Pastor Matt brings a word right from Revelation that was addressed to the church in Laodicea who was lukewarm. He uses the instructions from the Lord to exhort us to be stoke the flame of first love and to be the burning ones with refined golden faith, robes of righteousness, and eyes of wisdom so that we may receive Jesus - who is knocking on the …

After months of feeling this word from the Lord, Elder Steve Elliott finally shares with us that it's time for creative explosion at Big House! He gives us a definition for divine creativity, a framework for how we should be creative, and a context in which to release creativity. Especially if you are a part of the Big House community, give this se…

We had the honor of having Pastor Dan Backens of New Life Church and One Focus Network join us for a special moment in our church's history of our first elder installation since our founding. Pastor Dan has operated as a spiritual father and leader to our church from the birth of Big House Church. In addition to facilitating the elder installation,…

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, Pastor Matt Ruckel encourages our congregation to let their light shine. We serve a God of light, and He has called us to shine our light brightly while we walk in a world of darkness. Everyone has a testimony inside of them that allows the Spirit of God to shine through us, and this world needs a…

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the most important week on the Christian calendar, Pastor Ian Thornton dives into the cultural context and significance of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus' actions declared that He was indeed the coming Messiah, their true King, and to bring a kingdom of peace. The people respond…

Missionary to India and long-time friend of the house, Kathleen Dillard, brings a fiery word of encouragement from the Lord to our congregation. With passion she encourages us to press in to intercession, the Word, and a life of personal holiness as we support those who are on the frontlines of Kingdom outreach. Don't settle for where your current …

Pastor Ian Thornton brings our time of teaching on transitions to a close with a beautiful word on the art of letting go. In this message, he leads us to the beautiful revelation that God is always bring us into something new, which requires and encourages and letting go of the hard and the beautiful passing seasons with the Holy Spirit, so we can …

What will you do when change comes for you? Pastor Matt Ruckel continues the conversation on transition, and how transition can lead to transformation. Change can be a catalyst for growth. Just as a caterpillar trusts the process of metamorphosis to turn into a butterfly, so can we trust God in transition to experience transformation - and God desi…

As we navigate a major transition within our community, long-time friend and apostolic overseer of the house, Dr. Joseph Umidi, teaches on the gifts the Father gives us when journeying through transition. Life transitions can be filled with anxiety and grief, and unresolved hurt from past transitions can cause us to be weary of change. But the Fath…

As we celebrate 15 years of being a church community, Pastor Adam Cates shares the history of Big House Church, along with the last written words of his late father and prophet of the house, Papa Jerry Cates. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom culture on earth as it is in…

Pastor Ian Thornton continues the conversation about community by looking at God's original intent for mankind and the three commandments that Jesus gave his disciples. God said that "it is not good for man to be alone," and the consequences of loneliness are evident in our time today - depression, anxiety, isolation. But Jesus not only shows us a …

Special guest speaker, pastor, and long time friend of the Big House community Jeremy Miller shares a word in season for the need of "church" not only on Sunday mornings, but at our tables with people. Jesus says the world will know that we are Christians by our LOVE for one another. Jeremy breaks down what this looks like on a very practical, dail…

To close our "Enthroned" sermon series, Pastor Matt Ruckel expresses the three enduring practices of our lives to have God's presence as a permanent habitation and not just a temporary visitation. Our desire is to create a dwelling place for Him - not just for Sunday services or pray and worship meetings, but for every day, every hour, for every mo…

Continuing our "Enthroned" series, Pastor Ian Thorntons teaches on the longstanding call of God's people to be a royal priesthood in the midst of a culture that is oppressing, numbing, and distracting us from the position of priest - where we bring the broken world before God in intercession, and are ambassadors for Christ to the world. Big House C…

Continuing in our "Enthroned" series for the 21 Day Fast through January, Pastor Adam does a deep dive into the dethroning of one the greatest idols of mankind - the self. Looking at the downfall of Lucifer and 5 "killer selfies" that draw us away from enthroning the King of Kings on a daily basis, this word is a gut punch of love and powerful remi…

Ian Thornton teaches the first week on the heart behind "Enthroned", our 21 Day Fast. He looks at 2 Chronicles 34 where King Josiah, one of the few good kings of Judah, exalted God above every other false god put up by his forefathers and inspired a love for scripture in the midst of a counter culture. This sermon is core to our desire for this mon…

Pastor Matt teaches on the fruit of suffering when we surrender to the process and walk with the Lord in it. Suffering is not for nothing, and it can bring incredible transformation,. 2023 felt like a year of a lot of suffering for many of us, and we believe 2024 is a year of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness to God in the wilderness. Big Ho…

For the final week of Advent, Pastor Adam & his wife Lindsey Cates share the beautiful history of Saint Boniface and the origins of the Christmas tree and how they express there is no greater love than the love Christ gave us - His life. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom…

On the third week of advent, Pastor Ian Thornton ties the past few weeks together beautifully to culminate to teaching on Jesus, the Fountain of Joy. He shares the stark difference between what the world calls "joy" and the Joy of the Kingdom of God. Joy is the very presence of the incarnate person, Jesus - and He is not fragile. Big House Church i…

Pastor Adam leads us through the war history of our nation over the last 100 years to help us see our need for the true peace that only comes for the Prince of Peace that is Jesus Christ. The only way to live in a culture of conflict is to know Him and the peace that only He gives that surpasses our understanding. Big House Church is cultivating a …

Steve Ruckel kicked off the advent season with the first theme of the month on "Hope" as we wait upon the second coming of the Lord, and how we can live a life of prophetic expectation. As a teacher in the house, this sermon is very enlightening and full of wisdom to enter this Christmas season! Big House Church is cultivating a community of passio…

In the context of the past few weeks of teaching, Adam reminds us of the real hope that no amount of suffering or brokenness can compare to the glory we will experience through Jesus. This word is an encouragement and exhortation to not give up, and to lift our gaze to remember the joy set before us who is Christ. Big House Church is cultivating a …

Pastor Matt shares a vulnerable and powerful teaching on the beauty of brokenness that can lead us deeper into relationship and reliance on God, despite the suffering we may experience in life. Based out of Jeremiah 18, he teaches about God as the potter and us as the clay, that God takes good pleasure in "reworking" when things are broken in us. I…

Pastor Ian Thornton teaches on the foundational principle of being made by God for God, and without His grace, we can't really do what He's asked us to. This sermon will leave you with the application of the scriptures found in Ephesians 2 and rekindling those beautiful heart questions of "How did you make me?" and "What are the good works you have…

At our combined service at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Pastor Adam teaches from Philippians 3 about the processing of letting go of our past, living with no regrets, and pressing forward in the heavenly assignment God is giving us on earth for such a time as this. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who p…

Following Jerry Cate's Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, we invited anyone this Sunday service to share a testimony of Papa Jerry's impact on their life. This recording has both services included. Thank you to all who honored his life with your sweet words and to the many who have showed your love, encouragement, and prayers to the Cates fam…

Pastor Matt Ruckel teaches from Luke 14 about counting the cost of true discipleship. As we continue to reflect on the beautiful life of our beloved Papa Jerry Cates, we recognize the mantle and anointing he carried came from a purity in his walk with the Lord and he counted the cost. Matt shares several practical action steps to counting the cost …

Pastor Ian brings a word on the faithfulness of God and our faithfulness to the task and call of God in our lives. Looking at the life and story of Nehemiah, we can see the attacks of the enemy to try and pull us away from staying the course, but there is a hope and reward for those who remain! Big House Church is cultivating a community of passion…

Our worship director, Olivia Dyer, teaches on the supernatural power of encouragement in light of the profound impact that Papa Jerry Cates left on her life and on all of us! In this teaching, she dives into the definition and meaning of what it is to be an encourager and to learn from Holy Spirit - the ultimate encourager! Big House Church is cult…

Steve Elliott, a Big House elder, teaches on the glorious hope we have stored up for us in heaven, which includes a long list of beautiful things, the best being Jesus Himself. This hope can carry us through life, where we don't fear man, the future, or death itself. This is hope of knowing Jesus! Big House Church is cultivating a community of pass…

Pastor Ranjit visited us this week from India to share a brief update of how our faithful support and prayers are helping to disciple and train pastors and finance new churches and orphanages for the glory of God! For more information about Christ for india, go to www.christforindia.org. In addition to this update, Ranjit taught on forgiveness from…

On Sunday, September 17 we took time to grieve, remember, and honor a father in the house, Papa Jerry Cates who passed away from cancer on Thursday, September 14. This Sunday was a very tender and special one as we activated the legacy of Papa Jerry by creating a blessing tunnel for the older generation to bless the younger one. Jerry's requested t…

Eric Watt is a long time friend of the Big House Family and retired pastor of Greenbrier Church of 23 years. He shared a powerful word out of Revelation 3 on the power of our weakness which allow God to open doors no one else could. In this season, there is a prophetic open door for each of us and as a church family to step into, but we must first …

Pastor Adam reflects on the poem "The Pulley" written by 16th century poet George Hebert and the way God has set eternity into the hearts of men to long to be one with Him. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom culture on earth as it is in heaven. We regularly meet on Sunday…

Pastor Adam Cates closes out our summer in the psalms with Psalm 19 as a continual lifestyle of submission of the heart and mind to the Lord. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom culture on earth as it is in heaven. We regularly meet on Sundays @ 9 & 11 AM at the Zeider The…

Our youth pastor Adam Johnsons shares from the pulpit for the first time on a portion of Psalm 139 that reminds us who God is and who we are. It embodies our life story and our life calling. After listening to this sermon, you will find yourself returning to your first love and reminding yourself of your true purpose - to be God's own.…

Psalm 133 is often referred to when teaching on the unity of people. Pastor Ian goes in depth to show the powerful truth about unity and how treasured it is by God, who Himself is the author, founder, and lover of unity. He compares the differences between "Psalm 133" and the "Unsanctioned & Unholy, yet Powerful Unity" we can oftentimes find oursel…

A mama in the house, Gina Reed, teaches from Psalms 119 and how when we adore the Word of God, we are adoring Jesus Himself. Reading, meditating, and living scripture is more than a discipline, but rather a transformative relationship with our Lord that is meant for our lifetime. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers…

One of the most famous psalms we know is Psalm 51 which comes as an honest cry of repentance and dependency on God from David. In our humanity, we will make mistakes but the key to of David is intimacy with God, even in the midst of the revelation of our sins and failures. Pastor Adam teaches on the way of repentance and intimacy with Psalm 51 as a…

Pastor Adam teaches on Psalm 118 and the journey from worship to warfare to making a way for the kingdom of heaven to invade the atmosphere of earth and shift realities. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom culture on earth as it is in heaven. We regularly meet on Sundays @…

Pastor Ian Thornton teaches from one of the most famous psalms and pieces of literature in all of history: Psalm 23. He shares on the leadership and comfort of the good Shepherd and how this redefines our entire lives no matter the journey ahead. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create …

To kick off our summer sermons on the Psalms, Steve Elliott shares an interactive teaching about the rollercoaster and real life emotions the psalms express. Real thoughts from and for real people going through real life situations. No matter what we're going through, there is a song for your night and a God who sees. Big House Church is cultivatin…

We had the pleasure of our friend and an incredible songwriter pastor of our time, Jason Upton join us this Sunday. He shared memories and moments of His life that the Lord interrupts and invites Him to the deeper things. Teaching from the rested confidence to not have to "prove God is real", Jason encourages us to live in God's reality to show the…

Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom culture on earth as it is in heaven. Big House Church regularly meets on Sundays @ 9 & 11 AM at the Zeider Theater in Town Center Virginia Beach. www.bighousechurch.com

Big House Elder Frank Meadows shares a powerful message on the role of fatherhood and the necessity of the secret place with our Father. Big House Church is cultivating a community of passionate worshippers who partner with Jesus to create a kingdom culture on earth as it is in heaven. Next Sunday (June 25th), we will have a combined 10 AM service …

As we gathered to give our gifts for the building campaign and bring our fundraising time to a close, Pastor Adam reminds us the reason we've done any of this: so that the King of Glory may come in. Psalm 24 is our road map to achieving this as a church family in this season of sowing into the building God has given us and committing our lives to t…

Pastor Ian shares a powerful word about the coming days of Big House and the harvest that is coming and already here! The ones that will be coming to Christ will need not just a church, but a home and family. John 15 and Luke 15 show us how to prepare and how to receive the harvest. It's time to build Big House Church! We are in the process of reno…

Pastor Matt Ruckel teaches on the history and meaning of Amos 9:11 our church and Time to Build campaign verse! It is the heartbeat behind everything God has done and is doing right now in our midst. To radically alter our lives to invite God into every part means to put Him at the center, even if it seems foolish! And that's what we are doing with…

Pastor Adam Cates shares the central focus of building family and the beautiful role that mother's take in the place as we build the kingdom and our new church home! This Mother's Day especially, we recognize that moms bring a sense of comfort, beauty, and love that only they can and that applies to our homes, our lives, and the church. It's time t…

As we enter this season of dreaming and building our new home at the Open Door, Pastor Matt shares from his heart about the biblical principle of creating a place in our hearts for God as well as a place for Him to be lifted up by His church. www.bighousechurch.comBy Matt Ruckel