How has the Church protected the true Gospel for nearly 2,000 years?

In the final message of Cults & Counterfeits, guest speaker Ryan Straarup explores how the early Church defended biblical truth against false teaching and why historic Christian creeds still matter today.

Long before there were denominations, podcasts, or social media debates, followers of Jesus were already wrestling with one question: Who is Jesus, really? As false teachings spread through the early Church, faithful believers gathered around God's Word to defend the Gospel that had been entrusted to them.

In this message, you'll discover why the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed weren't written to add to Scripture, but to faithfully protect what Scripture already teaches. You'll see how the earliest Christians responded to heresy, why every generation must contend for the truth, and why the Church's greatest message has never been advice about what you must do, but good news about what Jesus has already done.

The Gospel isn't another self-help plan or religious checklist.

Christ has risen. It is finished.

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

What if the most dangerous lie isn’t the opposite of the truth, but something that sounds almost true?

In this message from Cults & Counterfeits, Brad teaches on how every counterfeit gospel begins by attacking the same place: the authority of God’s Word.

From the garden in Genesis 3 to today, the enemy’s strategy has not changed. He twists Scripture, subtracts from Scripture, and adds to Scripture. And if we are not grounded in the Bible, we can easily begin shaping God’s Word around culture, feelings, comfort, or personal desire.

This message is a call to trust the Bible, learn the Bible, and share the Bible.

Because a partial truth can destroy your life, but the whole truth can transform your life.

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

What if the counterfeit isn’t denying Jesus, but changing how we are made right with God?

In Week 3 of Cults & Counterfeits, Brad teaches on Catholicism and the difference between a Gospel that says “It is finished” and a system that says “keep paying.”

While Catholics affirm many core truths about Jesus, the major difference comes down to authority and salvation. Is Scripture our final authority? And are we justified by faith in Christ alone, or by faith plus works, sacraments, and ongoing merit?

In this message, we look at the difference between imputed righteousness and infused righteousness, why assurance of salvation matters, and why the finished work of Jesus is truly good news.

The Gospel is not a treadmill.
It is not a ladder.
It is not “Jesus started it, now you finish it.”

Jesus said, “It is finished.”

📖 Scriptures referenced:
1 Timothy 4:1 • Galatians 1:6–7 • 1 Peter 3:15 • Matthew 16:18–19 • Ephesians 2:20 • Matthew 18:18 • Galatians 2:16 • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 • 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Romans 10:9 • 1 John 5:13 • John 19:30 • Romans 8:1 • Galatians 3:11–12 • Galatians 5:1–4 • James 2:17–18 • Ephesians 2:8–10 • Romans 1:17 • Luke 23:43 • Romans 4:5

🙌 Next Step:
Ask yourself honestly:
“Am I resting in the finished work of Jesus, or am I still trying to prove I’ve done enough?”

Nothing to add. Nothing to earn. Nothing to fear.
In Christ, there is now no condemnation.

🌐 spiritchurch.co

📍 Spirit Church (Chandler, AZ)
Sundays • 9:00 AM & 10:45 AM

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

What if the most dangerous lie isn’t the one that looks obviously false, but the one that looks almost true?

In Week 2 of Cults & Counterfeits, Brad teaches on Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses, two groups that claim to be Christian but deny foundational Christian doctrine.

Both use Christian words like Jesus, gospel, salvation, grace, and Scripture, but redefine them in ways that lead to a different authority, a different Jesus, and a different salvation.

In this message, we run both beliefs through three key questions:
What is your final authority?
Who do you say Jesus is?
How are you saved?

The goal is not to win arguments. The goal is to know the truth, love people well, and point them to the real Jesus: fully God, fully man, uncreated, crucified in our place, risen from the grave, and the only way to the Father.

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

How do you spot a counterfeit gospel?

In Week 1 of Cults & Counterfeits, Brad teaches on the most important foundation of our faith: the true Gospel.

Just like counterfeit money works by looking close to the real thing, false gospels are dangerous because they often sound spiritual, biblical, or even Christian. But if the message adds to Jesus, subtracts from Jesus, or changes how we are saved, it is not the Gospel.

In this message, we walk through the real Gospel: a holy God, hopeless sinners, Jesus Christ crucified and risen, salvation by grace through faith, and eternity with God for all who turn and trust in Him.

We also learn three questions that help expose a counterfeit:
What is your final authority?
Who do you say Jesus is?
How are you saved?

The goal is not to win arguments. The goal is to know the truth, guard the Gospel, and share it with gentleness, respect, and love.

📖 Scriptures referenced:
Galatians 1:6–9 • Ephesians 2:1–10 • 1 Timothy 4:1 • Ephesians 4:14–15 • 2 Timothy 4:3–4 • Isaiah 6:3 • Romans 3:23 • Romans 6:23 • John 1:1–14 • Hebrews 4:15 • 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Acts 4:12 • John 14:6 • Ephesians 2:8–9 • James 2:17–18 • Revelation 21:3–4 • 1 John 4:1 • Acts 17:11 • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 • Romans 10:9 • Matthew 7:21 • 1 Peter 3:15

🙌 Next Step:
Ask yourself honestly:
“What Gospel have I received, and what Gospel am I passing on?”
Believe the Gospel. Guard the Gospel. Spread the Gospel.

🌐 spiritchurch.co

📍 Spirit Church (Chandler, AZ)
Sundays • 9:00 AM & 10:45 AM

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

What do you do when following God gets harder than you expected?

In Week 3 of In the Waiting, Brad teaches from Joshua 7 and reminds us that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you misheard God.

Israel had crossed the Jordan, seen Jericho fall, and stepped into the land God promised them. But after one painful defeat at Ai, Joshua started wondering if they should have stayed on the other side.
Sometimes the same thing happens to us.

We obey God.
We take the step.
We start moving forward.
And then the process gets harder than we thought.
But hard doesn’t mean go back.

This message is for anyone who has started following Jesus, started building something, started healing, started obeying, or started walking into what God promised, but now feels tempted to retreat to what was familiar.

Hard doesn’t mean you misheard God.
Hard doesn’t mean God left you.
Hard doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Don’t go back.

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

This week in our series “In the Waiting,” Brad shares a message for anyone who feels stuck between what God said and what they’re currently experiencing.

Through the story of the blind man in John 9, we’re reminded that sometimes the greatest act of faith isn’t sitting still — it’s taking the next step before you have all the answers.

Because often, we’re not actually waiting on God…

we’re waiting on certainty.

Waiting on clarity.

Waiting until we feel ready.

But what if God has already spoken?

In this message, we talk about:

• The difference between waiting and procrastinating

• Why delayed obedience is still disobedience

• What to do when you don’t have certainty or clarity

• How to keep walking when life doesn’t make sense

• Why faith often means moving before you see the outcome

If you’ve been waiting for healing, freedom, restoration, direction, or breakthrough — we pray this message encourages you to trust God enough to take the next step.

Even when you can’t see the full picture yet.

Because sometimes the miracle doesn’t happen before the movement… it happens in the middle of your obedience.

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church

This week, we kicked off a brand new series called “In the Waiting.”

If you’ve ever felt stuck between what God promised and what you’re currently experiencing… this message is for you.

In this message, Brad walks through the story of David’s anointing in 1 Samuel 16 and reminds us that some of the most important work God does in our lives happens in the middle — between the promise and the payoff.

Because waiting seasons aren’t wasted seasons.

They’re preparation seasons.

In this message, you’ll discover:

• Why God often develops us in hidden seasons

• How to trust God when life feels delayed

• Why pain and waiting still have purpose

• What David’s waiting season teaches us about preparation

• How to “work your wait” instead of wasting it

Just because you’re not there yet… doesn’t mean God isn’t working.

LINKS

• Website: https://www.spiritchurch.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritchurch.co/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spirit.church
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spirit.church