Teen Challenge of Southern California

Faith That Walks on Water | John Martin

Faith That Moves You Forward: Step Out and Trust God

In this dynamic and faith-building message, Pastor John Martin delivers a powerful reminder: God didn’t call you to stand still—He called you to walk by faith. Whether you're just beginning your journey or have been following Jesus for years, this message will stir your heart to move forward with bold, persevering, life-transforming faith.

💬 “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.”

💬 “You may be in the fire, but you're not alone—God is in it with you.”

💬 “Faith that doesn’t move is faith that dies. But faith that moves... transforms.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• You already have a measure of faith—now activate it

• Faith initiates: it takes the first step, like Peter stepping out of the boat

• Faith perseveres: like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow

• Faith transforms: when you stay the course, God changes your life and others around you

• Don’t give up before the breakthrough—your obedience makes room for miracles

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• Romans 12:3 – “Each of us has been given a measure of faith”

• James 2:26 – “Faith without works is dead”

• Matthew 14:27–29 – Peter walks on water

• Daniel 3 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace

• John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life”

• Hebrews 12:2 – “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”

🙏 Personal Challenge: God didn’t save you to keep you safe—He saved you to send you. He’s not just calling you out of something—He’s calling you into something greater.

✔️ Will you trust Him and take the first step?

✔️ Will you keep going when it gets hard?

✔️ Will you let your faith shine so others can see Christ in you?

📌 Don’t settle for surface-level faith. Let God use your story, your struggles, and your steps to reveal His glory.

🕊️ How to Respond:

• Initiate: take a step of faith today

• Persevere: don’t give up in the fire

• Transform: let your life shine with God’s power

Pray today: “Lord, take this mustard seed of faith and use it to change my life—and change the world through me.”

📲 Stay connected:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Could Come | Daniel Bentley

The Wonderful Cross: From the Thief’s Last Breath to Eternal Life

In this compelling and grace-filled message, Pastor Daniel Bentley walks us back to the scene of Calvary—where two criminals hung next to Jesus, but only one walked into Paradise. This is the story of that man, the thief who put his faith in the dying Savior. It’s a story that reveals the beauty, simplicity, and power of the Gospel.

💬 “The cross may seem foolish to the world, but to those of us being saved, it is the very power of God.”

💬 “He didn’t say the perfect prayer. He didn’t attend church. But he called Jesus ‘Lord’—and that was enough.”

💬 “It’s never too late to give your life to Jesus.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• The transforming power of the cross

• Salvation by grace alone—no works required

• The thief on the cross: a picture of all of us

• It’s never too late to receive eternal life

• The decision that determines your eternity 📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• Luke 23:32–43 – “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

• 1 Corinthians 1:18 – “The message of the cross is the power of God.”

• Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart…”

• Ephesians 2:8–9 – “It is by grace you have been saved.”

• Deuteronomy 30:19 – “Choose life so that you may live.”

🙏 A Personal Reflection:

You’re one decision away from eternity. You don’t have to have it all together. You just have to come to the One who died for you.

Whether you're on the edge of belief or clinging to hope, the cross invites you: Come and die… so that you might truly live.

🕊️ It's not too late.

🕊️ You’re not too far gone.

🕊️ The Man on the middle cross says you can come.

📲 Stay connected:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org

📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge

🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

Living in the Light of Surrender | Ron Brown

The Battle of Submission: Letting God’s Will Win

In this anointed message, Pastor Ron Brown delivers a heartfelt call to deeper surrender. Drawing from James 4, John 8, and the lives of Peter, Paul, and Moses, Ron calls us to stop trying to do things our way—and let Jesus have full control. Because real spiritual warfare begins not with shouting at the devil—but with submitting to God.

💬 “Submission is not about being passive. It’s a battle. It’s the battle to say, ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’”

💬 “Jesus didn’t say shout at the devil—He said submit to God, then resist, and the enemy will flee.”

💬 “Your life doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to Jesus.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• The true fight is for daily submission, not just freedom from addiction

• Grace increases when we humble ourselves

• The devil flees only from surrendered people

• Real transformation begins when you lay down your own will

• Heroes of faith—Peter, Paul, Moses—all had to fight this same battle

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• James 4:6–7 — “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil…”

• John 8:12 — “I am the light of the world…”

• Romans 5:9 — “Justified by His blood…”

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

• Jeremiah 29:11 — “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.”

• Galatians 2:20 — “I have been crucified with Christ…”

🙏 A Personal Challenge from Pastor Ron:

Who are you really listening to? The voice of your past, your trauma, your plans—or the voice of God?

✔️ Are you trying to unbind yourself?

✔️ Are you shouting at the devil but not surrendered to the Lord?

✔️ Are you holding back your voice, your heart, your future?

The victory doesn’t come from resisting first—it comes from submitting first. Let God speak. Let His grace flood your life. And then walk in the power of freedom.

🕊️ Take Action Today:

• Lay down your plans.

• Surrender your past.

• Receive more grace by walking in the light of Jesus.

Declare it now: “I’m Yours, Lord. I submit my life to You.”

📲 Stay connected:

🔗 Website: teenchallenge.org 📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge 🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

Fear Not the Fear: A Biblical Perspective on Courage | Gary Wilkerson

Be Afraid—Be Very, Very Afraid: Harnessing Healthy Fear

What if the very thing you’re told never to feel—fear—could actually propel you into the life God has for you? In this candid message, Gary Wilkerson reframes fear from a paralyzing enemy into a healthy signal that you’re on the brink of something significant. Drawing on heroes like Nehemiah and David—men who admitted their fear yet pressed on—Gary shows how “good fear” prompts us to step out in faith and trust God for the extraordinary.

💬 “Be afraid—be very, very afraid. But let that fear move you where God would have you to be.”

💬 “David cried out to the Lord, and He delivered him from all his fears.”

💬 “Fear signals that something matters—so don’t run from it. Let it fuel your courage.”

🔑 Key Themes

• Healthy Fear vs. Paralyzing Fear

• Fear as a Signal: “If it doesn’t scare you, it might not be worth doing.”

• Biblical Heroes Who Felt Fear

• Stepping Into God-Sized Dreams

• Turning Fear into Faith in Action

📖 Scriptures Referenced

• Nehemiah 2:2 – “Then I was very much afraid, and I said to the king…”

• Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He delivered me from all my fears.”

• Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you…”

• Matthew 14:27 – “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

• 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

🙏 A Call to Courage

1. Identify Your Fears: Write down the one or two things you’re most afraid to attempt.

2. Acknowledge Them Before God: Confess your fear, then ask Him to turn it into fuel.

3. Take One Faith-Step: Do the thing that scares you most—ask that person to forgive you, begin your dream project, share your testimony, or apply for that job.

4. Speak Scripture Over It: Use verses like Isaiah 41:10 or Psalm 34:4 to remind your heart that God is with you.

➡️ “When fear knocks, let faith open the door.”

📲 Stay connected and share your step of faith: 🔗 teenchallenge.org 📱 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube: @socalteenchallenge 🐦 X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge

The Land of Darkness Has No Claim on You | Nolan Crooks

“The devil has tried to de-story your life—through addiction, trauma, and shame. But this is not where your story ends. God is ready to re-story your life by His love, grace, and power.”

In this deeply personal and Spirit-filled message, Nolan Crooks shares his journey of deliverance—from addiction and brokenness into restoration and purpose. Speaking with raw transparency and Holy Spirit fire, Nolan draws a line in the sand for every listener:

“What will you do with this moment?”

“Some of you have lived so long in the land of grief, you think it's home. But God is calling you out.”

“There’s a real enemy trying to steal your voice, hijack your identity, and lock you in silence—but God is the Author, and He’s not finished writing.”

“If you don’t surrender it now, it will keep you bound later.”

“You’ve gotten sober—but are you free?”

“Every scar, every sin, every secret—God’s not afraid of any of it. He wants to speak light into your darkest place.”

“Jesus doesn’t do partial healing. He comes to make all things new.”

“You may have walked into this room in shame—but you can walk out in freedom.”

This message is not entertainment. It’s a summons.

📖 Key Scripture Themes:

• Isaiah 8:22–9:2 – From distress, darkness, and fearful gloom… to the dawning of glorious light

• Isaiah 61:1–3 – Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning

• Mark 9:14–29 – “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief”

• Psalm 126 – “Those who sow in tears will reap with joy”

💭 Reflect + Respond: • Are you still living in the land of grief, even though God has called you out? • What would it look like to let Jesus rewrite your story—not just forgive your past, but redefine your future?

🙌 This is your moment. The altar is open. Grace is here. The presence of God is here to rewrite what the enemy tried to erase.

📱 Stay Connected: • Instagram, Facebook & YouTube → @socalteenchallenge

• X → @scteenchallenge

• Free resources, stories of transformation, and support options at → teenchallenge.org

Kill the Spider and Walk in Freedom | Jeremy Mayol

"God, we’re not just asking You to clear the cobwebs—we’re asking You to kill the spider.” 🔥

In this raw and powerful message from Pastor Jeremy Mayol at Spiritual Emphasis, we confront the deep-rooted idols that quietly steal our devotion, disrupt our purpose, and pull us back into captivity. With passion, humor, and a convicting biblical foundation, Pastor Jeremy exposes the lies we believe and the illusions we cling to—then points us back to Jesus, the only One worthy of our full surrender.

“We make the devil’s job too easy.”

“If you can’t go 24 hours without it, it might be an idol.”

“Whatever idol you're clinging to—it's promising a lot, but delivering nothing.”

“What we idolize, we often end up demonizing.”

“Teen Challenge hasn’t invested this much in you just for you to go back.”

“God doesn’t want 98%. The 2% you hold back is all the enemy needs.”

“Don’t just cut the weeds. Pull them out by the root.”

“Idols survive in the shadows, but they die in the light.”

“This isn’t about cobwebs. It’s time to kill the spider.”

“You don’t even have a plan for what you’re holding on to—but God does.”

🕸️ Whether it's addiction, identity, pride, or isolation, this message calls each of us to lay it all down and walk fully in the light of Christ. Pastor Jeremy challenges us not to be content with emotional highs, but to build spiritual endurance by killing what’s killing us.

📖 Key Scriptures:

• 2 Chronicles 30–33 (Hezekiah & Manasseh)

• Galatians 4:8–11

• 1 Timothy 1:5

• 1 Corinthians 10:12

• 1 John 5:19–21

💭 Reflection Prompt: What idol is your clenched fist still holding onto? Is it time to open your hand and release it to Jesus?

🙏 Take action: Let this moment be more than an emotional experience—make it a turning point. Don’t settle for surface-level change. Let the Holy Spirit uproot what doesn’t belong, and allow Jesus to have 100% of your life.

💥 Stay connected with us: YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook → @socalteenchallenge X (Twitter) → @scteenchallenge 🌐 Website → teenchallenge.org

The Father Has Heard Your Cry | Ron Brown

In this tender yet bold declaration, Pastor Ron speaks freedom, identity, and spiritual direction over every listener. You are no longer being dragged from place to place by old wounds or former mistakes—you are led by the Spirit as a beloved child of God.

🗝️ Key Themes:

• God hears and responds to the deep cries of your soul

• Deliverance from spiritual bondage and emotional burdens

• Being unyoked from past pain and joined to the Spirit

• True freedom comes from surrender, not control

• Sonship, identity, and walking with your Heavenly Father

📖 Scripture References:

• Exodus 6:6–7 – “I will free you from being slaves… I will take you as my own people.”

• Romans 8:14 – “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

• Matthew 11:28–30 – “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

• John 8:36 – “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”

🙏 A Word for You:

Are you tired of being dragged around by guilt, shame, and fear?

Jesus says, “Take My yoke.” You were made to be led—not by pain, but by peace. Not by addiction, but by the Spirit. Not by shame, but by the Father’s love.

Today is your freedom day.

✨ Let go of the old yoke. Be led by the Spirit. Live as a child of God.

Repeat this with us: “From this day forward, I will be led by the Holy Spirit, because I am a child of God.”

🔗 Follow & Connect: 📲 Instagram: @socalteenchallenge 🐦 X: @scteenchallenge 📘 Facebook: @socalteenchallenge 🌐 Learn more or get help: teenchallenge.org

God’s Light on the Hidden Wounds | Alex Delgado

What a tragedy it would be to go through Teen Challenge and only leave sober.

In this vulnerable, Spirit-breathed message, Pastor Alex Delgado pleads with this generation to stop hiding behind sobriety, gifts, and good behavior—and let God shine His healing light on the root. “We’re asking for fruit—sobriety, a wife, finances—but God is after the root. Why are you going back? What’s the pain behind the pattern?”

“Let there be light was not God’s first suggestion—it was His first command.”

“God won’t reveal what He’s not ready to heal.”

“Stop begging for sobriety—you’re already sober. Start thanking God and let the light go deeper.”

This is more than a message—it’s a moment. Alex shares his own story of father wounds, buried grief, and the 35 years of unresolved pain that God unearthed when it was time for healing. “I never let the light shine on the bitterness in my heart. I used to shine it on my calling, my gifts—but never on my brokenness.”

“Hurt people hurt people. And hurt people in ministry is a tragedy.”

“Ministry is not about a microphone—it’s about washing feet.”

“Let the light do its full work. Don’t stay dead at the altar—let God resurrect what’s been lost.”

This message also carries a tender prophetic word for women who’ve experienced abortion: “When you release your grip on guilt and shame, the tide of God’s grace will wash it away. That baby has been made new—and so have you.”

Alex challenges the listener to shift how they see submission, leadership, and spiritual authority. “You’re not submitting to Teen Challenge—you’re submitting to Jesus.” “You may not understand the process, but God is already doing something in the spiritual. Your body’s just catching up.”

🙏 Reflect and Respond:

• What dark place have you refused to let God shine His light on?

• Are you only letting God touch the symptoms—or are you ready for the root?

• What pain have you buried that He’s now ready to heal?

“Let there be light on the abortion. Let there be light on the father wound. Let there be light on the guilt. And let it all die at the altar so resurrection can begin.”

📲 Stay connected for more stories and Spirit-led teaching: • Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @socalteenchallenge • X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge • Learn more or get help: teenchallenge.org

Come Out of the Shadows and Follow Jesus | Ryan Ries

This isn’t the time to play church. It’s the time to repent, get right, and follow Jesus with everything.

In this fire-filled message, Ryan Ries confronts a generation that’s addicted to comfort, compromise, and surface-level Christianity. Drawing from Luke 9:23, he reminds us: “If anyone wants to follow Jesus, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, and follow Him.” Christianity isn’t a spectator sport. “Faith is a verb.” And it requires full surrender.

“You can’t follow Jesus and live in sin. It doesn’t work like that.”

“God’s not looking for perfect people. He’s looking for surrendered people.”

Ryan shares his own story — the drugs, the porn, the money, the fame — and how it all left him empty until he met the real Jesus. And that same Jesus is calling out to you. “Some of you are addicted. Some of you are in sexual sin. Some of you are in religious bondage. And Jesus is saying, ‘Come out of the shadows.’”

He doesn’t pull punches:

“You’re either all in, or you’re not in at all.”

“You want to experience the power of God? Repent. Turn from your sin. Seek Him. And watch what He does.”

Through story, scripture, and a powerful altar call, Ryan reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to make us better people — He came to bring dead people to life.

🙏 Reflect and Respond:

• Are you following Jesus or just following rules?

• What sin are you hiding that needs to come into the light?

• When will you stop running and finally surrender?

“This might be your last chance to repent. Do it now. Don’t wait.”

“The Holy Spirit doesn’t come to play games. He comes to bring transformation.”

📲 Stay connected for more life-changing messages:

• Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @socalteenchallenge • X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge • Learn more: teenchallenge.org

Let There Be Light on the Darkness of Shame | John Burns

• Some things grow in the dark — but shame shouldn't be one of them.

In this vulnerable and powerful message, John Burns shares how shame becomes a stronghold when left unexposed, but how Jesus brings healing when we bring our shame into the light. “Let there be light on the darkness of shame” is more than a theme — it’s a spiritual invitation to uncover what we’ve tried to hide and let God lovingly cover it with His truth.

“Guilt says, ‘I made a mistake.’ But shame says, ‘I am a mistake.’”

“Jesus didn’t just take your sin—He took your shame, and He scorned it.”

Using the stories of Adam and Eve, the woman at the well, and Jesus’ own suffering, John lays out three ways God brings healing from shame:

• Through a relationship with Jesus Christ, who “knows everything about you and still loves you”

• Through the Word of God, which “shines truth on the lies shame tells you”

• Through loving relationships with other believers, where “love covers over a multitude of sins”

“Don’t come to Teen Challenge and cover your shame with fig leaves.”

“Let Jesus love your shame and bring healing to the wounds you’ve carried too long.”

Shame thrives in secrecy. But God has given you a new identity in Christ. You are not your addiction. You are not your failure. You are not your past. “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11)

🙏 Reflect and Respond

• What fig leaves have you used to hide your shame?

• Have you let Jesus love your shame — not just your strengths?

•Who in your life can speak the truth of God’s Word to your hidden places?

“You will forget the shame of your youth. You will not be humiliated. Do not be afraid.” (Isaiah 54:4)

📲 Stay connected for more messages of healing and transformation:

• Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @socalteenchallenge • X (Twitter): @scteenchallenge • Website & resources: teenchallenge.org