What if the biggest changes in your life started with the smallest acts of obedience?

In the final message of our "Stories Jesus Told" series, Pastor Stephen Mizell explores two of Jesus' shortest parables—the mustard seed and the yeast—and reveals a powerful truth: God's Kingdom often grows through small, consistent acts of faithfulness rather than spectacular moments.

Whether you're struggling with forgiveness, prayer, anxiety, purpose, family relationships, or spiritual growth, this message will encourage you to trust God with the small beginnings that lead to lasting transformation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Small acts of obedience create Kingdom impact over time
• God celebrates planting while we often celebrate harvest
• The Kingdom of God grows through faithfulness, not spectacle
• Consistency is more powerful than intensity
• Spiritual growth is meant to benefit others, not just ourselves
• God transforms the world from the inside out
• Ordinary people become effective when they allow an extraordinary God to work through them
• Every great change begins with a single step of obedience

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

• Matthew 13:31-33
• Psalm 78:2
• Ezekiel 17
• 1 Corinthians 3

Open Door Church is a multi-campus church in eastern North Carolina committed to sharing the hope of Jesus and helping people take their next step in faith. Join us in person or online as we grow together through worship, teaching, and community.

www.visitopendoor.com

What foundation are you building your life on?

In this message from our "Stories Jesus Told" series, John Lassiter explores Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders from Matthew 7:24-27. Through personal stories, practical application, and biblical truth, this sermon challenges us to move beyond simply hearing God's Word and begin living it through obedience, spiritual disciplines, and faithful action.

Storms are inevitable in life—but when your foundation is built on Christ, you can stand firm no matter what comes your way.

Key Takeaways:
• Storms are certain, but God remains faithful through them
• Following Jesus doesn't eliminate storms—it provides a storm-proof foundation
• Spiritual resilience is built through daily obedience and discipline
• What is hidden beneath the surface determines what stands during life's challenges
• The difference between wisdom and foolishness is not hearing God's Word—it's doing it
• Spiritual maturity is measured by obedience, not simply knowledge
• God honors the unseen work of prayer, Scripture, worship, repentance, and integrity

Scripture References:
• Matthew 7:24-27
• Matthew 11:28-30
• John 16:33
• 1 John 2:15-17
• James 1:21-22
• Matthew 9:35-38

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• Leave a comment about what God is teaching you through this series

Open Door Church is a multi-campus church in eastern North Carolina committed to sharing the hope of Jesus and helping people take their next step in faith. Join us in person or online as we grow together through worship, teaching, and community.

www.visitopendoor.com

In this message from our "Stories Jesus Told" series, Keven Daughety explores Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 and challenges us to rethink what it truly means to love our neighbor.

Through this parable, Jesus pushes beyond the idea of doing the bare minimum and calls His followers to live with compassion that costs something. This sermon examines how easy it is to avoid getting involved in the struggles of others — and how Jesus invites us instead to walk alongside hurting people with grace, sacrifice, and love.

Whether you feel called to help someone in need or feel like you are the one "in the ditch" needing healing, this message is a reminder that Christ sees us, walks with us, and calls us to reflect His compassion to the world.

Scripture Reference:
• Luke 10:25–37

From Open Door Church in Edenton, NC

The Power of Persistence | Stories Jesus Told | Pastor Stephen Mizell

What do you do when heaven feels silent? In this episode of the Stories Jesus Told series, Pastor Stephen Mizell explores the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18 and challenges us to stay faithful in prayer even when answers feel delayed.

This conversation-centered teaching dives into spiritual disciplines, perseverance, and the character of God. Prayer is not about convincing a reluctant God to respond — it's about learning to trust a good Father through every season.

In this message:
• Why we often feel discouraged in prayer
• The difference between transactional faith and relational faith
• How God uses waiting seasons to form us spiritually
• Why consistency matters more than intensity
• The role of grit and persistence in spiritual growth
• How understanding God's goodness transforms prayer

📖 Scripture References:
• Luke 18:1-8
• Proverbs 22:6

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In this message from our series The Parables of Jesus, Pastor Stephen Mizell walks through the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 and explores the realities of family tension, rebellion, resentment, grace, and forgiveness.

Whether you're waiting on a prodigal, carrying pain from fractured relationships, or trying to hold your family together through difficult seasons, this message offers hope and reminds us that healthy families are not built on perfection, but on grace-filled hearts surrendered to God.

In this message:
• The difference between rebellion and resentment
• Why healthy families don't hide the mess
• Learning to let God work in situations we cannot control
• How to protect your heart while waiting on others
• The Father's response to both rebellious and resentful children
• Why grace matters more than appearances

📖 Scripture References:
• Luke 15:11-32
• Romans 10:9

🎧 Thank you for listening to the Open Door Church Podcast.

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Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we're called to do—and one of the most important.

In this message, Pastor Stephen Mizell walks through Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18 and unpacks the real cost of holding onto unforgiveness. What feels like control can actually become a prison—draining your joy, affecting your relationships, and keeping you stuck in the past.

This conversation isn't about pretending the hurt didn't happen. It's about discovering the freedom that comes when you release it.

If you've ever replayed a moment over and over… struggled to let something go… or felt the weight of bitterness—this message will meet you right where you are.

In This Episode:

• Why forgiveness is more than a command—it's a pathway to freedom
• How unforgiveness quietly impacts your mental and emotional health
• The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation
• Why remembering what you've been forgiven changes everything
• Practical steps to begin letting go

Scripture Referenced:

• Matthew 18:21–35
• Romans 10:9

Open Door Church is a multi-campus church in eastern North Carolina committed to sharing the hope of Jesus and helping people take their next step in faith. Join us in person or online as we grow together through worship, teaching, and community.

www.visitopendoor.com

Mental health and anxiety are realities many people are carrying—but what if some of what's overwhelming us isn't just what's happening around us… but what's growing within us?

In this message, Pastor Stephen Mizell explores the Parable of the Sower with a focus on the thorny soil—revealing how worry, distraction, and the constant pursuit of more can quietly choke out the peace God is trying to grow in our lives.

This message offers both biblical truth and practical steps to help you begin clearing space for God's Word to take root.

You don't need to fix everything today.
You just need to start by pulling one weed.

• Why anxiety isn't just a mental struggle—but a spiritual competitor
• How worry and distraction "choke out" what matters most
• The hidden cost of always being overwhelmed and overstimulated
• Practical ways to set boundaries and reduce stress
• What it looks like to cultivate a healthy, receptive heart
• Why asking for help is a step toward healing—not away from faith

Mark 4:1–20
Judges 2:2–3

If this message spoke to you, consider sharing it with someone who may need encouragement today.

Open Door Church is a multi-campus church in eastern North Carolina committed to sharing the hope of Jesus and helping people take their next step in faith. Join us in person or online as we grow together through worship, teaching, and community. | www.visitopendoor.com

What has God placed in your hands — and are you actually using it? In this message from our Stories Jesus Told series, Pastor Stephen Mizell unpacks the Parable of the Talents and challenges us to stop being "display only" Christians. Whether you feel like you only have one talent or you're paralyzed by fear, this message will call you to dig it up, dust it off, and put it in the game.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔲 God has entrusted every single person with staggering gifts, talents, and abilities — and He expects a return.

🔲 Your theology will write your biography. How you see God determines how you respond to Him.

🔲 Fear causes us to bury what was never meant to be buried — gifts, testimonies, calling, and purpose.

🔲 God will never hold you accountable for someone else's calling — but He does expect you to use what He gave you.

🔲 One talent fully submitted can change the world. (Five loaves + two fish fed 20,000.)

🔲 Faithfulness is an action, not just a belief. The reward for faithful work is more responsibility and a deeper relationship with God.

🔲 We are not called to be safe-keepers of God's grace — we are called to be bold investors because of His goodness.

📖 SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Talents (Bags of Silver)