the Church Podcast

Focus: Active faith reflects the goodness of God by building others up. True friendship is rooted in helping others grow spiritually and emotionally, treating them as valued companions who reflect Christ. Every brick in the building matters. Built on the Cornerstone (Jesus) we are called to be living stones, building each other up in love and grace, building something that magnifies our Savior, Jesus! Main Text: 1 Peter 2:1-12

Focus: Active faith honors everyone equally, rejecting favoritism and judgment. As friends in mission, we are called to see the inherent worth in all people, treating them with respect and dignity. True friendship reflects God’s heart by embracing and honoring others regardless of their status or outward appearance. Main Text: James 2:1-12

Focus: “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” It's such an ordinary thing to write. What followed was extraordinary! What might we learn from this rhythm of life as we face our challenges today? Main Text: Acts 12:1-19

Focus:  Losing our focus poses grave risks. It can lead to squandered time and energy, overlooked opportunities, and ill-advised decisions. It can strain relationships, heighten the likelihood of injury, and even imperil life itself. As followers of Jesus, dispersing our focus from Him and His Kingdom invites perilous consequences that jeopardize our very existence. However, there is hope in the Good News! Let those with ears heed its call. Main Text: Matthew 13:1-9; 18-24

Focus:  Our thoughts can drive the narrative of our lives.  Often, subjective observation and opinion, or experience, are called truth.  How much weight do you give your own understanding when it comes to challenging topics or difficult discussions where people believe different things?  Where is your source of Truth?  Does God’s Word shape how you understand your experience, primarily, or does your experience shape how you understand God’s Word?  Main Text: Romans 1:21-23

Focus:  There are many things that can take God’s place on the throne of our hearts.  Whether it’s ourselves, money or possessions, accomplishments, or anything else, the end is always idol worship.  Today we are reminded to “keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your heart.”   Main Text: 1 John 5:20-21

Focus:  Where does our allegiance lie?  Are we allied to God?  Always?  Or only when it doesn’t get in the way of what we want?   Main Text: James 4:1-7

Focus:  Guilt and shame are so burdensome. And, the more you try to shake them off, the stickier they seem to be. Shackled, weighed down, dark, overwhelming, guilt crushes the human spirit. God never intended for you to live with it. Yet, sin is real. The result is so thick. You’ve felt this, right? Well, GRACE is also real. And it sets us free. Main Text: John 8:1-11

Focus:  Imagine being so caught up in the unconditional love of the perfect Savior of the world that you handle everything in your life to share that love. Everything changes. Every old way is made new. You treat people differently. Your thinking changes. The GRACE that Jesus shared with you cleanses and removes the guilt and the shame. The GRACE flows out of you freely. His grace has the power to transform your life, inspiring you to live with compassion, humility, and love, and to become more like Jesus in your thoughts, words, and actions. Transformed, you go on your way!  Main Text: Luke 19:1-10

Focus:  One of the riches of God’s grace is forgiveness. Sins and sin are blotted out, washed away, buried, stripped off, whatever metaphor you prefer. Sins and sin are not removed by “doing better next time” or “doing more good than bad” or being “a good person”. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God! (Isaiah 64:5-6 & Romans 3:23) Our Holy God requires perfection to be associated with Him. The only way this can happen for a human is through the power of FORGIVENESS. And, we are completely dependent on Jesus for that.  Main Text: Mark 2:1-12

Focus:  Faith in Jesus is activated in dependence and trust.  We are dependent on Christ for our life, from start to finish. Like breath, Jesus is life. The life-giving gifts of this DEPENDENT posture, the benefits of GRACE that fill our spiritual lungs include forgiveness, transformation, and freedom. Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Main Text: Matthew 14:22-33

Focus:  Meeting together behind locked doors because they were afraid, the appearance and presence of Jesus fills them with joy!  With no room for fear, this huddling for safety is transformed into a victory party because Christ has risen! Main Text: John 20:1-23

Focus:  The elicited response to Jesus’ love and presence will not be bridled or tamed by convention or expectation.  It’s not even confined to the community of believers.  All creation testifies!  As Jesus said, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”    Main Text: Luke 19:28-40

Focus:  True Biblical community is more concerned with God’s Word and calling in their lives, where their hearts are at, and following where He leads, than they are with how others are following.  True community loves God and loves each other and their neighbors as they love themselves.   Main Text: Luke 11:37-54; Revelation 2:1-7

Focus:  God induces worship.  And yet, even the early church didn’t stop there.  They made the intentional choice to devote themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.  In other words, they intentionally devoted themselves to gathering together for worship.  God blesses us in worship, and part of activating our faith is being intentional about our choices, including prioritizing worship, and our level of engagement.  Would you say you are devoted? Main Text: Acts 2:42-47

Focus:  It is good to worship the Lord!  It is right to give him thanks and praise.  We should at all times, and in all places, give thanks.  He is our maker.  He is our redeemer.  He is our healer, our provider, our help, our justice.  The Lord is our King!  Main Text: Psalm 147

Focus:  Belief in Jesus isn’t something we check off a list.  We’re called to be Active in our Faith, and to Persevere in the hope we have because God is trustworthy and will keep His promise.  Active perseverance includes continuing to meet together for worship, in whatever way we can. Main Text: Hebrews 10:19-25

February 18, 2024 Focus:  Active faith is lived out by growing in God’s Word.  It’s to our benefit as we grow into a full experience of salvation.  And it brings glory to God as others see God’s goodness in our lives.  Would people closest to me recognize that I have a growing relationship with Jesus?  Main Text: 1 Peter 2:1-12

February 14, 2024

February 11, 2024 Focus:  From denying even knowing Jesus, to not backing down even when threatened, Peter was changed.  Even the Jewish council recognized that the only difference between Peter and an ordinary person was that he had been with Jesus.  Jesus changes us. Main Text: Acts 4:1-13

February 04, 2024 Focus:  The only way we can grow in our faith is through our connection to Jesus, the Word.  He is the vine through which the branches are fed and grow. He is the living water, the Sun of Righteousness and the light of the world.  Main Text: John 15:1-8

January 28, 2024 Focus:  God’s Word is described as an instrument so precise that it could even cut the most invasive cancer (sin) out of a body without harming any of the healthy cells.  And God, the surgeon, can see and knows every cell in our bodies and doesn’t make mistakes. This surgery is not limited to the wealthiest, nor is there a waiting list, and everyone has an invitation. Main Text: Hebrews 4:12-16

January 21, 2024 Focus:  There are many things we fill our time with, and which demand even more of it, and all of them leave us feeling incomplete.  There is only one thing that truly satisfies our soul.  We were created for God and to be connected with Him, so apart from Him we will always feel that connection which is missing.   Main Text: John 6:25-35

January 14, 2024 Focus:  God provides daily for His people in the wilderness and instructs them to gather what they need every day.  There will always be enough for everyone, and leftovers will go bad.  Our bodies and our spirits require sustenance, daily.  God is the provider, and He is faithful.   Main Text: Exodus 16:1-21

January 07, 2024 Focus:  The active life of a disciple is being Sustained by the Word.  That includes reading and responding to God’s Word daily, growing in our relationship with Jesus, prioritizing gathering for worship and worshiping privately, and being sharpened by God’s Word in relationship with other Christians. Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”  Main Text: John 8:30-47

December 31, 2023 Focus:  Another year goes by. Another opportunity to find hope in the unexpected ending—the Alpha and Omega who makes all things new. Jesus, Jesus, all about Jesus. He is the Revelation for every year! And His presence with us brings with it another unexpected ending…the divine promise for a transformed future. Main Text: Revelation 21:1-7

December 25, 2023

December 24, 2023 Focus:  Embrace the marvel of the unexpected: God's Word, radiant in flesh, dwelling among us. Merry Christmas. May your Christmas be filled with resounding praise, celebrating the astonishing incarnation!  Main Text: John 1:14-16

December 17, 2023 Focus:  O, Little Town. Sleepy, insignificant, humble little town.  Bethlehem, you are unknown. Yet, today, famous, because from you unexpected greatness emerges. From you, O Little Town, a powerful story of promise and unexpected glory is given to an embattled world. Main Text: Micah 5:1-5a

December 10, 2023 Focus: Stump. Dead. “Stumped” Dead end. Yet, God does the unexpected. From the dead stump of Jesse, a sprout     emerges. Explore Isaiah's vision of a flourishing hope, where the unexpected becomes the extraordinary. Main Text: Isaiah 11:1-10

December 6, 2023

December 3, 2023 Focus:  In the profound test of Abraham's faith, discover the unexpected ending—God's provision of a substitute and a glimpse of the ultimate sacrifice to come. Main Text: Genesis 22:1-14