Sunday Worship Experience

Andrew Velez's message challenges us to examine the crowns we've fashioned for ourselves—crowns of self-righteousness, self-glorification, and worldly achievement—and asks whether we're ready to cast them at Jesus' feet. Drawing from Revelation 4:8-11 and exploring five biblical crowns (the victor's crown, crown of beauty, crown of righteousness, crown of glory, and crown of life), we're confronted with a sobering reality: while Scripture promises imperishable rewards for faithful service, we often spend our lives chasing temporary accolades that mean nothing in eternity. The sermon uses a compelling military analogy about expertise and pride to illustrate how we can hinder God's work by insisting on our own way, our own knowledge, our own methods. We're reminded that Jesus himself, God in flesh, rejected being called 'good' and wore a crown of thorns rather than gold. The central question pierces through our religious facades: What crown are we wearing today? Is it one of humility and service, or have we crowned ourselves with achievements, knowledge, or moral superiority? This message calls us back to the heart of Christianity—not just knowing about God, but walking in relationship with Him, repenting continually, and recognizing that anything we accomplish is only by the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own might or power.