Christ United Fellowship

05/25/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝

The Miracle You’ve Probably Never Heard PreachedMay 24, 2026Scripture Reading: Matthew 17:24–27 Sermon by: Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff Christ United Fellowship in...

05/25/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This Monday, our nation pauses for Memorial Day. It’s a day set aside to remember the men and women who laid down their lives in service to others. It is a day of gratitude, a day of quiet reflection, and a day when we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy were not handed to us cheaply. They were carried on the shoulders of those willing to give everything, including their lives.

Every headstone, every folded flag, every name etched in stone tells a story of courage and love. These were ordinary men and women who made extraordinary sacrifices. They stepped forward so others could live in peace. They stood in the gap so others could be safe. They bore burdens so others could be free.

And as we honor them, our hearts naturally turn toward another sacrifice, an even greater one, the sacrifice at the center of our faith.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” On the cross of Calvary, our Savior did just that. He stood in the gap. He stepped into danger for us. He bore a weight we could never lift. He faced an enemy we could never defeat. And He offered His life so we could have life. Full, forgiven, free, and forever.

The sacrifices we remember on Memorial Day do not replace the cross, nor does the cross overshadow them. Instead, they help us see something true and beautiful: that love always costs something. That real love gives. That real love serves. That real love lays itself down.

Real love steps into the darkness so someone else can walk in the light. Real love pays a price so others can live free. Real love bears burdens it didn’t create, so others don’t have to carry them alone. Real love stands in the gap, bears the weight, and chooses sacrifice so others can know peace. Real love stretches out its arms on a cross and says, “This is for you.”

So as we move through this Memorial Day weekend…

• We remember with gratitude those who gave their lives for our nation.

• We pray for families who carry the weight of loss.

• We honor the courage of those who stood in harm’s way.

• And we look to Jesus, who carried the ultimate burden so we could know the ultimate freedom.

May this day of remembrance deepen our appreciation not only for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans but also for the freedom we have in Christ, namely, freedom from sin, fear, and death itself.

And may we live in such a way as to honor both kinds of sacrifice, with humility, gratitude, and lives shaped by love.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Austin

05/19/2026

There’s been a lot of conversation lately about the UFO files that have been released and the possibility of more to come. What does all of this mean for Christians? Listen as Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff offers a grounded, biblical perspective.

The UFO Files vs. The Truth That Doesn’t TrembleMay 17, 2026Scripture Reading:Colossians 1:13–20Sermon by: Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff Christ United Fellowship in...

05/16/2026

“𝗔 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗙𝗢 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Every generation faces moments when the world suddenly feels bigger than it did the day before. Moments when headlines stir our imaginations, when new discoveries raise new questions, and when the mysteries above us make us wonder what it all means for the only true faith, Bible-Based Christianity.

In recent weeks, the release of government UFO files has captured the world’s attention. People are talking, speculating, and some are worrying. Some are quietly asking questions they’ve never asked before.

And for many believers, those questions sound like this, “If there are things in the sky we can’t explain, what does that mean for Scripture? If there is life beyond what we know, what does that mean for our faith in Jesus? If we are currently discovering new mysteries, does that shake the foundations of our faith?”

These are honest questions many people are asking. God is not afraid of them, and we shouldn’t be either. Why not? Because our faith has never depended on what we can't explain. It has always depended on the God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ through Scripture.

This Sunday, we’re going to talk about how to respond calmly, confidently, and Biblically to a world buzzing with speculation. We’re going to look at what Scripture says about the God who created the heavens, the Christ who holds all things together, and the unshakable truth that no discovery in the sky can dethrone the One who made it.

If you’ve wondered how to talk with your children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, or the people you meet about these topics, this message is for you.

I can’t wait to open the Word with you and dive into its truths with clarity and conviction.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Austin

05/11/2026

What did Jesus do in the moments before He took His last breaths? He looked down from the cross and cared for His mother. Listen as Dr. Brinkerhoff shares how this tender act reveals the heart of our Savior—and how it speaks into the beauty, sacrifice, and calling we honor on Mother’s Day.

What did Jesus do in the moments before He took His last breaths? He looked down from the cross and cared for His mother. Listen as Dr. Brinkerhoff shares ho...

05/10/2026

A Mother’s Day Reflection

Mother’s Day is a beautiful day. It’s a day filled with gratitude, memories, and deep affection. It’s a day when we pause to honor the women who have shaped our lives with love, sacrifice, and strength. A day when we thank God for mothers who nurtured us, prayed for us, guided us, and believed in us.

But Mother’s Day is also a tender day, because not every woman in our church, or any church, has walked the same path. Not every story is simple. Not every memory is sweet. Not every heart feels the same emotions when this day arrives. And so, as a church family, we hold all these stories together. With compassion. With gentleness. With grace.

This Sunday, we honor all the mothers who have loved well. The women who have poured themselves out for their children. The women who have given their children their time, their energy, their tears, and their prayers. The women who have modeled the love of Christ in countless unseen ways.

But we also honor the women who longed to be mothers but never were. The women who have loved children who were not biologically their own, and the women who have mentored, encouraged, and spiritually mothered others with extraordinary tenderness.

And we honor those whose memories of their own mothers are complicated. Those who grew up without the love they wanted and needed. Those who were wounded rather than nurtured. Those who still feel the pain of what they never received.

To each of you, wherever your story falls and whatever your journey has been, please know this: You are valued and loved by our entire church family, and even more, you are valued and loved by God.

Mother’s Day is ultimately not just a celebration of biological motherhood. It’s a celebration of the love God pours into the hearts of His daughters. A love that nurtures. A love that protects. A love that encourages. A love that reflects His own heart.

So today, we thank God for every woman in our church family. For the mothers. For the grandmothers. For the spiritual mothers. For the women who love with Christlike compassion. For the women who carry others in prayer. For the women who serve, support, and strengthen the body of Christ. Your presence matters. Your love matters. Your faithfulness matters. And your life is a gift to us all.

May God bless each of you this Mother’s Day. With peace. With comfort. With joy. And with the deep assurance that you are held in the everlasting arms of the One who loves you abundantly, unconditionally, perfectly, and always will.

Happy Mother’s Day, dear sisters! We thank God for you!

05/09/2026

"The Log… The Speck… And the Mirror of God's Grace…"

The Log… The Speck… And the Mirror of God's Grace…May 3, 2026Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1–5 Sermon by: Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff Christ United Fellowship in D...

05/02/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, the world’s eyes will turn to Churchill Downs. The hats. The colors. The crowds. The thunder of hooves on the track. And yes, the mint juleps. The Kentucky Derby is more than a race. It’s a picture of passion, preparation, and endurance. It’s the pursuit of a crown that only one horse will win.

But for followers of Jesus, the Derby offers a powerful reminder of something far greater. Scripture teaches us that we, too, are in a race. Not a sprint, but a lifelong race of faith. A daily walk with Jesus that carries eternal significance.

In 1st Corinthians 9:24, the apostle Paul writes, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” In Hebrews 12:1–2, he says, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”

Just like the Derby, our race demands training, focus, discipline, and heart. Every horse entered in the Derby has been trained for this single moment.

No horse shows up at Churchill Downs unprepared. All have been conditioned, strengthened, stretched, and tested.

They have run in the heat. In the rain. In the mud. They have been shaped for the race long before the gates open…

And the same is true for us. Every trial we’ve walked through. Every prayer we’ve prayed in the dark. Every moment we’ve leaned on God when we felt weak. Regardless of the season, we didn’t quit, even when it felt easier to do so.

All of it has been training. All of it has been preparation. All of it has been God shaping us for the race He has called us to run.

Every jockey has just one job. To keep his eyes forward and focused. And so do we. A jockey who keeps looking back loses the race. A jockey who watches the horses beside him loses focus. A jockey who panics when the field tightens loses his rhythm.

The only way to run well is for the jockey to look ahead, stay centered, and trust the path beneath him. Jesus says the same to us. He tells us to “fix our eyes on Him, who is the author and perfecter of our faith…” That’s from Hebrews 12:2.

Not on the past. Not on the failures. Not on the noise around us. Not on the crowd’s opinions. But eyes forward. Eyes on Christ. Eyes on the One who runs beside us and strengthens us.

The Derby is not always won by the horse with the fastest start. It is won by the strongest finisher. Some horses burst out of the gate with power but fade before the final turn. Others start quietly and steadily, then surge when it matters most.

The Christian life isn’t about how we started. It’s about how we finish. It’s about a faith that endures. A faith that keeps going when the track gets muddy. A faith that holds on when the race feels long.

The truth of the Gospel is this: God is far more interested in our finish than in our beginning, and He gives us strength for every step from here to the finish line.

And that brings us to the greatest difference between the Kentucky Derby and the Christian race. In the Kentucky Derby, only one horse wins. But in the Christian life, every believer who finishes in faith receives the prize.

The winner of the Derby receives roses, applause, and a brief moment of glory. But over time, the roses wilt, the applause fades, the moment passes, and the event becomes little more than a distant memory.

But Scripture says in 2 Timothy 4:8, “There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, a crown that does not fade.” Think about that. It does not wilt. It does not rust. It does not end. The Derby crown lasts a season, but Christ’s crown lasts forever!

So let us run our race, one step, one day, one prayer at a time. For our race is not against the person beside us. Our race is not against the world. Our race is not even against our past. Our race is simply this: Walk with Jesus today. Trust Him today. Obey Him today. Love Him today. And take the next step He puts in front of us.

And when the final turn comes, when the finish line appears, when the race is over, we will hear the only words that truly matter, “Well done, good and faithful servant… Well done… Well done…”

Brothers and sisters, may each of us run the race God has set before us. May we run it with faith and endurance, keeping our eyes on Jesus every step of the way, because the One who chose us, the One who called us, the One who forgives us and has saved our souls, will carry us all the way home to the glory of heaven.

Blessings and Grace,
Austin

05/02/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last Thursday afternoon, a passage of Scripture came to mind as I sat alone in the living room. Kristin’s Bible was within arm’s reach, so I opened it to look up the verse. As I did, something unexpected caught my eye — a small article tucked inside the front cover. It was from our sister, Nancy Gullibon. She had given it to Kristin years earlier, and Kristin had kept it close ever since.

The title caught my eye: “How You Spent It.” It read: If God granted you 70 years of life, you would spend:

• 24 years sleeping

• 14 years working

• 8 years in amusement

• 6 years at the dinner table

• 5 years in transportation

• 4 years in conversation

• 3 years in education

• 3 years watching television

And then came the line that stopped me in my tracks: If you went to church every Sunday and prayed for five minutes every morning and night, you would be giving God five months of your life. Five months out of seventy years!

When I read that, something inside me made me pause. It was a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit, reminding me that time is not just something we use. It’s something we spend. And once it’s spent, it’s gone forever.

We spend our days the way we spend our dollars, on what we value most. The truth is, God doesn’t want our leftovers. He doesn’t want the scraps from our schedules or the margins of our attention. He wants us. Not just some of us, but all of us. He wants our hearts, our presence, our time, our attention, and our love.

Not because He’s demanding. But because He’s relational. Because He’s personal. Because He’s the only One who can fill the very life He has given us.

When Jesus invited people to follow Him, He didn’t hand them a rulebook. He didn’t give them a manual or a ritual to follow. He gave them Himself. He said, “Come to Me.” Not “Come to religion.” He said, “Come to Me.” And that invitation still stands today.

So maybe the question isn’t “How much time do I give God?” Maybe the deeper question is “How much of me does God get?”

My prayer for all of us, myself included, is that we won’t settle for a faith that fits into five months of a seventy‑year life. I pray we’ll walk with Jesus in the ordinary minutes, the in‑between spaces, and the quiet moments no one else sees.

That’s where relationships grow. That’s where peace deepens. That’s where joy takes root. That’s where life, real life, is found.

Brothers and sisters, may we spend our days wisely. May we give Jesus more than a few minutes each day. May we give Him ourselves. Every single bit of ourselves.

In His grace,
Austin

04/29/2026

It’s Not About Religion - It’s About Relationship

1 like. "It’s Not About Religion - It’s About Relationship"

04/25/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Recently, Kristin and I learned that someone Kristin knew had taken their own life. Someone who, from the outside, seemed to be doing just fine. They smiled. They chatted about their day. They carried themselves in a way that made it seem as if everything was just fine. But behind their smile and niceties was a battle no one else could see.

Moments like these remind us how fragile we humans truly are. They also remind us that appearances are never the whole story. A person may look steady and fine on the outside while carrying an inner weight that feels impossible to bear. A cheerful greeting doesn’t always reveal the ache beneath the surface.

Over the years, people have asked me a difficult question: “If someone commits su***de, do they go to heaven?” Scripture never teaches that a believer who dies this way is cut off from God. The Bible is clear about salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by the final moments of our earthly struggle. A person’s battle with despair does not undo Christ’s finished work on the cross.

At the same time, we must speak the truth with compassion. Su***de is not and never will be the answer. It is never God’s will, never His solution, never His path forward. God does not approve of it, but He understands the depth of human pain. He knows the wounds we sometimes hide. He knows the lies the enemy whispers. And He knows the heart of every one of His children, even in our darkest hour.

When the enemy whispers, “There is no hope,” we answer with God’s Word: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). When the enemy whispers, “You are too broken,” we answer, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). When the enemy whispers, “You are beyond saving,” we answer, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:38–39).

And if we have ever felt the weight of that kind of darkness pressing in, please hear this clearly: The darkness does not have the final word. Jesus does! He alone is our hope. He alone is our light. He alone is our rescue. He alone is our anchor when life's waves rise higher than our strength.

Brothers and sisters, we hold the greatest hope the world has ever known, and His name is Jesus. If someone is weighing heavily on our hearts today, someone we’re worried about, someone who seems “fine” on the outside but carries a deeper ache within, please join me in bringing that person before the Lord. If the one who needs lifting is you or me, let’s bring our own hearts to Him as well.

If we know someone who is struggling or who hides their pain behind a practiced smile, let’s lift them up in prayer. Let’s ask God for eyes to see people as Jesus sees them. Let’s ask for courage to ask real questions and for gentleness to guide every conversation.

The Lord sees what we cannot see. He knows what we do not know. And His compassion reaches farther and deeper than we can ever comprehend. As the Apostle Peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

And brothers and sisters, because He cares for us, we do not walk through this world without hope. When the night feels long, His presence does not fade. When the valley grows darker, His hand does not slip. When the weight feels unbearable, His strength does not run out. When the questions multiply, His faithfulness does not waver.

Our God steps into the places we fear. He speaks into the silence we dread. He holds the hearts we cannot heal. He carries the burdens we cannot lift. And He does so with a tenderness that does not shame us, a mercy that does not tire of us, and a love that does not let go of us.

So today, if our hearts are heavy… If someone we love is hurting… If we ourselves are fighting a battle no one else can see, please hear this truth with every fiber of our souls: You and I are not alone. We are not forgotten. We are not beyond the reach of God’s grace.

The cross of Jesus Christ stands as an eternal reminder that God enters human suffering, not from a distance but from the inside. He knows what it means to be overwhelmed. He knows what it means to weep. He knows what it means to feel pressed on every side. And He knows how to lift us from the depths and breathe life where despair once lived.

So let us be a people who carry one another. Let us be a church where no one has to pretend. Let us be a family where tears are welcomed, burdens are shared, and hope is spoken boldly and often. Let us be the kind of community where the love of Christ is not only preached from a pulpit but also felt in the pews, heard in our conversations, and seen in how we care for one another.

And may the God of all comfort -- the God who binds up the brokenhearted, the God who calls us by name, the God who walks with us through the fire, surround us with His peace, steady us in His presence, and remind us again and again that His light shines in the darkness and that the darkness has not and will never overcome it.

Grace and Peace to All,
Austin