Pastor Andrew's blog
I’m known as The Beach Church Preacher and I love the beach. I’m in the ocean water almost all year and as a result, I get salty from the salt water. But I’m the Salty Preacher because I seek to season the world around us with biblical truth. In this blog I share sermon previews, sermon summaries and other reflections on world events from a biblical perspective. I hope that as you read my blog you experience more of the amazing flavor of God’s Word in your life.
The Salty Preacher - Andrew Matthews
How to Find Yourself
by: Andrew Matthews
07/24/2026
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This is week 2 in our series “Seeking and Finding”. In Matthew 16 Jesus is completing a period of traveling above the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of Israel and now begins his journey to Jerusalem in the south for what He knows will be His time of passion at the crucifixion. Jesus knows His time with the disciples is short and he wants to be sure they understand what lies ahead and what being His disciple will require in the future. Jesus told them he would go to J
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Summary of "How to Find the Way"
by: Andrew Matthews
07/22/2026
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SEEKING AND FINDING: HOW TO FIND THE WAY?
What Jesus Says About Our Deepest Needs and the Narrow Gate
Every person is searching for something. Whether we admit it or not, we all have needs that drive us to seek answers, meaning, and fulfillment. Jesus addressed this directly in one of His most well-known teachings, and what He said is both challenging and deeply freeing.
Why Are We All Searching?
From the moment we are born, we are seeking. A newborn searches for nourishme
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How to Find the Way
by: Andrew Matthews
07/17/2026
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This Sunday I am starting a new sermon series titled “Seeking and Finding.” Throughout the teaching of Jesus, He frequently presented scenarios where a person was seeking for something and eventually finding something, applying the situation to the spiritual life. Jesus did this because there is a need within every human that causes us to seek for something to meet that need. The teaching of Jesus shows us the way to find what we are seeking for. The question is, will we
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The America We Need for the Future
by: Andrew Matthews
07/03/2026
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This Saturday is the 250th anniversary of our country, a day Americans will celebrate and reflect on the history of our nation. The history of our nation tells a story of our freedoms being tied to a Christian faith in the God of the Bible, and Sunday I will conclude the sermons series we have been doing to celebrate the 250 years of Faith and Freedom of the United States. Over the last few weeks, we have a taken look into the history of our nation, but in this last messag
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The Foundation of The American Dream
by: Andrew Matthews
06/25/2026
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The Foundation of The American Dream
The American Dream is one of the most familiar phrases used to describe the blessings of life in this country. While the idea of dreaming for a better future has long been woven into the fabric of our nation, the phrase became widely known after James Truslow Adams used it in his 1931 book, The Epic of America, to describe the hope of America.
Hope is woven into the DNA of this nation. From the first settlers to today’s entrepreneurs to t
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North Carolina's Favorite Son
by: Andrew Matthews
06/18/2026
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North Carolina’s Favorite Son
For this sermon series I’m doing on the 250th anniversary of our nation, considering our state was one of the original states, I thought it would be good to devote one message to our State’s influence over the life of our nation. I decided to go down the path of NC most influential person. After doing an internet search I found these results:
• For Public Service – Governor Jim Hunt. A four-term governor.
• Social and Civil Right - Ella Bak
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Revivals in America
by: Andrew Matthews
06/16/2026
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AMERICA'S GREAT AWAKENINGS: HOW REVIVAL SHAPED OUR NATION
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, it's worth reflecting on the spiritual foundations that shaped our nation. Throughout American history, two major nationwide revivals—known as the Great Awakenings—fundamentally transformed not just individual hearts, but the entire trajectory of our country. These weren't just religious events; they were catalysts for the most important moments in American history.
What Is
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Revivals . . . How they Shaped America
by: Andrew Matthews
06/11/2026
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Many churches in America have a tradition of holding a weeklong series of meetings with a guest preacher or evangelist, often accompanied by lively music each night. These gatherings are called “revivals” because they are meant to renew the hearts of believers and bring those outside the church to faith in Christ. Sometimes revivals produce visible results right away; other times their impact is not immediately clear. My own family’s story was changed by a week of revival
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The Pursuit of Happiness is the Pursuit of God
by: Andrew Matthews
06/08/2026
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What Does It Mean to Be One Nation Under God?
As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, it's worth reflecting on what makes our nation unique. We often say "only in America" about various things, but perhaps the most significant is that only in America can a person of humble beginnings ascend to the highest office in the country. This uniqueness stems from our foundational proclamation that we are "one nation under God."
The Biblical Foundation of American Freedom
The phra
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The Pursuit of Happiness Sermon Preview
by: Andrew Matthews
06/05/2026
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One of the most striking phrases in the Declaration of Independence appears at the end of its opening statement: “the pursuit of happiness.” But what does that mean? At first glance, it can seem subjective since what brings happiness to one person may not bring happiness to another. After nearly 250 years of pursuing it, however, it is worth asking: are Americans any happier? When we look around, we see stress, anxiety, anger, and despair more often than joy. The news rare
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True Freedom: What It Really Means to Be Free
by: Andrew Matthews
06/01/2026
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True Freedom: What It Really Means to Be Free
As we approach the 250th anniversary of America's independence, it's worth asking ourselves a fundamental question: Are you truly free today? While we live in the "land of the free and the home of the brave," many Americans find themselves trapped in various forms of bondage despite having unprecedented individual rights and choices.
What Does Freedom Really Mean?
Freedom is more than just the power to determine our actions withou
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Freedom at its Deepest Level
by: Andrew Matthews
05/28/2026
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Freedom at its Deepest Level
This Sunday we are starting a new Sermon Series; Celebrating Faith & Freedom for 250 Years that will take us all the way to the 4th of July weekend. It is my prayer that God will bless our church and community with a biblical focus on the celebration of our nations quincentennial.
The United States is a country birthed with the idea of freedom and liberty:
• Our National Anthem describes us as – “The land of the free and the home of the brave.
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No Greater Love
by: Andrew Matthews
05/26/2026
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Greater Love Has No One Than This: Living Sacrificially Like Christ
Memorial Day offers us more than just a long weekend—it provides a profound opportunity to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice and what it means to live with sacrificial love. As we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom, we're reminded of an even greater sacrifice that changed everything.
What Does It Mean That God Is Love?
The apostle John makes three powerful declarations about God's nature through
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