135

A Faith That Delivers (Hebrews 11:28-31)

A Faith That Delivers (Hebrews 11:28-31)

By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

This message was broadcast on Sunday, November 13, 2022. The Edge Church is located in Aurora, Illinois. For more information about our community, please visit http://www.edgeaurora.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional content and connections.